Digital Stories 3/ Lesson Plans

What: Finish digital story and lesson plans

So What: Well, the lesson plans are actually a pretty good idea. I like creating a lesson plan (or integrating into an old lesson plan) technology in my classroom curriculum. Pretty simple plans, but it's nice to put into use what we've learned in class.

Now What: I have loved this class. I heard so many crazy things about Instructional Media and I wasn't sure what to expect, because so many people either loved or hated it. I am so ready to change the old pace and use some fun modern technology to boost up my curriculum. The lesson plans have just helped me realize that I can do so much within daily curriculum. I truly have learned so much and am so excited to apply some of it to my student teaching for next semester... my cooperating teacher has a smart board, can't wait to try that out! Thanks for a wonderful semester!

Video Blog:
This video seemed strangely familiar, I'm not sure if I have or haven't seen it before, but I did like it. The questions that these students are asking are questions that I myself have had... seriously why can't you use your cell phone on planes!!! It never made any sense to me!
My husband an I bought a new beautiful flat screen tv last Feb... it amazing because it's not just a tv, but a humongo computer monitor. Crazy what that thing can do, and just imagine what tvs will do in 5 years from now.

Digital Stories #2

What:
We learned how to produce our digital story ideas with an in-class tutorial.

So What:
Well I really like the idea of digital story for two reasons: 1. I can completely prioritize visual aid with my own creations -- thus I am closer to my goal of teaching students exactly what I want/need; 2. Students can also use this for projects. To be honest, I am scared to death of all the work I will have grading papers. So, to have alternatives that are similar to writing a paper in thought process but can extend "outside the box" of typical essays, I think will help me not feel as overwhelmed, and help students have diversity in their work.

Now What:
Well, it was interesting to learn how to use digital story. Actually, after class I was really excited to play around with it and see what I could create. Although, the day of class I was very frustrated because I was still struggling with ideas... I kind of had an idea of where I wanted to go but couldn't find enough support (pictures or other stuff) to fit my "thesis" for my story.
Finally I realized I was going about this the wrong way, so instead of first formulating my story I decided to look for music to be inspired. Totally changed everything! I am way excited to finish my story... it's going to be awesome!

Movie Post:
I really like the "Did you Know?" videos because I like the prospective it puts on things. It's overwhelming to think of all the new advancements that are happening so quickly; I know I wont be able to always keep up it, especially in the classroom. I love how the video says, "We are preparing our students for jobs that don't even exist yet," because I feel it is very true. Because I know I wont be able to keep up with technology, I want to teach my students to be able think, explore, and learn things for themselves -- if that is successful I feel that my students will be able to succeed in a futuristic world.

Shakespeare and his Editor - Uploaded Video Blog

I chose this video because I think the comedy will help make Shakespeare more interesting. Shakespeare is already (hate to admit this) boring enough, but if I can make personal connection with students interests then Shakespeare might have a chance of being somewhat fun.
I would probably use this video after a unit on Hamlet -- I think it is a great post-reading strategy.

Picassa

Picture #1: Adorable Maggie

Picture #2: My House

Picture #3: Love this face!

Picture #4: Cute Hubby

What:
We learned how to use Picassa.

So What:
Well, I was thinking about why this was significant in the classroom, because really I know and use this stuff all the time but never for school stuff. As I thought about it, I realized that for literary connections this could be pretty fun. I think it would a cool assignment to have my kids go and take pictures of maybe a house or a person or something that they make connections to in a novel we would be reading. Instead of the old fashioned "draw what you think blah blah blah looks like in the book whatsumacallit," I could have students do an entire character and plot sketch on what they might really see through their own world's eyes. Okay, Okay... I am getting really excited right now because this is probably one of my most favorite ideas that has developed through your class.

Now What:
Well I will definitely keep this in mind for my student teaching, because I think connection especially visual and world to world connections can make or break a students reading experience. I know it will be difficult to do an assignment like this because not all students have constant access to a digital camera, but I could have a couple cheap one on hand to loan out for a day at a time (of course I would have to give the class significant notice for an assignment like this, not because of its complexity but because of the digital camera usages).

Video:
I picked my own video because yours wasn't working.
Speaking of connections with stories, I picked a video that I think I could use as a cultural connection. I don't have a book or story in mind, but I really liked the video because it is so funny... in its own peculiar old fashioned way. Anyway I think high school kids would find the video interesting and a little funny, so I think it would make a great opening Cue to start class. I would use it as a connection of world to world of the 50's to present time.
Video:

What to do on a Date 1950s

PDP

What: PDP. Personal Development Profile

So What:
Well, I am a little technology squeamish... so this was a "be out of your comfort zone" kind of lesson.Actually, it was very good to see what I still need to develop. As any new teacher would be, I am equally nervous. I am worried about all the little things that might not work in lesson planning or could go wrong with this or that, but now I feel I have a pretty good understanding of how to better develop my technology profile. I liked that I had to chart my knowledge on UNI because I was able to see what I could improve (a little overwhelming because I could improve on almost everything).Also, the articles and movies were good tools to have to motivation to include more media driven instruction, but I didn't like the relatively low amount of examples of how to use media and technology in the classroom. I can be creative, but this is not my field of expertise and I need some example to get me thinking.

Now What:
After PDP I am going to be more aware and more proactive in planning lessons and units with technology. Student's need to know that cellphones and computers function for more than texting and chatting, and, really, our society is moving forward so we should be preparing our youth for that same movement.

My Beliefs

I do feel that in today's society that technology is unavoidable. To properly prepare the future generations of America, teachers need to be instructing youth to learn how to be productive part of the real life workforce. Instead of pushing against the changes and challenges of technology in the classroom that many educators feel are destructive, I will try to use an approach that might influence the better usage of it. I read a concept that had students using the cell phones for in class tasks. I find this approach really amazing, because instead of fighting the demon cellphone the teacher used it as a tool for teaching. Not only does this send the appropriate signal to students that cellphones really do have significant purpose, but that cellphones can do so much more than texting! I love these ingenious new perspectives, think how the students would react, "Okay class, take out your cellphones for your assignment today."

Learning should never stay in a box, I don't learn that way and most students don't, so why do we leave education in a box of passed down traditions from memorization to boring lectures. I do believe education should be proactive and student centered, but I have a lot of experience to achieve before I will adequately be able to master my own beliefs of teaching. I want to be so many things for my future students, but I know it takes time to become them... so I hope the guinea pig students of my first few year wont be too damaged by my inexperience.

Lessons Learned

Study: Teens See Disconnect Between Personal and School Writing

My favorite article of all of the was.... (look above for the bolded, big printed tittle). This article was right up my ally of English education. Really, I was amazed at the study's results. How is it that we are still teaching bad practicing habits... obviously these teen subjects in the study are not making the appropriate connections to writing in class and writing in the real world. We need to bridge the gap! I don't want to leave my student with this big black crack in their education, they need to know that both are fluid within the other. I think the biggest misconception among teens is that all writing is equal, that is not true. Some writing (scholarly, academic, etc) is above others (texting, communicating with yo hommies etc), therefore students should understand that different writing requires different qualities. If teachers are not teaching this simple fact, then all is lost!!! The American society should just start communicating however to whomever they please in whatever style they want... that is if we are to leave out the important part that requires authors to subjugate their written communication to the reasoned "audience."

TeacherTube

Amazingly, I did not know this site existed. I love it. For technology handicap teachers like myself, this is a godsend. The possiblities are endless (I hope!), just imagine one day I wanted to give a visual aid ... BOOM... easy (as long as it's on site)... got my create visual aid! As I explored the site, I found a lot of things I was really excited about. So much I could add to my curriculum and easy as pie to use. Although, I am sure there is not everything I want in the site, to which I will still have to make my own visual aids, movies, powerpoints etc. I am sure it is not the dream machine I imagine, but still great.