VoiceThread

Since we will be learning about iMovie in an upcoming project and I own a Mac, I decided to explore using VoiceThread as a digital storyteller. I knew very little about VoiceThread previous to this class and found it very interesting to work at actually creating one this weekend. I think students could easily grasp this technology and it could be a very fun way to transform their writing into a visual and audio presentation.

However, I think there is another way that VoiceThread could be beneficial in the secondary classroom. Students can comment on each other's work, therefore the teacher could start a discussion and allow all of the students to record their own comments, making it a virtual classroom.

Internet Communication Project Proposal

For the internet communication project, I am interested in exploring digital storytelling. I've seen it used many times in other classrooms and I think it could be an excellent tool in an English classroom to allow students to share their writing in another medium.

Shakespeare: Subject to Change

Recently, I came across the website, Cable in the Classroom, which offers some excellent suggestions on how to implement video into the classroom. One thing this website offers is an interactive Shakespeare page that has received numerous awards since it launched in 2003, including The Web Awards Competition - "Outstanding Website 2003," USA Today -- Online Edition -- "Hot Pick," and the American Library Associations Great Web Sites for Kids. I think this website would be a great addition to any English classroom studying Shakespeare as a way for students to grasp vocabulary and format, as well as plot structure.

English Classroom Website

My classroom website is up and running at this link:

http://sites.google.com/site/englishclassroomsite/

I actually really enjoyed making it and think that this could be an incredibly useful tool to communicate with students.

Website Discovery

So far in this class, my favorite discovery has been Google reader. I had no idea I could put all of the websites I follow in one place, rather than scouring the web trying to find out if they have been updated. It's definitely something I will use, not only in looking at educational websites, but also other sites that I take a personal interest in. However, in looking for additional educational websites, I came across the website - 50 Must-Read Up and Coming Blogs by Teachers. It is a mecca of valuable resources for English teachers that I thought I would share. I highly recommend looking at some of their suggestions.