Finale

Tai completed the slideshare and did a great job, if not to time constraints, we would have gone to the university to use the moviemaker and add audio. This girl has some creativity, she did better than me on my initial slideshare/powerpoint, very creative, if i didn't tell her to stop she would have a 50 page slideshares. The process unfolded greatly, couldn't have had a better kid to work with. If we had more time we could have done the moviemaker. What could I say she is my offspring... But this was what we could whip up.. Please see Tai's blog.

Research Process/Guide on the Side

The research process is going well. we have completed the essential questions and her unit questions.The inquiry based approach allows me to guide Tai using the questions she would like to research and provide answers to. She is having a great time and has no questions on the tools. She has started her internet resources and work cited page. I have given her instruction and she is literally running with the ball. i think I am learning a thing or two from her. Please see her work cited page:

I am literally the guide on the side, she has this down. Her computer courses at Grant Middle School surely are reflecting here.

Service Project with Tai/Leading in inquiry based

Session 1: My project will involve my daughter, Tai. Her essential question is What is make up. She will be completing her unit questions today. She has posted her unit questions.
Her blog page is:

Also see her KWL Chart that she created on google docs.

Inquiry based learning is going well, she has the interest and that is her drive, she really is looking foward to the final product, the movie. or in our case if we can't we don't have movie maker at home, so we may have to settle for a power point.

Excel Spreadsheet

I began to create an excel spreadsheet regarding geography pertaining to my theme culture. I was a little stumped so I chose the square mileage of certain countries, my chart has the actual mileage and a slot wherein I guessed what the mileage could be.

The excel spreadsheet and google docs are great tools I have learned in this class, and can be introduced to the students. These are both great tools but excel, excels in math, since this is a new to me I stuck with the basic addition and subtraction formulas. It can also be used in science for the same formulas and calculations. It can be used in social studies and geography. They can do online research or research the old fashion way from books from the library and input data into a spreadsheet. Basically learn the basic and you can just grow and incorporate more ideas. I can take this through the Inquiry based approaching with the premise "need or want to know".

My 3 guided questions pertaining to my existing spreadsheet:
1. Where is my country?
2. How big is my country?
3. Which country is bigger my home country or the U.S.?

Here is my chart (graph)and spreadsheet:
you can see the chart by clicking on the bottom of the page where it lists chart.
These is a generic spreadsheet but you can see where this can take you in a project, especially when you have a little more time to research and plug in data.

Movie Maker

Movie Maker was a GREAT and FUN way to create movies. We created a movie using a camera, movie maker, free play music, audacity, PowerPoint, and the Internet. We used Elita's plan on "How do we distinguish letters and sounds?" We had fun using mainly videos and pictures converted from powerpoint to jpeg, but the best part was working with the children, we worked with my niece Makayla. It was a treat to have her over from out of town to work with. The audacity feature was really cool, but we limited ourselves and didn't put any music. The tools that we learned in class and applied to our project was really neat and insightful and will help us as future educators. As teachers we can pass this great technology onto our students. What a great way to get them buzzing with technology.

Again I can't stress how fun this was and this would be a great project for the older kids in elementary. Starfall.com is an awesome website. Please check it out. My niece loved this site.

Elita Perez and I teamed up for this project. Enjoy!

Distinguishing letters and sounds

Seven Elements of Digital Storytelling

The Seven Elements of Digital Storytelling that will be incorporated in our video "How do we distinguish letters and sounds?

Please see my group unit plan: (drafted still working on)
Please also see my storyboard (also still working on)

1) What is Digital Storytelling? the art of telling stories with a variety of digital multimedia. We will be using all the elements in our storyboard. 2) What are the 7 Steps to Digital Storytelling?
point of view, a dramatic question, emotional content, the gift or your voice, the power of soundtrak, economy, pacing . We will focus on point of view and dramatic question. 3) What are three types of Digital Stories, defined and exemplified? peronsonal narratives, historical documentaries, stories that inform or instruct. Our digital story will inform. 4) How is digital storytelling an effective tool for teachers? It enhance current lessons within a larger unit, a way to fascilitate discussion about the topics presented in a story, makes abstract or conceptual content more understandable. Its a great way to engage students in instruction. 5) How is digital storytelling an effective tool for students? It will generate their interest, attention and motiviation for the digitial generation. 6) What types of student literacies does digital storytelling address? Our story board will include all the literacies: digitial literacy, global literacy, technology literacy, visual literacy and information literacy . 7) What are the full complement of literacy skills students develop? We will be using the following literacy skills: technology, presentation, assessment, research, problem solving, we did not incorporate the other skills: writing skills, organization skills, interview skills, interpersonal skills. 8) What are some challenges and resources to meet challenges in creating your own digital story? We have the digital resource available. We may encounter technology problems, I am not a technology savy person.