The Multi-Media Project

On today's edition of "What Types of Awesome Technology Can Be Used in the Classroom" I bring to you the fabulous Ustream! This was my first time trying to use the program so bare with the mad skills, or lack there of, demonstrated in the video to follow.

But first! A word from our sponsor...or rather, an explanation of the program itself.

Ustream is an internet based program that allows for videos to be made in "live" time by simply using your laptop. Note: The laptop used must have a webcam and a microphone. Fear not, however, most laptops come with that built in these days! Thank you computer programmers and developers!

The program Ustream is very simple and easy to use...so to those of you who are saying to yourself "But Amanda, I am horrible at using technology, I do not think that this is applicable to me." Then I say to you "Ha! You CAN do it! Now turn that frown upside down and get to it, fool!" It is as easy as setting up an account and clicking a few buttons (basically the same procedure you would use to create and email account, or any account on most websites).

Tip! When you begin to use Ustream to create videos, make sure the you press "Record Now" to begin your recording and not "Broadcast Now." Broadcasting does not begin your recording, and thus if you try to create your post to use for later, nothing will record but it will (as the title suggests) simply broadcast you to the world. Now how's that for entertainment?

Ahh, and now for your viewing pleasure, a tour of the GSE and my first time trying using Ustream.

Note: I apologize for the weird look on my face and the use of the word "lovely" way too many times.

Now, welcome to the GSE...


Video streaming by Ustream
Now that I have tortured enlightened you with my technological talents, let's discuss how this can be used in the classroom!

There are many applications that this tool could be useful for. Some could include:

• Teachers using it to record their classroom

• Teachers/Students recording their progress for Classroom/Individual Blogs

• Students performing group projects

• Student monologues/reflections

• using it as a literacy tool so the students can hear themselves read

There are many more ways that this could be applied to teaching that I have not listed...so get to creating!