Multimedia in Teaching & Assessment
Multimedia is vital in today's world for the classroom.
Today's generation not only must have access
to it and the skills that go with it, but the adequate experience to prepare them for the future's skilled labor market.
One thing I'd like to point out as imperative in the classroom is not a typical one: downtime and physical breaks. Students are desk-bound - and at earlier ages - far more than in our historical and educational past. I find breaks and physical movement absolutely required for a balanced and healthy (and happy) classroom if one expects their students to be able to learn and absorb the high requirements that simply keep rising. This will continue until the trend reverses, as current research predicts this cycle will end with less traditional (and no longer necessary) content, as well as increased focus on legitimate future skills for the 21st century.
My all-time favorite "feel good" children's song, with capability for two classroom choruses ("Hey Victor" and "Hey Freddy") as well as movements ("eating" spaghetti) is Laurie Berkner's "Victor Vito":
This is a kid-friendly and truly "feel-good" song that energizes, as well as brings a classroom together with increased team-morale. I will probably use this as a weekly Friday or Monday anthem for setting tone - or as an as-needed "pick-me-up" when cheer is in short supply.
In addition, graphic expression of student work doesn't have to be traditional handprint turkeys and the like; in fact, Scholastic introduces us to four websites where students can create digital art, as well as find downloadable images of historical or other curricula importance. Toy Theater has an amazing assortment of activities for art, and my spin art is pictured (top, right). These tools could be used as art-based assessments, with unlimited possibilities depending upon the assignment and context.
A great source of pre-recorded storytelling is available at PodBean. You can listen to Lucinda, Queen of Everything there for free:
Podcasts and follow-up assessments can be a valuable and useful tool for auditory and comprehension assessment.
Multimedia presentations are not optional in our classrooms anymore, in my opinion. I honestly do not have concerns about such, except one: the lack of experience, practice, and knowledge of the value of such by any new teacher, it is an arrogant and ignorant path to tread - and one that ultimately leads to out-of-sync relationships with today's students, already heavily invested in 21st-century values.
Today's generation not only must have access
 |
| Toy Theater's Spin Art |
One thing I'd like to point out as imperative in the classroom is not a typical one: downtime and physical breaks. Students are desk-bound - and at earlier ages - far more than in our historical and educational past. I find breaks and physical movement absolutely required for a balanced and healthy (and happy) classroom if one expects their students to be able to learn and absorb the high requirements that simply keep rising. This will continue until the trend reverses, as current research predicts this cycle will end with less traditional (and no longer necessary) content, as well as increased focus on legitimate future skills for the 21st century.
My all-time favorite "feel good" children's song, with capability for two classroom choruses ("Hey Victor" and "Hey Freddy") as well as movements ("eating" spaghetti) is Laurie Berkner's "Victor Vito":
This is a kid-friendly and truly "feel-good" song that energizes, as well as brings a classroom together with increased team-morale. I will probably use this as a weekly Friday or Monday anthem for setting tone - or as an as-needed "pick-me-up" when cheer is in short supply.
In addition, graphic expression of student work doesn't have to be traditional handprint turkeys and the like; in fact, Scholastic introduces us to four websites where students can create digital art, as well as find downloadable images of historical or other curricula importance. Toy Theater has an amazing assortment of activities for art, and my spin art is pictured (top, right). These tools could be used as art-based assessments, with unlimited possibilities depending upon the assignment and context.
 |
| PodBean's Children's Title |
Podcasts and follow-up assessments can be a valuable and useful tool for auditory and comprehension assessment.
Multimedia presentations are not optional in our classrooms anymore, in my opinion. I honestly do not have concerns about such, except one: the lack of experience, practice, and knowledge of the value of such by any new teacher, it is an arrogant and ignorant path to tread - and one that ultimately leads to out-of-sync relationships with today's students, already heavily invested in 21st-century values.
Comments
Post a Comment