Teaching Strategies that Incorporate the use of Podcasting or Audio in the Classroom

I have come up with 5 teaching strategies and classroom activities that incorporate student and teacher created audio content. They may include podcasting and/or audio in the classroom.

1. Voki

Voki is an educational tool created by Oddcast that allows users to create their very own talking character. Voki characters can be customized to look like historical figures, cartoons, animals, and even yourself! Give your Voki a voice by recording with a microphone, using a dial-in number, or uploading an audio file. Voki characters can be emailed, shared on social media, and embedded on websites!

There is also a Voki Classroom which is a student, class, and lesson management system. With Voki Classroom, teachers are able to control their students’ privacy settings. You can use Voki/Voki Classroom to assign class work, homework, or projects. If you need ideas or tips, there are links to look at, interactive lesson plans & activities online. There is also a Voki Blog with activities. 

For more information you can visit http://voki.com/

An example of a talking Voki character that was created is below! 

2. Raz Kids

RAZ-Kids is an interactive reading tool for students to practice reading fluency and comprehension.  The students have a log in and a password to get into their reading account and as a teacher you are able to monitor the students' progress and change their reading level.  These levels are all individually based on each child's reading level and are adjusted to reflect their abilities.  The students can listen to a story, read a story out loud, record themselves reading, and then take a comprehension quiz. I have seen this used in the classroom and children look forward to reading at school and at home. They are able to earn points to buy things on the program like Webkins which is very popular with younger students.

For login information check out: http://www.raz-kids.com/main/Login

3. StoryMaker for Social Stories

The iTunes app called “StoryMaker for Social Stories” allows students to create and present stories. For use with an iPad students can create as many stories as they’d like. They are able to use pictures and write text. Then they can add audio by adding custom voice recordings to each page. If they wish, students can also activate one of the 10+ Text-to-Speech voices to read the text aloud. This is a great resource to allow students to use their story making skills and includes audio in the creation and presentation of the story. The activity can be used across all grades as well.

The iTunes Preview and description can be seen and purchased at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/storymaker-for-social-stories/id570007786?mt=8

4. GarageBand

As long as the school or you, the teacher have access to a Mac you can use the GarageBand app. It is a music studio that allows users to make professional, high quality podcast & audio recordings. Students can use existing mp3 audio files that they have recorded or the built-in mic in the program to record whatever they wish. Then there are sound effects or Apple “Loops” to enhance the podcast to add background beats, noise or sound effects. The program gives students the opportunity to drag and drop audio files into the podcast track, edit and then export the file. The program can be used as a way for students to complete an assignment, they could all be required to create their own podcast about information on a certain topic. They will edit the podcast by adding audio files to the track and then can publish them on a blog or website for you to mark and other students to listen to. This is a great tool to create a cross-curricular connection to music as well.

Click the following links for help and support: 

Podcasting video tutorials forGarageBand

The AppleGarageBand Support Page” 

5. VoiceThread

VoiceThread is an online presentation platform. This program allows students and the teacher to upload pictures to the presentation that is being created and record audio within the presentation to accompany the uploaded pictures. It's a great digital storytelling tool that enables users to upload pictures or documents, record accompanying audio (or video) commentary, and invite their classmates and the teacher to record commentary as well. This resource can be easily used in the classroom in lessons or assignments such students can be required to create virtual tours, report on books they've read, comment on historically significant photographs, or even debate a topic. To get started you have to register at: http://voicethread.com/

Check out the following tutorial to help you get started!

Tools that can be used to record and share audio

I've created a podcast giving my thoughts on "Tools that can be used to record and share audio". Feel free to listen and let me know your thoughts or any other tools you may prefer.

Resources to check out!

You can browse these resources I found and linked to my Delicious account under my "Audio in the Classroom" Bundle. Feel free to comment or suggest others!

Use of audio as an instructional tool in the classroom

I think the use of audio in the classroom is a great resource to use as a learning tool for students! Oftentimes students learn best when taught using different methods of instruction and audio is a great way to get students engaged. Students learn skills differently and have diverse learning styles as well. They can have a visual, kinesthetic or auditory learning style and lessons should be tailored to try and accommodate for them. It may be difficult to incorporate all styles into every lesson taught but all should be used across different subjects and topics where they can be. Auditory learning is a learning style in which a person learns through listening. These learners use hearing and speaking as a main way of learning rather than reading, seeing or using their hands.

More specifically audio can be used to record the directions for an assignment or lesson that is taught and students can listen to it. Directions for tests can be recorded as well. I have learned that in Moodle audio can be embedded into an online quiz or assignment using Audacity. This way students can both read and listen to instructions which is more beneficial to all types of learning styles. More students may be inclined to listen to the entire lecture or assignment rather than just skimming through the information that is written in front of them.

Technology Tools and Resources worth looking at!

Technology tools and resources are becoming more and more prevalent and important in the classroom every day.  Three specific resources I would like to share and review their impact on teaching and learning in the k-12 setting include:

1. SMART Boards

SMART Boards are becoming more popular in classrooms these days. They are interactive whiteboards that work using touch from a finger, pen or any other solid object. You can write on them, or hook up to the computer to play videos and games. They can be used across all grades from k-12 for a range of subjects. The Smart Board works with any program loaded or available on the computer hooked up to it. Some applications that teachers use with the Smart Board are Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Word. Lesson plans can be exchanged online for teachers to use especially designed for Smart Boards. This is called SMART Exchange and can be found by clicking on the following link: http://exchange.smarttech.com/#tab=0

2. Glogster

http://www.glogster.com/

Glogster is a resource that using blogging as the means of information. Students are able to create blogs or in this case “glogs” where there can share their thoughts, opinions and use different types of media as well. They can include pictures, videos and links from other sites. Students are able to create posters of whatever topic they want or need to as well for projects. An example of a poster that a students created for a book report on "The Napping House" looks like..

 This is a great resource to be used in the classroom as teachers can set up an account to register and include the entire class. This resource is free to register with and use and allows for monitoring by the teacher as well. Blogging is a resource that allows students to share their information and view and learn from viewing others. They can post specific things for assignments or subjects or blog freely. The resource can be used cross curricular. This also can provide a gateway for further blogging use that students may want to do outside of the classroom as well.

3. Desire2Learn

http://www.desire2learn.com/

I am using this resource I posted in an earlier post but I just feel it is such a good tool to use in classrooms with students. This Learning Management System can be used in and out of the classroom which makes it flexible for learning. Desire2Learn provides easy-to-use teacher interfaces to setup and deliver course material. There are online tests and polls to provide instant student feedback. Forums or wikis can allow students to work together in-class or from home on projects and homework as well.

This type of learning can be used across all grade levels but would seem to be more prevalent and useful in the higher grades where students can do courses online and have more access to the internet and computer. This System resource is similar to WebCT and Sakai that I used at Western during my undergrad and Isaak used for this course. Course material is delivered online and the system allows users to interact with your teacher and fellow students in the class. It is a new and improved technological way of delivering and managing course material and assignments in the classroom!

Google+ vs. Open Office

I’m assuming the Google Account is the same as my Google Plus account and can be found at lstewa33@gmail.com  I have only started recently using Google plus and only just heard of open office but both have a variety of resources to offer users and are both free to download, create accounts and use. Open Office is very similar to Microsoft Office with the ability to create word documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Once you create your own account you are able to create and share different templates which is a great resource for students as well as teachers. There are resumes you can work off of, graph paper, music paper to download to name a few. Open Office is free and has the basics of a MS Office package although does not offer as many features. The Add-ons that came with the software download were the only pain (this may have just been with my download though).

Google+ seems to me to be more user friendly but I may be biased because have used this tool for longer and am more comfortable with its features. It acts as more of a blog and email where sharing information is easier.  This tool I would implement more in the classroom. Circles can be created with students in particular classes in which information can be shared within. All students can have access to their own accounts and passwords and can upload information as they wish or need to for school work purposes. Teachers can upload information for parents as well. Emails can also be exchanged between users for easier communication purposes. A great feature is the hangouts where you can make circles of people you are working with and can a video chat with them, group mobile messaging or even Google chat.

Did You Know?

The Ontario Software Acquisition Program Advisory Committee (OSAPAC) works in collaboration with the Ministry of Education to strengthen partnerships and facilitate access to and the use of quality digital resources to support digital learning and teaching in Ontario. You are able to search for different software, see connections to curriculum and resources and links available. Here is a link to some of the software available for download and use in schools: http://www.osapac.org/db/software_search.php?lang=en

In the Halton Catholic District School Board there are many resources available across the elementary and secondary grades. There is also many library resources available at every school and online. Resources can be found within a database on the board’s website. Categories range from all different subjects to include web tools and apps as well. Each of the specific categories includes links for different reference centres, websites and information. 

Click for Elementary Resources and Secondary Resources

Library Services provide resources as well.

Blended Learning vs. E-learning

E-learning occurs where students are physically separate from their teacher and classmates. Learning occurs through things such as: Digital course materials, online discussions, e-mail, instant messages, blogs, news announcements, online calendar, drop boxes, online grade tools are used and even through the use of web conferences.

Blended learning occurs within a face-to-face class that happens at a specific place and time. Blended learning combines the support of classroom learning with the flexibility of e-learning. It can occur in a school computer lab, where students have the ability to access and complete course content online and consult with their teachers on specific projects or topics. Computers and other devices are used to work on and complete assignments before submitting them to their teachers.

Here’s a great and informative video to explain the fundamentals of Blended learning! It uses examples and pictures. It’s a little monotone and dry but explains the concept well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xMqJmMcME0

Examples of Blended Learning:

Primary: http://wonderopolis.org/

Wonderopolis is a website and blog where each day, an intriguing question is posted and explored different ways. This is a way to both inform and encourage new questions, sparking new paths of wonder and discovery in family, students and classroom settings. This extends learning beyond just the classroom using technology. This service is excellent as an information source for students with learning disabilities as no signup or direct work is needed to be done to use it. There is also a function that you can click on paragraphs, sentences or even single words and the computer reads them out to you.

Junior: http://www.desire2learn.com/

This Learning Management System can be used in and out of the classroom now for students. Desire2Learn provides easy-to-use teacher interfaces to setup and deliver course material. Features include: online tests, polls to provide instant student feedback, while collaborative tools like forums or wikis can allow students to work together in-class or from home.

This type of learning is similar to WebCT and Sakai that I used at Western during my undergrad. Also Isaak for this course! They are used to deliver course material and be able to interact with your teacher and fellow students in the class. They can run courses that occur fully online (which isn’t used yet for Junior level courses) or create what is necessary to have blended courses.

Intermediate: http://www.slideshare.net/

SlideShare is a slide hosting service. Offers users the ability to upload and share publicly or privately PowerPoint presentations, Word documents and Adobe PDF Portfolios. This is a beneficial service for ELL students as well because it is used globally and can be shared in different languages and content.

Fair Use and Creative Commons

What is the role of the teacher when it pertains to learning and understanding 21st Century tools? 

This is a complex question but I believe teachers should be required to not only know about the uses of different technological tools in the classroom but also use them. The role of the teacher pertaining to learning and understanding 21^st Century tools is to incorporate these methods of learning in the classroom and use them to enhance their student’s learning. This should be done by modeling these tools and using them appropriately as well. As teachers we must “practice what we preach” or in this case “teach”. Students learn by example and WE are that example.

Teachers must also teach students of the appropriate use of these information tools when using them in the classroom and for their work. By teaching students about referencing and academic honesty we can avoid the danger of plagiarism that often is a danger when it comes to using information gathered. We can show students examples of plagiarism and then even give students assignments, where they can be able to properly learn correct ways to cite and use references in their work. Youth of the 21^st Century have been growing up using technology but may not be aware that using someone else’s work obtained on the internet is a problem. Don’t get me wrong, technology has made information gathering easy and a way to enhance learning but with every positive there may be a hidden negative. It  is our job as teachers to teach our students of these implications and how to avoid them. We must make students think critically of these tools and ways of using them, so they don’t take advantage of or even be taken advantage of.

A good site to check out for more information on Creative Commons http://creativecommons.ca/

How do 21st Century Teaching and Learning Practices Relate?

The Standards of Practice for teaching include: a Commitment to Students and Student Learning, Professional Knowledge, Professional Practice, Leadership in Learning Communities and Ongoing Professional Learning.

The purposes of the Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession as noted in the document are:

-to inspire a shared vision for the teaching profession;

-to identify the values, knowledge and skills that are distinctive to the teaching profession;

-to guide the professional judgment and actions of the teaching profession; and

-to promote a common language that fosters an understanding of what it means to be a member of the teaching profession.

The Ethical Standards for the teaching profession include: Care which includes compassion, acceptance, interest and insight for developing students' potential. Respect in which members model and show trust and fair-mindedness in relation to concepts such as cultural values and freedom. Trust isrepresented through fairness, openness and honesty. Integrity is embodied by members through honesty, reliability and moral actions.

Similar to the Standards of Practice the purposes of Ethical Standards for teaching as noted in the OCT document are:

-to inspire members to reflect and uphold the honour and dignity of the teaching profession;

-to identify the ethical responsibilities and commitments in the teaching profession;

-to guide ethical decisions and actions in the teaching profession; and

-to promote public trust and confidence in the teaching profession.

21st Century teaching and learning practices can be directly related to the Standards of Practise and Ethical standards for teaching in many ways in and outside of the classroom. As teachers we have the responsibility of not only teaching the curriculum to our students but to do this in the best ways possible. This is evident in specifically the ethical standard of care in which as members we should make sure to express our commitment to students' well-being and learning through our compassion and knowledge. We should always be looking out for their best interests and helping them achieve their goals to their greatest potentials.  In this day in age technology has become a major asset to accomplish just that. These responsibilities are evident in the ethical standards outlined to teachers. We need to be caring and respectful to our students and in turn they will be reciprocal.

Overall, Student learning is not created through the use of technology but as the 21^st century is progressing so are the means of information and processing. As students learn with the aid of different resources, so we must learn with them. The Standards of Practice for teaching include: a Commitment to Students and Student Learning, Professional Knowledge and Ongoing Professional Learning. We must be dedicated to in our care and commitment to students learning and must make sure to strive to provide the best learning strategies possible for students. This means constant change and development with the times. As SmartBoards are being introduced into the classroom along with iPads and E-readers we must allow students to learn with them.

The Professional Advisory provides a context for the responsible, professional use of electronic communication and social media in which students and their lives are intertwined with across all ages. Education is broadening with the use of these types of media and with this so does the misuse. As teachers it is important to not only teach your students of the dangers and implications when using these types of media but to also know yourself as a professional. The advisory goes over profession vs. private distinctions, vulnerability we may be subject to, as well as ways to minimize the risks. Social media is a great way to share information over the internet and involve and connect with your students as long as you are aware of your boundaries and act professionally.