I have learned so very much from this 23 Things class that it is hard to know where to begin. I had never before blogged although I had read the blogs of others. I can see the benefit of blogging and reading the blogs of others to gain and share knowledge, perspective, experience, to name a few. As a school social worker I have read student entries on MySpace and was surprised at the honesty and openness they showed when sharing their personal thoughts and feelings on the web.
I plan on taking a Learnport course or courses but have not decided on which one (s). I would like to explore the various capabilities of Google Docs to elicit information from staff and possibly parents. Podcast exploration will continue. I may attempt to incorporate the use of Slideshare's and videos as possibly a warm up activity in group or with individual students.
Overall, looking for ways to work smarter, not harder to make a difference with students, and to be a valuable resource in the buildings we service. Learning how to use the assorted Web 2.0 applications was not as overwhelming as hearing about them and trying to make sense of them. I think the video examples that were included in this class were invaluable!. I would recommend this class to others and have learned more than I ever thought I would.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Thing 22
I plan to continue to participate in additional online professional development and learning. The Summer 23 Things course was a very valuable learning experience, much more than I ever thought it would be. I enjoyed the self-paced learning which was based on my schedule, ability to focus, etc. and helped to optimize my learning.
In my experience it took more concentration to complete online professional development because I was able to learn and comprehend things based on my ability and willingness to concentrate and focus. The amount of time spent not focusing or being distracted during "live" professional development can be significant. When I am at home, I can attempt to learn something but if the timing is not right, I can try later when I am better able to concentrate.
I would enjoy more Web 2.0 training. I thought the examples given during this class were excellent and helpful and it broke down a seemingly overwhelming experience into one that was very manageable and doable. During this summer course I have learned things and done things that I have never done before including, blogging, participating in a wiki, imbedding widgets, slideshares, videos and audio. I activiely participated at the various web sites instead of merely visiting them!.
In my experience it took more concentration to complete online professional development because I was able to learn and comprehend things based on my ability and willingness to concentrate and focus. The amount of time spent not focusing or being distracted during "live" professional development can be significant. When I am at home, I can attempt to learn something but if the timing is not right, I can try later when I am better able to concentrate.
I would enjoy more Web 2.0 training. I thought the examples given during this class were excellent and helpful and it broke down a seemingly overwhelming experience into one that was very manageable and doable. During this summer course I have learned things and done things that I have never done before including, blogging, participating in a wiki, imbedding widgets, slideshares, videos and audio. I activiely participated at the various web sites instead of merely visiting them!.
Thing 21
The uses of online videos by myself, as a school social worker, are as endless as they are for a classroom teacher. When covering skills such as anger management it would be interesting to find and use videos showing the incorrect and correct ways to handle angry feelings. If I am discussing conflict resolution, I am certain there are videos addressing this topic as well. I would be limited by my own creativity, the appropriateness of the videos available, and access to websites. YouTube is blocked at my school.
There are some students who would rather we not talk/lecture and would prefer to be given content through videos only!! As previously stated in my blog, the use of videos to supplement the content of what is being discussed and taught can be a positive thing. The exclusive use of videos is no more beneficial than the stereotypical teacher we can all think of (based on personal or professional experience) who would rely on the frequent use of movies at the expense of actually teaching.
There are some students who would rather we not talk/lecture and would prefer to be given content through videos only!! As previously stated in my blog, the use of videos to supplement the content of what is being discussed and taught can be a positive thing. The exclusive use of videos is no more beneficial than the stereotypical teacher we can all think of (based on personal or professional experience) who would rely on the frequent use of movies at the expense of actually teaching.
Thing 20
Like with any medium a teacher uses in the classroom, there would be those students who enjoy podcasts and others who dislike them. Music, choir, symphony or band students would be able to be exposed to a limitless range of auditory information. Foreign language students could benefit from listening to native speakers and even creating podcasts using the language they are learning.
In terms of having students creating podcasts, it might be helpful to give them examples of the range of things they can do with podcasts. Group work and collaboration skills could be used as could independent learning skills where some students may thrive on working by themselves.
Personally and profesionally, I have been listening to podcasts for approximately two years. I enjoy the Social Work Podcast, and subscribe to several Las Vegas podcasts (all through iTunes). I look forward to the evenings when I am winding down as this is often the time I listen to the podcasts. I have not yet begun listening to them in the car, despite commuting almost 100 miles round trip each day. This is due more to technical issues (fm modulator for ipod use in car) than due to lack of interest.
In terms of having students creating podcasts, it might be helpful to give them examples of the range of things they can do with podcasts. Group work and collaboration skills could be used as could independent learning skills where some students may thrive on working by themselves.
Personally and profesionally, I have been listening to podcasts for approximately two years. I enjoy the Social Work Podcast, and subscribe to several Las Vegas podcasts (all through iTunes). I look forward to the evenings when I am winding down as this is often the time I listen to the podcasts. I have not yet begun listening to them in the car, despite commuting almost 100 miles round trip each day. This is due more to technical issues (fm modulator for ipod use in car) than due to lack of interest.
Thing 19
I listened to several podcasts related to my role as a school social worker, including The Social Work Podcast, The Autism Podcast and a Bipolar Disorder Podcast.
The Social Work Podcast is hosted/presented by a gentleman who has a background in music (jazz), he is a professional social worker and a doctoral student and adjunct college professor. His voice is pleasant to listen to and he appears to be up to date with social work best practices and current issues.
The Autism Podcast that I viewed and listened to had an advertisement on the home page for a type of software that was developed for the iPhone or iPod Touch that provided visual schedules for autistic students.
The Bipolar Podcast found at realmentalhealth.com was sponsored by a pharmaceutical company (Astra Zeneca). They had psychiatrists and patients who had bipolar disorder discussing symptoms, treatment, etc.
Not being in a classroom setting some of these questions for Thing 19 were more of a challenge to answer. If I were in a classroom setting I might explore interesting and relevant podcasts during classtime including surveying students about their interests and finding podcasts for them to listen to (or vodcasts for them to view and listen to) related to their interests. I can see the usefulness for podcasts/vodcasts as a supplement to the content area that was being covered in class.
The quality of sound being transmitted (via speakers) would be an important factor in the use of podcasts for the classroom as would quality of the speaker's voice. Using podcasts or vodcasts should not be the primary means used to teach in a classroom (on an everyday basis) but the use of these as supplemental tools could be beneficial.
The Social Work Podcast is hosted/presented by a gentleman who has a background in music (jazz), he is a professional social worker and a doctoral student and adjunct college professor. His voice is pleasant to listen to and he appears to be up to date with social work best practices and current issues.
The Autism Podcast that I viewed and listened to had an advertisement on the home page for a type of software that was developed for the iPhone or iPod Touch that provided visual schedules for autistic students.
The Bipolar Podcast found at realmentalhealth.com was sponsored by a pharmaceutical company (Astra Zeneca). They had psychiatrists and patients who had bipolar disorder discussing symptoms, treatment, etc.
Not being in a classroom setting some of these questions for Thing 19 were more of a challenge to answer. If I were in a classroom setting I might explore interesting and relevant podcasts during classtime including surveying students about their interests and finding podcasts for them to listen to (or vodcasts for them to view and listen to) related to their interests. I can see the usefulness for podcasts/vodcasts as a supplement to the content area that was being covered in class.
The quality of sound being transmitted (via speakers) would be an important factor in the use of podcasts for the classroom as would quality of the speaker's voice. Using podcasts or vodcasts should not be the primary means used to teach in a classroom (on an everyday basis) but the use of these as supplemental tools could be beneficial.
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