Favorite Tools and Something to Say to the Education World
Over the course of this class, so far my favorite tool was the Screen Cast because it was incredible to see how easy it was to demonstrate in less than a minute how to effectively navigate a site to find what your looking for. Initially, I have to admit, I didn't see any value in it. Now, I have to admit the Screen Cast done by Zack Latif would be the desired result. Concise, informative and right to the heart of showing a first hand account of how to....
Using it class has so many applications, especially since you can show someone where to find your Screen Cast for when they have time to follow the steps. I cannot imagine how much frustration this could have saved me when I was at University, since in less than 30 seconds you have 1:1 tutoring on how to get around in any particular site. What its capable of and how to play with the options, at your pace. Pause, follow, find, play, pause, follow, find, play, etc... It's simplicity is genius.
If that leads me to say anything to the world of education today, I feel the same as before; how more than ever before these digital tools are easy to implement in your class and can make your class so much less frustrating, as well as, engaging with the correct tools. Not just movies and Funny Cats and Dogs from Youtube. With schedules, both students and teachers alike, becoming busier and busier, its great to have additional tools to offer outside of the classroom and in-class to make the learning process the center and not the other shit that can be frustrating and really turn students away.
- Engage your kids using a medium that is intuitive to them
- Don't pretend you are the only class students have
- Make it easy for them to find the core material in one place
- Cut the crap and get to the meat - quickly..... please
I think screencasts can be used in two ways. For us, as teachers and for students to teach us and their fellow classmates as well. At the current pace of advancements in technology, it is challenging to keep up, so why not ask our students to keep us up to date. I have learned so many things from my students over the years and screencasting could be another way to encourage them to share their knowledge to a wider audience. Perhaps it's time for teaching to take a more reciprocal approach rather than a one sided lecture.
ReplyDeleteoh~~~I knew there was a tool I forgot, if not some tools, to put in my blog!?! I definitely put screen casting as one of my, non-mentioned new tools that I appreciate. I've seen plenty of walk-throughs and know I can make my own for my classes. I wish I learned this skill before I made my 100 and something slide PPT~
ReplyDeleteI love the screencast too. Simple & practical. It is also a HUGE time saver for the person who has to explain what the screencast can explain.
ReplyDeleteScreencasts are something that I have used for a longtime trying to figure out random problems with my computer without giving any thought as to how they were actually made. This has part to due with my thick head and part that I never saw any need to make one myself.
ReplyDeleteOne of the great things I've found with this course is connecting certain tools that I was slightly familiar with and realizing their use in a classroom environment. I'm looking forward to learning more about these tools on own time and implementing them in the classroom.
Maybe the coolest part about making a screencast for me was how easy it was to use Screenr (once I got onto one them fancy pants computers that has a microphone plug-in). I used to watch Youtube tutorials (i.e. how to use the comment section to be a complete homophobe) and think, "What sort of black magic is this?" as if the creator of the video had some direct line to new best tech but now I know to go to the site, open a screencast, and click "record".
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