I enjoyed viewing the session entitled ” Film School for Video Podcasters” by Matthew Needeleman fromthe K12 Online Conference 2008.Mr.Needleman is a literacy coach and teacher of children in K, 1st and 2nd grade. This session caught my eye because some of his students are special education learners who are mainstreamed. This was an excellent and interesting video-it catches your interest immediately when it begins like an old time detective movie.

In this session Mr.Needleman gives teachers strategies to improve their video productions in their classrooms. He focuses on story boarding, lighting, and sound. Again I am amazed at what can be done in our classrooms using technology! If you are thinking about adding podcasts to your curriculm, this would be a good session to watch. Mr.Needleman’s blog, Creating Lifelong Learners is also an excellent resource. Mr.Needleman makes the point that by teaching video production from the “inside out” we can give students the skills they need to think critically about media messages they encounter every day. As writing improves reading comprehension, video production increases media literacy. Of course, there are opportunities for exercising those higher level thinking skills as students work out a story, construct a storyboard, decide on lighting, edit their work and on and on. An important point for me is that video production allows children with all learning modalities can be involved and share their strengths.

I continue to enjoy the online learning option. It is certainly more convenient and economical. While watching this video,I also enjoyed being able to go back and replay key points. I also like that I can go back and view videos at any time as the need arises.

I won’t be making videos in my current job but I am reminded again about the importance of using anything and everything to engage our students. I do wonder about all the time for all of these new things. As a teacher,it is overwhelming. I also wonder where the time comes from in a school day. Most of the teachers I know struggle with getting in everything that has to be covered before the standardized testing. I’m not sure where the time comes from for all of the extras.