DIGITAL STORYTELLING WORKSHOP

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As with traditional storytelling, most digital stories focus on a specific topic and contain a particular point of view. However, as the name implies, digital stories usually contain some mixture of computer-based images, text, recorded audio narration, video clips, and/or music. Digital stories can vary in length, but most of the stories used in education typically last between 2 and 10 minutes. The topics used in digital storytelling range from personal tales to the recounting of historical events, from exploring life in one’s own community to the search for life in other corners of the universe, and literally, everything in between. 
http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/page.cfm?id=27&cid=27 

BEFORE THE STORY WITH MINDMAPPING TOOLS:

 Popplet:

http://popplet.com/

Tutorial

http://youtu.be/WiKI5eiQ5Vc

My Popplet

http://popplet.com/app/#/1347948

You have to have an account.  With the free version you're only allowed five Popplets; however, you can get a new one when you share one in Facebook.  You can always record your five Popplets with a screencast and then delette them from Popplet.  You can save them as .jpegs for future use or embed them into a blog or website using HTML code.

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Bubbl.us:

https://bubbl.us/

You do not have to have an account with this tool; however, you won't be able to save them without an account.  But you can make printscreen images though.

VIDEOS

Photo Story 3:
Download here

Photo Story 3 is a free download.  Search for it online and dlownload onto your laptop or PC. Microsoft's Photo Story is a free Windows program that lets you create audiovisual presentations out of your photos and images. You can quickly crop, rotate, and edit your pictures; personalize them with captions and titles; and add sound effects, narration, and background music. Photo Story saves your presentations as WMV files you can play on your PC or convert using a third-party video converter. Finished files can be small enough to send by email, too. Many Windows users already have it; those who don't can download and install it or repair their current installation, if necessary. We looked at the latest release, Photo Story 3.

Tutorial

http://youtu.be/WdvmlBM-N3g

My Photo Story 3

http://youtu.be/WVTvr_NEm3o

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Animoto for Education:
http://animoto.com/

This will allow you and your students to create up to 50 videos in six months for free.  Once this has expired you can reapply.

Tutorial
http://youtu.be/1-bv1BXd1dQ

My Animoto

WEB TOOLS

Storybird:
http://storybird.com/

Storybird lets anyone make visual stories in seconds. We curate artwork from illustrators and animators around the world and inspire writers of any age to turn those images into fresh stories.  It's a simple idea that has attracted millions of writers, readers, and artists to our platform. Families and friends, teachers and students, and amateurs and professionals have created more than 5 million stories—making Storybird one of the world's largest storytelling communities.

Tutorial

http://youtu.be/6eUYpigHWho

My Storybird

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Screencast-o-matic:

http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/

Tutorial

http://youtu.be/PSRoX57x6co

My Screencast

http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cIQtcPVH6W

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Narrable:

https://narrable.com/

An online storytelling platform that combines your most important photos with the voices that bring them to life. There is a free teacher account.  

Tutorial:

http://youtu.be/ubbkUd1mfzU

My Narrable
https://narrable.com/#narrables/jvckv1/coverImage

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Kerpoof:

http://www.go2web20.net/site/?a=Kerpoof

Tutorial

http://youtu.be/o3jeDVkctqk

My Kerpoof
http://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cI6ZFtVsK1
Reading the story can also be done with Screencast.

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Domo Animate:
http://domo.goanimate.com/create

Tutorial
http://youtu.be/z0v8v96YqXs

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ArtPad with Screencast-o-matic:
http://artpad.art.com

Tutorial
http://youtu.be/Wq9EYH5cBD0

My ArtPad Video
http://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cI60bLVsae

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PUBLISHING DIGITAL BOOKS

Mixbook:

http://www.mixbook.com/edu

Mixbook is an easy and fun way to engage students, parents—and build school spirit. With Mixbook, there are no contracts, no commitments, and no fees to create and share a project among students, faculty, and parents online. With a community of over 5 million, Mixbook is the most trusted and secure site of its kind.

Tutorial

http://youtu.be/uh5y3qaYhfI

Students' book
http://www.mixbook.com/photo-books/all/famous-americans-2703889?vk=StGLaq6aXW

My book
http://www.mixbook.com/photo-books/interests/blank-canvas-9645713?vk=mK4wXkUjgU

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Wobook:

http://www.wobook.com/

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PDF Merge:

http://www.pdfmerge.com/

CREATIVITY AND TECHNOLOGY

In the spring I will be offering an online high school course for AIG students entitled Creativity and Technology.  Each module will consist of lessons that involve technology in some way.  Most of them use online tech tools.  Below is a list of the tools that will be used thus far but there are more to come.  Why not take a look at these in preparation for the actual course?

MODULE ONE:

*edmodo.com

*Photo manipulation using:

http://pixlr.com/

http://www.befunky.com/

http://www130.lunapic.com/editor/#

*Screen Captures

MODULE TWO:

* Jam-a-Gram

http://www.ujam.com/

*Save a PowerPoint presentation as .Jpegs

*Sign up for a Google Drive account

*Save a YouTube as a MP3 using

http://www.youtube-mp3.org/

*Create a video using Movie Maker

    * http://www.schooltube.com/video/f4eb6e04c40a4559b634/Movie%20Maker%20Tutorial

    * http://vimeo.com/10484867

MODULE THREE:

*Microsoft Word in order to create an job application

*Current event poster

http://www.glogster.com

*Major concern screencast

http://screencast-o-matic.com/

MODULE FOUR:

*Create PDFs from Word document or PPT presentation

*Create an online flip book using a site like:

http://www.flipsnack.com/

MODULE FIVE:

*Create an entire lesson in the subject of your choice

https://www.blendspace.com/

MODULE SIX:

*Create an original gameboard using either

PowerPoint or Glogster

MODULE SEVEN:

*Create an original animation using

Squeak Etoys which can be downloaded from

http://www.squeakland.org/download/      Choose Etoys to Go.  This can be downloaded onto AIG laptops

Tutorial:  http://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cIjOebVp6O

MODULE EIGHT:

*Create an original infographic with your own data using...

http://www.easel.ly/

Tutorial:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbnmf_jE1Xw

MODULE NINE:

*Write an original six word story

*Write a collaborative story

*Write a five photo story

MODULE TEN:

*Create an original personal budget game using PPT

MODULE ELEVEN:

*Create an original FakeBook page

http://www.classtools.net/

 

FIRST ATTEMPT AT A WEBINAR VIA GOOGLE HANGOUT

Today we tried our first attempt at a webinar on YouTube via Google Hangout.  Its success was about 50% since all invited participants were able to take part.  Some heard what was being said but were unable to be shown on camera.  I'll continue to work on this to see if we can make adjustments that would give us 100% next time.  But for those of you interested, check out the video below.

NINE AND TEN OF TEN WORKSHOPS

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Well this is it - the last of our technology workshops.  I have thoroughly enjoyed presenting at all three high schools.  I hope you have enjoyed the presentations but more importantly, I hope you have discovered some  tools that you have used and will continue to use in the future.

ScoopIt

Pinterest

TED

ClassTools.net

Voki

TodaysMeet

Furly

Snap.vu

Youblisher

FlipSnack

Google Earth

ThingLink

Google Docs

Blubbr

BitStrips

Google Translate

Free Rice

MessageHop

Ilivid

Draw It Live

Edcanvas

Wikispaces

TweetDeck

Infographics

Easel.ly

Hangout

But we're not through yet.  I have a couple more to demonstrate for you.

THE NY TIMES' LEARNING NETWORK BLOG

Click here

TWO ONLINE SITES TO REPLACE POWERPOINT:

1) EMPRESSR

Click here

2) PHOTOPEACH

Click here

TWO ONLINE BOOKMARKING SITES:

1) SYMBALOO

Click here

2) LIVEBINDERS

Click here





NOW LET'S GET SERIOUS
Below are two videos that we're going to watch and briefly discuss before we move on to your final assignment.  The first one recently was uploaded to YouTube and it immediately went viral.  You may have already seen it.   The second one was filmed several years ago in 1994.  Listen to them closely as you compare and contrast their content.







FINAL ASSIGNMENT
After having viewed both videos, create a project of your choosing that was inspired by one or both the videos.  You may choose one video and elaborate on it or you may compare or contrast the two.  You may decide to do something entirely outside the box.  Be creative and original.  Do NOT use Microsoft Word or PowerPoint in order to create your project.  Use any of the tools that we have discussed in our eight workshops or one that you have discovered yourself.  Upon completion email it or its URL to your lead teacher and to me.  My email address is lhewett@columbus.k12.nc.us or lhewett1@yahoo.com.   I'm interested in seeing what you have learned.

If there's one thing that I hope you've learned from these technology workshops, it's to keep an open mind and at least try a tool or two.  Integrate them into your curriculum slowly at first until you build up steam and confidence.  Most importantly, don't let one bad experience with technology deprive you and your students of a very important 21st century skill, not to mention collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity.  Remember the girl running the race who fell?  She didn't stay on all fours on the track.  She got up, ran, ran and ran until she caught up with the others.  But she did more than just catch up with them - she passed them and won the race.  I've fallen so many times using technology but I didn't let it get the best of me.  Here I am at 60 years old in my 23rd year of teaching - loving and using technology more than ever.

SEVEN AND EIGHT OF TEN WORKSHOPS

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This is our next to last technology workshop.  So why 7 and 8 of 10?  This workshop will have an extended homework assignment to make up for two workshops that we're going to skip.  So if you're doing this for your technology credits, the extended homework will be counted toward your hours.  Hey, at least it's not another webinar!!!!!!!!!!!!!

COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU....

I am an advocate of Google Docs - always have been and always will be.  Why not create your documents in a place where you'll always have access to them as long as you have the internet?  Why worry about losing a flash drive or the dog eating it?  Why worry about leaving your hard copy at home or some other place?  Google Docs can solve these problems as well as giving you the capability of collaborating on your document with friends - even in real time.  To me, it's a no brainer!!!!!!!!  But let me show you something new - something that you may not be aware of.  It's a new feature that Google has come up with.  Click on the link below.

CLICK HERE

Once in, please type in the information that I've requested.  OK, you can see everyone's response as they type them in real time.  Great feature but not the latest.  Look and listen to what happens once I click on Comments.  Click on the green play button beside Record.  You should hear me commenting on the document.  This is a wonderful feature that will allow you to make recorded comments on your students documents.  Let's watch the video tutorial about 121 writing. 

In order to see how to install 121 writing to your Google Docs,

CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE

Lots of the teachers from the three high schools really enjoyed working with Edcanvas.  But guess what?  They too have added a new feature - quizzes!!!!!  Click below to see a quiz that I  have created.

CLICK HERE

INFOGRAPHICS

Infographics (information graphics) is the display of information in such a way that it can be easily understood at a glance.

NERDGRAPH

CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE

Why not combine Hangout with Screencast-o-matic in order to create some great tutorials or videos?

CLICK HERE FOR GIRL TALK 2

Knowing now that Google Hangout will allow up to ten people to communicate in a Skype-like setting, will allow collaborative work on documents in real time, will allow screen sharing, will allow viewing of YouTube videos together, and will allow screencasts and a live feed to YouTube for webinars, think of one way that you could use it in one of your classes (that is if the technology were working perfectly!)  Be creative and think outside the box while at the same time be serious.  Click on the link below and type in your idea so that we may all share with one another.

CLICK HERE

Exactly What The Common Core Standards Say About Technology

CLICK HERE

Briefly scan this article and choose what you think is one of the most important sentences in it.  Copy the sentence and then open up the Google Document and paste it into the document.

PASTE YOUR SENTENCE HERE

Do ONE of the following:

Create a Google Doc and put some text in it.  This can be original or copied and pasted.  Finally do a recorded comment of your document.  Send its URL to your lead teacher.

Create a multimedia Edcanvas with a five question quiz.  You may use the same Edcanvas that you created in an earlier workshop.  Send its URL to your lead teacher.

Create an Easel.ly infographic that could be used in one of your classes.  Send its URL to your lead teacher.

Download Google + which includes Hangout.  Experiment with Hangout until you're ready to try it out.  When ready, email me and we will schedule a time for a brief chat online which will prove to me you know how to use Hangout.  You can reach me at lhewett1@yahoo.com.    Then I'll send your name to your lead teacher.  Or do a screencast of a Google Hangout session and send the URL to your lead teacher.

That's it.  Good luck and good teching.

AIG SHOWCASE NIGHT

CREATING A GLOBAL MEDIA CENTER

Back in April 18-19 I had the pleasure of taking part in World View's Creating a Global Media Center in Chapel Hill with four of our Media Specialists:  Dannelle McPherson, Brandy Ward, Jewell Cribb and Wendy Tyree.  It was a wonderful conference filled with well known N.C. educators, information and ideas for taking our media centers into the 21st century globally, group discussions, networking with participants and lots of technology.  I wish that all our Media Specialists had been able to attend this awesome experience.  But for those of you who did not, the five of us who did attend have put together what we fill is the highlights of the conference in this blog post.  Please use this post often in order to apply the techniques and best practices that were shared with us and in doing so, we will assure our students and staff that we are creating 21st century global media centers in our schools.

In closing, we were given an Action Plan that we are to complete and return to World View.  I suggest that we do this together and adopt it as a county-wide plan rather than creating seventeen different plans. 




Mr. Larry Hewett, Instructional Technology Facilitator





Ms. Jewell Cribb, Media Specialist at Tabor City Middle School





Ms. Dannelle McPherson, Media Specialist at Hallsboro Artesia Elementary School





Ms. Brandy Lee, Media Specialist at Old Dock Elementary School









Ms. Wendy Tyree, Media Specialist at Williams Township School