Video Resource Review

I reviewed the sites- Next Vista, Teacher Tube, You Tube and Clip Blast.
Personally, I would only use Next Vista. Next Vista is the only one that is vetted- videos are reviewed before being posted on the site. They have four rules that they follow to ensure the videos contain accurate information and have nothing objectionable for children. It is definately more educationally orientated than the others. Next Vista is a non-profit site which has sections of "lightbulb" ideas, global views for people around the world to show their cultures, and seeing service which teaches the value of service to our fellow man. I think this really is healthy for the world that is so self absorbed. I think the site is easy to use and would be a benefit to me with Global students. I watched a video about Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan.

You Tube and Clip Blast, to me, seemed more like an entertainment venue, than an educational one, almost like the tabloids. Their videos are not reviewed by anyone before being posted, so objectionable content exists. Clip Blast addressed "adventure", "sports", "auto racing", "arts". I did like that You Tube had a section to compare the Presidential candidates. You could "search" for any educational content. They both have ads. Both sites were easy to use, but I really didn't find anything that I could use.

Teacher Tube does have educational content on it, for which you have to search. Their videos are not preapproved, so objectionable content could be lurking.There is a great variety- including NCAA stats, quotes, challenges and technology; it seemed to me more of a personal forum. It also has ads on it. The site is easy to use, must search for your educational content. I saw some interesting science ideas.

Classroom Blogging

My feelings on classroom blogging are mostly positive. I think that classroom blogging is a way to involve the students with current new technology. Classroom blogs can be controlled by the teacher, so that she permits the postings or not. Also, there is danger in opening the classroom blog to the world; it can be limited to just the class participants. Reading and writing in the 21st century is moving away from books, and onto finding, sorting, reading, relevant information on the web. We all have become globalized citizens, we have to learn and solve problems in new ways.

A benefit of classroom blogging is that new ideas can be shared, everyone helping each other on an assignment. A specific way to use blogging in the classroom is peer editing in the course of an English or Social Studies essay. For instance, an English 10 class I am in, is doing a Critical Lens Essay in conjunction with finishing the play Macbeth. I think one of the most difficult parts of this essay is interpreting the quote correctly and applying it to a work of literature you have read in class. It is a fairly daunting task for many. Literary elements within the work are always an issue to remember. Peer editing would give suggestions/corrections/ideas to the students.

Top 100 Education Blogs

Top 100 Education Blogs hold a treasure trove of ideas!!

Green Stream

This site is of interest to the Living Environment and English students.

Welcome to my first blog.

The reason I have created this blog is to learn more about new technologies and how I can use them in a high school setting, especially with special education students. The various students are enrolled in Earth Science, Living Environment, Global I and Global II, English 9 and 10.
Does anyone have any ideas? Kathy S.