Jason Niedermeyer - Teaching With Video (And Information About Grants)
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Monday, October 4, 2010
Post 2 - Blogging In The Classroom
I think blogging and many of the tech tools we have been discussing and learning to use in ED TECH can have a big impact and numerous uses in the classroom...someday. But right now, at least where I teach, it seems like a long way off.
When I sat through the first ED TECH session and listened to all the ideas about phones, video, blogging and other stuff in the classroom it raised a lot of red flags for me. The district wide policy where I work bans all mobile phone use during school hours. Even during lunch students must be outside the building to use their phones. If a student is caught talking or texting with their phone during school hours the phone is confiscated until the end of the next school day.
In addition the internet that is available inside school buildings is heavily filtered. Video sharing sites like youtube and vimeo are blocked and most blog sites, including this one, are also inaccessible to students and teachers.
All teachers also sat through several hours of required training about internet protocol and safety. Online posting of photos or video of minors, even on the school's own website, requires parent or guardian permission. And two policeman gave an unsettling presentation about the importance of keeping online presence (facebook, twitter, etc.) private and unattached from any student access. This presentation included numerous cautionary tales that left many teachers feeling uncomfortable and wondering if they should delete or scale back their online lives.
So all of that being said, here are my ideas of how blogging can be used in the classroom.
If the instructor posted daily or weekly readings for homework students could then comment on their reactions and reflections. This would ensure that every student gets to respond, something that is not always possible in a live group discussion. I'm not sure what the rules are regarding public posting of copyrighted material.
For my class specifically I could post several camera shots and angles I want students to capture. They could then post their own creative examples of wide, medium and close up shot sizes or high, low, overhead and dutch angles.
If I was to blog a daily summary of what was covered in class it would be a big help to students who miss due to illness, appointments or school activities so that they can keep up or catch up.
I appreciate the immediacy of electronic communication. Another benefit is that less resources are used...paper, ink, printing, etc.
As these types of practices become the norm and more acceptable in the business world and on college campuses, hopefully public schools will be more open to utilizing these tools as well.
When I sat through the first ED TECH session and listened to all the ideas about phones, video, blogging and other stuff in the classroom it raised a lot of red flags for me. The district wide policy where I work bans all mobile phone use during school hours. Even during lunch students must be outside the building to use their phones. If a student is caught talking or texting with their phone during school hours the phone is confiscated until the end of the next school day.
In addition the internet that is available inside school buildings is heavily filtered. Video sharing sites like youtube and vimeo are blocked and most blog sites, including this one, are also inaccessible to students and teachers.
All teachers also sat through several hours of required training about internet protocol and safety. Online posting of photos or video of minors, even on the school's own website, requires parent or guardian permission. And two policeman gave an unsettling presentation about the importance of keeping online presence (facebook, twitter, etc.) private and unattached from any student access. This presentation included numerous cautionary tales that left many teachers feeling uncomfortable and wondering if they should delete or scale back their online lives.
So all of that being said, here are my ideas of how blogging can be used in the classroom.
If the instructor posted daily or weekly readings for homework students could then comment on their reactions and reflections. This would ensure that every student gets to respond, something that is not always possible in a live group discussion. I'm not sure what the rules are regarding public posting of copyrighted material.
For my class specifically I could post several camera shots and angles I want students to capture. They could then post their own creative examples of wide, medium and close up shot sizes or high, low, overhead and dutch angles.
If I was to blog a daily summary of what was covered in class it would be a big help to students who miss due to illness, appointments or school activities so that they can keep up or catch up.
I appreciate the immediacy of electronic communication. Another benefit is that less resources are used...paper, ink, printing, etc.
As these types of practices become the norm and more acceptable in the business world and on college campuses, hopefully public schools will be more open to utilizing these tools as well.
Post 1 - Bio
If I look a bit skeptical in the photo...it's because I am. I have fought tooth and nail for several years to keep my online presence to a minimum. But now I am required to dive headlong into the blogoshpere and embrace all the "tools" I've long resisted using. I like email. I send the occasional text from a phone a simple phone that does not connect to the interent. I don't have a facebook account nor will I ever tweet. I'm not thrilled that there are pictures of me and my family on other peoples' online pages. But I guess at some point this resistance becomes futile.
So now I'll write a bit about myself. I grew up in Albany, Oregon stayed until I graduated from South Albany High School. I didn't have much direction or desire to go to college, although I was accepted to every school I applied to. I ended up joining the Air Force for the escape and adventure I hoped it would provide. I was anything but gung ho but it made more sense to me to earn a paycheck and travel than get buried under college debt.
I was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska for about 3 years. I loved the relationships and experiences I had during that time. I did not much enjoy my work in the military. When my tour was up I took off for Hollywood with my GI Bill in hand and enrolled in film school. After that I worked in television and film for several years before returning to Oregon.
After years of working freelance, when the opportunity to teach video production presented itself I was interested in the stability and salary this path provided. I had done enough work with teens through coaching and various mentoring programs to know that I enjoyed this age group. So TSPC granted me a 3-year vocational certification which I am currently in the final year of.
In order to continue teaching high school video classes I need to complete this MAT program and expand into an additional emphasis. I'm considering business which would allow me to teach computer and technology classes but I'm also looking at art since I think that could encompass what I do with video as well. I'm hoping this decision will become clear to me as the program progresses.
I live in Albany. My wife, Danae, is in her 11th year as an elementary teacher. My son, Simon Cash is 2.5 years and likes trucks, dinosaurs and drums. My daughter, Sawyer Grace, just turned 6 months and can almost sit up.
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