Google forms provide a fairly similar benefit that blogs do although they are more focused and "disposable." Forms would be very useful for posting homework assignments and class updates that students could check on the fly with mobile devices. Additionally this saves paper and updates/assignments cannot be lost.

I feel webquests offer a much more interactive assignment. The nature of the webquest provides much more than just "write an essay" or "do this worksheet." Webquests are reflective of the new teaching ideal of putting process before results. It also makes new techniques like flipped classroom easier to implement. From my observation courses speaking with teachers who have flipped their classrooms they say the results are quite good.

Movie project for March 18, 2013

https://www.box.com/s/gpf2kqg482n3hak1utcu

Chapter 3 seems pretty straight forward in describing the use of audio media. It shares many of the same benefits of video media despite being much easier to work with. Although visuals are important depending on the situation and already existing images, like on the layout of a blog, a video might not be needed. In this case audio of all forms can provide a nice touch. I can see how a podcast, due to the audio, would be quite useful in conjunction with a proper site layout. If getting information across is all that is needed it is much faster, from experience making the podcast, than making a video or presentation. I also agree that it is much easier to work with and produces files of smaller size. This adds to the ease of use for people with older computers or slow internet connections. I think it is also always good, since the benefit of personal interaction has been lost, to take advantage of all forms of communication if possible when working with digital material. Audio can convey emotions and tone that are lost on just text.

        Digital text is quite similar to physical print. People make use of digital text for the same purposes that physical text is used for. The difference is digital text is much more flexible. It can be updated in an instant instead of having to reprint which allows for much for current and accurate information to be made available. Additionally this versatility gives it uses in online social settings such as a blog to help organize communication and information exchange between multitudes of people. Too elaborate on this Fryer says, "Think of a blog like a digital newspaper - Think of a wiki like an encyclopedia." (F 33).

        The flexibility of digital text is also clearly shown by Fryer's writings themselves. The multitude of links provided open up many more sources than just Fryer's text. Instead of explaining in depth how he thinks a good classroom blog should be set up he can just link to builders and other examples. I can only imagine how useful that would be if instead of just a quote I could follow a link to the entire book being quoted and read the quote for myself, in context. I feel that as technology continues to grow and be further implemented into our lives things like this will be one of the many benefits.

References

Fryer, Wesley A. (2011). Playing with Media: Simple Ideas for Powerful Sharing. Creativity

        Learning, LLC Publication.