Journal #2

Finding students who learn with media.

Bull, G., Alexander, C., & Fester, B. (2010). Find students who learn with media. Leading and Learning, 37(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=February_No_5_4&Template=/MembersOnly

The authors have researched the influence of media technology in students to learn the curriculum in Social Studies.
Primary Access Movie Maker is a tool designed to allow students to create their own short online documentary films linked to social studies standards. It usually takes a minimum of 3 periods for students to create a historical documentary. They create an outline, script, assemble the media and sequence then they add the narration, titles and music .
On their observations, the authors discovered that students spent more time and were more engaged on the storyboard task compared to students who wrote an essay. Through classroom assessment Scoring System four different Media Engagement Profiles emerged based on storyboarding activity and historical content :
high technology /high content about 40% of students were engaged both in the historical content and in the storyboarding activity.
High technology/low content
Low technology/high content
Low technology/low content about 15% of students were not engaged in the historical content or the storyboarding activity.
It’s always an issue for teachers to find the best methods to engage students to achieve their maximum success. This study can aid teachers to differentiate assessments and provide instruction best suited to individual needs.

Would you consider incorporating Primary Access Movie Maker in your classroom?

Yes, it’s a wonderful resource for students with various levels in technology. It fosters creativity and critical thinking. It aids all types of learners to engage in curricular content and it’s a step beyond from traditional teaching. For the more visual learners, it’s a wonderful tool for students to see the historical setting, costumes and traditions of the time.

Why would you utilize a classroom assessment scoring system?
This information would give me the tools to differentiate my assessment and find best suited tasks to meet various students needs and learning styles. This would help me become a more effective teacher.