I) Goals, Standards and Objectives
Unit Title: Digital Storytelling and Increasing Literary Skills
Lesson Title: Digital Storytelling
1) Goal: Students will demonstrate their understanding of Digital Storytelling and the elements that make it up.
2) Objective: The students will discuss the characteristics in Digital Storytelling and then demonstrate their understanding of the concept by completing their own Digital Story with less than five errors in it.
Objective: Given a Digital Storytelling assignment the students will express their emotions, physical, and spiritual well being of their own life story with a two to four minute story.
3) Standards:
N.Y.S. Standard for E.L.A. # 3 Language for critical analysis and evaluation
Performance Indicators
A) Students will listen, speak, and write for critical analysis and evaluation.
B) As listeners and readers, students will analyze experiences, ideas, information, and issues presented by others using a variety of established criteria.
C) As speakers and writers, they will present, in oral and written language and from a variety of perspectives, their opinions and judgments on experiences, ideas, information and issues.
N.Y.S. Standard for Technology #6 Interconnectedness: Common Themes
A) Students will understand the relationship and common themes that connect mathematics, science, and technology, and apply the themes to these and other areas of learning.
N.Y.S. Standard for Technology #7 Interdisciplinary Problem Solving
A) Students will apply the knowledge and thinking skills of mathematics, science and technology to address real-life problems and make informed decisions.
National Standards for English Language Arts
Strand 3: Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textural features.
Strand 6: Students apply knowledge of language structure, language convections, media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and non-print texts.
Strand 9: Students develop an understanding of and respect diversity in language use, patterns, and dialect across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions and social roles.
Strand 12: Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).
II) Materials and Resources
4) Materials Used
· Internet
· Computers
· Wiki
· Blog
· Discussion forum
· Media
· Each others prior knowledge
· Anticipatory Set
· Learning Activity
· Digital Storytelling software
5) Use of Technology
· Computers
· Internet
III) Teaching and Learning Strategies
6) Introduction:
· The purpose of the anticipatory set is to have the students think about whom they are as people, where did they come from, and how did they become who they are.
· At the end of the lesson the students will understand how to use Digital Storytelling and the process that it involves.
· Ask students about their prior knowledge and assess where their own computer literacy skills lie.
· Ask students what are the elements that make an engaging and effective story.
· Make sure the class has common knowledge of how the concept of what Digital Storytelling is.
7) Development
· By showing the students the elements of a Digital Storytelling on a wiki they will understand exactly how to develop a Digital Storytelling assignment.
· By showing the students an example on a wiki they will be able to use their visual and auditory learning to have a better understanding of how the process of production of Digital Storytelling.
· Make a list of the seven elements of Digital Storytelling and have each element in a on a wiki.
· Students individually will develop a paragraph demonstrating what it is that the teacher is asking them to do and post it on their class discussion forum.
8) Guided Practice
· While students are working in groups the teacher will walk around the room: listening, speaking, and making sure students are on task.
· The teacher will help students who are stuck or who have incorrectly identified the concept of Digital Storytelling by posting links to what Digital Storytelling is.
· By exploring students will use search engines on computers to find out more about Digital Storytelling and what it means.
9) Accommodations and Modifications for learners with special needs
· Have students make a poster of what Digital Storytelling means to them online.
· Have a higher level learner be a guide/mentor to a challenged student by commenting on others blogs.
· Have students watch multiple videos on Digital Storytelling that are posted on the discussion forum by the teacher.
10) Closure/ Wrap-up
· Have students describe what they know about Digital Storytelling by posting it in their blog.
· Have students describe the seven elements of Digital Storytelling by putting it in their blog.
· Make sure each student has an understanding of how to set up, process and complete their own Digital Story.
11) Independent Practice
· Students will make an individual Digital Storytelling assignment over a couple of days and will submit in a completed assignment in a drop box on the class website.
IV. Evaluation
12) Methods of Evaluation
· Students will submit their copy Digital Storytelling that they have completed and will be graded.
· Students with special needs will submit their own poster of what Digital Storytelling and will be allowed extended time to work on their Digital Storytelling project online.
Anticipatory Set
As an individual assignment, I would have each person write two paragraphs telling someone who is living in the times before the industrial revolution what life is like in present day. In those paragraphs I want the students to express their feelings, wants, needs, and desires in the current century. I also want the students to reflect on what life was like for people before the industrial revolution. I want the students to think of how different life will seem to people before 1865. I want the students to explain the usage of a computer, the internet, and what it means to be digital in the world they are currently living in. This activity would be able to stimulate the class for an in-depth look at what it means to be digital. Each student’s view will be posted on a wiki page for viewing and understanding the view point of others. This will be a great tool to have collaborative learning in an online classroom.
Activity
This activity is focused on understanding the seven elements of Digital Storytelling. The seven elements of Digital Storytelling are: point of view, dramatic question, emotional content, gift of your voice, power of your soundtrack, economy, and pacing. In group wiki’s students will look up the terms and discuss with one another in a collaborative effort. I would encourage the students to get in groups and discuss their own interpretation before there is a whole class discussion on the classes blog. I would use the blog to create an atmosphere that will enhance student learning. I would post links for resources that I would think to be useful and effective for my own students. I would have each of the groups write a sentence explaining each element and what it means to them. I want students to learn from one another and interact in an active learning environment. After the groups have discussed their ideas and thoughts the teacher will make corrections wherever needed in the learning process by using a wiki. Once each element has been correctly identified the students will have a better understanding in their Digital Storytelling assignment that they will complete
Friday, June 20, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Teaching with Technology and other things...
I'm not 100% sure what to write in this final blog entry, but I do know that this is the last class in my college career that I will ever take. There is a lot of joy in this, and also a lot of sadness, as many good times have came to a close. In this semester, I have tired to do an outstanding job, to go out of school on top. In my blog I have written over 30 reflections. A lot of my reflections are thorough and some are not quite as such, but none the less, I have given this class more time than any other class that I have taken in my college career, and that includes the C.I.A.
I have submitted my work on time and for the most part early too. I have put pictures, polls, music, surveys and games on either my blog, personal website, or wiki. My personal website has at least 12 pages on it with school items and other personal items in which I have added to give it that "personal touch." As I have stated earlier, I loved my group which consisted of Terri, Kelly, and Bill which I have taken at least four classes with in graduate school, and that right there has made a great foundation for our academic and personal friendships with one another. As for I'm concerned they are family and we do call each other as such. It's nice to have people who are caring, genuine and not fake, which there are so many in the world.
I have participated in class, with whole class discussion, and with our group discussion. Our group did a fantastic job in communicating effectively with one another in class. We connected through our blogs, discussion forums, emails, and via phone. Communication for us was not our downfall, in effectively communicating with one another, if anything it was our greatest assets with each other. We did not have a problem in getting any of our group work done, there were no questions of who did what, we simply did our assignments. The greatest thing about working with these professionals is that, they are professionals. It was absolutely fantastic to have met and become good friends with these people as they will become life long friends :).
As for teaching with technology I really enjoyed taking this class and learning on line at the same time. In this course we have learned about the advantages of technology and the disadvantages of technology. Technology should be used as a tool to guide in the learning process and not a tool to use as learning by itself. Technology can divide the students if not all students have that kind of learning access. We must be careful to not divide our students in the classroom at such a young age. We must make a solid attempt to keep the peace between the many economic divides that lie in the world and let children excel at being children. We must have them find their own interconnectedness, not force our own truths, or values on them. We must give students the opportunity to see where certain avenues in life lie. We must give students options and not tell them where to go. In a sense, Inquiry learning is lifelong learning for each person. We all must find our own way to the points in which we want to get to in our lives. With the role of teachers and technology we must be a guide, a mentor, and a friend to those who want to follow in their own right path. Not every student will go on to traditional college or college at all. We must be nurturing, accepting, and understanding of the world around us. If someone is teaching because they care only about their test numbers and achievement, then what is the point really?
If someone is so crazy about obtaining their so-called numbers then this is a business world and NOT an education world. School should be fun and everyday should a new adventure for each student with a chance to learn. I do believe that more ownership should go on the students and parents. A student needs more than just class time to achieve what they really want to achieve. I will say this, did Micheal Jordan simply go to practice, play games and go home? NO! M.J. is one of the greatest achievers of all times, he simply wanted basketball life more than anyone else every did. This same application goes to anyone in life who wants it bad enough! The real question lies, do you want it bad enough?
During this class learning at times was quite difficult and quite uncomfortable all at the same time. In our group it was our willingness to help one another. As the trusting group that we are we were able to ask for help with our technology needs. We were able to expose ourselves to one another just like kids do. We did not have walls in this course. We had lots of needs and we tried to meet one another needs too. I truly enjoyed the fact that we were able to be open and learn off of one another. We were quite uncomfortable and also we were quite comfortable with expressing it with one another. Our collaboration as a group was outstanding and I would give them a hug individually if I was not 1,500 miles away.
I hope as we enter into our own classrooms that we are able to be as open with our students as we are with ourselves. We must keep in mind that not everyone has or will have our own experiences in life. We must recognize that everyday we must have fun and work like it's our last day. Maybe for lots of students K-12 learning will be it for them; if it we must remember to make everyday the best for them and remember why we took on our teaching positions. This job isn't about the money, it's about the giving of knowledge, and helping students obtain different perspectives of life. We must give them the ability to reason and make choices for themselves.
As for my own learning experience this summer it has been an eye opener so far! I have completed this class from Jacksonville, Florida with the sweetest thing that I have ever know. Taking this class online has personally helped the rest of my life which really needed it. There was this girl who I used to go to elementary school, middle, and a little bit of high school with and then she moved at 15. This is the same girl who used to be in my elementary school, and it was a very small one that I went to. To think back and to reflect that we played with the same parachute in gym class and had the same art, music, and gym teaching is quite astonishing. She's the same girl who came over to my brother's birthday party when I was 7 and that was 20 years ago! After 12 years and talking to my brother about this girl I got a hold of her through technology and it is the single greatest thing that has ever happened to me, period. I was invited to come to Florida for the summer, and I was able to do it in all aspects. I'm greatful for being able to do it all this summer.
I have submitted my work on time and for the most part early too. I have put pictures, polls, music, surveys and games on either my blog, personal website, or wiki. My personal website has at least 12 pages on it with school items and other personal items in which I have added to give it that "personal touch." As I have stated earlier, I loved my group which consisted of Terri, Kelly, and Bill which I have taken at least four classes with in graduate school, and that right there has made a great foundation for our academic and personal friendships with one another. As for I'm concerned they are family and we do call each other as such. It's nice to have people who are caring, genuine and not fake, which there are so many in the world.
I have participated in class, with whole class discussion, and with our group discussion. Our group did a fantastic job in communicating effectively with one another in class. We connected through our blogs, discussion forums, emails, and via phone. Communication for us was not our downfall, in effectively communicating with one another, if anything it was our greatest assets with each other. We did not have a problem in getting any of our group work done, there were no questions of who did what, we simply did our assignments. The greatest thing about working with these professionals is that, they are professionals. It was absolutely fantastic to have met and become good friends with these people as they will become life long friends :).
As for teaching with technology I really enjoyed taking this class and learning on line at the same time. In this course we have learned about the advantages of technology and the disadvantages of technology. Technology should be used as a tool to guide in the learning process and not a tool to use as learning by itself. Technology can divide the students if not all students have that kind of learning access. We must be careful to not divide our students in the classroom at such a young age. We must make a solid attempt to keep the peace between the many economic divides that lie in the world and let children excel at being children. We must have them find their own interconnectedness, not force our own truths, or values on them. We must give students the opportunity to see where certain avenues in life lie. We must give students options and not tell them where to go. In a sense, Inquiry learning is lifelong learning for each person. We all must find our own way to the points in which we want to get to in our lives. With the role of teachers and technology we must be a guide, a mentor, and a friend to those who want to follow in their own right path. Not every student will go on to traditional college or college at all. We must be nurturing, accepting, and understanding of the world around us. If someone is teaching because they care only about their test numbers and achievement, then what is the point really?
If someone is so crazy about obtaining their so-called numbers then this is a business world and NOT an education world. School should be fun and everyday should a new adventure for each student with a chance to learn. I do believe that more ownership should go on the students and parents. A student needs more than just class time to achieve what they really want to achieve. I will say this, did Micheal Jordan simply go to practice, play games and go home? NO! M.J. is one of the greatest achievers of all times, he simply wanted basketball life more than anyone else every did. This same application goes to anyone in life who wants it bad enough! The real question lies, do you want it bad enough?
During this class learning at times was quite difficult and quite uncomfortable all at the same time. In our group it was our willingness to help one another. As the trusting group that we are we were able to ask for help with our technology needs. We were able to expose ourselves to one another just like kids do. We did not have walls in this course. We had lots of needs and we tried to meet one another needs too. I truly enjoyed the fact that we were able to be open and learn off of one another. We were quite uncomfortable and also we were quite comfortable with expressing it with one another. Our collaboration as a group was outstanding and I would give them a hug individually if I was not 1,500 miles away.
I hope as we enter into our own classrooms that we are able to be as open with our students as we are with ourselves. We must keep in mind that not everyone has or will have our own experiences in life. We must recognize that everyday we must have fun and work like it's our last day. Maybe for lots of students K-12 learning will be it for them; if it we must remember to make everyday the best for them and remember why we took on our teaching positions. This job isn't about the money, it's about the giving of knowledge, and helping students obtain different perspectives of life. We must give them the ability to reason and make choices for themselves.
As for my own learning experience this summer it has been an eye opener so far! I have completed this class from Jacksonville, Florida with the sweetest thing that I have ever know. Taking this class online has personally helped the rest of my life which really needed it. There was this girl who I used to go to elementary school, middle, and a little bit of high school with and then she moved at 15. This is the same girl who used to be in my elementary school, and it was a very small one that I went to. To think back and to reflect that we played with the same parachute in gym class and had the same art, music, and gym teaching is quite astonishing. She's the same girl who came over to my brother's birthday party when I was 7 and that was 20 years ago! After 12 years and talking to my brother about this girl I got a hold of her through technology and it is the single greatest thing that has ever happened to me, period. I was invited to come to Florida for the summer, and I was able to do it in all aspects. I'm greatful for being able to do it all this summer.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Digital Storytelling with my Power Point
While I was completing my power point presentation for Digital Storytelling I really enjoyed reading about the topic of Digital Storytelling. I enjoyed the fact that they students get to be authentic with their own work and put their true feelings in. It is a pleasure to see that someone can demonstrate understanding on a assignment beyond the paper and the pencil. Students get to add in color, music, different fonts, and other medias to enhance their own writing. I learned that students can find a way to become authentic to their own. While students complete a project like this one they can increase their own literacy in many eras. Students can increase their literacy in usage of language, computers, and their own historical content.
If I was to complete this assignment differently I would put the power point on a wiki or scrapbook to try something different with my new ideas that I have learned. Overall I don't think that I would have done anything different to be honest. I thought the assignment was simple and I did a good job carrying out the task at hand. The lesson that I would have had the students complete would be for them to carryout a digital story of their own by following what I have discussed in the power point
—Point of view
—A dramatic question
—Emotional content
—The gift of your voice
—The power of your soundtrack
—Economy
—Pacing
I would have the students carryout the assignment of making their own story and submitting it in for the class. Each student would be able to increase their own literacy skills with one another while discussing the points of Digital Storytelling.
Here is my URL to my power point presentation:
http://www.slideshare.net/eambrose1
I hope that everyone enjoys reading this project I had a blast completing it!!!
If I was to complete this assignment differently I would put the power point on a wiki or scrapbook to try something different with my new ideas that I have learned. Overall I don't think that I would have done anything different to be honest. I thought the assignment was simple and I did a good job carrying out the task at hand. The lesson that I would have had the students complete would be for them to carryout a digital story of their own by following what I have discussed in the power point
—Point of view
—A dramatic question
—Emotional content
—The gift of your voice
—The power of your soundtrack
—Economy
—Pacing
I would have the students carryout the assignment of making their own story and submitting it in for the class. Each student would be able to increase their own literacy skills with one another while discussing the points of Digital Storytelling.
Here is my URL to my power point presentation:
http://www.slideshare.net/eambrose1
I hope that everyone enjoys reading this project I had a blast completing it!!!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Mind map for curriculum
When I was working on my mind map project it was intended for students in the 7th and 8th graders. I think that lots of kids do not know how to write effectively on their own grade level. I think that we need to be more specific on how students write instead of purly assuming that they know what they have to write. Students need to be shown more examples of "how to" do something more and more. Since the increase of visual learners is apparent this chart will come in handy!
In the learning process of this map the students are to be able to think what pieces they need to learn and understand to solve their own puzzle in the learning process. The visual aid will stimulate their own needs while completing this task! By the students reading this map they will visualize and say it to themselves which requires two ways of learning.
When I was putting this mind map together I actually had to stop and think of what I was going to do in all of the steps. I had to sit down and sketch out the steps before moving on and completing this chart. When I was working with kidinspiration I really liked working with it the program was easy to nagivatate altogether. I thought the layout was easy to use and completing the program was quite enjoyable to say the least. The next time I will mind map I will use a different program simply to try something different.
As for assessment I thought this too would be great with a pre-assessment to see where my students are in their understanding for writing in general. There are many students who struggle with writing a simple four or five sentence paragrapgh forget an essay. At least by using this map I will be able to engage my students and see where their levels of knowledge lies~!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Grading achievement in school
Education is knowledge that can be used in the world to get through a person's day to day life! Education is not a standardized grade but more of a way for schools to get money for their test scores. Schools, and education in that aspect make me sick. It's a numbers game, this is not about learning, or caring about any one's lifelong dreams. This achievement tests are about what will you do for me instead of what can we do for you. I have written lots of blog entries on this topic. I want to put my finger down my throat when I here about standardized tests because they make me absolutely sick. Achievement is something that comes with in and not everyone will get an "A" and that is okay!
Authentic Assessment Video
In this class and countless other classes at Mount Saint Mary College, we have discussed the ideas of authentic assessment. I really like the idea of authentic assessment to see what the student has learned. I prefer this way simply because it steers away from the traditional paper, pencil, and scan tron that we have used for years. If the state of New York would spend the money then progress will be made. The state seems to be very stuck on their old, boring, and cheap ways of assessment.
It is a wonderful feeling to see that other states have steered away from such measurements indeed. The school is Seattle Washington uses performance based assessment in their classes. They believe that performance based assessment should be an on going process that starts at the pre-k level and leads all the way to 12th grade. In a student's career the state proposes that the students need to demonstrate understandings in the following: communication, the arts, career knowledge, quantitative and science research, and community stewardship.
What I really like was viewing the authentic rubrics created by the students. I thought this was a wonderful idea and it is a chance to increase student achievement, learning, and retention in the educational process. I hope that teachers are honest with themselves when they create such rubrics for their students. I hope that teachers do not lower their standards to their students, but utilize their strengths and help them achieve to a higher point. I really liked watching this video and to see that there is hope beyond the paper and the pencil in the assessment process!
It is a wonderful feeling to see that other states have steered away from such measurements indeed. The school is Seattle Washington uses performance based assessment in their classes. They believe that performance based assessment should be an on going process that starts at the pre-k level and leads all the way to 12th grade. In a student's career the state proposes that the students need to demonstrate understandings in the following: communication, the arts, career knowledge, quantitative and science research, and community stewardship.
What I really like was viewing the authentic rubrics created by the students. I thought this was a wonderful idea and it is a chance to increase student achievement, learning, and retention in the educational process. I hope that teachers are honest with themselves when they create such rubrics for their students. I hope that teachers do not lower their standards to their students, but utilize their strengths and help them achieve to a higher point. I really liked watching this video and to see that there is hope beyond the paper and the pencil in the assessment process!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Engrade.com
While I was completing my imaginary list I was beginning to think about how far technology really has come. I remember the days of watching teachers calculate everything by hand. By using this technology all one has to do is put in the kind of assignment, the percentage, and the computer will weigh the grades and compute out a final grade. I really liked the way the system completes such a task. What I do not like is that students tend to hand in papers and grades need to be put in. In my opinion it is faster to make an eraser mark in a grading book instead of turning on a PC or notebook and putting grades in as such.
I understand that teachers spend countless hours grading and this will at least cut down the time on grading. If someone does not have to compute grades and such it makes like easier. Students would not like this grade system because their parents can actually see what they are or are not doing in a class. It has its pros and cons for the students. Parents would like this so they can keep tabs on their children and their performances in school.
Also, this system has when assignments are due, a student's attendance and other features like comments. I'm not so thrilled about the attendance portion. Once again, I'd prefer just to put whoever is absent in a green book instead of going into my PC or notebook each time to make a change and that could get really time consuming in the secondary level. I do like the fact that all of this is made through technology it just seems to be very time consuming and will take a long time to use. Something that takes more time in a classroom is not what I would want!
Here are the links to Engrade that I worked on:
To see my links:
user name: Eric Ambrose
password:swoosh1
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