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!