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2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Friday, September 11, 2009 11:58 PM

Photo by Elliot J. Sutherland/The Ottawa Herald

Jason Circle, introduction to industrial technology teacher at Ottawa Middle School, views a video written, filmed and edited by OMS students Thursday morning at Ottawa Middle School, 1230 S. Ash St., Ottawa. Circle plans to post the video on TeacherTube, a Web site similar to YouTube designed to be a place for school districts to share videos with other teachers and schools.

Students go outside the box, online

By COURTNEY SERVAES, Herald Staff Writer

Jason Circle uses Web sites like TeacherTube and Google Earth because they’re free.

And, it doesn’t hurt that they are available 24/7.

“These sites are valuable sources of current information that would not be readily available locally,” Circle, who teaches industrial technology and broadcasting at Ottawa Middle School, said.

Circle uses these sites to help enhance the learning process, to engage students.

And other Franklin County school districts do, too.

Enhancing instruction

Students like it, Circle said.

Instead of just standing in front of the classroom and lecturing, Circle said he tries to incorporate a variety of technology to keep students interested.

“These sites provide students with the opportunity to interact with the information that they are reviewing and relate it directly to their own lives and experiences,” he said.

Circle uses TeacherTube, which features educational and instructional videos and is sponsored by the popular video site YouTube. He also uses

Google Earth, a digital map of the earth from the air. Then, he uses the National Weather Service Web site and the National Hurricane Center to track current events.

“They help with demonstrating concepts that are being studied in the classroom, tracking current events and doing research for projects,” Circle said.

Enhancing learning

Ottawa Superintendent Dean Katt wants his teachers to use anything and everything that’s out there to help students learn.

“I think it does help students to learn,” he said.

Katt said YouTube is blocked from the Ottawa School District, but TeacherTube is not. In addition, Katt said some teachers use Skype — text, audio and video communication software — to connect with students and people from other areas of the world.

“We encourage teachers to use as much technology as possible,” Katt said.

Katt said he and other area superintendents are looking into the possibility of using other technology — like cell phones — to enhance learning further.

“Can we use those as a learning tool rather than a flat ban on them?” Katt said. “We’re trying to come up with good solutions.”

Fast and free

It makes learning fun, Luis Hinojosa says.

Hinojosa, principal at Central Heights Elementary, said students respond better to the use of technology than they do to traditional teaching.

“Anytime you incorporate lessons that allow you hands-on activities, the students tend to grasp concepts faster and easier,” Hinojosa said.

At Central Heights Elementary, Hinojosa said he encourages his teachers to try new things and use the many free Web sites available.

“I feel that incorporating technology in the classrooms not only helps students master academic concepts, but it allows students to be exposed to technology that could possibly be part of their daily life when they get older,” he said.

Hinojosa said the teachers at Central Heights Elementary have free reign to use Web sites that are suitable for the students.

“We are cautious, though, that some sites may have ads or other displays that could be deemed inappropriate, so we generally view the sites prior to the lesson,” he said. “There are several sites that allow teachers access to lessons, worksheets or other things to help them with projects they are working on.”

24 hours a day

Circle doesn’t think he’s the only teacher who uses Web sites like TeacherTube to enhance learning.

In fact, Circle said he thinks most teachers try to incorporate these sites at some point in their school year.

“There’s just a wide variety of information that is available and an ability to access them 24 hours a day,” he said.

Circle said some sites may not be suitable for school, but sites like AVS4You.com — a video conversion site — not only are classroom appropriate, but they actually add to the discussion and lesson.

E-mail Courtney Servaes at cservaes@ottawaherald.com