EDLD5363 Podcast on WeVideo Editing Software

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EDLD 5363 Week 2-Audacity and Creative Commons

Audacity

I downloaded Audacity with no problems. The download process was very easy and straightforward. Just follow the instructions on your screen.

Audacity would have been so nice to have last week when I was recording my voice for the digital story. I keep getting a clicking noise on each slide when I’d record the narration. Using audacity, I may have been able to get rid of it, instead of just leaving it there (which really bothered me).

Downloading the file LAME to go with Audacity took me a little while longer. For some reason I just couldn’t get it to work. I finally found a video on YouTube that explained the process and with a few tweaks to those instructions, I got it downloaded also.

I learned a lot watching the tutorials on YouTube about audacity and going through the manual that was part of our readings this week. I can now remove the words from songs, remove background noises from recordings, and adjust the voice in a recording to make it sound more “normal”.

This program is going to come in handy next year when we are doing our talent show and need to “fix” the songs for our singing contestants. It will also be a great tool to use to allow students to practice their oral reading skills and for recording text to go with digital stories the students make. They are going to love using this.

Creative Commons

I had not thought much about copyrighting my work until I started working on my masters with Lamar. Teachers often come up with great ideas and are afraid to publish them for fear of someone “stealing” their idea. Creative Commons is great tool for teachers, so they can share their ideas and receive credit for it if someone else uses it.

Creativecommons.org does a great job of explaining the importance of copyrighting through videos and text. It explains their three “layers” of licenses, so that the user can choose what is best for their work. It provides a simple form to fill out and then the site gives you a code to add to your work.

This site will be used often as I continue through my master’s program and teaching career to ensure that my work is protected. I will also be looking for the Creative Commons logo on sites I visit to make sure I am not infringing on anyone else’s rights.

EDLD 5363 Web Conferences June 9 and 12, 2012

       I didn't get to attend a conference over the weekend before week 2 started, so I watched the web conference from the recording posted in the course. The conference was mainly a review of what has to be turned in for week. Dr. Abernathy did talk a bit about the audacity program and about the podcast we have to make about how to use a video editing program. The main thing I remember from this was her saying to “GET OVER IT” regarding everyones fear of posting to youtube and online. This is something I am working on overcoming, but it not that easy to do.

       The conference for Monday didn't happen. I tried logging in several times only to get the message the conference has not started. I finally emailed Dr. Abernathy and learned that she had gotten busy and forgotten about the meeting. It was rescheduled for Tuesday. It was a short meeting. We covered what has to be done for week 2 (creative commons, audacity, video editing software, making the podcast, and the discussion board). We also talked about what needs to be done in week 3 with our groups (plan our proposal, determine job titles, make google document, come up with a shot list and script, and describe what will happen and what core subject we will be using.

Digital Story -- My Job

EDLD 5363 Web Conference 6-4-12

            I am so excited to be doing this course.  Multimedia and Video technology is something I have been wanted to learn more about for a long time. 

            I am so glad I attended the conference before I got too far into the readings and assignments, since I found out during the conference that we did not have to do the seven readings on EPIC-only the three items listed in the syllabus and that one of the assignments I had printed from week 1 was not the latest one.  I have to confess that I was a bit confused and frustrated about everything after the conference.  It is getting a little better as I participate in the discussion board for the course and communicate with my classmates.  I now know to check the bottom of everything to make sure it’s says 2012.

            I enjoyed seeing classmates from my previous classes and look forward to getting to know and working with the new classmates.

EDLD 5301 Final Reflection

          It’s hard to believe I have completed two courses on my way to my master’s already.  Through participating in the discussion boards, talking with my site mentor, and viewing the weekly web conferences I have learned a great deal about action research and what I need to do to successfully implement an action research plan.

            I wasn’t sure want action research was all about until I participated in the web conference this first week.  Dr. Mason did an excellent job at breaking it down during the conference and then after reading through the text from Dana, I felt more confident about the entire process.  To me action research is the process of searching for solutions to a specific school problem or searching for ways to improve what is already going on at the school. 

            Watching the videos in the second week of the educational leaders who have actually implemented research action plans in their schools or districts was very informative also.  Dr. Kirk Lewis, Superintendent, Pasadena ISD gave excellent advise in his video that I used when forming my wondering.  He suggested that researchers need to make it practical to you.   I also enjoyed Johnny Briseno, Principal, Ranch Isabella Elementary, Angleton ISD’s video.   His suggestion to others doing action research is to read/research in your area of interest or on topics that are problems in your classroom or at your site.  When he was describing his suggestion, it made me think of the old saying, “Why reinvent the wheel”.  With the easy access to just about anything on the internet these days, it is easy to look up topics and find something regarding your idea or problem that may help you in your situation. 

            I was a bit frustrated in the middle of the course.  I felt like that week we were repeating a lot of the work just in different ways.  Putting my idea for an action research plan down on paper was very rewarding though.  I got to organize all my thoughts and ideas of what I was going to do and share it with others for useful feedback to improve it.  I feel I have a better understanding of what I have to do to make the plan progress and a timeline in which to get things accomplished. 

            The book, Leading With Passion and Knowledge:  The principal as Action Researcher, assigned for this course was a great help during the formation of my action research project.  Strategies to collect data and address the ongoing review process will be a big help as I proceed with my plan (and any future plans).  I have a feeling I will be referring to it often throughout my plan.

            This course was very rewarding in that I feel like I have accomplished a lot with the writing of my action research plan and am ready to implement it at my school in the next year.

Dana, N.F. (2009).  Leading with passion and knowledge:  The principal as action             researcher.  Thousand Oaks, CA:  Corwin Press.

Week 4, ED5301

Wow! I can hardly believe I am almost finished my second course on my way to get my masters.  This week was a time to reflect on challenges that may inhibit our action research plan.  My biggest concern with the plan is time to collaborate with my peers to make the best lessons and activities for our students using the smartboard and responders.  I am working on ways to deal with this now, and hope it won’t be that big an issue next year when my plan is action.

I encourage everyone to please review my Action Research Plan and let me know any thoughts or comments you have as you read through it.