21 Things-Getting Started

I have proven, once again, that the title of 'technologically challenged' is one I wear well.  It only took me one week to set up my blog!  I thought I had set it up that first night of class, however, whenever I have tried to post a blog I was told my URL address was not valid!  The problem was, every word I tried was supposedly already taken!  You would not believe some of the words I tried, and I do not believe they are already a URL add. for someone else.  Anyway, Ron suggested I begin again so I did, and success has occurred.

What I am looking forward to is learning all of the things I possibly can from this class so that I can pass them along to my classroom.  I am the perfect example of, "If I can do it, anyone can". As a teacher I have seen how many students still struggle with literacy.  I began my Master's degree in Education Reading, because I believe it is at the core of learning and living.  The more things that I can introduce to my students that will catch their interest to learn, the better chance they will have to become literate members of society.  Technology can be a great tool for many of them, and the more things that I can introduce them to, the more opportunities they will have to experience the newest technology and make it part of their lives.

I am hoping that not everything will come as hard as setting up this blog; however, if I keep experiencing difficulties, I know that I have the world's most patient instructor to help me along.

Thing 10- Digital Storytelling

One of the first things I discovered with this assignment, with the help of our illustrious instructor, was that my laptop does not have a microphone, making it difficult to do the storytelling portion of this assignment.  Fortunately, Union HS has headsets with built-in mics for Rosetta Stone, so that should work.  I wanted to tell a short story of the first moments of my new granddaughters life; mainly because I just downloaded a boatload of pictures from the event of her birth!
Putting together the elements of this digital story was very enjoyable.  I thought of numerous things I could do if I were totally creating a story that didn't already have a set theme.  I can see that students will enjoy this very much for a number of reasons.  This is a unique way for them to tell their stories, and there are many ways to express themselves.  Music is a very important way to let people know who you are and being able to set your story to your favorite tune or to create your own music would be a very important element to their storytelling.
Being able to refine their story by re-recording portions they are not happy with is another element that students will appreciate.  This feature will increase their desire to produce a good piece of work.  Not only does it matter that the pictures flow throughout the story, and that the music is suitable to the background of the work, but it will be the words that tie it all together, and this feature, that allows for them to erase, re-record, preview how it sounds and make adjustments again, is invaluable.

http://www.screencast.com/t/ckhd4pXaenT    Happily I can say that my digital story is ready for viewing.  It's just under two minutes long.  All comments and suggestions are welcome.

Thing 5

For the four years I have had in teaching I have found it helpful to offer books from numerous reading levels in my own classroom library.  This was always helpful when a book report or review was required.  I could find books in most of the students' interest areas in all of the reading levels.

Science is the class that I found to be the great equalizer.  Science offers many hands-on activities, collaboration in smaller groups, and an opportunity to place struggling students in with stronger.  I've noticed that the stronger students encourage and pull out the best from the ones that generally struggle.  They are caught up more in the excitement of what they are doing and the discussions about it.  Science is also a great subject to bring out the questioning spirit we want to see as educators.

I loved the idea in the lesson sample where the teacher provided books at four reading stations at various reading levels, had the students visit each station and the select the one they liked best.  I know that having the different levels available to them gives them the opportunity to begin at the level they come into the classroom with and then make progress throughout the year.

I have had students who do better for testing standing up rather than sitting down, students who do better with an oral test than a pen and paper test, and students who will ask if they can give their own spin on an assignment.  (For example, instead of writing a paper, presenting the material in a rap). 

I found that whenever I can incorporate their interests and areas of strength, I have gotten better results in the work I wanted them to create.  Engaging a student means being able to find out what interests them and how they best express themselves.  Whenever school lends them the opportunity to blend those skills and interests into their schoolwork, the better a student is going to, not only do the work, but to actually retain what they learn.

Thing 9 Picassa 3

OK, so I need to learn how to capture a photo better.  When the capture function on Jing applies I don't see how I can eliminate the border stuff, but I'll learn.

This Thing was so much fun!  It took awhile because I had to get my camera back from my son so I could copy a picture of my brand new granddaughter, Kailyn Leigh Dawe.  In this picture she was about 20 minutes old.
I wanted to try Picassa 3 and when it came to fine tuning the picture I went to Picnic.  First I brightened the picture which really brought out her colors much better.  I played with rotation and liked the side view for some reason.  Every time I tried another position I kept coming back to this one; go figure...
I cropped the picture several times, added a border, curved the corners, and added text at the bottom of the picture that says, "Welcome to the world, Kailyn"  I tried putting the text in the  picture on Picnic, but it would only let me place it in the middle of the picture.  I searched all over to find how I could move the text to another part of the picture and that is one feature I did not find.  I added the caption through Picassa 3.

There are many tempting premium options available that I will be tempted to 'buy' once I finally get another teaching position.  Right now I'm tempted but too poor.  I'm excited to send a copy of my revised photo to my son.  He is actually really technologically savvy, so will probably be using these already for their pictures.

Students will love this program and I can see them having fun with it as well as learning how to show their pictures to their best advantage for a project or assignment. With digital photography students have immediate feedback.  With ease of editing their pictures, as well as ease of distribution, digital photography is very effective for the classroom. Tools to enhance visualization, like adding color or text to a picture or document, are pluses, and digital photography is cost effective for classroom use as well.  If needed, multiple copies can be made on an inkjet printer.  When comparing the use of digital photography over traditional photography for classroom use, well, there is no comparison.  Digital photography opens a world of possibilities to students that introduces them to cutting edge technology.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dawe-miller/?saved=1  I posted my picture on Flickr.com!
http://picasa.google.com/linux/download.html  url for Picassa

Thing 8- Copyright Quiz

Actually, based on the results I had when I took the on-line quiz, I wasn't surprised to find that my fellow educators were about as copyright savvy as I was.  There were consistent areas where all were aware, to some degree, what the basics of Fair Use Law entailed.  I was surprised that the majority of those who responded were not aware of the difference in regulations regarding face-to-face and use of digital technology in distance education.  I remembered some of this information from my grad course in writing.

 One person that took the quiz had just completed a paper on copyright laws in education and did very well on the quiz overall.  He didn't remember about Creative Commons Licensing until I gave him a few hints, and forgot the name of the Teach Act, but knew what it was.  All agreed that educators were not exempt from copyright laws but knew that we had a separate set of rights that applied.

Most indicated that, when making multiple copies for a classroom that the originator of the work should be present on the copies, or that special permission or a few needs to be paid before it is done.  When asked if they went to those lengths on multiple copies they were honest and said they did not.  One stipulated that they looked for workbooks that were created with the intent that multiple copies would be made by an educator.  Is that an example of a work with Creative Commons Licensing?  Several also stated that they make most of their own work or copy material on-line that has the copyright information included.

The gist of the quiz indicates that the teachers I work with have a basic understanding and respect for copyright laws, however, a brush up course would not be unadvised.  I got from no one, a blatent disregard for copyright laws, only, like myself, a general ignorance of some of its finer points.

At the bottom of my home page to http://www.msmillerscommunityclassroom.weebly.com, is my proof that my site is now copyrighted.  How I wish this site were a reality for me to use and my students to benefit from right now.  Since I don't have a classroom at this time this is all excellent practice that I will gladly put into effect when I am connected with a classroom.  How exciting to be able to offer this to my students and their parents as well.

All of the copyright information is staggering.  When I took the quiz provided I showed how ignorant I was in many aspects of Copyright law.  I understand the importance of being aware of what is and what is not allowed for students and educators, and we should not take for granted the great efforts that have been made to pave the way to easier access and use for us.  It is for us, therefore, to be aware enough of the laws, that we make sure we respect them and follow them, as well as making sure our students know their importance as well.

Thing 7- My Web Pages

www.msmillersclassroomcommunity.weebly.com

How exciting!  This is my web address!  This took me a lot of time to put together.  If I had my own classroom this would have been much easier to envision and complete, however I did draw from some of the sources I have from when I taught 5th grade.  

I love the idea of having a site where students and parents and teacher can all interact.  Being able to include documents of forms the students need is a plus, I can't tell you how many times I made copy after copy of a particular form because students keep losing theirs.  This way, their parents can print off a copy at home and the student no longer has the excuse, "I can't find it!"

Being able to share websites is not only a jump start for students, but for their parents as well.  It's one thing when you give them the web site address, but it's quite another when all they have to do is click on the link and they are there.  That extra step makes a big difference, especially for students just beginning to learn how to use the web, and their parents who may have little to no experience.

I have to experiment more with how to insert pictures.  I would have liked to used the space on page 2 of my website better.

I found that I wished the feature to add video was free, but sadly, it was not.  When I again have my own classroom, that will be a feature worth purchasing.