LightintheWoods

This post by Janet Clarey got me thinking about how my online activity is a reflection of me. Everyone needs to be conscious and aware of the way their online activity displays their personality. I often think that my interest in technology will give me a competitive advantage when I start the job search. But what if my perspective employers don’t like what I have to say or maybe they will think that I am too vocal, maybe they won’t like my writing style. How aware of this do I have to be when blogging or posting to facebook? Do I direct them to my blog and add them to my friend list without anything to hide or do I wait for them to google me? I think I always need to have it in the back of my mind. I also think I can use this as motivation for writing good posts that display who I am. This can be a great marketing tool if used optimally. I know I don’t want to end up here.

Technorati lists 1,085,251 posts about balance. It exists everywhere. Push and pull, pull and push, forces shape us and what we do. By recognizing forces that shape us, we become aware, and in turn gain control. My intention for this digital story was to depict the relaxed and fun end of the balance scale.

To complete the task I ended up using iMovie on my MacBook. I was all set to use photostory after viewing David Jakes tutorials, but when push came to shove, I shoved myself into the unknown world of Mac. It took a little time to figure it out, but I did, and I am glad I did. iMovie is a great tool full of neat features.

Over the weekend, I compiled photo’s and video of my favorite activities at the lake. My biggest challenge was remembering to take the camera with me. To beef up the story I then used some of my friend Jeremy’s photo’s from his time at the lake last summer and a couple pic’s from flickrstorm.

I am happy with the end product, but do recognize some weaknesses and things I want to do different with regards to timing and sounds. I also thought it would be cool to voice over a poem or reading that encapsulates my thoughts, feelings and reflections on my time out there, but alas, I ran out of time. Perhaps next time. Possibilities are endless with how digital storytelling can be used.

So without further ado, my weekend of relaxing.

Tonights ECMP class was very cool; the topic was digital storytelling. The power of technology was evident as we had 2 well known blogosphere gurus, David Jakes and Wesley Fryer participating in our conversation. Both of the gentlemen added some great insights and really reinforced Dean’s teaching. I really learned a lot. I see digital storytelling as a very empowering tool that allows to student to plan, compile and create a meaningful story that is their own. The options are seemingly endless. Digital storytelling is powerful education.

Following class I explored David Jakes site on storytelling. His PhotoStory 3 Screencasts are very good for learning how to get started with this particular program. From there, I viewed his screencasts on flickrstorm that have been posted to teachertube. I definitely foresee myself useing this program with my students because it saves time by directing the searching of images. Students can use it, or teachers can prepare photo sets for student use.

In May and June of this year I took EADM 310 and EPYS 322 (Special Needs). I proposed to my instructors that I was getting into this tech stuff, and it would be a great experience to experiment with wiki’s. Was I ever right!

For anyone familiar with Ed Pysc 322, the project involves creating your own resource binder with various strategies, management techniques, and visual strategies for special needs students. Check it out here. Peers were handing 3 inch binders that they were claiming they would never look at again. Think of the trees! The resource I created will be useful in my teaching and act as a great starting point for when I do encounter a student with a special need that I want to research further. The prof was so interested in this method that she is going to suggest that the next class collaborates in creating a similar wiki rather than binders.

In the Ed Admin class, I chose the topic of educational cyber policy. I found all relevant information to be online and realized that the wiki was the best method to deliver the research I had in mind. Check it out here. This method allowed me not to link to direct references but also deliver video and related news on the subject that was at time less than a week old.

One of the key aspects that I missed out on in the process of creating these wiki’s was the collaboration, so I invite each of you to join my wiki spaces and contribute as you see fit.

This where I plug wikispaces.com. Easy to use, and ad free wiki space for educational use. How could you beat that? I should also add that without this video, this project would of been far more intimidating.

This blog by Vicki, does a good job of summarizing some of the points Will Richardson presents on wikis in his book Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms.

I can not wait to use wiki’s in my classroom. The ease of use is phenomenal and it connects students directly with their peers for collaboration and meaningful learning. If anybody has any suggestions, or questions on wiki’s please leave me a note.

Anxiety, wow, trying to think about what to write is tough. My struggle lies in my own brain. I have read many places just to be informal and attempt common conversation. Another part of my problem is that I lack confidence in my own writing ability and fear the judgment of readers and peers. The little guy on my shoulder keeps telling me that this is great practice and that I won’t get better until I practice but those self conscious thoughts still exist. I suspect that confidence will grow as I become more comfortable in this personal cyber space. Another solution that exists is the possibility of including podcasts, voicethreads and slideshows to expand upon my thoughts and accomplish my blogging goals.

Diving deeper…

The story of lightinthewoods. I will have to add a page on this subject because it represents so much to me but for now a brief explanation of the blogs title. First on all, it is my last name roughly translated from German to English. It is representative of my love for the outdoors. This further symbolizes my philosophy on teaching, as a model and facilitator, it is my hope that students are attracted to the light, follow and are guided by the light. I hope to shine light on new learning for students. Light also brings about mental imagery of electricity, and in turn, I have been able to apply this to my thoughts on technology in the classroom shining new light on education and learning (as represented by the woods). The light cliches are seemingly endless, but I foresee that much who I am and will be as an educator is reflected through this phrase.