Vidcasts

What?
This week we began working on creating a vidcast with our partners.  This is a key assignment that will be included in our portfolio.  We discussed different ways to create a vidcast.

So What?
I am really excited to know how to create a vidcast because I will be able to create vidcasts to introduce units and lessons to my students.  I also will be able to use it in my school work to present ideas and lesson plans.  I can also create videos of my photos and of my brother's mission photos.

Now What?
As a future teacher, I can create vidcasts to instruct my students.  I can also teach my students how to create vidcasts for their own personal use.  I will be able to use vidcasts as a resource for future lessons.  I can also create a vidcast of my students and the things they do throughout the year as a portfolio.

Podcast

What?
This week we discussed podcasts and what they are used for.  We had to with either a partner or on our own, make a Public Service Announcement Podcast.

So What?
Making a podcast was a lot easy than I thought it would be.  Using Garage Band was easy.  It is a rather cool tool that I would really like to have if I could ever figure out how to use a Mac.  As a student, I can create a podcast to help me prepare and study for exams, record lectures, and make announcements or give instructions to my classmates.  I believe that by knowing mutiple ways to create a podcast, I will not only be able to create one where ever I am but I will be able to use those tools for other things.  I like the idea of creating a podcast of ideas and recipes instead of writing them down and misplacing them.  A podcast can be uploaded to the internet and stay there permanently.

Now What?
As a future teacher, any tool that I can use to help my students learn is great.  Podcasts can be used to give instructions, explain sub plans, and a place to store primary sources of speeches.  I can teach my students how to create a podcast to use for presentations and other activities.  It is also a great way to share information and ideas with colleagues when we don't want to spend extra time away from home.

Google Part 2

What?
This week we discussed how to create a Google Site and how to edit it.  Our assignment this week was to create a site with six sections that could be used in a classroom.

So What?
I loved learning how to use Google Sites because it is easy to do and easy to follow.  I can create sites for everything from school work to a place for my family to find things.  I like the way it follows the layout of all other Google products.  The save, cancel, and edit buttons are all located in the same place.

I am really excited to use this tool in my everyday life.  I can create a site for my family to post pictures, and update everyone on each others lives.  I will be able to give them the site without having to worry about other people finding out things from status updates and writing wall to wall like on facebook.

Now What?
As a teacher, I can use Google Sites for my classroom.  I can create a site for my classroom that has deadlines, announcements, information about myself and my classroom, a calendar to show when certain events are going to occur, and a place for parents and students to know what will be happening in the future.

I can also teach my students how to create their own sites.  They can use their sites to keep track of what they are doing.  Life today is so busy that a place where everything can be shown and kept will help students and their families keep track of their crazy lives.

Google Part One

What?
This week we looked at Google docs and calendar.  We are to collaborate with our partner to find information about a subject for our Digital Story using Google docs.

So What?
As a current student and future teacher, these are great tools for me to use to communicate and collaborate with others without actually having to be in the same room or talk to them on the phone.  I am able to save my documents in a place where they can be accessed from any computer with access to the internet.  I am also able to see my schedule for different events and activities all in the same place.

This not only makes my life easier but the lives of people that I will have to work and collaborate with in the future.  It will give all of us the time to do what we need to do and have time with our family and friends.  Time today is everything.

Now What?
I believe that knowing how to use these programs that are available for me online and being able to teach them to my students will help broaden their knowledge of the internet.  I am confident that my students will be able to safely use these resources without the fear of finding something they should not. 

I can also use it with my colleaques.  We can share ideas about lesson plans, classroom management, and anything that may be going on in the school without leaving the comforts of home.  They will always be available on the internet to access and update without rewriting.