Glogster

Please click here to view my Glog.

Assignment Title: Glog

Uses in the Classroom: A Glog can be helpful in the classroom to create a one-stop-shop for several different types multimedia related to one topic. Glogster provides several pre-made layouts for easy and quick use.

In Kindergarten, the students would not be able to create a Glog independently. However, a Glog would be an easy way to have younger students check out different videos and images related to a topic of study, without having the students surfing the Internet. Older students could create their own Glog in place of a timeline, a book report, or any other presentation that students must create.


Issues to Consider:  Creating a Glog is not as easy as some other online multimedia tools and may cause frustration for students. Students may also not know the copyright laws for images and videos that they may want to use in their Glog. Teachers would have to set-up the time to create a Glog for the younger children to use for each topic that they were interested in presenting.

Copyright:  All sources are cited directly on the Glog or on the blog that is linked on the Glog.

Gliffy

Link to view Gliffy in a new window-

http://www.gliffy.com/go/publish/5411197

Assignment Title: Gliffy

Uses in the Classroom: A Gliffy can be helpful in the classroom when demonstrating to students how thoughts, ideas and concepts can be related to one another. Gliffy's website makes mind-mapping quick and easy. When presented on an interactive whiteboard mind-mapping could be done quickly by students of all ages.

In Kindergarten, the students would not be able to complete a mind-map on Gliffy independently. However, as mentioned above, an interactive whiteboard could be used to make a whole group map when a new concept is being presented or even when reviewing concepts previously taught. This could be most easily done with images. When having students use images, especially in Kindergarten, it would be most beneficial for the teacher to choose copyright appropriate photos and images ahead of time. Having the images loaded into a file on the computer would also help protect students from searching online. When the photos are pre-selected, the mind map could be used as an assessment for younger students as well.



Issues to Consider:  Not all students at a Kindergarten level will be able to complete a mind-map using software or websites. Some older students will also struggle with connecting their thoughts and ideas appropriately. If using a mind map as an assessment, a student may not clearly mark the connection between items. This can cause grading issues and frustration for the teacher and the student. Using Gliffy also requires an internet connection and a piece of technology capable of accessing the web and running the Gliffy website.

Copyright:  All sources are cited directly on the mind map created using Gliffy.

Image Editing

Assignment Title:  Image Editing

Uses in the Classroom: Image Editing in Photoshop or other image editing programs can be helpful in the classroom when creating communication tools for parents, images for your classroom website or just for everyday use. Creating animated GIF's can add to learning as well, especially if you are trying to focus attention on a particular item or point that you are trying to make.

In Kindergarten students are learning to differentiate between make-believe and reality. The students could be presented with several different images that have been altered in one way or another. After viewing the images, the students could analyze the images in groups to discuss whether it is real or make-believe. Students could also share their assigned image with the class and share their findings in a presentation form with their classmates.

I do not feel that it would be appropriate for the students to actually edit images in Kindergarten due to copyright issues and the one on one attention that a teacher would have to give to each individual student.


Issues to Consider:  Not all students at a Kindergarten level will be able to understand that images can be manipulated, edited and changed. Also changing and editing images can confuse younger students as well. Without proper guidance and discussions being held about what happened to the original image and copyright issues, students may take the work of others and use it with or without permission.

Copyright:  Original flower graphic can be found by clicking here. The image was taken by Balaji B. on June 12th, 2007.



Infographic

Assignment Title:  Infographic

Uses in the Classroom: Infographics are a great tool in the classroom to present information to students. Infographics can also be used as a communication tool with parents in regards to special events, weekly activities, fundraising information, etc. Infographics could also be created by students instead of a standard book report, Power Point presentation, or a speech!

After creating an infographic students could quickly analyze data, information and ideas being presented to them. Taking that information, students can create new thoughts, ask more questions and quickly identify important information. This particular infographic is intended to help parents, especially first time parents, understand how to go about enrolling their child in Kindergarten.


Issues to Consider:  Not all students learn best with visual information. Some students would benefit from hearing the information in audio form, rather than looking at a "poster" styled graphic with text. Also, some of the infographic creation websites have a free version and a paid version. Not all school districts or individual teachers can afford the fees, which limits what features are available for use.

Copyright:  All graphics were part of the www.Piktochart.com graphics library.

Online Instructional Video

Assignment Title:  Online Instructional Video

Uses in the Classroom:  Online instructional videos are a great tool in the classroom to capture student's attention and access prior knowledge that a student may have. This particular instructional video about mixing colors can be used as introduction to colors or even as a review for students who have been learning about colors. Ideally this would be presented to a Kindergarten class.

After showing the video, you could have students conduct many of their own explorations using different materials and mediums to do their own color mixing. You could also have students predict what would happen when mixing other colors together and analyze their results as well.


Issues to Consider:  Not all students learn best with visual and audio. Some students may benefit from a hands on activity as opposed to the video. Also, when relying on technology in a classroom, one must always have a plan B, which can create a brief moment of panic for the teacher or a moment of chaos with the students.

Copyright:  All photographs were taken by Jennifer Leik.

Music is credited at the end of the film on the credits list.

Screencast

Assignment Title:  ScreenCast

Uses in the Classroom:  A ScreenCast is a nice tool to have in a classroom to show students, adults or anyone how to complete a task. Having a ScreenCast is helpful for students who need a visual to help them with directions. Teaching in the Kindergarten classroom it is especially helpful to have a step by step visual for students. ScreenCast could also help when meeting with small groups, one group could work on the ScreenCast task and the other could meet with the teacher.

Issues to Consider:  Not all students learn best with visual and audio. Some students would also be working ahead or clicking on different buttons just to see what they do. If a teacher doesn't have access to several computers, some tasks would not be able to be done by all students at the same time (small group or one on one time), but that can lead to confusion with some students.

Copyright:  Microsoft Word was used during this presentation.

Digital Storytelling

Assignment Title: Digital Storytelling

Uses in the Classroom:  One could use digital storytelling in a classroom to introduce a topic, have students complete their own presentations or even document a field trip or other special occasion. Due to the fact that I teach Kindergarten this would have to be a teacher-led activity, but would be a fun project to share with parents.

Once this particular Digital Storytelling was shared, the teacher could approach germs in several manners. Students could create their own germs. "Glo-germs" and a black light could be used to allow students to analyze how quickly germs can spread. The possibilities are endless!

Issues to Consider:  Teaching at the Kindergarten level, this type of presentation isn't as easy for young children to use. Also, not all students have access to a computer with a microphone for recording or a digital camera to take pictures with. If a presentation was created at home, copyright laws may not be followed by all parents.

Copyright:  All photographs in this video were taken by Jennifer Leik. Credits for the music used can be found on the ending credits of the video.

EDU 642 Fotobabble

Assignment Title:  Fotobabbble

Uses in the Classroom:  Fotobabble could be used in a classroom to leave students a message when the teacher was not present. Fotobabble could also be used as a way to introduce yourself to students on the first day of school. Having a Smartboard in my classroom, I could also use Fotobabble to show interesting pictures as a new subject was introduced in the classroom.

Issues to Consider:  Not all students would have access to the tools needed to create a Fotobabble. Students would need to have access to a computer, microphone, digital photo and Internet access.  Also, I teach Kindergarten, so in order for students to safely use Fotobabble parental permission and strict adult supervision would be required to protect the student.

Copyright:  The photo was taken by Marisa Henry from Photos by Marisa Henry out of Ionia, Michigan, in October 2013. Copyright was released by the photographer to the author of this blog.