I chose to create a lesson around The Hunger Games, using an Animoto as the introduction tool, a blog as the class-discussion enhancement tool (running our own Arena, and requiring the students to use persuasive arguments to win the bid for District aid each day), and a digital story showcasing persuasive argument for who the winning District of our class should be as the final project. Since I do not currently have a classroom of my own, the feedback I was given was verbal from some of my peers (other teachers of high school English, or those with some training in Higher Ed.) I created an example of each stage of the lesson as my "show-and tell." Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated.
Welcome to our class version of the 74th Annual Hunger Games! You and your fellow Tributes will be discussing your own experiences within our Arena as we also read the text, to try and bring the drama, if not the trauma, to light for us to explore. After each class, I will update the current locations of the Tributes grouped by District, as well as what (if anything) has befallen on them. Your task is to comment as the tribute with what you would do to make your District want to give you precious aid. In class, we will decide after discussion which District made a successful plea. Unlike the Tributes in the text, we will not be harming the other Tributes - your available actions are to be focused on self/team preservation without the additional, intentional harm of others.
(to be updated after our first class)
District 1 Tributes:
District 2 Tributes:
District 3 Tributes:
District 4 Tributes:
District 5 Tributes:
District 6 Tributes:
District 7 Tributes:
District 8 Tributes:
District 9 Tributes:
District 10 Tributes:
District 11 Tributes:
District 12 Tributes:
I was interested in the Xtranormal site after watching a few classmates attempts. I like all of the options it has, but there's a budget you start with, and it is eaten up pretty quickly. also, the voice-overs are decent...probably even better than decent, but they can have some very rough spots. I didn't have a script in mind, so I threw together a rough draft regarding rough drafts.
Overall, I'm very impressed with everything I've discovered this semester. There are so many tools I would have either never have known about, or been too hesitant to use in my first year of teaching. I'm so thankful for all of the blogs of my adventurous classmates, and the advice of our professor. I had blogged previously, but never with any steadiness, and usually just to vent to close friends. This had a different purpose and different audience, and I found myself eager to rise to the occasion. I think students that are given valuable reasons to blog, and to use these tools will not only also rise to the occasion, but be amazed at how literate they become, even with technology they take for granted, and ideally that will flow into text reading as well.
I had originally planned a literacy project using Romeo & Juliet and a website for the class (which exists only in my mind - the class, not the website). I was playing around on Weebly with a free account and realized I would want access to an actual forum style chat room, not just access to a blog & comments, though they could work as effectively once I got used to it.
In Fair Verona is my first attempt at a class site for a theoretical lesson. I had thought about splitting the class into "cousins" of the Montagues & Capulets and discussing amongst other family members how the current events in the play made them feel, towards their own family, and towards their "enemies." At the end of the play, I would have both sides share with the other what they discussed as a family and have them see how their views changed throughout the story.
It's very basic since I abandoned the idea - for now, but I can come back to it at another time when the thought is more fleshed out (or when I have a class to inspire me.)
While Googling (and yes, I used Google to search :P) info and sites on Web 2.0 offerings to play with and blog about, I came across Discovery Channel's Discovery Education site complete with many great Web 2.0 tools.
This site is amazing! It's like a mini Diigo library, with better annotations than I'd come up with, and many of them are sites that we've either played with in class, or have mentioned in passing. I was stoked to see a varying array in one spot, categorized neatly.
What I liked the best though were the blogs referenced on the side, especially one that caught my eye titled Multiple Intelligences, Multiple Possibilities. I've liked the Multiple Intelligence theory, I find it to be sound, how ever many ways you break it down, and really liked how the blog points out specific examples of using Web 2.0 offerings to help each style/intelligence. Blogs and the like for the linguistic learners, soundboard abilities for the musically inclined, Prezis and Slideshows for the visual...these are the things I've been trying to categorize myself during the last year of classes, and I found this to be very insightful. The other blogs are labeled well and are also pretty good reads. Overall, the Discovery Education site is worth a Diigo bookmark!
I played around with Prezi a little bit while poking around, but I already have a Google Presentation I'm in the middle of for another class. I look forward to playing with it more, possibly over the summer in another class.
I did play around with the Make Beliefs Comix tool. I'm not sure how I'd use it in class, but it has some potential for storyboarding. Here is a very quick and rough comic I made using it:
It has potential, and I didn't want to get lost in time messing around with it, but I whipped that up in less than 20 minutes - if a student had a little direction or a goal, they could probably make something fun with it.
I created a Digital Storytelling project using PhotoStory3 to emphasize to high schoolers why internet safety and cyberbullying are important to be aware of, and how to be aware of both things. I chose the topic because i thought it was the best way to introduce any of the technologies we have covered in this course, before actually getting in to any extra computer use - especially since each one asks students to be honest, and to put themselves "out there." I felt that explaining that there are dangers "out there," how to identify them, protect ourselves and help others who have become victims, that i would be doing them a service, instead of hoping they'd had the "talk" already, or worse, doing it after there was a problem. Here is the final product, and you'll find my reflection on the experience below it.
I chose PhotoStory3 because it was easy to use, and free. I could upload images, edit them, add narration, change the flow of the pictures, save as I went along, and import the final product with pretty much no hassle. I used a Logitech headset with a built in microphone (which I've used every week for online gaming and VOIP chats for years) and was very happy with the narration results. the only issue was the microphone settings didn't work within PhotoStory3 but I found I didn't change anything anyway, other than lowering my own playback volume on my headset. The only issue I had was applying background music. I use iTunes, and Apple and Microsoft seldom play together. I had no problem adding a file in Animoto, but I had to download a program to convert the MPa format that iTunes uses into an MP3 format for PhotoStory3. I used CNET as my download source because I've trusted that site for many, many years (great reviews, clean links, dad approved). For anyone else needing the same service, HERE is a link to the program I downloaded. It's lightweight, and fast. And free! As for my song choice, I went with Adele's "Rumour Has It" as a tongue-in-cheek nod to how rumors can make internet safety and cyber-bullying awareness so important. I used Photo Filtre (and have for a very long time) to create the images that I was missing - primarily the links and tips.
What I liked about the Animoto project was how quickly it all came together, and I thought it would be an awesome tool for a very brief assessment, something mid-unit to give an additional format option. What I liked about using PhotoStory3 was that it allowed for additional input - for each minute of finalized product, I spent about an hour fussing with settings, images, re-recording narration. I like the thought of giving it as a format option for a final assessment. It lends itself to group work as well, since the recording can be paused and picked back up, each slide or mid-slide.
Overall, I enjoyed using both Animoto, and PhotoStory3. I was sort of at a standstill when the digital Storytelling project started, partly because I'm not in a classroom and was lacking some immediate inspiration, and partly because it was so open-ended - both things I plan to factor into an assignment that requests this kind of output - the inspiration being part of the unit or lesson, and the focus narrowed to specific areas. I needed, however, the flexibility that a lack of focus provided, and I'm very happy with the outcome
The feedback from the VERY rough draft was more useful than I expected. I had intended to use background music, but the majority of comments suggested it, and I think I like what it adds, especially the specific song I chose. It was also encouraging to continue with the subject when everyone agreed on how important the topic was, so full speed, off I went
For the next digital story, I'm not sure if I would try yet another different format, since I really enjoyed what can be done with these two - but I think I'd aim for another Animoto that I could find many pictures for. My first was limited, and I'm more confident with creating some now.
I found this interesting little post while reading my news over breakfast, and found it to be timely, since I'm still working on finishing my narration. It isn't scientific, but it's true with what science it does mention. I've heard myself recorded enough that I'm beyond what it sounds like, but I still am not a fan of what apparently, everyone else hears. Of course, I've always liked to think I walk to my own drummer anyway...
Why you hate the sound of your own voice
And for those reading this who are also still working on their projects, I found it helpful in the beginning to think of it as a student's voice, and focus on the breathing, evenness of quality, volume - and not worry on the pitch :)
My Digital Story is an attempt at introducing the topics of internet safety and cyber-bullying to high school students. I don't have a classroom currently, but I have observed similar discussions in high schools. Ideally, these children, who have already had years of access to the internet, already know some rules to keep themselves and their computers safe. It's my hope that the idea of cyber-bullying has also already been introduced, but I'm approaching both topics as if they may not have been. I would use this before introducing new technologies (blogger, twitter for research, Animoto, or other Web 2.0 tools) as an ice breaker, and a brainstorming session to make sure the students would be practicing the right methods and strategies, in the school and at home, for work, or for recreation.
This is a VERY rough draft. My purpose of this draft was to make sure I understood how to use PhotoStory3, and that each part of the technology I intend to use in the final version is working from my home computer with the equipment I have. Additional images, and fleshed out narration will be added during the next week (when I don't have multiple midterms, observations, and a crazy work schedule!) I wanted to see how well my microphone picked me up, get use to the recorded sound of my voice, and decided on pacing compared to what I imagined in my storyboard.
I apologize that there is not much at the moment to critique - but please fill out the survey, and if you have any recommendations, please leave me a comment! Thanks!
Diigo is at it's heart a bookmarking site/tool that is handy even for those who only use one computer for everything. You can label your bookmarks to make it easier to find them later, you can share your bookmarks and labels, and you can search other shared labels to find sites to add to your collection. Beyond that though, you can highlight pages, leave sticky notes, collaborate and even mark up images. While not all of the utility is free, there is enough that is to make it worth using anywhere, anytime. You can chose to keep bookmarks private as well, so it is not something that should only be used for work!
I have found it to be an interesting experiment at times to bookmark and label, and then follow the labels to other links and see where it takes you. I think when used correctly, the use of Diigo also embraces the NETS-T #5, because you can use the labels as a form of research into other databases you wouldn't normally know about. Teaching the use of the technology as well to students can give them streamlined access that a Google search doesn't often provide. What sites have you found that weren't your original bookmark intention? Is there any of mine you liked, or others you'd recommend?
