Reflection #5: Communication Tool

Hey guys!

Today I am sharing about a communication web 2.0 tool I used when I worked in marketing!

BASECAMP is a really easy way of managing projects, people, and files all in one place. There are tons of built in applications that keep you organized, and allow you to communicate to the whole or just a couple people at a time. I never thought about using  it in the classroom, but I wanted to consider it from the perspective of an educator and how it might be used in the classroom.



I would recommenced watching this quick video to see how it works, because there are a lot of layers to it:

What I really liked about using Basecamp was how easy it was to stay in contact with people. I could write a quick message in a chat box, and be notified when they have read it and when I get a response back. I could see this being a benefit to teaching, because we would know if a parent or student received a message and/or assignment from us. You can send To-Dos to your students, and they have to check off when they have completed their work, and uploaded it. There is a schedule that allows you to see what is coming up and when it is due. You could even have students start small groups within basecamp to work on projects, where you can be a part of each one (similar to slack). What I really like though, is that you can assign tasks for students to complete and watch their progress to see where they are at with each step of an assignment or project.

There are some really great ways to communicate with your students, parents, and other teachers. This is just another option! Lets break it down:

Ease of use: * * (2 stars)

This would definitely be a harder platform to integrate into the classroom. I almost think your entire department would have to be on it to make it work... or possibly or entire school. But, it could be a good way for older students in a computer technology class to work on assignments together and be able to monitor their progress (I'm looking at you Matt and McKinzie!).

Versatility: * * * * * (5 stars)

There are so many really cool things about Basecamp that could really enhance your classroom. Again, I just think it could be more difficult than I imagined because there is a pretty big learning curve. Still, I really like the features and being able to see where your students are at along with the ease of communication.

Liklihood of using it in my classroom: * *  (2 stars)

As much as I loved using basecamp in a work environment, it may not be the most student friendly web 2.0 tool. I really could picture this being used more in a technology class where students were programming and building websites together. Still, it could be a fun tool to keep in my back pocket if I had students work on a really large project together. 

In the end, I think this site would absolutely be considered an R on the SAMR model. Who knew 10 years ago you could do business completely online, setting up projects and adding in clients. Why couldn't you do that with students, too? Maybe this would be a great platform so online students! Anyway, I hope you found it some what useful :)

Later gators,

Christine

Reflection #4: Learning Tool

Hey guys!!

For this post, I am focusing on this super cool website:

https://www.podomatic.com

Podomatic is a a free service that allows you to listen to podcasts from all around the world on every subject under the sun. Even better though, is that it allows you to create your own podcast, too! I think this is a great place for students and teachers alike to get and produce information on a topic in an engaging way.

Here is how I imagine using this in my own classroom.  I would find a podcast (whether it's on Podomatic, NPR, or somewhere else) and have students listen to it and take notes using a graphic organizer. I would then have students either write a short blog post or collaborate on a RealtimeBoard about what they learned. Then, I would have students write and produce their own podcasts and upload them onto Podomatic! I know there are 100 other directions I could take this in too! Maybe students would opt to do a podcast over a weekly blog post. Or, they might do a podcast on an independent book they selected. I think the direction  you could take this in is endless.

For this reason, I would say this website could potentially be an A, M, or R on the SAMR model. If you just had students listen to a lesson on a podcast that would be an A. If students were to use the podcast to discuss a book they were reading, that would be an M. And, if students were to analyze the symbolism in The Great Gatsby in a podcast rather than an essay, that would be an R. 

Ease of use: * * * ( 3 stars)

I think once your students got the hand out using the equipment and navigating the website, this would be a simple process. Until then, I feel like it could be slightly difficult. I do think younger students would need a lot of direction, possibly an entire class, on how to record and upload their podcast. 

Versatility: * * * * * (5 stars)

The ways you could take using podcasts, especially how students use them, are endless. I know a podcast is just a podcast, and you can't upload a video or visuals... but students can do news shows, discussions, or produce information. I also think you could pair this with a lot of other web 2.0 tools to increase the engagement.

Liklihood of using it in my classroom: * * * * (4 stars)

I would more than likely use this in my classroom as either an alternative to writing a weekly blog post, or during specific units. Last year, my students created a PSA about a community issue. I picture them having the option to produce a podcast rather than making a video if they wanted. I definitely think I'll use this in my class, it just might not be a staple. 

See you on the flippity-flop,

Xtine