PhotoPeach.com

This seems like a pretty cool, FREE site to use.  It seems like it would be a quick and easy way for anyone especially students to make a video/slideshow.  It affords the uploading of videos and music.  A title can be added along with captions on pictures.  One of the limitations it looks like is only one type of music can be used and the length can not be edited.  The slideshow can be set as public, unlisted, or viewer's have to be invited.  Viewers can make comments which the author can manage.  Videos/slideshows can be downloaded, emailed, sent to Facebook, and sent to twitter or Myspace.  It seems interesting and I am going to experiment more with it. Check it out and let me know what you think.  If you have already heard of it and used it, please let me know your thoughts and opinions, and any ideas you may have.

Digital Video

Digital Video is a great tool, but needs a lot of modeling and scaffolding.  In grad school, I had the opportunity to participate in making a video using a flip camera and Windows Media Maker.  This was the second time I had ever use the flip camera.  This was a neat experience.  I also never imported a video into WMM and had the chance to edit it.  I thought it was pretty cool how we were able to edit the links of the video and music.  I think my students would have fun making a video.  I think third grade would be a little too young to teach the editing part, but they could definitely be taught how to use the clip camera.  I might just have to try this.  The next SOL I am teaching in science is Soil and I just might be able to come up with something. 

I just had another idea that I could use it for.  In math geometry is taught.  Third graders learn about lines, line segments, rays, points, and angles.  They are able to make these using their fists and arms.  They could demonstrate these geometric lines and angles in a video.  I would have to model how to write  the treatment and the story map.  This is a lesson I might considered doing at the end of the year to review for SOL's.  It could be posted on the school website for anyone to use.

Web-Based Learning Design

My design project using Web 1.0 tools has students researching information about six simple machines.  Students use books, Internet, and any information they learned throughout the simple machine unit to gather information and images.  Information and images are used to design (using DEAPR) a flyer on paper then encoded and assembled into a Microsoft Word document.  Flyers are published and revised.

Now that I have learned about some Web 2.0 tools, another way to incorporate this lesson into the simple machine unit comes to mind.  After student learn about each simple machine a Wiki page can be made for that particular simple machine.  Images and information can be added.  Students can gather and add more information about each simple machine throughout the whole unit as well, and can add additional sources of information.  The information will be there for students to review for SOLs at the end of the year.

As I am thinking through the idea of the Wiki and Web 2.0 tools, another great idea comes to mind.  Students could also create a blog on simple machines as well.  They could have great discussions about information they gathered on the simple machines, how they are used, examples of them, and photos.  People from all over the country can join in on the conversations as well. 

Both of these activities allows for students to learn how to add, modify, and delete information on the Web.  Students also learn how to share information using the Web, upload multimedia, and hyperlink.  Students also benefit by improving communication skills.  Sharing information with other students will allow for collaborative construction of knowledge.