Saturday, October 15, 2005

Oct. 15 reflect

How does the availability and use of digital tools affect writing and the teaching of writing?

So..I'm thinking about why writing is so difficult for many students.  Putting thoughts on paper with the intention of having them read by peers or teachers is like running naked through a crowd of people.  It's risky behavior that makes a person feel vulnerable and exposed. At the same time, the rush is undeniable!  I can't decide if using all of these digital tools lessens the vulnerability or heightens the exposure.  Now, it's not only a writer's  words that are being scrutinized, but the way they are coupled with images, the way a voice enhances or distracts, what musical choices suggest....All of these personal choices add layers to the writing and at the same time, they uncover what I think is a deeper understanding of the writer...which is incredibly powerful and scary.

I also think that adding the multimedia dimension could make some students feel more empowered and less hindered than they do with just pen and paper.  Like the multiple intelligence theories, I think the mulimedia taps into other ways of thought..visual,auditory, kinesthetic etc.  Students who are more inclined in these ways might feel that, by adding all the bells and whistles of digital media, their writing (which they may not be so comfortable with) will be cushioned by what digital images, sounds, and voice will bring to their piece.....

# - Department: Creative Writing - 10/15/05; 11:40:06 AM - Discuss

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On the Wings of Multimedia: Reflection II

As a writer, I just became really excited by this idea of making a habit out of writing on my personal weblog and making my work public (or not) to a greater audience of writers.  That sounds amazing!  And I love the idea of being able to link with others and create a network of writers that is all based in technology!  I think being connected in this intimate way would motivate me to write more.

As a teacher, multimedia scares me a bit..especially with second graders.  Truly, I can't fathom using Adobe Premier with seven years olds but I'm sure that it can be done..somehow.  Today I feel like I turned a corner as far as understanding the bigger picture of this program and its capabilities and many facets.  I think today will be my first day that I leave more excited than frustrated by my multimedia pursuits.  yahoo!

# - Department: - 10/15/05; 10:24:31 AM - Discuss (2 responses)

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response to last prompt

Somehow or another I got confused. I'm trying to post this as news but I guess emailing it to you is okay too..? First of all, I wanted to respond to your response about ordering the coffee and croissant in French and getting exactly what you wanted. I really did have that experience in working in Premiere. On Wednesday, everything (well, almost) clicked and I saw beyond the clicks and buttons to the larger picture of what I was creating...It was really exciting!

I am very excited about the tech. integration into my own writing as well as into my students' writing. I work with elementary age students, however, and I'm wondering how this will all shake out with such a young group. Do I offer up suggestions to Pearson about how I think it could work or do they tell me what modifications I have to work with with seven year olds? Also, it looks like I am going to take on the new role at my school this year as Literacy Specialist, so I won't actually have my own classroom. Should I try to "sell" some of the fifth grade teachers on Pearson and Premiere and kind of organize it so it happens but not be behind the actual product (as they won't be my students)?

In response to your prompt, I think it's going to be important to really motivate people to use this manila/blog piece. I think it could be really powerful in sharing writing and "notes from the field" but, if I'm like anyone else, I'm still a little unsteady in my navigation and unsure about who's reading what etc. Maybe that will all become more clear once we have our first workshop and work on manila a bit more.

Also, I'm wondering about how we can make this multimedia project feel like more than a one time deal. I mean, after Pearson comes in this year and helps produce these pieces, how am I ever going to replicate it without the tech support and computer resources? I'm interested in workshops on modified versions of Premiere or other ways we can integrate technology with minimal support and resources. For example, my grade level has digital cameras. Let's hold some workshops on ways that I can integrate digital images into different subject areas and across grade levels--ie. social studies, health, etc. Maybe these workshops can be held my teachers who have done these kinds of projects so we get that feeling of "if they can do it, I can do it..."

Just thoughts...do with them what you will...

# - Department: - 10/15/05; 10:24:11 AM - Discuss

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10/15/05 reflect

I am thinking that I need to set up a meeting with the fifth grade teachers who will be involved in the residency so they understand their responsibilites in their project.  All they know so far is that their students will have an opportunity to create a multimedia presentation about a topic of their choosing.  After watching Fran and Jennifer's videos, a few organizational ideas are coming to mind:
   *Set up outline for asset preparation for students and participating teachers
   *Get story board templates for participating teachers
   *Generate ideas for presentations based on content standards and/or writing standards for the fifth grade.
   *Allow for a month of time for story board/narrative and a good month for asset collection!!!

I have not used much technology this year due to a few reasons.  I don't have my own classroom this year so I haven't had the opportunity to work with students in this capacity.  There is only one computer in my room which limits student accessability considerably.   

# - Department: Creative Writing - 10/15/05; 10:23:18 AM - Discuss (1 response)

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Saturday, September 17, 2005

Ideas for using manila

I wasn't really in the mood to spend my Saturday morning in a dark computer lab at Galileo.  I managed to get a case of the "kid cooties" on my first week back at school and I'm all congestion and sore nose.  However, as per usual when I gather with BAWPers, I was inspired (even in my congestion fog)  I'm wondering how I can intergrate technology before I support the 5th grade teachers in their Pearson residency.  Here's some thoughts:

*Because I don't have a regular classroom this year, I'm thinking about teaching a creative writing after-school class for 3-5 graders.  It would be great to post their writing on my site.

*I'm thinking that our school needs some prof. dev. on technology intergration.  The problem is, our resouces are low and we have one teacher who is REALLY tech. savvy, a few who are moderately tech savvy, and the rest are at ground zero.  I'm thinking I could talk with my principal and the tech savvy teacher and work on developing some teacher workshop time to teach even the basics.

That's all for now. I feel a sneeze coming on.

# - Department: TI Reflection - 9/17/05; 12:22:10 PM - Discuss (1 response)

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mirrors

Reflecting in my reflection department.

# - Department: TI Reflection - 9/17/05; 12:08:48 PM - Discuss

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Shel's poem

Mrs. McTwitter the babysitter

thought that babysitters

were supposed to sit on the

babies.

# - Department: Creative Writing - 9/17/05; 11:58:29 AM - Discuss

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Getting going

Just trying to practice posting a news item.

# - Department: - 9/17/05; 11:52:11 AM - Discuss

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Hot Flash Reflection Questions

Click the headline to read the guiding questions for the year.(If it is too much effort to cursor to the headline, then click here.)

# - Department: - 9/17/05; 11:32:13 AM - Discuss

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Tuesday, August 9, 2005

Challenged and awed by technology

This whole experience thus far has been eye opening, exciting, and really exhausting.  I am surprised by the focus that this work takes and I find that at the end of each day I am really tired and somewhat overwhelmed by all of the information I've acquired.  I can't imagine ever feeling completely confident about my skills in the art of digital story making.  There are so many things to remember! At the same time, it is gratifying to watch my story take digital shape and form.

At this point, I feel like much of the time, technology is more frustrating for me than efficient.  I felt that way even before beginning the workshop.  I have hope, however, that once the week is through I will be more adept in my skills, not only as a digital storyteller, but with navigating through the basics of simple computer programs.

I feel vulnurable--more vulnerable than I do when I am simply writing.  I am exposing more of myself through the pictures, my voiceover recording, the tone with which I present the material.  It is a bit scary.  I wasn't expecting that...but I'll rise to the challenge.

# - Department: - 8/9/05; 3:33:34 PM - Discuss (4 responses)

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