Digital Post #H

In chapter 9, the first section was "Mulitmedia Technologies in Classrooms Today". In this section, it goes on to prove that teaching in a 'multimodal learning' environment is more effective than teaching in a 'single-mode' environment. Multimodal learning is when you teach a lesson, but incorporate technology; not just by showing a video clip, but showing a short clip, but then recording students reciting a skit. While in a single-mode environment, it's teaching by just having a teacher talking. No video clips or pictures. I personally learn more having examples in a picture or video format, then just having to sit in a classroom where a teacher lectures. But it is also shown that students learn and interact more when teachers include such technology. 

The section "Digital Skills" caught my attention as well. They mention different ways we can include digital tools in our classroom, like a camera or video camera. A fun, interactive way could be to make an "alphabet book", and until now, I had never heard of it, which is why it interested me. Students can draw, take pictures, and write in the book to show what they understand about the letter assigned to them. It also helps with their writing, their understanding of the letter, for example, the sounds it makes and the different ways a letter can look. Another thing that was mentioned was a "concept book", which is somewhat similiar to an "alphabet book", but in a concept book, you can do shapes, colors, objects, patterns or even continents. And to include technology, kids can record themselves explaing their topic or take pictures and place it onto a document and make a book out of it. No matter which book you may decide to do, it's a fun way to interact with your in students in a different way. 

Credit to geralt on Pixabay

The last section was "Photo Taking and Movie Making by Students". Using digital cameras to involve students is a smart idea, at least in my opinion. Students can take their own pictures and talk about them. Or they can shoot their own video and edit it on their own. It gets their creativity mind going and I'm sure they would love it. It's something different and new to them and it's technology! If teachers include technology more and give students a chance to do it themselves, students become more interested in what you're saying and teaching. If you give students a chance to take their own pictures and edit and view them, you also get a chance to see what they know. Technology plays an enormous part of a students life and including it in lessons will work in your favor as well.

Resources:

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.