Last week, when discussing my GAME plan, I set up several goals for myself, focusing on integrating technology into my instruction in order to communicate more effectively with my students and their families. To improve on my communication skills, I set goals that focused on setting up a blog and a calendar on my school webpage. I have made progress in these areas, and have set up the blog this week using the school’s webpage software from SchoolCenter. I have set up my calendar for my class, however, I have not updated it yet this week, but plan to tomorrow.
Since reading this week’s course text, I have added a new goal to my GAME plan. One of the things that I always see is that students struggle with certain areas of science, or forget what happens in class when they are doing their homework. As a result, I have decided to add the following goal to my plan: create podcasts to further aid my instruction. One of the things that my students could benefit from is mini-lessons through podcasts that may help them. For example, right now we are studying genetics, and learning how to determine possible genotypes and phenotypes using Punnett Squares. Often students do not understand what to do with them. Using a podcast to reteach the lesson using various examples, students would be able to get extra help outside of the classroom. My only concern with this is finding the right resources to create a video podcast to demonstrate to the students how to do various Punnett squares and provide some one-on-one instruction that can move at a pace they prefer. As I begin to work towards completing this new goal, I will first start to search for new software to use to create podcasts. Being somewhat new to making podcasts, I will take any suggestion.
Travis,
ReplyDeleteGood job on getting your Blog site officially up and running and creating your new calendar. I like using Calendars because not only does it hold student accountable but also holds the teacher accountable.
Your Pod cast idea is very intriguing, if you have confusing assignments that you teach every year this would be a great resource for students to check out. I am interested in looking into that myself for certain things. The main problem you would have is making sure you have room probably at school to save and host your pod casts so you can re-use them every year. I unfortunately do not have any particular software or program to recommend.
Good Post,
Eric
I haven't considered where to put my podcasts yet, which is why I'm wondering if Voicethreads might be more beneficial to use. I have to check into the server space, so thanks for bringing that up, I never would have thought of that.
ReplyDeleteTravis,
ReplyDeleteGood job on getting your webpage up and running. Have you tried looking to see if their is anything on United Streaming that might be useful in reteaching your students? One thing that we have added to our webpages at our school is called resources. I have not tried adding a podcast to this but I do post all Instructional Power Points and class notes on this site for the students to be able to access at home. This has been something that many of my students have expressed that they like and use frequently. Being able to look at the notes on their own tiem at their speed has been helpful to them.
I wish I had your podcasts a few weeks ago. I was covering genetics during a particularly tough week of H1N1 absences at our school. There would be days with 40% of the school out. But I still to keep moving forward. I've often wondered what resources I could use online to help students who are home sick. I use a blog, but I have never tried a podcast yet. I'll be watching yours to see how it goes over with your students.
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