Flash Plan Assignment

I am so excited about learning how to make a Flash animation, however, I know next to nothing about Flash! I feel confident though that after watching all the screencasts, I should have a better understanding of what Flash is all about and should (with a little help from my friends and mentors) be able to create what it is I'm dreaming up for my PBL assignment. So here it is, my plan for my Flash assignment, otherwise known as My Flash Plan:
PURPOSE: The purpose of my project is to introduce the Orphan Train Webquest I am creating for my PBL work this semester.
AUDIENCE: The audience I'm targeting is the class I'm creating the webquest for, a group of 5th grade students.

CONTENT, LAYOUT and DESIGN: I'm visualizing an old-fashioned passenger train car moving across the top of the screen (think Splash header), complete with audio of train whistles and engine sounds. I would like each window on the train to be blank, but as the train moves, for different pictures to open in each window. The pictures will be actual photographs of orphans who traveled on the real Orphan Trains. I'm still thinking of the text, if any, that I might want to appear as the train reaches the end of the page, maybe just the title of the webquest and a catchy subtitle, with my name.
So, that's the PLAN! I'm excited to get started, but I'm not sure of how to do that yet! In the meantime, I'm going to look for the photographs I want to include in the project.

Google Guru Workshop

The Google Guru workshop was awesome! I learned so much in such a short period of time and there was a lot of information I want to go back to and explore further! To think I just knew about Google Documents at the start of the morning. Now I'm excited to try some templates and spreadsheets, and have even started playing around with a google form survey, as you can see above. Templates, presentations, spreadsheets and forms, oh my!

Using Flash in the Library

It is my last semester in T.E.A.M. and we are exploring Flash. As with most I have experienced so far in this degree program, I have no experience with Flash, but hope to understand and be able to use it very soon! For homework I had to view many different examples of flash on the web, which gave me a better idea of the many uses of flash for educational purposes. After viewing the examples, I developed the following three (3) ideas for incorporating flash into my library lessons:
1. Interactive Games
What better way to assess student learning than through a fun, interactive game? I know my students love playing games on the computer, so why not combine their love for gaming with a review of library terms or a crash quiz on the Dewey Decimal system? With flash, making learning fun for students is possible and helps me assess what my students are learning, what needs to be reinforced and/or explained in more detail. Whether it is a simple game or one which uses more advanced flash techniques, a game is an effective way to introduce or test information literacy skills.
2. Stimulating Lessons: Graphics, Sounds, Movie Clips
I think using flash techniques could really make research subjects come alive for students. Sites like PBS, Discovery Channel, and Smithsonian all use flash to put the viewer in the historical scene. Students can view a movie clip made in flash and gain a better understanding of what they will be researching. Short flash movie clips on a topic would be a great way to introduce a research project and build enthusiasm.
3. Splash Header for Library Website
I feel a vibrant and interactive website is a necessity for a 21st century library media center. Therefore, creating a splash header for the homepage would be a great way to stimulate interest in the library’s website and entice more students to explore further. Employing techniques similar to those used in the Smithsonian—African Voices example given to us, would really enhance the look and feel of my library’s website. Scrolling text, pictures appearing and fading over a set time, are just a few ideas which would look really nice. I can’t wait to start creating a splash page!

Summer I--Video Class

Summer session one has begun and already I'm totally hooked on video! I've just finished creating my first assignment, an educational PhotoStory. I chose to create a documentary of my son's day trip to Philadelphia with his cub scout den and our whole family. Philadelphia is a great city with lots of history, and it made a wonderful subject for my educational PhotoStory. Check out my PhotoStory below to see some of the interesting sites in Philadelphia!

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Reflections on Year One in T.E.A.M.

What an amazing first year this has been! I cannot believe the amount of technology I have been exposed to, played with and actually used over the last few months. Although this past year has been extremely stressful, trying to finish up my library degree at the same time as starting this Ed Tech degree, I don't regret my decision at all! Believe it or not, working on the two degrees at once really complemented each other. I have been able to use all this new technology in the library lessons I've created for my student teaching this semester and in my assignments for my library classes. Being able to integrate technology in this way into my library work has really been a bonus not only to me, but to my students, and it has made me more confident in my teaching abilities. Now, as I prepare for graduation from library school on Mother's Day (the best and only gift I want that day!), I can look forward to focusing exclusively on T.E.A.M. in the coming summer sessions. I love video and photography and can't wait to get started on those classes, that it doesn't even seem like class work to me! In addition, I have been busy with searching for a library media specialist position for next school year (yes, it has been a very hectic semester!)and am looking forward to finding a job where I can incorporate all this great technology am I learning into my library lessons and media center website.

Having fun with VoiceThreads

I just took yet another workshop, this time on creating VoiceThreads around images. The workshop was held at the Hecksher Museum in Huntington. What a great location for a workshop! We were introduced to VoiceThreads and then given an assignment to engage us in actually working with and creating our own VoiceThread. First, we viewed some of Long Island's best student artwork, then we had to take pictures of certain works, upload them into VoiceThread, then record a description of each piece including our comments and reactions. I really enjoyed the whole process, from the picture taking to working with VoiceThread. Just think of all the possibilities this tool can present in a classroom or library! Now I have another addictive tool to add to my Web 2.0 toolbox! Below is my first VoiceThread I created at the Hecksher Museum:

Live from ASSET!

Here I am, at my very first technology conference. So far it is similar to the library and research conferences I have attended, with the name tags, free bags and breakfast. However, I find the vendors and all the cool technology much more fun to look at! As I wandered around the exhibits before the keynote address, I fell in love with a SmartBoard type of technology called Mimio Interactive, which turns ANY whiteboard surface (including a piece of white foam core board!) into an interactive surface! The ramifications of this little piece of technology astounded me, as I pictured teachers being able to share the Mimio, making it much more cost effective than large SmartBoards. Every class has a board, so just clip the Mimio on and you're set to go. I will definitely remember this piece of technology when I get a job in my own library next year, because if there is no SmartBoard already, I'll budget for the more cost-effective Mimio!

Rushton Hurley was the keynote speaker. He was great, very funny, informative and inspiring. His message was a good one, that technology will enable us to learn along side of our students, creating a fun learning environment which will increase focus and confidence of our students. He demonstrated a few fun and free technology tools and connected these to the curriculum and also to testing and assessment. His use of the interactive "clickers" was a lot of fun too! Now off to my first session on technology projects in the classroom! I'm having so much fun already!