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for the ClassroomKali AlfordITEC 7445Dr. GroveSpring 2015

What is Touchcast?Put simply, Touchcast is an application for making interactive videos that have various multimedia components embedded into them. The developers of Touchcast call these components vApps. They range from simple components such as speech bubbles, quizzes, and images. However, they also include more advanced components such as Twitter feeds, Google Maps, and other websites.

Our school has adopted a goal to create students who believe they are accountable for their learning, as a part of its mission. Additionally, the upcoming 1:1 tech shift is putting learning squarely in their own hands.

Using Touchcast, teachers can create video lectures with quizzes embedded with formative assessments. They can create webquests where students can access all of the design resources from one screen.

Imagine the ease of being able to do these things with just a tablet. It means no need to reserve a computer lab or extensive collaborating with the Media Specialist.

Ok, so what?

A Touchcast can be a tool used on a variety of academic levels within our school and can help students hone critical thinking and analysis skills. Considering the upcoming 1:1 program this technology is extremely practical. Next year every student will soon an assigned tablet meaning every student will be able to access this technology. I’ve listed several examples below based on courses present in our school to help illustrate my point.

I’m listening…

AP US History/ AP Language and CompositionUsing video of FDR’s Four Freedoms speech students can analyze it from a variety of angles: Cause and effect through analysis of events preceding and following the speech or choice of rhetoric through the evaluation of his audience and the contexts of events taking place during the time in which the speech is given. Using Touchcast teachers can embed primary source to spur to debate on causes and effects or prove of disprove the President’s choice of rhetoric. To go a step further teachers can embed a live Twitter fed along the side of the video for students to comment as it plays.

Advanced Applied Mathematics and Physics

Advanced Applied Mathematics and Physics at its core is an engineering course. Imagine being able to use a recorded lecture on dams, but pairing it with Google Earth. Students could use Google Earth to examine actual dams for elements being described within the lecture. Additionally other vApps such as web-based news articles, whiteboards for writing on the video, etc. could add to the depth of instruction and learning.

Well, that depends. One of the best things about the program is that it is simple, but if you want to do more it has advanced features that you can use to accomplish that too. The program is available for PC and iPad and works similar on both platforms. To make basic videos similar to what I described in my scenarios there are no added materials needed. Simply upload a video and drag and drop vApps to the video at the points you want them to appear when watching the video and then publish the presentation for your students to access.

Is it easy to use?

Like most things in life, if you want to do more it takes more. In the case of Touchcast the possibilities can vary and the materials required can vary as well. The software includes green screen features. Using a green screen you can create artificial backgrounds and CGI elements to enhance your video. Additionally there are developer capabilities for creating vApps. So, if there is not a vApps that fits your needs you have the ability to create your own vApp to do so.

What about more advanced presentations?

Created using Touchcast

Depending on how intricate the presentation being put together is there are a lot of walkthroughs and guides present on Touchcast’s support website. While there is no 1-800 number for users to contact, they do offer 1 on 1 support via email and a community forum; both of which typically result in quick responses. The company also offers regional corporations where teachers can become certified trainers for Touchcast.This all seems intimidating

In full disclosure there are a few minor hang-ups. For example, Touchcast videos are best viewed either through the Touchcast website or the Touchcast player for PC and iOS. This means the video can only viewed on web enabled devices and cannot be downloaded and played on standalone players. The videos can uploaded to Youtube, but the static non-live vApps have functionality after doing so. If students are planning using the technology for projects, there will be an obvious need for media release consent if they plan on appearing in the videos themselvesOk, this is pretty cool!

As you might imagine, Touchcast is an expensive software to purchase as license. Broadcast companies, corporations, advertisement firms and commercial websites pay thousands of dollars for a yearly license. However, the company has explicitly said that it’s education licenses are not only free, but will always be free as they are funded in part by profits generated from corporate licenses. Ok, what’s it gonna cost?

The good people at Touchcast have published a 50-paged document that include the various ways in which Touchcast can help engage the “Youtube Generation.” For your convenience I’ve created a chart above to summarize the point they make in the document.How will this help our kids?

Touchcast

Incorporate real world evidence to

make classroom

concepts real

Put the source of learning in the students

hands at their own pace.

Remove classroom boundaries by making learning

mobile and authentic.

Convert static

lectures to real-time

interactive lesson

This does not need to be a school initiative, or at least not the sole component of a school initiative. With our school switching to the 1 to 1 model, we will need to centralized and enhance our instructional delivery. Our students will have a powerful piece of mobile technology at their disposal and we should it in ways that will allow our instruction to better reach them. Programs such as Touchcast can do that. How do we bring this to Riverwood?

Identify teachers from different

departments to train on Touchcast

Cohort will implement

Touchcast into their classrooms and model lessons

using Touchcast.

Members of cohort will serve as

leaders of content cohort to further train teachers in

their departments

How do we bring this to Riverwood?

Initial training should be conducted with a small cohort of teachers that represent all if not most departments in the school. The teachers will be given onsite training from

instructional tech coaches and select members will attend regional Educast Trainings

Once initial modeling has taken place, members of the cohort will serve as trainers for other staff members as they implement Touchcast.

Eventually students of advanced teachers will serve as assistants or support for teachers

As a part of the school’s professional development goal

to emphasize models of personalized learning,

members of the cohort will model lessons using Touchcast. The lessons will be based upon

content area and also skill level. The ideas being that

members of every subject and skill level will be able to see some use they can apply in

their own classrooms.

As Fulton County moves to a 1 to 1 model, think that Touchcast could be an advantageous resources for both students and teachers. As I first began researching Touchcast and playing with it myself, I found myself excited. Initially, I was excited because of what I could do with it as a teacher. With vApps the uses of Touchcast really do seem limitless. Afterward I found myself even more excited consider the various ways the software could benefit my students. The idea of instantaneously being able to link classroom concepts will real life events through news broadcasts of satellite images, or being able to do live video conferencing during a static presentation; I could foresee a tremendous impact on my classroom and teaching. All of this was cemented when I saw the company’s statement on free educational use. I eager to further explore and utilize Touchcast.

Reflection