I use a lot of online media with my students. Unfortunately, YouTube is blocked in our district so I primarily rely on using videos from Discovery Streaming (if you have not seen the Pendamonium series and accompanying games, you are missing out...and so are your students!).
The YouTube video that I found is one I have used in the past with my students. It's a catchy song from Rockin' the Standards about Perimeter and Area.
I think using videos with our students is an extremely useful tool. It engages them in the topic more than just straight lecture. It can also help reinforce the concept that you want the students to learn. Teachers can create their own video lessons that the students could watch (or download) to reinforce what they have learned in the classroom, to help them study for a test, or to watch when they have been absent. Teachers can also work with their students to create a video that shows the understanding of a concept.
Slide Show
The slide show that I found on Slideshare (which is also, unfortunately, blocked in our district) to share was kind of a cool idea. It is a set of first grade addition flash cards (so I am not first grade anymore, but this idea could definitely be adapted to 3rd grade). The problem was created by the student using word art in PowerPoint on the first slide and then the answer is on the next slide. This gives the students ownership of those facts. This would be a very easy group project to do. The only thing that I disagreed with was the fact that the teacher had each of the student's pictures and names on their slides. I would either do their name or their picture, but not both. That is a safety issue for me.
1st Grade Flash Cards
View more presentations from lgifford.
I have not thought of using Slideshare with my students (even if it wasn't blocked) before because I have primarily used it to watch presentations for professional development. This example shows a great way that this can be used with the students. One thing that we do use in our district which would have the same effect is iSpring Free. This is a free download that can convert your PowerPoint into a flash video. This video can then be embedded into your class website or blog. The only difference between this and Slideshare is that I wouldn't have to have my slide show hosted on the Slideshare website (although I still wouldn't post my students' pictures with their names).
VoiceThread
I found a presentation by a group of 3rd graders who had written their poems and then recorded them reading the poems on VoiceThread. I liked this presentation because the kids were reading in loud, clear voices. Their poems were very good for third graders. The only thing that I would have changed was to have the students use their own illustrations for the project.
I have never used VoiceThread before (I'm not sure if this one is blocked in our district), but this example and some of the others I looked at gave me some ideas for how to use this with my students. In particular, I want to team up with one of our Title Reading teachers who pushes into our classrooms once a week. We can work a writing project together and then I could use the VoiceThread with my students to record them reading their writing. What a powerful tool to motivate students to write!
Just for Fun
I came upon this video on YouTube this past spring and it is one of my favorites! I shared it with my students and they wanted to (a) watch it again, and again, and again; (b) sing along; and (c) they wanted to know if our school could do this! What a great message for kids. The power of media!
No comments:
Post a Comment