Pod-casts

Before this class, I really did not have an understanding of what a pod-cast was.  I knew that you could listen to them on radio station website of clips from previous broadcasts.  However, I never knew I could make one from home, and I certainly never gave much thought to using them in the classroom.  I am still a little uncertain that I will actually use pod-casts when I become a teacher, partially because I don't like recording myself.  I will have to get very creative to figure out how to use pod-casts effectively for middle school aged children.  Is it possible to use sound bits and songs instead of your voice? I would definitely like to make a video for the classroom of exactly what I want the students to learn.  It would be like a more animated version of a power point presentation.  Putting together a pod-cast is much more simple than I was anticipating.  I am very glad we got to actually put one together in class because now, if/when I use them in my classroom, I won't be as scared of them as I was at 4:59pm today.

copyright laws

So, I have been thinking a lot about the copyright laws that we learned last week in class.   I found them to be somewhat confusing.  The line between what is legal and what is illegal seems almost blurred.   I like that the rules are bent slightly for teachers so that they can share educational sources with their students.   Although I understand that the rules are there for a reason, I think that some of them can be bent a little further as long as there is no trail.  I agree with the rules about computer programs and how they should be purchased for the network.  However, I think it's absurd that you can't put Simba and Nala on your tests to make the them slightly more enjoyable for students.

Stats

I've have been thinking all week about the video we watched in class last Tuesday night. Professor Enlow seemed shocked by the statistics in the clip.  I had a hard time having a similar reaction.  Throughout my career as a student, I have learned that one can make statistics say anything.  The numbers can be skewed in a certain directions to have the impact that one is looking for.  I question the validity of statistics I read on you tube.  That is not to say that these statistics were all incorrect, without further research on the topic, I am just a little skeptical.  I noticed that Adam was inclined to question many of the facts in the video as well, and I understand where he is coming from.