Screen Cast: What a Blast!

For this task, I chose to teach my students how to find our course vocabulary on Quizlet. For various reasons, I do not require my students to have an account, so often they have difficulty locating the course and flashcards. For the screencasting, I selected Screenr, as I felt like it was the least complicated. My recording did complete with only one try! A miracle for me! Although, I did muck up the audio a bit by repositioning myself about halfway through the presentation. I will continue to use Screenr and post it on my website for students who need several exposures or explanations to course content.

Digital Storytelling

After spending considerable time on the Zooburst site, I decided to go with Storybird. I adored the idea of Zooburst and the pop-up style, but I found it difficult to create. In addition, I became frustrated that I had to pay for additional images, sounds, and other creative techniques.

Storybird is amazingly fun and inspirational. For any writer who gets plagued by writer's block, the vivid imagery and themes are sure to remedy the most severe cases. Plus, how much fun to first have the pictures and then write the story! I love the flexibilty this process permits.

Typically, the Storybird process is used to create fictional works, which are already reflected in mass quantities at the site. However, I was curious to see if the process would work with nonfiction writing.  My story titled, "Why Must We Learn to Navigate the Sea of Media" explains the relevance and purpose for learning in my class. I hope to use it at the beginning of my course to set a purpose and motivation for learning.

"Why Must We Learn to Navigate the Sea of Media?
Why Must We Learn to Navigate the World of Media ? on Storybird

Pimpin' My Glog

A Plentiful Harvest Brings Smiles

It has been awhile since my last post... I have been on a cooking and entertaining binge for the last month! Muriel's vegetable garden has inspired new entrees and recipes. I feel a bit guilty, as I realize I am behind in assignments as compared to my fellow Chippewa bloggers. Anyway, I did enjoy the blinging tasks. Glogster and Museum Box were most enticing to me: I signed up for an account on both. The Muesum Box could be applied to my class as a collection tool to archive evidence and content for students' media literacy issue presentation. When I tried to get an account, I had to go through several steps, and then, I was informed at the end that further information would be sent to me. I decided to move forward with Glogster because of easy registration and the creation process and tools made sense. I selected a topic from my course, digital footprint, and constructed a bulletin board style poster. Using graphics, video, audio, and links made the poster interactive, engaging, and informative. While introducing a new topic, concept or difficult idea, a "glog" would be a very effective tool to front load or activate prior knowledge. In addition, I would also consider students using this tool to share and demonstrate understanding of key concepts and ideas. Below you will find a link to my glog. I am uncertain how to embed my glog directly into my post, so you have a visual... I saw that Thyren did this... I will ask her for assistance.

Blog Bling

Persuasion Elements

I found this video on Teacher Tube. I could use the video while introducing the elements of persuasion in the beginning of my Persuasion course. During the early weeks of the class, we spend a significant amount of instructional time recognizing, defining, and imitating these elements. I already have several froms for deliving these concepts; however, I have yet to obtain a video that communicates the concepts at a middle school level. In addition, I predict my students will be engaged and amused... The narrator has a southern dialect and the animated examples are relevant scenarios my students experience. Enjoy!

Introduction

Hello-
I am so thrilled to be going to camp this summer. It is my hope that my camping adventures will add new tools to my "instructional" backpack. While sitting fireside, I am interested in learning about digital storytelling and creating wikis with my counselors. In addition, socializing with my fellow campers will keep me active and motivated to complete this journey. After camp, I will be found either in my vegetable garden or my floaty-mattress on Lake Callahan.