Storyboarding

Storyboarding is nothing new. It's used by the television and movie industry to depict the sequence of a scene, and educators are getting in on the action! Teachers are finding creative ways to assess comprehension of a lesson by having their students use storyboarding to illustrate main ideas and reflect on specific content. It's a task both fun and educational.

Students are able to combine their interpretation of that lesson and present it in mixed media format. The benefits for using storyboarding are numerous! Students can exercise memory skills, improve lateral thinking and problem solving skills, and develop their teamwork skills by working in groups. Storyboarding also helps to build self confidence and the skills needed for speaking in front of a group.

I would use storyboards in my class if the lesson allowed. I think it's a fun way to learn something and a great way to engage the students in the lesson. I believe that by using this fun technique the possibility for better understanding and actual learning is more present. I'm not quite sure how I would improve it seeing as how it's a basic cartoon style technique. I suppose a way to put it into life would be to take those storyboards and make a power point presentation out of it. I think the kids would get a kick out of that. They could make their own movie based on what they got out of the lesson.


www.storyboardtoys.com/curriculum.htm
www.education-world.com/a_curr/voice/voice131.shtml

Wiki

Wiki, Hawaiian for 'fast', is a page or collection of pages on the web that are designed so that the reader(s) can modify the content. A written community effort for what ever that topic may be. Anyone who access the wiki page has the ability to edit the information with add-on's or corrections (we hope) without having to use special programs or software.

Wiki's are making their way into the classrooms now, too. Some teachers find that they are a useful tool for students to work collaboratively with other students as well as teachers. Students can use wikis for journal work, on-going class projects, surveys, or track progress of projects.

I have my reservations about using wikis in my classroom. I think it's something that I could use for somethings, but not for research purposes. I don't trust them enough as far as facts are concerned. Even the founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, discourages the use of his site to students because the information shouldn't be trusted as 100% fact.

www.wikipedia.ord/wiki/Wiki
www.chronicle.com/wiredcampus/article/1328/wikipedia-founder-discourages-academics

Blogging

For those of us who have heard of blogging but never had a real use for it, or need to even know what is was, read on. This researcher falls into that category, but I was happy to be educated on the topic.
First of all, the term 'blog' is actually abbreviated from the word 'web log'. Basically it's an online journal of sorts. People can post all sorts of things about all sorts of things and can include links to websites, other blogs, pictures, and even comments from it's readers who feel compelled to do so.
In the classroom blogging can be very beneficial to the students, parents, and teachers. By posting their own blog about the day's activities or whatever the assignment may be the student can continue to perfect their computer skills, enjoy the assignment, learn from other students by 'doing' and explination, as well as informing their parents (who have internet access) of all they did for that day, week, or term. This is a great way for parents to stay involved which is something all teachers struggle with.
With the proper use of this technology, outlined by the teacher, blogging in the classroom, as well as home, can benefit all involved. As a teacher, I would warn my students about putting all their faith in the blogs they are reading where facts are concerned. Sometimes the line that separates fact from fiction/opinion can become blurry. Also, after reading some random blogs of my own and seeing the content and the comments I would let them know that there is still a right way and wrong way to present the information as well as their comments.
www.elise.com/web/a/what_is_blogging.php
www.sptimes.com/2005/08/09/news_pf/Tampabay/Blogging_classroom_co.shtml

Virtual Field Trips

When I first heard about virtual field trips I was both fascinated and skeptical. How could a student actually gain full appreciation for something, or someplace that they haven't physically been to, or seen, perhaps even touched, in person? On the other hand, look at all the places they can 'go' that would normally be out of the question. The solar system, for example, or even New Zealand, the Arctic, or someplace closer to home.

After reading the article about virtual field trips www.educationworld.com I was enlightened a bit more on the subject. It went on to describe what a virtual field trip is and how easy they are to do. Both easy and fun for students and teachers, and just as easy to create. The possibilities of where to go, what to learn, are endless. There is a field trip out there on just about any topic you may be teaching!

This new classroom technology certainly has its pros. It is more cost effective, weather is not an issue, the students aren't rushed from one place to another while on the field trip, and no student is left behind because they didn't have a signed permission slip. Because the students we will be teaching will have grown up in an even more technological world than us, these types of 'field trips' will be right up their ally and may even be considered the 'norm' before too long.

Best of all the students may view them as fun and entertaining and may not even realize they are learning at the same time!

I think a con to this type of field trip, as mentioned before, is that the student misses out on the actual experience of being there. Obviously a bit of research should be executed on the part of the educator as to which of the trips would be best to take. Considerations such as grade level appropriateness and content should be kept in mind.

I can see the possibilities for this new technology are endless in and of itself. We are a computer age and improvements to things are constant. Perhaps one day a type of hologram field trip will be a new option?