New Media in Online Learning

          Web 2.0 technology is becoming popular because of availability of bandwidth, ease of production and changes in the attitudes about creating and viewing new media. All of these factors have led to the creation of “new” ways to use the Internet to reach people. The Media Readiness theory states that every media has the ability to transmit information and invites feedback, show cues, natural communication and personal focus. It goes hand and hand with why people like web 2.0 technology. It allows the creator to post their production at low cost and have it seen by people that can respond to what it being shown or heard. If you just spend 10 minutes in Youtube, you can see this at work. Along with Media Readiness theory comes the Social Presence theory which says that a media must be able to transmit a message and allow people to feel satisfaction. We look at the interaction that can happened with the Web 2.0 technologies and people are satisfied because they can interact with what is being said. You can’t do that to a book or a static web page.


Video: When I first started at CSUSB almost 10 years ago, I took a video class that required us to record a lesson on a VHS tape to be loaded on the computer to be edited. We would have to edit the tape on the computer and then edit it on the computer that had specialized software and hardware. I remember it was difficult and the finished project was saved on a zip disk. When Adobe Premiere came out it was a major change in how videos could be edited. It was hard to use with the cameras we had. Currently I am teaching a technology class that has the students create movies that can be loaded to the computer and edited in either Windows Movie Maker or Adobe Premiere Elements. One of the factors that have made it easier is that the camera is digital so we don’t have to worry about converting the video to digital like we did before. The videos are saved as a mpeg or wmv file that can be uploaded to our website so they can be viewed.

We are also using videos from Youtube, Teachertube and Discovery Streaming that can be downloaded and shown to students on the computer. Youtube is blocked on our server so they must be downloaded by some software I found. Discovery Streaming is a video site that the district subscribes to that allows teachers to search for videos related to their topic and view it online (it can slow down the network) or download. I use the downloaded videos for sub plans or supplements.

Up to this year we also had Atomic Learning that used video to teach different skills to the students on the computer. We subscribed to it and it would play the video with screenshots and a description of what was being done. I did a project last year that linked the lessons to the NETs.

I think you can see how teachers can use video with their students. Currently I have my students create videos creating LEGO movies or movies relating to curriculum. This trimester I started having my students use Story Telling Alice to create action movies to explain different concepts in class such as Aesop’s Fables. After the students create the movie we are recording it using CamStudio to make it a movie of screenshots. We can then go in and add voices and sound. I had some students create mini tutorials of different skills on different programs. I plan to create movies of different skills in Moodle as I become more familiar with the program.

Podcast: The podcasts that I use are audio. I first learned about podcasts four years ago at a conference. The presenter made it seem so easy that anyone could do it. Guess what, it is. I experimented with podcasts and created some sample podcasts for my class to show them how to do it. I use Audacity in my class to record the project and have the students edit the clips to prepare it the way they want it. When it is done, I can upload it to our website. I have had students do voiceovers for their Movie Maker projects or Camstudio movies.

I plan to integrate podcasts into my Moodle project to explain concepts and lectures. As my students create more podcasts, they like the fact that the podcasts are free and can be uploaded to itunes and such. I now have teachers interested in creating podcasts for the students to share the information online.

Skype: Skype is something new for me last trimester. I like the fact that you can log on and communicate with people from anywhere as long as you have a computer with Internet and a microphone. More people are beginning to use the program to communicate with family and friends. My next door neighbor is in Russia for a month and is communicating with his family on Skype and help his son with homework. The newest version of Skype also has a chat function which works great when you can not get into the phone call.

My district blocks the installation of the software so it wouldn’t work for me but I can see how you could use it for an online class like we are taking now.

Bulletin Board/Blogs: Bulletin boards and forums are a great way to communicate ideas as long as people are willing to respond. I began using Bulletin Boards while I was in the JASON Project and it was a great way for students to discuss different ideas. I put blogs in this because it can be considered the same thing. We post assignments on the blogs and respond to different posts. I think blogs allow students to be more expressive than a bulletin board.

I am going to use bulletin boards and blogs in my project because it is important for students to be able to read what other students are writing and respond to it. I prefer the blog because students may be more willing to respond to it when it is a blog which is a journal, than a bulletin board.

Second Life: I have no experience with Second Life. I tried to download the software last year to try it as I did my 644 project but I couldn’t get it to work. I agree with Dr. Newberry that it may not be the best method for classes to use. Through my research, I did find out that there are many versions of virtual reality software that are in beta so it will be easier for the instructor to control the environment and interactions with the students.

Flickr: Flickr seems a lot like paintbucket.com. You are able to post pictures online and tag them and discuss them. I have not used Flickr with my students because it is blocked by our district. Students mostly use google images to get the pictures they need.

I could see using this for different projects such as pictures of a field trip. Students could go to Flickr and get the pictures and save them to their computer and create a project. Also students could respond to the pictures and it would create a digital photo album.

Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatconnectpro/

I was exploring the CTAP website http://www.myctap.org/ and found the online workshops. These are workshops that people can sign up for and log on. The website uses Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro and allows the people in the workshop to log in and see the other attendees. The instructor can have a webcam hooked up so the students can see them or hear their voice. There is a chat section so the attendees can discuss what is going on and ask questions. There is a window where the instructor can show PowerPoint or videos for everyone to see. It also has a transcript section so you can see what you missed or review the information. I have not done a workshop but was excited about the possibilities of this because it would link all of the different components together (text, graphical, voice and video).