Digital Video - Cool Tool!

I was fascinated to learn the use of digital video. As a learner, it was exciting and engaging. It truly gave me the sense of being a designer and encouraged the concept of creativity. As an instructor, it would be a very cool tool to use - but only with careful implementation and planning. It can be very easy to get distracted by the tool and lose focus of what the lesson may truly want to accomplish. As with any tool, it is very important to determing the final goal of the lesson and then select the proper tool that can be used to achieve that goal. (affordance). Also - it would be very important to allow time to teach proper methods in actually using this tool, before creating tasks or assigments for the students to complete. Time and proper working technology are common challenges, but with proper planning - it can be a tool that can generate thinking, learning, collaboration, creativity, designing, excitement and technological growth. Sounds like a cool tool to me.

Podcasts - Another tool for the toolbelt!

I have heard of podcasts, but never really knew what they were all about. After studying more about them and their uses, I was delighted to see the creative possibilities. Just like any "tool" - it is essential to understand the capabilities of various tools. Some users do not use the tool to the capcity in which they are created to do; and some mis-use them. With podcasts, it is essential to utilize this tool with the understanding that they are not providing "visual" enhancement, but rather puts a voice to a particular topic rather than reading text. This can be a tremendous tool for many different uses. By using this tool in the clasroom, it is an effective way to get students to conduct research well enough to be able to summarize it in a format that would be conducive for podcasts. It gives the students the power to be a designer and create while enhancing their knowledge of particular topics. As the podcasts are created, it is also a great way for the students to hear their voices and critique their own learning. Whether it be elementary students hearing their ability to read a story or a high school student listening to their beliefs or opinions based on reasearch - it is a great tool to use for multiple outcomes.

From a business perspective, podcasts can also be a great tool, based on the goal and the audience. As with any marketing or communication tool, it is essential that the tool can reach the audience. Therefore, if the type of message or the goal of a particular message requires audio, visual or text, then the choice of which medium to use is very criticual. Podcasts add another creative way for these goals to be attained.

Wiki's ....... WACK or WONDERFUL?

There are a variety of opinions on the use of wikis. Then when you get into their use in the classroom - it's another varying sway of philosophy in education. I have to admit that I was not a fan of wikis until studying the integration of technology in education. Collaboration is an essential element of education for so many reason. Traditionally, when you hear collaboration - you think "group work". However, collaboration has grown to the level of thinking, sharing ideas, creating ownership, creativity and growth. This is a practice that not only K-12 student should practice, but also higher level learning as well as professions. My original fear of wikis was due the mindset that it was false information, rumors and people's "opinions" versus facts. However, after reading Richardson's concept of wikis - I was fascinated by his explanation of wikis and how it should be used. The concept of wikis being used to "negotiate and create truth" was an eye-opening statement. Due to the fact that there was a study to intentionally print false information and within seconds be edited demonstrates a need for truth. The process of publishing and editing requires "thinking" and research. Wow - what a concept - isn't this what we are supposed to be doing with our students. I began going from wikis's being wack to wiki's being wonderful. What about you - do you think?

Blogs - LOVE them or HATE them?

Blogs! You either love them or hate them. Or maybe your like me and you both LOVE them and HATE them. I love blogs when it comes to "fun" topics such as opinions on where to go eat, which movie to watch or fashion opinions. It is interesting to see what others think and sometimes their opinion helps. I have also liked blogs when inquiring about places to visit or live. It's like getting a real testimony!! Not just the "good" testimonies that business pull to help with their Marketing campaign. It allows you to see various sides/views. However, I HATE blogs when it comes to professionalism and/or serious issues such as relationship and/or health issues. I think this is where people need to be very careful. For example, there are many celebrities and/or professionals who get in trouble for blogging. They put too much of their thoughts out there and because they are influencial in their communities - it can have a negative effect. We all have bad days and if we recorded what we "thought" on those days - we would regret putting those thoughts out there for people to read. Also, when it comes to health/relationship issues - people often make very important decision based on opinions and this can lead to poor decision-making. It often spreads false information rather that the true facts. So what do you think? Blogs - LOVE them or HATE them?

Students as Designers Part 5

In order to affect more students (outside of my classroom). I serve as a dept. chair and it has been a great opportunity for me to affect other teachers in my department who will in turn - affect many more students. In our curriculum meeting the other day - I discussed some of the drop in evaluations that I had done within each of the Marketing classes. Some were teacher centered and some were student-centered. We had a remarkable discussion on the concept of design. I talked with them about taking themselves out of the role of "teacher" and becoming more of a "designer". I gave them ideas of ways to take certain units and designing a curriculum and method of delivery that would cause students to be more engaged. A challenge that I gave them for the 4th quarter was for them to design a lesson that would require their students to actually be designers as well. The end of the year is challenging because high school students are already on summer break! So mentally, we need to step it up and make the classroom even more engaging. We are going to do a share session at our next meeting to see what they have come up with.....lets see if an itser can pay it forward:)

Students as Designers Part 4

We are covering the SELLING unit in my Fashion 1 classes. I am having the students be a designer of their very own accessory. They have to develop a concept, draw it and make it come to life. Once their very own design is created, they have to "sell" it to the class by describing the features and benefits. In years past, I have had students take a product out of their book bag to sell it, but I thought by having them serve as "designer" there would be a better understanding of the concept and they would take ownership throughout this activity. Hope it goes well:)

Students as Designers Part 3

We are continuing with our Project Runway - industry behind the runway project series. Due to the first round of presentations that were "death by powerpoint"...I tried to do a better job of modelling what could make them more creative at their attempt to be designers. This time, during this challenge, they needed to create a flyer. I created a template for them to fill in with prompt questions. I showed them how picture says a 1000 words. Therefore rather than giving "text book" defninitions - I wanted them to understand the concept well enough to answer the question and provide a "picture" that would answer the question. This allowed the students to "design" a flyer that would communicate valuable information by using visual language - a mixture of words and pictures. This approach was much more successful! Students were more "original" and "creative". They appeared to undersand the concepts much better than the previous unit. Less memorization and definitions and more interpretation and application. Getter better:)