EDLD 5363 - June 16th Web Conference Reflection

I was unable to attend the web conferences live this week, so I had to review the recording and the chat script.  In this web conference, Dr. Abernathy explained the week three assignment.  She explained how our groups needed to create a new video of our creation that would meet one of the standards in the four main content areas.  She said that most principals would want their teachers to create videos that help cover an area where their school was performing poorly.  She also told us that we need a Google Doc to document our team progress and participation.  In the doc each member of out group should color code what they have written and update it each week.  Dr. Abernathy also let up know that she removed the class videos from EPIC because they have changed and don’t match our current class.  Several of these items were helpful to know and helped to clarify what we need to do for week three.

EDLD 5363 - Week 3 Reflection

The week three assignment consisted of a team collaboration to develop an educational video that meets Core Content standards and state standards in one of the main for subject areas. For the team assignment, my group consists of Lisa Breaux, Jennifer Wilkins Colvin, Michelle Tidwell and myself.  We all have main areas that we will focus on, but we will all collaborate together to complete all of the phases of the project together.  Michelle Tidwell will act as our team leader and server as our unit production manager.  Lisa Breaux will be our narrator.  Jennifer Wilkins Colvin will be the main editor and script writer.  I will serve as the main camera operator.  So far we worked together to complete our script and shot list. 

Our video will be produced for 5^th grade science.  The topic will be about the bees and their part in the food chain as well as their life cycle.  This meets the Texas TEKS standards 9 and 10 (organisms and environments) for fifth grade science (Texas Education Agency, 2010).  I suggested the topic of bees because I thought it would be interesting to students of that age group (Center for Educational and Training Technology, 2006).  I also suggested this topic because I knew that I would be able to get access to an active bee hive.

To complete this project we will are using WeVideo.  A web based video editor that Jennifer suggested.  We will take a variety of video shots and keeping them short and piecing them together to form our story.  We are also utilizing the method of telling the end of story at the beginning (Desktop-Video-Guide, n.d.).  Overall I think our group is working well together and we will be able to collaborate to create an excellent video that we would be proud to show in our classrooms.

References

Texas Education Agency.  (2010). Chapter 112. Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science Subchapter A. Elementary. Retrieved on June 18, 2012 from http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter112/ch112a.html

Center for Educational and Training Technology. (2006). Success is in the planning. Retrieved on May 26, 2012, from http://www.create.cett.msstate. edu/create/howto/Storyboard_Handout.pdf

Desktop-Video-Guide. (n.d.) Guidelines for shooting quality video. Retrieved May 26, 2012, from http://www.desktop-video-guide.com/shoot-video.html

EDLD 5363 - June 5th Web Conference Reflection

The web conference on June 5^th was very helpful.  It helped give clarity to the assignments.  I was not aware that there was an issue with the assignments and readings in Epic until the conference, and without attending I may have ended up spending time completing the wrong thing.  The conference also gave me a better understanding of what exactly I needed to do to complete the digital story assignment.  Dr. Abernathy explained what we needed to do and how we should go about it.  She also gave an overview of the course, which was helpful.  The web conferences are nice because many questions and concerns are answered and other students ask questions that I myself might not have thought of.  Web conferences are also nice because they place a face with a name and we can talk and interact beyond just a discussion post.

EDLD 5363 - Week 1 Reflection

The digital story assignment was an interesting one.  I have used video editing software, but have never used it extensively.  I chose to use Microsoft Photo Story 3 to complete my project.  This is the first time that I have used this program.  It was simple to use but I felt limited to in what I could do.  In other software such as iMovie or Microsoft Movie Maker, the user has more control over voice and sound editing.  This is a good program for basic slide shows with some voice audio and music, and would be good for a school looking for a free program to use within the classroom.

The concept of digital story telling was new to me.  I had never done this before.  The examples from the Center for Digital Storytelling were helpful in how to construct a story (Lambert, 2007).  This would be an excellent project in almost any subject area.  The pictures help bring meaning to the words and help to better communicate your message (Shank, n.d.).  I found the process simple, but it became time consuming to find picture because I did not have many picture of my own on my topic.  In hindsight it may have been simpler to create a story from a vacation where I had a large amount of pictures of my own to work with.  However, this did give me an opportunity to look at the resources available at cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com.  I used the website compfight.com that located creative commons images on flicker.com.  Since the images available had already been granted permission for reuse by the creator/owner, this made the issue of copyright a nonissue.  I would definitely use that site and the cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com site as a resource in my own classroom.

This assignment I feel met standard TF-V.C.2 located in Williamson’s and Redish’s (2009) Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards:  What Every K-12 Leader Should Know and Be Able to Do.  This standard states candidates will be able to “locate, select, capture, and integrate video and digital images, in varying formats for use in presentations, publications and/or other products” (p. 232).  I feel that this assignment was an example of this and it helped me gain a better understanding of how to create these types of presentations.

References

Lambert, J. (2007, February).  Center for Digital Storytelling. Retrieved on June 5, 2012 from http://www.storycenter.org/history/

Shank, P. (n.d.). The value of multimedia in learning. Think Tank. Retrieved on June 5, 2012 from http://www.adobe.com/uk/designcenter/thinktank/valuemedia/

Williamson, J. & Redish, T. (2009). ISTE’s technology facilitation and leadership standards: What every k-12 leader should know and be able to do. Eugene: OR: International Society for Technology in Education. 

EDLD 5363 - Week 1 Assignment - Digital Story

Photo Credits:

Benbennick, D. (2006). Cape May County map. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Map_of_New_Jersey_highlighting_Cape_May_County.svg

Brzuska, D. (2010). Coast Guard basic training [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/coast_guard/6686205257/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Dendroica cerulean (2009). Fishing boats Cape May [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/dendroica/3778026401/in/photostream/

Diemer, M. (1910). Whalers. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:K%C3%A4mpfender_Gr%C3%B6nlandwal_1910_01.jpg

Dough4872 (2008). Kites on the Ocean City, New Jersey beach 12^th street [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ocean_City_NJ_kites_at_12th_Street_2.JPG

Forsyth, S. (2007). Traffic in Brisbane [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/34281974@N00/1866929252/

Hatchski (2010). Cape May lighthouse, NJ [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/8752845@N04/4832224036/

Heck, R. (2012). Terrapin x-ing [Photograph].

Heck, R. (2012). Pembrook horse farm [Photograph].

Heck, R. (2012). Stone Harbor back bay [Photograph].

Hjhipster (2009). Surfer [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/61636255@N00/3580124523/

Joe L (2009). Avalon rocks [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AvalonRocks.jpg

Jin Aili (2011). Ocean City beach [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/jin_aili/5857512637/in/photostream/

Keene, P. (2003). Cape May – Lewes ferry Cape May [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/12341760@N00/1536826933/

Lowry, P. (2010). Inn of Cape May [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Inn_Cape_May_New_Jersey.jpg

Lowry, P. (2010). The lighthouse [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cape_May_Point_NJ_-_Cape_May_Light.jpg

Neary, B. (2010). OC beach patrol boat [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ocean_City_New_Jersey_beach_patrol_boat.jpg

Rhys Asplundh (2011). Ocean City beach [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/51867225@N08/5769634137/

Rose, T. (1879). View at sea grove, sea grove house, Cape May Point, N.J. [Lithograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://www.davidrumsey.com/maps800156-23299.html

Stevenson, J. (2006). Wildwood stores north of boardwalk chapel [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wildwood_Stores_North_of_BwkChapel.jpg

Tallion, O. (2008). Boardwalk, Wildwood [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/22021740@N02/2726744442/

Tallion, O. (2008). Boardwalk, Wildwood [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/22021740@N02/2726746862/

Traveler, E. (2007). Fishing Ocean City [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/ewan_traveler/1373761055/in/photostream/

Walsh, P. (2008). Gingerbread cuties [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashi/723538893/in/photostream/

Walsh, P. (2008). Fretwork & flag [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashi/2617354256/in/photostream/

Walsh, P. (2008). Sunset & gull [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashi/2635230462/in/photostream/

Wiss, R. (2009). Avalon sunrise [Photograph]. Retrieved on June 6, 2012 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/robwiss/3767844218/in/photostream/

Music Credits:

Jahzzar (2010). Chiado. Retrieved on June 8, 2012 from http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Paris_Lisboa/Chiado

EDLD 5364 - Week 5 Reflection

The final week’s readings and videos discussed student assessments, student motivation, and strategies to reinforce effort.  Web 2.0 tools can be valuable in creating formative and summative assessments for students.  Electronic portfolios are a great way to track students’ progress and improvement throughout a unit or a school year (Solomon & Schrum, 2007).  James Paul Gee describes how digital tools and games provide students with immediate feedback or assessments of their progress.  He describes how a writing portal gives writers advice from other members.  This encourages them to grow and improve in their craft (Edutopia.org, Big thinkers: James Paul Gee on grading with games).

The videos discuss how technology is a motivating factor for students.  James Paul Gee discusses how students are coming home and are motivated to use games and digital media on their own to communicate and create.  Schools should capitalize on this excitement and interest by incorporating some of those themes in the classroom (Edutopia.org, Big thinkers: James Paul Gee on grading with games).  Sasha Barab describes how games can be a motivating tool for students.  Things like simulations where past cultures can be explored bring those civilizations to life and increases student interest (Edutopia.org, Big thinkers: Sasha Barab on new-media engagement). 

Pitler et. al. (2007) explain how strategies to reinforce effort in students.  Some students don’t see the link between effort and success.  Teachers need to show students about the importance of effort.  A good way to do that is to have students track their effort and achievement.  Spreadsheets and data collection tools can allow students see evidence of their scores rising with their effort.  This can be a visual connection some students need to grasp the correlation between effort and achievement (Pitler et. al, 2007).

Edutopia.org (nd).  Big thinkers: James Paul Gee on grading with games.  Retrieved on March 27, 2012 from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-james-gee-video

Edutopia.org (nd).  Big thinkers: Howard Gardner on digital youth.  Retrieved on March 27, 2012 from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-howard-gardner-video

Edutopia.org (nd).  Big thinkers: Sasha Barab on new-media engagement.  Retrieved on March 27, 2012 from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-sasha-barab-video

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0: New tools, new schools. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.

EDLD 5364 - Week 4 Reflection

This week’s readings and videos addressed several areas regarding the value of technology in our schools.  Pitler et. al. discus the value of cooperative learning in Chapter 7 of Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works.  Cooperative groups can enhance learning because students are able to construct meaning for new knowledge through their interaction with others.  Cooperative groups should be small in size and grouped using various criteria.  In the classroom informal, formal, and base (long-term) groups should be formed.  Technology also plays an important role in cooperative learning.  It provides structure for tasks and allows students to work together beyond the school walls (Pitler et. al., 2007, pps. 139-140).

Technology can also be used to accurately assess students’ progress.  Through the use of UDL lesson structure and digital tools, assessments can be ongoing and can support individual differences.  They can also track students’ progress while they lean and provide ongoing feedback to help them improve while they are learning.  Technology also allows for flexibility in the way material is presented.  It also provides multiple ways for students to complete assignments and become engaged in their work.  All of these things result in allowing the teacher to more accurately meet the needs of their students and evaluate their understanding of the material (Rose & Meyer, 2002, chap. 7).

Professional development is also important to improvement of student use of technology and engagement in the classroom.  Teachers typically receive training on a single day, but that is not enough.  Teachers need ongoing development that will build an understanding through practice and reflection.  Professional Learning Communities (PLC) can be an effective way to do this.  Teachers can discuss and model best practices, and receive feedback and encouragement on a regular basis.  Trust within a group can also allow teachers to convey their needs for improvement (Solomon & Schrum, 2007, pps. 99-110). 

Developing a classroom environment were all students’ needs are being met to increase learning is the main purpose for using technology in the classroom.  It is important to do everything in our abilities to do so.  All of the material this week has been focused on that goal.   

Pitler, H. (2005). McRel technology initiative: The development of technology intervention program final report (Contract Number ED-01-CO-0006). Aurora, CO: Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED486685) Retrieved on March 20, 2012 from https://siglo21.epiclms.net/Learn/Player.aspx?enrollmentid=2482318

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Rose, D., & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age: Universal Design for Learning. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Available online at the Center for Applied Special Technology website,  http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes/

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0: New tools, new schools. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.