Day 9

Windows Photostory 3 far exceeded my expectations as a great multimedia source for educators. This piece of technology is both easy to use and adapt to the classroom, especially when using storytelling to illustrate history. Visually stunning, easy to master, and effective as a captivating medium for transfering knowledge, Photostory 3 has infinite potential in the history classroom. Students could whip up a creative project documenting an era in history with visuals and projected sound without the limitations of a standard powerpoint. The music option is another great way to set the mood and arouse the emotions of sleepy students. Three cheers for Photostory 3!!!

Day 8

The wonderful world of wikis is yet another option for fledgling teachers to encourage shared ownership of knowledge. I really enjoyed experimenting with the technology in class. Wikis are the next best thing to Blackboard in the realm of public education. I can see myself developing a history wiki for students to create knowledge, rather than just passively absorb it. All in all, another great class that helped me learn new ways to open up to students on their own terms.

Your thoughts?

Day 7

To be quite honest, I really enjoyed our last class. Project based learning seems a great way, at least for some, to discover new ideas and play around with unfamiliar technologies. Dividing the class into groups is more practical for experimenting with technology, giving everyone a chance to test the waters. Just demonstrating a particular technology to the class as a whole seems to weigh heavily on passive learning, and even heavier on droopy eyelids. It seems that breaking up class time into different segments keeps students on the move and interested in what is to come. Three straight hours of lecture is unbearable, if not ineffective, whereas changing teaching methods and student activities generates greater attention rates. In a word, do not bore this generation or they will abandon you.