Listening & Media Literacy in the Social Studies Classroom

I have always been impressed with the way foreign language teachers infuse the enhancing of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills with their content on a day to day basis.  The combination of differentiation, utilization of technology, active learning, and content acquisition in well run language classes is truly remarkable.  I have worked hard this past school year to actively promote and grow the skill set of my students, rather than simply "give them information." A site that I have found great value in is Vocaroo, an easy to share voice recording platform.

"No man ever listened himself out of a job"-Calvin Coolidge

To culminate our final unit on Political Philosophies and Media Literacy, I created sample audio clips for class analysis that highlighted a political philosophy's views on a particular issue within the American political scene.  Students were able to practice applying context clues and key words to the identification of a given philosophy and position. In the age of infinite access to information, I reckon the ability to identify and recognize bias is of the utmost importance. Also, instead of listening to me (again) read the statements in front of the class, the playing of the different audio clips give students natural transitions and miniature breaks throughout.

Freedom of Speech According to a Statist

Voice Recorder >>

I have blogged before about the need to use technology and digital resources as a medium to more effectively promote the critical reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills that have separated the successful from the rest of the pack for scores of generations. Something as simple as utilizing a free voice recorder can take a traditional type of activity/skill like listening and enhance the delivery and results.

Corporate Welfare/ Bailouts According to a Libertarian

Record and upload voice >>

Student Loan Interest Rates According to a Liberal

Voice Recorder >>

How else can we utilize the infinite resources around us to better promote and enhance listening skills? What tools do you use? 

Screencasting for Teachers & School Leaders

I love finding tools that address problems I frequently encounter as an educator.  Using technology for the sake of using technology is not the point; when I promote tech integration to both colleagues and students I always aim to show them why it will be of educational or organizational value, how to functionally use it, and, of course, what the given service or site does.  I have recently discovered the possibilities that screencasts present, and I embedded examples of how they can be used by both teachers and school leaders to improve their ability to communicate integral information both efficiently and effectively. Both screencasts were made using Screencast-O-Matic and were uploaded and embedded using Vimeo.  I chose Vimeo over Youtube simply because the latter is currently unavailable at school.

This first screencast is a compilation of excerpts from recently submitted student essays; I provide commentary on each of the points the excerpts raise and explain how students could use the example to improve their own writing moving forward.  It's a way to quickly communicate and possibly remedy any common mistakes one sees students making as a whole.  Especially in an AP class where there is so much content to go along with necessary skills, teachers may find screencasts as a great way to save time and effectively improve writing at the same time.

This second example highlights how screencasts can be used by school leaders as a way to communicate important information to the school community, and as a way to quickly provide a visual tutorial on how to use a digital tool that some on staff may not be comfortable with.  I explain each section of a proposed expectations for student learning document as well as a brief visual explanation of how to use Google Docs and the comment feature. Tools like this allow school leaders to communicate efficiently with their entire community in a way that combines visual and auditory means.  As opposed to sending emails that get buried over the course of one day videos can remain front and center for longer periods of time, increasing the chances for more views.  For anybody interested, the learning expectations were ratified unanimously and we look forward to implementing them moving forward!

Whether you're looking to target specific skills in the classroom or communicate essential information or tutorials to your faculty, screencasting presents fantastic opportunities!

Innovation, Authenticity, & Results

I want to be the kind of principal who empowers teachers to find innovative and authentic ways to make their students better learners.  The most prudent way I can ensure that happens is for myself to pursue innovative and varied means to allow my teachers and students to thrive.  When I make suggestions or share observations/philosophies with members of the team, I must be able to offer alternatives or to provide an outlet to reflect in a meaningful way what is currently being done.  Without a personal experience with experimentation and risk taking, I will not be an optimal agent of change or growth.  As expectations naturally evolve as business and politics change, schools must be ensuring that students are learning timeless lessons in modern and relevant ways, and the principal is the obvious point person to facilitate these diversifications.

Not all 21st century innovation is exclusive to technology.  The ideas of research, the scientific method, and communicative skills are as timeless as ideas get, but taking an innovative approach and allowing extreme amounts of creative license promotes an evolution of the assignment that keeps it fresh and relevant to the students.  If access to technology is an issue in a given school, that cannot be the excuse that prevents the creation of a 21st century learning environment.  

Also not to be ignored is the importance of inviting community leaders to share in the experiences of our students.  Effective networking and presentation skills are paramount modern traits, and a school leader must actively create opportunities for students to showcase their abilities in front of and in collaboration with successful  local businessmen, politicians, and residents.  Meaningful student performance is about creating authentic situations for them to succeed in.  A relevant project utilizing 21st century resources with an authentic and knowledgeable audience combines all the necessary ingredients for fantastic student results.