Inspiring students to learn through creation
ISTE Standard 1 - Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity.
These standards are what will drive teachers use of technology in their classrooms. We all have different standards to teach at all grade levels. I teach several standards for History alone, with a completely different set for my law and juvenile justice class. It makes sense that there are now standards to use to guide us in what is essential for students to learn through the use of technology. This first standard is one that stuck out to me. I am a creative person, regardless of what that multiple intelligences test told me from our last class. I am always thinking of ways to teach the same material, but differently from the last time to enhance its appeal. In history, I have to make our lessons appealing or, students tend to tune me out. Technology allows me to make them more appealing, and my job a little easier too. ISTE standard 1 basically calls for teachers to complete the following steps when using technology in the classroom: model creative thinking and inventiveness, explore real world issues and solve problems, promote student reflection, assess student comprehension of concepts, and model collaborative working environments. This can all be done face to face in class or in virtual working environments; all while students are using these new technologies, digital tools, and resources. Here is a link to all of the standards via PDF format: http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers.aspx
I have tried to do this many times and have been successful many times. I have had students create their own vodcasts in windows movie maker about a subject provided by me. Here is a link to a website that explains what a vodcast is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_podcast
One group completed a vodcast that was about 3 minutes in length complete with very accurate narration and photos that fit perfectly with the concept. Their idea or concept was containment during the cold war. They had the U.S.S.R. flag and U.S. flag, they showed a political cartoon, and discussed U.S. strategy for implementing containment. Here is a quick link to refresh all of you on what containment is in case you were wondering: http://countrystudies.us/united-states/history-110.htm All of this done by freshmen! This particular group had experience with this and really wanted to make something special and needed extra time to complete it; which I of course allowed. Unfortunately I don't have that vodcast anymore as it was completed during my student teaching phase at Benson high school. Here is a link to a video I found helpful though to teachers who could turn powerpoint presentations into vodcasts for their students.
Tyler, I'm glad you shared the information and idea for incorporation for Vodcast or Podcast. I didn't know what either were until I read it on your link. I too am looking for ways to change lessons I teach to make them more meaningful and engaging. A Vodcast seems like a great,creative option. I teach in a Sacratic method as you know and while I have had luck thus far with student engagement, I'm sure I have lost a few along the way. I too try to tie all lessons to the world we live in today. The students seem to love this. They tell me every year how much they love my stories and how easy it was to get me "off topic." Little stinkers had no idea that each story I tell from my life or of the world have everything to do with what we were learning, after all, literature is a reflection of humanity. I tried to make stories more current and applicable to them. My point, I think if I could use technology in such a way as to keep my audience captive, I could reach almost all learners and meet all needs. Class would be more interesting for all of us and creative. I'm going to figure out a way to use Vodcast next year with a unit.
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