Blog H

The document camera is definitely one of my favorite pieces of classroom technology. There is so much that can be done with it and I think it is truly an important asset for a teacher to have. In a first grade classroom, I have seen it used for making science journals. The teacher makes the example right there in front of the class as they help think of more examples or ideas to add to it. Charts, pictures, or just note taking was done with the document camera. While the students were thinking of what to add next, they were able to look up at the board and see how a certain word was spelled or how much they should have written down at any given point. This piece of equipment is also great for sharing the class's work without the worry of it ripping or tearing by passing it around physically.

YouTube is another great resource for teachers, though I know its risks. Right now, my school district does not even allow teachers to use this site. Even if the video is 100% appropriate and educational, it's the advertisements at the beginning of each one that might cause harm. The ads are random and can be different each time you watch the same video. Even if the teacher viewed it at home, the next day in class might bring something unwanted. Instead, my school highly promotes Discovery Education for us to use. A related issue is with the music site Pandora. The ads and banners on the page are also random and may not be fully appropriate for teachers to use in class. We are now no longer to use this site and are encouraged to use others.

After some research about YouTube, I came across something the site actually provides for educators. "YouTube for Schools" is a way school districts can provide teachers with the YouTube they are familiar with, without the worry of unwanted content. While I'm unsure about the other risk that the advertisements provide, this is a sure way for the video itself to be safe and welcomed by parents.

Resources:
Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.

Schools (6 December, 2011). YouTube for Schools: Join the Global Classroom Today! Retrieved 25 October, 2015, from https://youtu.be/NegRGfGYOwQ