What?
This week we were given our final project. The assignment is to create 2 documents and we can choose out of a flyer, newsletter, and/or brochure. We can also choose which program we want to use to do the assignment.
So What?
Best assignment ever. There was no question in my mind which program I would use. Illustrator, of course. I love Illustrator, I use it a lot. I have used it to create my own visual for lessons. I used it to make my newsletter for the practicum class. I use it for everything.
I liked creating these documents because I know it's something I will definitely do in my career as an early childhood educator. I'm sure I'll continue to use Illustrator to create visuals and graphics throughout my school classes. I also use it for personal things like designing my wedding announcements.
Now What?
I'm sure I won't be giving out any assignments to my students to use Illustrator - it seems a bit advanced for a preschooler. But it will affect my children by the visuals and activities I create through Illustrator. It will also affect them by the brochures, newsletters and flyers I can create through this program. Yay Illustrator, let's hear it for Adobe! Wahoo!
Video
Oh how I love Schoolhouse Rock - takes me back. The one that I still remember is the "I'm just a bill on Capitol Hill" but I'm sure I've watched a million during my elementary years. And now having watched this I'm sure it'll be in my head for the rest of the day. Yipee.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Weekly Post - Videos
What?
This week we learned about videos - particularly videos on the web. Our assignment was to find two educational videos, convert them to MP4 files, and post them on our UEN site.
So What?
I think the use of videos is very effective. I am a very visual person so actually seeing things helps me learn much better. I can use videos in presentations in my classes right now - there are so many videos available on the web. Web videos are also for entertainment - I like to share funny videos I find with family and friends.
This will help me in my future career as a teacher because it helps me practice implementing different technologies for different uses. I'm sure there are instructional videos of how to make crafts or create projects that I could use in my preschool class. I could also share these helpful videos with other teachers. By sharing ideas and collaborating with other teachers, everyone benefits from each individuals contribution - this saves a lot of time.
Now What?
Before this assignment I had never heard of Zamzar which is a really awesome thing. Zamzar allows you to rip videos on the internet to a downloadable file. This will be really helpful for me if there's any videos I want to keep and save that are on the internet now because chances are they won't be on the internet forever or at least not have the same link.
This would also be a great way to share and keep vidcasts. I have found that it's hard for me to send video files to other people because my files are usually larger than what's allowed to send. By uploading it to youtube, other people can rip your files through Zamzar and get the file that way. This would also be great for the parents of my students. If we watched a web video in class I could share the URL and then the parents could rip and save it to their own computer with Zamzar.
Video
I thought the video brought up some good point about the rising generation of technology. I am very impressed with how far technology has come just in my short life and am very excited to see what the future holds. Everyday it seems there is a new product with new technology coming out, it baffles me to think how things will be in 10 years. I love technology, I'm all about making things easier, simpler, more efficient, but sometimes I wonder if the world will turn out like the movie Surrogates where everyone is so removed from the real world because of increasing technology. Hmmm.
This week we learned about videos - particularly videos on the web. Our assignment was to find two educational videos, convert them to MP4 files, and post them on our UEN site.
So What?
I think the use of videos is very effective. I am a very visual person so actually seeing things helps me learn much better. I can use videos in presentations in my classes right now - there are so many videos available on the web. Web videos are also for entertainment - I like to share funny videos I find with family and friends.
This will help me in my future career as a teacher because it helps me practice implementing different technologies for different uses. I'm sure there are instructional videos of how to make crafts or create projects that I could use in my preschool class. I could also share these helpful videos with other teachers. By sharing ideas and collaborating with other teachers, everyone benefits from each individuals contribution - this saves a lot of time.
Now What?
Before this assignment I had never heard of Zamzar which is a really awesome thing. Zamzar allows you to rip videos on the internet to a downloadable file. This will be really helpful for me if there's any videos I want to keep and save that are on the internet now because chances are they won't be on the internet forever or at least not have the same link.
This would also be a great way to share and keep vidcasts. I have found that it's hard for me to send video files to other people because my files are usually larger than what's allowed to send. By uploading it to youtube, other people can rip your files through Zamzar and get the file that way. This would also be great for the parents of my students. If we watched a web video in class I could share the URL and then the parents could rip and save it to their own computer with Zamzar.
Video
I thought the video brought up some good point about the rising generation of technology. I am very impressed with how far technology has come just in my short life and am very excited to see what the future holds. Everyday it seems there is a new product with new technology coming out, it baffles me to think how things will be in 10 years. I love technology, I'm all about making things easier, simpler, more efficient, but sometimes I wonder if the world will turn out like the movie Surrogates where everyone is so removed from the real world because of increasing technology. Hmmm.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Weekly Post - Podcast & Vidcasts
What?
This week we learned about Podcasts and Vidcasts. Our assignment is to use either of these two forms of media to teach a concept in our teams. For our team we are making a Vidcast of animal signs to be used when singing Old MacDonald Had a Farm.
So What?
I think Podcasts and Vidcasts are great, especially Vidcasts. Right now in my life I could use Vidcasts to make videos of cooking new meals to share with family or how to make crafts/visuals to share with my fellow student teachers. I could also use Vidcasts if I had a presentation that included some type of demonstration - I could make a Vidcast of the demonstration at home and just show it during class.
If everyone had access to equipment to make a Podcast, I think it would be a good tool to collaborate anecdotal notes in the practicum class in the Early Childhood Education Program. Right now in class we use sticky notes - 1 sticky note per child, per observation, handwritten - which is very time consuming. If everyone could record themselves and speak their notes and share them through a podcast that would save us all carpal tunnel syndrome in a few years.
Now What?
In my future, I think making Vidcasts would be an excellent way of doing demonstrations for projects. Children love guests and new faces to teach them something new - I think it would be fun to make Vidcasts of "guests" doing demonstrations for the class. This way they could do it on their own time and their own home or maybe even at a special location.
This might also be a great tool to use for a sub. If you had to stay home sick one day, you could make a Vidcast of an explanation of why you are gone for the sub to show the kids or even demonstrate activities that the kids would be doing that day. This would be very helpful for the sub because most students don't treat subs as well as they treat teachers because the sub doesn't really know how things are run. This would be fun for the kids to see their teacher on the computer even though they weren't going to be in class.
Video
I thought the video addressed many good points. The world is ever becoming a digital place and we need to keep up with the times. I'm not saying we should eliminate basic skills like writing (with hands) and penmanship, but there is definitely more to add when it comes to expressing yourself with written words. Blogging provides many great benefits such as literacy, engagement, sharing, etc. which are important for all ages.
This week we learned about Podcasts and Vidcasts. Our assignment is to use either of these two forms of media to teach a concept in our teams. For our team we are making a Vidcast of animal signs to be used when singing Old MacDonald Had a Farm.
So What?
I think Podcasts and Vidcasts are great, especially Vidcasts. Right now in my life I could use Vidcasts to make videos of cooking new meals to share with family or how to make crafts/visuals to share with my fellow student teachers. I could also use Vidcasts if I had a presentation that included some type of demonstration - I could make a Vidcast of the demonstration at home and just show it during class.
If everyone had access to equipment to make a Podcast, I think it would be a good tool to collaborate anecdotal notes in the practicum class in the Early Childhood Education Program. Right now in class we use sticky notes - 1 sticky note per child, per observation, handwritten - which is very time consuming. If everyone could record themselves and speak their notes and share them through a podcast that would save us all carpal tunnel syndrome in a few years.
Now What?
In my future, I think making Vidcasts would be an excellent way of doing demonstrations for projects. Children love guests and new faces to teach them something new - I think it would be fun to make Vidcasts of "guests" doing demonstrations for the class. This way they could do it on their own time and their own home or maybe even at a special location.
This might also be a great tool to use for a sub. If you had to stay home sick one day, you could make a Vidcast of an explanation of why you are gone for the sub to show the kids or even demonstrate activities that the kids would be doing that day. This would be very helpful for the sub because most students don't treat subs as well as they treat teachers because the sub doesn't really know how things are run. This would be fun for the kids to see their teacher on the computer even though they weren't going to be in class.
Video
I thought the video addressed many good points. The world is ever becoming a digital place and we need to keep up with the times. I'm not saying we should eliminate basic skills like writing (with hands) and penmanship, but there is definitely more to add when it comes to expressing yourself with written words. Blogging provides many great benefits such as literacy, engagement, sharing, etc. which are important for all ages.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
