1. How did analyzing each portion of your project as you worked through it aid you in thinking about how to help students (and other teachers) create their own technology-enhanced projects. I have to admit that at first I was having a little difficulty coming up with "the project". It seems as though I over analyzed at first. I guess because I am constantly creating some type of technology for a lesson or to help a teacher get a message across...this was not anything different than what I usually do. I have been making TEASE's for many years which is similar to this project. Many of the steps in this Library to Play are what I go through for each project I do. I keep a folder with ideas...as I usually start out with a brainstorm, followed by a few notes on paper before I begin my folders with raw materials. Sometimes I will have several projects going on at one time...depending on where I am with the teachers. I usually try to help teachers create a sample of what they are asking their students to do. Again....always begin with the end in mind. Students can usually produce if they know what is expected. If possible we start with a rubric before the students begin...a rubric gives the students and idea of what is expected. At RCE we have built up a good collection of rubrics...many of the rubrics are for students to grade each other as well as looking at project/products.
2. How do you anticipate using your series of blog posts and the L2P3 blog itself in the future? I don't know how I will use the blog posts. Orginally I had hoped to to be able to post it and let people go through the steps...but I also realize that the personal relationships help to make technology easier for everyone. But...perhaps if they see that it doesn't just come easily...but takes many steps...then I will share it. I will have to see how it goes...
3. Describe one other way you anticipate helping others grow in using technology. I am so excited this year...I am part of the monthly Professional staff development with the teachers. I will get to meet with each grade level for 30 - 45 minutes once a month. During this time I hope to share new technology, enhance what they are already doing and help to find products/projects that will enhance what they are doing in the classroom. This has been a long time in the works...but I am hoping that the monthly time set aside will give me the necessary time to work with teachers where they are. At the end of the school year, I was able to meet with each team once and we developed class blogs and wikis ...now we need to put them to good use. I was hoping by having them in place..the teachers would be ready to go in August. I will send out a survey to see what and where the teachers are and want to go....I run a very flexible program...so what the teachers want...the teachers get...
4. The success of the 23 Things program has been established. How did the "23 Things" format translate to this type of program that was more systematic? This was a little more difficult...again I may have over analyzed. Most of the items you sent us out to look at I already use as a daily basis....so there wasn't so much to "learn". I like the 23 Things format...but I don't know that it worked as well for the creation part. I like that I can send people to the 23 things to check things out and I have gone back over the years as one thing that I didn't use a lot at one point becomes important later...This one seemed almost anti-climatic...perhaps because as a result of L2P1 and L2P2 I use the stuff daily and the idea that was presented in L2P3 is already part of my daily life.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Thing #5
1. What tags (other that the required sbisdL2P3) did you add to your project so that it may be searched. That includes the tags you will add to your #5
Ahh Tagging, something I need to be better at....I don't often tag...need to be in a better habit. This will be tagged with Primary Gifted, Multimedia, Web 2.0 as well as sbisdL2P3. I will need to go back and tag a lot of my postings on my blogs...need to be better at that!
Post.2. Who is the audience for your project? Can the project be adapted for others or other needs? The audience for this project is my PGP students. This will be our first research project. The purpose is to introduce the problem that they are to tackle. They will research Jeans and T-Shirts and then have to do something creative to share what they learned as well as creating something out of a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. They will look at more videos of samples of what their project should look like. I am hoping to have this as a starting off point that will lead other teachers to creating a "problem statement video" to start off their projects during the year. Alsmost like a TEASE...but not so long, and not bringing in so much background knowledge.
3. Describe how to find your project other than your L2P3 blog. My video will actually be posted on my PGP wiki where my students find their assignments. I try to keep my lessons posted on the wiki as we don't do every lesson every year - but students who are so inclined can do the other activities. It also gives me a place to put my things so that I don't have to go looking. The PGP parents know about this page and can check it regularly. Sometimes the students will post on the page - sometimes not...but it gives the students and parents a place to go.
As I sit on the PC now...my mac has been TRYING to upload the video for over 2 hours...can't figures it out...it's up on the Wiki...http://pgpsbisd.pbworks.com - blue jeans video...it's not working well there either!
Ahh Tagging, something I need to be better at....I don't often tag...need to be in a better habit. This will be tagged with Primary Gifted, Multimedia, Web 2.0 as well as sbisdL2P3. I will need to go back and tag a lot of my postings on my blogs...need to be better at that!
Post.2. Who is the audience for your project? Can the project be adapted for others or other needs? The audience for this project is my PGP students. This will be our first research project. The purpose is to introduce the problem that they are to tackle. They will research Jeans and T-Shirts and then have to do something creative to share what they learned as well as creating something out of a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. They will look at more videos of samples of what their project should look like. I am hoping to have this as a starting off point that will lead other teachers to creating a "problem statement video" to start off their projects during the year. Alsmost like a TEASE...but not so long, and not bringing in so much background knowledge.
3. Describe how to find your project other than your L2P3 blog. My video will actually be posted on my PGP wiki where my students find their assignments. I try to keep my lessons posted on the wiki as we don't do every lesson every year - but students who are so inclined can do the other activities. It also gives me a place to put my things so that I don't have to go looking. The PGP parents know about this page and can check it regularly. Sometimes the students will post on the page - sometimes not...but it gives the students and parents a place to go.
As I sit on the PC now...my mac has been TRYING to upload the video for over 2 hours...can't figures it out...it's up on the Wiki...http://pgpsbisd.pbworks.com - blue jeans video...it's not working well there either!
Thing #4
Creating the product. I spent a lot of time making photos to create the background. Ended up taking the same photos and duplicating and altering just a little. I happened upon a show on TV about taking digital photos apart and creating multiple pictures from one photo...so that's what I did. If you look closely, you will see that the same pieces are put together over and over to create different backgrounds. I played with Keynote and Powerpoint to see which one would do the best job...you can't tell which one I used for what background. I would not encourage students to play as long as I did (several days) but it allowed me to learn and compare the two programs so that I would know how to suggest things to students.
I found a lot of videos through YouTube and Discovery Education that I could use on the initial product, but decided that instead of putting them all into the end product, I would post them on the wiki for extra research. The purpose of my product is to just give students a taste of what they are to do and to get them started on the research.
1. Briefly describe what the creation process was like. Were there bumps along the way? Did it come out like you wanted? Bumps - oh my yes...converting the video from the website, I first tried AVI...then MP4. Taking photos. Next time, I think that I will look for copyright free photos on flickr. I wanted to see if I could create, I did...but it was very time consuming and I had stuff everywhere to take the photos. Also, lighting was difficult. Finally ended up with lights all around the table to get rid of shadows. Once I had the raw materials in the folder, the final product went together rather quickly.
2.What did the "pair of fresh eyes" suggest to you about your project. What were the high points for your reviewer? The pair of fresh eyes saw the same things I did - the lettering is not too good. That ended up being a problem with using Keynote - I could not figure out how to outline the lettering. But in mixing with PPT...they had to look the same...so I didn't outline the letters on PPT either. The extra eyes also helped me to know not to add all of the video I had collected...it was TOO long and TOO much information for the audience. It is most important to have someone else look at it before you get to the final step. And...always keep your raw materials and your rough drafts.....I went back several times and made corrections...thank goodness I had a folder with all of my "stuff" there.
I think in creating the type of project that I did - short and simple is important...this was only to get the thinking started. The most important thing is to START with the END in MIND! If you don't know where you are going and what the end purpose is...you can't get there. I am hoping the students will enjoy this and will create something similar at the end of their study.
I found a lot of videos through YouTube and Discovery Education that I could use on the initial product, but decided that instead of putting them all into the end product, I would post them on the wiki for extra research. The purpose of my product is to just give students a taste of what they are to do and to get them started on the research.
1. Briefly describe what the creation process was like. Were there bumps along the way? Did it come out like you wanted? Bumps - oh my yes...converting the video from the website, I first tried AVI...then MP4. Taking photos. Next time, I think that I will look for copyright free photos on flickr. I wanted to see if I could create, I did...but it was very time consuming and I had stuff everywhere to take the photos. Also, lighting was difficult. Finally ended up with lights all around the table to get rid of shadows. Once I had the raw materials in the folder, the final product went together rather quickly.
2.What did the "pair of fresh eyes" suggest to you about your project. What were the high points for your reviewer? The pair of fresh eyes saw the same things I did - the lettering is not too good. That ended up being a problem with using Keynote - I could not figure out how to outline the lettering. But in mixing with PPT...they had to look the same...so I didn't outline the letters on PPT either. The extra eyes also helped me to know not to add all of the video I had collected...it was TOO long and TOO much information for the audience. It is most important to have someone else look at it before you get to the final step. And...always keep your raw materials and your rough drafts.....I went back several times and made corrections...thank goodness I had a folder with all of my "stuff" there.
I think in creating the type of project that I did - short and simple is important...this was only to get the thinking started. The most important thing is to START with the END in MIND! If you don't know where you are going and what the end purpose is...you can't get there. I am hoping the students will enjoy this and will create something similar at the end of their study.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Storyboards
It is so important to storyboard. I have several different forms that I have used over the past few years as we have used Photostory, MovieMaker and even PowerPoint. After a bad experience, I have learned that it is most important for students to think through what they are doing so that they are happy with their final product. The more information they think of before they go to the project, the quicker and better it goes together. Some students think that they can do it without a storyboard, but usually, they will grab the paper sooner or later.
A storyboard also helps connect technology with writing skills. You have a beginning, middle and end. Depending on what kind of multimedia project you are doing, you have a setting and characters. In the even that you are creating a movie with actors, an actual script will have to be written and incorporated into a storyboard. In that senario, we usually have students write a script and mark it as to where it goes into the storyboard.
1. Share your storyboard for your project. (If possible, digitize a paper copy.)http://pgpsbisd.pbworks.com/browse/#view=ViewFolder¶m=Blue%2520Jeans%2520and%2520T-Shirts
2. Explain which storyboard template or technique will work best with your students.
I have several different variations that I use with my students. It depends on the end product and what program they are using at the end. I was glad to see that many of the ones that I have created looked like the ones that were on the lists to view. As the students have begun to incorporate Big Huge Lab products into their final products we have to think through all of the "raw materials". All of the "raw materials" have to be produced before you can get to the final movie maker or imovie. The students have also learned to use Keynote or PPT to make slide with more information or to put lots of photos on a page. All of these items that must be created need to be placed into the storyboard. The preplanning makes the rest of the final project go smoothly. Also, if students are working in a group, after the storyboard is created, different students can step off and create the different parts. The students also know that even though the storyboard is created, we can always edit, add and change things. As they get into the project, the students will sometimes realize that they left something out. Until we save the final cut...changes are always able to be made. (We always have to have a due date from the first day of the assignment....other wise the students will NEVER finish!)
3. What benefits will there be if students use storyboards in creating projects? Creating a storyboard allows a student to think through what they are going to create. Just as you create an outline when you begin to work on a story or research project, the storyboard keeps you on track and lets you know what still needs to be completed. By making a storyboard, the student can also see what program will be the best medium for the final product. Not everything should be done in photostory, or iMovie or PPT. It also helps students to think about the length (they tend to want to make things too long). 1 minute commericals make students really think...how much information can you share in 1 minute! They have to plan carefully and use all of the skills they have. Storyboards are not an option...if you talk to animators they create storyboards as well...
A storyboard also helps connect technology with writing skills. You have a beginning, middle and end. Depending on what kind of multimedia project you are doing, you have a setting and characters. In the even that you are creating a movie with actors, an actual script will have to be written and incorporated into a storyboard. In that senario, we usually have students write a script and mark it as to where it goes into the storyboard.
1. Share your storyboard for your project. (If possible, digitize a paper copy.)http://pgpsbisd.pbworks.com/browse/#view=ViewFolder¶m=Blue%2520Jeans%2520and%2520T-Shirts
2. Explain which storyboard template or technique will work best with your students.
I have several different variations that I use with my students. It depends on the end product and what program they are using at the end. I was glad to see that many of the ones that I have created looked like the ones that were on the lists to view. As the students have begun to incorporate Big Huge Lab products into their final products we have to think through all of the "raw materials". All of the "raw materials" have to be produced before you can get to the final movie maker or imovie. The students have also learned to use Keynote or PPT to make slide with more information or to put lots of photos on a page. All of these items that must be created need to be placed into the storyboard. The preplanning makes the rest of the final project go smoothly. Also, if students are working in a group, after the storyboard is created, different students can step off and create the different parts. The students also know that even though the storyboard is created, we can always edit, add and change things. As they get into the project, the students will sometimes realize that they left something out. Until we save the final cut...changes are always able to be made. (We always have to have a due date from the first day of the assignment....other wise the students will NEVER finish!)
3. What benefits will there be if students use storyboards in creating projects? Creating a storyboard allows a student to think through what they are going to create. Just as you create an outline when you begin to work on a story or research project, the storyboard keeps you on track and lets you know what still needs to be completed. By making a storyboard, the student can also see what program will be the best medium for the final product. Not everything should be done in photostory, or iMovie or PPT. It also helps students to think about the length (they tend to want to make things too long). 1 minute commericals make students really think...how much information can you share in 1 minute! They have to plan carefully and use all of the skills they have. Storyboards are not an option...if you talk to animators they create storyboards as well...
Friday, July 2, 2010
Thing #2 Evaluate Information
I spent a lot of time looking at evaluation tools. At RCE we talk about evalutating sources no matter if it is print or on-line. I've had a bookmark that I give to students to use to evaluate websites. After looking at a few of the resources, I've changed my book mark a little. I had not considered evaluating BLOGS, however I do know that blogs often come up in searches.
My evaluation of my main sources for my research came out good on the evaluations, except for difficulty level.
There wasn't much difference between the two resources I used. I like the checklist much better than the wizzard. I think it's because I could look at the things I was going to evaluate quickly. I think students may prefer an online wizzard...but I wonder if it would be motivating to the students to use an on-line wizzard.
I keep a bookmark at the circ desk for students to look at while doing research so they can be reminded to evaluate the sites they are using. Google searches are usually students first choice, so we've tried to give them the tools to evaluate the websites they use.
My evaluation of my main sources for my research came out good on the evaluations, except for difficulty level.
There wasn't much difference between the two resources I used. I like the checklist much better than the wizzard. I think it's because I could look at the things I was going to evaluate quickly. I think students may prefer an online wizzard...but I wonder if it would be motivating to the students to use an on-line wizzard.
I keep a bookmark at the circ desk for students to look at while doing research so they can be reminded to evaluate the sites they are using. Google searches are usually students first choice, so we've tried to give them the tools to evaluate the websites they use.
Thing #1 Access Information
As I begin this new adventure...I am going to try to write down the steps I go through as I plan a technology adventure. Hopefully this will prove to be useful to others and I will be able to use this as a tutorial for my staff.
I have an idea for my PGP students for the fall. So as I write out the unit, I will work it out and post the final product on the PGP wiki for all to use. This blog and the wiki site to get the lesson written and out for student use.
Anytime I start a new adventure, expecially one for research with my students, I look for the resources I want the students to use.
This particular assignment started with an article in the Chronicle that sparked an idea...so the lesson will be titled "Blue Jeans and T-Shirts".
When you begin a lesson, you look for the resources that are available for the students. You need to evaluate the sources to make sure they are appropriate for the students. There are many places to go. Don't just get stuck with Google and Yahoo. For science, there are specific search engines that will give you better results.
As I visited the various sites listed on Thing one I enjoyed checking them all out. Infact, the day I started working on this TCEA sent a listing about using Wolfram/Alpha. The hardest part about using all of the different search engines, is that there are just sooo many. I tend to use the same ones over and over. However as I looked through the listings, I found several to use personally. Working with Elementary students, I need to make sure that search engines are easy to use and don't come up with too many commercial sites. The lists of lists will be great to help out staff members.
For my particular topic, I was not very successful with many of the search engines. I received too many retail outlets. I will definitely share some of the sites that provide copyright free sources.
As you begin looking at all of the search engines, YouTube, and the Nings, it almost becomes overwhelming. It is important to find the lists, know how to use the various search engines..but remember to use your time wisely as you look. The Rummel Creek Webpage now links the lists of search engines for easy access for teachers and students. I'll continue to add to the site as we find more.
My PGP lesson is posted at http://pgpsbisd.pbworks.com. Look for the Lesson labeled "Blue Jeans & T-Shirts".
I have an idea for my PGP students for the fall. So as I write out the unit, I will work it out and post the final product on the PGP wiki for all to use. This blog and the wiki site to get the lesson written and out for student use.
Anytime I start a new adventure, expecially one for research with my students, I look for the resources I want the students to use.
This particular assignment started with an article in the Chronicle that sparked an idea...so the lesson will be titled "Blue Jeans and T-Shirts".
When you begin a lesson, you look for the resources that are available for the students. You need to evaluate the sources to make sure they are appropriate for the students. There are many places to go. Don't just get stuck with Google and Yahoo. For science, there are specific search engines that will give you better results.
As I visited the various sites listed on Thing one I enjoyed checking them all out. Infact, the day I started working on this TCEA sent a listing about using Wolfram/Alpha. The hardest part about using all of the different search engines, is that there are just sooo many. I tend to use the same ones over and over. However as I looked through the listings, I found several to use personally. Working with Elementary students, I need to make sure that search engines are easy to use and don't come up with too many commercial sites. The lists of lists will be great to help out staff members.
For my particular topic, I was not very successful with many of the search engines. I received too many retail outlets. I will definitely share some of the sites that provide copyright free sources.
As you begin looking at all of the search engines, YouTube, and the Nings, it almost becomes overwhelming. It is important to find the lists, know how to use the various search engines..but remember to use your time wisely as you look. The Rummel Creek Webpage now links the lists of search engines for easy access for teachers and students. I'll continue to add to the site as we find more.
My PGP lesson is posted at http://pgpsbisd.pbworks.com. Look for the Lesson labeled "Blue Jeans & T-Shirts".
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