Journal 5: The Power of Mashups

Power of the Mashup: Combining Essential Learning with New Technology Tools
by Suzie Boss and Jane Krauss
Learning and Leading with Technology
August 2007

This extremely innovative article caught my interest because I am set on changing the way that we view technology. First, let me define mashup. A mashup is a hybrid application that draws from multiple sources to create something new. With that said, there are tow amazing examples of how educators are getting creative to create new mashups all the time. The first example is of a California literature teacher, Jerome Burg. He had always incorporated the same books into his syllabus, but some seemed a little dated to hold students attention. Voltaire’s, Candide posed that problem. How could he hold students attention about a book written in the 1700’s? Candide is an adventure story, a road trip. He used Google Earth to map the points in the story effectively creating a literature road trip. Students were then able to follow the character on the adventure, seeing the places along with them. He used the same strategy when teaching Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, adding video alongside the points on the map of the actual dustbowl. Students were able to understand and conceptualize the literature on a new level. He then had students make their own KMZ file (on Google Earth) mapping the key points of other novels. Across the earth, in Australia, another teacher begin incorporating MP3 players into his lessons. David Fagg recently began the iHistory Project, having students investigate local history, doing fieldwork and asking questions about local historical sites in their area and combining it with digital cameras, MP3 players and podcasting. Students reported their findings in the form of a podcast that was then reviewed by their peers and students at a school in Missouri for their global learning experience. This method proved effective because of peer review and the use of everyday technology. Students preferred learning from podcasts because they were able to learn at their own speed, replaying bits and pieces that they needed to, without asking a teacher to repeat something. Both teachers effectively used familiar technology in combination of other technologies to create a new and meaningful project.

Check out Burg's Google Lit Tips and Fagg's iHistory Project

Listen to a podcast interview with Burg about infinite thinking.


Questions:

1. What other mashups may be effective in a classroom?
I think cell phones could also be an effective mashup. Cell phones are a part of many students’ daily lives, and instead of seeing them as a hindrance in the classroom we should begin to see them as a learning tool. Many websites offer audio blogging where you call from your phone and leave a recording that publishes directly on your blog. Students can use audio blogs to record interviews, create books on tape, record sound effects or record music. Many sites also allow you to send video and pictures directly from your cell phone. They also are published directly to the blog. Students are then able to download the files they sent and rework them in different digital editing programs. If we begin to rework the idea of cell phones as an effective learning tool, then we will be able to teach students to use them for more than just text messaging.

2. Why may mashups be effective?
I think that by suing something a student in very familiar with in a new and creative way, like an MP3 player, call phone or even Google Earth, the student will be immediately more engaged than if they had to learn new technologies. By modeling creative uses for common technology students can begin to think of their own new and meaningful uses for technology.