Web 2.0 lessons everywhere...

Now that we have learned alot of new web 2.0 tools I am constantly thinking about how this would work in the classroom. We were asked to create a blog lesson and a podcasting lesson. These ideas came so easily because I feel like the options are endless. I guess I am lucky I teach high school becasue most of the kids are familar with podcasts, making videos and reading or even writing blogs. They enjoy it and they feel a connection to what they do outside of school. When I was writing the lesson for podcasting I had the idea to tie into oprah's big campaign on no texting while driving (No phone zone). This would be a perfect authentic problem for driver ed, then just a few days ago I was looking at her website and she actually is hosting a competition right now for making No phone zone PSA's. This is another great tool and a great authentic problem. As I said, the possibilites seem endless and it is exciting to see what great ideas these kids have and let their creativity shine.

Planning is key...

for creating PSA's and videos. We had to create a PSA for our advocacy group in class on Wednesday. Luckly we had done most of the planning before we even came. The group came up with a great idea and one of the members took to wheel and created the treatment and storyboard. We sent around a list of materials via email and we all came prepared to work. The final product turned out great. We didn't follow the plan exactly but it gave us a great idea of what we wanted to do, then we all put our heads together and edited and fixed the glitches we didn't like. I have to say, it looks awesome. The planning was what made the process so easy. We even had fun making it!

Creating Fitness Videos

My students love to make video's. We did a driver safety video for Driver Education and now we are creating "lifetime fitness video." I showed students several different types of lifetime video's such as yoga, kickboxing, pilaties, and had the students particpate in the workout. Now, the students are responsible for creating a video. They must have a introduction section of the video where they explain the medical concerns, warm up procedures, muscles targeted in workout, and safety tips. The students are going to be responsible for editing the video, which they have done before. They will add music and any effects they want.
The purpose of the video is not just to make a video, it is to have students reseach a topic such as yoga, and be able to demonstrate and display thier knowledge of that topic. Students are working in groups so they will use collaboration and cooperatation to produce thier video. Using the computers and flip cameras creates excitement for the students. They have done a great job in the planning process with brainstorming, discussing the treatment with me, and creating the storyboard.
This process has been fun and I can't wait to see the final videos!

PresentationZen to the rescue!

My husband was doing a presenation for class and wanted help with his powerpoint. I showed him my presentationzen powerpoint and highlighted the "death by powerpoint" slide. He agreed, he did not want to do this to his class. I took his ideas and used bold words and expressive pictures. He said his class LOVED IT! He said alot of them asked what made him do that he responded that his wife is in the ITS program. I think I am finally converting him to a believer! The ITs program has totally changed my philosophies and ideas about education. I love sharing the ideas and spreading knowledge.

Creating a podcast experience

Well last night at class I had my first experience of creating a podcast. I actually had a lot of fun. You almost feel like a radio host. It sparked a few good lesson ideas for my students. I think for health and driver ed we could do several podcasts on safety issues, health issues, etc. We could create a series of podcasts about a particular topic, for example: distracted driving. We could do several podcasts on the dangers of eating whil driving, cell phones, passengers, and the many other distractions drivers often face.
I could see the high school kids really getting in to this!

Web 2.0 all over the place

As I was on the elliptical in the gym yesterday I opened the March issue of Shape. The first thing that caught my attention was "pod casts" for fitness- it was an article about podcasts that offer different exercises. I thought "I just blogged about this!"
On another page was an editor talking about how her nutrition blog has helped her become a healthy eater. As she blogs for readers of the magazine she finds herself trying to make better choices.
Just thought it was interesting....

Podcasts to the rescue!

Well for those of you who aren't sure what a Podcast means it is simply a downloadable media file that can either be audio or video. There are several types of podcasts on all different types of information. People who miss their favorite radio show in the morning can often download the podcast and listen to it later. Podcasts are often downloaded to ipods to become portable.
This past weekend I went to Chicago for a lovely Valentines weekend. We had a great time walking around the city but we also did some serious eating. Although I must say I was actually sore from walking so much I didn't want to spend 4 days away from my workout routine sooo I downloaded a couple yoga podcasts right to my ipod. Not only do they walk you through the poses but I can actually watch a video of how to do it. Also with the wide vareity of choices on Itunes, they have a great selection that are FREE!
I got my yoga video off Itunes but through searching I found this website had some great podcasts: http://hillarysyogapractice.wordpress.com/
Podcasts are wonderful because they can be played over and over, they are portable, and they are can be used on your own time or schedule. From everything from comedy shows to workouts to news progams, Podcasts are the way to go.
For students they could use a vareity of podcasts about health and nutrition and also workouts. ALso they could create podcasts on a vareity of topics. The educational possibilites are endless with podcasts, the students are the creators and we are speaking the langauge of our "digital natives!"

Snowdays....and wikis

Is there anything better about being a teacher than a snowday? Well how about 6 of them in a row? Yes, a whole week of snowdays is about enough to make anyone want to become a teacher. However, I must say...we deserve every last snow day we get! It is not every year we get 2 blizzards in one week in Northern Virginia so I am trying to enjoy every last bit of it.
I wanted to write my blog but honestly besides watching movies and reading books I have nothing extreamly exciting to discuss! So let's talk about wikis.
Going back to my first blog I was thinking I could comment on my workouts or lack there of right now. I have gotten a few fitness videos in of yoga and core down in my cold basement but the thought of treaking through the snow to the gym is rough! The snow is quite a motivation killer...however shoveling out my car was enough to make my shoulders sore for a couple days.
Spending a total of 11 days away from my students is fine but it does make me wonder if any of them are doing any exercise of their own. Even if they are just walking though the huge snow drifts at least that is something! When we switch to health class for a 2 week rotation and we go back to PE some of them have not worked out since the last day of PE. They suffer a serious set back. My sister teachers elementary ESOL and she always fears what her students will forget over the breaks....so what if we brought blogging or using wiki's home for breaks.
Of course many people don't have internet access and a computer where they could just get on a blog for thier teachers to read but it is a thought...
If my students had fitness blogs maybe they would use them over the holidays, summer breaks, and hey even blizzards! Or we could create a wiki about fitness, PE games, and other fitness or health realted topics. They could work and add to these wiki's at home. The wiki's would allow them to create an ongoing online resource in thier own langugage.

A blog about blogs: Fitness Blogs

This is my first blogging experience! I have read alot of blogs but I have never written one. I have followed several blogs about workouts and fitness ideas. I think bloging is a great way for people to share information about themseleves. It can be a fun experience where one can express thier ideas, plans, and actions and recieve feedback. Many teens love to blog. They love to share ideas and read other's ideas. This could be a great learning tool and connection for high school students.
One major component we stress in 10th grade PE is personal fitness and creating a motivation for maintaining an active lifestyle. However, teens are often so busy with thier schedules and other committments that they squeeze in fitness whenever it is convienent. Many students who aren't invovled in sports often do no other exercise outside of PE. I feel like a blog could be used to get students talking about exercise and work out ideas could create motivation and excitement about personal fitness.
I would love to create a blog for students to comment and blog about thier personal fitness goals and actual workouts. It could be an accountablitiy tool for teachers to track students progress and also a good way for students to share different ideas for exercises with other students.
There are alot of fitness blogs out there, however this would be a way for students to express how they feel about personal fitness. I feel like blogging could be away to get students moving more, if they do it then they can write about it. Students in high school are required to fill out activity logs thoughout the year, however though a blog site, documentation of student workouts would be all in one place. Blogging could also be a cross curricular activity with incorporating writing and reading. Students who became interested in this activity could link thier blog to other fitness sites, incorporate videos, and make the blog more interactive. It could be a very powerful, year long, learning experience. I think it also would be a great way for students who may be a little shy face to face to have a way to express themsleves in a less threatening enviroment.