Voice Thread and Teaching

   Recently, I myself have created my own voice thread and done some other activities in others' voice threads (click here and here). I find that VT is such an educational tool in which people can either sharing information or giving instructions.
  I feel like voice thread is an advance blog in which people can make presentations using PPT slide, pictures, music and video while others can comment it using their voices that may help to include the maximum information in a convenient way.
  I think one way voice threat is suitable for teaching is that it makes it possible and convenient for both teachers and students to extend discussions. Like teacher can post the gists of last class and let students ask questions and answer each other's questions. Or teacher can post a picture, a video or a text to let students discuss what they think of such materials. These used to be in-class activities, but using voice thread, students can do these at home!

Twitter and teacher

   I have read two articles that enlightens me in using twitter in teaching. The first one is 6 best twitter tips every teacher should know. Here is a picture showing the six practices.

  

   There are two points in this I think is of great importance for teachers. First, having conversation with follow fans. Although using a new form of teaching, teacher should always keep in mind that communication and interaction with students is are one of the main sources for students to learn. And the second one is being as concise as possible in wording and length so that followers can have something to add and share. It is just like in the classroom, teacher's lecture all the time can make students feel tired and boring. Teachers should give students space to think, to react and to create. 

    The other article I read about twitter and teaching is  A must have guide on using twitter in your classroom.  Through reading the articles, I feel like one of the salient advantage of using twitter in teaching is that it makes it much more convenient for teachers and students to communicate both academically and socially. I am,as a students, always afraid of missing something important messages about the course such as class cancelled, change of the syllabus or the deadline. Actually I did miss some of these this semester. If teacher can twit to us, the chance will be lower I think. And also, since I studied in here, I found that talking with professors can be really hard. But with twitter, it becomes much easier. Even if the professor is to busy to answer the question, other followers who see the question may answer that as well.

  Through a few weeks' learning, I am surprised to find that almost all the new technologies, especially the internet tools can be used in teaching. It is really a revolution!

Teacher 2.0

   Teacher 2.0 is a place where educators can explore their ideas and support each other in their teaching career. In this website, teachers can get refreshed by attending to the events, interviews and workshops posted on this community and help each other to make contributions to the education field.

   I think, as a teacher, we may face many challenges and will have to deal with many tricky situations with students. Through searching in this Internet community, reading the posts, attending to the workshop, it is very possible for us to get proper advice and be dragged out of the dilemma. This website is like a re-energize base for teachers.