Multimedia Tools

When I began the MET program, my experience with multimedia tools, especially web based tools was minimal. I had a lot of experience with client side tools, (audacity, garage band, website authoring, Gimp etc.) but there was a whole new world of web based authoring tools out there that I had no idea existed. The ability to use web based tools opened up many new possibilities for my teaching practice. I began to explore and think about ways to use these tools in my classes. Over the two years I have been in the program, I have explored a few with classes, but the lack of computers at my school has made it difficult. I look forward to the new school year, a new lab, a new laptop cart and no MET homework to begin to use some of the tools that are out there.

One of the most profound learning experiences I have had that involved multimedia was the Learning At Night program that our school district undertook. In the program, teacher leaders get together to present new technological tools for learning. There is a video presentation by someone who is an expert in their field, followed by a Skype session with the expert in which we could ask questions and get more information, followed by time to play with the tool that was presented. In these presentations, I have “met” Alec Courosa, Dean Shareski, Heidi Hass Gable, and Jeff O’Hara, I have learned about backchannels, twitter, instructional design, and more. Most importantly I now have a network of like minded colleagues and experts to guide me and provide me with inspiration.