Ed Tech Talk October 1, 2009

Discussion points:

• What were the strengths and weaknesses of the show format?
• Would you participate in future shows of this nature?
• How could this type of webcast be incorporated into the classroom?
• What would you use it for with students?

I logged into the Teachers Teaching Teachers session on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 at 8 pm (CST). Most of the discussion was centered on a book about Digitial writing. The chat room discussion bounced around from blogs and wikis in the classroom, to internet safety, to blocked sites at school and how to deal with getting it unblocked. There were many, many great links tossed out in the conversation. I had windows open all over checking out sites as the conversation went on.

Strengths and weaknesses? You have to be a good multi-tasker to keep up with this format. Listening to the discussion (that involved 3 speakers last night) and following a rather full chat room was a challenge at times. I can see where this format could lose some people either in listening to the speakers or lose them in the chat discussion.

Would I participate in the future? Definitely yes. I enjoyed the speakers and hearing their experiences. I appreciated the ideas that they shared and their openess in listening to the viewers in the chat area. It is nice to connect with teachers who have similar issues to find out how they handle it.

How could this type of webcast be incorporated into the classroom? This would be a nice way to invite a speaker to your class while students are in the chat area posting questions as they go along. The speaker would be able to answer the questions "on air" for the students. We often ask students to "hold that question until the end" and then of course they forget what they wanted to ask. This would give them the chance to ask before they forget.

What would I use it for with students? Probably the same as my answer to the last question. Plus it could be used as a study session, or a lecture series, a summer break enrichment lectures. I would also have students listen to a musical performance and then post their comments and thoughts about the piece they are listening to.

Ed Tech Talk is a great resource for those involved in education on any level. I will certainly share this site with my colleagues. A definite bookmarked site!