PSA post production reflection

My experience during this course was that of chaos, humility, creativity, and amazement. Sometimes I felt as if I couldn't do anything correctly, such as, when a type of software wasn't performing the way I thought it should, chaos! At other times I felt humility in the way that I needed to learn how to trust and rely on someone else to do part of the work for me, and that it's okay to ask for help if you don't know or understand how to perform a task. With working with a group of fellow educators, I felt the creativity of how a group of strangers can come together and build something without ever setting foot in the same room. This area of collaborative creativity allows us to know what our students are experiencing in our newly advanced technological society. While working on the PSA project I learned how to create videos, but while working with my group I learned how to create cohesive production. This will help me to assist my students when I assign them to work in groups on how to work together as a team to achieve a common goal!

Week 5 Web conference for EDLD 5363 Multimedia & Video Technology

The web conference tonight answered many questions that a lot of us in 5363 had in mind.  Dr. Abernathy addressed the mistake in Epic regarding the final exam, and blog reflection questions.  She said that since we all don't see the final exam or blog refelction questions we are not required to complete these tasks for course credit.  She did however address what three main requirements we as a group and individuals needed to have completed and turned in for course credit for this week.  She spoke about current hardships she is experiencing and connected with all the students on a personal level.  We now know more about what is expected of us for the final week of our course and can comeplete our required tasks with comfidence!

Windows Movie Maker 2.6 Podcast

View my podcast tutorial discussing the basic functions and tools of Windows Movie Maker 2.6 by clicking on the link below.  Please leave any constructive comments that you feel will help me in the learning process of educational technology.  This week's assignment was some what difficult to complete, but mostly because the software suggested to use wasn't that user friendly.  The assignment itself was very informative and fun to do.  I'd never created a podcast before this assignment and it gave me the opportunity to obtain new knowledge in an area that interest our students and facilitates new learning environments.  The assignment also forced me, in some cases, to learn how to use new and interesting software.  Audacity is a type of software that records a persons voice in order to insert that recording into a video or podcast.  This will be very useful in creating new ways to connect with students.

http://fuzzyr78.podbean.com/mf/web/nhdtny/Week2podcastassignment.mp3

Jackson Hole Digital Story

This is a digital story I created for my week one assignment.  I created the digital story over a trip I took to Jackson Hole, Wyoming in the summer of 2010.  I hope you enjoy the photos and storyline of some of the activities we experienced while visiting this awesome area of our country.  During the creation process it was difficult at times to know what to do.  I became frustrated many times, but in the end I was able to figure out what needed to be done in order to produce the digital story.  It was challenging, but interesting to practice at the design and implementation of the Photo Story software.  I am interested in creating new and exciting projects to share with my students, and see what type of creative projects they will create when making their own digital photo story.  Please leave constructive comments about what I could have done better and let me know what you liked about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjEJVMHiBzc

Week 4: Action Research Plan

Please review my action research plan and leave any constructive comments you may have to help me progress during the implementation of my action research plan. 

Action Planning Template

Goal:  To offer nutrient dense food choices to the students and faculty at Weatherford High School to promote improved nutrition that will help support a better learning environment.

Action Steps  

1.  Obtain a copy of Weatherford High School’s current nutrition plan and food choices offered, and compare these choices with the current state guidelines for student nutrition.

2.  Survey 25 random boys and girls at WHS, and WHS faculty to assess their nutritional wants and needs.

3.  Compare the surveyed results and compile a list of suggested foods, which will be of a nutrient dense nature, to serve in the WHS cafeteria. 

Person(s) Responsible                      

1.  Matt Rhidenour

Start/End      

1.  8/2011- 12/2012

Needed Resources    

1.  The current nutrition plan for WHS and the current state guidelines for student nutrition

2.  A survey created that effectively represents the feelings and opinions of WHS students & faculty

3.  A spreadsheet that will easily compile the surveyed results in an orderly fashion for review

Evaluation

1.  Review survey submissions

2.  Make suggestions on nutrient dense food choices based on surveyed results

3.  Implement survey results according to what is feasible for the students and faculty of WHS

Week 3 Action Research thoughts

During week 3 of action research, I have gained a broader perspective on what this project will entail.  My plan to address the nutrition choices and needs of the WHS students and faculty will be a long and tough road.  I will have to look at numerous current policies and guidelines in order to help in the best way possible.  There are many steps I will take in order to utilize all my resources for research including my principals, peers, students, and government agencies.  Gaining the opinions, perspectives, and rules I will need to help bring more nutrient dense food choices to WHS will be a challenge but a challenge that I hope will help to create a more nurturing environment to all at WHS.  I have also discovered this week how I will use surveys to gain opinions of the students and faculty at WHS to make this endeavor more meaningful to the students and my peers.  By conducting surveys I hope to engage the students and faculty in a way that gives them a feeling of self worth.  I want them to feel as if they had input in the decision of what types of nutrient dense foods that will be offered at WHS.

Week 2 thoughts

In week two, I learned about new ideas for action research.  Our schools currently have multiple areas of concern with which the practice of action research can help greatly.  I have been able to look more deeply into what action research practices are, and what other school district's have done to improve aspects of their campus'.  I look forward to finding out new ideas to help my school run more efficiently and improve the overall campus environment for students and faculty.