Techno-Constructivists

Before this project began, I was unsure of how it would be received. As a huge technology advocate, I believe in its use. I try to practice what I preach. I attempt to infuse technology into as many lessons as I can. I try to allow my students to see how I use technology to make teaching more effective and motivating. Often, I find people are resistant to change. When I present new technologies to professors or teachers, some want to see and learn more while others simply do not.

After thinking about what I wanted to do, I knew I need to focus on Web 2.0. Wait-- what is Web 2.0? According to Steve Hargadon ,Web 2.0 is "simply the use of the Internet as a two-way medium- - -that it is a platform upon which content is not only consumed but also created." He claims that students today use the Web entirely revolving around content that they and their friends have created, and within Web frameworks or scaffolding that facilitate that creativity rather than providing the content for them. "They build profile pages, upload photos and videos, and interact with each other and that content through active commenting systems."

I knew podcasting was something *I* wanted to learn more about. So, in a way, this project was a personal journey as much as it was for my students. From reading my students' blogs and talking to them in class, I have found they are enjoying this project because they are doing something. They are using computers. They are using microphones. They are making mistakes. They are getting frustrated. They are succeeding. They are doing something! THEY ARE PODCASTING!

It got me thinking about this article that I have my students read in other courses (mostly technology education courses): http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech005.shtml

I think this project has allowed students in my EE-204 to reach the following stage if they continue using the Web 2.0 skills they are learning:

Stage 4: Techno-constructivists --These are the teachers who integrate technology into the curriculum so that it not only complements instruction but redefines it. The true techno-constructivists have come through the previous three stages and have realized the full potential of technology to help children build on their own experiences, construct their own meanings, create products, and solve problems successfully.

Podcasting Again...

Today was our third day in the lab. It should have been our last, but we have more to do. Next week, we will finalize our stories, questions, and start our lesson plans.

So, we will still be in the lab next week.

Great job to all of my EE-204 students. You are amazing!

Podcasting Reflection

It has been a full day since we finished our 2nd day of podcasting. What a success. In the words of one student, "I love being able to actually DO something in class--not just listen to a professor talk ABOUT it."

Now, this is not to say that this experience has been problem-free. in fact,in terms of technological issues,there have been many. Many of the lab computers have not been working. Students have had difficulty turning computers on and off.

Then , it happened.... dun,dun,dun... I received an email Tuesday afternoon stating that IT needed to wipe the contents of the computers in Pope Lab 215 because they are doing harm to the college network and its connected computers. Oh no! Apparently, virus protection software was not running on the computers and the computers were infected with a virus. What is a virus?

According to Wikipedia, "A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without the permission or knowledge of the owner. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, adware, and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability. A true virus can only spread from one computer to another (in some form of executable code) when its host is taken to the target computer; for instance because a user sent it over a network or the Internet, or carried it on a removable medium such as a floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB drive. Viruses can increase their chances of spreading to other computers by infecting files on a network file system or a file system that is accessed by another computer.^[1][2]

The term "computer virus" is sometimes used as a catch-all phrase to include all types of malware. Malware includes computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, most rootkits, spyware, dishonest adware, crimeware, and other malicious and unwanted software), including true viruses. Viruses are sometimes confused with computer worms and Trojan horses, which are technically different. A worm can exploit security vulnerabilities to spread itself to other computers without needing to be transferred as part of a host, and a Trojan horse is a program that appears harmless but has a hidden agenda. Worms and Trojans, like viruses, may cause harm to either a computer system's hosted data, functional performance, or networking throughput, when they are executed. Some viruses and other malware have symptoms noticeable to the computer user, but many are surreptitious.

Most personal computers are now connected to the Internet and to local area networks, facilitating the spread of malicious code. Today's viruses may also take advantage of network services such as the World Wide Web, e-mail, Instant Messaging, and file sharing systems to spread."

It got me thinking,I better update my own virus software. Maybe you should,too!

Poducate Me

Take a look at this educational podcasting site for some hints and ideas!

http://poducateme.com/

Message from Me

Turn down the volume!

http://professorluongo.podomatic.com/entry/2009-09-18T13_08_00-07_00

Trial and Error

Day One was a success! Hot, yes...but super students made the podcasting experience a wonderful one.

Take a look and listen (on the right) to our first podcasts.

More to come on Tuesday... We will be podcasting our stories.

Day 1 Podcasting Adventure: Ee204

Welcome to Day One of the podcasting adventure.

Right now, as we try to set up the room, we are battling several issues:

1. Heat (82 degrees in the room)


2. 6 non-working computers (with 18 working and 25 students)


3. Dust, dust, dust
   
4. No overhead projection as of 9:13AM --Class starts at 9:30 AM
   
5. The Unknown problems we know will take over once the class starts :)

• Will www.podomatic.com work?
• Will the headsets work they way they should?
• Is the new software installed?
• Will we all pass out from heat exhaustion?

Welcome to the world of integrating technology into the classroom.

Wish me luck. I will let you know how it goes. Please post any comments or suggestions as to how to make this an easy (or easier) transition.

podOmatic Tutorial

This is a podcast tutorial on how to create your first podOmatic page and post audio episodes. As with blogs, entries are posted in chronological reverse order. The first posts are placed at the bottom of the page so you need to scroll down to see Step one.
http://tutorial.podomatic.com/

Podcasting in Plain English