More and more often video cameras are being used to record events, happenings, and actions. But do video cameras have a place in the classroom?
I absolutely think that video cameras can have a place in the classroom. With appropriate permission from parents and school administration, they can be a helpful and useful learning tool.
One key way that video cameras can be used is for reflection. Often we don't recognize actions that are taking place or how our mannerisms are affecting others around us. If we can go back and watch these mannerism and actions we can reflect on what happened, speculate on why it happened, and what we can do to prevent it from happening again. This can be helpful for both the teacher in his or her teaching, but also for students with challenging behavior. I have had an experience where I watched my teaching replayed and it was amazing the things that I saw that I didn't recognize before.
Students can also be recorded performing or interacting in the classroom. Having recently done a Readers Theatre in one of my classes, it would have been fun to record them, post the video online and then share it with parents. It would have made a great reflection tool also for the students in what to improve on for next time we do a Readers Theatre. Some of the students wanted to speak louder, while others wanted to make more eye contact. Recording them would allow them to see improvement from one Theatre to the next.
It would also be fun to interview and record students at the beginning of the year and then ask them the same questions at the end of the year to see how they have changed. This would show them their own change and growth and be somewhat entertaining as well! I can only image a student saying "That's what I said at the beginning of the year? I don't remember that!"
They could also be used to create a visual newsletter. Instead of sending home a paper copy of the newsletter, students could use video cameras to create a news report and then a link to its location online could be sent home to parents. Students could be involved in the creation of the newsletter this way.
You can also use video cameras in the classroom to show how to do something and lead students in a step by step activity. This could be something simple like how to write a friendly letter or complex like how to dissect a fish.
Video recording can play a huge role in the teaching and learning cycle as it helps us reflect on our teaching, students learning, and what can be improved. I intend to use video cameras in my classroom someday.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Catch up? Ketchup?
I realized I've been slacking on this whole blog thingy... so here's a run down of recent events. On the wife front, I am so blessed by my husband! My car broke down on the side of the freeway this week on my way to a midterm exam. My husband came, let me take his car to school while he waited for the tow truck to take it to the mechanic. I was so beside myself through the whole experience and I am so thankful for his quick decision making and willingness to serve me! What an awesome man God has blessed me with!
I am so proud of my 3rd graders this week! We did a readers theatre in Reading and they did awesome! The kids only had a few opportunities to practice their lines but they did awesome! I was also really proud of the audience members who were attentive and quiet! They gave awesome feedback and were respectful of the performers too! What a great group we have!
Last night was a really enjoyable evening too! Hosted a girls night with wine and cheese! So much fun having drinks, chatting, and playing games too! So many girls were able to come. What a wonderful night!
I am so proud of my 3rd graders this week! We did a readers theatre in Reading and they did awesome! The kids only had a few opportunities to practice their lines but they did awesome! I was also really proud of the audience members who were attentive and quiet! They gave awesome feedback and were respectful of the performers too! What a great group we have!
Last night was a really enjoyable evening too! Hosted a girls night with wine and cheese! So much fun having drinks, chatting, and playing games too! So many girls were able to come. What a wonderful night!
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Communicating Using Technology and Newsletters
Parent communication and involvement is a HUGE help in the classroom. My belief is that most parents DO want to be engaged in their child's education journey. However, they either don't know how to be engaged or they have extenuating circumstances that keep them from being able to do so. A newsletter can help in both of these situations.
A newsletter is a tool that can be used to communicate what they students are doing, have done or are going to be doing in the classroom. They can also include information for parents to come help in the classroom or information that will help the parents know how to engage with their student at home about the material they are learning at school. A digital newsletter can save a lot of headache for the habitually irresponsible child. It can just be emailed to the parents to avoid the black hole that is the book bag. A digital communication can also provide a quick turn-around time with information. Instead of waiting to send home a newsletter, hope that it gets there, wait for parents to see it, and the communicate back, which could take more than a day, an email or other electronic newsletter is delivered in normal circumstances, instantly and can be replied to instantly.
There could be real benefit in teaching children how to create a newsletter also and about the elements of graphic design. One benefit that comes to mind is having each child create a newsletter that showcases what they individually learned that week, which could then be copied back to back with the teacher's classroom newsletter. This would be a way for them to showcase what they know and keep them engaged in what they are learning. It would also help them to have something to dialogue with their parents about that is more personal and meaningful than what the teacher may offer.
When our students know how to make newsletters, they are able to create them for the class instead of something that you create for the class. It would provide a way for them to take leadership in and ownership of the classroom. If all the students know how to make a newsletter, they could take turns working in small groups to create the classroom newsletter.
Teaching students how to make newsletters could also provide them with a way to present information for other classes. They could take the information learned in science and create a newsletter with it.
Having a collection of newsletters would also provide a snapshot of what each week of that grade was like. This is something that could be helpful for the reflective parent who likes to archive each school year. It could also be helpful for the me as a teacher to see what I am teaching this year compared to last year.
Overall, I think newsletters, whether formal paper printed format or contemporary electronic format, are a valuable and necessary tool that teachers can use to connect with parents and caregivers of the children in their classroom.
A newsletter is a tool that can be used to communicate what they students are doing, have done or are going to be doing in the classroom. They can also include information for parents to come help in the classroom or information that will help the parents know how to engage with their student at home about the material they are learning at school. A digital newsletter can save a lot of headache for the habitually irresponsible child. It can just be emailed to the parents to avoid the black hole that is the book bag. A digital communication can also provide a quick turn-around time with information. Instead of waiting to send home a newsletter, hope that it gets there, wait for parents to see it, and the communicate back, which could take more than a day, an email or other electronic newsletter is delivered in normal circumstances, instantly and can be replied to instantly.
There could be real benefit in teaching children how to create a newsletter also and about the elements of graphic design. One benefit that comes to mind is having each child create a newsletter that showcases what they individually learned that week, which could then be copied back to back with the teacher's classroom newsletter. This would be a way for them to showcase what they know and keep them engaged in what they are learning. It would also help them to have something to dialogue with their parents about that is more personal and meaningful than what the teacher may offer.
When our students know how to make newsletters, they are able to create them for the class instead of something that you create for the class. It would provide a way for them to take leadership in and ownership of the classroom. If all the students know how to make a newsletter, they could take turns working in small groups to create the classroom newsletter.
Teaching students how to make newsletters could also provide them with a way to present information for other classes. They could take the information learned in science and create a newsletter with it.
Having a collection of newsletters would also provide a snapshot of what each week of that grade was like. This is something that could be helpful for the reflective parent who likes to archive each school year. It could also be helpful for the me as a teacher to see what I am teaching this year compared to last year.
Overall, I think newsletters, whether formal paper printed format or contemporary electronic format, are a valuable and necessary tool that teachers can use to connect with parents and caregivers of the children in their classroom.
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