Thing 5: Caught on Video

I really enjoyed reading quite a few blog posts from Google Reader.  One post in particular caught my eye.  I have been thinking a lot about incorporating digital portfolios into my classroom, and I had also recently heard about the Flip video camera.  I was so excited to see the blog post Caught on Video by Bob Sprankle. 

Bob talks about the ease with which students and teachers can use the Flip digital video camera.  The small, portable camera can be used by students to document their learning, record fieldtrips, and make their own educational movies.  From what I understand, the camera has all of the editing software inside of it.  You simply connect it to your computer and start editing!

Bob outlined many of the ideas that I have been considering, but he also came up with some ideas I hadn’t considered.  Because I am eager to start creating digital portfolios with my students, I loved the idea of videotaping writing conferences, math explorations, and my students’ project presentations.  Showing parents a digital presentation at conferences would give them incredible insight into the world of third grade and their child’s progress.  Bob’s idea of filming each child on the first day of school is a fantastic one!  What a great way to learn about each student!  He also mentions providing each student with a math challenge and documenting the process of solving the problem. 

I get so excited when I think about all of the ways my students could use a tool, such as the Flip video camera, and I am thrilled to think about how I could use it as well.  I agree with Bob when he says that this provides another important assessment tool.  This technology would encourage students to articulate their learning, and metacognition is something I’m always promoting in my classroom.

Bob’s post got me so excited about something that I have put on the back burner for a while.  Digital portfolios are an important endeavor, and I plan to focus on how to create and use them within my classroom.  In addition, I am thinking of investing in a digital video camera like the Flip camera.  I think that it would enhance my students’ learning in so many ways.