Photo Story

After my memory card was "misplaced," I started to retake the pictures for my photo story I had planned on doing for a geometry lesson. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate the weekend I wanted to go to DC to take pictures. I have to abandon this project idea until I get some time to get to DC to take pictures

Now on to Podcasting!

Well, let's talk about Podcasting. Wow, what a wonderful tool. I will be using this quite a bit. I have to remember that I must sign in for the students, let them comment, wait for their response and then embed it. I guess. A lot of work. But so worth it.

OMG!

I can't believe how hard it was for me to keep up in the STEP program. We had a lot to do and the computers were so s-l-o-w! I kept getting lost in the session between the links being on the periphery of the screen and the computer taking forever to respond to my key entries. Oh yeah, the itty-bitty text din't help either. Now, I really would like to take a few days off to play with and master what I just learned/missed. But we know better than to do that, now don't we?

At my wit's end

The question of the day is What about your favorite radio station? Well, I like to listen to Christian talk radio and news radio. The funny thing is that since I only listen in the car, I listen to the news station for weather and traffic and avoid the news. The Christian station however, has more to offer me. I like listening to the testimonial programs like those that Focus on the Family features from time to time. However, I cannot be in the car at 7:00 and 8:00 pm without tuning into Adventures in Odyssey. The reason it matters is because Adventures in Odyssey is a radio drama and there is a site that features podcasts from the characters of the show. So, my kids and I can now listen to Odyssey in the house at any time by going to www.whitsend.org.

Back to Normal

My frustration has subsided now that I have my project finished and posted onto Wikispaces. I am looking forward to the use of other technology skills for my classroom! Podcasting is the next topic we will be looking at, and I am very interested to find out what this is all about. I have heard about it but I'm not very familiar with it! Here we go :o)

I have had to go back and begin taking pictures again for my photo story I was working on...... Seems one of our wonderful students decided to borrow my memory card or accidentally picked it up??? It was the 2 gig card, why couldn't they have borrowed the 16 mb card?

I lost all of the pictures for my photo story plus other pictures from a field trip. Oh what fun I have been having.

Catching up is no fun!

Well, I am a little dismayed because Megan got the jump on everyone. So, let me say that using the camera has been fun. We took pictures and Hard Bargain Farms, where on of my child prodigies stuck his finger in the lens and broke the shudder thing. However, the camera works still. We have been to a Shakespeare workshop, because one of my classes is participating in the Folger's Shakespeare Festival. So, the other class is the Techno-group and takes pictures and creates technological projects like the PHOTO STORY! With that, I have 22 photo story projects about civil disobedience and another 12 samples from the kids.

Working on PhotoStory

Let's just say that I'm slightly frustrated. I've been trying to finish my photostories to post on Wikispaces. Did all of my narrations to find out that once I previewed the PhotoStory, there was nothing there. Real smart. I should have checked the first one to see that it had worked. Won't make that mistake again. Well, back to the drawing board. Now, if I can just remember all the wonderful things I said about each photo.

Student Photo Story

I have started to receive student photo stories. I have not been all that impressed with the ones I have seen so far. For example, a student choose to do one on math concepts covered this year. It was obvious he had spent some time taking pictures around his home, but a lot of the information in his narrations was incorrect.

The majority of student work included pictures taken from the internet, when the stories were published, the pictures are very distorted and hard to see. Also, most of the student were unable to narrate their projects because they do not have access to a microphone or headset.

I am extremely happy with their effort considering they are as new to Photo Story as I am.

Frustration Settled In

Friday 3/6/09

Today was a pretty frustrating day. I finished both of my Photo Stories. I selected a few students to come in at recess to do the narration of the student project. After school I finished the narration for my instructional photo story. I then proceeded to struggle my way through Wikispace. I had a hard time editing my page for my Digital Camera. As soon as I thought I fixed something, and saved it…it would go right back to the way it was before I started the editing. I was very frustrated. I decided to bring the rest of my work home (as it got to be 7pm) and I am finally finished at 9:30. I enjoy using my Elmo Document Camera, and I enjoy using my Digital Camera, but it is really a downer when I get my projects finished and then struggle for hours to upload it onto a website to be viewed. Now that my project is finished, I can sit back and take a deep breath!

~Megan~

MSA Review

I have been thinking about using Photo Story to review for the MSA. I will let the students pick a particular math or science concept and make a photo story to share with the class as a review.

Some of the students seem very excited about the idea. Of course I have a handful that are making up excuses as to why they can't do this project.

I am very curious to see the work from the students.

Digital Camera usage in the classroom

Tuesday 3/3/09

It is a blast to use the digital camera in my classroom. I really enjoy working with the students and helping them take pictures as well. Their faces light up when they realize they have just taken a picture and it builds their self-confidence with technology. The more I work with the Photo Story, the stronger my decision is to use this program for my end of the year picture compilation. I think the digital camera is a great tool to have in the classroom, because it helps catch “the moment” in teachable moments, and helps with making instruction clearer. I will definitely continue to use the digital camera in my classroom!

~Megan~

Welcome to EXCEL Academy STEP Blog

This is the blog setup for EXCEL STEP participants to post their reflections and ideas. Enjoy!