As a teacher, you know the importance of a good vocabulary and
using the right technical terms for the right things. So it's important
that you keep your own vocabulary up to date when it comes all the
different new pieces of classroom technology. You need to know your Java
from your jpegs and your blogs from your browsers.
So what terms do you need to be familiar with for the classroom technology of today? Knowing what they are (and that they exist) is an important first step - understanding what they are can also help you work out how you can use each type of technology in your classroom to best effect.
Classroom Technology Glossary:
Web 2.0: No, this is not a new version of the internet or Windows Explorer/Firefox/Google that you will have to download. Instead, this refers to the way the internet tends to work these days. Before, the internet was a place that you went to look up and read information - kind of like a library or an encyclopedia. Now, the web is a place where you can read and write bits and pieces. One classic example that has its place as classroom technology is the use of forums, where members can write and post their opinions on a given topic.
Blog The word sounds horrible, but it is short for "web log". This is a sort of publicly available online diary where somebody can post short articles (opinion pieces, information, events, etc.) on a regular basis (daily, weekly, fortnightly). One way that this can be turned into classroom technology is for a teacher to have his/her own blog that students can read, and the teacher can post advice, study tips, homework reminders, etc.
Social networking: Social networking sites are where users can connect and converse -privately or publicly - to others. People can chat via the keyboard, post links to sites they recommend, find people with common interests and so forth. Delicious, Twitter, Facebook and Bebo are some example of the most "basic" social networking sites. Chat rooms are other examples. More sophisticated ones (which tend not to be used as classroom technology) are those of the Second Life type, where users create an "avatar" who lives a virtual life in the Second Life world: shopping, making friends, and the like.
Wiki: "Wiki" is derived from the Hawaiian for "quick" and tends to refer to a website that anybody can edit. Wikipedia is the best known one, and while it may not the be best place for your students to do research in, it does have some strong requirements and standards relating to distinguishing opinion from fact, unbiased writing and supporting references.
RSS "Rich Site Summary". An "RSS Feed" is a quick summary of new material that has been added to a site of interest to your subscribers. In the world of classroom technology, an RSS feed can be sent to your "subscribers" (i.e. students) who can see the headlines of any newsletters posted online, some of the quick links that have been posted, a brief summary of any new blog posts, and so forth.
Podcasting: Audio and video clips that can be posted for viewing or listening on iPods (which are like the walkman of the 1980s but much more sophisticated). Clips can be distributed to "subscribers" via RSS feeds. Familiar pieces of classroom technology such as digital cameras are used to create these.
Filter: A must for any school computer that has internet access. A filter blocks undesirable sites so your students can't access them. No filter is 100% perfect. Some over-block and some can be dodged, so teachers need to stay vigilant.
Don't be put off by the new world of classroom technology. Getting used to the new tools is easier than you think. And don't feel you have to abandon what you've already learned about using videos - these are still some of the most effective forms of multimedia that you can use in your class. Watch this Free Video and download the Expert Guide "The 7 Biggest Mistakes Teachers Make Using Video in the Classroom" for improving your classroom lessons by using videos more-and more effectively.
So what terms do you need to be familiar with for the classroom technology of today? Knowing what they are (and that they exist) is an important first step - understanding what they are can also help you work out how you can use each type of technology in your classroom to best effect.
Classroom Technology Glossary:
Web 2.0: No, this is not a new version of the internet or Windows Explorer/Firefox/Google that you will have to download. Instead, this refers to the way the internet tends to work these days. Before, the internet was a place that you went to look up and read information - kind of like a library or an encyclopedia. Now, the web is a place where you can read and write bits and pieces. One classic example that has its place as classroom technology is the use of forums, where members can write and post their opinions on a given topic.
Blog The word sounds horrible, but it is short for "web log". This is a sort of publicly available online diary where somebody can post short articles (opinion pieces, information, events, etc.) on a regular basis (daily, weekly, fortnightly). One way that this can be turned into classroom technology is for a teacher to have his/her own blog that students can read, and the teacher can post advice, study tips, homework reminders, etc.
Social networking: Social networking sites are where users can connect and converse -privately or publicly - to others. People can chat via the keyboard, post links to sites they recommend, find people with common interests and so forth. Delicious, Twitter, Facebook and Bebo are some example of the most "basic" social networking sites. Chat rooms are other examples. More sophisticated ones (which tend not to be used as classroom technology) are those of the Second Life type, where users create an "avatar" who lives a virtual life in the Second Life world: shopping, making friends, and the like.
Wiki: "Wiki" is derived from the Hawaiian for "quick" and tends to refer to a website that anybody can edit. Wikipedia is the best known one, and while it may not the be best place for your students to do research in, it does have some strong requirements and standards relating to distinguishing opinion from fact, unbiased writing and supporting references.
RSS "Rich Site Summary". An "RSS Feed" is a quick summary of new material that has been added to a site of interest to your subscribers. In the world of classroom technology, an RSS feed can be sent to your "subscribers" (i.e. students) who can see the headlines of any newsletters posted online, some of the quick links that have been posted, a brief summary of any new blog posts, and so forth.
Podcasting: Audio and video clips that can be posted for viewing or listening on iPods (which are like the walkman of the 1980s but much more sophisticated). Clips can be distributed to "subscribers" via RSS feeds. Familiar pieces of classroom technology such as digital cameras are used to create these.
Filter: A must for any school computer that has internet access. A filter blocks undesirable sites so your students can't access them. No filter is 100% perfect. Some over-block and some can be dodged, so teachers need to stay vigilant.
Don't be put off by the new world of classroom technology. Getting used to the new tools is easier than you think. And don't feel you have to abandon what you've already learned about using videos - these are still some of the most effective forms of multimedia that you can use in your class. Watch this Free Video and download the Expert Guide "The 7 Biggest Mistakes Teachers Make Using Video in the Classroom" for improving your classroom lessons by using videos more-and more effectively.
The small company, SchoolVideos.com,
I work for is committed to creating quality educational videos for
classroom instruction. From the earliest script stages, all subject area
content, images, and music are intensely reviewed and selected for
meeting appropriate grade level, curriculum objectives and standards for
our proprietary productions. The videos we distribute are also screened
to meet our high standards.
Teachers in the 21st century classroom will be better educators if they understand how to use multi media in their lessons, if they understand the processes that research has shown to be the most effective for improved student performance, and if they know how to find quality video resources that will enhance their lessons.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kimberly_Stohlman
Teachers in the 21st century classroom will be better educators if they understand how to use multi media in their lessons, if they understand the processes that research has shown to be the most effective for improved student performance, and if they know how to find quality video resources that will enhance their lessons.
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