Media Sharing is great if you can convince your Technology Coordinator to not block it. Sites such as Youtube, Facebook, Google Video, Photobucket, and Animoto are all blocked. Thankfully, my Tech Coord. is very willing to open most of these sites up, most recently Yahoo Video. Every once in a while, I'll see a video that relates to class or I feel will impact my students and will show them. It is amazing to see the conversations that can be generated through Media.
I have my own Facebook account for me personally, however I have been thinking of creating one called Mr. Durant's Math Page. Post links, video, and images relating to Math. I cannot tell you how many of my students friend request me. [I decline them all! :)] But it does show me just how many of our students have facebook accounts. I could pass on so much information through the site that is meaningful and and useful. I have passed the idea to several teachers I work with, and have hear "great idea" to "be careful". In searching for videos for using facebook in the classroom I found this interested one, that shows how to circumvent the system.
I believe that any way we can reach out to students should be a option. If we look back at the map from the School 2.0, that's how we should be creating classrooms, schools, and districts.
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Mike, does your district have any policy regarding "facebooking" with students? Just wondering!
ReplyDeleteMike, is your google video blocked too? I know a ton of great videos are saved on teachertube that you normally find on youtube. Also, you can use a download tool to convert the youtube video to another format, save it and then use it from your server. Easy way to bypass the blocked sites. A good tool to use for that would be www.zamzar.com.
ReplyDeleteAbout facebook.. I think it is wonderful, but I am sure the district might take another stance. Have you ever tried to make a moodle page with the same types of groups, etc? I am pretty sure moodle can set up different groups, and then the kids can comment there. Staying within your guidelines for the district, the kids would just have to login.. unless you set the page for guests.. just a thought!
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ReplyDeleteI have thought about that and do use moodle for posting videos and everything for class. The problem is kids associate that with school. They have to log in and its boring for them, at least that is what some have told me. Facebook is more of a outside of school tool, where they are most likely already logged in.
ReplyDeleteI am sure my school would not approve, but I like the idea!
Any type of yahoo video, google video, yahoo images, youtube is blocked. Teachertube and United Streaming are open. Sometimes its just a current event video that I saw that morning or the night before or a news article with a video...
Hi Mike, it's interesting to hear about the challenges using file sharing at the High School level can bring. Being a 4th grade teacher, I don't have to worry about students sending me a Facebook request, or finding a way to circumvent the system. I was wondering if your district has enacted a policy on teachers and file sharing or do you simply have to get the OK from your tech coordinator as you are about to start a new lesson or program? It's amazing to see how in a few short years, students go from using technology sparingly for social purposes, to frequently.
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