To be honest, I have never entertained the thought of video conferencing, podcasts or webcasts in the delivery of my lessons or for any other reason around the school. However, now that it has been drawn to my attention, I suppose I have reasons to think about using these tools. Although, thinking usually generates more ponderings and questions then immediate answers, so I have used the 5W’s+H thinking strategy and an online mind mapping tool to outline some ideas how videoconferencing may be used within a school organisation.
Consider video conferencing with experts. Perhaps a fantastic cabinet maker in Sydney, a set designer in London, etc etc. Your students will be talking to experts which is so enriching. Consider your students designing for the Aus environment, and then collaborating with students elsewhere to compare design for different climates.
ReplyDeleteConsider students podcasting rather than presenting orals. Try podcasting on Glogster (http://b-7bobcats.wikispaces.com/PenguinPod )
Students can video or snap photos of their manufacturing process, and use a voice embed to create a movie summarizing the process. I was suggesting to another student the other week, that perhaps your students could be designing a toy for an orphanage overseas. Pakistan? They can create introduction videos, and post vodcasts regularly showing the children the progress of their toy. Imagine the excitement. And what a buy-in for your students. A sense of urgency and committment!