Linked Courses

I have to say that I struggled with the concept at first. But I think that was due to my being in a new setting as I had just moved here. The process of slowly adding an element each week to our knowledge base was very effective in the learning of this new technology. I really felt like I was using software that professionals would use and I felt pretty good about knowing how to do it. The detailed instructions were excellent as it allowed me to relearn after a class discussion. Linking the classes was an interesting concept. It did not become clear to me until the end as to the benefits both classes had to offer each other. I felt a little distant at first between classes. I think it would have been rel event to present the hands on assignments each week relating to the class assignment from Dr. Abrahanson. It would have made the literature class more connected. All of us collected images for each of the weekly summary handouts, so maybe we could have make them into collections in Picasa and then grow throughout the semester. Instead of a written report each week on a person, we could have done a short narration with a few images to represent the idea. I know that is probably more work so maybe not every week -but something like that. You could have critiqued the images throughout the semester that we selected and talked about how to get better ones for our final projects. I am just giving suggestion here, I think we had a great semester the way we conducted it...these are just thoughts.

Creating the CD and DVD

The process of creating the CD was easy. I put in the CD and when it asked me what I wanted to do I selected "Burn" information. It lead me to the window that I needed. I had already but the files on my desktop so I just dragged and dropped the files into the burn window. When I was complete I selected "burn" and it did the rest.

Making the DVD was another story. First I went into the program and selected Video Editor. It allowed me to select the files under "tools" I then pressed next and selected the background for the menu page. After selecting next, it took me to the burn page. This is where I had problem as it kept bring up an "error" message. Hopefuly I will figure it out.

Software for Final project

I began with the Goldwave software and used it to record my narration and the interviews that I conducted. Within the software program I was able to edit the interviews to have just what I was focusing on as my participants included much more than I asked. I also used the photostory program to bring it all together. Finally, I used the DVD program Ulead (I do not think I have that correct) to try to bring all my interviews together as one. I will hope that I can figure that out as I really see using all these programs in my future for the professional development of literacy educators.

Audio narration Mix

This is a follow up to my narration mix blog. I was not able to upload, but since my final project included a mix of marration and mix, I am hoping that will count for this hands on activity. I forgot to add it to my CD for the assignment.

Draft script of "Reading Memories"

Memories

They are the things that make up our histories. They are the gateways leading to who we are. We remember good things and bad things, but the memories keep building. In the world of literacy, memories form a large part of the reader we become.

Reading memories can be created or experienced. Literacy as we know it truly began as a spin-off of memories. Ancient stories were told word of mouth based on the memories that generations past down to generations. These “oral” stories developed into folklore and was used to entertain or teach those who would listen and later became the written word of literature.

In a fast-paced world such as ours, some of us have forgotten the memories that set the train of imagination into motion. We have failed to continue the tales of "family literacy". It is the "family" literacies that truly tell us who we are in the grander scope of things, but I might argue that it is how we allow different kinds of literacies to effect our lives and shape the person we eventually become.

For me, it was hiding under my bed covers with a flashlight reading the scariest book I could find. It was the moment of acceptance as a scholar when I felt connected to the book A Brave New World and shared with my classmates for the first time my views and thoughts about a genre I had learned to love over so many years but had never been allowed to read in school. And it is the memory of sharing a story with my children that I loved to read as a young girl.

More importantly, it was this digital story that allowed us to talk about something we all had in common—reading. We all experienced different moment which meant different things to us, but it was an opportunity for us to begin a “family literacy” for ourselves where we can share moments of our past and reveal those smaller details that explains who we are and why we are that way.

Although each of us shared our memories of a fond childhood reading experience and a special place we found ourselves drawn to for reading such as my fathers escape to the public library daily to read the newspaper as a young 20 year old, and my father-in-laws experience with the first book he had a personal connection -Payton's Place . . . .

These are the stories of my families “mothers”- and they share a side of themselves that not one of us knew existed and with these stories the awareness of not letting these moment disappear has become a focus for our families future.

Software use.

I have really explored some interesting software this semester. It has really opened up my computer to being more than just a word processor and Internet browser. I began with Picasa 3 and producing photo boards which really opened up by range for reusing digital photos, or at least using them for more than printing. I then moved to Photostory. This is really pushing me farther into thinking new ways to present information. I started out a little worried about such technology, but I am feeling very comfortable now. The last software I have used in Goldwave. I love this one. There had been so many projects in the past that I could have used this one for, but now I feel like a professional when putting my project together. I know that there are others in the class light years ahead of me, but I really feel good about my ability to use these technologies (well other than getting them to post of my blog.. .that still gives me problems).

Narration and music

I am still working on putting my narration mix on my blog. It turned out great, but I couldn't post it. I did not have my computer over the holiday.