It's about half-way throught the semester. This course is loaded with information. Two hours seems to fly by due to the amount of information. I think it could be a four-hour night and still feel overwhelming. Or - maybe twohours of information overload and then an hour of worktime with supervision would reduce the head spinning.
The projects (visual vocabulary and digital storytelling) have been fine, although time-consuming. In fact I think that might be the biggest piece of information I've picked up: while the projects sound straight forward enough, the execution of the projects take a great deal of time.
I do like the resources I have learned of that offer free-use music, sound clips, and pictures. I truly like the idea ofnot sending the students to Google images. These are resources I will definitely be bringing to my teachers and students.
I also believe digital storytelling will be a hit with the students. Since our lab has Macs I will need to practice with iMovie as the program to create them. I will be interested to learn how to mix music and narration on the single track. These two pieces definitely make the digital story come alive.
Here is the "big" question I would like to ask Will Richardson:
I understand the argument that the students use technology almost as second nature and therefore we as teachers must teach in a way that will reach the students - hence the need to incorporate blogs, wikis, podcasts, etc.
But I feel overwhelmed using them. How do I know when I am ready to crossover and have the students creating podcasts? Am I simply naive thinking elementary is a bit early for that form of communications? Is it my fear of not fully understanding these new methods that keeps me from making the crossover? How would Will Richardson suggest, realistically, that I get over that fear? How long a time might I expect it to take to become comfortable? Jumping in with both feet isn't something that would make me comfortable. What "baby steps" might be best?
Hey there,
ReplyDeleteSince you asked... ;0)
I wouldn't suggest you bring these tools into your classroom until you feel comfortable using them in public ways yourself. That may take a few weeks, a few months, maybe a year. But I've become convinced that if you focus on your own personal learning and connections first, if you begin to learn in the networks and communities of other people out there who love what you love and who want to learn with you, you'll come to a point where those same interactions will begin to make sense for your classrooms.
Follow your passions, find and connect to your own teachers, participate for selfish reasons to start. The rest will come in time.