Working with students in my alternative school has raised many challenges when it comes to using technology in the classroom. Just recently I have started projects that involve students making short films and posting them on youtube. This has been a collaborative project with the media education teacher at our high school, but the kids have been very engaged in this project. While the topic must be research based, the format and style is wide open to the students.
The students have done some of their videos on their personal time and we collaborate in the classroom to share ideas and give constant feedback to how their projects are going. I have yet to find a website to use which they can post there unfinished project. This would allow me to give more constant feedback, but our current format seems to work pretty good.
I feel the students have enjoyed this project because it gives them freedom. I have always said when kids don’t know that they are being taught; they learn the best. It has also been great for them to learn how to get more consistent feedback and in return make adjustments and changes to their projects. Since learning new technologies of the course of the last 5 weeks, I will be implementing a new web 2.0 technology into this project next year to improve the overall collaboration.
2 years ago
I loved your comment that "when kids don't know that they are being taught; they learn the best." I am looking forward to implementing the web 2.0 tools that we have been learning in my math classes. To be able to combine technology and math, will bring new meaning to the students' comment "when will I ever use this?" My students will be engaged in the technology and learning math will follow. It sounds like next year many of us in this class will be trying new technologies for collaboration in our classrooms.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you both about the power of discovery and experience in learning. The use of technology enhances lessons and removes the teacher from the focus of the class to a guide on the periphery and the students (and their needs)as the focal point. I will be one of those integrating web 2.0 technologies into my curriculum.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great project! I think the key like you said is the students are engaged! It will be interesting to see how you add to your project and enhance it for next year with the new knowledge you have gained from these Web 2.0 tools! You hit the nail on the head when you said when students don't know they are being taught, they learn best! I can not wait to implement more of these wonderful tools we have learned about into my classroom next year.
ReplyDeleteI've not played with actually creating video online, so I don't know if there are any powerful tools out there. I have used Animoto which allows you to incorporate pictures and music to look at little like a music video. It's not the same thing, but it is good for short informational pieces.
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