Using Videos in the Classroom

I frequently use videos in the classroom in order to show my students science concepts or to just interest them in a topic. I frequently use edvideos.com to show small clips during science.

When thinking about transitioning to the regular classroom I have already begun to wonder how I will be able to incorporate videos about topics such as Math or English. Using Teachertube.com I was actually able to find a Math video, called "Permieter Rap" that I would definitely use in my own classroom. This video is of a teacher doing a rap about perimeter and area. I think this song would be a memorable learning experience for my students and would also give them a change of pace from listening to me drone on about perimeter means add and area means multiply. I think teachertube.com has become one of my newest favorite resources.

Microblogging in Education

After using Twitter for over a short time I have already thought of some ways that I could incorporate this new (to me) form of technology within my own classroom. One main way I could see myself using microblogging is to have students write the first thing that comes to mind when they arrive to the classroom in the morning. My hope would be to find out current information of what's going on in the lives of my students or their feelings as we start a new school day.
As a future bilingual teacher I enjoyed reading about the 12-second video clip alternatives to text-based microblogging for ESL students. I liked the ideas the author gave to use video clips in so many different ways. My favorite idea was the "12 Second Learning Diary" where students would record what they learned in class that day. I liked the idea of using spoken language with the ESL students since it gives them time to talk and use the English language without having to talk for a long time. Within my own classroom I could imagine having a little area with curtains surrounding it with a webcam. This area would serve as a "recording studio" and would be more private for the students, hopefully creating a more relaxed atmosphere.

Another article I found was called "Transitioning to Web 2.0". This article is one of the major reason I would love to have a classroom set of computers. I would LOVE for my students to be able to use all of these avenues of technology regularly. The author of this article uses Twitter and podcasting within her own classroom for a variety of purposes. One idea that I really liked was using Twitter to communicate with her classmates by creating similar usernames for each student to make it easier to follow each other. This was one topic I was wondering about when trying to figure out how to use Twitter within my own classroom. Although the author doesn't mention it directly in this blog RSS feed would be another great tool to keep track of the students' posts.

"Tweet Tweet"

Well Twitter is turning out to be a very enjoyable experience. Let's just say it's gets more enjoyable the more you use it, the more people you follow, and the more common interests you have with the people you "Tweet" with. I have met some great educators on Twitter.com and have enjoyed checking my account multiple times daily to see what new ideas they have written about.
I feel that by networking with the "right people" (and by that I mean other educators with similar interests) I could really benefit from this Twitter experience. I have been involved in conversations with many educators from Buffalo which has been fun even though we do not teach the same subjects or grade levels. I like that I can ask questions or put ideas "out there" for others to answer or comment about. I feel that I have already met some very influential people that really enjoy what they do and could be a great resource for me.
At the same time I was appalled at some of the posts I saw today when searching for a particular grade level. I would like to meet teachers that I could connect with if I get this new position and couldn't believe the language I saw some of them using and the topics they chose to write about.
One thing I wish I saw more of on this site was bilingual teachers. I know there aren't too many of us, but I would love to connect with others that have the same passion that I do.
I am looking forward to networking more with individuals that love teaching and could share ideas that would be useful to me in my own classroom.

Culture Project????

So while waiting VERY impatiently to hear about this potential job, I have been trying to get as much grad work done as possible (so that if I get the job I won't get too stressed out).

I would like to begin working on my final project for a culture class but the assignment is pretty much open to anything that has to do with culture and I have NO ideas! I met with the professor and he pretty much reiterated that the assignment is open to pretty much topic and format.

I would love for the project to be interesting to me, without making it harder on me than necessary, and possibly even be able to use it in the future. Does anyone have ANY suggestions?