Activity 10- Sharing (Publishing) Online

I like the idea of bringing students to a place where they have to demonstrate their understanding of what they learned from research, interaction with experts or through collaboration with peers and then collate these bits of information into a format that can be shared in the community beyond the classroom.  This in my view supports the theory of constructivism which is the basis for knowledge building.  By gaining this knowledge the opportunity to share it further reinforces that knowledge, which came about as they carried out their various roles  throughout the project.

In my exploration of projects in this course,  I have been exposed to various mediums that students can use to culminate their projects. One common thread that each thrives on is the need for being creative.   For starters, I will introduce my students to Google Blogger,  Video and Audio Production to produce CD Rom's and the simple software of Power Point.  As an English teacher, I find that these and those listed below will  work very well since English fosters a communicative, collaborative , knowledge building environment.  My list of final products to culminate a project includes:

·         Video and audio production- to produce a CD Rom.

·         Podcasts

 

·         You-Tube- For sharing videos online

·         Google Blogger for sharing and publishing completed reports

·         Photostory 3 for Windows – a tool used for sharing photo stories

·         Sharing Compiled notes on Adobe Acrobat Document which can be posted on the web to extend the learning beyond the classroom environment

·         Art gallery expedition featuring multimedia profiles

·         Creation of models that can be exhibited in galleries

·         Create virtual tours on Google maps on art work in an area or historical sites

 

P.S.One thing that struck me in some of the videos and samples was that at times teachers themselves had to learn some skills before engaging students in the projects themselves.   Noteworthy also, all projects went through a phase of intense planning with other colleagues and experts.  Teachers were able to determine the best suited end product for the project design.  This shows that even the teacher encounters a continuum of knowledge building experiences too.