Podcasting | Alex Ragone's Learning Blog Audio Editing 101 In Tech 6 we’re working on a project to create a Story Corp podcast. Students are working in groups of three and have set up interviews with community members, written questions, and interviewed their subjects. This week, we’ll be editing the audio they are listening to in the free program, Audacity. Here’s the process we’ll use. Open Audacity Import MP3 audio that we recorded using our Sony ICD PX820 recorder by selecting Project –> Import Audio Save the file – Name it with the date of the interview and the subject. Audio Editing 101 with Audacity 5. 6. 7. Feel free to post questions below. I’m looking forward to listening to the audio interviews that you create! * Image Source: arvindgrover Social Media – Part II – The Long Tail (Cross Posted at edSocialMedia) The Long Tail became relevant to me as I connected with education technologists around the world through my blog and Bloglines RSS blog reader. So why tell this story? Skype in Global Ed Program? My Response:
Cinderella This week my writing mission is to write Cinderalla story. The prompt says that the Cinderalla story which has an happy ending should be tried to end with a sad ending. The popular Cinderalla story I've heard through my mother, read as a lesson in my school and have seen a movie too. Now I continue the story: Cinderella got into the coach and hurried towards home. The prince was mad. "No we don't have any other girl in this house" - step mother tells the kings group when the glass slipper did not fit into the feet of the step sisters. Cinderella at that juncture comes out of the kitchen on some errand.The cunning step mother very smartly gets hold of the one glass slipper from the soldier and destroys it to pieces.The kings contingent could not find the right feet that would fit into the glass slipper. The blame for the destruction of one glass slipper was put on one soldier and he was punished .
How To Create A Blog: A Beginner's Guide To Starting A Blog Heutagogy and lifelong learning: A review of heutagogical practice and self-determined learning | Blaschke Lisa Marie Blaschke Oldenburg University and University of Maryland University College (UMUC) Abstract Heutagogy, a form of self-determined learning with practices and principles rooted in andragogy, has recently resurfaced as a learning approach after a decade of limited attention. In a heutagogical approach to teaching and learning, learners are highly autonomous and self-determined and emphasis is placed on development of learner capacity and capability with the goal of producing learners who are well-prepared for the complexities of today’s workplace. The approach has been proposed as a theory for applying to emerging technologies in distance education and for guiding distance education practice and the ways in which distance educators develop and deliver instruction using newer technologies such as social media. Keywords: Lifelong learning; heutagogy; self-determined learning; andragogy; self-directed learning; social media; capability; competency; double-loop learning; reflection
How to Make Your Syllabi More Engaging Paper syllabi are officially outdated. Many professors make their course syllabi available online as a downloadable file, but an increasing few are actually turning their syllabi into interactive blogs, which we refer to as syllablogs. The benefits to students are remarkable. Tools for Turning a Syllabus into a Blog There are a number of ways free hosting platforms allow noncoders the chance to build a robust website or blog: WordPress. What Content to Include on Your Syllablog Since you have plenty of space and the ability to organize your site, add any content that might be helpful to your students. Course descriptionScheduleExpectationsObjectivesTextbooksEmergency proceduresGrading policyLinks to supplemental resources (articles, videos and relevant social media sites)Opportunities for extra creditLocal eventsSurveys Inherent in the name “blog” is the expectation of fresh content on the site. Getting Students Involved The days of the static syllabus are fading.
I used to think… I used to think that giving homework the first day of school set the “tone” for our classroom, that this was an academic class that had rigor and demanded their best. Now I realize that I was trying to intimidate my students so that they would work hard and know that I was the one in charge. I used to think that compliant, well-behaved students were the ideal; now I’m afraid for them. I used to think, as a high school teacher, that reading was someone else’s job to teach. I used to think that some kids weren’t cut out for school. I’ve learned about self-regulation Self regulation is defined as the process of taking control of and evaluating one’s own learning and behavior. Look at the research: • “Self-regulated learning (SRL), as the three words imply, emphasizes autonomy and control by the individual who monitors, directs, and regulates actions toward goals of information acquisition, expanding expertise, and self-improvement” (Paris and Paris 2001). No more “fill-er-up” Like this:
6 Tips for Quality Student Blogging “Gary, so much of what students blog about is crap and not worth reading. It seems like the emphasis is on creating content, but not quality content.” my coworker Tara commented last week. Her point is so important, and one that educators are struggling with around the world. As schools are moving towards student blogging platforms such as kidblogs, edublogs and word press, the question is: “How do we use blogs to compliment classroom activities and serve as a portfolio of learning?” The war cry of 21st century educator is that students be content creators. While I agree with this, we must be careful not to sacrifice quality before fully embracing digital learning platforms like blogs and wikis. Depending on where you are with blogging in your classroom, consider these tips to make student blogging more meaningful, more creative, and more fun. How do we use blogs to compliment classroom activities and serve as a portfolio of learning? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. This is an easy one to overlook. 6.
The 18 Best Free Web Tools Chosen By You It’s the start of a new year and that means there’s infinite possibilities that lay before you. But you can’t move forward without arming yourself with the best free web tools and apps. I was perusing some of my favorite education blogs, social networks, and other time-sucking online spots when I came back to the Edublog Awards . Below is the list of finalists for the best free web tools. Claco Find, build and share resources with teachers across the hall or across the world — aligned with Common Core ClassDojo Improve specific student behaviors and engagement by awarding and recording real-time feedback.
8 Engaging Ways to Promote Your Classroom Blog A classroom blog is a great way to build a professional learning portfolio. However, many well meaning teachers abandon a class blog after a few months because they feel their efforts are unappreciated and all their musings have fallen on deaf ears. Grinding out posts with a variety of media to document learning that is happening in the classroom is often a thankless task. In the early stages, don’t expect your site visitor widget to be going off the charts. However, having had a classroom blog for three years now, I’ve learned a number of ways to get others involved with your blog and make it more of a product of a networked community rather than just one dedicated teacher. 1. Parent teacher conferences, back to school night, any and all forums are an opportunity to have a tab open to your blog to share what you and your students are doing. 2. If you write posts about major activities, consider having your students write reflective comments on the activity the following day. 3. 4. 5.
The Role of Truth, Trust and Context in Online Learning By Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach I have been thinking today about truth, trust, and learning. I am going to try and weave them together in a post that makes some logical sense but if I fail, I ask your forgiveness in advance. Maybe hear this post as sound bites rather than a narrative as I try to find my way. Context I was listening to Dr. Ravi Zacharias and heard him say, “Intent is prior to content” and my mind exploded. needs to be situated in truth (i.e. that which conforms to reality as it actually is) or context and that is why a thick schema (prior knowledge and experience) is so important.” Imagine just teaching content without the context setting. Learner FirstIf you have read my book you know I talk quite a bit about being a learner first and an educator second. Being a learner first helps us to share ideas (teach) whether we are parenting, car building or gardening. All of these are found within the context of healthy relationships. Did you know…. Let’s think about that.