Friday, 7 August 2015

Reflection 3 - Digital technologies - Images, Audio and Videos


Introduction

This week I explored Images, audio and video tools. In the modern classroom multimedia is one of the most important affordances of e-learning. Multimodal learning is more effective than traditional unimodal learning, which uses a single mode or strategy (Eschoolnews, 2015). Recent studies have show that combining audio and images with text enhances learning significantly by engaging our sensory and working memory (Eschoolnews, 2015). As teachers, it is highly important our students and ourselves are media literate and that we utilise multimedia to the best of out ability within the classroom and create multimodal activities.

Technical Aspects Of Images, Video and Audio Tools

Images, audio and video tools can transform unimodal lessons into multimodal and in conjunction with the SAMR model they can create lessons, which engage students and promote higher order thinking. These tools can be easily accessed and utilized via computers, tablets, Ipads and smart phones. Images can be used in a variety of ways to engage learners such as, taking pictures of students’ work, getting students to create their own images or presenting images to introduce a new topic. Images can be a very powerful teaching and learning tool on their own and websites such as Flickr can be used to share images. Audio can be used within the classroom via podcasts or students recording their voice and embedding it to a Voki. Some students may need to be assessed using a recording device, as they may be unable to write. Podcasts and audio can be simply accessed and created using computers, tablets, Ipads and smart phones. Digital video is highly effective as a teaching and learning tool as it can combine images, audio and text. According to a research study by Kearney & Shuck (2006), “digital video has a range of common usages in schools, in particular for communication, observation and analysis, and reflection” (Moodle, 2015). Students can watch videos to learn about a topic, or create their own videos at the end of a topic to show what they have learned. Video can be created using computers, tablets, Ipads and smart phones and digital cameras and edited on programs such as IMovie. Videos can be easily uploaded and accessed using websites such as YouTube or Vimeo.

Images PMI

Plus
Minus
Interesting
·      Can promote ICT skills
·      Can be used to engage students
·      Can promote higher order thinking if used in the right context, such as a scaffolded activity analysing an image or the creating of images.
·      Benefits visual learners
·      Can be used to spark a class discussion or debate, for example showing images of historical events such as the holocaust.
·      Copyright issues
·      Users have to be careful about posting images of others without their consent
·      “Pictures can speak a thousand words” it can be interesting to see how one picture can engage the emotions of viewers. Images can be very useful for engaging viewers in a new topic.

Images in relation to the SAMR model

Substitution
Augmentation
Modification
Redefinition
·      Images of certain events to document the journey without the need for written text, such as a school excursion.
·      Students access Flickr to see others images.
·      Students take pictures and upload them to Flickr for other to see and comment.
·      Students create a powerful image using text on websites such as Wordle.

Audio PMI

Plus
Minus
Interesting
·      Beneficial for auditory learners
·      Teacher can use students recordings for assessment purposes
·      Students can easily access vast array of podcasts online using tables or Ipads
·      Develops ICT skills
·      Students can create and share your their own podcasts
·      Beneficial for learners in need of support, as they may be unable to express their knowledge or learning in writing
·      Can be less stimulating than images or videos
·      Can be limiting with what can be done with audio i.e. editing, sharing
·      Audio recordings can be very useful for assessing students who may struggle with writing

Audio in relation to the SAMAR model

Substitution
Augmentation
Modification
Redefinition
·      Students complete assessment by recording answers.
·      Students create their own podcast.
·      Students share their podcasts online and receive feedback from peers
·      Students listen to a particular teacher podcast at home before a lesson so they come more prepared.

Video PMI

Plus
Minus
Interesting
·      Beneficial for auditory and visual learners
·      Students can create videos easily with a range of devices such as computers, tablets, Ipads and smart phones
·      Develops ICT skills
·      Highly engaging for students
·       Actives sensory and learning memory
·      Promotes higher order thinking if an activity is scaffolded correctly

·      Copyright laws
·      Inappropriate videos may be viewed
·      Combining literacy and ICT’s such as video’s can be highly stimulating and beneficial for students learning as it incorporates and strengthens students literacy skills and ICT’s skills and provides them with real life skills

Video in relation to the SAMAR model

Substitution
Augmentation
Modification
Redefinition
·      Students watch video of a lesson.
·      Students improve their reading whilst watching a video with audio and text
·      Combine audio, visual and text to create a movie.
·      Lessons can be conducted online for students who may not be able to attend school


Conclusion
After analysing each technology it is evident that images, audio and videos can all be used constructively within the classroom. Although, when comparing the three as teaching and learning tools it is clear that videos are the most beneficial for students learning and engagement. Students can combine audio, visual and text to create or engage with a video. Watching and creating videos can engage the students in higher order thinking and cognitive constructivism providing the teacher scaffolds the activities in an appropriate manner. For example students can be given a task to research a topic, write a report then create a video of their findings whilst utilising, podcasts, recording and images. This task engages higher order thinking and also engages students in a process called transduction. According to Kress (2003), “Transduction is a process in which something which has been configured or shaped in one or more modes is reconfigured, reshaped according to the affordances of a quite different mode” (ACU, 2015). Images, audio and videos each have their place within the classroom and teachers must have a sound knowledge of this multimedia so they can incorporate them into the classroom and create multimodal activities.

Evidence of Exploration of Technology

Images: resized and uploaded an image to my blog - http://jessemiller182.blogspot.com.au/2015/08/today-i-discovered-how-to-resize-image.html


Audio: recoded my voice and uploaded to a Voki which is embedded on my blog - http://jessemiller182.blogspot.com.au/2015/08/blog-post.html

Video: Created an educational video which was uploaded to YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fKy9EVjKBc



References

Acu.edu.au,. (2015). ACU (Australian Catholic University) - national, public and not-for-profit.  - ACU (Australian Catholic University) - ACU (Australian Catholic University). Retrieved from http://www.acu.edu.au
Eschoolnews.com,. (2015). Analysis: How multimedia can improve learning | eSchool News | eSchool News. Retrieved from http://www.eschoolnews.com/2008/03/26/analysis-how-multimedia-can-improve-learning/
Moodle.cqu.edu.au,. (2015). CQUniversity Login. Retrieved from https://moodle.cqu.edu.au

No comments:

Post a Comment