Online Classrooms

In a recent article found on Education Week, the increased use of Internet classes is discussed. The article talks about how more and more students are taking online courses instead of waiting for classes to open up or to lighten their daily school load. This is very interesting to me. I wonder what the students really are getting out of these classes. Sure they are getting the material required to pass, for "all the virtual school's teachers are state-certified. Most are either retired K-12 teachers or currently teaching and working at the virtual school on the side," so we know they are being taught the material. But I feel like high school is a time to learn how to act around other people, how to conduct yourself as a fellow citizen. If students start taking these online courses, how will they learn to socialize with others? Ms. DaLage, one of the virtual school's teachers states that "students who are shy or socially awkward excel when removed from the pressures of the classroom. Others who struggle with group discussions thrive when they produce written work online." OK, but are we preparing our students to sit behind computers all their lives or are we supposed to help them thrive as active parts of society?

Also, I think I would hate to be one of these virtual teachers. The great part of teaching is getting to know your students personally. I love subbing right now because I know almost every student in grades 9-12 b/c I sub wherever needed and have really put effort into getting to know these kids. That's what teaching is all about. How could virtual classrooms ever compare to traditional classrooms where there is face-to-face contact??

I have never taken an online course, so I'd be interested to hear opinions from those who have...

Help With iMovie, Please!

Why are my images that I import from iPhoto and apply the Ken Burn's effect to changing to a bright red color? I tried changing the brightness and color, but it still has the shade of red. The images that I don't apply the Ken Burn's effect to don't lose their color quality like these do. What's going on? Any suggestions?

The more information I read about using blogs in the classroom, the more I am convinced that they are a must! I love the idea of them creating an authentic audience. Students will be much more engaged in and motivated to post comments of quality if they know their peers will be reading what they have to say. What a great way to ask provocative questions and get genuine responses!

Update on iMovie project: I have all of my footage (and a lot more) taped. My camera is due tomorrow, so I need to return that. I will need to figure out how to get the footage from my tape to my CD with the needed cable. I have a lot of tweaking to do to my footage with the order of things, and I hope that won't cause me huge problems. I didn't do much talking during filming, so it will be mostly voice-over.

All the ideas I have heard lately about the rest of your ideas sound great! I can't wait to watch all of your movies. I am sure they will all be as original and unique as the podcasts!

iMovie Question

I checked out a camera and microphone today from the library, and I bought the mini DV and DVD-R CD's the other day. I have to have the camera back by next Monday and there are no renewals, so I am wondering how I am going to download my movie to the Macs in class. Is it enough to have the movie on the tape or do I need the camera in class? If I do need the camera in class, what am I supposed to do if someone has a camera reserved so I can't check it out again?

Who is Responsible?

I came across an article recently that from an Indianapolis newspaper about a school punishing students for what they publish on the web, even if it occurs at home. The school officials in favor of this punishment, which has included days of OSS, say that students need to learn that some things are not acceptable anywhere, not even on MySpace from home. The students are arguing back that these new rules are imposing on their constitutional rights for freedom of speech.

I think that the school has to draw the line somewhere. Parents need to take over at some point, and if the school is butting in outside of school, when are the parents called on to take some responsibility toward their children? Parents need to be aware of these sites like MySpace so that they can keep an eye on what their children are writing and who they are communicating with. Perhaps the schools should spend more time educating parents instead of enforcing rules that apply to out-of-school postings.

Check out the article:

www.psychosensei.com/archives/003165.html

Podcast Correction

I was pleased that the audio on my podcast can be heard much better than what I was expecting since it seemed to be muted when I was creating it. However, there is an error in it that I didn't catch until watching it in iTunes. The big brown monster is from Germany, not Palestine. I didn't catch that I said Palestine twice. . . Oops.

Other than that small error and some other timing issues I would correct if I had more time and access to a Mac, I am overall happy with the end result. I am certainly happy to know how to make an enhanced podcast. The possibilities are endless with this medium of communication. It was a learning process, and it's nice to be on this end of it looking back at the experience.

Project Idea

I haven't forgotten that we were to post ideas for our projects this week. It's just that I am having a hard time coming up with a project that will be worthwhile and that won't totally stress me out because I will be working alone with technology that I am not 100% comfortable with. I was toying with the idea of creating an interactive story guide like the Holocaust one in Richardson's book on pg. 69. However, I have no confidence when it comes to wikis. Sure I can post an entry, but to add images and links to create an interwoven story with countless variations based on which choices are made seems way too intimidating.

So, I was thinking that I might create a unit that incorporates technology in several aspects. I have to hand in my portfolio in November, and I need to include a middle school unit plan. I really didn't get the opportunity to create a unit plan with my middle school placement, so if I could kill two birds with one stone, that would be great. I was given one week to teach poetry to 7th graders, and one week did not do it any justice. I could have taught poetry for the whole time I was there. I would like to create a unit on poetry that I could possibly use when I get a job. These are just ideas right now, but I was thinking of incorporating flickr with pictures they could write poetry about, I could use blogs as a way for them to communicate ideas and reflections about poetry. . . These are very rough ideas, as I have been toying with many possibilities for this project.

What do you think? Boring? Feasible? Suggestions? Questions?

Teaching for their futures?

I just finished reading Frank McCourt's Teacher Man which I definitely recommend for any teacher or future teacher to read. He has some great insights into teaching English at the high school level. He has some pretty funny stories to tell, too! In his last chapter, he states this about parents: "All they care about is success and money, money, money. They have expectations for their kids, high hopes, and we're like workers on an assembly line sticking a little part in here, another little part in there till the finished product comes out at the end all ready to perform for parent and corporation." (235)

This goes right along with our discussion last week with Shade. Are we producing students who will survive in this flat world? If we don't know all the new technology, how can we hope to produce individuals who will survive in this ever-changing world?

I think that it is important to teach students things that they will take with them into their futures, but I really believe that we need to teach them in the present. If we are always preparing them for the next year, when are they being themselves at the moment? Kids need to be kids, and I feel that by constantly thinking of only their futures, we may miss a crucial time in their lives to reach them--RIGHT NOW IN THE PRESENT!