Thing # 18 – Part 2

*yay* I got it to work!  My computer recorded (umm…I had it on mute – HAHA!), and the audio file was uploaded to the k12learning podcast.  It was super easy – how cool!

Yippee…I’m done!

Thing #23

It would be ridiculous for me to try to adequately summarize this entire experience in one blog post.  So, I’ll try to put it in one sentence: It’s been a crazy, long, exhausting, overwhelming, and exhilarating experience that has changed my perspective on my students and my role as their teacher.  Through this experience, I have learned to respect my students for their ability to navigate the ba-jillion different online resources at their fingertips.  And, my perspective on their involvement in the internet has changed.  I’ve learned that it can be useful, if used in the correct way.  And, now I realize that part of my responsibility as their teacher is to model correct use and respect for the resources.  I have already noticed things from this course creeping into my mind as I teach this year.  ”I think I’ll use Jing videos to make math tutorials for the kids.”  ”I need a good project for Algebra…I wonder if we could do a vocaroo.”  ”I would love to give my eighth graders an assignment over trip week…I wonder if mixbook would work.”  It’s surprising, to be honest, because I was so overwhelmed during the course.  But, it’s exciting too.  I hope my excitement and commitment is rubbing off on my other colleagues who have not experienced this class.  We’ll see.  Onward…With great thanks.

Thing #18

I have to admit that I’ve tried to make my podcast on several occasions, and I just can’t seem to make it work!  I’ve really tried not to procrastinate in this course.  As you can see by the dates on my blog posts, I skipped Thing #18 a long time ago.  Now, one day before the deadline, I still can’t get it done.  The microphone on my computer just isn’t powerful enough, and the headset isn’t working.  I’m going to try it one more time at work tomorrow.  And, if I can’t get it to work, then I might be forced to give up.  I certainly hope this ONE problem won’t affect my overall completion of this course.

I love podcasts, though!  I’ve subscribed to them for  along time on itunes, and I love listening to them when I travel.  In fact, I’ll be flying to D.C. over Labor Day weekend, and I’ll likely listen to the podcasts on the plane (once we’re above 10,000 feet, of course).  Haha!  I don’t imagine that I’ll ever create my own podcast.  My 60-year-old dad has one, though!  His Thursday night Bible study in his living room is now on itunes…How cool is that?  Of course, I subscribed to it.

Since I’m required to give at least one idea for a podcast, I suppose that I could create a podcast recording of each day’s homework assignment.  While that sounds silly, it would probably be a big hit with my students.  They frequently forget what their homework assignment is, but they never forget their ipods!