Patricia,
Thank you for sharing some of the tools you employ in class. I think Instagram is a great app for sharing images, I would love to hear how you have incorporated this into your curriculum.
Wishing you continued success in the classroom.
Theresa Schmitt
I have found that using powerpoint, youtube, instragram and the web in my class really keeps my students motivated and also current, i feel that it is a great tool and students can also feel that they are learning in different ways and through different resources
Social networking is a relevant and successful way to engage learners as Tania has stated . It assists students as well as educators in keeping up in the current trends in the industry . For example product,brands , tips and tricks that other successful makeup artist are using at the moment .
I encourage the class to create their own facebook page for the duration of the class. It does provide daily class comments and sharing of ideas. I have been impressed by its effectiveness.
sheryl,
It is such a fantastic tool, I cannot say enough about it. Aside from guest speakers, it can be used it to bring professionals into the classroom to review portfolio work, which is such a critical element for many degree programs. Live demonstrations is a another great use when it is impractical to go off-site.
Wishing you continued success in the classroom.
Theresa Schmitt
Carol,
Please follow the link before for a wonderful, easy to follow slideshow on how to set up a classroom page on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.171939742861067.56325.160213990700309
This link will take you to a guide that offers suggestions for usage and addresses common concerns:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/55599781/Facebook-for-Educators-English
Wishing you continued success in the classroom.
Theresa Schmitt
I like to use a program where students click in to answer questions it promotes interaction within the class and students are eager to answer and outsmart each other. Makes for a great class and students learn as they play.
I HAVE NOT UTILIZED SKYPE AS OF YET, BUT I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE AN EXCITING TECHNOLOGY TO BRING INTO MY CLASSROOM. MY STUDENTS WOULD ENJOY COMMUNICATION WITH OTHER ARTISTS IN OTHER STATES AND COUNTRIES.
I'm curious....how do you use facebook in the classroom? Do you create a dedicated site that allows only your students? And then what kind of things do you use it for? Thank you.
Online videos that students can view at home reinforce the skills that are taught in the classroon. My students have utilized Prezi for required presentations.
Chris,
I am familiar with Vuforia, the graphic capabilities are amazing. We have definitely come a long way since Tetris. I would love to hear more about how you incorporate AR into your lectures.
As a developer yourself, it sounds as if you are in a unique position to share some great examples of this emerging trend in education.
Wishing you continued success in the classroom.
Theresa Schmitt
I use PPT/Prezi, Internet-Nova Science movies and PBS frontline. These always keep my students engaged and on topic in class.
I have been using the Unity3D game engine to create simulations and mobile applications for my students. It is a versatile engine where you can quickly prototype things for students and upload them to the Android or iOS market for students to use. Most recently I have been using Qualcomm Vuforia plugin to incorporate augmented reality into some of my lectures. It allows students to look at a picture and interact with each other and the 3D object on the screen. I would recommend everyone give the engine a try It is much more robust then the Adobe flash and is free.
Scot,
Thank you for sharing this link with the group! This is a great audience response system that is easy to navigate and use. I have used this myself to create midterm and end of course surveys, collecting student feedback to improve course curriculum and engagement.
Wishing you continued success in the classroom.
Theresa Schmitt
I am a fan of using technology in my classroom whenever I can, I use PowerPoint on a daily basis. And I think a good youtube clip can add a lot to a long, dry lecture. I have had fun using real time polling of my students using http://www.polleverywhere.com/ it’s a fun way to get them to use their cell phones in class.
Bobbe,
When learning PowerPoint, did you take advantage of the many videos offered on the Microsoft website or on YouTube? If not, you may want to check those out since you already feel comfortable with the platform. There is a great deal of information out there about the advanced features of PowerPoint allowing you to embed links to the internet, video, and audio- you can even save your presentation as a webpage to upload to a class website!
Wishing you continued success in the classroom.
Theresa Schmitt
Mostly Power Points. I am new to technology really. I did learn to do Power Points and have utilized that several times in class. I am really not comfortable doing Face Book, etc., and have never utilized that. Video-conferencing is definitely valuable and I have participated in that form of technology. Also Blackboard interacting.
Keegan,
Great post, thank you for sharing. YouTube videos are generally short and offer information in a condensed fashion unlike videos that can run 45-minutes to two hours in length. Students are less likely to "zone out" when information is provided in short bursts. Short videos in conjunction with lecture and interactive group discussion/projects is a great way to chunk information and ensure students are committing the information to memory.
Wishing you continued success in the classroom.
Theresa Schmitt
I've found that using facebook and youtube to demonstrate points, rather than just slides or videos, tends to give it more relevance to students. It shows that there are others out there doing what we in class are trying to learn. To put it another way, the social connectedness of both of those give credibility to what they're learning. The students don't have to take my word for something when I can show them examples on facebook and youtube.
I find that also if I use them in class, it encourages students to follow the pages we look at and then will engage even when not in the class room.
I usually embed you tube videos in my PowerPoint presentation which gives students a clear picture of what they are learning like the different lung sounds, hand washing etc. I also use socarative for quizzes
