Audacity- Open Source Software Review

     I was asked to create a review on an open source software. That software is called Audacity. However before I get started I thought I should find a definition for what an open source software is. Here is what Wikipedia states as the definition of an open source software: "Open-source software is a computer software with its source code made available and licensed with a license in which the copyright holder provides the rights to study, change and distribute the software to anyone and for any purpose." 

     Audacity is a free open source digital audio editor and recording computer software application. In addition, to recording audio from multiple sources, it can be used to add effects to all types of media including podcasts. Some of those effects could be normalization, trimming, and fading the sounds in and out. 

     There are several ways that an elementary teacher could incorporate this into their classroom. Older grade levels could use it to create an audio advertisement for a business/ advertising unit. It could be used to record speeches or songs that could later be shared with parents or administration. In younger grade levels, it could be used to record a child reading for a running record. 

     I felt this software was confusing and hard to use. It was easy to record yourself speaking but it was not easy to figure out how to edit the clip. I had to read and then reread the user manual to figure what to do. As far as other commercial software is concerned, I found a few but I needed pay for the software in order to use it. So i can't effective compare this software to another that is similar. 

I might use this in my classroom to record the students singing a song or reciting something we had learned but I would need more time with the program to figure it out. 

Tips for Using Ipads with Students

           Using iPads with kindergartners is no easy task! There are so many things I didn't consider before I handed twenty 5 year olds an iPad. Needless to say my first experience was not a good one. I had students asking so many questions I was barely able to get to my teaching objective. I did not have a good system or procedure in place when I needed them to stop what they were doing and look at me. Also, I forgot to have them mute their iPads while playing the game so needless to say I was more busy trying to show them how to mute their iPads rather than being a facilitator of their learning.
           After that disaster, I began to look for some helpful tips to integrate while students had an iPad. After a long search, I ran across 10  easy tips to have an orderly classroom while using iPads. This was the gold at the end of the rainbow! So many of the other "tips" I had read were geared more towards older students. The following tips were the most useful for my class:

1. Mute. If you do not need to have the volume on for any of your planned activities, it is best to 

instruct the students to mute the volume at the beginning of the lesson. This will reduce the 

number of distractions throughout the lesson. 

2. Thumbs Up. When the teacher calls thumbs up, all students should respond with a thumbs up 

if they agree. 

Example: The teachers asks the students to give her a thumbs up if they have finished their 

drawing. All students who have finished should give the teachers a thumbs up. 

     3. Happy Hands. Hands off the device and up in the air like jazz hands 

       Example: The teacher calls out “happy hands.” Students gently place their iPad on the desk and 

raise their hands up in the air and wiggle their fingers until the teacher tells them to lower their 

hands. 

4.Turn Over. Put the device to sleep by clicking the On/Off button. Make sure the screen turns to 

black. Turn the device face down on the desk. The teacher should tell the students that the black 

apple should be visible. 

These tips alone helped me out tremendously. One thing I am learning about integrating technology is usually the first time is always rough but with a little research and reading the second time is always better!!

Here is the link with the rest of the tips: http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=796199