The technology class I'm taking this summer is coming to a close, and I've been asked to write about how I plan to use blogging in the future. I have to admit - this online journaling is an easy task for me. I've always been a writer and blogging is just another forum for me.
However, blogging regularly will probably be a real challenge this fall when I will be coaching and teaching full-time. I'll try to continue though!
You can't keep me from talking about coaching cheerleading, so I'll go off on another tangent here. I've just had my first two practices with coaching middle school girls and I'm loving it! After working with younger children for several years, I was a little anxious about this switch in age groups. I've found great relief in the fact that these older girls pick up on things much more quickly and with less repetition. Even with this revelation, there's still not enough time in a two-hour practice to accomplish all I'd like to. I know it's important to include a circle time, warm-up, stretches, and conditioning, but it seems to take a lot of time! I like to wrap up in the circle at the end of practice, but we've been going to the last second. Any thoughts on schedules?
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Podcasts
Hello all cheerleaders and cheer coaches out there! Earlier this year, Varsity began releasing their own podcasts online. You can subscribe to them for free! Right now Varsity has their "Varsity Spirit Podcasts" which include video and audio that you can watch on your ipod or personal computer. They also have "Varsity Spirit Radio" that is a cheerleading radio show. Coming soon is an All-Star only radio show. Both the "Podcasts" and "Radio" have a variety of educational information about cheerleading that could be applied to a lot of levels. Check it out at http://www.varsity.com/index.asp?article=2329.
I have spent much of this afternoon researching educational and cheerleading podcasts online. I was very pleased to find the Varsity Cheerleading podcast described above. I was also happy to find a great example of an elementary school's student-created podcast. Radio Willow Web can be found at http://www.mpsomaha.org/willow/radio/. I listened to the podcast about sound created by third-graders at the school. It was very professional and the kids were well-rehearsed. I liked the music that went along with the podcast, but it was created using additional software. When I'm first learning something, I tend to stick with things that are FREE!
Cheer Coaches out there - Podcasts are a great way to add some pizazz to your websites and have parents coming back for more! Most computers have a build-in microphone OR I'm told that you can buy a cheap one at most retail stores. On my computer, I only have to go to my "Accessories" bar on my Start menu and press record! Of course, once you get into podcasts, I'm sure you can do a lot more, but I'm learning!
Let me know if you've created podcasts and how they've worked for you.
I have spent much of this afternoon researching educational and cheerleading podcasts online. I was very pleased to find the Varsity Cheerleading podcast described above. I was also happy to find a great example of an elementary school's student-created podcast. Radio Willow Web can be found at http://www.mpsomaha.org/willow/radio/. I listened to the podcast about sound created by third-graders at the school. It was very professional and the kids were well-rehearsed. I liked the music that went along with the podcast, but it was created using additional software. When I'm first learning something, I tend to stick with things that are FREE!
Cheer Coaches out there - Podcasts are a great way to add some pizazz to your websites and have parents coming back for more! Most computers have a build-in microphone OR I'm told that you can buy a cheap one at most retail stores. On my computer, I only have to go to my "Accessories" bar on my Start menu and press record! Of course, once you get into podcasts, I'm sure you can do a lot more, but I'm learning!
Let me know if you've created podcasts and how they've worked for you.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Wicked Wikis
This blog was created in part, due to a technology class I am taking. I am also an educator and have been asked to reflect on using wikis with students on my blog. Thus, I am taking a break from my cheer chatter to do so.
I amazed by the wikis out there that people use. I am particularly impressed with the educational usage of the 1001 Tales Wiki: https://burell9english.wikispaces.com/Project+FAQ. It is amazing how students can publish their writing online, review, revise, and edit others' work, and have others' work on their writing in the same way. The obvious benefits with wikis like this one is the interactivity, collaboration, use of technology, and high student engagement. Concerns I have are due to student safety. Students will have to be closely monitored to ensure that no personal information is given out. Otherwise, I think I will just have to convince colleagues and parents that it is a valuable tool!
I amazed by the wikis out there that people use. I am particularly impressed with the educational usage of the 1001 Tales Wiki: https://burell9english.wikispaces.com/Project+FAQ. It is amazing how students can publish their writing online, review, revise, and edit others' work, and have others' work on their writing in the same way. The obvious benefits with wikis like this one is the interactivity, collaboration, use of technology, and high student engagement. Concerns I have are due to student safety. Students will have to be closely monitored to ensure that no personal information is given out. Otherwise, I think I will just have to convince colleagues and parents that it is a valuable tool!
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