EDLA615 Language Arts and Technology

After creating a glogster account and explore how to use it in general, I think this is a very useful technology to be applied in classroom. Glogster allows the design of a presentation or poster with multimedia sources, such as words, pictures, videos, and audios. This can be both used by students and teachers. To use it in educational context, in particular ELA, I think teachers can design a poster that integrate audios and videos to teach students new vocabularies. For example, if teachers want to teach the words like tadpoles, froglet, frog, they can insert a video showing the life cycle of a frog followed by an image to ask students to match the word with the picture. To access the affordance of Glogster, the following is considered: Accessibility: glogster is readily available to both teachers and students as long as there are Internet connections. It is accessed via websites as well as mobile apps. Speed of change: the information of the world changes rapidly. But on Glog...

https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cbXF36239x

The VoiceThread is one web-based technology that can be easily applied in classroom. It only requires a computer and the Internet access without any other software. Teachers and students can all register and perform interactive actions on it. Teachers can hold conversations to include images, documents and videos. Teachers can also set groups or one-on-one learning groups. This makes the participation and collaboration easier. This technology can be applied in various subjects, such as language arts, science, math, etc. I think I will use this tool in my future teaching as it helps engage students. 

https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cbXhYL2j4h

After reading the article “The impact of using blogs on college students’ reading comprehension and learning motivation”, I am really inspired. This research study shows that college students can improve their motivation and learning and reading outcomes by using blogs. Apart from the benefits to students, instructors will also benefit in monitoring students and tracking the reading tactics, enhancing interaction and encouraging students to give their voices. This reminds me that in my future teaching, I shall also consider integrating blogs into my instruction. I can use blogs to ask students share their thoughts, reflections and important personal moments during their study. But cares should be taken in applying this new literacy. Curricula needs to be revised so that peer interactions can be facilitated. This is very useful for my future teaching. It also shows me why in this course we are using blogs more than discussion board.