Saturday, April 28, 2012
Blog Reflection 13
Friday was our last class of the semester. We were fortunate to have Mrs. Riley come to speak to us about SMART Board technology. She began by showing us the basic features of a SMART Board and the SMART software. Mrs. Riley showed us how to use images already in the gallery of the program and also how to add images into the program. After she showed us the basic functions of the SMART Board, Mrs. Riley explained to us how SMART software can be used to create lessons. She showed us a few games that she had made herself. I find it extremely useful to be able to edit the games that are preexisting in the SMART software to make games that are relevant to the subject you are teaching.
I sincerely hope that the classroom I find myself teaching in has a SMART Board. Each time I learn more about the technology I think of more and more uses for it in my lessons. I hope that in the coming years I continue to learn more about how the software and its seemingly infinite uses. I only hope we could have spent a bit more time on this in our class.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Blog Reflection 12
This week in class we began by discussing how videos can be used in the classroom because some people expressed that they didn't feel it was necessary. We viewed some online video channels of different music educators. The next thing we talked about were podcasts. Podcasts are video or audio from a specific group or person that others can subscribe to. We were then assigned a project to do an interview and make it a podcast on podomatic.
I think that podcasts are an avenue that can be used execute the idea that I presented in last week's blog post. Last week I expressed that it may be useful to make videos interviewing students about what they are learning so that their parents can view them. The best way to show them to parents is to have them subscribe to your podcast. This makes it easier for parents to see what is going on in their children's lives at school. This idea isn't limited to the music classroom. I do feel that it is most useful for the music classroom, though, because the credibility of music classes is questioned more often than that of other academic classes.
I think that podcasts are an avenue that can be used execute the idea that I presented in last week's blog post. Last week I expressed that it may be useful to make videos interviewing students about what they are learning so that their parents can view them. The best way to show them to parents is to have them subscribe to your podcast. This makes it easier for parents to see what is going on in their children's lives at school. This idea isn't limited to the music classroom. I do feel that it is most useful for the music classroom, though, because the credibility of music classes is questioned more often than that of other academic classes.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Blog Reflection 11
Friday's class was devoted to video recording and editing. The program that we focused on using was iMovie. Professor Riley recorded a short interview with a student for material to use to demonstrate how to use iMovie. We learned about b-roll, which is footage that is shown while audio from another video is being played. Professor Riley went through the process of editing the video that he had taped in class so that we understood what to do for our own assignment.
After class I began thinking of practical applications for filming videos in a classroom. I came up with a couple of options. First, I thought it could be used as a way to inform parents of what has been going on in the class. The students would be interviewed about what they have been learning and the video could be posted online for their parents to see. Another idea that I had was music videos. There are many opportunities for composition in a middle school classroom, and it would be even more exciting for the students if they were able to add their own video.
I did think, though, that it may have been a little more useful to cover at least some of Windows Movie Maker. I do understand that our computers in the lab are Macs and do not have this program. That being said, I feel that more classrooms are equipped with PCs than Macs and it may have been worthwhile to cover the use of a different program.
After class I began thinking of practical applications for filming videos in a classroom. I came up with a couple of options. First, I thought it could be used as a way to inform parents of what has been going on in the class. The students would be interviewed about what they have been learning and the video could be posted online for their parents to see. Another idea that I had was music videos. There are many opportunities for composition in a middle school classroom, and it would be even more exciting for the students if they were able to add their own video.
I did think, though, that it may have been a little more useful to cover at least some of Windows Movie Maker. I do understand that our computers in the lab are Macs and do not have this program. That being said, I feel that more classrooms are equipped with PCs than Macs and it may have been worthwhile to cover the use of a different program.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Blog Reflection 10
Today's class was taught by Dr. Ryan. He explained to us all about Smart Music. This is a program that I was vaguely familiar with before today's class, but I learned much more about it's useful features. The only encounter I had with Smart Music in the past was in elementary school. We used Smart Music with examples from our methods books so we could see what we were doing wrong. I was unaware that Smart Music had an accompaniment feature, since I had not used it. I find this to be extremely helpful, especially since you can get the accompaniment to follow the player.
Another useful feature of Smart Music that I found is the ability to loop certain parts of the music so that one section can be practiced over and over again. This would be especially helpful for pieces of music where a group was having trouble with one passage. If each student had access to Smart Music, they could review their part many times on their own with the program, and then be able to play it more successfully with the group.
The third feature that I liked about Smart Music is the ability to import Finale files into Smart Music. This is useful for pieces that aren't in the Smart Music library or audiation exercises. Smart Music is a great tool, and I'm glad that it is so affordable and easy to obtain. Since I only had limited knowledge of this program, today's class was extremely useful. I may have otherwise dismissed Smart Music because I wasn't aware of all of it's features. I will now consider it as a tool in my future classroom(s).
Another useful feature of Smart Music that I found is the ability to loop certain parts of the music so that one section can be practiced over and over again. This would be especially helpful for pieces of music where a group was having trouble with one passage. If each student had access to Smart Music, they could review their part many times on their own with the program, and then be able to play it more successfully with the group.
The third feature that I liked about Smart Music is the ability to import Finale files into Smart Music. This is useful for pieces that aren't in the Smart Music library or audiation exercises. Smart Music is a great tool, and I'm glad that it is so affordable and easy to obtain. Since I only had limited knowledge of this program, today's class was extremely useful. I may have otherwise dismissed Smart Music because I wasn't aware of all of it's features. I will now consider it as a tool in my future classroom(s).
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Blog Reflection 9
The topic that most interested me in class this week was gamification. This term means taking mundane tasks and making them game-like in order to create more interest and motivation. There are many places where gamification can be useful. We are, obviously, most interested in its effect on education. Using games as a part of teaching helps students to view what they are learning as fun, and not as work. Games also give students a chance to try over and over again to better grasp a concept, it gives them a chance to learn at their own pace.
Gamification is also used in fitness. The Nintendo Wii and the X-Box Kinect have released countless games that make working out playful. Instead of doing a boring routine, players can compete against each other to exciting music. Some of these games are aimed at exercise, such as Zumba or Wii Fitness, but others just seem to be games that are unrelated to exercise, but are still physically demanding.
A third place where gamification is used is in marketing. Companies use "games" to keep their customers coming back. One example of this is punch cards. Many businesses have punch cards that reward the customer for each new purchase they make. This causes the customer to keep returning because when they reach a certain number of punches, they usually get something for free. Some companies have competitions that give out prizes, or certain percentage discount. These competitions usually take place online, so there is an influx of traffic onto such company's website. I feel that these methods are extremely effective. People are always looking to better themselves, and competition and gamification plays to that fact, and other benefits come of its use.
Gamification is also used in fitness. The Nintendo Wii and the X-Box Kinect have released countless games that make working out playful. Instead of doing a boring routine, players can compete against each other to exciting music. Some of these games are aimed at exercise, such as Zumba or Wii Fitness, but others just seem to be games that are unrelated to exercise, but are still physically demanding.
A third place where gamification is used is in marketing. Companies use "games" to keep their customers coming back. One example of this is punch cards. Many businesses have punch cards that reward the customer for each new purchase they make. This causes the customer to keep returning because when they reach a certain number of punches, they usually get something for free. Some companies have competitions that give out prizes, or certain percentage discount. These competitions usually take place online, so there is an influx of traffic onto such company's website. I feel that these methods are extremely effective. People are always looking to better themselves, and competition and gamification plays to that fact, and other benefits come of its use.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Blog Reflection 8
Today's class focused on equipment that might be necessary for your music room. One of the things that was discussed at length was a PA system. Professor Riley showed us a Fender Passport PA system. This system was extremely compact, and seems like something that would be extremely useful for the classroom setting because of its simplicity and size.
The next item was a mixing board. Professor Riley showed us a couple of different mixing boards and explained how to adjust the pre-amp before adjusting the volumes on all of the channels. Adjusting the volume on each individual channel is to achieve a better balance in an ensemble.
Professor Riley showed us a small keyboard called a Korg Nanokey. This is a tiny musical keyboard, even smaller than most computer keyboards. I feel that it would work best for schools that didn't use keyboards often, but still needed them for the students. It was explained to us that the school Mrs. Riley teaches at has large Casio keyboards that they only use about once a year. These "nano" keyboards would be a cheaper, and much more compact, way of using keyboards in a classroom, especially when they don't get used very often.
We finished off class by looking at the purchase orders that Mrs. Riley has made over the past couple of years. It was interesting to see how much is actually purchased, and what is needed or useful in the classroom. Using a spreadsheet to sort out all of the different purchases is a great way to keep finances neat and organized.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Blog Reflection 7
This Friday the topic of Intellectual Property was discussed. I learned a few things that I was not already aware of. The first thing that I learned, and found rather interesting, was how long copyrights last. A copyright lasts for the life of the creator plus 70 years. It makes me think about some recent artists who have passed away. I wonder what will become of the music of Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson in 70 years when the copyrights on their music are expired.
I also learned that there are two types of copyrights for music. The copyright "c" covers the music itself and also the lyrics. The copyright "p" covers the recordings of the music. I was unaware of the fact that there were separate copyrights for each of these aspects. I thought one copyright covered all of the music.
I also learned about fair use. I know now the conditions under which fair use can be argued are education, parody, research, criticism, and news reporting. I also learned that fair use cannot be utilized proactively, it is a defense against a lawsuit. Fair use does not prevent lawsuits from happening.
The final thing I learned was about creative commons licenses. These licenses allow the creator to decide what rights to give to the consumer. With certain creative commons licenses the consumer can use the work, but give credit to the creator. With others, the work can be used for nonprofit reasons.
I also learned that there are two types of copyrights for music. The copyright "c" covers the music itself and also the lyrics. The copyright "p" covers the recordings of the music. I was unaware of the fact that there were separate copyrights for each of these aspects. I thought one copyright covered all of the music.
I also learned about fair use. I know now the conditions under which fair use can be argued are education, parody, research, criticism, and news reporting. I also learned that fair use cannot be utilized proactively, it is a defense against a lawsuit. Fair use does not prevent lawsuits from happening.
The final thing I learned was about creative commons licenses. These licenses allow the creator to decide what rights to give to the consumer. With certain creative commons licenses the consumer can use the work, but give credit to the creator. With others, the work can be used for nonprofit reasons.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Blog Reflection 6
The subject of class on Friday was teaching students how to make their own compositions. Professor Riley showed us some examples of compositions made by students he was worked with in the past. I think that you'll find you will be impressed by what your students can come up with. Hearing the compositions of the young students of Professor Riley, I was shocked by their abilities. It can be a challenge, but for a student who thrives in creativity, it can be an expression of their true genius.
Just this past weekend I learned a technique for teaching students how to write a song of their own. I went to a presentation at the OMEA conference that was devoted to better catching the attention of "tween-agers". In this presentation Trishah Snowden engaged us the way she would her middle school classroom. She then showed us examples of different projects that her students do throughout the year. The project that she presented that was relevant to Friday's class was a rap composition. She would have the students start by taking a short amount of time to determine the subject they would rap about, write some rhyming words that were related to the topic, then write some short sentences (not necessarily rhyming) to get some ideas. The next step was to create eight bars of rhythm for two verses and a chorus. Finally, she had the group put lyrics to the rhythms they created to finish their song. She downloaded a generic back beat from iTunes and the students would perform their raps for the class. It was a really neat idea. The only thing is that it didn't include writing a melody, but this activity could be used for a younger group before introducing a more difficult concept.
Teaching kids how to compose their own music can bring out the best in some that may not have strengths in other areas. Conversely, there are also going to be students who find it to be challenging and uninteresting. The greatest benefit of this task, I feel, is that all aspects of music are encompassed in it. There is also an element of teamwork that gives each student responsibilities to the group, and not just to themselves. Teaching composition to students may be a bit challenging for a first-year teacher, but with more experience, it can be a great way for students to exercise their musical knowledge.
Teaching kids how to compose their own music can bring out the best in some that may not have strengths in other areas. Conversely, there are also going to be students who find it to be challenging and uninteresting. The greatest benefit of this task, I feel, is that all aspects of music are encompassed in it. There is also an element of teamwork that gives each student responsibilities to the group, and not just to themselves. Teaching composition to students may be a bit challenging for a first-year teacher, but with more experience, it can be a great way for students to exercise their musical knowledge.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Blog Reflection 5
In class on Friday we learned about microphones and recording. Professor Riley introduced us to a few different kinds of microphones. Some of these microphones were dynamic microphones. These microphones are good for recording individuals because of their cardioid pick-up pattern. This means that the microphone can only pick up sounds from its front and some on its sides. The second type of microphones we learned about were condenser microphones. These can be used to record entire ensembles because their pick-up pattern is omnidirectional, the voices are picked up on all sides.
The majority of what we learned in class today I had already learned from a friend that I have in the music tech program who is kind enough to share his vast knowledge of the field with me. I did, however, learn a little bit more about which microphones are used in specific situations.
I feel that this is one of the most useful things we have learned in this class thus far. There are far too many people who are unaware of how to handle audio equipment, and I do not want to be one of them. I feel that as an educator, the more you know about a wide variety of topics, the more valuable you become. If you know how to set up all of your recording equipment yourself, there is no need to hire extra hands to do the job for you.
The majority of what we learned in class today I had already learned from a friend that I have in the music tech program who is kind enough to share his vast knowledge of the field with me. I did, however, learn a little bit more about which microphones are used in specific situations.
I feel that this is one of the most useful things we have learned in this class thus far. There are far too many people who are unaware of how to handle audio equipment, and I do not want to be one of them. I feel that as an educator, the more you know about a wide variety of topics, the more valuable you become. If you know how to set up all of your recording equipment yourself, there is no need to hire extra hands to do the job for you.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Interactive Music Apps
The first interactive music game that I found I really like was Whack-A-Note. This game focuses on note-name recognition. Different notes, on staves, pop up on a 3x3 grid. The student is supposed to "whack" the note that the game asks for. Whenever a note is "whacked", that note is sounded. Not only are the students recognizing the note by where it is on the staff, but they are also able to hear it. When the student hits a wrong note, that note is sounded harmonically with the correct note so that the student knows it is wrong. This means that this game isn't just helpful visually, but also aurally.
The next interactive app that I quickly became a huge fan of was Incredibox. I hadn't heard of this site before class on Friday. There are a few reasons that I believe it is a great site. First of all, the loops are all made to fit together, no matter the order. This means that the student can be as creative as they want without ever being wrong. Another reason why this app is great is because it creates a strong feeling of beat and tempo. The only problem that I would say this app has is its limited options for instruments, voices, etc. Once you have played around with the app for a while you run out of options, and it gets a little boring.
Another app that I love is called Ball Droppings. This app is a bit difficult to explain without just trying it. Basically, there are balls that are dropping at a constant rate out of a hole. The user draws lines in the space below where the balls are dropping, and when the balls hit these lines, they sound they make changes pitch. The rate at which the balls drop can be sped up or slowed down. I have seen multiple versions of this for different devices, and for some of them, you are able to record what you have created. I think this app is a great way for kids to hear differences in pitches. The one problem that I do find with this app is that there is no correlation between where the lines are drawn and the pitch. The only consistency seems to be that each line drawn is a different pitch.
I also found a great app that teaches kids facts about composers. This app is called Composer Time Machine on a website called Classics for Kids. This app allows students to pick a specific time period. The student can then choose a composer. When a composer is chosen a list of facts about that composer appears, along with a list of historical events that happened during the period of time that person was composing. There are also selections of music to play from each composer. I think this is a great way to give kids a larger understanding of musical history. It also helps them to associate the different styles of music with their correct time periods.
The final web app that I found useful was a game called Flying Instruments. The game is a bit like Tetris. Different instruments fall and the student is to stack them together based on their family, specific instrument, or by their sound. The student moves instruments that don't match out of the way by clicking the left or right arrows. This game is a great way to familiarize students with the different timbres of instruments. It begins on an easy level by recognizing whether it is string, brass, woodwind, or percussion. The final game is more difficult because the student has to match the instruments up solely by their sound, there is no visual image.
The next interactive app that I quickly became a huge fan of was Incredibox. I hadn't heard of this site before class on Friday. There are a few reasons that I believe it is a great site. First of all, the loops are all made to fit together, no matter the order. This means that the student can be as creative as they want without ever being wrong. Another reason why this app is great is because it creates a strong feeling of beat and tempo. The only problem that I would say this app has is its limited options for instruments, voices, etc. Once you have played around with the app for a while you run out of options, and it gets a little boring.
Another app that I love is called Ball Droppings. This app is a bit difficult to explain without just trying it. Basically, there are balls that are dropping at a constant rate out of a hole. The user draws lines in the space below where the balls are dropping, and when the balls hit these lines, they sound they make changes pitch. The rate at which the balls drop can be sped up or slowed down. I have seen multiple versions of this for different devices, and for some of them, you are able to record what you have created. I think this app is a great way for kids to hear differences in pitches. The one problem that I do find with this app is that there is no correlation between where the lines are drawn and the pitch. The only consistency seems to be that each line drawn is a different pitch.
I also found a great app that teaches kids facts about composers. This app is called Composer Time Machine on a website called Classics for Kids. This app allows students to pick a specific time period. The student can then choose a composer. When a composer is chosen a list of facts about that composer appears, along with a list of historical events that happened during the period of time that person was composing. There are also selections of music to play from each composer. I think this is a great way to give kids a larger understanding of musical history. It also helps them to associate the different styles of music with their correct time periods.
The final web app that I found useful was a game called Flying Instruments. The game is a bit like Tetris. Different instruments fall and the student is to stack them together based on their family, specific instrument, or by their sound. The student moves instruments that don't match out of the way by clicking the left or right arrows. This game is a great way to familiarize students with the different timbres of instruments. It begins on an easy level by recognizing whether it is string, brass, woodwind, or percussion. The final game is more difficult because the student has to match the instruments up solely by their sound, there is no visual image.
Blog Reflection 4
This Friday in class we talked about different interactive websites related to music. We started off talking about some different music notation software. Noteflight is a service that is available online that functions much like Sibelius. The difference between the two is that Noteflight stores your compositions on the internet "cloud" instead of on your computer's hard drive. With noteflight you must create an account so that when you login, you are able to access your previous compositions.
Another website we talked about was Aviary. This website functions much like Garageband. Again, with Aviary your work is saved on the "cloud" and you must login to your account in order to access it. During the latter part of class we briefly discussed interactive music websites that might be more suitable for younger students. We took a look at Mrs. Riley's website to view the list of websites that she recommends to her students.
Interactive websites are a great way to make learning fun. When kids are playing games related to music or creating their own music on a website, it helps them to learn in a way that they won't see as work. Most of the these websites are designed in a way that might interest students that don't seem interested in the classroom. Interactive music websites are yet another way to engage students that aren't involved in music on a higher level.
Another website we talked about was Aviary. This website functions much like Garageband. Again, with Aviary your work is saved on the "cloud" and you must login to your account in order to access it. During the latter part of class we briefly discussed interactive music websites that might be more suitable for younger students. We took a look at Mrs. Riley's website to view the list of websites that she recommends to her students.
Interactive websites are a great way to make learning fun. When kids are playing games related to music or creating their own music on a website, it helps them to learn in a way that they won't see as work. Most of the these websites are designed in a way that might interest students that don't seem interested in the classroom. Interactive music websites are yet another way to engage students that aren't involved in music on a higher level.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Blog Reflection 3
In some respects, I agree with what Sarah had to say in her blog about Twitter. I had the same reservations as she did before obtaining a Twitter. I also found that we felt the same about the potential benefits of the site. I find myself indulging in my Twitter account more and more with each passing day. It's a great way to network with groups of people that share your particular interests.
I do have an answer for Sarah's question of "why?" for all of these social networking sites. In our class there seemed to be many complaints about kids using the internet for education. The general consensus was that kids are using the internet too much; we didn't have all of these avenues of communication when we were kids. My response to these statements is this: Our grandparents didn't all have televisions when they grew up, but that doesn't keep us from watching it today. Technology advances, and society advances with it. There was an argument that (in layman's terms) bad things can happen to kids on the internet. This is true, but bad things can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. There are precautions that can be taken.
Technology has provided us with new and enticing ways to communicate with students. We shouldn't be fighting these advancements, we should embrace them and use them to their full potential. I feel that using social media to involve students can have a great impact on how they view their education. I hope that my colleagues take a second look at how internet communication can make them more appealing to their students and, therefore, putting them a step ahead in their careers.
I do have an answer for Sarah's question of "why?" for all of these social networking sites. In our class there seemed to be many complaints about kids using the internet for education. The general consensus was that kids are using the internet too much; we didn't have all of these avenues of communication when we were kids. My response to these statements is this: Our grandparents didn't all have televisions when they grew up, but that doesn't keep us from watching it today. Technology advances, and society advances with it. There was an argument that (in layman's terms) bad things can happen to kids on the internet. This is true, but bad things can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. There are precautions that can be taken.
Technology has provided us with new and enticing ways to communicate with students. We shouldn't be fighting these advancements, we should embrace them and use them to their full potential. I feel that using social media to involve students can have a great impact on how they view their education. I hope that my colleagues take a second look at how internet communication can make them more appealing to their students and, therefore, putting them a step ahead in their careers.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Blog Reflection 2
The topic of discussion today was the use of Twitter in education. I am not a personal fan of Twitter. The fact that there is less control over privacy makes it less appealing to me. I haven't understood why it has become so popular. I feel that it's main forum is just random thoughts. It is not necessary, in my mind, to know what someone else is thinking 24/7, which is how I view it's function. I have, however, started to see some small, interesting uses for Twitter.
All of my complaints aside, there are some aspects of Twitter, that I have only recently learned about, that I see as useful, or at least entertaining. I wish I could say that today was the day that I acquired my Twitter account. This is, unfortunately, not the case. It was two days ago, when I learned about a Twitter account devoted to tweets about Dr. Torello, that I decided to join the masses. But today in class I also learned of some great uses for Twitter when it comes to networking with other educators. The use of #hashtags to converse on popular topics can be helpful when trying to find ideas or solutions to problems in the classroom. It has been difficult for me to see past the informal uses of Twitter and realize that it can also be used for professional gain.
Though we did not talk about it in class, I could also see Twitter as a way to connect with older students in the classroom. Posting homework assignments or projects on Twitter may be an effective communication since teenagers (and some younger students) tend to check their Twitter every day, multiple times a day. With younger teachers, though, it may be a good idea to have a Twitter account devoted to their classroom that has no association with their personal account, if they have one.
All of my complaints aside, there are some aspects of Twitter, that I have only recently learned about, that I see as useful, or at least entertaining. I wish I could say that today was the day that I acquired my Twitter account. This is, unfortunately, not the case. It was two days ago, when I learned about a Twitter account devoted to tweets about Dr. Torello, that I decided to join the masses. But today in class I also learned of some great uses for Twitter when it comes to networking with other educators. The use of #hashtags to converse on popular topics can be helpful when trying to find ideas or solutions to problems in the classroom. It has been difficult for me to see past the informal uses of Twitter and realize that it can also be used for professional gain.
Though we did not talk about it in class, I could also see Twitter as a way to connect with older students in the classroom. Posting homework assignments or projects on Twitter may be an effective communication since teenagers (and some younger students) tend to check their Twitter every day, multiple times a day. With younger teachers, though, it may be a good idea to have a Twitter account devoted to their classroom that has no association with their personal account, if they have one.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Thomas Pasatieri
One of my favorite composers is Thomas Pasatieri. This past semester was the first time that I had ever sang one of his songs, "Lullaby for a Lost Child", which I had a great personal connection with. Here is a video that I found on Youtube of another young lady singing this song.
As a small child I experienced the death of my infant brother. This song helped me to conquer the sadness that I have felt twelve years after that tragedy in my life. This song is what drew me to Pasatieri's music. My favorite part of being a musician is making an emotional connection with the audience, which this song made it very easy to do.
Among his 22 operas, Pasatieri has also composed film orchestrations for some of my favorite movies. These films include The Little Mermaid, American Beauty, and The Shawshank Redemption.
Blog Reflection 1
Today we learned about different blogging platforms and how they can be used to better the educational experience. Looking at Mrs. Riley's blog gave me some perspective on how you can use a blog to communicate with students, teachers, or the community in general. In this age of technology, I feel that it is important for educators to use every possible avenue in order to make themselves accessible to their students. Blogs provide a way for students and their parents to learn more about a teacher without the informality of social media sites such as Facebook.
I thought it was interesting, and slightly humorous, to see what children had to say on Mrs. Riley's Kidblog site. An article from Education World discusses the use of blogging with young children. The article mentions that blogging can help to improve writing skills in small children. Another key point made is that many older students are already using blogging sites, but that these sites may not be appropriate for the education of small children. There are certain blogs that teachers can use for kids where they can monitor the activity and sensor what can be said on the site. Some of these sites include: KidzBlog, Thingamablog, and Think.com.
Though there are obvious cautions that need to be taken when dealing with small children and the internet, blogging is a great way to get students more interested in their education. Some children that may be sheepish in class may express themselves more freely on a blog. The more methods that an educator can have in their arsenal, the more likely they are to capture the interest of all of their students. This is why blogging is a great medium for education.
I thought it was interesting, and slightly humorous, to see what children had to say on Mrs. Riley's Kidblog site. An article from Education World discusses the use of blogging with young children. The article mentions that blogging can help to improve writing skills in small children. Another key point made is that many older students are already using blogging sites, but that these sites may not be appropriate for the education of small children. There are certain blogs that teachers can use for kids where they can monitor the activity and sensor what can be said on the site. Some of these sites include: KidzBlog, Thingamablog, and Think.com.
Though there are obvious cautions that need to be taken when dealing with small children and the internet, blogging is a great way to get students more interested in their education. Some children that may be sheepish in class may express themselves more freely on a blog. The more methods that an educator can have in their arsenal, the more likely they are to capture the interest of all of their students. This is why blogging is a great medium for education.
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