Journal #2: Learning with Media - NETS-T 3,4,5

Reflect on educational journal using ISTE publication and Citation Machine

Bull, G. (2010). Finding students who learn with media. 37(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=February_No_5_4&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4495&ContentID=25255&DirectListComboInd=D

Creating digital documentaries sounds like more fun than work. My first assumption was that most kids would jump at the chance to create a digital documentary instead of writing a typical essay. Even if a student’s interest in the content is low, he or she is learning a skill that can be used for fun or other school activities. Like everything, one size does not fit all, and some students may shy away from technology and learning new things. It sounds like Primary Access Movie Maker bridges technical minded students and not so technical minded students, where both type of students can focus more on learning objectives rather than learning the media tool. I liked how this article covered the concern teachers’ face with engaging students. Continued assessments will help guide teachers on how best to use media tools.

If a history teacher employed Primary Access Moviemaker to teach about World War I, should his or her students be graded on how much they know about World War I? Or how well their documentary came out?

Although this article does not directly answer that question, it looks like students can work on their projects from home provided that they have internet access. Having internet access could be an advantage for some kids, and therefore it would not be equitable if their grade depended on how well their World War I movie came out. In addition to the project, I would also give a multiple choice test on the subject being taught, and give the test score more weight for the student’s grade.

Are schools encouraging teachers to use more media type tools for assignments?

I would think that learning how to use the latest technology will only benefit students. Granted, the 3R (Reading, writing & arithmetic) still come first in an education for kids, learning how to use the latest technical tools maybe gaining importance in an education. More and more jobs require knowing how to use technical tools, such as media tools.