Visual Literacy

In week 6 we discussed visual literacy. Visual literacy is a term used to describe the process of learning something through seeing an image, rather than reading words. Early examples of visual literacy include hieroglyphics and cave drawings. These days, visual literacy is more technological. In class we began to learn how to use Photoshop. This program is really cool and could be extremely beneficial for future projects. Each student did a tutorial and a personal project using Photoshop. Personally, I learned a lot about the program and how an image can mean so much. There were a couple of online resources for digital storytelling, which is a part of visual literacy. The sources included the Center for Digital Storytelling, Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling, and Allen Levine's 50+ ways you can create web-based stories. The CDS is an organization that assists people in using digital media to tell meaningful stories. The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling site has a history of digital storytelling, examples, software to use, and lots of advice on how to create your own. The 50+ ways you can create web-based stories site has websites that help you create a visual product like a video, map, or collage. I thought that site was very cool and useful!

Visual literacy is important in the educational field because children learn in different ways. People can be visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners. Being able to create lessons that incorporate all 3 types of learning styles is very important, so that everyone receives the same opportunity to learn.

This picture is a chart with good examples of how visual literacy helps in the classroom. It can be used in so many different ways and be beneficial to everyone involved.

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Justus and Thason

Justus and Thason

Where I'm From

Where I'm From

Copyright and Creative Commons

In week 4, we learned about copyright laws and creative commons. Copyright laws give creators ownership to their product. Copyright laws have been around for a long time, but many people feel that they are outdated for our current way of life. There is a lot of controversy these days with things like peer-to-peer sites that allow people to illegally share downloads. But the issue that I never gave much thought to was the re-creation of something. We watched a video in class that brought up some very good points dealing with copyright laws. What about taking a product and changing it? Who has the right to a remixed song, or a photo turned into a painting? These are real issues, and some people have had court cases concerning it. Being able to share the rights of a product is known as Creative Commons. Creative Commons still gives ownership to the original author, but allows others to use their product in certain ways.

As a future teacher, it is important that I am aware of the copyright laws and creative commons. I certainly do not want to get in trouble for infringing on someone’s property, and I want to set a good example for my students when it comes to these laws. Also, it is good to know what is open for public use and what is not. Many classrooms use different kinds of videos, images, books, and other items to help students learn in different ways. It is important to know what I can and cannot with the materials I would use in a classroom.

I found this video that does a good job of explaining both the Copyright laws and the Creative Commons laws.

Web 2.0

In week 3 we discussed Web2.0. I had no idea what Web 1.0 was, and was wondering how far behind I was with Web 2.0. It turns out that it is the Internet that I know and love. Web 2.0 allows participation on the web, rather than just seeing information presented on the web. This new way of using the internet allowed for people to create things like Wikipedia, Twitter, and my personal favorite, Facebook. These sites allow common people and Internet users to participate in the sharing of information, whether it is for educational, common, or social purposes.

Web 2.0 can affect me as a future educator in many ways. There are so many interactive websites that students can use these days to learn and have fun. In the classroom that I volunteered in last semester, the 3^rd graders were using FCAT Explorer to practice for the upcoming FCAT. I cannot even begin to imagine the types of resources that will be available for me to use in my classroom when I become a teacher.

We visited the Web 2.0 applications forum, and I discovered so many applications that I never knew existed. Regular people can now take their ideas for websites and make them a reality. Their dreams may be becoming beneficial to society by providing people with tools they need.

Educational Technology

The “Did You Know” videos that we watched in class were very interesting. We all use the World Wide Web, but few of us understand the vastness of it. These days, instead of using a dictionary or an encyclopedia to find an answer to a question, people Google it. For me, the videos put into perspective the role that technology plays in our lives.

As an elementary school teacher it is up to me to prepare my students for the technologically based world that they will be living in. Using technology in the education environment is prevalent, if not necessary today. It began in the 1930’s with things like audio clips and slides. Today we have classes that are strictly taught online. Using technology in different ways in the classroom can be very helpful in teaching students different things. With the trend that our world is following, it is necessary that students have a grasp on how to use technology for all kinds of different things.

This video goes through the technologies of past classrooms. It is amazing to see how far we have come. And as time goes on, more technological advances are being made. Nothing in our technology-based world will remain constant.