American Museum of Natural History - Video Mail

American Museum of Natural History - Video Mail

Freedom!

Now that I don't have to blog for a class, I'm free to write whatever I want...so of course I'm stumped. I'm just exercising my write to prattle on about whatever minutiae I like (oh, lovely! I spelled that right...no evil underline to mock me.)

Today was research medication day...shall we try an SSRI for perseverations, rigid thinking and anxiety? Is there any research to suggest that this will work? Will we find a psychiatrist in NJ that specializes in aspergers? That's next on the to-do list.

I also gave 25$ to a NJ based clean water outfit because that's important to me.

I stayed in my pjs all day...because that's important to me too.

I followed cool people who are tweeting from educon about "cognitive load." No, I don't know what the hell that is. Yet. I will.

I watched a movie. The Queen. I think I'll watch another one on iTunes. Becoming Jane. Joe and I were sick today. Digestive complaints. Dave and MK went to Williamsport...hence the major slackification. New word. Slackerizing. Slackdom. Whatever.

The World is Flat so I'm told

First thought is that I have to read The World is Flat now...http://tinyurl.com/y9kdsml. Been putting it off, but it seems like the time. Will give it to my husband for Christmas and then read it when he is finished. It has apparently been updated in 2007, so it will be relatively current (if that's possible anymore.)

And so, I have been saving Chapter 9, "What it all means" for a time when I can pay attention and think about it. Savor it, so to speak. Can Will Richardson hear my Amen from the back of the room? Amen, I say. What I like about Blogs, Wikis and Podcasts is its applicability and good sense. Web 2.0 has changed the way people interact, this affects education...in many diverse ways. Richardson allows that the affect is a challenge for classroom teachers, which it is, physically and psychologically. However, as with any kind of change, using a thoughtful approach and a willingness to try and possibly fail at first, there is quite a lot to be gained. The role the teacher plays will change but will not be diminished in any regard. Richardson states beautifully the ways in which education and teachers will have to change...personally, I'm ok with that. Yet I have posted things on Facebook and Twitter that I have felt to be truly inspiring (and doable!) and have received some (veiled) negative comments from otherwise brilliant teachers, yet when they hear or see the word "technology" they become defensive. There is not just a big physical shift that is necessary, but an attitudinal shift.

I am really excited about the possibilities, and I can tell that Richardson is as well. He is a great model and leader. I would love to hear him speak. But I wish that I could spread some of the enthusiasm without eliciting the fear and anxiety that comes with his message. Having said that, I am willing to try.

Good course. Time well spent. I wish I had had even more time, but to quote the overquoted, it is what it is. Looking forward to more. Thanks.

Visual Vocabulary

Working backwards, I have finally finished the first project assigned. I was a little sullen about having to use Powerpoint, spoiled brat that I am. So I put it off and uploaded something that I had already done. While, technically it could apply because it was a vocabulary of the solar system, it wasn't right. I also was using the useless, frustrating Nokia at the time and had a devil of a time getting images that I could use. Still can't get over the 2 cameras conundrum. And I had started out with a much larger idea for a school project about classrooms and school personnel in Spanish. I had to really scale back, and this is what I finally came up with. I like it now. Again, though, I just feel as though I haven't had enough time to do any of my projects justice and that makes me sad. Anyway, here it is from Slideshare, sans transitions (which really enhance this presentation in my opinion, but what can I do?) I really should try to figure out the optimum size for presentations for this blog because everything I have posted from Slideshare and YouTube get cut off. Ugh.

Los Colores

View more presentations from anniebrider.

Book

Well, I'm not sure I captured my book in pictures, but the approach I used for this one was more deliberate and thoughtful. I tried to incorporate excerpts that catch the spirit of the book, and I tried to create images that really went well with the text. None of this is easy and requires planning moreso than is evident in the final piece which I think is a valuable lesson to learn when planning to do digital stories with kids. It is a challenge on many levels.

How -to video

Here's my "how-to video" on making coconut almond macaroons. Thanks Mary and Rory...especially Rory, who's a big ham (and secretly doesn't like coconut...can you tell?)

How to create and comment on a Voicethread

Ann Rider's Podcast