Student and Teacher Use of Multimedia in Learning

Application of Current and Emerging Technologies in the Classroom

Dr. Steve BroskoskeMisericordia University

Outline

• Podcasting:– Podcasting with PowerPoint– “True” Podcasting using Audacity

• Digital Storytelling• Using Productivity Software to Support

Constructivist Learning

Background Informationon Podcasting

Podcasting• podcast:– An audio (and possibly video) recording that can

be listened to (and viewed) via an iPod, other MP3 player, a computer, or a mobile computing device.

– Many podcasters will offer an RSS feed to alert users of new podcasts available at the site.

Popularity of Podcasts

• Blurring of work and fun.• Popularity of mobile computing devices.

In a 2006 study, Student Monitor surveyed 1,200 students from over 100 U.S. colleges and found that 73% ranked iPods first on the What is In list, even ahead of Facebook and beer (Snider, 2006).

How Can a Teacher Use iPod?

• Download music for use in class. (Purchase from iTunes, Amazon, or other site.)

• Download a podcast (video or audio only).

• Download audio books.• Download video and show on TV.• Create a podcast for use on student

iPods.

Faculty-created Podcasts

1. Class repetition:– Record lectures.

2. Supplement class materials: – Enrichment of distance learning.– Facilitation of self-paced learning.– Remediation for slower learners.– Enrichment for advanced/highly motivated learners.– Assistance for students with certain disabilities.– Auditory support for multi-lingual education.– Frees up class time for other activities.

Podcasts Improve Student Learning

• Researchers are beginning to find that podcasting can improve student learning outcomes.– McGarr (2009) suggests that podcasting can

improve student learning by increasing student motivation and engagement.

– McKinney, Dyck, and Luber (2009) found that students watching a lecture podcast significantly outperformed a group of students who only viewed the lecture in person.

Example

• One way to benefit classes is to move some material out of the class to free up time in class for other activities.

• Following is an example of a presentation I have used to help students learn remotely about copyright and fair use in the digital age.

Copyright and Fair Usein the Digital Age

How to Create a Podcast Using PowerPoint

Podcasting with PowerPoint

PowerPoint and Podcasting

• While “true” podcasting involves audio (possible video) plus syndication capabilities (RSS feed subscription), PowerPoint can be a simple and effective way to utilize podcasting in your classroom.

• A teacher can narrate an entire slideshow.– You could narrate a slideshow live as you present

it in class.

Narrate an Entire Slideshow

• PowerPoint will allow you to record continuous narration as you run the slideshow as you usually would in class.

• As you narrate, the time you spend on each slide is also recorded. You can optto use or dismiss the slide timingsat any time.

Edit the Narration

• In reality, PowerPoint records a separate narration for each slide. This allows you to:– Preview each slide narration individually.– Edit the sound for each slide individually.– Begin re-recording from a particular slide,

stopping at any point.

Steps in Recording Narration

• Select slideshow—record narration.

Select this tool to begin recording the narration.

Steps in Recording Narration

• Set microphone level. Ensure volume is not too high nor too low.

Set up and adjust

microphone if needed.

Steps in Recording Narration

• After you hit “OK,” the presentation will run as usual.– Recording begins immediately. Begin speaking.– Advance slides by clicking as usual.– If you are using custom animation, click during

narration as usual.– Hit ESC to end early, OR record until you hit the end of

the presentation.• When completed, the system will ask if you want

to save the slide timings.

Steps in Recording Narration

• When the slideshow is played back:– The presentation automatically advances using

your saved slide timings.– If a student begins playing the slideshow from a

particular slide, the narration begins from that point.

– A student can click to advance the slide early, clipping your sound file.

Editing Narration

1. Navigate to the slide you want to re-record.2. Select slideshow—record narration.– Press the ESC key to end recording.– Continue recording on subsequent slides.

TRY IT

• Let’s create a brief PowerPoint podcast in order to get a “feel” for how easy it is for a teacher to use this technology.

“True” Podcasting Using Audacity

Overview of Creating a Podcastwith Audacity

• Prepare.• Record:– Press the record button.– Talk!– Press the stop button.– Edit as needed.– Add voice over, intro, outtro, and music as desired.

• Save:– Save as an MP3.

Scripting a Podcast

• Prepare – don’t make it up as you go along.– Moderate end: Create a bulleted list/outline.– High end: Create a script.

• Don't focus on creating the perfect script for your podcast. You don’t have to follow the script exactly when you record—use it as a guideline.Once you have created an outline for your podcast, use it later to make notes to publish later in your blog.

A Typical Podcast

• Show intro monologue.– (who you are, what you're going to talk about): 30 seconds

• Intro music jingle.– (repeat for each show so listeners identify the jingle with your

show): 20 seconds• Material.

– Educational material: 4 minutes• Closing remarks.

– (thank audience, talk about the next show): 1 minute• Closing music jingle.

– (suggest same as Intro music jingle): 30 seconds

Audacity

• You can create a podcast with Audacity free audio editing software.– Download Audacity from www.audacity.com– Download the “Lame” plug-in required to output

an .mp3 file (standard format for podcasts).

Lame Encoder(Enables saving .mp3 files)

Download Audacity

Finding Podcasts

• Educational Podcast Network

• iTunes (largest repository of podcasts)EPN

iTunes

Podcastsalso playon PC’s.

Podcasts on iTunes

TRY IT

• Let’s listen to a podcast to get a feel for what they are like. (Can listen on PC or an MP3 player.)– You can also subscribe to a podcast’s RSS feed so

you can hear future shows as they come available.• Individually or in a small group, let’s

experiment with making a short podcast.

Podcastalley.com

Digital Storytelling

Why Stories?

• What do you remember from your childhood?• Can you retell a story that you read?• Have you watched a good movie lately? Can

you retell the story?

Humans seem predisposedto hear, remember, andretell stories.

Why Stories?

• The power of stories is that you can hear something once and you remember it.

• Why?– Information.– Context.– Emotion.– Engaging, memorable format.

Examples of Use of Stories

• Non-profit:– Story conveys information in context.– Dramatic info. about people and their situation.– Makes it interesting, personal, and compelling.– Reaches emotional level, which may impact a

potential donor.– Cuts through facts, numbers, names, and other

information.

Examples of Use of Stories

• Business:– Create powerful stories about their company to:• Make company seem more “personal” and “human” to

public.• Influence public perception of the company.• Create an image for the company.• Recent trend: going green / giving back.

• Politics:– Take various elements and create a story (context)

to influence public perception of a candidate.

Digital Storytelling Resources

• A user could utilize PowerPoint, MovieMaker, or iMovie to create a digital story.

• Microsoft has also created PhotoStory, a free application for K-12 digital storytelling.

Listing of Software forDigital Storytelling

More Resources

Comparison of Tools

Creating Digital Stories

• DS involves planning: storyboarding.• DS involves resource gathering:– Video clips.– Images (from online, camera, scanner).– Sounds.– Background music.– Audio narration.

Creating Digital Stories

• Skills involved:– Writing (to be engaging to particular audience).– Planning, organizing, sequencing.– Selecting and using multimedia.– Using multimedia creation tool (PowerPoint,

PhotoStory, MovieMaker, iMovie).– Utilizing creativity and artistry.

Using PowerPoint as a Medium

• Skills in PowerPoint:– Adding graphics.– Add video links.– Adding audio narration.– Adding background music.

PhotoStory is a much easier tool to use with your students!

Digital Storytelling Examples

• Most digital storytelling applications are designed to be easy and intuitive to use. Thus, the student focuses on the product rather than a computer program.

• Let’s view an example to experience what digital stories are like.

K-6 Examples PhotoStory Examples

TRY IT

• Let’s download Microsoft PhotoStory (from Microsoft OR from Download.com).

• Individually or in a small group, try building a small sample story just to experience the software and technique.

Microsoft Resources forDigital Storytelling

Microsoft PhotoStory Tutorial

Using Productivity Tools to Support Constructivist Learning

Constructivism

• Learning entails construction (and reshaping) of mental schemata.

• Knowledge is constructed by learners individually vs. passed on by instructor to student.

• Learners are active participants in constructing and determining meaning from their environment (Piaget, 1960).

Constructivism

• Sequence of instruction is less significant than the learning environment (Jonassen, 1994).

• Focus on concept formation, problem solving, decision making, lifelong learning.

• Constructivism shifts learning from a teacher-centered environment to student-centered.

• More of the burden of learning rests on the student.

• Prepares students for lifelonglearning.

Productivity Tools and Constructivism

• Learners can assemble information and examples to “teach” the material back to the teacher (reflective notebook/learning portfolio).– Word:• Learners can assemble text, graphics, links.

– PowerPoint:• Same as Word, plus audio and video.

TRY IT

• In a small group, teach back a portion of one of the following topics, or come up with your own topic:– Difference between Creative Commons vs.

Copyright.– The importance of collaboration in Web 2.0

communication revolution.– Interesting places to visit in Pennsylvania.

Productivity Tools and Constructivism

• Project-based learning:– Students can use Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and

Access (databases) to…• Gather, sort, and organize data.• Analyze data.• Synthesize data.• Present information.

Productivity Tools and Constructivism

• Excel:– Learners can simulate and explore concepts.– Get hands-on experience with material that is

difficulty to fathom and/or dangerous or too time consuming to explore in real life.• How large is a billion?• How big is the national debt?• How far away is the closest star? Another planet or the

Sun?• What is the impact of smoking or drug use on my life?• How devastating is war?

TRY IT

• Experiment with Constructivist applications in Excel.

Download Excel Applications

Appreciating Planetary Distance

• Shrink the solar system down in scale:– 1,000,000 miles = 1 foot– Solar system radius = approx. 1 mile

• How long would it take to walk from the Sun to Pluto?– 20 minutes– Travel 4,000,000,000 miles – Walking (at this scale), you would be traveling at

10 times the speed of light.

Appreciating Planetary Distance

Dallas

At this scale, how far west would you have to walk to find our nearest star (Proxima Centauri)?

TRY IT

• In a small group, brainstorm/create an activity that would allow students to construct their own understanding using Excel.

• Later, blog about your experience/ideas to your blog.

Assignments

• Collaboratively, let's all add information to the course Wiki on podcasting and digital storytelling.

• Remote activity: Exploring online safety [Wimba].

Next Week

• Preparing PowerPoint for use with the SmartBoard

• Teaching with the Promethean Board