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Reflections on Previous Technology Posts


I will be using this post as a reflection on all my previous post on technology platforms for educators and students. I will cover the platforms I’m most excited about, the platform I found to be more difficult, and the platforms that I think would yield the most benefit for students.  I will be sharing how educators might consider using these platforms.  Another disclaimer, I’m an Apple user.  While I did share other platforms besides Apple ones, in these previous posts, I will be covering platforms that I use on a regular basis.  Check out my digital reflection story created using the Clips App.

My Digital Reflection Story



Noteworthy Platforms

My hands down favorite platforms for both students and for teachers are platforms that allow the users to create videos or voice recordings.  I find these platforms to be very powerful in sharing new information and reflections, adding to the learning, building community, and connecting to others. See links below from previous posts on platforms that are centered around creating videos and voice recordings.

  • Podcasts: http://readitatmyblog.blogspot.com/2019/11/podcasts-do-you-enjoy-listening-to.html
  • Videos and Telling Digital Stories: http://readitatmyblog.blogspot.com/2019/10/videos-and-qr-codes-in-library-youtube.html
  • Screencasting and Clips: http://readitatmyblog.blogspot.com/2019/10/screencasts-for-this-blog-post-i-will.html
  • Social Media Platforms: http://readitatmyblog.blogspot.com/2019/09/facebook-twitter-and-instagram-social.html

 Notable Platform Mentions

Images taken from Apple laptop and Clips icon captured from https://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2017/10/googles-new-clips-app-could-legally-clash-with-apples-clips-trademark-that-has-a-priority-date-of-210417.html

While in my previous posts, I shared platforms that were not Apple platform specific, there are many schools that are adding iPads and iPhones to their technology tools.  With this in mind, I wanted to highlight some platforms offered in the Apple suites for producing and creating videos and voice recordings.

Here are a list of platforms to consider using for creating videos and voice recordings, with description.

  • Clips: Available in IOS format at the time of this post.  Allows users to both record videos and voice recordings with ease. Platform includes soundtracks, animations, titles and subtitles.
  • garageBand: Allows users to create voice recordings and soundtracks.  Also allows users to save in MP3 format.
  • iMovie:  Allows users to create videos and voice recordings.  This platform will take training and practice using for both the educator and the students.
  • Voice Recordings: Offered on both iPhone and iPad.  It is what it says, it allows you to record your voice.
  • Keynote: Sometimes said to be the equivalent of PowerPoint, but it offers options that PowerPoint does not.  Like creating drawn animations.  It also allows for voice recordings and embedding of videos.
  • Pages: It is the equivalent of Word, but it allows for voice recordings, animations, and embedding videos.
  • Numbers: It is the equivalent of Excel.  It allows for animation, voice recordings, and embedding of videos.


Perplexing Platforms

Cartoon created from http://www.toondoo.com
This part of my post, is going to be short.  The only platform, of all the ones, that I’ve shared that I would not recommend at this time, is ToonDoo.  It is possible if they were to update the interface, provide security features to its users, that it could be a good resource to use.  All of the other resources shared in previous posts in this series, were ones that I would recommend to teachers as well as students.

Advantageous to Student Platforms

Let’s be honest, students love using technology.  It’s what they know.  What they may not know is how to use the technology in educational ways.  Students need practice with different platforms so that they can see how the platforms work, feel confident with using the platforms, and then begin to be advocates for themselves as how they could use the technology platforms in their classes in innovative ways.  For example, the students need to keep a reading log for a book that they are reading in class.  Why couldn’t some of them keep a video journal, instead of the traditional reading log?  We can’t possibly think of and cover all the different ways that technology could be implemented in the learning environment.   However what we can do as educators is be open to hearing the students suggestions on how they would like to incorporate more technology into their assignments.   We need to be focused on how the students are connecting to and applying what they are learning.  We need to offer the students time to practice using these platforms, and ourselves time to practice using these platforms, as well.

Here are some platforms that would be advantageous for students to use.

  • Infographic Creators: http://readitatmyblog.blogspot.com/2019/10/infographics-i-must-say-i-love.html


Image from https://www.easel.ly/



Image taken from https://www.pixton.com/
  • Any of the video creators or voice recording platforms
  • Weebly for education: This platform allows you and your students to create websites/blogs or create and keep student portfolios.  Learn more at https://education.weebly.com 

Screenshot from https://education.weebly.com

Closing Thoughts



It is important to note that at the time of this post these are relevant platforms, but as time goes on, there will be many other new platforms to use.  The important part is that we are able to use these platforms to share, create, and connect to others.  I recently watched a video on how Albemarle County Public Schools, in Charlottesville, Virginia is approaching technology integration.  One of the speakers Becky Fisher, who serves as the Director of Educational Technology and Professional Development, shared these very insightful words, that I'm paraphrasing, "The HOW of technology is not as important to focus on, as the WHAT of technology." Meaning the platforms will change of over time, which are the HOWS.  But the WHATS represent your plan of action on implementing the technology and instructional plans at the schools.  For information on this, follow this link https://tech.ed.gov/case-studies/

Comments

  1. Lana SnowNovember 25, 2019 at 7:34 AM

    I really enjoyed watching your digital storytelling of your final reflection. We have covered a lot with digital technology and tools that are available. You bring up a very important point about technology always changing. The tools that we covered are relevant at this time, but new tools and webapps will become available that may make them obsolete. It is our job as librarians to stay current with the ever changing world of technology so that we can continue to help students and educator grows in their learning and instruction.

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