Educational comics

Learning about educational topics was something quite different but also insightful in learning how to use this type of literature as an effective learning tool. 

The 'comic life' software was great in creative your own comic but there were definitely some frustrating elements to the software.  

Other benefits of using educational comics are evident on these websites:

http://www.slideshare.net/vikgo/20-effective-ways-to-use-digital-comics-in-the-classroom

This website discusses that:

- comics are an easy way to remember information

-comics can motivate children who do not enjoy writing

-helps students organising through storyboarding and sequence

Another link that discusses further educational benefits of using comics in the classroom is:

http://www.openeducation.net/2008/01/23/innovative-teaching-comic-books-in-the-classroom/

Multimedia Stories...

Last Week we learnt how to create an effective, yet educational powerpoint, aka a multimedia story or presentation.

I have known how to make power points but this week was helpful in making a powerpoint interactive and fun. I know that I will definitely use this tool in the classroom to enhance the learning of a particular subject or use this tool as a revision strategy.

7 key points to blogging.....

Educause Learning Initiative-advancing learning through IT Innovation

1. Blogs are:
-An online collection of links and thoughts.
-Easy to create
- Internet connection is necessary

2. Who is using them?
-Entertainment venues, news, politics
-Educators

3. How do they work?
-It is an online journal in which hyperlinks, text, images, media can be added.
-they allow feedback to be given from other readers by leaving comments.


4. Why are they significant?
-Blogs are an ideal way for people to share knowledge, discussion and reflection.
-Blogs also can be an informal way for authors/and readers to share ideas.

5. What are the downsides?
-can be biased/inaccurate
-they are unmediated, allowing people to express anything they want. This is inappropriate for an institutional blogger.
-highly volatile meaning bloggers can delete or edit posts anytime.

6. Where is it going?
-estimates suggest as many as 50 million people are now blogging because they are so easy to create and modify.

7. What are the implications for teaching and learning?
-can be used for reflection about classes, careers, current events.
-they offer students/staff a new form of interacting with peers and a forum that can be extended beyond a classroom setting.

Lecture 3

It was helpful today exploring the different podcasts that are available and seeing how to access these. I am actually inspired to listen to more podcasts because now I know how to actually find and access them!

Another interesting element of todays lecture was creating an educational podcast for the purpose of using it within a classroom! How great that there is free software out there that can enable you to create a podcast so quickly! I think I will seriously consider using podcasts in my classroom to teach and engage students with learning about a specific subject.