Media (is) the Message?

Media (is) the Message?

Knowing that there is a debate about a specific topic immediately sparks my interest. Now, this debate and the difference of opinions may be complex because I am finding similarities that may be difficult to explain.  The basic questions that need to be answered are: Does using technology make a difference when teaching in the classroom? If we use technology, will it positively support and benefit the students?

In one corner, we have Richard Clark, a skeptic, whom feels that "media is merely a vehicle for learning, and that the truly causal agent in learning is the method of instruction that was used."  On the other corner, we have Robert Kozma, the advocate, who disagreed with Clark! He believes that media is more than a vehicle and can make a big impact in learning.

I personally lean more towards Kozma's opinion and views. I also believe that without a dedicated teacher, not much learning can occur. Because simply providing a child with an technology device is not enough, it has to be accompanied with quality teaching.  Yes, technology is great, but there has to be a deliverer of knowledge that can provide the tools required to motivate children to create something after being taken through the steps of the Bloom's Technology Pyramid or the Bloom's Revised Taxonomy by Kathy Schrock.   

I do feel that just because we believe technology is important, we simply cannot force the children to sit in front of the computer several hours a week and think they  are being benefited. Technology may be a vehicle for learning, but we must be watchful of what we place children in front of. I have seen programs such as Istation (a reading program) and Accelerated Reader (a program that monitors students' scores and points after taking tests when they finish reading books) that may take control of the learning that occurs in the classroom. After being a teacher for eight years, I have learned that none of these programs were able to do what I accomplished in a small group setting doing guided reading.

Bottom line is that technology must be used in the classroom because we are dealing with digital natives that swim in an ocean of texts, tweets, blogs, and posts.  

Resources:

NATHAN, M., & ROBINSON, C. (2001). Considerations of Learning and Learning Research:      Revisiting the "Media Effects" Debate. Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 12(1), 69.    Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?  p=GPS&sw=w&u=j108902&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA75645474&             asid=bc0e97a2b0aec5dfbd8d2a974e8627d1

Podcasts

Podcasts are digital media files that can be listened to online, on a smart phone, or any device that has internet connection. They are a great way to communicate with others and share your material. People who listen to podcasts want to have the freedom of choosing exactly what they want to hear.

Subscribing to podcasts is easy! And, you can listen to your favorite authors, motivational speakers, comedians, or experts. Your choices are unlimited. Podcasts also have their place in education and three popular podcasting sites have made it easier for educators to incorporate them in their classrooms: Soundcloud.com, Podomatic.com, and Podbean.com. Keep in mind, that you may have to purchase a microphone for your recordings. You do not have to stress too much about purchasing a fancy one. An economical mic will do the job!

Soundcloud.com

Soundcloud.com is a pretty neat site because it hosts music by different artists, but you can also upload your own tracks or create podcasts. If you have a Google or Facebook account, you can instantly create an account by using one or the other. Recording a podcast is easy and the steps you must follow are not confusing at all. Once you have created your podcast, you must remember to keep it public, so others can access it. In order to share it with others, all you have to do is copy the link and share! A big plus for soundcloud.com is their app! Just go to the App Store or Google Play, and download it. Now, you do not need your computer to create a podcast. You can start recording straight from your device. Unfortunately, I like free; after your free trial is over, you will have to pay $9.99 a month (okay...10 bucks!).

Podomatic.com

Podomatic.com is another great site for podcasting. Signing up is very simple. I chose to log in with Facebook because it is faster, and I love having the profile picture of the hubbster and I on my homepage or feed. Back to podcasting! On the top right corner, it says, "Create a Podcast." You can then add a file or record a new one. You can even add an image to go with your podcast. Before publishing any recording, make sure to review it. Podomatic.com has a Facebook kind of look. And to be honest, I like that! On the left side, there is a section titled Trending Posts that you can follow or listen to.  And, if you are very popular and have lots of friends, you can see what they are listening to. And if you do not have lots of friends, you can request me! So, hey! Just have fun with it! Podomatic.com has an app, but it does not provide that feature that allows you to create a podcast using your smart phone (sad face).  

Podbean.com

Podbean.com was not my favorite podcasting site, because it is not as easy to use as Podomatic.com (nor it was a cool looking). But then, I learned that there was a Podbean app. IT HAS AN APP! Spending big bucks on a mic is not necessary since I can create a podcast using my smart phone (jumping up and down!).  So, I gave it a try and was so impressed because it was so easy to use. This is my motto: Why complicate things? I figured, if I can create an account for my students and download the app to their Ipads, they can do amazing things! They can conquer the world! All you have to do is click on the little red microphone icon, record, and save! Voila! It uploads it to the site and you have an amazing podcast in a matter of seconds (okay...I do not know how long you are going to take, but I am pretty fast now!)

Podcasting can be not only fun but very educational. There a millions of things you can do with your students and podcasting. I have not made a list that long, but I am sure there are many ways you can use it in the classroom. Scholastic has published an article titled 9 Podcasts for Teachers and Kids. They provide nine fun and interactive ways to use podcasts in your classroom. They include podcasts from National Geographic to help your kids learn about animals to ways to help your ESL students practice English in an entertaining way.  Erin Macpherson, author of 10 Podcasting Projects Teachers Should Try in the Classroom, does a phenomenal job in listing ways teachers and librarians can use podcasts. So, if you are not very comfortable with using podcasts now, this article can give you 10 awesome ideas on what to do and let podcasting add a new twist in learning! Out of the 10 items listed, my three favorite are the following: Current Events Newscasts, Reading Radio, and Bring Your Teacher Home. I plan to use those in my library! Current Events Newscasts can help me get the word out to all students and staff about what is happening in our library or the world around us. Reading Radio is definitely one that I will enjoy doing. My students can read new titles and can summarize them for me. That way, other students can hear their recommendations and may decide to read the new books. This one gave me an idea! There are many children reading below level, and audio books is a great way for them to improve their fluency. So, I invited two good readers to read a book that many will like. They can grab an Ipad, put on their headphones, and listen to the book recorded by their very own classmate or friend! Bring Your Teacher Home is great to help your students remember what important parts of the lesson they should focus on to help them do their homework. So, go ahead, and have fun with podcasts. But, please have a script ready before you start recording. No pressure! If you come up with more ideas on how to use podcasts in the classroom, don't forget to comment below!

Check out these podcasts recorded by two awesome students!

Quick Interview: Who has read this book?

Ballet Cat Read Aloud

Citations:

Bertucci B. (2016, September 12). Ever Wondered About Podcasting? Get the Basics! Retrieved November 13, 2016, from http://podcasting.about.com/od/basics101/a/whatis.htm

9 Podcasts for Teachers and Kids | Scholastic.com. Retrieved November 13, 2016, from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/9-podcasts-teachers-and-kids

Macpherson, E. (2014, August 7). 10 Podcasting Projects Teachers Should Try in the Classroom. Retrieved November 13, 2016, from http://www.weareteachers.com/10-podcasting-projects-teachers-should-try-in-the-classroom-2/

Cartoons and Comics

I have always liked coloring! Yes, coloring! Drawing...well, not so much! Does tracing count? Probably not! For those of us who are not very creative or artistic, there are ways you can create comic strips online! There are great sites that can help you create comic strips without worrying about not knowing what do draw: ToonDoo, Pixton, and MakeBeliefsComix. These sites provide different images that you can easily incorporate in your comics. And what you want to do with them is up to you!

ToonDoo

ToonDoo is a very neat site that allows you to get creative and provides all the tools you may need to create a comic strip. On the Toons tab, there is a drop down menu that allows you to Create a Toon. Once you click on it, your next step is to select a layout. You have two categories: Horizontal Layouts and Vertical Layouts. This is where you have to decide whether you want to design something simple or more detailed. If you are going for a more complicated comic strip, you may want to choose a lay out with more boxes. Once you select a layout, you will have a white canvas ready for you to work your magic! You can choose different characters, places, props, and even add talking bubbles. Once you have your characters ready, you can also modify their body posture and facial gestures! The comics are very easy to create since you have all those tools at your finger tips! Saving the comic strip was easy. All I had to do was publish it and then save it to my computer. I did panic for a few seconds because when I was waiting for it to be published, it was showing me a "loading" icon. I was afraid I had lost my work. But, no I didn't! All I had to do was practice PATIENCE! I cannot wait for my students to get a hold of ToonDoo! They will definitely create more entertaining comic strips, but that is the whole point!

Pixton Cartoon

Pixton

Pixton also allows you to create comics strips. Unfortunately, it is not free. The good news is that they give you a fifteen day trial. What I liked about Pixton is that they provide you with a tutorial that guides you through the steps for completing a comic strip. It is pretty neat because it has a large variety of options from characters to backgrounds. But, I personally feel that the elementary students I serve may have a harder time using Pixton. I was having trouble moving items. Items that I did not want them to move would move. I guess with a little more patience, anyone can create a amazing work of art! Now, saving the items was a little difficult. In order to download the comic strip, I had to subscribe to the full version!

MakeBeliefsComix

MakeBeliefsComix was simple, fun, and easy to use. Registration is not necessary, so this is perfect for elementary children who still have a hard time using their e-mail accounts or just simply do not have access to an e-mail account to register for any online resources. This site was not overwhelming with millions of characters nor backgrounds. This is where the saying "Less is more!" fits in! And saving the comic strip was a piece of cake!

Everybody should try to create a comic strip in their life time! It is pretty fun! Now, if you are educator, you can certainly have fun with it as well. But, you can also give your students an opportunity to create comics strips to allow them to use their imagination. They will certainly be challenged because in order to create a comic strip, they will need to decide what it will be about, who will they choose for characters, and what background fits their comic strip. And if you are a writing teacher, don't get me started! There are many ways you can use comic strips. Students can create them and then swap and write a story that goes with their partner's comic strip! How about to improve reading comprehension? After reading a passage, students can create a comic strip focusing on the beginning, middle, and end of the passage.  I plan to share those ideas with my teachers! For sure! I can expose them to all three of the above mentioned resources, but they will get to choose which one they prefer. I personally had a lot of fun with MakeBeliefsComix. And, I can say it was my favorite!