I too was very impressed with the Mabry student made movies - participating in the production certainly is an engaging experience for students. One boy said "Making a movie is like learning on steroids!" That pretty much says it all. Their topic choices are very relevant and the messages are indisputably sincere.
But, that being said - Milwaukee isn't Marrietta!
Several years ago I tried making iMovies with students and found out that for the most part they were very motivated with the idea, but they lacked the self discipline and ability to stay on task required to storyboard, shoot, edit, modify, re-shoot, and complete an iMovie. It ended up being another very time consuming adventure, not too fruitful, just adding to my already overloaded schedule.
Even so I am thinking about giving iMovies another chance. If I can find the right group of students, and have the time and energy, I believe I'll give it another go. Pertinent topics might include: Bullying, Coming to School on Time, Taking Responsibility for Your Actions, etc.
Scott
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I agree with you Scott, Milwaukee is not Marietta. You know better than anyone else being a teacher with part-time help from a paraprofessional with other job duties, the kind of help needed in a district like Milwaukee goes far beyond just the help with technology. Unlike Marietta with it's ability to tap into all the tech tools available to them and most students performing above grade level the process is far less strenuous than it would be in MPS. There greatest asset is a principal who values technology and what it can do and takes an active role in pushing the students, teachers, community (professional adman!) to join in. I still hope to partner with the teachers at Hi-Mount to try this format. I am lucky I can do this as a partner. Schools that do not have library media specialists or trained teachers working as Instructional Technology Leaders or Technology Coordinators have a much harder row to hoe.
Amen!
Yes, Fran you are right the greatest asset is a principal that values technology. Last year our principal was the exact opposite. In the process of keeping his head above water, he pulled every staff member down. Hopefully our new principal will climb on board and eventually help lead our technology agenda.
Scott
Scott,
Are you familiar with David Jakes or Wesley Fryer? I attended a session given by Wesley Fryer and David Jakes was in the audience of another session I went to. The Presenter introduced him and said he knew everything about digital storytelling,
David Jakes, Downer’s Grove, Illinois
Digital Storytelling, Visual Literacy and 21st Century Skills
http://www.techlearning.com/techlearning/pdf/events/techforum/ny05/Vault_article_jakesbrennan.pdf
He said you tell kids they have 2 minutes to show on the movie what it means to be……… One suggestion he gave was: what it means to be an American. I was thinking I would like to ask some of my students to show me what it means to have a learning disability or what does it feel like to be hyperactive. I want to start sharing digital profiles of my students instead of paper ones with my reg ed colleagues.
Wesley Fryer- also has some information on Digital Storytelling.
His blog, “Moving at the Speed of Creativity” (www.speedofcreativity.org) was selected as the 2006 “Best Learning Theory Blog” by eSchoolnews and Discovery Education.
http://teachdigital.pbwiki.com
Hope this helps,
Celinda
Celinda
Thanks for the info. His website sounds intriguing, I'm going to check it out.
Scott
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