virtual classroom

What is a virtual classroom? A virtual classroom is an online space that teachers can use to support learning for their students. You must access it through the internet however it is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Virtual classrooms can contain group activities and independent learning activities. It can also have discussions over topics and chat sessions, online work and quizzes and tests. Virtual Classrooms usually also include important information like calendars and timetables, grades and other important info for students and teachers.

What can I say about virtual classrooms? Well, this class is one. It is important because we can access the information on what we need to do on our own time, we don’t have to be in a classroom at a specific time, as long as we have access to a computer with internet that’s all we need. It’s good for teachers too, because they can send information to many students that usually wouldn’t be possible or as effective if it was in a classroom. Also, if you were in the process of moving, or couldn’t fit time in your schedule to go to school, virtual classrooms are perfect. This class works out for me, because being that I am finishing up school soon, I have three classes I take on campus two days a week and the other days I’m working at my internship in order to graduate. So when I am at home and I’ve completed everything else that I have to do, I go online and take care of this class at my own time.

Link: http://education.qld.gov.au/learningplace/onlinelearning/virtual-classroom.html

what is streaming video?

Streaming video is like watching a video on the internet, however instead of downloading the video and then watching it, instead it is sent through a continuous stream with video and sound and is played while it arrives. In order to play a streaming video, you need a player which is either a program that you can download or a part of the browser that you're on. Usually, streaming video is sent from prerecorded video files, however in some cases it can be a live broadcast feed. Multiple users can view the live feed through conversions into a compressed video signal.

I think that this can be useful in the classroom. Maybe a distance learning class can sign in and the teacher can present his/her lesson through streaming video on the internet. Also if there is some breaking news story I'm sure streaming video can be useful. I am sure that there are many other useful things that streaming video can do.

link: http://searchunifiedcommunications.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid186_gci213055,00.html#

podcasting

From what I know about podcasting, it is a tool that is used that can include visual, audio effects in their presentations. This information can almost instantly be delivered over a network and played on computers and hand held devices. This can be useful for both teachers and students. Basiclly, it is another new way for kids to learn. I think podcasts can be very useful. I think it is also more enjoyable, its kind of fun in a way and it makes learning a little more interesting. This is the thing though, stuff like this can be used on iPods and other handheld devices. Therefore, I think in many cases kids will end up using their iPods for other things than education, like music and movies. So I think that’s one thing people have to consider, but other than that I think that it is all good.

Link : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting