Virtual Classrooms

An article from the National Education Association titled "Log In and Learn" describes some of the aspects, good and bad, of virtual classrooms. A virtual classroom has an instructor and students, just like a regular classroom, but is done on the internet instead of in a traditional classroom. Some of the advantages to a virtual classroom include flexibility and advanced classes. Virtual classrooms allow students to take classes during times they are out of school, like evenings and weekends. Students involved in many extra-curricular activities can attend virtual school at whatever time is convenient. Another advantage is the ability to take advanced or specialized courses. A student who wants to take a class not offered at their school can receive credit for it by taking it virtually. Virtual classes, if done correctly, can teach students valuable time management skills since a teacher is not physically present anc constantly reminding students of the work needing to be done.

There are some disadvantages, however, to the virtual classroom. The most obvious is a lack of face-to-face interaction. Students and teachers can hold online discussions or do a group project through email, but face-to-face interaction is important because in the workplace, you must be able to work well with others. Another disadvantage is a lack of hands-on experience. For example, a dissection for a science class can be done virtually, but nothing can take the place of actually performing the dissection.

I think virtual classrooms are great if a student needs a class not offered at his or her school, or if extra responsibilities call for a virtual class. I also think virtual classrooms are best for students in upper middle school or high school.

Virtual classrooms would benefit from more research and improvement. For classes in science, developments should be made to create as real an experience as possible when doing activities like dissections. Teachers can also do activities and discussion that promote a lot of interaction. Research should also be done on the effects of taking only virtual classes, like in "cyber-charters."

To read this article go to:
http://www.nea.org/neatoday/0505/onlineed.html

Streaming Video

For this blog, I found an online forum that answered some frequently asked questions about streaming video. My first question was, "What is streaming video?" The answer I found was that streaming video, or media, is a video that is seen as it is being sent. The advantage of streaming is that you don't have to wait for the entire video to be downloaded before you can view it. Often video files are very large and may take hours to download. I also found that all you need to view streaming video is a computer, an internet connection, and a video player like Windows Media Player or Quicktime. If you don't have a player, one can be downloaded free of charge from the internet.

Streaming video is a good tool for classroom use. It opens up just one more avenue on which students can learn. Streaming video can also be much faster than downloading a video. Also, because the video is seen as it arrrives, students can see live broadcasts or webcasts.

Some research needs to be done on improving streaming video. Many times the video is interrupted because of internet traffic, a slow computer, or too many opened applications. "Buffering" has helped a little to control these interruptions, but many times they still occur. These interruptions, no matter how short, can be a distraction to the viewer, especially if the viewer is a student and is seeking to learn from the video.

To view this forum visit:
http://www.videostreaming.org/Forum/viewforum.php?f=5&sid=a05fb364ad38b8b9ee67a142c92821ea

Podcasting

The article I read gave an easy to understand definition of podcasting. It said that, "A podcast is a series of audio or video on the web that can be cataloged and automatically downloaded." (learninginhand.com) It also gave several examples of educational podcasts that teachers could use: "Grammar Girls... MathGrad...and First Amendment Minute." Getting these podcasts for classroom use is a quick and easy process. After opening Itunes or Yahoo, use the search tool to find what you need. There are also podcast directories like Podcast Alley that can help with your search. After you find your podcast, simply download it and it's ready to be heard or seen on your computer or MP3.

Podcasting is a great tool in the classroom. The simplicity of the process makes it very useful and efficient for both teachers and students. It is also a good way to enhance a lesson or lecture. One of the greatest benefits to students, in my opinion, is that the podcasts can be put on their iPod and listened to at any time. This makes podcasting a very convenient study tool. While students may not always be near a computer, an iPod is small enough to carry anywhere. Another great use of podcasting is to have students make their own podcasts. This will allow them to be creative and to present information in a way other than papers or essays.

As with any new technology, podcasting has room for improvement. Since it is a fairly new concept, many teachers and students are not familiar with podcasting. It is important that teachers be educated on this subject so they can effectively use it in a classroom setting. Also, whenever dealing with the internet, it is important to make sure the students are not receiving inappropriate content.

To read this article, visit
http://learninginhand.com/podcasting/