Podcasting are getting into the schools

The way podcasting have made its way into the net compares to nothing else. Now the new media is getting into the schools as they are making use of the ease of use. Using this in the right way and with the right method will be a great add to the teaching. When teaching language podcast will do wonder as the students can carry their lessons with them.

There are already networks forming using this methods so why not join in you too. Are you Englishteacher why not use Englishcaster or why not make your own podcasts that suits your education. I am sure you can find inspiration and materials here.


Via: Webblogg-ed

How to use blog in your education

I think i will try to present some uses of blogs in education. These are my ideas and you can probably refine them so they suits your situation better.

Collecting data
When you send your students to the library and use the computers there they probably aren´t able to save the information on a secondary memory. Also it is better to collect the information at one place so you can reach it everywhere. If you collect the information and links in a blog you can use the information anywhere as long as you got internet connection. This will be the students own data and link bank which they can use, when they will critical select the information. Be clear that they should always store the source of the information. This need not be published on the net since you can in Blogger save as draft.

Writing Essay
The fact that students get feedback on what they produce and publish on their blog will spur them to write more and also try develop their language skills. They will get comments from other students and of course from others on the net. This will give the students incentive to better their language. The teacher comments on the errors and give directions how to improve the text through email. The student can then simply correct and rewrite it on the blog. It is possible to create a blog where students are coauthors and you the administrator thus you have the control over the comments and are able to prevent other students to be mean to each other. Here its important to be aware.

Listen and understand
Here you either can link to an audiofile from a internetsource or why not record your own and maybe you can cooperate with another teachers. Here is an example about threatened whales this could of course be in french or spanish. The student learn about the language and at the same time a different subject. You can present the questions in the same post. If students wonder about anything you got comments as a way to communicate.

Radio via Blog
In the same way as the teacher put their audiofiles on the blog the students can "broadcast" their own radioshows. Blogger and feedburner together can work as a podcast that you are able get it using iPodder and easy transfer it to your iPod or MP3-player.

Schoolpaper online and offline
Of course blogs are an easy way for your students to produce their own schoolpaper. Doing it on a blog thus making it on the web and offline at the same time. The XML files are good quality also if you want to print them out. For this you might to have to make a suitable template. Schools with harsh budget can use this tip. Using blogs doesn´t require expensive software but you get a good print out.

eLearner that Podcast

David Warlick do a podcast about how to use technology to improve teaching and learning. He is emphasing that it is not about the technology but about how you use the technology. Podcast itself is a way to carry around the knowledge so you can learn on the way to school or where you think suites your best.

Via: Anita Rissler Furls

Radiowaves - make your voice heard,

Radiowaves is service for you who wants an easy way to present your material with soundfiles. You can present material, pictures and soundfiles(.mp3) in a easy way. If you need a good program to record i recommend Audacity. You find instructions how to install. I wrote and recorded some about the World heritages in the ENO project.

The colour you choose...

...might not be the colour the reader perceive. I need to do a makeover on my elearning blog since i am not that happy with the contrast of the colours. I am using a Blogger template to my defence but i should have changed it months ago. Today i think i will get around to it.

To my help i will take Lighthouse excellent site about color contrast. I think i will use my new main template as a base then change colors a bit.

Bodylanguage helps to make children learn math

University of Chicago are presenting the theory that children learns better if they are giving instructions using gestures while explaining math problems. This made me thinking how i could imply this on elearning. Means that i might use more movie in my education. There is the problem on large files to solve though.

I know though that the more senses that are involved the stronger will the impact of the knowledge you are contributing be. This is why i try to implement sound and moving graphics at least. I am hoping for better fileformats in the future and maybe streaming it will be an option.

Furl - Create your own linklibrary.

Furl is a smart way of building up your linklibrary with explanations about the links. You can categorize and grade the links. This is a great way to save links between computers and you can also choose between making the library public or private. This way you can share your links with others and also find new ones from other persons Furls. It is easy to add links to the library you add a link to he toolbar so it is easy to reach.

Become a furler you too.

Via: Soulsoup