Using Screen Recorder in the Classroom

I could use the screen recorder to introduce web quests for students to work at their own pace. This will prevent me from "going too fast" or "going too slow" when explaining what needs to be completed. If the student can work at his/her own pace, greater understanding is obtained. This would be great in the computer lab when each student has access to his/her own computer. It would also allw the student to review the instructions at his/her own discression of it's forgotten. This could alleiviate any embarrassment about asking for the directions from the teacher (in case there is any).

Using Flickr in the Classroom

I would use flickr to document the activities that are done throughout the year in the clasroom. My principal likes to pop into our rooms periodically and sometimes catches the exciting things we do, but often times misses some as well. Flickr would be a good way to show him what he misses. Parent could benefit from seeing what their students are doing as well. As for the security features of flickr, I think they're great! With all of the junk that's on the internet now, being able to control what your students see is wonderful.

My seventh grade students are going to the Childrens' Museum in Indianapolis this October to view the King Tut exhibit and I am considering taking the pictures that I am allowed to take, and adding them to flickr so the parents who don't get to attend the field trip can see what their student saw and the educational benefits it has.

Using YouTube in the Classroom

Since I am a Language Arts teacher, I am always looking for better ways to introduce new authors and poets to my class in new and exciting ways. Around Halloween, I like to read "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe to my class a little break from the norm and to get in the Halloween mood. Somehow I think the class would prefer to watch an expert act out the tale instead of listening to me try to do a creepy voice. These first two links are "The Tell-Tale Heart" as portrayed by Vincent Price. Something about Mr. Price acting this out is pretty spooky. (The part he reads in Michael Jackson's "Thriller" is the spookiest part of the whole song : )!)
It's in two parts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LNjgv5p3Ek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM-tAb-bM-s&feature=related

This next link is "The Raven" also acted out by Vincent Price. Not quite as spooky as "The Tell-Tale Heart," but still can be a bit creepy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FID1CiB4bcU&feature=related


These next three links are for a unit I do with some Holocaust related material. I think the imagry is very important as a pre-novel lesson to get the students into a mind set of how awful this part of history was. I can tell them about it all I like, but hearing about it and actually seeing the places we'll talk about and seeing the aftermath of it is completely different.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4isG90mWJo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKPeYWYGYuY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mgalP8cd5s&feature=related

Podcasting

As a Language Arts teacher, I could use podcasting as
1)a tool to read sections of the textbook or novel to those who are auditory learners
2)to place the vocabulary lists for spelling tests in case a student was absent on test day
3)students can create podcasts of presentations so others may listen (especially for those who do not enjoy public speaking)
4)when teaching a poetry unit, the teacher can read the poems on a podcast so the students can get examples of how a particular poem should sound when read
5)listening to grammar rules when the textbook is just too much for the students

Some decent links that I've found for classroom use are:
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/gadgets.html
http://epnweb.org/
http://digitallyspeaking.pbworks.com/Podcasting

Internet Safety

I really haven't come across any issues with internet safety at school with my students since the filter that FWCS has in place is pretty good (eventhough it can be random at times). I have had some issues that I have had when searching for content to use in the classroom. For example, I do a preteaching lesson on the Holocaust for two novels that we read and discuss and I wanted to find some information during my plan period at school that I could use in the lesson. I attempted to go to several educational sites (as I specifically put the words "kids" and "edication" in my search) and I was still blocked. I fould this VERY frustrating! Yes, I could have searched for these at home, but I have three small children at home that need constant attention.

As for personally at home, I have started thinking about it more since my daughter, Grace, is getting older (and starting school this year) and showing more interest in the computer and possibly wanting to search the internet for things. I'm really nervous about some of the things she will be able to possibly stumble on even if my husband and I are paying attention. I don't want her to see certain things on the internet that we need to talk to her about. I know there are blocks and filters that we can put in place, but those don't always block EVERYTHING.

Blocking at School

I have never tried to search or read a blog at school, but I can only guess that FWCS does, in fact, block certain blogs. FWCS has a pretty random blocking procedure that I really find norhyme or reason for. For example, I've seen educational websites about the Holocaust blocked for one reason or another, but when searching for an image on Google images, there are graphic pictures of nudity.

FWCS definitely blocks social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. I can see why since most students are on these sites at home and would be more likely to occupy their time on these sites instead of working on their assignments in the computer lab.

I would say that using blogs in the classroom would be an easier argument than would be the unblockingof teh social networking. I could argue that other peoples' opinions could be used for my lessons on persuasion and research topics for a paper that we must do as per the standards in seventh grade. I could say that personal experiences from others are just as effective a resource as an online encyclopedia would be.

The Basics

My name is Andrea Singleton and I am 30 years old. I have been married to my husband, Chris, for nine years. We have three beautiful children - Grace, 5; Ella, 3; and Colt 4 months. I am a teacher at Shawnee middle school for two years and teach Language Arts to sixth and seventh graders. I prefer the sixth grade. I am looking forward to using more technology in my classroom and I think the students will really like this type of learning. My principal will also like it since it's very differentiated! (Those of you from FWCS know this word well! : ) )