SlideShare & Incompetech

SlideShare is a really easy to use tool with great benefits. I can see how using a tool like this can be used over and over again in my teaching career. Such as when delivering the same or very similar content to a class I would be able to upload my powerpoint presentation onto SlideShare and be able to use it again and again and add sound and music to the presentation to suit the age group.

Here is a very short powerpoint that i have put together and uploaded onto SlideShare. I also like how you have the option of making your powerpoint public or private. I am still trying to work out how to add audio to it though.

How to make a pizza – amanda style

Imcompetech could be used to add a little twist to any powerpoint presentation. The clip I downloaded was African, full of the use of different instruments such as bongos. I could use this clip to accompany an introduction into African History for example. It could also be used in music classes for students to get a idea of different cultured music etc.

Digital Storytelling

I feel like bit of a broken record, but how amazing is digital storytelling . . .well all technology really. Digital storytelling would be so useful for so many reasons such as; introducing topics and allowing students to express themselves.

For me as a History/English teacher I could use digital storytelling in assessments and everyday classes by asking students to act out their own interpretation of a book or a significant event in History. This allows the student to be creative with their learning, which would in turn encourage them further in their education. Creating a digital story would be beneficial to all different learning styles as there are many different stages to the creation of the story. These stages include planning, production, presentation and assessment (a more detailed explanation of these stages are found at this digital storytelling site). It also allows the students to relate, create and donate as it allows the student to relate it to a real time experience, create this event and to present (donate) it for feedback (Aldred, 2010).

References

Digital Storytelling. (2009). Digital Storytelling for Educators. Retrieved from http://old.lubbockisd.org/sfirenza/storytelling/

Aldred, S. (2010). Revisiting Learning Engagement Theory. In Beginning your teaching portfolio. Rockhampton, Australia. CQUniveristy. Retrieved from CQUniveristy e-courses, FAHE11001 Managing e-Learning, http://moodle.cqu.edu.au

WIKIPedia

WIKIPedia

This site offers a vast amount of information regarding all possible topics. As a specific tool regarding information regarding History, Wikipedia has a specific portal for history which offers a definition to the term History as well as offering subportals into particular times in history such as War and Classical Civilisation. It also offers little 'did you know' facts in the History Portal as well as pictures and categories. Wikipedia could be used as a tool for students to get an overview of specific topics or as a starting point for research assignments.

Google Earth

Google Earth is an amazing tool that could be used in many ways in the classroom. Some of these include;

• helping students to gain an geological view of a particular area.
• allow students to get a more interactive view of landmarks such as buildings, mountains and beaches etc.
• ability to view a particular street

YouTube

I am on my way to become a Learning Manager specialising in English and History. These were always my favorite subjects at school. I have chosen a clip regarding Sorry Day. I think this is one of the most important and memorable days in our current history.

This clip offers a brief explaination of why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were removed from their homes. It also shares some of the impacts and experiences those children taken experienced. There are also short comments regarding thoughts of Kevin Rudd's apology to the Stolen Generation. The clip ends with the a small snipit of the Apology speech by Kevin Rudd.

While this is only a snipit of the Apology speech, it offers an insight into the feelings and experiences of those people who lived through the Stolen Generation.

In the classroom this clip, among the hundreds more found on YouTube, to present the topic of the Stolen Generation to the class. It could also be used to offer students more personalised explainations from the people who expeirenced the trauma of the Stolen Generation.

As a whole, YouTube offers an interesting creative way to present course introductions, peoples opinions, as well as offering a short tour of a destination for students. There are so many possibilities to the use of YouTube in the classroom, would love to hear your suggestions.

(I am currently studying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History)

Reference

rageunderground. (2008, Feb 13). Australia says sorry to the Stolen Generation [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9mJpL67QUw

Picnik

How cool is Picnik!! I have just uploaded 2 photos to my flickr account through Picnik in which I have had a little play with. I love the one I did of Yeppoon.

Picnik is really fun and easy to use. There are many advantages to using this in lessons such as;

• could be used to present a number of pictures in a single image.
• students could use Picnik to express them selves through pictures and graphics.
• make file sizes smaller for powerpoint etc.

Please go to my Flickr site to view my images that I have toyed with using Picnik.

Flickr

FLickr would be a great tool to use as a quick access to videos and pictures, diagrams etc. It is very easy to use and set up. I will be exploring this more to get a better idea of the full capabilities. In some ways it reminds me of facebook, in the sense that it is a networking site where you can find and add friends as well as look at each others photos and videos. However I think if managed correctly, Flickr could be used for more educational purposes then a social networker.

My Flickr is http://flickr.com/photos/alg86/ please feel free to add me.