Emerging Technologies Project

I’m just going to start off by saying that I think the links that were given were very interesting! After researching them I got to thinking about how I could use each one of them in my future classroom. I thought of something interesting for all the subjects. I think that links like these give great ideas and information for educators. It also changes up the scenery of the classroom from time to time.

Computer Aided Design: http://www.usfirst.org/

This site was informative for adults and educators, not for the children. There are no games for a student to play on this site. This site focuses on how to learn more about different events and opportunities for our students. The age group for this site is middle and high school ages.

Lego: http://universe.lego.com/en-US/creationlab/Default.aspx

This site was fun to look at. There were “challenges” for kids to try and accomplish with Lego blocks. I never knew that there was a Lego software program. After exploring this site I found that it would be very fun for the children. I think that you could give your student a challenge or goal and let them try to accomplish it. You could use it in a math lesson with making something and then counting how many you just used. I think this program could open student’s minds and make them stretch out on their creativity skills.

Musical Sketch Pad: http://creatingmusic.com

Out of the three sites that were given, I liked this one the most. I think that this program gets students involved with what they are doing. They can create music along with being able to edit music to create their own master piece. along with many, many other things. This allows the students to step out of the box and be creative. I could see how this could be used in the classroom!

Podcasting

 

1. What did you learn about podcasting? How it can be used in the classroom?

 

2. How is podcasting different / similar to other Web 2.0 applications we discussed so far?

Podcasting is very different, but similar to the Web 2.0 tools. I think that one of the biggest differences in the Web 2.0 tools and podcasting is that on the podcasting you can create one or just "subscribe" to one. Yes, they are informative but you can't always rely on the information that you are reading or watching. On the Web 2.0 tools there is a plethora of information that you can use at your convience. You can always go back and find that same information or look if there is anything new. Also that is information for all subjects, not just for one. It is like a never ending idea of technology, because one link takes you to another, that take you to another. I think that both the Web 2.0 tools and podcasts are very helpful for educators in this world today. I personally prefer using the Web 2.0 tools over a podcast any day.

 

 

3. Your reflection: Do you own an iPod or MP3 player? How do you use it? Would you use it in your classroom and how? What do you think about the advantages and disadvantages of online communication tools?

I have a iPhone and absolutly love it! Previously I had an ipod and thought it was the absolute coolest thing since sliced bread. That thing went everywhere with me. I along with many others would be completly lost without it. It's alsmost as if I didn't know how I survived without it. I use it as my phone, ipod, entertainment,navigation and many more. In my personal opinion, I think that the advantges out weigh the disadvantages. Online communication makes our world a better place to live and communicate. Technology and online communication is such a huge deal with today's world. Especailly in the business world people rely on e-mail, phone calls, podcast and even blogs. We have lived in this world without technolgy many years, and some how everyone made it. But it sure is nice having an unlimited amount of technolgy that we are capable of using.

 Honestly, I never knew what podcasting actually meant. After wathching the video, it made me realize how easy it is to make a podcast. The three main advantages to a podcast is that anyone can create one. Another advantage is that you can subscibe to a certain podcast that intrest you in any way. For example, a television show that you like. You can subscribe to that certain show, and it will continue to record all the new shows or podcasts that are produced. And lastly is that you can upload a podcasts to almost every single gadget of you choice. Once you upload it you can take it anywhere with you and watch it at your own pace. This can be used in the classroom in many different ways. You can use it as a audio or visual on the screen or even use a video camera and record your class while doing a skit or something fun in your classroom.