Week 4 | Group 2 tecnologies - images, video and audio tools

This week is discussing images, videos and audio mediums for enhanced learning. 

Source: Pickaface.net

Curriculum and assessment have always been driven by theories of reading and writing print based text (Walsh & IGI Global, 2009), with further research needed around the effects of readers using various visual, aural, spatial and textual modes, separately or simultaneously, in digital texts. One question that Walsh and IGI Global (2009) ask is; do students read digital text for meaning the same way as they read print-based text? The answer, according to Wolpert (2009) is no!

Wolpert suggests that while technology is playing a bigger role in people's lives increasing our visual skills, the skills of critical thinking and analysis have declined. She writes that, research noted changes in student's learning as a result of their exposure to technology, like video games and television, but that the enhancement in thinking which engages imagination that is gained through reading for pleasure, is lost. However, not all! is lost, and images in moderation within classroom lessons can actually enhance student learning. "See-Think-Wonder" questioning is purposeful not only in general learning that takes place in the classroom, but also in assessments where students need guidance and support to complete tasks efficiently.

So what is See-Think-Wonder? its purpose is to emphasise observation for thinking and interpreting images found in books and online. “Seeing” provides the opportunity to look carefully, to more fully observe, and to notice before interpreting. The placement of “Wonder” as the final step of the routine ensures that learners have had time to take in new information through careful observation, think about and synthesize this information, and then identify additional wonderings.


To read further about this scaffold technique click here

A main reason Wolpert states as the issue is, most visual media are "real-time" media and therefore do not allow time for reflection, analysis or imagination. Studies in this area confirm her theories stating that reading develops imagination, induction, reflection and critical thinking, as well as vocabulary. But it is reading for pleasure that develops these skills and not other types of reading, such as reading to learn a new skill or attribute.

This could be the reason that blogs will almost always fail, because the idea is, that blogs are meant for reading pleasure including many images, audio files and video content, but they are inherently digital, and more often create attention diversions in learning because the internet is a bigger distraction.

The use of technology in the classroom is neither good or bad, but needs to be monitored and scaffolded for effective student learning. There is balance that needs to be maintained so students get the most from technology. And, as the global market progresses there are new roles yet to be filled and current jobs being filled where the specific skills of visual intelligence are required - an example is of this is laparoscopic surgery.

Source: Picture to people

Video blogs, relatively easy to create given you have a webcam, and let us notice, how they are built into laptops and other electronic equipment. Used everywhere now to reflect, and turning up regularly in reality tv shows and competition programs like House Rules, The block and My Kitchen Rules. 

Above is my own sample taken whilst in Melbourne on practical, it runs only for a couple minutes and the quality is poor, but it was great to have a go and seems to suit this weeks blogging topic quite well. As technology increases, and sites such as YouTube, Facebook and blogs emerge in popularity, we are becoming our own designing, creating and authoring publishers. The introduction of Web 2.0 (interactive internet) has allowed students to participate in, not only their own text, but the text of other students. This is where wikis and padlet, can begin teaching students how to interact with ICT's, whilst growing in confidence to use other forms of multimedia. 

Source: Photo to Picture

The use of videos have become a valuable tool in reaching out to some students to convey understanding of ideas and concepts. Because programs like Youtube allow many different types of authors to upload content, many learning styles can be discovered and matched to assist in understanding. This YouTube video is one I also had a go at. I became the creator, editor and publisher of this video, which I did for making ice cream without a freezer. I am not great at editing so it was filmed pretty much as you see it using an iPad. 

What is a podcast?

A podcast is a series of regularly-updated audio or video files that can be played on a number of devices (either portable, such as mp3 players or mobile phones, but 
also static, such as desktop computers) and are distributed over the internet via a subscription service.

Podcasts are a great tool for auditory learners, as teachers can record and playback lesson content for students. Files can be added to usb's, emailed home and added to music devices, this means that students are no longer stationary but kinesthetic in learning. 

Podcasts are also able to free up time within lessons to teach content as the preparatory time is completed through the podcast, then when students attend classes, that time is used for teaching the lesson content. 

Easi speak mics are a fun-and-easy wireless recorder that encourages students to speak up! Just one button to record, then simply play back and listen (up to 4 hours of audio). This had extended uses across the curriculum, and include, oral language, fluency, phonics, speech therapy, intervention, math facts, podcasts and more. It comes with built-in USB to charge via your computer and download (PC, Mac). And it can be uploaded in WAV or MP3 files to digital portfolios for authentic assessment, or share with other educators or parents. The integrated speaker also offers quality playback for instant self-assessment. These microphones are also portable and come in many colours retailing for around $75AUD. 
See more at: http://www.learningresources.com/product/easi-speak--8482-+usb+recorder.do#sthash.f3N34v6h.dpuf



References


Pickaface.net. (2014). Avatar creator. Retrieved July 2014, from http://pickaface.net/

Picture to people. (2014). Free online photo editors and text generators. Retrieved July 2014, from http://www.picturetopeople.org/

Walsh, M., & IGI Global. (2009). Pedagogic potentials of multimodal literacy. In Handbook of research on new media literacy at the K-12 level: Issues and challenges. Australia: IGI Global (701 E. Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, USA.

Wolpert, S. (2009, January 27). Is technology producing a decline in critical thinking and analysis. Retrieved July 2014, from http://newsroom.ucla.edu