Virtual Class Meetings

I enjoyed our last two virtual class meetings. In the beginning of the semester, I don't think I would have been confident enough to try out all of the different programs and learn to use them by myself. For example, Skype and digital texts/videos would have been pretty difficult for me to figure out alone. However, social bookmarking, blogs, and Webquests I probably could have created independently with support from a tutorial and threaded discussions. Now that I am comfortable with all of the different types of technology, the virtual meetings are great! I have been able to spend more time exploring technology and discussing it with my classmates instead of wasting hours (and gas) driving! If it were my decision, I would meet in person a lot in the beginning of the semester and gradually drop it to every other week virtual. If more meetings were virtual, there would have to be some form of accountability to make sure everyone participated. Some people do great with the autonomy, but others need more structure.

My first Podcast

Today I created my very first podcast! I wasn't even planning on creating one during the school day, but I started experimenting with Gabcast and realized how easy it was! I made one with my students right away! All I had to do was create a channel (having no clue what that meant), dial a number (because there was nothing else to do), and it was cake from there! I was initially worried about taking too much instructional time away to create a podcast, so I admit I was very reluctant to try this with my students. Now that I know it only takes five minutes, I will create a lot more in the future! I highly recommend Gabcast to other teachers. I can't imagine another podcast site being easier. Check our podcast out!!


Gabcast! Miss Cunningham's Class #1



How I plan to use podcasts in my classroom: I was really inspired by the idea of a Reader's Theater! I will definitely be posting a Reader's Theater podcast by the end of the year. What a great way to integrate a content area, reading, and technology! Next year I would like to put important announcements into a podcast so that parents can be notified of upcoming events. Heather gave me the idea to let students create interviews (real or fictional). OR the teacher could really interview someone(ex. a WWII veteran) and play it to the students. I want my students to recite some of the poetry they just created and put it on a podcast. This way the parents who cannot make it to our poetry coffeehouse can attend "in spirit."

Photo Story

Today I learned how to use Photo Story. It was extremely easy after I learned all the quirks. I may decide to go back and turn the digital PowerPoints I made into movies through Photo Story. Check out my Claymation (Thanks to Cher's daughters Emily and Jenny).

I like all the features you can add to Photo Story that make it more like a video than a digital PowerPoint. I plan to use Photo Story to make a slideshow of all of our pictures to play during our fifth grade graduation. Also, in science we have been observing plant and animal growth under different conditions over a period of time. Next year I want the kids to take pictures of similar experiments to put in a Photo Story, where they can explain the scientific process and see the over time easier. Photo Story is also always great for reading books!

Digital Poetry Continued

You'll be so proud of me when you check out the digital poetry book I created with my class! Click where it says "Sick" by Shel Silverstein. The kids had so much fun with this! Next time I'll let my kids narrate, but I kept it simple this time. It was so easy with the template! Also, while you're on our poetry page, you can check out some student responses as a "before" activity for our poetry unit. Enjoy :)