readingreflection4

Reading Reflection #4

Annotation

Article Link: "Multimedia in the Classroom"

1.) What is multimedia?

According to the "Multimedia in the Classroom" website, multimedia could be defined as "the integration of text, graphics, animation, sound, and/or video.
Some examples of these are: power point presentation by the teacher, using multimedia encylopedias, or actually engaging the students in using multimedia to construct and convey knowledge. For example, students could use content mapping to brainstorm ideas, students could use a spreadsheet and graphing calulator to record data and produce charts, students could create a digital movie to demonstrate a procedure, and/or even a class website that displays student work.

2.) Why use multimedia in the classroom?

Some reasons are that multimedia activities encourage students to work in groups, express their knowledge in multiple ways, solve problems, revise their own work, and construct knowledge. Further more there are many advantages to integrating multimedia in the classroom. For example, by participating in multimedia activities, students can learn: real world skills related to technology, the value of teamwork, effective collaboration techniques, the impact and importance of different media, the challenges of communicating to different audiences, how to present information in compelling ways, the importance of research, planning, and organization, the significance of presentation and speaking skills, and most importanly, how to express their ideas creatively. However, there are some constraints to using multimedia in the classroom, and they are: technological resources, technological skills, and time required skills to plan, design, develop and evaluate multimedia activites.

3.) What steps are involved in implementing multimedia activities?

There are four specific phases of implementing activites and they are:

1.) Decide
*decide on relevant standards and benchmarks
*decide if multimedia is appropriate
* decide which learning outcomes are desired
* decide on appropriate measures

2.) Design
*inventory available hardware and software
*determine the grouping strategy and roles
*specify length/duration of activity
*design a lesson/unit plan with a multimedia activity

3.) Deliver
*media development skills
*classroom management and configuration
*facilitating multimedia activities

4.) Evaluate
*student checklists
*evaluation options
*reflection and revision