Blog 8: Using Voice Thread in a PK-2 Classroom

E-422: Blog 8

Using Voice Thread in a PK-2 Classroom

            This article caught my attention because it mentioned a technology that related to the previous article I read (“Excellent Educators” by Fingal, D.). Voice Thread is a website where projects can be posted on the internet, allowing parents, students, other teachers or members of the community to respond and offer feedback via audio, text, or video. “Voice Thread is a web 2.0 tool that allows users to upload images and video into a slideshow for presentation. Parents, teachers, and peers can comment on student work using a microphone, a video camera, a keyboard, or a doodle pen.” The website has a hierarchy of accounts and features (including a basic free account) and also allows teachers to monitor comments so that the virtual space is safe and secure for the students. Using the website can “lead to increased confidence in using computers and the internet, and they prepare students for reflection and revision as a part of the creative process.” In general, the website gives young students more ways to interact with each other, teachers, and parents and receive feedback in ways that they can more easily comprehend such as in audio or video.

            One of the things I like about this article, and the website it reviews, is the possibility of using this tool to better interact with students and parents who are learning English. Pictures can communicate despite language barriers and this website provides a way to do so. As a future teacher, I can use a website such as this to post the work and images from students and their parents can see and reply in a way that breaks language barriers. I also appreciate that the article listed ways to implement Voice Thread in various subjects such as: math, language arts, social studies, science, art and assessment.

            This article clearly demonstrates a variety of ISTE NETS for both teachers and students. For teachers this is a good example of ISTE NETS 1: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity and 2: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments. The article is also a clear example of ISTE NETS for students 1: Creativity and Innovation, 2: Communication and Collaboration, and 5: Digital Citizenship.

           

Ball, M. (2012). Using Voice Thread in a PK-2 Classroom. Learning & Leading with Technology, 40(3), 34-35. Retrieved from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/201211#pg36

Blog 7: Excellent Educators

E-422: Blog 7

Excellent Educators

            This article was a great example of teachers, educators and administrators who each exhibit many or all of the ISTE NETS for Teachers. The article highlighted four people who are among the award winners for the 2012 ISTE Awards. For Outstanding Teacher, Matt Cauthron, in Palm Springs, CA, was highlighted for his work as a digital arts instructor who creates projects for his students that incorporate the real world, engage social media and also help those less fortunate (proceeds from one of their ongoing globally collaborative projects benefit children in Malawi). Alice Owen, in Irving, TX, is the winner of the Outstanding Leader award for her forty years of service in various educational roles and her innovative methods to bring technological advances to both students and teachers. Caroline Haebig, from Kenosha, WI, is this year’s Outstanding Young Educator winner for her innovative classroom projects as well as sharing her technological knowledge with fellow educators. The final teacher highlighted in the article is Kay Bitter, from Annandale, VA, who is a first grade teacher to many low-income and non-English fluent students who uses technology to break barriers of language and involve the students’ parents into their education. All of the teachers sounded like outstanding people who not only serve their students and community, but help involve their students with the world beyond school.

            I enjoyed reading about what each of these award winners do for projects—the ways they implement and integrate technology into their classrooms. As someone who plans to teach K-3 in California, I found Kay Bitter’s story to be most useful for my future teaching. The technology that Bitter uses in her classroom crosses language barriers in a way that I think could be very useful to implement in my own future classrooms. Bitter uses blogs and digital story sites to assist her students in their learning as well as connect them to other parts of the world. Also, “she connects students to classrooms in other countries and celebrates the cultures of her own students, many of whom are new to the United States, by integrating their native language into lessons about counting.” I think in a country where there is such diversity of culture, it is important to acknowledge that and find ways to let your students know that different cultures are valued.

            As I mentioned, this article highlights every aspect of the ISTE NETS for teachers. 1) Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

2) Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

3) Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

4) Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

5) Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

           

Fingal, D. (2012). Excellent Educators. Learning & Leading with Technology, 40(3), 12-16. Retrieved from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/201211#pg14