An e-book is the digital media equivalent of a conventional printed book. Such documents are usually read on personal computers or even cell phones. Such technology is not only easy to access and convenient to the user, but it may be just the thing to promote reading among our students at all age levels. E-books have many positive attributes for both users and media centers alike. For example, clicking is easier than page-turning. You can customize the viewing experience (enlarge font size and style, change orientation on device, modify screen contrast). There is also technology available that allows the user to change to audible and have text read to them. E-books offer the potential to add multimedia (graphics, audio, and video) and hyperlinks to other information. When using e-books, book marking, highlighting and annotating capabilities are available.
There are advantages for media specialists and libraries as well. E-Texts can be modified for various reading ages, degree of violence, amount of offensive language, etc. They require less library space, shelf reading, inventory time, weeding, repair and replacement. E-books are even environmentally friendly because they save trees and paper and avoid pollution (caused by inks, dyes, coloring).
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Technology Training in Schools- Hensley
Our School has an advantage in the use of technology. Each classroom has an ActivBoard to use when teaching. Over the last few years, I've seen the staff's technology awareness and knowledge grow. One reason that I feel that this has occurred is the fact that there are training sessions and people available to assist with technological needs. Our county's technology department offers monthly and often bi-monthly technology instruction. There are always a wide variety of topics and the topics are geared to different levels. These classes are not mandatory, but there is usually a pretty good turn out because the classes address needs that are relevent to our teachers. WE also have trainings on occasion for new programs that are being implemented in the school and/or county. These trainings are usually mandatory, but they are beneficial. These trainings are usually, filled with lots of information and are sometimes overwhelming.
The only problem that I see with the trainings is that they are always at the end of the day, and sometimes people just want to leave as soon as they can. I'm not sure what the alternatives would be to this situation.
If I were in charge of technology training within the school, one thing that I feel I would change would be that I would send out surveys to see what the needs of staff are. I might also make it a requirement that at teachers attend at least one training session throughout the year.
The only problem that I see with the trainings is that they are always at the end of the day, and sometimes people just want to leave as soon as they can. I'm not sure what the alternatives would be to this situation.
If I were in charge of technology training within the school, one thing that I feel I would change would be that I would send out surveys to see what the needs of staff are. I might also make it a requirement that at teachers attend at least one training session throughout the year.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Technology Training
About two years ago our media specialists and area lead teachers had a faculty meeting for this very subject. I still have the handout they gave us during the meeting (in fact I have it in front of me right now). The heading was Promoting Engagment Using Technology. In fact, I actually just typed it into a Word document and put on the school web site at http://stu.westga.edu/~mperkin2/Promoting%20Engagement%20Using%20Technology.doc. This was the one meeting that stands out in my four years at this school that was really worth while. I don't always remember the website (unless I go back to this sheet which I keep handy) but I remember them going through them in our faculty meeting and quickly introducing us to all of them. I also remember that day in the meeting that we (the teachers present) said things like, "We'll never remember this." But it was my first introduction to GPB.org and if you read my last blog, I can't live without it! I have also used the webquest site and now that I am looking at it, I think I will visit the virtual manipulatives site.
The media specialists and the area lead teachers had a productive meeting for many reasons. This was something useful that teachers need for instruction. They also carefully organized them on a sheet of paper so we could quickly grab it when we needed it. And last, they did not stand around with a lot of talk and jabber. They got right to the point in the meeting showing us and getting us to go to the web sites while they showed us. It was very informal and at the time sort of overwhelming, but in hind sight, I hope that one day I will give technology training that is this memorable and useful to my co-workers.
The media specialists and the area lead teachers had a productive meeting for many reasons. This was something useful that teachers need for instruction. They also carefully organized them on a sheet of paper so we could quickly grab it when we needed it. And last, they did not stand around with a lot of talk and jabber. They got right to the point in the meeting showing us and getting us to go to the web sites while they showed us. It was very informal and at the time sort of overwhelming, but in hind sight, I hope that one day I will give technology training that is this memorable and useful to my co-workers.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Technology and Staff Development
Clearly at my school, neither technological abilities among faculty members nor technology related staff development are not where they should be. Typically, our current staff development involves three or four one-shot “sit and get” sessions spread across the year, each on a different topic than the one before, that are attended by most or all educators in the organization. A “one size fits all” model is used, meaning that there is relatively little differentiation between, say, music teachers and math teachers and industrial arts teachers. Rarely is there follow-up. Rarely is there sustained, focused conversation about a specific learning issue over time. The end result, of course, is that most school staff development practices have little to no meaningful impact on instructional practice and/or student learning outcomes.
There need to be means by which teachers can tap into their technological needs whenever necessary based on individual needs. I think that a media specialist can find great benefit in using such tools like blogs, podcasts and wikis. These web-based tools can allow time flexibility which may finally to provide the type of professional development that can allow ongoing participation with a group with similar concerns and interests and can also allow the users to go back as often as possibly to refresh their memories on how to use the technology in question.
There need to be means by which teachers can tap into their technological needs whenever necessary based on individual needs. I think that a media specialist can find great benefit in using such tools like blogs, podcasts and wikis. These web-based tools can allow time flexibility which may finally to provide the type of professional development that can allow ongoing participation with a group with similar concerns and interests and can also allow the users to go back as often as possibly to refresh their memories on how to use the technology in question.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Video Distribution, School News via TV and GPB Resources
Well first of all I can't tell you how much I have used GPB.org in the last four years of my new teacher experience. Short video clips aid in the teaching of very difficult physics concepts. Biology through the eyes of Georgia Public Broadcasting looks like the most exciting world to live in. It offers accompanying sheets for students to use while viewing or after viewing that help to analyze and summarize the topic. I do not use it all the time as students would grow tired of it. I have on occasion used it when I am going to be absent. It is an easy way for a substitute to give a lesson without necessarily knowing the content.
As for school TV news, we used to have it at my high school. It was the highlight of Friday at school for the students. They would scream, "Turn the TV on." Because the "student" news team might feature the basketball team, the step team or lots of shots around campus. It was always done in good humor and really impressive to me that teens could put together such a fun, informative five-minute show about their campus. It really seemed to bond this very big school.
Also at my high school, the media specialist can make videos for teacher of programs in the public TV domain. This is not used very often in high schools but it is an option. She runs what is viewed on all the TVs in the school through her output system. She can send something via the TV to a particular room if it is requested. This part of the media specialist's job sounds very exciting to me.
As for school TV news, we used to have it at my high school. It was the highlight of Friday at school for the students. They would scream, "Turn the TV on." Because the "student" news team might feature the basketball team, the step team or lots of shots around campus. It was always done in good humor and really impressive to me that teens could put together such a fun, informative five-minute show about their campus. It really seemed to bond this very big school.
Also at my high school, the media specialist can make videos for teacher of programs in the public TV domain. This is not used very often in high schools but it is an option. She runs what is viewed on all the TVs in the school through her output system. She can send something via the TV to a particular room if it is requested. This part of the media specialist's job sounds very exciting to me.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Good News!
The Video Productions program at my school is instrumental in providing valuable time management and leadership skills while honing the creativity of its students in a variety of group and individual projects. In the Video Production II. class, students apply advanced TV and film production techniques to produce a wide variety of programming genres including: a daily 7-minute broadcast newscast, a long-form documentary, short films, animations, and various multi-camera live and live-to-tape programs that are broadcast to the district’s educational television channel. This program appears to be the ultimate “hands-on” experience for students with a genuine interest in technology and broadcast journalism.
The news broadcast usually features announcements submitted by teachers, club leaders, and organization sponsors. There’s also a weather report and a couple of student interest segments. On occasion, a segment is presented on a topic relevant to the time of year like, most recently, the election. Although, I don’t always agree with or understand the logic behind some of the humor incorporated in their performances, it appears that it appeals to the students and provides valuable and rewarding opportunities for those who create it.
The news broadcast usually features announcements submitted by teachers, club leaders, and organization sponsors. There’s also a weather report and a couple of student interest segments. On occasion, a segment is presented on a topic relevant to the time of year like, most recently, the election. Although, I don’t always agree with or understand the logic behind some of the humor incorporated in their performances, it appears that it appeals to the students and provides valuable and rewarding opportunities for those who create it.
Video Distribution Systems- Hensley
I had a difficult time scheduling a meeting with our VERY BUSY media specialist, but I was able to squeeze in an interview with her somewhere between when she was making lesson plans, collaborating with teachers, teaching students, shelving books, doing book orders, making a technology training aid, and various other tasks. When I finally got a chance to sit down and talk to ME this is what I discovered...
We don't do TV News, we did about five years ago and the equipment was torn up and deemed unrepairable. The media specialist that launched the TV News left shortly after the equipment became unusable (but that was not the reason she left). The media specialist that followed did not repair or replace the equipment due to the expense, small budget, and her discomfort with the technology. When we did do the tv broadcast, students presented the news and operated the cameras. They were chosen based on their application, teacher recommendation, and personality. The broadcast started out well, and then , because of lack of supervision, declined.
Presently, we have announcements each morning. The announcements are presented by one of the physical education teachers. He or She welcomes students, we recite the Pledge of Allegience, and have a moment of quiet reflection. The lunch menu is given, birthdays are announced, and updates or other things are briefly covered. The announcements last about 5 minutes. Basically, it is the same person all year who does the announcements, unless the usual speaker is absent. I would eventually like to hanle morning announcements. I would like to involve students in the delivery. We do not have "channel 1." We do have two closed circuit channels available so that videos/dvds cna be shown in all rooms at once. This is generally used when a grade level is showing a video/dvd that correlates with a standard or theme that is being taught. It is used to show book fair videos around book fair time.
Lastly, a great number of our teachers use United Streaming in their classrooms. The teachers use the videos during and after lessons to help teach the standards or to aid in instruction. All of our classrooms have ActivBoards (similar to SmartBoards) in the classroom which is great when showing the videos to the entire class at once.
We don't do TV News, we did about five years ago and the equipment was torn up and deemed unrepairable. The media specialist that launched the TV News left shortly after the equipment became unusable (but that was not the reason she left). The media specialist that followed did not repair or replace the equipment due to the expense, small budget, and her discomfort with the technology. When we did do the tv broadcast, students presented the news and operated the cameras. They were chosen based on their application, teacher recommendation, and personality. The broadcast started out well, and then , because of lack of supervision, declined.
Presently, we have announcements each morning. The announcements are presented by one of the physical education teachers. He or She welcomes students, we recite the Pledge of Allegience, and have a moment of quiet reflection. The lunch menu is given, birthdays are announced, and updates or other things are briefly covered. The announcements last about 5 minutes. Basically, it is the same person all year who does the announcements, unless the usual speaker is absent. I would eventually like to hanle morning announcements. I would like to involve students in the delivery. We do not have "channel 1." We do have two closed circuit channels available so that videos/dvds cna be shown in all rooms at once. This is generally used when a grade level is showing a video/dvd that correlates with a standard or theme that is being taught. It is used to show book fair videos around book fair time.
Lastly, a great number of our teachers use United Streaming in their classrooms. The teachers use the videos during and after lessons to help teach the standards or to aid in instruction. All of our classrooms have ActivBoards (similar to SmartBoards) in the classroom which is great when showing the videos to the entire class at once.
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