Student Engagement with Multimedia

MULTIMEDIA MAGIC 

Tress, M. (2000). Multimedia Magic. Curriculum Administrator, 36(3), 46.

This article is about a school in North Dakota that received a grant to work on a multimedia project in the classroom. They were awarded a grant for $5,000 which they used to purchase VCR, computers, digital camera, photo scanner and a graphics card, along with software program and training. The group of people put together programs that involved hands-on multimedia lessons and activities, which help students to become more engaged learners.

They were awarded another grant-funded dollar amount of over $100,000 over three years. This money would help with multimedia technology, equipment and teacher salaries. Since, it was a grant-funded program they could also devote all of their time to making these amazing field trips. Which leads me to my next concern: time management. How can we find time to do all of this (creating, researching & planning) multimedia projects, along with instructing, planning, assessing and developing relationships with your students all within a school year! Even though students find these experiences to be incredible, teachers definitely need to find time to do everything.

Multimedia Use In The Classroom

Using Multimedia Effectively in the Teaching-Learning Process

DiGiacinto, D. (2007). Using multimedia effectively in the teaching-learning process.Journal of Allied Health, 36(3), 176-9. Retrieved from http://library.aurora.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/211080644?accountid=26354


This article discusses how "Multimedia can be defined in many ways, but this report refers to multimedia as a computer system using more than one format, such as text accompanied by an illustration or narration accompanied by an illustration." (DiGiacinto, D., pg. 176). 
Multimedia includes visually and verbally receiving information at the same time. Research has shown that students who see a visual at the same time as hearing the information will have a better chance at retaining it. This reminds me of a GLAD strategy that we were taught to use with our students during math class. Every new unit or chapter, teachers are expected to design a compendium (chart paper with all of the concepts and skills that will be taught in that next chapter). Then during the actual lesson with the students listening and watching, we trace over each section that we created on the paper using a different color marker. Between the visual and the verbal information, the brain is making a permanent picture in the mind to retain that blueprint of the concepts/skills.

The article also discussed that when using multimedia, students performed better at answering comprehension questions when the material was presented to them on the screen in a narration format instead of just sharing facts/information. The more animated the lesson using visuals, pictures, music, sound effects, the more engaged the learner is and helps the student to learn the information. 

Measuring Success in Ed. Tech

Eatherton, T. (2016). A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS. Techniques: Connecting Education & Careers, 91(5), 8.


This article discussed a variety of options to use with students to assess their ability levels using technology. Students can explain, describe and solve different problems using educational apps and tools. The author talked about different programs and tools teachers could use to see if their students know the material and content that's being covered in the classroom. Kahoot and Quizzez are two applications she discussed in her article. Both are very similar to each other, except Quizzez offers more private response results and doesn't have that competitive vibe.

The article also discussed the importance of having students create a Power Point Presentation to project and share what they've learned about a specific topic. Students can add text and images into their presentations, along with citing references from their research projects. It is important for students to have a choice of what format they would like to use for their presentation. Power Point presentations allow students to choose their own designs and create colorful slides. When students are given choices, they feel more confident and enthusiastic about showing what they know.

How can technology be used to eliminate snow days? Do you think this would be a good thing?

Morones, A. (2014). Snow Days Turn Into E-Learning Days for Some Schools. Education Week, 33(20), 6-7.


In this article school districts discuss the importance of instructional time versus safety of the students. It states in the article that children's safety is more important than missing a day of learning instruction. Different school districts talk about activities and lesson plans they could have students access in the Learning Management System from home. Even though lessons, videos and notes can be accessed through the system, students still need that human interaction from live teachers in person. The other statement I found to be interesting is that since all students don't have access to internet at home, they will have two weeks to complete those assignments. I feel as though allowing them to have extra time defeats the purpose of the lessons on the snow days.

In my classroom, technology can be used to eliminate snow days by assigning activities and assignments through Canvas or GoMath and ReadyGen (Literacy program). Since all of our subjects and lessons are on line, we could easily assign a math video lesson along with homework problems to solve. They would even be able to view the whole literacy lesson, along with access to the pages to read in their textbook/story. Since we are creating google docs almost every day in their google drive, they would know how to access this feature at home and complete it for their Reading/Language Analysis piece. We could even do a TodaysMeet or an online discussion with students.

I think it would be a good thing for them to do it at home, because then they wouldn't lose any instruction time. Now not everyone has internet access at home, nor do they take home their chromebooks every night. So, that could be a problem for some students to be able to complete their work at home. However, once they know the protocol for snow days, they will be in the habit of making sure they bring their chromebooks home, if there is a possibility of being a snow day the next day. 

Journal Entry

What's Hot: Ed Tech Trends to Watch in 2018

.SCHAFFHAUSER, D. (2018). WHAT'S HOT: ED TECH TRENDS TO WATCH IN 2018. T H E Journal, 45(1), 14-18.

          This article is about current trends in Ed Tech and the pros and cons it has in school districts. It discusses the importance of using Ed Tech as a tool and to make sure that teachers are also incorporating hands-on projects and learning with their students. The article also talks about the STEM programs and how you can incorporate technology doing them, but they also need to use their hands to build, construct and use higher level thinking skills. Our school is piloting a program this year called Project Lead The Way (PLTW) which incorporates technology (using a tablet with maps & information) and materials (rocks, pebbles, sand, model trees & houses, etc.) to create erosion.   

          The article also talked about how in December there was an all school coding day across the world. Our class did participate in the Hour of Code and my students loved having the opportunity to design a game or program on their own. In addition to virtual reality, schools can also use programs to communicate with one another from their classrooms. We participated in the Global Read Aloud last year and were paired up with a classroom in Vermont.  All of these opportunities can lead to issues involving cybersecurity. There have been reports from districts that have been hacked into their systems to retrieve personal information of students and staff. So, they are working on developing a more secure system.

TT