Blog 5 Video Distribution Systems & GPB

I’ve been teaching at the same school for 13 years. Years ago we had a closed circuit system through classroom TV’s. There was a switch in the media center. Switched one way and you could only view what was playing on the media center TV; the other way and you could view the cable stations. I know this because when my own children were little, I would entertain them with the TV while I worked late. As my children aged, new technology emerged such as Promethean boards making the television and VCR in my classroom obsolete. Our video distribution system is a now “server-based video on demand and IPTV system called MediaCAST.” Basically, everything is connected via the Internet. The media specialist is able to broadcast live content such as the student news broadcast or fundraiser videos. Each teacher can also access video from the Internet to show in the classroom. Too bad my kids are grown and moved on from my elementary school.

          Obviously, I am excited to have so much content available. I’ve been using GPB for several years now. Rarely, do I go looking and not find something. You can search by keywords, grade level, and medium. You can show just a few segments or an entire selection. My students just finished a biography presentation on important individuals from the Civil War. Many used video clips, music, and photographs from GPB for their presentations. The site offers television programs, radio programs, news, live radio streaming, blogs, and mobile apps. Every time I visit, I find something new. Definitely spend some time exploring the site if you haven’t. 

Blog 4 - Social Networking & SLMS

I found myself smirking as I read chapter 7 of Library 2.0.  I remember getting the internet at our house during the summer before my 4^th grade year.  I basically grew up with the internet and I remember calling my friend to make sure she was home and then telling her to hang up and get online before someone called and broke the connection.  We would then Instant Message or IM on AOL for the next twenty minutes about absolutely nothing until one of our moms kicked us off for tying up the phone lines.  Here I am 16 years later sitting on my couch with my computer in my lap, my cell phone right next to me and I do not even have a home phone to tie up!  It is incredible to me how quickly technology enhances and changes, but yet some things have stayed the same.  

One of the most exciting things to do when we first got the internet at our house was to talk on IM, which was a form of social networking.  Now the social network has blossomed into this huge and great thing that has so many different faces, but yet it all still accomplishes the same goal, collaboration.  Rather students are podcasting, “Twittering”, sharing a Wiki, or discussing tonight’s homework on a Facebook instant message they are all still collaborating which is the main goal of social networking.  The problem is how does social networking tie work in a school setting? 

Well, yes we all know the horror stories of children using social networks inappropriately but how do we keep this from happening since studies show that they are beneficial.  Our school district blocks Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and all of the social networking sites that are created more for secular reason.  But because we understand the incredible benefits that could come from a social networking site we provide all students, teachers, and parents a social networking site that is very similar to Facebook, but created entirely for educational purposes, it is called My Big Campus.  With this site teachers have a “wall” similar to Facebook, they have “friends” who are automatically their students and parents.  The set up of this site is easy for everyone to maneuver because it looks very much like the popular social networking site that everyone has on their phones and computers.  Our teachers use it to post homework and assignments on it.  The teachers can put students into groups on this site and they can collaborate with one another.  Parents can write on the teacher’s wall and ask questions.  It becomes a very beneficial tool when used appropriately.  Another really awesome aspect of this social network is that it comes with endless resources for Common Core and Georgia Performance Standards.  Teachers can upload resources they create to share with others or they can pull resources that other teachers have uploaded.  The website has “bundles” which is basically an online lesson plan and all of the needed resources all bundled up into one location.  The website is fabulous and very beneficial.  Social networks absolutely have their place in our schools, but I feel that if we allow students to be on Facebook at school we could be held responsible for them finding information that they shouldn’t.  I think this educational social network is an excellent way around those types of issues.  

As I was typing the last paragraph I started thinking that I am not utilizing this website to its full capacity as a media specialist.  It is hard for me to flip the switch from classroom teacher to media specialist when I am writing these blogs because I was so accustomed to the teacher aspect.  However, one of the things I struggle with the most is getting to collaborate with the teachers for my library lessons.  I could absolutely create teacher groups on My Big Campus by grade level.  We could chat and discuss what they would like for me to teach in the media center.  We could all discuss the lesson and we could go out find resources on that lesson and upload them to the group page.  Then what I use in the media center could also be used in their classrooms and the students would benefit so much more!  Social networks have endless possibilities in schools as long as they are used responsibly and the school district takes the correct precautions to make sure that students can only access information that is appropriate. 

Blog 3 Media Center Web Pages

Belinda Callahan

MEDT 7477

Blog 3: Media Center Webpages

I love designing and using my webpage for my classroom. I had a class webpage before it was required in my district. I even created web pages for some of my teammates. They joked I should charge for my services. Honestly, if I could get paid to do it and still spend time with the students, I would! In my opinion, it isn’t enough to just slap information down and never update or use it. Nor is it acceptable to use cute graphics without substance. My webpage does have a great deal of information, but it is also part of my lessons and resources. My students know and use my page to access other sites and their assignments. But my webpage still isn’t interactive. The platform my county uses for web pages does not allow for it.

I was interested to see Creekview’s media center site. I teach in Cherokee county and wasn’t sure how they were able to create such a great site. They do not use the platform provided by the county, and use Google. It is linked to the school site.  Although the county site doesn’t allow for students to comment and interact with the media specialist, it has tons of information, much more than I’ve seen on many sites. I wonder if students are using the Pathfinders and resources provided. I hope the media specialist is instructing teachers and students about what information is there and how to use the information. If you look over her site, notice that she has added photos to enhance the text, remember the platform limits the size and shape of fonts.

On the bottom right, there is a list of resources and information. The information is very important to the Creekview students with information on senior projects, research guides, and social media. When my daughter was working on her senior project there wasn’t any information provided by the media specialist. My son now goes to the same school and he couldn’t even find the summer reading list on the site. I finally was able to locate it. It almost seemed hidden under titles that didn’t really pertain to a summer reading list, and finally the list turned out to be incorrect.

So this brings me to my first point about media center webpages, you must have relevant information that is easily located and correct. It wasn’t a disaster for us, he read an extra book, but it is a problem. I doubt my son will ever go to the media center website for information. I believe it is the media specialist’s job to make sure her information is correct and up to date. If she/he’s not sure, they need to ask the teachers or remove the information. I am a classroom teacher, now it is in an elementary setting, but still the duties and responsibilities of the classroom teacher have become overwhelming. I could go on and on about it, but we must understand this. Every time there is a cut in staff, there are jobs that still must be done, and at least in my experience, it often falls onto the classroom teacher’s lap. My point being she/he are most likely juggling many things and may not always think to inform you of changes. Should they? Of course, but if you are providing the information on your site, you need to make sure it is correct.

Another point to be taken from this is that you need to think about the placement of information. Unfortunately, most people and especially students when seeing a large amount of text skim or give up and don’t even read it. You must make your site user friendly. Just because it makes sense to you that the reading list should be under extra activities doesn’t mean someone else will think to look there. Ask your students. They will tell you. When my fifth graders can’t find something on my site, I ask them where did the try to look and what were they thinking. Then I know if I need to make something clearer. As a teacher, we are to assess and adjust. You need to have this mindset with your webpage as well.

I think incorporating social media is interesting. It isn’t something we would use in the elementary setting, but I can see how it would appeal to older students. It is definitely an area to explore and to use to promote your media center. It may reach students and individuals who otherwise wouldn’t think to go to the media center page.

I want to revisit the idea of making your page interactive. When I read the blog 2 posts on Wikis, it really got me thinking of possible uses for my classroom and the media center. I think using Wikis for book clubs, reviews and mini-lessons is a very promising idea. Most students love to teach others, and in the process they learn as well. Most schools participate in the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl, but there is a limit on the number of students who can participate. If you had the team members write reviews to post on a Wiki, not only would they be practicing for the bowl, but they would also spark interest in books for other students.

Our school libraries are now media centers and we must be ready to use many types of media and adjust to how our students enjoy learning. We want to make the media center the heart of the school where knowledge is obtained and exchanged. Our webpages are one place to use to achieve this goal.

Blog 2 Wikis

During my undergraduate degree from Columbus State University we learned a little bit about Wikispaces.  My mom is actually the Director of Instructional Technology for Muscogee County School District and she started showing me all of the many capabilities of a Wiki once I told her that I had learned about them.  At this time they were newer and I thought they would be a unique way to do school projects with my peers.  However, life became busy and I found it difficult to try to incorporate a new idea into our already hectic student teaching schedules. Therefore, it wasn’t until this past summer at West Georgia that I actually used a Wiki to collaborate with my peers!  I loved it.  We were able to collaborate on a project, yet, we all worked at our own pace.  One person was able to edit their portion, and then another person could come and edit their portion and it was constantly growing.  We used the home page as a discussion page until we were ready to submit the final project, and then we changed it. 

As I was reading the 7 Things You Should Know About Wikis article I realized that for some teachers the idea that any person who visits the page can edit will be mind blowing and a little scary.  However, it must be known that Wikis are like any other technology and they require practice and instruciton before we expect the students to master them.  Students would need to be taught to make sure they do not delete another student’s work, and they would need to be taught how to communicatie and collaborate with each other.  One of the things that I love the most about a Wiki is the ability to collaborate outside of school, and on their own time.  Wikis, like any other technology, have their flaws but the good outweighs the bad with this one and the benefits are exciting to any teacher!

I loved the way that the media specialist in Cobb County used the Wiki to save all of her documents and put them on the internet for parents to use.  I feel like parents are always asking what books they should have for their kids, or what their kids are interested in.  This Wiki would be a perfect way to put documents out there for parents to read over so they will know what their children are doing and I coiuld even put suggested book lists for each grade.  I actually really appreciated her documents about he News Team.  I recently started a live morning broadcast at my new school, and it was such a difficult process to figure out as a first year media specialist.  I pulled some of her documents and I plan on saving them to use next year! I love that Wikis are available to every student and can be beneficial to both student and teachers! 

Blog 1: Podcasting

My initial thoughts on podcasting were that it seemed like a good idea, but it would be too difficult for most students, too difficult for me, and the payoff probably wouldn’t be much. I’m happy to say, I was wrong. First, the sample podcasts from Radio Willoweb, were amazing and the students were in third grade. I realize I was listening to the finished product, but I really didn’t think it could ever be as good as they were. Second, creating a podcast wasn’t difficult. I was a little unsure of myself, but all the software available, and a lot of it is free, made the task not only easy, but fun. I wasn’t just completing a task, but creating a project. It’s so hard to find time to create. Finally, the payoff was great. I was proud of my podcast and shared it with my family. I’m proud of the students on Radio Willoweb, and I’m betting they are pretty proud of themselves as well.

So with all of my initial thoughts completely changed, I began thinking of how I could use podcasts with my students and in my classroom. I currently teach fifth grade, so naturally I began brainstorming about using it with my students. My students have just begun on a research and presentation project on key individuals in the U.S. Civil War. They are so excited to be creating slideshow presentations. They’ve all done slideshows before, but I think the idea of teaching other students and being able to demonstrate their knowledge and skills is appealing even if they are doing a slideshow again. Imagine how thrilled they would be to create a podcast for this project. I’m sorry I didn’t think of using a podcast sooner, but I assure you we will be exploring and experimenting with podcasts soon.

Next, I thought about using podcasts on my website for parents. I send home regular communication and we have a curriculum night at the beginning of the year, but who can remember everything two months down the road. I spend a lot of time answering emails and explaining procedures to parents regarding everything from agendas to when the kids go to the bathroom. If I had podcasts explaining items such as classroom procedures, the Accelerated Reader program, and homework policies, I probably wouldn’t be writing so many emails. Yes, I have all the information on my website, but listening and/or watching is so much more entertaining than reading the same dry information.

Then, I reread the assignment and realized I am supposed to be thinking in terms of media center use. I got back on track and began imagining all the podcasts I could create of “how to’s” for the media center. Not just for the students, but for the teachers also. During preplanning, our sweet media specialist explains copyright law, flex scheduling, and all the lessons she can teach. Unfortunately, our brains are filled to capacity, and all we can think about is when are we going to get our class lists, when will we find time to finish our bulletin boards, and we need paper to make copies. You get the idea. I think I would continue doing the training during preplanning, but also have short, instructional podcasts teachers could access when needed.

I loved the “Booktalks, Quick and Simple” by Nancy Keane. If you didn’t listen to some of her podcasts, take a moment and listen. She’s entertaining and informative. I believe students would be intrigued by her short summaries and race to check out the suggested book.

Podcasting is definitely an avenue I want to explore. And even though, I’m not working in a media center yet, I will definitely be using podcasts in my classroom! You should let your imaginative go wild and see where you can go with podcasting.