Week 4

Image by Cool Text: Free Logos and Buttons - Create An Image Just Like This

 
As we all know there are many advancements in how the classroom is operated now, compared to 10 years ago, even 5.  In order for Learning Managers to run their classroom in a way that engages children, they must take part in life-long learning.  This blog, for me, is a part of my learning journey, to ensure that my classroom is as technologically savvy as needed.  This weeks blog is all about the use of images, audio, and video's in the classroom. 

Images

Images are used in the classroom every day in many different formats. Images can be used online or by hard copy.  The images used in the classroom can either be made by the children in your class, or created by someone else for the children to observe.  Images can be used for a range of reasons, to engage thinking, influence feelings and skill training.  When using images on a webpage it is important to not use images simply for decoration or colour, however it is an important factor when thinking about the engagement levels of students.  Ensuring that a range of different visual aspects are used throughout the classroom, helps to ensure that a students visual literacy is enhanced and catered for.  

 
When talking about images in the classroom there are many different activities that can be done to enhance a child's visual literacy, engage them in thinking, influence their feelings etc.

• Children can use images to predict what will be taught in the lesson, or what the topic of the lesson may be. 
• Putting the images in a particular sequence can enable the children to tell a story using the images.

There are also a number of online applications that enable children to create their own images. This can be useful in an art lesson, or to engage students usually reluctant to participate in artistic activities.  

When taking photos in the classroom it is important to remember a few tips. 

1. Set your camera onto the smallest image size
2. You need permission to upload a photo of a person to a webpage
3. Your students cannot be identified in the images
4. All images of children should be kept in a secure place
5. It is ethical to ask a child's permission before uploading their work to a webpage

Audio

 As we all know students all learn in different ways. Students can learn best via visual, auditory, or tactile resources, or a mixture of 2 or all of these. It is very important when designing learning experiences that all learning styles are catered for in a lesson, to ensure students are getting the most out of the lesson as possible.  
Audio books are an excellent tool to engage learners in a Literacy lesson. Audio books are traditionally used with English Second Language learners, learning disabled, impaired students, low level or non readers. In the past they have proven successful in engaging these learners in literacy and actually enjoy it. There are also a few benefits for ALL students. 

• Introduce students to books above their reading level
• Model reading
• Teach listening skills
• Introduce new genres
• Introduce new vocabulary 
• Recapture the love of having a book read to them 

(Reading Rockets, n.d.).

Ezi Speak

Another device that can be very useful in a classroom setting is the use of an Ezi speak. The Ezi Speak is especially useful during assessment time.  Students who are reluctant to write answers may well achieve good results if they are given the opportunity to verbalise their answers.  This microphone is a audio recorder USB device. It enables audio to be recorded and uploaded to a computer via the USB. 

Video

Viewing videos in class is a great way to engage students in the chosen topic.  Videos can be used to show students new information, or for students to create themselves. As discussed in last weeks blog, YouTube is a fantastic database of videos with thousands of topics.   Another video database that I have come across in my research is WatchKnowLearn.org.  This site breaks down each their videos into subject areas, making it easy to navigate. As the website was set up for educational purposes, it is less likely that inappropriate material will be found.
Videos are a great way to introduce a lesson or to engage those reluctant learners in a lesson.  The following video can be used to introduce a unit on forces for Science. 

The most complicated aspect of working with videos is interpreting the various file formats that work with cameras, as well as editing and publishing tools. The following formats are most commonly used an accepted:

• Mp4
• Wmv
• Flash

There are many activities that can be enhanced by students creating their own videos.  Creating common Craft-Style videos is an excellent way to engage students in revision, and assessing their learning. A common-style video are made using simple cardboard cutouts and dialogue that focuses on explaining the topic in plain English.  This is an excellent way to encourage students to demonstrate their learning using minimal resources. More information can be found here: http://www.commoncraft.com/ The following video is an example of common craft style video. 

To enhance learning experiences for your students the use of all three of these technologies is beneficial in the classroom.

References

Moodle Notes. Retrieved from http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/page/view.php?id=295963

How English Language Teachers Can use Pictures in the Classroom, (2014). Retrieved from http://blog.britishcouncil.org/2013/12/06/how-english-teachers-can-use-pictures-in-the-classroom/

Reading Rockets, (n.d.). Benifits of Audio Books for ALL Learners. Retrieved from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/64 

Learning Resources, (n.d.). Ezi Speak USB Recorder. Retreived from http://www.learningresources.com/product/easi-speak--8482-+usb+recorder.do 

Edutopia, (n.d.). Lights, Camera, Engagement...Three Great tools for Classroom Video. Retreived from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/using-video-in-classroom-ron-peck