My Digital Story

November was a very difficult month for me. My digital story evolved into the final cut before you.I hope you enjoy it.

Week 14 reading and Discussion

“Students of narrative believe that we formulate notions of ourselves by telling ourselves stories about who we have been in the past and who we want to become in the future. Certain life changes have special import for one's sense of self- critical periods like adolescence or events such as changing jobs or the loss of a family member as was the case for Doris.”

Hull Glynda A.  At Last: Youth Culture and Digital Media: New Literacies for New Times Research in the Teaching of English, Vol. 38, No. 2 (Nov., 2003), pp. 229-233

I found this statement particularly hitting close to home, as I just recently lost my mother. Her loss was just one of many life changing events for me this year alone. I found by exploring the events of her life for my digital story, I also discovered things about me, who I was and who I still want to be. My mother was a strong inspirational woman, I hope to emulate.

 http://justhappyquotes.com/i-know-the-strong-women-in-the-world-women-quotes/ 

1. How does digital storytelling support academic literacies? It allows the student to look up important facts about the past and perhaps the future, beyond the usual text book information. It empowers the   student to make contributions that are recognized by their peers.  

2. Now that you have created your own digital story, do you think that using images, words and music to create a message is simplistic compared to traditional alphabetic print based argumentation? I don’t think simplistic is the right word. It’s different. One still needs to do the same research to tell their story, but putting it in a format that everyone can understand.

3. After creating your own digital story, do you see how digital storytelling can help develop a stronger sense of agency with in their own lives? Absolutely.  Everyone’s story is different, even within the same family. Their perspectives of time and events . Case in point would be the 50^th anniversary of J.F.K’s assassination. Where were you?, is totally different for each and every person. Now storytelling can express their feelings of that day.

 Do you think this might have a positive impact on students’ academic lives? It depends on the story. Not everyone has a positive tale to tell. It may be cathartic. I think teaching  this in a positive light may make it a positive experience.

Reading and Discussion Week #13

Week 13

I found this quote to be a little disturbing.

In response to the ISTE standards of 2007 in paragraphs 4 and 5 … “Yet much pre-service education technology instruction focuses overly on the use of technology as a tool for digital creation. ... Furthermore there are many factors that can impact successful technology integration.” ( Avila & Pandya ,2013 pg.127)

 

What I found to be disturbing is that the teachers’ desire for integration is thwarted due to frustrations with university IT departments; lack of readiness of equipment, software or awareness by administrations when attempting to integrate technology i.e.  Pierpont switching to Google—what a disaster or in the real world Obama Care anyone?

Avila, J. , Pandya ,J.(2013). Critical digital literacies as social praxis. NY, New York: Peter Lang 

This an old time favorite but  seems appropriate on many occasions over the semester.

 

http://www.laughnet.net/archive/toons/hammerd.jpg

1. Why do the authors of this chapter chose to use the term "critical digital literacies" rather than just "digital literacies"? It is not good enough to be just digitally literate anymore. Although technological skills are important it is the analytical aspect of understanding and the engagement of these skills within the broader context of technology use; such as the personal, professional, environment and practice.

2. How well did our own teacher education program prepare you to use technology in your teaching practices? Was it more tools based or literacy based?

I wish I had more than one or two semesters to learn about technology. I came into technology based education late in my career. Newer younger teachers have the time and expertise to develop programs in their classes and better prepare students for college and technology based careers. I learned tons both with tools and literacy. I plan to continue using what I have learned to make my students responsible digital technology users. 

3. What should teachers be thinking about when they engage in critical thinking as it relates to technology use in school? They should be thinking about developing critical, reflective curricula, where they, as teachers, understand the uses, functions and influences of technology.

4. On page 149, it is stated that students have certain rights with respect to "critical digital literacies." Do students in your teaching context have these rights? Give an example or non-example of at least one of these rights.

 All students have these rights. However, whether or not they are actually endorsed is not always the case. Words are very powerful, actions speak volumes. I think teachers at every grade level would be happy to enact all of these rights. But dollars, education and the support from administration is not always forth-coming.

An example is Right#1 “The right to access and use up-to-date new technologies building on everyday (or out-of –school )practices. “ ( Avila & Pandya 2013) The two biggest set of words; up-to-date and out-of school, I feel are biggest contradictions, because not every student or school district is created equal. In West Virginia, for example, there are very poor districts that don’t have computer access yet.

 

Reading and Discussion Week#12

“Though role playing may not seem like a necessary component of critical literacies education, it functions in several imperative ways. First it adds relevance to the curriculum in ways that the students are able to understand.”( Avila & Pandya , 2013)

I like this statement because this is enabling the students to take some responsibility for their education. It is not just the teacher dictating what they need to learn and them repeating back to the teacher what they memorized. In some cases role playing may be a luxury, but I think it could be utilized in the curriculum in small doses. This also gives the students a stake in their education, they learn to critically think, ask questions and listen to others.

We use role playing in the allied health field all the time. I have students be the therapist and patient. There are many  programs that have actual simulations to practice, and you can kill someone and not get into trouble.

Avila, J. , Pandya ,J.(2013). Critical digital literacies as social praxis. NY, New York: Peter Lang

 

 

http://d3emqam57x9hee.cloudfront.net/uploads/service_leader-led-digital-learning.jpg

 

1. How did the Ask Anansi game support critical literacies?

The critical literacies were supported through social play. Students incorporated literacies of resistance and amplified their own emerging critical points of view through performance. This also encouraged students to approach future classes with questions, critically and playfully.

2. How did the Ask Anansi game support academic literacies?

The game allowed students to act, question and engage in critical and playful inquiry. This tool empowered the students in a learning experience that would help shape ways people participate and interact in the real world.

3. How did the Ask Anansi game support digital literacies?

Each class member was given an iPod Touch which centered around the basic features of most mobile devices. The students took notes, texted, conducted research and documentation through photo and video production. Quick response codes customized this information.

4. What is meant by the term "reading the word and reading the world and writing the world"? Give an example from the chapter.

I think this could mean that digital literacies go beyond the borders of the students’ homes, school or city. The whole world is open to them. There are no limits to the universe as defined by their own physical constraints. They need to learn to make literacies relevant to the larger context of society and culture. They learn to put meanings to events and process the everyday world and process ,reinterpret and reread the world.   

 

Digital story board

Begin by addressing each of the following elements of a digital story and post your decisions about each element to a blog titled "Addressing the seven Elements of Digital Storytelling.

■Point of View. My story will be told by me.

■Dramatic Question. How has technology changed over the past century? It will be according to my Mother’s life. 1920- to now.

■Emotional Content. It is a story of profound loss----as my mother is taking her last breaths in hospice from a devastating stroke and I am sitting at her bedside, I reflect on the past century and what incredible changes have occurred.

■Voice. I absolutely hate my voice, but I will bite the bullet and narrate.

■Soundtrack. I’m still looking for the appropriate background, music. Not something sad or dark. I am celebrating her life.

■Economy. This will be tough as a lot has happened over the past century. I will try to keep my script short.

■Pacing. I don’t want to say a lot, but will try to keep informal type of talk---around a cup of coffee. This will take some practice. If I can’t get it by the due date, there will be  a lot of music.

My story board

Reading and discussion week #11

“The myth of the outdistanced teacher…. Although some teachers are reluctant to use computers in class, many things the students value about using computers are things they have learned from teachers in school.” (  Avila & Pandya 2013)

I am learning to believe that there are teachers passionate about the digital classroom and promote the possibilities as a way of inspiring students and enhance learning. I am learning about the positive effects of digital media and students’ ability to use computers in new and improved ways. I am learning that social media isn’t all bad but users need to be taught to be responsible.

Avila, J. , Pandya ,J.(2013). Critical digital literacies as social praxis. NY, New York: Peter Lang

I choose this picture because teachers are getting connected and passing this on to their students.

http://www.cabletechtalk.com/public-policy/schools-and-education/cable-in-the-classroom-whos-teaching-digital-citizenship/

1.     What is the difference between an "essentialist" "traditionalist" or "autonomous" "perspective of technology and literacy and a New Literacy Studies ot "ideological"perspective on technology and literacy? Which perspective do you adhere to? Why? 

The essentialist says - this digital media and these are the programs that you will learn. Hopefully you will be able to use these skills in the real world. A tradionalist says – this is a digital media these are the programs were chosen to be in the curriculum. You will learn these programs to graduate. Autonomous teaching is independent to the student. Students learn their skills and concepts  but these are tied to the students’ socioculture, intellectual and actual settings of the classroom.

2.     Give three concrete examples of how the teacher in the chapter supported "new literacy" or "critical digital literacies" practices with blogging.

1. Anne used the computer as tool for production, sharing and making the students’ activities matter.

2. Anne enabled her students to develop their own ‘ voices’ to participate out in the open and share thoughts and ideas.

3. Literacy practices  enabled and empowered the students to be critically aware of language and technology in an intelligent manner in the public arenas.

 

Brainstorming my Digital Story

I pondered the last 6 decades of my life and ended up with a headache. It’s amazing how time heals old pains, accentuates the good one. I was born on Mother’s Day in 1951. I now look forward to retirement in 2017, just 4 more short years. It’s true, they say about time flying faster as you get older. I remember being 5 and waiting for Christmas and now Christmas is just a few minutes away. I honestly don’t have specific scenes from my childhood positive or negative. Those years have blended into decades. I lived in the suburbs with my older sister and younger brother, my mom stayed home and my dad was the bread winner. I was active in Girl Scouts and learned to always be prepared. Something I carry to this day.  

I am using some of my critical media knowledge and taking a cue from one of my classmate’s blog. I decided to explore digital media through the decades of my life. Did you know that in the ‘50’s the transistor radio was invented? It only had AM stations and when my sister got one, it was the ‘cat’s meow’. The ‘60’s brought the first televised Presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. Nixon lost because he looked ‘sinister’. Kennedy’s funeral was also the first televised in 1964 as well as Lee Harvey Oswald’s murder. My brother got a calculator that added, subtracted, multiplied and divided and cost a $100.00.   The 70’s brought civil rights, women’s rights, bra burning and draft card burning. It brought the end of the Vietnam War and computers. We had pong, a digital tennis match. Music was on cassettes and we tries to tape off the radio. Anyone remember 8 track tapes?

I think you get the idea of what I want to do. Trying to find pictures of myself through those decades will be the problem. Nothing was digital back then. Events in the world and in my life made the person I am today. I really don’t think is a whole lot I wish to change.