KNOWLEDGE OF STUDENT BEHAVIOR AND INTERESTS PREVENTS THEM FROM GETTING LOST

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"Teaching must capitalize on students' preferred literacy behaviors online." (Abilock, 2003)

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It is our responsibility as teachers to understand students' preferred literacy behaviors online in order to better teach them this way. When subject matter seems to have no value to a student this creates a lack of interest. In order for us to get our student's to take interest in our lesson plans we must incorporate subjects that interest them. We also must keep in mind the way that students use the Internet. Not all the myths of student behavior online are true but we must keep behaviors in mind when presenting curriculum this way. If students don't even scroll past the fold then it is imperative that we get our students attention before the fold to encourage them to read on. I believe it is important as a teacher to stay one step ahead of our students especially when it comes to technology and to reasearch current student interests in order to motivate learning.

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References
Abilock, D. (2003, December). A seven power lens on 21st century literacy. Retrieved from http://www.infotoday.com/mmschools

Photo Analysis of Obama Pictures

White House: Obama ready to seize claims process

Based on what you have observed list three things you might infer from the photograph.

Read the article title and photo caption.

Which picture gives you more confidence in the presidents leadership abilities? Why?

What questions does this photo raise in your mind?

Post the answer to these questions an the photo in a blog posting.

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The way the men are walking make them look strong and confident. The American flag gives us a happy feeling and the men with binoculars make us feel safe. 
This picture definitely gives us a more confidence in the president's ability to lead because he is doing something and looks in control of the situation and the caption depicts him this way.
I wonder what exactly they are doing.  I doubt the topic during this picture is the oil spill. They probably cracked some joke about smiling for the camera. It looks a little staged.

Oil spill: BP Gulf leak could stain President Obama like Iran hostage crisis destroyed Jimmy Carter

President Barack Obama is briefed on the BP oil spill relief efforts in the Gulf

Based on what you have observed list three things you might infer from the photograph.

Read the article title and photo caption.

Which picture gives you more confidence in the presidents leadership abilities? Why?

What questions does this photo raise in your mind?

Post the answer to these questions an the photo in a blog posting.

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This photo gives us a feel of concern because of the look on his face and the corresponding caption. 
Compared to the other photo I have less confidence in the president's ability to lead when looking at this photo.  Obama is human and looks distraught.  He is is sitting in his office thinking instead of taking action.
Somewhat similar to the other photo, I wonder if the oil spill was actually the topic of discussion when this picture was taken. He looks like he was reading at his desk and is irritated because a photographer snapped his picture.

Digital Storytelling promotes Critical Thinking

As an assignment in our EDUC 2201 class we were asked to create a digital story that explained a quote about teaching. Creating a digital story was a very fun and enlightening experience. Expressing myself through digital story made me relate how this type of media could be used to solve authentic problems. We want students to not only learn with media, but also learn and think critically about media. (Ohler, 2006) There are a lot of ways this digital tool can be used to explore real world issues.

Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling Around the World

Abstract: The purpose of this research study was to determine how educators, students 

and others around the world are using digital storytelling to support the educational 

process. This study provides a general framework about educational uses of digital 

storytelling in different countries and describes the different perceptions of people in 

different cultures about this technology. An online survey was used to collect responses 

from a group of educators, students and others in educational settings to determine how 

they are using digital storytelling for educational purposes. The results show the current 

situation of educational uses of digital storytelling around the world and explore some of 

the benefits and challenges educators face in implementing digital storytelling in their 

institutions. (Yuksel, Bernard & McNeil)

Ohler, J. (2006, January). The world of digital storytelling. Educational Leadership, Retrieved from http://www.jasonohler.com/pdfs/digitalStorytellingArticle1-2006.pdf

Yuksel, P., Bernard, R. R., & McNeil, S.Educational uses of digital storytelling around the world . Retrieved from http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/survey/SITE_DigitalStorytelling.pdf

TECHNOLOGY UP-SHIFTS ARTISTIC JOBS INTO A HIGHER GEAR

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"Beyond a literacy that facilitates learning and communication across a wide spectrum of activities, art skills also translate into real world jobs.  Each of the thousands of CD's and DVD's, the millions of incipient Web sites-and the other new media not yet on imagination's horizon-will require musicians, choregraphers, videographers, graphic designers, creative consultants, and many other "artistic" professionals.  Artists are finally having their day." (Ohler, 2000)

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There is so much opportunity for the artisitc professional in real-world jobs.  Because of technology more people have a chance to show their artisitic side and aquire these jobs. I have always considered myself very creative or artistic if you will.  I can picture how I want something to look but am unable to create it with pencil and paper.  It never seems to come out the way I imagined it.  Sometimes my point of view or idea I am trying to present will be lost because of my amateur drawing, painting, or artisitic skills. With technology I can make my creative ideas come to life with the click of a mouse. Technology gives me some many avenues to be creative and artistic.  Ideas and points of view are easy to portray and even more creative when using technology because the ease of creating something allows more time to be creative.

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Reference

artroomvideos. (2009). Top ten reasons why art is good for kids [Web]. Retrieved from   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4-UehaNxzU&feature=related

Ohler, J. (2000, October). Art becomes the next r. Educational Leadership Magazine, 58(2), 16-19. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vCKbHYY-gzXtLXnLak8i_hoV7TPAOfxNIamNrkWW3Pc/edit?pli=1#

Fair Use of Copyrighted Material

Students can upload their multimedia project to YouTube as long as they understand fair use.  They can not cheapen the materials or pictures that they use, they must use a conservative amount and use it in their own way that is different from it's original use. Fair use includes using material for teaching.  As long as the material is being used in a school related assignment you do not need to get permission from the original creator in order to use the copyrighted material.  My personal opinion is that you can use what you want as long as you are not taking any value or money away from the original creator and you are not making any money from it.

1. Can students upload their multimedia project to YouTube?
2. Are the limitations to the amount of pictures or length of music or video that can be used in a multimedia project?
3. Do you need to request permission from the original creator in order to use copyrighted material in multimedia project for school related assignment?

Media literacy education
can flourish only with
a robust understanding
of fair use.


• Did the unlicensed use “transform” the material taken from the copyrighted work
by using it for a different purpose than that of the original, or did it just repeat
the work for the same intent and value as the original?
• Was the material taken appropriate in kind and amount, considering the nature
of the copyrighted work and of the use?
If the answers to these two questions are “yes,” a court is likely to find a use fair.
Because that is true, such a use is unlikely to be challenged in the first place.

My Digital Story

DIGITAL STORYTELLING A FUN ROUTE

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"Ten years ago, a project like this would have been too complex and expensive to be within the reach of most 6th graders. But media-based stories are now every one's to create. And with the Internet as an international stage, they are every one's to watch and enjoy." (Ohler, 2006)

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Digital storytelling is an example of how technology has made it easier to be creative.  Not only is it easier to be creative but your creativity can be seen by many people.  I think digital storytelling is a great way to express yourself.  We should take full advantage of technology like this when it comes to education.  The mood and emotion of your story cannot be expressed as well in a written story when compared to digital storytelling.  Not to mention it is much more fun to tell a story in this way. We should consider ourselves lucky that digital storytelling is not too expensive for an average student to use these days.  Why would you not want to implement technology like this in your classroom?

References

Hodgson, K. (Artist). (2009). Keeping the mood light: digital storytelling and boolean. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://dogtrax.edublogs.org/2009/04/06/keeping-the-mood-light-digital-storytelling-and-boolean/

Ohler, J. (2006, January). The world of digital storytelling. Retrieved from http://www.jasonohler.com/pdfs/digitalStorytellingArticle1-2006.pdf

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TEXTISM FAD RUNNING ON EMPTY

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Naomi Baron, a professor of linguistics at American University and author of “Always On: Language in an Online and Mobile World,” shares Crystal’s view. She predicts that the number of “textisms” will stop growing as people continue to develop more proficiency in using handheld devices and as the devices continue to grow more sophisticated than simple telephone touch pads. She adds that part of the appeal of texting shorthands is their novelty, and that that will fade. (Shea, 2010)


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Devices that people are using to text are getting more and more complicated and therefore textisms and abbreviations will begin to fizzle out.  With many of the new phones it is easier and quicker to touch the entire word you are trying to use. Similar to T9 but even better you type in the first few letters and you have a large list of possible words you are trying to write. You simply touch that already correctly spelled word and move on. It's quicker than typing a 3 or 4 letter abbreviation that could be misinterpreted. I believe a lot of the abbreviations and textisms were somewhat of a fad. Younger kids got creative abbreviating words to create their own texting "style" .  Some of these will stick but, like most fads the majority will fade.


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David Crystal on It's Only a Theory, defending the proposition that texting is good for the English language. In this YouTube video David Crystal talks about how teens leave letters out of words when texting  because it is cool.  And that they could not leave out certain letters if they did not know the correct spelling in the first place.


Reference
Ammon, Shea. "The Keypad Solution." New York Times. 22Jan2010: n. page. Web. 9 Sep. 2011. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/magazine/24FOB-onlanguage-t.html>.


Crystal, David. "David Crystal on It's Only a Theory S01E02." 21Oct2009. Online Posting to Gassalasca2. Web. 9 Sep. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7WSzxQ0nX4>.

Our Comic

Multimodal Learner

According to my VARK Questionnaire results I am a "Multimodal" learner.  This means that I can learn in many different ways.  I totally agree with this. I do like to learn in many different ways. I usually do many different things when studying for a test.  I always go to class and listen and take notes.  Then when I am studying I might re-arrange and re-write these notes so I can understand them better.  I do my homework so that I can DO what I will be asked to do on the test. I think this was an very accurate account of how I learn and I will continue to study in different ways in order to learn.

REV UP LESSON PLANS WITH WORDLE AND POLL EVERYWHERE

In our Instruction Technology class (EDUC 2201) at Fairmont state we did an activity using "Poll Everywhere" and "Wordle".  This activity definitely facilitated and inspired learning and creativity.  First we posted a poll a Poll Everywhere, which is an audience response system, to get to know our classmates.  Then we were able to view those results in a Wordle which is a fun text anaylsis tool.

With Math as my subject matter I believe Poll Everywhere has potential to be used in various different ways.  The simplest being to poll the answer to a tricky Math problem.  Then we could use the various answers and plug then into the problem in class and prove why they are correct or incorrect.  This would be a good way for students to reflect on what they are doing wrong.  Also it will show me as a teacher if students are making some of the same mistakes and where I may need to focus my lesson.

Using Poll Everywhere would be an more engaging and fun way for my students to learn instead of just assigning homework problems that they answer on paper at home.  Poll Everywhere encourages participation and collaboration.  Students will be more willing to participate when evidence of other class member's participation is right in front of then.  Collaboration occurs when discussing the poll results and comparing answers with classmates.

LANGUAGE TAKES A SHORTCUT

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"Before we despair that language is going to hell in a handcart, we should remember two lessons. First, normativeness in language goes through cycles, much like taste in music and politics. All is not lost. And second, regardless of the swings that language goes through, there is room for individual schools or teachers to set their own standards. Most schools have abandoned teaching handwriting, but a few have held their ground, to the good fortune of their students. Just so, if you choose to insist on written precision, students generally will follow your lead." (Baron, 2009)

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Change in language is an aspect of our evolving society and it is not the end of the world.  We should embrace this change like we have done with many other aspects of our changing times. Language itself has always been evolving.  We can see evidence of this when deciphering the required Shakespeare readings in high school.  I do believe that the correct form of grammar and language should be taught and used appropriately.  Like Baron says "there is room for individual schools and teachers to set their own standards".  Most people are afraid of change especially when they don't understand it. Much of the older generation have no idea what "omg" or "LOL" stand for therefore they just think it is ignorant. We must accept change and all the things that come with it in order to continue to grow as a society and a species.

Reference
Baron, N. S. (2009, March). Are digital media changing language?. Educational Leadership: Literacy 2.0, 66(6), Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar09/vol66/num06/Are-Digital-Media-Changing-Language%C2%A2.aspx

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