Photo Post..

What questions do the caption and article title raise in your mind?
The questions that enter my mind when looking at this picture is "Why are they all dressed very casually?" To me when a president and other officials have something important to do, like the oil leak, they shouldn't be dressed in "church" clothes, but rather business attire. This incident was HUGE when it happened and all over people were concerned with the effects it would. By dressing less-casual and more determined I think would make everyone feel better about what they were doing to fix the problem. The second question that "Where are all the officials at?" because this was such a disaster I thought that there would be a lot more men/women there. Like environmental officials, mayors to the other states effects, more people from Obama's office, and to my surprise there wasn't a whole of of body guards. 

People	Objects	Activities
President Obama	obviously the president.	The mannerism that he is carrying out.He's even smiling but questionable face whether he can do the claim.
A National Guard	The Sea/ Boat tower	While the one the left is watching the sea, the one on the right is more concerned with Obama and the surrounding people.
Guy in the Green shirt on the left	Mayor I believe.	He has a look of relief on his face. Isn't how I pictured a mayor, pretty laid back.
The guys on the right	All just kind of walking.	They are all casual dressed, smiling and looking like they're on a mission but just enjoying the walk. But they are all there for support for Obama.

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-06-15/news/27067245_1_hostage-crisis-oil-spill-obama-risks

What questions do the caption and article title raise in your mind?
Makes me wonder if our president is confident enough to fix the problem. 

Which picture gives you more confidence in the presidents leadership abilities? Why?
The first picture gives me more confident about Obama's leadership. Between the two pictures the one of just him looks like Obama is at a lose, and he had no idea how to react to this situation. If he can't handle this situation then what else won't he be able to handle. Whereas the first one you can see the confidence is higher than the one whose looking worried and in the first picture he is not just thinking but he is doing.  

People	Objects	Activities
Obama	facial expression	worried
Obama	facial expression	confused

Why Digital Stories are a great tool..

Digital Story telling is a great tool to use in the classroom because it expands the child's creativity. The technology is somewhat simple, most of the teacher's now are familiar with PowerPoint and Digital Storytelling is an updated version really. Students start with a story they want to tell, it could be about a history or for writing/reading or reports to present to the class. This is a great way to allow students to think chronic logically and organize their thoughts while being creative in their story. Digital Stories will help promote schools because it'll advance their knowledge of technology and improve their thinking skills with a new fun way! It engages students be creative and inspire them to think outside-the-box. 


A few ideas for lesson plans

Copyright Questions..

 1. Yes, Students can upload their videos to YouTube as long as there are a credit page that gives recognition to the original author, artist, etc..and students should have a separate page for copyright information. 


2. The Limitations on the copyrighted music there should be no alterations, the music should only last 30 seconds. But illustrations may be used entirely.  BUT no more than 5 images of a certain artist work or photography. 

The Music- 10% of copyrighted music and body of sound recording, but only 30 seconds for both.
and any alternations can't change the basic melody or character of the work.


3. Do you need to request permission from the original creator in order to use copyrighted material in multimedia project for school related assignment? If the project follow and meet all the guide lines and used for educational 
purposes only than there is no need to ask for permission. However, if it were to be used beyond education than you do need permission. 

The video is a sing-a-long about copyright and what it is. 






http://www.ncpublicschools.org/copyright1.html

VIDEO! (:

 I had so much fun creating one and I will definitely use this in my classroom. I hope you guys enjoyed watching my story, thanks for watching it!

The World of Digital Storytelling..

Quote: "Creating a digital story taps skills and talents- in art, media production, storytelling, project development, and so on- that might otherwise lie dormant within many students but will serve them well in school, at work, and in expressing themselves personally..." 
(Ohler, December, 2005). 


Reaction:  

I wish I all this technology was around when I was in elementary school. The only thing we had were those thick white computers we rarely used. When we did use the only “cool” technology thing was PowerPoint nothing like what the students have now to mess around with. I think that Digital storytelling sound like so much fun! It gives the students more ways to be creative and lets them become familiar with technology. Just like Ohler stated “it will tap skills and talents- in arts, media production, storytelling, project development and so on”. This will really give the students a chance to be creative and make their own story. I also think students will enjoy creating their story rather than PowerPoint or orally reading it because it gives them the chance to really make the connection between the story and how to incorporate technology.  

Relative Resource:
I chose this video because students at Oak Hill School "LOVE DIGITAL STORYTELLING!!" it also gives a students perspective on it and it shares their process in making one. Here's the link go check it out! (: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUZXBc6yRhU&feature=related


Reference:

Ohler, Jason (2005, December). The World of Digital Storytelling.  Retrieved from

     http://www.jasonohler.com/pdfs/digitalStorytellingArticle1-2006.pdf

Oh, the phases of language

Quote:
"Whether texting conventions are supported by organized spelling reformists or not, can they possibly solve the difficulty of spelling our troublesome language? David Crystal, the author of “Txtng: The Gr8 Db8,” told me in an e-mail message that “there’s nothing in texting to suggest spelling reform,” noting that texting relies heavily on abbreviations, which he sees as creative stylings, not systematic improvements. He added that there is very little that is new about most of the abbreviations and lexical shortenings that make texting so maddening to so many. In fact, he said, with the exception of a few recent coinages like LOL, “virtually all the commonly used ones can be found in English a century ago.” For example, bn (been), btwn (between) and wd (would) can all be found in a 1942 dictionary of abbreviations" (Ammon Shea).


Reaction:
My opinion about the “new” way of language is just a phase. There had always been abbreviations and there will continue to be abbreviations. I agree with what David Crystal “there’s nothing in texting to suggest spelling reform,” meaning that texting will not hurt the way a child spells; it is only a way of being creative. Due to the fact that texting is so popular now will increase the ROFL’s, OMG’s etc…but with technology advancing texting might become something of the past or the craze for it will die down. If there were abbreviations dating back to 1942 it didn’t hurt the literacy rates then so I doubt it will hurt it now. Laziness will hurt the language not texting.







I found this picture (comic) and thought it fit. And who knows this just might be how the Spelling Bees are in future (:

 Resources:
Ammon Shea, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/magazine/24FOB-onlanguage-t.html.
http://www.cartoonshock.com/

The new spoken language..

My partner, James and I worked on creating this little comic to show that even older generations are catching onto the younger generations of communication. They might find it confusing but it's a littler eaiser to say.

I learned how I learn..

My scores for theVARK questionnaire are:
Visual: 6
Aural: 6
Read/Write: 12
Kinesthetic: 7

According to the test I learn best by reading/writing. Which surprised me, because I thought I was a visual learner, pictures or demonstrations always made the learning easier for me. In order for me to learn and  actually understand it I have to be shown examples or being told step by step problems. I can't glance at something and automatically know it, so maybe reading/writing was the best way I learn. After reading about read/write and how the best way to learn are the following: Intake, SWOT (study w/o tears) and Output. I read that and that is exactly how I do learn, I just never knew that. 

Poll Everywhere and Wordle..

Wordle and Poll Everywhere are some really great tools to use in a classroom. Wordle is  a tool that turns text/words into a graph. Poll Everywhere lets students/teacher set up polls for their peers or answer question about homework. Technology needs to be brought into the classroom and what better way to then to use fun, interactive way. Both sites get the students involved using simple technology that anyone can use, even cell phones can be used and what does a student like better than to use their phone in class. Little things such as Wordle and Poll Everywhere will make learing more enjoyable for students.

In the classroom Worrdle could be used mulitple ways in a classroom, spellng tests, speeches, a get-to-know-eachother activity. It is a fun way to have students be creative about their writing and spelling. It helps promote spelling and freedom of expression. They can design it how they want and make it fun which might be a good study tool for words they need help with. Poll Everywhere could be along with math. The students could use their phone or computer to answer the question they think is right. This could be done with any subject, and it helps the students who don't like answering questions outloud.

The ISTE NETS-T  is a big promotor to using technology in the classroom. Using both tools are a way for students to develop, educate and create using simple and neat technology. Makes learning fun!

Txt lang

Quote: "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 (Lenhart, Smith, & Macgill, 2008)."

Reaction:

I do not think that our language has gone to pot. Like the quote said “language goes through cycles, much like taste in music and politics” this is just a phase/craze that is happening now due to all the advantages in technology. I do believe that there is a certain time and place to be putting LOLs and BTWs; paper assignments probably not the best spot for those. This text language won’t affect students writing, they know when to speak and write informally and formally.  Yes, abbreviations are the way younger generations communicate but if they are taught when the appropriate time to use it this will not be something to worry about.

Reference:

Baron, Naomi. (2009, March). are digital media changing language. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar09/vol66/num06/Are-Digital-Media-Changing-Language%C2%A2.aspx

Related Resource: This video interviews students and teachers about their opinions on abbreviations affecting learning. It also talks about how students relies too much on technology when it comes to writing papers.

Oh and here's a website I found that has a bunch of acronyms that I didn't even know existed! CTO (check this out)