EDLD+5363+Course+Reflections



What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned?
**//I wanted this course to teach me how to create good multimedia presentations and I wanted to be able to teach others how to create good presentations. I also wanted to learn how to use this tool to engage students in higher order thinking about what it is they are supposed to learn. To a great extent these outcomes were realized. I had made picture presentations but had never posted one on a website or embedded one on my wiki. I made my first video using movie maker and in the process found a great audio editing program. The collaborative nature of the final assignment was a great model for me to follow in school as for what to do and what not to do. So based on all that I have learned, I would say that the course met my expectations. The course brought forth a whole new outlook for me on the telling of a story or message. One thing that stood out for me was a quote from an article, New, J. (2005), that said, "//****//Within a class, you'll have great writers, editors, camera operators, and technicians. They can improve their weaker points while using their strengths to help others (including you)." This was clearly evident in my exprience with my group. We each brought something to the table. Mine was the ablity to put the script into a clear and coherent written document and to be able to find and apply just the right music to envoke a feeling.//** New, J. (2005). How to use digital storytelling in your classroom. //Edutopia//. Retrieved April 4, 2009, from http://www.edutopia.org/use-digital-storytelling-classroom.

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 work I do as principal really keeps me from using what I have learned directly with students, however I can model what I have learned with teachers and show them how this can be used to improve students engagement in their class. By teaching them what I have learned, they can pass this on to their students. Many of the processes such as,//**  **//storytelling, editing techniques, the pre-production, production, and post-production process, shot and editing selection are many of the skills we ask students to learn while in school. Good writing is good storytelling. You have to set the story, develop the plot and characters and bring the whole story together in a clear and concise manner. They learn to grab their audience with the story. They show the audience the emotions and feelings they are trying to convey. This is exactly what a good writer must do. Revising and editing are two good skills a writer must have and that can all be taught through the editing, pre and post production process.//**



What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them? //** The only thing that I wish I would have been able to do is create my own PSA from start to finish. I went along with the group on some of the ideas and really had some creative plans of my own. Not that I didn't learn, but my creative side wanted to see my plan come to life. But the process in which I learned will be very helpful. I guess I can make it now. **//  Were you successful in completing the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you? //** I was able to finish all the assignments, but had trouble with week 3's assignment showing up in the program. I got nothing but jibberish when I tried to open it. One of my classmates sent me a copy and I used it to finish my assigment. What I would like to see for this course is a place to upload our work so that others in the group could share. We found some places that would let you upload for free but they had a 1 gig downloading limit and when everyone downloaded that would close the account. Couldn't the university create some room on their server for a class like this? I was never discouraged in this class. I was motivated and enjoyed it very much. **// What did you learn from this course: about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes? **// I learned that I really love communicating through different forms of media. I am one of the older people in this class and I am not as up to date with all that is available as some of my classmates, but I have not had any problems catching up with everyone. This is a great way to get kids to love learning, now I just have to convince all my teachers. What better way for students to learn than the way they are entertained every day. We have to take what our society gives us and make it work for us. We have the opportunity to really engage students on a level that could not be reached before the digital age. //**