SELF SELECTED PROJECT

I chose to do the digital text project.  Going into this project I had several different ideas of what to do to represent digital text.  As I started, I realized how hard it might be to use some of these awesome programs in your class.  Some you have to have downloaded on the computers (which some kids might not even have computers at home, or might not be allowed to download stuff onto their computers), and even if you had a computer lab with the programs already downloaded many of these programs demand a lot of time for the learning curve as well as time invested in downloading content for your project.  I came across a program called Prezi.  Prezi is pretty  much a power point presentation with a little more zing to it.  Probably one of the coolest things that I have ever come across.  I forgot about my students for awhile and thought of all the different ways and possibilities that I could use it in my presentations and teaching.  It does not cost anything and requires no downloading which is fantastic.  You are able to insert pictures and videos easily without any trouble and you don't even need to leave the website to access them.

With students I think that they would respond very well to Prezi.  I think that they would have a lot of fun with the program.  I think it would be a good idea to reserve the computer lab for two days and have the students work on their own presentations.  You could assign out topics that you had gone over for the entire semester, or break it into smaller topics that maybe you had just covered in the unit.  Also it might be a good way to generate some background knowledge if you are going into a unit and want the students to gain some knowledge on their own before you start on a unit.  I was remembering that there are often restrictions on school computers that block a lot of websites, and I figured that if that was the case students could simply use their text books for information and if it is a background knowledge activity then students could have complete presentations on what they think the topic is and their ideas and questions about it.  The best part about Prezi is that it is saved on the internet and you dont have to be on the same computer you made it on to view it.  They could make their presentations in the computer lab and present it in class on the class computer.

Some problems that I can see happening with Prezi is students not understanding how to work it.  I think that if I had two class days that students could get the hang of it and put together a basic presentation.  Another problem (which is a problem with most digital texts) is that its not 100% proof that it is going to work.  So many things can go wrong such as it not being saved, it not transferring, etc. and you have to be prepared to be a little relaxed on deadlines with students when things like that happen.  But I think that Prezi makes things pretty much 99% proof because it saves everything for you and again, you can access it from anywhere!  It would be very easy to use this often since I do not think that students would get bored with it.  It is a good way to get information across in a creative way.

I did a Prezi on Illegal Drugs and I had a blast doing it.  Seriously is one of the coolest things I have had as a teaching tool and I am super excited to use it.  This is the URL to view it.


http://prezi.com/user/mp-eptrq4yrf/

POST 5

So for another class we were assigned to mess around with the program Picasa.  I had heard of the program before but while playing around with it I discovered how awesome it is.  Within  ten minutes I had a mash up of photos I had taken throughout a span of a couple of years.  I thought that this would be a really cool program to use with your students in class.  It would be a super easy way for them to make posters or something topic related that you assigned in class.  It also would be a super fun assignment and would allow for a lot of creativity.  Also to go along with the assignment for this other class we were to post our creations on our blogs as well as a google picture website.  Its part of your gmail or google account and you can post pictures and stuff that you want and list the people you want specifically to see it or even make it available to the public.  I thought this would be a fantastic and easy way to assign something and have students post it on their goolge account or blog for you to grade.  This would reduce paper and printing hassles as well as lots of papers for you to grade as a teacher.  You would simply just sign on and check it out and give a grade.  Of course you would probably have to give the students computer lab time at school since not everyone has access to computer and the internet.  I think digital literacy is a super awesome thing and that as teachers we should make ourselves aware of all the possibilities it brings.  I think most lessons should be enhanced with some sort of digital literacy.