EDLD5363FinalQuestions

**1. What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned? ** After reading the course name, I assumed this would be a review course on how to create a video because I had taught Video Technology in the past. This objective was met. Although I had created several videos since teaching the class, I had forgotten many of the camera shots and basic shooting techniques. The reading assignments were extremely helpful by outlining the entire production process.
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The outcomes achieved in which I had not envisioned were the greatest assets of this class. First, I had never used Photostory or Audacity. I learned that using these two programs can be a quick way to assemble a very compelling video presentation. Secondly, the collaboration skills learned through the group project was invaluable. This was the part of the class that concerned me the most. I could not see how a video could be completed without meeting your group members face-to-face. I was able to utilize the skills learned in EDLD5306 to complete this assignment.  2. To the extent that you achieved the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not?  The skills I learned in this class are very relevant to my work. As the department chair of the Technology Applications department, I will share the information learned with the Video Technology teacher. The //Digital Storytelling Cookbook// ****(Lambert, 2007) is an excellent beginning project for students because it outlines the entire production process. There were some excellent links to storyboard templates that I will also share.

The skills acquired in using Photostory will be extremely beneficial. I can now share with my colleagues a better way for students to present a project without using PowerPoint. I will also share with my students and colleagues the information about the Creative Commons License. We do not teach as much as necessary about copyright infringement.

After completing these first two classes, I now understand how students can work globally. I feel that I am better equipped to teach the “technical way” to collaborate using instant messaging, blogs, e-mails, and a wiki. I had read about how classes connected across country boundaries; however, I did not have the knowledge needed to make this happen in my classroom. I now feel comfortable seeking out ways for my students to connect globally.  3. ****What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them?

I did not gain experience in the web conferencing. Scheduling played a major role in not achieving this objective. I was out of town most of June either on vacation or working in camp. I plan to participate in the web conferences scheduled for the next classes because I believe this is an important link for effective collaboration. Brainstorming is an important part of creativity. It is hard to brainstorm through a wiki or instant messaging. Web conferencing would be the solution.

I tried to set up an instant messaging system on our group wiki for all of us to discuss the project without having to post to the discussion board. I could not get it to work through //Meebo// the way I had hoped. I did not have time to figure out the problem because we had to make decisions quickly. I will do more research on how to make this work with a group of people.

<span style="font-weight: normal; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msobidifontfamily: Arial; msobidifontsize: 11.0pt; msolist: Ignore;">4. ****<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Were you successful in completing the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you?

I could not understand why the first assignment required me to use Photostory when I already had three video editing programs on my computer. After I completed the assignment, I saw the value in using Photostory. Not only is it a free download, the learning curve is very small. This makes it invaluable in the classroom.

I was very frustrated with the second assignment. I had a difficult time finding usable web clips. When I found a free clip, I could not figure out how to download it to my computer. I spent a great amount of time searching. I could have completed this assignment much faster by video taping my own clips. This was a lot of work for an assignment that was not graded.

The major assignment worked out well because I found a group very early, and every member of the group participated completely. The part of the class I dreaded the most ended up becoming the most enjoyable. The hardest part of this assignment was figuring out how to upload the video into a web format. I ended up using Premiere Pro to edit and Windows Movie Maker to save it to an acceptable web format.

<span style="font-weight: normal; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msobidifontfamily: Arial; msobidifontsize: 11.0pt; msolist: Ignore;">5. **<span style="font-weight: normal; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What did you learn from this course: about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes?

This course has taught me that I have a greater voice online than I do in face-to-face meetings. I feel that I was able to take more of a leadership role because I was not so “shy” online. This is an area that I will have to improve to become an effective technology leader in my district. I have to be as confident in person as I am online. I also have to work on the creative side of any project. This is where I greatly valued the group collaboration.

My entire attitude on teaching students to become global learners has changed. I was resistant because I really did not understand the Web 2.0 concept. I now understand Web 2.0, and I can effectively teach and use the necessary tools to accomplish a task. I have learned that to be an effective technology leader, you must be a life-long learner because the technology will change in the future. <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">