Digital Video

Many great video clips / streaming video are available on the web these days. Lessons can become more engaging when students are shown relevant (and recent) videos. Over the summer, I took Secondary Methods I. I wish I could have used a video clip to show examples of thermodynamic reactions. In my unit plan, I had a link to the Hindenburg disaster on my bulletin board - a classic exothermic reaction caught on film! There were so many great (and short) videos of explosions (exothermic reactions) and cooling (endothermic) reactions, that I wish I would have thought to make a montage of the different clips and burn a CD. I think it really would have driven home the lesson as well as kept everyone's attention.

I really like the idea of students making their own videos. From creating their own "Bill Nye" clips to simple podcasts, video is a hands-on way for students to learn about a subject and retell it in their own words. This type of interactive learning usually has a much better retention than traditional learning and is a great supplement for any "lecture".

I don't think video creation or vidoe showing is appropriate every day in the classroom, but I do think that it is a very valuable way to engage students and make them more interested in the lesson that is being taught.

Success with the Net Generation

Technology is a powerful tool which can be used to enhance a student's education. I agree with the Educause Chapter 8 in that technology shouldn't replace "traditional" learning. I think that lectures, discussions, small group activities, and hands-on labs still have their benefits in our educational system. However, I really liked some of the ideas for incorporating technology.

Two weeks ago, I found a web site that produced animations of chemical reactions. One of the section in Chapter 8 discussed using animations to clarify a process. I can see where this would definitely help visual learners absorb information, and I plan on keeping the website bookmark that I found!

I also really liked the idea of using website tools to replace some of the homework that students are given. Sometimes simply changing the mode of delivery can help motivate kids to complete their assignments!

I liked this chapter as it gave many good uses for technology in the classroom, yet acknowledged some of the limitations for its use. I think that, as in everything in life, using the proper tools at the proper time can make the difference between a "good" experience and a "WOW" experience. I hope that the use of these tools will allow me, as a secondary teacher, to better reach my teenage students.

To be a successful teacher to the Net Generation, I will have to keep technology in mind when planning my lessons and activities. I will try to incorporate some of the ideas presented in this chapter, along with other ideas I'm picking up from our class discussions, to keep my students interested in learning "more." I don't think it will be the easiest thing, as I am going to have to balance all my different teaching methods and make sure they correspond to my curriculum. However, I am optimistic that the work involved will lead to many positive results!