I had been an avid user of myspace...with all of its spiffy layouts and crazy stalkers. It is funny how different the experience has been with facebook given that the two are very similar and serve similar purposes. I think that in many ways the difference has been how facebook is advertised (as a way to communicate with those friends that you already know). It has focused on the downfalls of myspace and combated them with primarily advertising.
One significant difference is that facebook does not (at least to the same extent) allow for its users to design the layout of their pages. I think that this does change the focus...instead of having to worry about advertising yourself or how you are presenting yourself through layout (like one has to do on myspace), everyone is the same. The focus is not on what your background is; the focus is instead on your content, the writing that is on the page. As an English person, I am fond of this fact. :)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
How might you apply the ideas summarized by Karppinen when using videos in your teaching? Describe (or provide a link to) an example of a videoclip that you might incorporate into a lesson, or a video-production project that you might ask your students to complete, and explain how you would use this videoclip/project to achieve a particular learning objective.
Karppinen states: "The value of the tools (e.g., online videos) lies in the ways they are put to use in real life teaching, studying, and learning situations." There are numerous videos and clips that are available online that used to not be easily accessible. Of course, as Karppinen states, the vastness of this resource means nothing without what is utilized being relevant. I agree that it is only with relevancy and good methods that such online videos can be incorporated into the classroom in a meaningful and productive way.
I have incorporated an online video clip into a lesson in my classroom before. My class was studying world religions and the social significance of religion in the world and, more specifically, in the United States. I showed my class an online video clip from a debate that President Obama had while he was running for Senator a few years ago. In this debate the devoutness of President Obama was at issue. After the video, I engaged my students with the question: "Why does it even matter that Obama is Christian at all (let alone why he is devout)?". We also discussed why Obama's middle name had been controversial in the United States and what implications such intolerance has. The video was able to engage my students with the issue in a way that I do not think I could have otherwise. It was a fantastic way to begin a discussion on an issue which is so complex.
Karppinen states: "The value of the tools (e.g., online videos) lies in the ways they are put to use in real life teaching, studying, and learning situations." There are numerous videos and clips that are available online that used to not be easily accessible. Of course, as Karppinen states, the vastness of this resource means nothing without what is utilized being relevant. I agree that it is only with relevancy and good methods that such online videos can be incorporated into the classroom in a meaningful and productive way.
I have incorporated an online video clip into a lesson in my classroom before. My class was studying world religions and the social significance of religion in the world and, more specifically, in the United States. I showed my class an online video clip from a debate that President Obama had while he was running for Senator a few years ago. In this debate the devoutness of President Obama was at issue. After the video, I engaged my students with the question: "Why does it even matter that Obama is Christian at all (let alone why he is devout)?". We also discussed why Obama's middle name had been controversial in the United States and what implications such intolerance has. The video was able to engage my students with the issue in a way that I do not think I could have otherwise. It was a fantastic way to begin a discussion on an issue which is so complex.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Think about the teaching strengths and weaknesses that you would like to highlight or receive feedback on for your PACT videotaped lesson. How could you capture those aspects of your teaching on video in a meaningful way that would demonstrate your teaching philosophy for your portfolio?
Of course I do not want to highlight my weaknesses in my PACT video. And I think that is one of the nice things about being video taped...you are able to truly look bakc at a lesson and "see" what you need to work on. I would hope that, through seeing oneself on video, we are all able to learn and improve. I often think that I am my own worst critic, but I also see that it would be helpful to get the feedback of others on my video.
I have not yet done my video-taping, so I am trying to ensure that when I do tape that I will be doing a lesson that I am proud of and that reflects my teaching style. I think that my strengths are in being clear and compassionate. I also love incorporating art into the class when possible. Minimizing my in front of the room time is also something that I strive for. I hated nothing more than being talked at for an hour straight when I was in school. I try everyday to be the teacher that I would have liked to have when I was in school-rather than the teacher that I think I "should be". It is so easy when you are the one in front to forget how hard it is to sit still through a period of lecturing (let alone a whole day of it). I hope that these are all strengths that I will be able to communicate in my PACT taped lesson. :)
Of course I do not want to highlight my weaknesses in my PACT video. And I think that is one of the nice things about being video taped...you are able to truly look bakc at a lesson and "see" what you need to work on. I would hope that, through seeing oneself on video, we are all able to learn and improve. I often think that I am my own worst critic, but I also see that it would be helpful to get the feedback of others on my video.
I have not yet done my video-taping, so I am trying to ensure that when I do tape that I will be doing a lesson that I am proud of and that reflects my teaching style. I think that my strengths are in being clear and compassionate. I also love incorporating art into the class when possible. Minimizing my in front of the room time is also something that I strive for. I hated nothing more than being talked at for an hour straight when I was in school. I try everyday to be the teacher that I would have liked to have when I was in school-rather than the teacher that I think I "should be". It is so easy when you are the one in front to forget how hard it is to sit still through a period of lecturing (let alone a whole day of it). I hope that these are all strengths that I will be able to communicate in my PACT taped lesson. :)
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