Podcasting

Paragraph 1: What did you learn about podcasting.  How it can be used in the classroom?
I learned that podcasting are audio or video files over the internet uploaded to a mp3 player or an iPod. Teachers can use podcasting for students who are auditory learners so they can listen to lessons and have them read to them various times. A students who is absent from class can benefit from podcasting to catch up on lessons missed.


Paragraph 2: How is podcasting different / similar to other Web 2.0 applications we discussed so far?
Voice thread and podcasting are similar in that they both can have files and images exported to mp3 players. Podcasting and blogging are similar in that they are both effective. Podcasting is like blogging only it’s auditory. The other difference I find is the medium used. I would recommend people who like to read to use blogs and people who like watching television to use podcasts.



Paragraph 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 advantages/disadvantages of online communication tools?
My cell phone contains an MP3 player and I don't use it much. I have a few songs on it but other than that, I don't mess with it. I could use it in my classroom in various ways. I could upload files with stories to be read to my students instead of having them read the stories they could just listen. I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages in that it promotes student interaction and are convenient and easy to access. I think the only huge disadvantage I would find with a few of the tools provided with are that one must be technology knowledgeable and some cost money in order to use them.

Wikis, Blogs, Social Bookmarking, and Tapped In

Paragraph 1:  I would like to hear from you how and when you will using wikis and blogs with your students. Provide an example. 

I plan on being an elementary teacher so I would create a wiki book that students would collaborate on to be used as a good resource for the classroom such as a book of definitions and students could add new words to the book as new words are learned. I also would use wikis with my students a week or so before field trips to get some background knowledge about the place we'd be visiting. As a class, we'd gather information and write brief comments about the place to be visited. Blogs would be a great way for students to report about their experience on the field trip and would give them a chance to state what they had learned.

Paragraph 2: What do you think about Socialbookmarking? Would it be useful for you and your students? How? Explain. Are you interested in creating a VoiceThread? Why/why not?
I think socialbookmarking would be useful for students because it allows them to bookmark a page so it can be easily accessed. There wouldn't be a hassle over trying to find a webpage and so forth. Students would be able to share their bookmarked pages with other students. I would feel that social bookmark sites are quite handy since they provide a user with links to a topic that other users have found helpful. Personally, I'm not too interested in creating a voice thread primarily because I'm a visual learner and because of that I feel that I would have trouble deciphering meanings by only hearing them and wouldn't want my students to go through that.
Paragraph 3: When talking about learning communities, what do you think about Tapped In? Have you explored it? If you have, do you think it's useful for you as a teacher? If you have not, what do you learn from the textbook?

I haven't explored Tapped In but the textbook mentions quite a a few good qualities about it. Educators are able to grow professionally and extend their development with online tools. I like that Tapped In has neat features virtual buildings with public, group, and personal rooms. Communication includes text based chat, threaded discussions,

References:

Jonassen, D., Howland, J., Marra, R.M., & Crismond, D. (2008). Community building with technologies. In D. Prybella (Ed.), Meaningful learning with technology (pp. 100-135). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.

Copyrights, Fair Use Rules, Online Safety and Cyber Bullying

Paragraph 1:  Why do we have to respect copy rights and fair use rules?  Why is that so important?  How will you teach your students about this?

We must respect copy rights and fair use rules because as a functioning society we must respect the rights of one another. We also need to respect them to prevent us from having to suffer the consequences. Infringement is a form of stealing and as educators it is important to teach our students good morals. Students need to be taught to give full credit for another persons work and not to pass something along as theirs. I will introduce violating copyrights for my young students as stealing and cheating and give them an overview of what it is the what copyrights are for and as a class make a graphic organizer with examples of what stealing is and then as a class sign an oath to not cheat or plagiarize.

Paragraph 2: What is online safety and is it different from cyberbullying?  How can we protect our students and ourselves from potential online predators?

Online safety is just a set of rules expected to be followed to protect oneself such as not giving out personal information. One can prevent online safety from cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is when a person becomes a target of another person. I feel that the only way to protect our students and ourselves is to take preventive measures such as informing parents and guardians about cyberbullying and limiting the length of time students are online as well as restricting certain websites if needed. With the many consequences of cyberbullying that flood the news ever so often, it is our job as educators to pass on this information. I know social networking websites include features that allow one to block messages and people as well as viewing things before they are posted online. I never paid much attention to the consequences cyberbullying could have until the myspace incident, where two girls were in a feud and one of the girls mother posed as a boy who became the other girls love interest and after awhile broke up with her and harassed her into commiting suicide.

Paragraph 3: What do you think about this week activities?  Did you learn anything new? 

I enjoyed this weeks activities. I was glad to have had the opportunity to further my knowledge in copyrights. I never knew how much of an importance it was. I knew to always give credit for others work but I never knew how in depth the situation can actually get. 

References:

Copyright Office. About Copyright. Retrieved September 30, 2010. http://www.copyright.gov/

Joilet, Francis. A Visit to Copyright Bay. 2002. Retrieved September 30, 2010. http://www.stfrancis.edu/cid/copyrightbay/index.htm