Door Scene Completion

After many hours of video editing, communication, and idea generating, we as a group finally completed our "door scene project. This project was a lot of fun. My part in this project was to come up with an idea relating to special education. I decided to focus on autism and digital story telling. Also, I took another roll as video editor. I selected iMovie as our editing software. I enjoyed using iMovie and thought it served it purpose within its parameters. Take a look at our video and share your thoughts...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fglDWTByMno

Thoughts about text

Throughout my readings, I have been impressed with Ohler’s organization of DST and how it is defined/described. At first, I found it difficult to follow along with the readings and generalize with the topic being discussed.  I have learned early that I learn best by actually applying what I’ve learned and putting it to practical use. After reading each section, I would take one piece of knowledge presented in the text and practice or look deeper into the meaning of the topic and how it applies to DST. 

Toward the end of chapter 2, I read a section entitled “Role of Help, Tech Support, and the Teacher.” Early on I knew I had a hard time following along with the text. Appling this principle or dilemma to technology or DST, when is it to late to ask for help? Ohler states, “how much outside help is acceptable or desirable.” That is an excellent question. I guess it depends on the individual’s knowledge. Promoting self-advocacy in learning is looked at in high regard but not practiced. As a teacher, I would promote like Ohler “learning communities.” These learning communities would facilitate student’s helping each other and making knowledge free for all. These communities would allow students to speak freely through conversation and help or fix misconceptions with using technology. Teachers need to make resources available and reward students for helping each other with technology or DST.  

Group Project: Digital Story Telling

Dave, Melinda, Gordon, and I as a group are working on a DST project that will cover all subject areas. Melinda is an elementary level teacher, both Gordon and Dave are middle/high school subject teachers, and I am a special education teacher. Our goal as a team is to cover each discipline starting with elementary, then going to middle school, high school and finally ending with special education. Each subject area will correlate to digital story telling. Each piece will analyze the importance of introducing or continuing with DST in the classroom as an instructional tool as well as focusing on the importance of technology education in the classroom.

DST is used frequently in special education. For my part, I will interview colleagues and professionals in the field of autism. The idea is to have each interviewee focus on a question I present them and answer it according to their experience. I will introduce the clip, followed by a definition/importance of social stories in autism, the parts of social stories, and ending with an idea of were social stories will be in a few years and how this skill is universal in education.

Javius G.  

DST Video Review (The Moutain)

What are your overall impressions of what you just saw?

My overall impressions of the video are positive. The video revisits childhood memories of spending time on her families land as a child and speaks of the environmental devastation brought about when it was mined. The video captured happiness, sadness, history, and strong viewpoints of opposition.

How could it be used in education?

From an educational standpoint, this video could be used in many ways. My initial thoughts were the video would be a great tool for introducing a chapter or discussion on environmental effects of strip mining as well as a discussion for using alternative uses of energy. The educational use and value of primary sources of information like digital story "The Mountain" mean much more than old fashion ways of getting information out to an audience.

How would assess what you just saw?

As a teacher, I would make a objective rubric, focusing on creativity, content/organization, storyboard, copyright, timing, and editing. All components are as important and lend it self to a fair grading process.