Final Post

I am really happy that I took EDM310 this semester, because I really learned a lot! One thing that really sticks out is the podcasts. I think those are definitly something that could be used in a classroom. Not only can podcasts be used to teach in a class, but you can use them as a project like we did. The students can make podcasts to show what they learned from a lesson. Also, by doing the podcasts I learned about using youtube in the classroom. This is the topic my group did our podcast on, and I'm glad we did. I never would have thought to use something like youtube in my classroom but after doing the podcast I learned how helpfull it could be. We also stumbled across teachertube, which is also something I plan on using in the classroom. If we had not done the podcasts in class, I never would have thought to use either of those things once I become a teacher.

I think we learned pretty much everything in this class that I would have liked to. The only thing I can think of that might have been nice to go over, atleast shortly, would be parent-teacher correspondence. It would have been helpfull just to go over the correct way of writing letters or reminders to parents since that is something we will all have to do soon. Other than that, I think I learned everything I wanted and hoped to learn. It was a great class and very helpful!

iTunesU

iTunesU has this great digital library available to teachers. It's WGBH's "Teacher Domain" where you can find free digital media from different PBS programs. They make it very easy to use by splitting the media into three different secions; k-5, 6-8, and 9-12. This is very helpfull because instead of having to go through everything looking for what you want, all you have to do is pick your grade level and go from there. Of course, you can't teach a class solely based on these, but they are a great enhancement to a lesson!

I watched a video titled "Observe Clouds". This video podcast talked about how children should pay mroe attention to the clouds. They are changing every second. That is something that I didn't know. This would be a video you could show in a science class or if you were talking about the sky. I think this is a great resource to use as an addition to a lesson being taught to your students. It will help to hold there attention and change up the normal teaching method a little bit.

The Edible Schoolyard

Lately, Americans have been becomming more and more concerned with health and what they are eating. The push to "go green" and eat organic has been increasing daily. Why should this not be carried down all the way to middle and elementary schools? Chef and author, Alice Waters, created the Edible Schoolyard based on this concept. In 1995 Martin Luther King Middle School in Berkley, CA got just that. They founded an organization that was made to "create and sustain an organic garden and landscape that is wholly integrated into the school’s curriculum, culture and food program."

When I first started watching this, I thought that it was a concept that would go right over the children's heads. Most middle school students are not very concerned about their personal health and eating habits, they would rather live off of pizza and icecream. I was suprised to see how excited these chidlren were getting about the project. By learning these healthy habits early, there is a better chance they will continue to follow them into a healthy adulthood. I definitly think the Edible Schoolyard is a very creative and fun way to teach students and it should be tried in other schools across the country.