Point A to Point B

Month: May 2008

  • Performing Knowledge

    We recently completed a video project with one of our social studies teachers. This 7th grade project involved students picking one topic from the curriculum, and interpreting it with video in some form. We showed the students some samples from TeacherTube, including some done locally in a Buffalo high school. We then set them loose with teams, storyboards, equipment, and guidance.

    What I love about video projects is that since the focus is on performing knowledge, rather than just repeating knowledge, you get a better picture of what the students really know. While this can be either rewarding or scary, it still gets to the deeper understandings they have.

    Quite a few different classes have created video projects this year, with some exciting results. I’m looking forward to many more next year!

    18th_century_engraving_of_commedia_dell_arte_actors_on_stage__medium.jpg

    Image citation:

    18th-Century Engraving of Commedia Dell’arte Actors on Stage. Corbis. 2006.
    unitedstreaming. 29 May 2008
    <http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/>

  • Data

    Data can be awesome – as long as it is meaningful. The Dilbert comic below came out recently, and it hit home with me only because we are right now trying to determine if the data we collect for Fitnessgram is telling us what we want it to.

    Dilbert.com

  • Video Poems

    We just finished a video poem project with Mrs. Calandra’s classes. The idea came from a Creative Educator article I have on my digital storytelling page. The twist we added was to have the students put imagery to their own original poetry. I have to say I was very excited by the level of work everyone did. I hope to be able to post some of the student work here in the near future (working on the logistics/legal stuff regarding that now…)

    In the mean time, the students motivated me to create my own piece. I chose to write a reflective poem about one of my favorite books that I just re-read, Jonathan Livingston Seagull. I also wrote a little refelction on my Shelfari page about the book.

    Thanks to the students in Mrs. Calandra’s class for motivating me on this – I hope you like it. (click below to play)

    Get the Flash Player to see this content.

    Jonathan

    Dodging, swooping, yelling, screaming;
    Why don’t you stay away?
    Useless, crass, dirty, rude;
    Please GO AWAY.

    I did not see you since you were off on your
    own.
    When you soared by I thought you were
    one of the bunch.

    How is it possible we want the same things?
    What makes us so much the same although we are
    vastly different?

    PLEASE let me
    fly with you.