Digital Video Editing

I have learned so much about Digital Video Editing in the last several weeks than I could have ever imagined. Video is all around us, most of the time when we are watching video we don't realize all that is behind the video design process. Digital Video Editing (DVE) is the process of putting together parts of video manipulating and changing them to make a new video. Through the video editing process, we are able to add sounds, images, and special effects. It is extremely important to create a treatment, storyboard, identify an audience and purpose, and rehearse.

Although I already had my students create a weather report video, there are many benefits of video editing through thinking and software skills. I did not have my students edit their videos, but they saw the fine details that were included to make them just right! Next time I use video in my classroom, I want to provide my students with the opportunity to practice with DVE. The collaboration, synthesizing, and creating they are able to experience will make the video that much for meaningful to them. If they are able to put their own effects and sounds in just the right places, they will take away associations that I would maybe not be able to provide them. Although there is a lot of work that goes into DVE, I am looking towards the future for my kiddos. I know that if I teach them the skills right now, then they will take these concepts with them wherever they go. I would love to learn more from third or fourth grade teachers how they incorporated DVE into their classrooms. Were there many how to lessons with play and practice? Our school has just offered an iMovie making class as an after-school activity. I am curious to go check it out and see what my students are learning, which will make learning more fun for them in the classroom. DVE is an extremely hands-on approach to learning and I have a class full that would love it!

Digital Videos

When I think of digital videos in the classroom, I would commonly associate it with students creating their own videos. However, the more I have learned about digital videos in the classroom setting, it does not only include them creating their own. Showing students videos related to certain topics is much more meaningful and can truly put them in the scenario they are learning about. I use BrainPop, BrainPopJr., Safari Montage, and many more short clips in my classroom all the time. My kids sing along with Moby and LOVE to watch him…even if they have seen the same video since Kindergarten.
I believe being a powerful designer allows students to incorporate video into their daily routines. In the fall, I taught about the Water Cycle to my class. Instead of having them take a normal test, they put themselves in the place of a weather reporter and did a weather report. They were so much fun and the kids can still tell you their lines! I did encounter several problems with editing and clipping parts out, but that will come with practice. The more I reflected on my lesson, I thought of all the cool videos I could have my students create in the classroom. They can put themselves in the setting of ancient explorers and record their findings, even a reader's theater would be fun. Has anyone else used video in their classroom? Would love to learn new ideas and ways to incorporate it into our curriculum!

Just like us, our students want to stay connected as much as possible through social networking technologies. Students aren't only using social networking to connect with their friends, they are using it as a way to explore interests and gather more information. Through these sites, our students are continuously learning new information, mostly information not taught in school. 

Before I began the ITS program, I was always hesitant to use social networking in my classroom. Through the course of this program, collaborating with others, and creating new engaging lessons I have realized the power social networking has on our students. Facebook, our kids know all about it, as do we. I never would have thought I would want to bring Facebook into my classroom, but the thought of creating a classroom account and learning new skills and concepts sounds even more intriguing. However, I am still hesitant to have my students become "friends" with my personal Facebook page.

As always, I use Pinterest as one of my main teaching sources to find new information and ideas to use with my students. I found some great examples on this site that have allowed me to open my views and opinions relating to Facebook. Students love it, so why not embrace it? It is our responsibility to teach them digital citizenship, ethics, and education IN schools. Has anyone used Facebook in third grade? Would love to learn more about how it was implemented!

Will Richardson states that podcasting is the creation and distribution of amateur radio, plain and simple. This statement really stood out to me about podcasting, because before class I had never experimented or listened to a podcast. A podcast is a great way to present material in multiple forms such as for entertainment, casual talk, or more serious topics.

Richardson recommends to visit the Education Podcast Network. I was amazed when I navigated to this site and listened to some of the shows. Podcasts are a great instructional tool to use within the classroom. I want to begin listening to podcasts more, so I can become more familiar with them. Podcasts seem like a great way to have students engage and express themselves through the use of oral language. I am excited to finish our podcast this week in class. There are many free podcasts, which I hope will give me ideas for instructional use. Has anyone used a podcast in second, third, or fourth grades? Would love to learn more!

All About Wikis

The more we explore and practice with wikis, the more I want to learn about them. Wikipedia is referred to as the "sum of human knowledge." A wiki is a website where users can collaborate, contribute, and edit in a quick and easy way. Wikis are not only a source to find information, they allow people with common interests and hobbies to communicate and collaborate as well. As we continue to add to our online encyclopedia as a cohort, I am beginning to understand more about the benefits that wikis provide.

When we first were introduced to wikis I was quite hesitant to even consider using them in my classroom, but the more we work together on our ITSOPEDIA15 site; the potential for classroom use appears more and more valuable. I began to think of how to use wikis in my third grade classroom, and many ideas started coming to mind…book reviews, story problems, debates, and many more! The first source I turned to naturally was Pinterest. Pinterest provides many great resources and ideas on the "Wiki Tips for the Classroom" page.

I want to begin using wikis with my students, but I do want to explore with the various wiki sites available. Is there one site that is more reliable than another site? I am in the beginning stages of learning more and jotting notes down for various design ideas and implementation ideas. How will I make the integration of wikis in my classroom suitable for my 21st century students? I can't wait to see how my students collaborate, participate, and interact with others not only in our classroom, but around the world!

Blogging…what exactly is it? Will Richardson states that a Weblog is an easily created, easily updateable Web site that allows an author(s) to publish instantly to the Internet from any Internet connection.  Blogs engage readers, promote critical thinking, and they are also a collaborative space to interact in discussions and opinions.

I have been a teacher for four years and have never tried blogging with my students. Well, this is only my second blog post too! The more I learn about blogs the more intrigued I become to learn more innovative ways to use them in my classroom. As I begin to reflect on all the writing units and topics we cover throughout the school year, the possibilities and ideas of blogging for my students seems endless.

As Richardson states, blogs are a "New Writing Genre." My students can gain broader knowledge by blogging a journal, book reviews, summary, or connecting with an author. "Connective writing" seems to have all the components to make my students successful, not only in the classroom. Reading their work carefully, caring about editing and clarity, and linking sources are all skills that are continuously reinforced. Is it time to finally try something different with my students?

I believe that blogs are going to make a difference in my classroom. I am going to try to use kidblog with my students in the next week or so. Maybe to write a summary of the novel we are using right now, or researching more about animals they had to learn about for our Animal Fair.

Has anyone used kidblog or any other blogging site for research and gaining more information? My students want to learn so much more about their animals, but want to share what they have learned.

Opening Blog Post

Hey all! So this is my first blog entry EVER, just getting the hang of it. I have been a third grade teacher for two years, and previously taught kindergarten for two years. I am from Pennsylvania, also where I obtained my undergraduate degree.

I love learning from others and experimenting with new ideas in my classroom. I care about my students being given an authentic learning experience. I enjoy helping my students gain critical thinking, communication, collaboration skills through creativity. I am always looking for innovative, student-centered ideas to use within my classroom.