The Eleventh Hour Blogger here. GOOD NEWS! You should now be able to post a comment on my blog. A couple of test runs later and I was able to post a test comment from my wife's computer.
Speaking of my wife, the Voicethread project was a great way to include her. As a new dad I love talking about our new little girl and how special my wife is. The Voicethread below includes some comments about two adventures we've gone on as a family.
I really liked using this kind of digital media and think it could be a great tool in the classroom. We saw an example in the digital media class of a second grader describing his drawing of a monster. Seeing and hearing what his thoughts were was amazing and captured way more than he could possibly in writing it out. I think some of my students who need encouragement to expand their thinking could really excel with this tool.
I did have a little frustration with being limited on time. Recording throught a computer microphone didn't really constrain me, but I tried the phone feature and was surprise how quickly the time was used us. If I would want my grandma to add some comments via phone, she would need to purchase some minutes. I need to look further into it, but I wonder if there is a way to have others use your account. At least this way I could purchase some credits my grandmother could use.
Mostly though, the use is very easy and straight forward. I have no doubts my 5th graders could do something like this. I also like how anything that could be photographed could be included and commented on. This would be great for reflective thinking about a project, presentation, or even sharing their thinking about steps to a math problem. The possibilities could be endless. I think I'll look at the next math unit to see what I could have some of my more advance student explain via Voicethread that other students could access anytime, even at home.
That's all for now, and remember, “Digital is just another language like English, Spanish, or French. But remember, keep it real”
The Voicethread Process
Online Role Playing Reflection
Reflect on your experience participating in the ORP. What was one highlight and one lowlight of your experience?
Highlight was being able to really dive into the character and the fictional situations they may actually incur. Even though I couldn't take credit for some of the great things I blogged about, like the camp itself or geo caching, I felt like I was helping spread the awareness while looking like I could share the credit.
Low point was feeling the tension in some discussions. How could people really feel like that, but they are out there and I need to deal with it. It felt like they were looking to pick an argument and really did even read my entry.
Also, what new digital learning practices did you take up through your ORP experience? See list below to probe your thinking (From Jenkins page 4).
I would say that there didn't really seem to be any negotiation. It was almost like it was one side versus the other side. I did feel a little connection with someone who wanted to know more about what my camp did.
The play, performance, simulations, and appropriation was great. I thought it was masterful being able to use media out there already to back up beliefs stated. When I read another persons entry that wasn't backed up with something, I felt like it was just them on their soap box. All the links to studies complete, expert analysis, or some kind of news coverage made it feel like I wanted to learn more and not just tune out someone ranting.
As Zax Outback I learned that they are already people and organizations already out there. I never realized such things, but it was really great to feel more connected and aware of the world around me.
Role Playing and National Writing Day
I totally dove into my alter ego, Zax Outback. I was surprised by how much information was already out there about the topic of digital media. I also thought it was pretty impressive that the White House created an Information Literacy Month (That was real, right?). The various perspectives and postings people create were really impressive. Naturally Sophia Verite Johansen lead the way with her masterful media. (Naturally I have give props to someone who mentions me in a positive light in one of her media pieces). I also found myself frustrated with some of the other views, but there are people out there with those kinds of views. Overall I learned quite a lot through the research I did to support positions in my postings. In this kind of forum, it is really fun to play out what it would be like as someone else. Pretending I was a key players in getting Geo Caching, being a part of the Digital Academy camp programs, sending out brochures about my camp, and even incorporating my own classes camp experience etc. were some great memories and some great ways to dive into the role of Zax Outback.
National Writing Day
Yesterday our class looked closer at writing in a variety of ways. Since we've recently returned from a camp, students pick their favorite picture from a collection I put together on our class website, and students blogged about that experience. We also create a poster listing all the ways we could think of that we've ever used writing. Students also briefly described favorite personal experiences with writing. To drive home the digital writing piece, I had a student video tape each students response to the question, "Why is writing important to me?" and "What is one of my favorite experiences with writing." I'm hoping to show the class how to turn it into a video montage and how it's considered writing.
That's all for now.
The Eleventh Hour Blogger
Play, Simulation, and Performance
Play, simulation, and performance are all interelated, yet each focuses on its own way of learning. Which of these speaks most to you in terms of your own learning or the learning your observe in your classroom? Explain.
I like to play. Give me anything to sit alone with it, figure out, see what it can do, try to take it past its limits, and more. Looking at my personal life I've always played with technology, and reflecting on it I can see it was done with things I was heavely interested and on my own time. When I think about this in the classroom, I wonder if I've really ever given students this same chance. The underlined statement links back, I feel, to the core of learning.
Post #4 - Role Play
Here I am again, Thursday morning entering my post. Tuesday is agreed upon date, and I fully support and understand the reasoning for it. My life unfortunately does not reflect a person who can adhere to due dates and time tables. I'm always curious way I find myself here. I'll probably show up for my own funeral late, and my grave site with say "Better late than never." I know the importance of respecting people's time and not do things at the last minute, but yet here I am the "Eleventh Hour Blogger."
Okay, Lila is back in mama's arms. She woke up this morning with a horribly stuffed nose, and considering how much she relies on that nose when she's feeding it can be a tough go.
Back to the story at hand...
In what ways do you already use role-play and simulation in your classroom for purposes of learning? How might these activities be enhanced through online simulations?
In 5th grade social studies role play has really extended learning. We have a curriculum called Story Path. It is a wonderful interactive role play focusing on the Revolutionary War and causes that lead up to it. In the end you need to decide if you are a Loyalist or a Patriot. Students out themselves in the roles of colonist during that era. We even have had the media specialist dress up like Governor Hutchinson to conduct a town hall meeting with the students/colonist. It can be pretty impressive with what the students can come up with. Online simulations can even take a step further and help with perspective. The website Loyalty or Liberty lets the students take on the role of a slave during the times who gets the inside scoop from both English and American sides. In the students have to choose if this slave is going to give his information to the English or the Americans. Thinking about what we are doing through http://edinaroleplay.ning.com/ taking the roles from the Loyalty or Liberty website and having an online debate/discussion through a vehicle like Ning could really be fascinating.