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February 10, 2022
Are today's students or as dedicated and idealistic as you ?
Would this piece work without audio?


  1. Sign in, stowe your other devices, log into a Chromebook, and go to WYAW (While You Are Waiting).

  2. Audio in the Classroom: Serving it up with QR codes. Creating your own listening center collection.....

  3. As teachers, we use video in a wide variety of ways but let's not forget the humble audio and how powerful it can be for a variety of instructional purposes. (Podcasts! Just saying.)

    Here are but a few ideas.....
    listenImage from Pixabay
    • Use atmospheric music to set the tone for a read aloud or a writing prompts (e.g., scary stories)
    • Have audio recording software set up on a station/learning center computer or iPad for students to record themselves telling a story, singing a song, reciting a poem, explaining a concept, process, or information related to the curriculum.
    • Create a podcast "Week in Review" to update parents on the week's events or activities to keep them in the loop.
    • Use text to speech software to scaffold understanding of written information for students (e.g. built into Google Slides and Docs, Adobe Acrobat Reader)
    • You can access readings from NewsELA that read the text aloud and are on a variety of topics. Here's an example: https://newsela.com/read/lib-children-birmingham-march/id/46058/ (2nd grade)
      (requires free signup and login to access read aloud) Today's WYAW!
      https://newsela.com/read/lunar-new-year-2021-perspective/id/2001018847/
    • There are also text passages that have read-aloud built in such as the tool, ReadWorks:
      https://www.readworks.org/article/Becoming-a-Baker/873707fd-db07-409d-95f4-f7d68eaed899 (6th grade)
    Source: http://taccle2.eu/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/31InterestingWaystoUseAudioinyourClassroom2.pdf

  4. But wait, there's more!

    Students: Record an approved performance (e.g. singing, skits and plays), Conduct oral histories, Create podcasts.

    Teacher tool: Assessment  - over time, record children reading to gauge fluency, etc.; Instructional - ELA: kids reading their stories to contribute to digital storytelling, Create a listening center of favoriate stories for your students to read along with, Create podcasts for upper elementary or middle grades students or access existing ones (http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl; http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ )

    Professional development: Artifacts in your professional portfolio such as National Board Certification, Using for action/classroom research, Access podcasts for professional development (http://www.edutopia.org/blog/best-education-podcasts-betty-ray) and personal stress relief (https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/fiction)

    Combine with digital images to create digital stories which we will explore in the coming weeks......whoohoo

  5. Let's explore two audio tools:
    • First, for recording only: Vocaroo https://vocaroo.com/
    • Second, for recording and basic editing: Twisted Wave (https://twistedwave.com/online)
    • Advanced Adventurers: SoundTrap: https://www.soundtrap.com/ for you Garage Band users, this should look a little familiar. It can:
      • Record multiple tracks of voice and music
      • Create music with different instruments
      • Edit and trim audio clips

  6. Let's create something! Haiku......
    1. Using the script you are given, find an existing haiku that you like. Write it down. Basho is a very famous writer of the form.
    2. Next, create one of your own haiku and write it on your script.
    3. Once you've got your two haiku, you'll record them as two separate recording/files using one of the three tools listed above and save as an .mp3 file. NOTE: Do not record on your phone as this will give you a format that won't work with Google
    4. DOWNLOAD them to your Chromebook using the recording tool of your choice
    5. Upload both files into your class Google Drive.
    6. MUST: Go to each of the files and right click to share both of these so that with "Anyone with the link" can access.
    7. Go to Google Slides and create your own new slidedeck with two blank slides and title it YOUR NAME
    8. Find a CC0 image that visually represents your first Haiku (found) and insert it on the slide.
    9. Repeat this for the second Haiku (you write) on the second slide
    10. Now from the Insert menu, insert the Audio file from Google Drive that matches your image (e.g., Haiki #1) (see for a walkthrough)
    11. NOTE: If you don't see the Insert >> Audio as an option, use this as a plan b. Go to your sound file, click "Share" and get the link so "Anyone with the link" can view and paste the link on your Google Slide.
    12. Repeat for the second Haiki audio file.
    13. Share the link to your Google Slide deck with your teacher by texting it to her via Remind. REMEMBER: You also must make the Google Slidedeck link sharable with "Anyone with the link"
    14. NOT ON REMIND? Sign up using these directions: https://paws.wcu.edu/ncluke/digital_literacy/remindsignup.html

WHEN YOU ARE DONE- EXPLORE THESE PODCASTS FOR STUDENTS
19 Great Learning Podcasts for the Classroom
https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/19-great-learning-podcasts-for-the-classroom

CLASSROOM APPLICATION:

QR Codes and Google Drive
 You can use an audio recording tool to record a book or poem for your classroom listening center or you can locate public domain or Creative Commons licensed speeches. NOTE: Make sure to give attribution if required.

    1. Record your book using a digital audio recording tool or locate and download a speech you wish your students to hear.
    2. Test it on your computer to make sure it plays (it won't play in Google Drive if it doesn't play on your computer).
    3. Go to your Google Drive and create a folder called "Audio"using the "New" button on the left
    4. Upload the audio file to this folder (use "New" and "File upload"). Once uploaded, right click on it and choose "Share" to make it shareable with anyone who has the link.
    5. Click the option to "Get shareable link" and then "Copy link" and "Done"
    6. Go to the QR code generator, https://www.qr-code-generator.com/ and paste in your audio file link
    7. Generate the QR code and download it to your computer.
    8. Add it to a word doc with more information on your audio file or print the QR code and paste it to your book or to a card you insert into your book.
    9. Test it  thoroughly to make sure it works.

COPYRIGHT RESOURCES

Media Resources from Penn State
http://mediacommons.psu.edu/free-media-library/

OER Commons: Free Digital Library and Network of Educational Resources
https://www.oercommons.org/

Use of Copyrighted Material in the Classroom
https://marymount.libguides.com/c.php?g=271976&p=1815238

Copyright and Fair Use: Common Scenarios
https://csulb.libguides.com/copyrightforfaculty/scenarios

Copyright Compliance and Public Performances.
https://www.swank.com/k-12-schools/copyright/

Copyright basics from University of Minnesota
https://www.lib.umn.edu/services/copyright/basics

ROYALTY FREE MEDIA

Visuals: Pixabay, Pexels, Unsplash, Morguefile

Music
http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

Speeches
https://archive.org/details/Greatest_Speeches_of_the_20th_Century

All Media, mostly Images
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Wikipedia:Public domain image resources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Public_domain_image_resources

Public Domain Image Websites
https://99designs.com/blog/resources/public-domain-image-resources/

Access some fabulous visual and audio media collections at the Library of Congress (some are in the Public Domain) https://www.loc.gov/library/libarch-digital.html

RANDOM

Cat Scratch Fever https://i.giphy.com/../media/3o72EX5QZ9N9d51dqo/giphy.webp