Happy Halloween! We're on our second week of digital storytelling. This week we learned about writing our script, adding pictures, editing them, moving them around, zooming in and out, and adding text on top of the pictures. We also learned how to add music and the order we need to do everything in.
I think I could use digital storytelling in many ways. It would be a great way to introduce a topic to a class. It could also be used at the end of the year to make a fun slideshow with music and script. Digital storytelling would also be a good thing for students to learn how to do themselves. I would love to use it in my other classes here at UVU. I wish I had found out about it sooner. It would have been a neat project for the elementary education fair.
In the future I could see using digital storytelling in many ways. It would be a good way to motivate students to write. I think when you start thinking about something that really impacts you emotionally and is very powerful it really gets you excited about your subject. It makes you want to learn more. When you start to see images about your subject and start thinking about music that fits the theme it pulls you even deeper into the subject. I think digital storytelling would be a way to engage students in writing and research. I would love to use it in the classroom, with my family, and at church.
I watched the digital story on NASA. It was a really good digital story. It was sobering to see all the astronauts who have sacrificed their lives in the name of science. This story had a lot of really neat pictures and sensitive music that added to the story. I thought it was a very engaging digital story which educated without being boring. It really pulled me in and made me think about the human sacrifices that are made in order to advance the space program.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Digital Storytelling
This week we are learning about digital storytelling. In digital stories you can tell a compelling story with images, narration, music, and graphics. Digital stories remix information to make a greater impact. Digital stories can be used to introduce a topic or to learn more about a subject.
This week we are working on the first part of creation-scripting, narration, and a story board which will help us to start to form ideas and gather information to make our story.
Digital storytelling can be used in many ways. We can use it in classrooms to engage students in a subject. As a student I could use digital storytelling in my lesson plans. Digital storytelling could be used in social studies, english, science, and even math. Digital stories are compelling because they include narration, powerful pictures, and music that can invoke emotion.
In the future I would like to use digital storytelling in the classroom to interest and engage students. It would be a great assignment for students to make their own stories about something that they are passionate about. Students would be learning about a subject while also learning vital technological skills on the computer. My 11 year old can already easily make a powerpoint himself so this would be a new, more advanced skill. Digital storytelling would be an assignment which could challenge different levels of learners. I am excited about this assignment and the variety of things which can be expressed-especially inspiration. Digital storytelling could also be used in church, personal life, and in the community.
I couldn't get the assigned video to work so I watched a video on Teachertube about Newton's 3 laws of motion. It is a fun yet simple video. I would use it to introduce a lesson on the 3 laws of motion. I think students enjoy videos and listening to a different voice occassionally. The information is presented simply and has cartoons which demonstrate the laws in a fun way. I would definitely use this video.
This week we are working on the first part of creation-scripting, narration, and a story board which will help us to start to form ideas and gather information to make our story.
Digital storytelling can be used in many ways. We can use it in classrooms to engage students in a subject. As a student I could use digital storytelling in my lesson plans. Digital storytelling could be used in social studies, english, science, and even math. Digital stories are compelling because they include narration, powerful pictures, and music that can invoke emotion.
In the future I would like to use digital storytelling in the classroom to interest and engage students. It would be a great assignment for students to make their own stories about something that they are passionate about. Students would be learning about a subject while also learning vital technological skills on the computer. My 11 year old can already easily make a powerpoint himself so this would be a new, more advanced skill. Digital storytelling would be an assignment which could challenge different levels of learners. I am excited about this assignment and the variety of things which can be expressed-especially inspiration. Digital storytelling could also be used in church, personal life, and in the community.
I couldn't get the assigned video to work so I watched a video on Teachertube about Newton's 3 laws of motion. It is a fun yet simple video. I would use it to introduce a lesson on the 3 laws of motion. I think students enjoy videos and listening to a different voice occassionally. The information is presented simply and has cartoons which demonstrate the laws in a fun way. I would definitely use this video.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Webquests October 18,2009
We are on our final week of webquests. I read some information by Tom March on webquests. He had lots of great ideas. He said the first part should engage the students and bring up the core attributes of the subject but also create cognitive dissonance in order to motivate students to investigate further. Then he said the students should be able to learn the basic nature of the subject and remember prior knowledge. Next he said they should gather information from current news, videos, maps, podcasts, and other sources. He said the webquests give cognitive scaffolding and give students an appetite for learning. He said they are on the computer anyway so if we don't teach them we are doing them a disservice. Mr. March said by giving students a rubric we give them ownership for what they are doing. When we have students participate on blogs, posts, and bookmark highlights their thinking becomes visible. Webquests can help students at an appropriate level. Students can acquire information and transform it into new understandings.
I think the things that Mr. March said are so true. We need to use this great information as we learn how to be teachers. I am doing my best now to learn more about computers so that I can navigate them and teach my students all I know about them. Hopefully, I can stay ahead of them!
In the future, I would like to use ideas like webquests to allow students to investigate because I know they will be more self-initiated when they can explore and find their own answers. It's true that students are using computers and technology anyway so we might as well direct them to learn, explore vital information, and expand their knowledge. I am excited for the future and know that we need to empower students to use technology to think of novel ideas that will make the world better place and expand the knowledge that we have. They are our future!!
I watched the movie called "Do You Believe in Me?" by Dalton Sherman. He was an amazing and motivating speaker for being so young. He asked if the audience believed in him and the other graduates. He told them how important teachers, principals, school support staff, and parents are to students. He let them know that sometimes they are the only ones who believe in students and what they can achieve. I know that teachers who believed in me made me feel valued and appreciated and made me want to become more. It is true that our support is so vital to our children, extended family, students, and all children in our lives. As a teacher I want to teach my students that they are capable, valuable, and loved.
I think the things that Mr. March said are so true. We need to use this great information as we learn how to be teachers. I am doing my best now to learn more about computers so that I can navigate them and teach my students all I know about them. Hopefully, I can stay ahead of them!
In the future, I would like to use ideas like webquests to allow students to investigate because I know they will be more self-initiated when they can explore and find their own answers. It's true that students are using computers and technology anyway so we might as well direct them to learn, explore vital information, and expand their knowledge. I am excited for the future and know that we need to empower students to use technology to think of novel ideas that will make the world better place and expand the knowledge that we have. They are our future!!
I watched the movie called "Do You Believe in Me?" by Dalton Sherman. He was an amazing and motivating speaker for being so young. He asked if the audience believed in him and the other graduates. He told them how important teachers, principals, school support staff, and parents are to students. He let them know that sometimes they are the only ones who believe in students and what they can achieve. I know that teachers who believed in me made me feel valued and appreciated and made me want to become more. It is true that our support is so vital to our children, extended family, students, and all children in our lives. As a teacher I want to teach my students that they are capable, valuable, and loved.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Webquest Week 3
This week we are learning about webquests. They take a lot of time to put together but are long lasting and well worth the effort. I am learning how to copy, paste, find useful educational sites, and even add video and audio clips. I feel like I am learning the "behind the scenes" computer tricks and learning how to navigate in the computer. It takes practice, practice, practice.
I could see using webquests created for my students to learn about subjects from social studies to math to art to science. The possibilities are endless. I am going to look for webquests that might help me plan lessons for other classes and even have my own children use them to learn.
Webquests are an exciting new tool that students would really enjoy using. Older students could even create their own webquests which would teach them computer skills and the subject they are learning about. Teachers could share webquests they create or find with colleagues. I had a lot of fun looking at the webquest on healthy eating and think it would be great for schools, scouting groups, and individuals. I hope my future students have plenty of access to computers so they can use webquests.
I watched the video on Sacagawea on TeacherTube. It was a neat video with lots of pictures and clear, simple information. I think students would enjoy watching this and that it would help Sacagawea come to life for them, perhaps spurring them on to learn more about her.
I could see using webquests created for my students to learn about subjects from social studies to math to art to science. The possibilities are endless. I am going to look for webquests that might help me plan lessons for other classes and even have my own children use them to learn.
Webquests are an exciting new tool that students would really enjoy using. Older students could even create their own webquests which would teach them computer skills and the subject they are learning about. Teachers could share webquests they create or find with colleagues. I had a lot of fun looking at the webquest on healthy eating and think it would be great for schools, scouting groups, and individuals. I hope my future students have plenty of access to computers so they can use webquests.
I watched the video on Sacagawea on TeacherTube. It was a neat video with lots of pictures and clear, simple information. I think students would enjoy watching this and that it would help Sacagawea come to life for them, perhaps spurring them on to learn more about her.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Webquests and Surface computing
The video on surface computing was amazing. The surface computing allows users to organize and resize photos or videos. The multitouch allows users to manipulate more than one thing at a time. Surface computing also allows a person to put a camera on the computer screen, manipulate it on the screen and transfer it to another item such as a phone wirelessly. The surface computer is about $5,000-$6,000 and will be used mainly in hotels and casinos initially. This technology is mind boogling!!
I could see using this in the classroom to allow myself or students to manipulate pictures or videos for reports or presentations. It would make putting visuals together much easier and faster. It would be fun to use this to display pictures of activities the class has done such as field trips or a powerpoint at the end of the year. Surface computing would allow students to manipulate maps or graphs to the size they want or the content they want to focus on. The wireless sharing would allow students to share information and collaborate more easily. Using this technology in the class would prepare students for not only jobs but life in the future.
The past few weeks our class has been learning about webquests. A webquest is a cite which allows you to explore a subject. It is like a map that allows you to explore a subject within parameters. Webquests can include information, pictures, videos, and assignments.
I think webquests are really cool because they teach students to navigate on the computer without being overwhelmed by simply surfing the web. They are also protected from unwanted information. I think this is important. Once when my son was in second grade he was doing a report on an author when a stripper came up. And this was a school computer! A webquest enables students to learn what they need to learn through exploration.
Webquests are a good way for students to learn computer skills. The best way to learn is by trying. You learn which buttons to push to get where you need to go. Students can help each other to navigate the computer.
I would love to use webquest in the classroom. The beauty of webquests is you could create it once and use it again and again. You could simply update the information if necessary. Upper grade students could even create a webquest themselves! I would use a webquest for history, to explore different books they might want to read, to learn about art history and famous artists, and even to see science experiments and make their own scientific conclusions. There are a myriad of ways webquests may be used! Also, I could use webquests created by others. A group of teachers could each create a webquest and share them. I think students would enjoy webquests because they include interesting things such as videos and pictures which make information come to life.
I could see using this in the classroom to allow myself or students to manipulate pictures or videos for reports or presentations. It would make putting visuals together much easier and faster. It would be fun to use this to display pictures of activities the class has done such as field trips or a powerpoint at the end of the year. Surface computing would allow students to manipulate maps or graphs to the size they want or the content they want to focus on. The wireless sharing would allow students to share information and collaborate more easily. Using this technology in the class would prepare students for not only jobs but life in the future.
The past few weeks our class has been learning about webquests. A webquest is a cite which allows you to explore a subject. It is like a map that allows you to explore a subject within parameters. Webquests can include information, pictures, videos, and assignments.
I think webquests are really cool because they teach students to navigate on the computer without being overwhelmed by simply surfing the web. They are also protected from unwanted information. I think this is important. Once when my son was in second grade he was doing a report on an author when a stripper came up. And this was a school computer! A webquest enables students to learn what they need to learn through exploration.
Webquests are a good way for students to learn computer skills. The best way to learn is by trying. You learn which buttons to push to get where you need to go. Students can help each other to navigate the computer.
I would love to use webquest in the classroom. The beauty of webquests is you could create it once and use it again and again. You could simply update the information if necessary. Upper grade students could even create a webquest themselves! I would use a webquest for history, to explore different books they might want to read, to learn about art history and famous artists, and even to see science experiments and make their own scientific conclusions. There are a myriad of ways webquests may be used! Also, I could use webquests created by others. A group of teachers could each create a webquest and share them. I think students would enjoy webquests because they include interesting things such as videos and pictures which make information come to life.
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