Access to Video

Schools must comply with federal CIPA rules in order to keep students safe and get network infrastructure funding. For almost all school districts this has meant Internet filters. As video content has exploded on the Internet so have the restrictions for student access which often means that student access to video sharing sites like YouTube are blocked. You have two options to solve this problem.

1. Use sites that are not blocked like TeacherTube.
2. Transfer YouTube or other video from computers that have access to the site, teacher workstations for example, onto presentation stations so they can be shared with students. (full directions here)

Bandwidth Issues

The District’s access to the Internet is limited by the amount of service we buy from the Washington State k-20 Network. Schools are further limited by the network infrastructure that connects them to the network operations center at the JSCEE. Schools connected by fiber have better bandwidth than schools that are not. Within the next 3 years we should have almost all school sites connected by fiber, but until then many elementary sites that are not connected will have less access. Keeping all this in mind, it is important to treat Internet access as a scarce resource. Your options:

1. Download video in off peak usage times and then show during class. A great way to do this is to use video podcasts. see Podcasts for the Classroom
2. Use streaming video if you have a fiber connection, but be aware of possible network slowdowns if several classrooms are using Internet intensive applications at the same time. (You may also want to check with your librarian to make sure that their book checkout times are not severely effected). Links to great video sites for education.

Reflecting on your professional development experience is vital because it helps transfer new skills and knowledge into practice. It also reinforces your learning. It’s my belief there is an equally essential need for students to be more involved in reflecting on their own learning.

To focus on this belief, I have put together this training module to simulate an experience where teachers create an eScrapbook using their own learnings as content. I have been told by Teacher participants that this simulation can be easily adapted for students in the classroom. The idea is to help students synthesize and analyze in a technology rich learning environment.

Resources are listed below. I would love to hear how you have expanded on this idea and how you have adapted these templates to make them better.
Storyboard for Scrapbooking
Teacher Example:Targeting Process
Scrapbook of Reflections Handout

To read more information on this topic from author Annette Lamb click on this Link.

Here is a definition of what a WebQuest is from http://webquest.sdsu.edu/:

A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web. WebQuests are designed to use learners’ time well, to focus on using information rather than looking for it, and to support learners’ thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation.

What a valuable way for students to learn!

Site maintained by a school district that uses WebQuests as part of their technology integration.
http://www.milforded.org/teachers_rooms/wq.asp
From the Milford, Connecticut school district – WebQuests are written by teachers for teachers.

I remember spending hours in language labs going over chinese dialogue tapes as I tried to learn Mandarin in college. This constant practice was very helpful but far from convenient. Now, since I spend a lot of time in my car going from school to school, I have begun to refresh my chinese by listening to dialogues I download onto my ipod. The great part is it is all free and high quality! In fact on the Internet you can find free, high quality audio files or podcasts for just about any major language. Since mp3 players like ipods have now become so widespread, using these foreign language podcasts has become quite the rage with students on college campuses as well as with casual adult learners. You too can harness this great resource for your students either by using these podcasts on computers in your school or by getting your students to download them onto their mp3 players. The easiest way to get started is to use the podcast directory in iTunes (directions below) click on education in the catagories box and then select language courses under more education.

• iTunes download
• Getting podcasts from iTunes

 Note: On iTunes you can get the podcasts even if the specific web sites are blocked by the District filter. The websites associated with each of the podcasts often have more material to support learning the language. (Usually these additional resources require a paid subscription.) If you run into a site that is blocked or have a comment about its use please leave a comment below. 

More resources:

• Voluntary standards for World Languages
• Foreign language lesson podcast collection a great site that currently lists 21 different language podcasts
• My Radio Lingua podcasts for French, German and Italian

Here are some specific sites for the major languages taught in Seattle Schools. (If you have iTunes installed the iTunes link will bring you directly to the podcast download in iTunes.)

• Chinese (Mandarin)
  • Chinesepod.com  website  iTunes
    • My favorite. Quality daily lessons at all levels. They do take on some conversations that may be a little edgy (mild swearing and relationships).
  • Think and Talk Like (the) Chinese  website  iTunes
    • Cathy Lu takes a look at the Chinese language, while introducing students to China’s history and culture.
• Japanese
  • Japanese Pod website  iTunes
  • Japan Cast  website  iTunes
• Spanish
  • Finally Learn Spanish  website  iTunes 
    • I would recommend this site for the Grammar tips offered. Most lessons offer instructions in English and then follow in Spanish.
  • Rojass Spanish  website  iTunes
    • There is no english spoken here. This is for intermediate /advanced Spanish learners. I was very intrigued by his approach to incoporate Music, culture, and history.
• French
  • French Pod website  iTunes
    • This site is designed for a beginning student. The speaker uses both english and french to explain words. It’s very informal (I was struck by his use of like – think about how teenagers use it as a filler.
  • French Ecole  website iTunes
    • This site is also good for beginners and is a bit more formal than the French Pod site above.
  • Daily French Pod  website  iTunes
    • This site is better suited for intermediate and advanced French students. The speaker recites a short passage at full speed (typically about current events), and then breaks down the vocabulary in smaller chunks. He uses more basic french words to explain more sophisticated or specialized words rather than simply providing a direct translation to english. This was my favorite of all three.