Digital Technology

This week, I sampled using Screencasts and Instagram for classroom purposes. Screencasts Screencasts allow users to record and display information on the computer screen.  There are so many possibilities of using Screencasts in the classroom.  Teachers can record themselves doing a lesson to share with students for a review.  If students did not grasp a concept in class, they can watch the screencast video to review that concept.  Screencasts can also be used as an alternative to homework.  I have seen this being used in 'Flipped classrooms'. Students can watch the screencast on an upcoming topic in class, and they will be prepared to discuss the topic the following day.  This is a great way to save and use class time in order to address misconceptions and personalize learning based on students' understanding of the topic. One of the most innovative ways that I've seen teachers use screencasts is by having students record themselves teaching lessons base...

Infographics are new and improved ways to share information and messages with any audience. Infographics are visual graphics used to represent information (information + graphic) . Because many of our students are visual learners, infographics are effective tools to share information.  Students are able to quickly grasp and/or share new concepts, data and information through an infographic.  Diana Laufenberg, a history teacher in Philadelphia, provides valuable insight into the benefits of using infographics, " Infographics work in the classroom because they grab students and allow an entry point to learning — and because they sum up pages and pages, even chapters, of information that would take a reader hours to process. It pushes students outside their normal, comfortable “school” reading-and-writing habits, but it gives them practice in the ultimate 21st century skill: telling stories with data. In my experience, it also causes the new information they’ve researche...