Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Faculty Spotlight: Ned Rimer

Sharing Student Videos on TeacherTube
Curriculum, Assessment & Instruction: Practicum
Spring 2008


Introduction
Ned Rimer has taught for the Lesley/Citizen Schools Out of School Time blended program since its inception. He was faced with a challenge; he wanted to see how his students were applying what they were learning to the out of school programs they worked in all over the country. The first semester, he had students mail him video-taped class sessions. While this allowed him to view his students applying their knowledge in practice, he felt that the students would benefit from being able to view one another's videos. In the Fall of 2007, Ned decided to transform this into a digital process, having students use digital cameras and upload their videos to TeacherTube.

Timeline
Ned began planning this project in the Fall of 2007, and executed it with his class in the Spring of 2008.
  • In the Fall of 2007, Ned consulted with an Instructional Designer on the logistics of the process.
  • In January 2008, the class met face-to-face, where students received videotaping and editing instruction.
  • In March 2008, students began sharing their short videos on TeacherTube.
Equipment
Process
During the face-to-face portion of the course in January, the students attended a workshop on video recording and editing that was arranged by the Kresge Media Center in the Library. The students then went out into field placements all over the country. They continued to communicate and engage in their coursework at a distance through myLesley. Towards the end of the semester, students had the assignment to record themselves teaching a lesson they had designed. They uploaded those videos to a private group area in TeacherTube that only the instructor, teaching assistants, and classmates could view.

Outcome
Ned was able to log into TeacherTube and see all of the students' videos in one place. The students in the course were able to do the same - and provide critiques of one another's videos and teaching styles right on the TeacherTube site through the commenting feature.

You Can TeacherTube Too!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Free Online Tools and Resources

Every week there are dozens of cool and new websites we review in eLIS. Below are some notable mentions that we hope you check out, and are also featured in our Brown Bag lunch discussion: "Our Favorite Free Online Tools and Resources."

Images and Drawing
Picnik http://www.picnik.com
Picnik is an easy to use site that allows you to quickly upload a photo or other image file to crop and resize for use in your course site, PowerPoint files, and other documents. You can also import images from your existing Flickr or Facebook accounts to work with. What is nice is that you do not need to create a user name and password to use this site; simply upload, resize, then download the new file to your desktop.

Sumo Paint (http://www.sumopaint.com). A completely web-based digital drawing and image suite, this tool combines elements of both Adobe Fireworks and Photoshop Elements. It has the ability to use layers, download work to local files and will also let you upload existing work. This tool runs completely in your web browser without downloading any software or creating a login account. This is a great tool for creating custom graphics and course banners.

TuxPaint (http://www.tuxpaint.org/) For folks used to working with KidPix and Pixie with their early childhood and elementary education students, Tux Paint is a free downloadable drawing tool for kids that provides a basic interface for drawing. Also available is a free stamp suite (clip art). While it does not have all of the bells in whistles of the full Kid Pix version, it is still a nice, lightweight option for students to be able to test and try.

Graphic Organizers and Project Planning
Webspriation (http://mywebspiration.com) If you are a fan of Inspiration software, you will enjoy the new web version called "Webspiration." Webspiration comes with similar clip art tools, and now also integrates social tools such as chat and the ability to share and collaborate on your document in real time with others. This site also features help documentation, tutorials, as well as suggestions on how to get started.

TimeGlider (http://timeglider.com/) TimeGlider is similar to the popular k-12 tool Timeliner. Like Webspiration above, TimeGlider integrates the ability to share timelines with multiple groups for comment. The application allows you to import images to further customize your timeline. Great for project planning and teaching sequences and events, this site also comes with helpful and easy to understand help documentation and tutorials.

Math Tools
Create a Graph (http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createAgraph/default.aspx) This is a web-based tool that allows you to create quick graphs, plots, etc. This tool allows you to print, save (download) or email your creations.

Seeing Math, Concord Consortium (http://seeingmath.concord.org/sms_interactives.html) Take advantage of this free and beautiful suite of advanced math tools for graphing algebra and geometric functions.

Science, Social Studies, Geography, etc
Google Earth - (http://earth.google.com/) Google earth is a downloadable application that allows you to explore not only the topography of the world, but also the solar system, ( including the Martian landscape), and so much more. From typing in an address as you would in Google maps, to viewing historical landscapes, or asking to see the most current weather complete with cloud formations and radar, Google Earth offers a comprehensive set of tools that can be used across the curriculum. Before getting started, we recommend viewing the quick video about Google Earth at http://earth.google.com/tour.html and its many features.

Visual Web Browsing
Cooliris (http://www.cooliris.com/) If you want a glimpse of what the future of the Internet might be like then check out Cooliris. Cooliris is a browser plugin that allows you to switch from the traditional text search mode to images and video. Can you imagine doing a keyword search in Google and only seeing the results as video and images? Once you click on an image, you are taken to the regular web site. A very different way of seeing the web, Cooliris is fun to try and allows you the ability toggle the visual view on and off so you are never more than a click away from your traditional web experience.

If you have a great resource you would like to share in an upcoming blog, please contact Rebecca Petersen.


Monday, February 9, 2009

Online Soan-C Workshops

eLIS is pleased to offer paid registration for Lesley Faculty in upcoming Sloan-C workshops. Below are three workshops that will be starting in the next couple of weeks. Before registering, please contact Karen Muncaster for the necessary registration code.

All workshops are offered online for two weeks. Workshop participants will have access to workshop content for one year after they complete the workshop.

Using the Community of Inquiry Framework to Design and Assess Online Courses
Start: Feb 11 2009
End: Feb 20 2009

The Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework developed by Garrison, Anderson and Archer (2000) provides a theoretical model of online learning processes that has been used by many scholars and practitioners in the field of online education. CoI is a constructivist process model, assuming effective online learning requires the development of community.

Delivering Content, Fostering Student Interactivity, and Assessing Learning in Blended Courses
Start: Feb 15 2009
End: Mar 8 2009

Effective blended teaching requires significant rethinking and design. When designed effectively, blended courses can improve learning and offer more effective use of available resources. Additionally, the blended modality provides for less passive learning and more active learning.

Video Tools for Teaching and Learning
Start: Feb 25 2009
End: Mar 6 2009

Participants will:
  • Explore 5 digital video tools
  • Understand how video can enhance communication, teaching, and learning
  • Learn how to use video effectively to improve engagement and learning outcomes