Today I learned of a website possessing much potential for supplementing classroom instruction. It can engage students of all ages, in all curricular areas, in an audio-visual manner. The website: "WatchKnow - Videos for Kids to Learn From. Organized" The URL: http://www.watchknow.org
What is WatchKnow? From the website: "Imagine hundreds of thousands of great short videos, and other media, explaining every topic taught to school kids. Imagine them rated and sorted into a giant Directory, making them simple to find. WatchKnow--as in, "You watch, you know"--is a non-profit online community devoted to this goal."
After exploring this site, I have to agree that it is well organized and intuitive to navigate. With a library of over 12,000 audio-visual resources, there's a strong likelihood you'll find something that you can put to use!
Marion County educators: It wouldn't hurt to begin collecting a list of websites providing resources similar to those hosted at WatchKnow. You never know when access to the heavily used "UnitedStreaming" website we're all familiar with will become a thing of the past (hint, hint, HINT).
Other sites of this nature?
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Remote Observation of Interns & Student Teachers
Not long ago a supervising faculty member from an institution of higher education contacted me. She indicated that she had over 8 students to observe in our district alone...17 miles from her location...not including those from other districts. Combined with the others she has to observe, that amounts to a LOT of driving.
She asked if there was a way to observe them online in real time so as to cut down on driving time and make the observation process more time and cost-effective. There is! Using Web 2.0 technology, it's entirely possible, low-cost, and easy to implement with a minimum of effort.
Needed:
1. An Internet connection on each end (observer and student at remote location). Wireless will do but wired is preferable.
2. Web cam: Built-in web cams come with most newer laptops. Those in the $25-$40 range should serve this purpose well. Read the user reviews. Buy a recognized name rand. I've used the MACALLY USB 2.0 Video Web Camera with Microphone (http://preview.tinyurl.com/webicecam) with great success. Cost as of this posting: $27.92
3. A headphone with and microscope boom. My personal preference: CYBER ACOUSTICS OEM STEREO HEADSET from http://tinyurl.com/cyberacoustics Cost as of this posting: $6.95.
4. Software: Skype or Oovoo. In our district, we're using Oovoo. Both applications are free.
5. Optional but highly recommended: A USB extension cable enabling the web cam to be manually held and used to track the student teacher as he or she moves throughout the classroom. This can be done by the school classroom's cooperating teacher.
Following the remote observation session, the remote observer and the student can hold a debriefing session using the same videoteleconferencing software. If a "premium" plan is purchased, capabilities exist to record and capture the entire session to be saved as a movie file for inclusion in the student's digital portfolio.
Oovoo has such capabilities.
She asked if there was a way to observe them online in real time so as to cut down on driving time and make the observation process more time and cost-effective. There is! Using Web 2.0 technology, it's entirely possible, low-cost, and easy to implement with a minimum of effort.
Needed:
1. An Internet connection on each end (observer and student at remote location). Wireless will do but wired is preferable.
2. Web cam: Built-in web cams come with most newer laptops. Those in the $25-$40 range should serve this purpose well. Read the user reviews. Buy a recognized name rand. I've used the MACALLY USB 2.0 Video Web Camera with Microphone (http://preview.tinyurl.com/webicecam) with great success. Cost as of this posting: $27.92
3. A headphone with and microscope boom. My personal preference: CYBER ACOUSTICS OEM STEREO HEADSET from http://tinyurl.com/cyberacoustics Cost as of this posting: $6.95.
4. Software: Skype or Oovoo. In our district, we're using Oovoo. Both applications are free.
5. Optional but highly recommended: A USB extension cable enabling the web cam to be manually held and used to track the student teacher as he or she moves throughout the classroom. This can be done by the school classroom's cooperating teacher.
Following the remote observation session, the remote observer and the student can hold a debriefing session using the same videoteleconferencing software. If a "premium" plan is purchased, capabilities exist to record and capture the entire session to be saved as a movie file for inclusion in the student's digital portfolio.
Oovoo has such capabilities.
Friday, November 13, 2009
MusicNotes -WOW!
It's been some time since my last post. Things have been QUITE busy with technology here in the district. However, this afternoon I have a few minutes to speak about the arts and a multi-modal software tool called "MusicNotes".
The program is free. The executable install file is about 11 Mb in size. It's available from http://www.musicnotes.com/download/suite/default.asp The program will open music, play it, and highlight the notes as they're being played. The tempo can be adjusted to suit one's reading speed.
Sheet music can be ordered in downloadable digital format, printed, and played within the program. The cost is comparable to purchasing it from a retailer. I've used it for weddings and church related music. It's extremely powerful and feature-packed. The library of music available is substantial, including several genres.
The program also has a "Guitar Guru" that will guide one through the basics of playing the music shown on the computer screen. Pretty "suite"! Give this suite a try. You won't be disappointed!
The program is free. The executable install file is about 11 Mb in size. It's available from http://www.musicnotes.com/download/suite/default.asp The program will open music, play it, and highlight the notes as they're being played. The tempo can be adjusted to suit one's reading speed.
Sheet music can be ordered in downloadable digital format, printed, and played within the program. The cost is comparable to purchasing it from a retailer. I've used it for weddings and church related music. It's extremely powerful and feature-packed. The library of music available is substantial, including several genres.
The program also has a "Guitar Guru" that will guide one through the basics of playing the music shown on the computer screen. Pretty "suite"! Give this suite a try. You won't be disappointed!
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