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Digital Storytelling Reflection Alex

I had fun making my first Animoto video for this assignment.  I liked the tool fine and had no trouble using it.  Of course, these things are quite time-consuming, but I enjoyed it.  In fact, I decided to pay to upgrade for a month just because I wanted my video to be longer than the free account would allow.  Just US$30.00, not so bad.

I did not write out a script.  In fact, I did not use words at all.  I used my VoiceThread recording about "A Day in the Life of an Educator" as my script.  My goal was to convey with images and video clips the idea of my ordinary day, including the elements I talked about on VT.  I also went to one of the recommended sites for free audio/music and picked out my own, as opposed to what Animoto offers.

I think it worked out pretty good for first try.  I did follow the steps given, in that my VT was the script, and I chose about 30 images/videos to use, and finally, put the video together.  Let me know what you all think:

http://animoto.com/play/4oEEcpivp38hPNx90ZGQJA

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About Blogging

First of all is amazing how technology can involve us. As I told I am a newbie, but discovering how to use web tools is helping me a lot.  I have to innovate my classes, and blogging is one way to do that. Maybe it can keep my students focus on learning, sharing ideas, dividing experiences. For a while I am giving me a chance to learn more about everything, but in the future I hope to have most of my students connected with me.

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Graeme's Day in the life

Graeme talked about his unconventional day, always with new challenges and a bit of routine when he is in Brasilia. 

Also, he tried out a web tool called Yodio in which he recorded his voice and added images to it. 

How about your story? Which tool would be the perfect fit to retell it?

http://www.yodio.com/yo.aspx?CardId=QlRxF8NW0I6xoZ8lDPBX07 

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As a school system employee, this is so true - Imgur

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Dear all, 

As we are in the images week, I thought I'd mention that Tumblr has very interesting bloggers to follow that can give us just the resources we need for our classroom. 

For example, this image could be just what we needed for a creative writing activity, dialogue creation with 3 characters (the girl on the phone, the other person talking to her, and the thoughts in the man's mind). How could you use this image in your classroom?

youth, digital

for a long time, you’re too young for most things; but when that ends, you find yourself unprepared.

here’s a little isometric perspective for a change.  it’s both hip and caters to my laziness!

this drawing summarizes my last month.  i spent a lot of time thinking about “the phantom of the opera” and shopping online for scooter dresses.  kind of a strange combination.  maybe i pushed the male too far to the creepy side (cast shadows…) but he’s supposed to dance the edge.

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Mariana's Reflections on Blogging

I think this is a cute picture - the old lady innovating, using technology to perform a task she used to do before the computer. This is what I think I have to do in relation to blogging – use it in class to do some tasks students used to do, just adapting to the computer. It can be fun, innovative and motivating.

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Lisa's Reflections - Blog Auditing

Well, let me start off by saying - if I could just copy and paste Alex's post about blogging here, I would :)  He pretty much summed up exactly how I feel.  I have never been a journal writer, etc.  But instead of delving into that whole thing again, I'll write about what I have learned this week. 

The highligh of the auditing for me was just that - the auditing.  It was nice to see other features and a little more in depth of what can be done on your blog page and how to better present a clean, organized and yet inviting space.  

The biggest thing I probably learned this week was to open up my mind a little more.  As teachers, there will always be things we enjoy more than others - but in my quest to be a good teacher, I need to give my students access to more than just what I enjoy.  Carla's reply to my post last week really gave me some good ideas.  While writing isn't my favorite method of communication, I can use what I'm good at (talking, pictures, etc) and open it up for my students to reply in a way that they are good at (writing if they prefer...).  Up until now I have viewed writing as a subject that I'm required to teach, but let's just teach it and get it done!!  Now I'm starting to see how it can be better incorporated through means like blogging.  

As for interesting things from peers - WOW!  I'm just starting to realize just how much information there is available!  It's incredible that we live in a time with so much access to great information from around the world.  It gets to be a bit overwhelming though - as we've mentioned before, one blog leads to another which leads to another....  Sometimes in the wealth of information, it's hard to implement anything.  It's like "too many good ideas" and so you end up doing nothing....  That may be a little of my obsessive nature coming out though - lol - If I can't do it perfectly, sometimes I opt for not doing it....

On my blog, I was able to add a couple widgets, but other than that, not much.  I did get a lot of ideas though - just haven't had the time or motivation to do it yet :)  

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in-the-beginning-logo on Flickr.

This is how I'm feeling. I am in a huge universe. I'm trying do deal with my emotions in relation to my family, my career and with myself. Sometimes I felt like someone that didn't move, or moved in circles. Is our life a circle? I really don't know, but I am here I am in the beginning and I am in the end, too.

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The highlight of my blogging auditing was the realization that I am not a blogger, nor do I intend to become one. I mean, we have all heard about the blogosphere and how powerful it becomes every day, and we are all on board with the importance of connecting and sharing and elearning in our...

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Blog auditing process

In response to this week's reflective questions:

What was the highlight of your blogging auditing? Well, I did find there were a couple of things I could add to make my blog more complete. Did you learn anything new? I was reminded about the gadgets!!! Did your peers share anything interesting with you? I received several comments on the content of the blogposts themselves, but not so much on format etc. What have you changed or added to your blog after analyzing it? I added a blogroll of my favourite ELT blogs and also gadgets to count the number of visitors, as well as one to facilitate sharing via social media etc.

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Lisa's picture for blogging

So here's my picture for blogging :)  This is what comes to mind when we start talking about blogs.  It's like a light bulb going off - I realize and see how useful this can be - but there's a huge question mark over the whole thing....  I have to be honest - writing is not my greatest form of expression. I have a super hard time putting my words in a permanent format.  And as we read in the new material for week 6 - blogging is a "conversation" within the group.  I'm not too great at conversation either :)

It's funny - in the classroom, I feel like I get to be an actress.  I can be outgoing and interesting and have great classes and conversations with my students and fellow teachers.  But then we get into the "real world" and the true me comes out (or doesn't.....depending on how you look at it).  I am EXTREMELY introverted!  In a situation that is not related to my occupation, I prefer to sit in the corner & watch.  

Because of this, I worry about how my attitude may affect my students in regards to blogging.  I respect it - i read others and appreciate them - I'm just not too keen on doing it myself.....so how can I present it in a good way to make my students interested?  I have never been one to write in a journal or chronicle my life in any way - so blogging is a huge leap for me.   I question how effective I will be in passing this on to my students - even though I do understand how useful this medium can be.  I'm sure a great majority of my students are not the exact same as me :)  There are probably a lot that could benefit from blogging as opposed to being outgoing during class..... Something to think about.....I'll be working on it :)

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Dealing with change.

The Graeme Spot! http://graemespot.blogspot.com/