MIT New Media Project

MIT's Comparative Media Studies Program has a new research project called Project New Media Literacies. This project is designed to examine the most effective ways to teach students how to posses the appropriate skills they need to keep up with our ever changing media world. The position the group is standing behind and perhaps whats most important to them is that we all get a good understanding of the skills it takes to be literate in this world of technology advances.

New Media Skills

This video by the NML staff Click hereis full of information that makes the viewer think. I believe these new media skills are valuable and should definitely be put to use! I believe that everyone especially students should recognize, appreciate, and utilize these skills!

Most of the technology advances that I use are things such as laptops, ipods, and of course my cell phone. Personally, I value multitasking, visualization, and judgment. These are all most definitely the 21st century skills that will be needed to be effective artists, workers, and even citizens.

I imagine that as I get older and farther into my profession, I will acquire the other skills listed because I will definitely make it a point to keep up with new ways of learning and embrace new technology that will help me along my way.

The Networked Student

Click here The Networked Student is certainly interesting. I think that the learning world for students could very well be like this in the future. I believe that this is what we need to prepare for because this is going to be the best way for everybody to learn.

As for teaching goes, this video only proves that we better be ready because our 21st century students are going to be expecting that we know, and are current in, the latest technologies and information.

I think that students do need teachers and guidance because we need to be the ones to teach them how to communicate effectively and organize important information. Although information is made available to them at anytime and at anyplace, students still need teachers to help them utilize this information in the most effective way possible.

How we dream Parts 1 and 2

In part one, Click here Mr. Miller gave us information on his likes and dislikes in the world of accessing information. There were tons of online resources that I didn't know about that are available on the web. It is great that so many teachers are dedicated and taking the time to explore these options to not only benefit themselves, but for the benefit of their students.

Richard Miller explained that research is now less fundamental, more incremental, and definitely more visual. It is great that teachers are recognizing this and realizing that this is how our young generation learns and this is how information is made interesting to us.

Part two was definitely interesting to me. The way in which we communicate with each other, learn new material, and get the motivation to look up new material is all electronic now. I agree with Mr. Miller that this is the best and soon will be the only way to keep up with the ever growing population around us.

Ipods in Instruction

Using Ipods in instruction at Duke is an excellent idea in my opinion. I think we should all have to do this! It is super convenient for students and can be used to hear lectures and do assignments electronically! This could really catch on, I think the concept of renting and returning could really take off and should be an option here at South! Here is the link so you can check it out and read more. Click here

Ipods can be useful in classrooms and also to school faculty and staff members! Robert Craven, the education technology coordinator for the Orange County Department of Education in California shares his opinions on the significance and importance that ipods in the classroom can have. He explains that administrators can point out development activities, record meetings, and even keep contact information on all students, faculty members, and local businesses. But, he says, the real benefit of incorporating ipods in the classrooms will benefit the students. To read more Click here

All About iTunes University

iTunes University Click here is very interesting and I actually learned alot about it while doing this assignment. iTunes University makes it easier for students to learn while living also fulfilling their other priorities. If students need information then it is made available to them free anytime, anywhere. You can imaging how convenient this is to students especially as our lives become more hectic.

Hours of spending time daydreaming in a classroom while time is wasting and nothing is being recalled is reduced at iTunes. Students can download whatever they need to their ipod or iphone and listen to the information whenever and wherever it will be most convenient and probably most beneficial to them.

What I learned from Dr. Alice Christie

On Dr. Christie's website Click here there are many tips and tools that can be useful to any teacher. My favorite part of the website, and the one that I thought could be really useful to teachers, was her digital camera project ideas. These ideas can be really useful to not only teachers, but also students.

She organizes this part of her website by listing the ideas and also giving a photographic link. Her ideas are great and include using images in multimedia presentations to introduce students to new subjects, taking videos and pictures of class field trips, and recording new experiences such as community service projects so that the students can reflect on them. These are all great ideas because students are interested in stuff like this and being able to watch themselves later on a digital recording may motivate them a little more!

Comment4kids Week 4

I loved listening to Lisa's story about the beach! He was very descriptive and good at storytelling. He used the word "idyllic" in the story a couple times which is a word I think he learned while participating in this assignment! Very creative I must say!

Comment4kids Week 3

On this post I commented on a child named Ray's blog. He described his favorite superhero as being red and yellow so I immediately thought Superman of course! Hope I was right! He was very good at descriptive writing in my opinion!

Comment4kids Week 2

Mrs. Kathy Cassidy's Classroom blog was terrific! She has a very creative and enthusiastic class. I commented on a picture they took of some of the kids standing on a monkey bar type piece of playground equipment. The question under the picture asked "What types of patterns do you see in the picture"? There were tons of course with the lines of the steps and the colors of the playground itself. Very nice!