A textbook that my Canadian law students use includes a cartoon by the cartoonist 'Summers'. The cartoons are published in the Orlando Sentinel. In the back of the Dimensions of Law textbook, the image is credited to Tribune Media Services beside the standard legal jargon “All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission”. That’s enough to scare off an otherwise ‘do-gooder’ type like me.
I would like to share it with you in image form but since I don’t want to “get in trouble” for violating copyright, I’m not going to post the actual cartoon here on my blog. Please imagine the following image, which is a slight variation of this cartoon: You see a typical teenage male clutching his skateboard. He’s wearing hip clothing with baseball cap turned backwards and to the side as per fashion code. The cartoonist has labelled his attire and accessories that are visible as follows: Hat $60, designer sunglasses, $120, Ralph Lauren Polo shirt $80, iPhone $800, Designer Jeans $80, Air Jordans $250, and skate board $150. As he peers out at you from underneath his shades, the cartoonist has the boy saying, “Bro, I couldn’t afford music if I didn’t steal it from the internet.”
Now, I’m capable of being like the Pharisee in Jesus of Nazareth’s parable who looked at the publican and prayed saying, “Thank God, I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don’t commit adultery, I go without food twice a week, and I give to God a tenth of everything I earn.” I wouldn’t put it past myself to think, “Thank God I’m not like that vacuous teenager who wears fashionable clothing to impress people AND also downloads pirated stuff off the internet AND, to make matters worse, tries to justify it with flimsy excuses.
The truth is that if someone ever asked me if, in the process of teaching, I’d ever violated copyright, I’d have to raise my hand and say, “Probably. Guilty as charged.” And, in the cold light of day, all my excuses would probably sound pretty hollow. “I didn’t have enough time; I was busy doing ________.” “I didn’t know.” “I’m busy making wonderful lesson plans for the government.”
The fact is that I don’t know if I have but there’s a pretty good chance that, in twenty years of teaching, I’ve done something wrong with respect to copyright. There’s a concept in law called “wilful blindness” but we won’t get into that here.
As an educator, I want to set a good example for my students. At the same time, I don’t make enough money to hire expensive lawyers or to buy insurance, if any even exists, similar to malpractice insurance that would protect me from copyright lawsuits related to my teaching activities. I don’t want to pay a hefty fine because I did not take the time to do my due diligence with respect to copyright. On the other hand, I’d rather spend my time creating dynamic 21st century learning spaces than spending hours wading through and deciphering ‘copyright & education’ reading material that is filled with legal jargon, caveats, and vague generalities. That’s especially true since I don’t have the benefit of a legal education. I’d rather be adding value to my students than having to wade through country-specific material that, in the end, doesn’t even apply to Canada.
Since I’m currently taking a class on ‘Technology in the Classroom’, I’m going to limit my thoughts and comments to 21st century digital copyright.
I’ve consulted a number of online sources on this issue. They include: Copyright Matters 3rd Edition, Creative Commons, 2learn’s ‘Copyright & Teaching’, CMEC’s Copyright page, CMEC’s FAQs on Copyright Law, and Edublogger’s Educator’s ‘Guide to Copyright, Fair Use, and Creative Commons’.
I’d love to attend a workshop or breakout session hosted by a copyright lawyer with expertise in Canadian law so I could ask about specifics. In general, I’d ask “What can I do as a teacher and what should I not do?”
Here are some more specific questions I’d ask based on CMEC’s ‘Copyright Matters’ document:
Section 3 Subsection 4: How long is a short excerpt of a website? How much is 10% considering web pages are not numbered?
Section 13 Subsection 3: How can a teacher or student know if the web content has been acquired legally? Can a person assume that if the music or other content can be obtained from the internet (e.g. via YouTube, for example), that it has been legally obtained? Should a person assume that music that is not paid for has been acquired illegally? What about images? How can a teacher know if he/she can use an image?
Section 14 & 15: The document states (paraphrased) that a teacher can make a copy of a radio or TV program so long as the “the copy [was] made … at the time the program is … communicated over the Internet.” Does this mean that so long as the program is available on the internet when the copy is made, then the teacher can make the copy? In an way this makes no sense because, if the teacher is copying from the internet, then of course the copy is available and can be made. Am I missing something here?
Section 16: What is an “infringing” copy? One that has not be paid for, ‘‘pirated’, or ‘bootlegged’?
Section 16: So teachers can show anything that is on YouTube without worrying about copyright infringement? The website states, “Teachers can show audiovisual works purchased or rented from a retail store, a copy borrowed from the library, a copy borrowed from a friend, and a YouTube video.”
Section 20: The website states, “Educational institutions, teachers, and students may save, download, and share publicly available Internet materials, as well as use that material in the classroom and communicate it to students or others within their education circle. “Publicly available” materials are those posted on-line by content creators and copyright owners without any technological protection measures, such as a password, encryption system, or similar technology intended to limit access or distribution, and without a clearly visible notice prohibiting educational use.”
How do teachers or students know which images, written or audivisual content is “publicly available”? There are lots of images that a person can access that are not protected via lock, password, or encryption. Most Google images, for example, can be saved and reproduced in web products such as ‘Digital Stories’, for example. However, should a teacher or student just assume that if they can access the image on Google images, that they can use the image for educational purposes in an educational context (e.g. classroom)?
Let’s take the example of Corrie Ten Boom. Ten Boom was confined in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II because she and her family members had hidden Jews in her home. A quick search on Google Images reveals scores of photos of Corrie Ten Boom alone or with family members. However, if a person does an advanced Google search for photos that are not restricted by license, not one single image appears.
[To conduct an advanced Google search, simply click on ‘images’, then ‘search tools’, then ‘usage rights’]
To produce one digital story, a teacher or student can easily use 25 photos or images. Are they really expected, for each image, to:
a) find out who holds the copyright (this is often not obvious as websites are not necessarily the rights holders but may or may not have obtained permission from the rights holders), and
b) find the address or contact information for the copyright holder, and
c) write the copyright holder for ‘written’ permission to copy, and
d) wait for the copyright holder to reply with written permission, and
e) not use the image if written permission is not obtained, and
f) organize and store all 25-50 letters of permission for that one digital product?
If so, these requirements are so onerous as to preclude the assigning of such projects.
The website ends with this nugget: “Copyright can be, and often is, very complicated.” No kidding.
Tuesday 21 July 2015
Sunday 28 September 2014
Group Projects in the Classroom
Most educators would agree that collaborative and teamwork skills are necessary for graduates to thrive in 21st century workplaces.
Still, they also are aware of the reality that while group assignments and projects are favoured and loved by some students, they are disliked by many others.
Some students and teachers prefer learning on their own. They are of the "if it's going to be, it's up to me" mindset. They feel that if something is going to be done right, the chances of this happening increase if they do it themselves. This way, they have control over the process, the outcome, and, most importantly (to them) the grade. In my student and teaching experience, although there are exceptions, it is usually the thoughtful, reflective, high achievers who do not like collaborative projects or 'group work'. In their past experience, they have been part of projects where they did "all the work" but got the same grade as others in the group who contributed less (in both quantity and quality). They felt this was not fair. The more competitive students felt they missed out on the good feeling of getting a better grade than their peers who contributed less. Worse, in some cases, they felt their group grade was lower than it should have been because others in the group did not make deadlines or did not produce what they had agreed to produce. Conversely, students who would score lower on assignments they complete on their own look forward to "group projects" because they feel that they benefit from the skills and knowledge of other students and thus get a higher grade.
As a teacher, although I have students work in groups to teach certain historical topics (e.g. The Jazz/Flapper era or the Famous Five) or to work in groups for debates, I can do more and I need to do more in my classroom to foster collaborative learning. In the past, I haven't embraced collaborative learning more for the same reasons outlined above. First, many students do not like working in groups for the reasons outlined above. As a result, there is less enthusiasm, especially among the students who tend to lead and achieve higher. Second, on the surface, it's harder to assess students and give them a grade-especially if some of the work is not completed in the classroom. Third, I find that I have to teach students "how" to work together because I don't work in a highly collaborative school culture. They haven't mastered the skills in lower grades. By the time they get to high school, they are like fish out of water when learning together. It's like wearing a new shoes. It's not comfortable and it causes blisters.
A few years ago, I picked up a tip from a teacher named Allison who contributed to the Action-Ed blog. She outlined her method as follows:
________________________________________
1. Group Mark: This is the usual group mark; the mark earned on a project, paper, presentation, etc. For example, let’s say a group of 4 members earned 16/20 on their presentation project. Their group mark is 16. Most often educators stop here, but I don’t think it tells enough of the story. So …
2. Total Group Points: Then they determined this by multiplying the group mark by the number of members in the group. Continuing with the example, the group mark of 16 is multiplied by the 4 group members giving us 64 Total Group Pts (4 x 16 = 64).
3. Prepare Fractions: Then on a piece of paper, I have the students write a fraction beside every group member’s name, leaving the numerator blank and using the same denominator as the group mark.
For example:
• Stan = /20
• Susan = /20
• Joe = /20
• Tanya = /20
• Total Group Pts = 80
4. Group Negotiates Individual Marks: Then the group works out - on their own - who should get how many of the total group points. I ask them to review what went well and what didn’t, and have them use that information - on their own - to decide how to allocate their total group points. They cannot use more or less than the total number of group points they earned, some members may earn up to 105%, and it’s up to them to present their cases to their group mates as to why each member should get what they should get.
For example, lets say Stan was ‘the man’ and the group agrees their decent mark of 16/20 was largely due to him doing a great job on the most difficult tasks. They agree he should receive 105%, which would look like this:
• Stan = 21/20
• Susan = /20
• Joe = /20
• Tanya = /20
• Total Group Pts Left = 43 (64 - 21 = 43)
Then they move on to Joe, who - the groups agrees - did absolutely nothing in preparing for the presentation (Stan did Joe’s work), but a good job in the actual presentation. The group decides to give Joe 8/20, and we’re left with this:
• Stan = 21/20
• Susan = /20
• Joe = 8/20
• Tanya = /20
• Total Group Pts Left = 35 (43 - 8 = 35)
Finally, Susan says that she and Tanya contributed equally (which is mostly true), but Tanya adds that she was the one who spent a good 30 minutes proofreading everyone’s final work and fixing mistakes. With this, the group decides on the following marks and submits them to their instructor who records them as the individual grades for the group assignment:
• Stan = 21/20
• Susan = 16.5/20
• Joe = 8/20
• Tanya = 18.5/20
• Totals = 64/80
5. Teacher Records the Marks: The teacher, then, does the following things before recording the marks:
• Verifies the numbers add up, ensuring students aren’t trying to add a couple marks here and there (it happens more often than you think, and it always results in group members blaming bad math skills .. he he),
• Ensures that the group generally agrees with the collective decision/allotment, making sure no one was bullied, intimidated or 'guilted' into taking a lower grade than they felt they rightfully deserved.
• Fields questions and assists with any negotiations that become heated, sometimes teaching (or coaching) a group how deliberate on the issue and how to present and listen to points-made calmly and rationally.
_______________________________________________
The good news is that this method does generally help in making grades more fair. The bad news is that the process is also time and effort-intensive. It's also not easy to make sure that no one was bullied or guilted into acccepting a lower grade as students also interact outside of the high school classroom where teachers are not around to "ensure".
I haven't yet used online tools like Google Docs but I'm hoping that these tools will help students work on assignments outside of class time and that they will allow students to merge their efforts on a Power Point presentation, for example.
Still, they also are aware of the reality that while group assignments and projects are favoured and loved by some students, they are disliked by many others.
Some students and teachers prefer learning on their own. They are of the "if it's going to be, it's up to me" mindset. They feel that if something is going to be done right, the chances of this happening increase if they do it themselves. This way, they have control over the process, the outcome, and, most importantly (to them) the grade. In my student and teaching experience, although there are exceptions, it is usually the thoughtful, reflective, high achievers who do not like collaborative projects or 'group work'. In their past experience, they have been part of projects where they did "all the work" but got the same grade as others in the group who contributed less (in both quantity and quality). They felt this was not fair. The more competitive students felt they missed out on the good feeling of getting a better grade than their peers who contributed less. Worse, in some cases, they felt their group grade was lower than it should have been because others in the group did not make deadlines or did not produce what they had agreed to produce. Conversely, students who would score lower on assignments they complete on their own look forward to "group projects" because they feel that they benefit from the skills and knowledge of other students and thus get a higher grade.
As a teacher, although I have students work in groups to teach certain historical topics (e.g. The Jazz/Flapper era or the Famous Five) or to work in groups for debates, I can do more and I need to do more in my classroom to foster collaborative learning. In the past, I haven't embraced collaborative learning more for the same reasons outlined above. First, many students do not like working in groups for the reasons outlined above. As a result, there is less enthusiasm, especially among the students who tend to lead and achieve higher. Second, on the surface, it's harder to assess students and give them a grade-especially if some of the work is not completed in the classroom. Third, I find that I have to teach students "how" to work together because I don't work in a highly collaborative school culture. They haven't mastered the skills in lower grades. By the time they get to high school, they are like fish out of water when learning together. It's like wearing a new shoes. It's not comfortable and it causes blisters.
A few years ago, I picked up a tip from a teacher named Allison who contributed to the Action-Ed blog. She outlined her method as follows:
________________________________________
1. Group Mark: This is the usual group mark; the mark earned on a project, paper, presentation, etc. For example, let’s say a group of 4 members earned 16/20 on their presentation project. Their group mark is 16. Most often educators stop here, but I don’t think it tells enough of the story. So …
2. Total Group Points: Then they determined this by multiplying the group mark by the number of members in the group. Continuing with the example, the group mark of 16 is multiplied by the 4 group members giving us 64 Total Group Pts (4 x 16 = 64).
3. Prepare Fractions: Then on a piece of paper, I have the students write a fraction beside every group member’s name, leaving the numerator blank and using the same denominator as the group mark.
For example:
• Stan = /20
• Susan = /20
• Joe = /20
• Tanya = /20
• Total Group Pts = 80
4. Group Negotiates Individual Marks: Then the group works out - on their own - who should get how many of the total group points. I ask them to review what went well and what didn’t, and have them use that information - on their own - to decide how to allocate their total group points. They cannot use more or less than the total number of group points they earned, some members may earn up to 105%, and it’s up to them to present their cases to their group mates as to why each member should get what they should get.
For example, lets say Stan was ‘the man’ and the group agrees their decent mark of 16/20 was largely due to him doing a great job on the most difficult tasks. They agree he should receive 105%, which would look like this:
• Stan = 21/20
• Susan = /20
• Joe = /20
• Tanya = /20
• Total Group Pts Left = 43 (64 - 21 = 43)
Then they move on to Joe, who - the groups agrees - did absolutely nothing in preparing for the presentation (Stan did Joe’s work), but a good job in the actual presentation. The group decides to give Joe 8/20, and we’re left with this:
• Stan = 21/20
• Susan = /20
• Joe = 8/20
• Tanya = /20
• Total Group Pts Left = 35 (43 - 8 = 35)
Finally, Susan says that she and Tanya contributed equally (which is mostly true), but Tanya adds that she was the one who spent a good 30 minutes proofreading everyone’s final work and fixing mistakes. With this, the group decides on the following marks and submits them to their instructor who records them as the individual grades for the group assignment:
• Stan = 21/20
• Susan = 16.5/20
• Joe = 8/20
• Tanya = 18.5/20
• Totals = 64/80
5. Teacher Records the Marks: The teacher, then, does the following things before recording the marks:
• Verifies the numbers add up, ensuring students aren’t trying to add a couple marks here and there (it happens more often than you think, and it always results in group members blaming bad math skills .. he he),
• Ensures that the group generally agrees with the collective decision/allotment, making sure no one was bullied, intimidated or 'guilted' into taking a lower grade than they felt they rightfully deserved.
• Fields questions and assists with any negotiations that become heated, sometimes teaching (or coaching) a group how deliberate on the issue and how to present and listen to points-made calmly and rationally.
_______________________________________________
The good news is that this method does generally help in making grades more fair. The bad news is that the process is also time and effort-intensive. It's also not easy to make sure that no one was bullied or guilted into acccepting a lower grade as students also interact outside of the high school classroom where teachers are not around to "ensure".
I haven't yet used online tools like Google Docs but I'm hoping that these tools will help students work on assignments outside of class time and that they will allow students to merge their efforts on a Power Point presentation, for example.
Thursday 28 August 2014
Digital Story
It's been so long since I've last posted that I've forgotten how to do this (embed videos). In a way, it's good to be reviewing this because when I don't use it, I lose it. This is what I find with me and technology in general. If I don't practise a skill on a regular basis, I forget really fast. A few weeks later, it's like doing it all over again. Well, almost all over.
I was given an assignment to create a digital story using Microsoft's Photo Story three. Actually, I could choose between a number of formats and this is the format I chose. I wanted to learn a skill or use a software that I'd never used before, one that would stretch me and take me way out of my comfort zone. Mission accomplished. This assignment intimidated me. Now that it's finished, it feels like a big weight has been taken off my shoulders. I also wanted to make something that I could show to my students-not as something perfect but a 'first try' and a sample. Although the video definitely could use fine tuning and I wish it hadn't taken so much time, I'm relieved to be finished and excited about the finished product.
I didn't set out to make an eight minute digital story. It just happened. I had no idea how long it would be. As I tell my students, "Cover the topic. Do it justice. Don't worry about how many pages it will be. When the story is told, you'll know." There is more that I could have included...but I just wanted to birth the thing.
Now that I've finished, I've learned a few things. First, I've learned that making a digital story (video) using only photos that are free to use or share is not easy and, in many cases, likely isn't possible. Most of the photos in this video were not filtered through the free to use or share Google advanced search. This is why I'm using the 'unlisted' function on YouTube. I probably should have used the private setting and my students will have to use that setting if they don't limit themselves to free photos. I looked up Cory TenBoom using Google's advanced search and requesting only photos that were free to use or share. One photo. If I didn't restrict myself to photos or images that were free to use or share, there were lots of photos and images. I just don't think it's practical to give students an assignment and expect them to a) figure out who owns the photo, b) find their email address, c) email the owner, d) wait for a reply, all in a timely fashion. Am I missing something? If you have ideas, I'm all ears. But then, if the video is not public, is it "authentic"? If it's not public, how will my students get feedback from around the world? Isn't that the whole point of posting it online in the first place? If not, a classroom Power Point presentation will do the trick and, since it's used for educational purposes, it should be covered by fair use principles. Or would it? Do fair use laws even exist on this in Canada?
Ugh.
I was given an assignment to create a digital story using Microsoft's Photo Story three. Actually, I could choose between a number of formats and this is the format I chose. I wanted to learn a skill or use a software that I'd never used before, one that would stretch me and take me way out of my comfort zone. Mission accomplished. This assignment intimidated me. Now that it's finished, it feels like a big weight has been taken off my shoulders. I also wanted to make something that I could show to my students-not as something perfect but a 'first try' and a sample. Although the video definitely could use fine tuning and I wish it hadn't taken so much time, I'm relieved to be finished and excited about the finished product.
I didn't set out to make an eight minute digital story. It just happened. I had no idea how long it would be. As I tell my students, "Cover the topic. Do it justice. Don't worry about how many pages it will be. When the story is told, you'll know." There is more that I could have included...but I just wanted to birth the thing.
Now that I've finished, I've learned a few things. First, I've learned that making a digital story (video) using only photos that are free to use or share is not easy and, in many cases, likely isn't possible. Most of the photos in this video were not filtered through the free to use or share Google advanced search. This is why I'm using the 'unlisted' function on YouTube. I probably should have used the private setting and my students will have to use that setting if they don't limit themselves to free photos. I looked up Cory TenBoom using Google's advanced search and requesting only photos that were free to use or share. One photo. If I didn't restrict myself to photos or images that were free to use or share, there were lots of photos and images. I just don't think it's practical to give students an assignment and expect them to a) figure out who owns the photo, b) find their email address, c) email the owner, d) wait for a reply, all in a timely fashion. Am I missing something? If you have ideas, I'm all ears. But then, if the video is not public, is it "authentic"? If it's not public, how will my students get feedback from around the world? Isn't that the whole point of posting it online in the first place? If not, a classroom Power Point presentation will do the trick and, since it's used for educational purposes, it should be covered by fair use principles. Or would it? Do fair use laws even exist on this in Canada?
Ugh.
Tuesday 22 July 2014
Digital Storytelling
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”
Confucius
Digital storytelling (DS), at its most basic, is telling stories by using modern technology. The narrator might tell his/her own story, the story of a family member or friend, or of a historical or community event using multimedia such as full motion video with sound, photo/image stills, graphics, or animation. This video is then published on the internet/worldwide web. Other terms or synonyms for digital storytelling include digital documentaries, digital essays or electronic memoirs. Digital stories vary in length but are usually between two and ten minutes long.
Examples of digital stories.
There are a number of benefits to ‘digital storytelling’ (DS). To use Gardner’s learning styles model, DS appeals to learning styles that are often neglected or at least not used as much such as ‘kinesthetic’, ‘musical’, ‘interpersonal’, ‘visual/spatial’ while still appealing to the ‘verbal/linguistic’ and ‘logical/mathematical’ learning styles. To use Peter Fleming’s VARK model, there are learning experiences to benefit and use the abilities of those who prefer visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinaesthetic learners. Students benefit from ‘hands-on’, ‘concrete’, and problem-solving in learning. Another benefit of ‘digital storytelling’ is that students are more motivated to learn and complete the assignment. They are so engaged and stimulated that they tend to see the learning more as ‘fun’ and less as ‘work’. Students tend to perform better in these circumstances.
Student learning is said to be more ‘authentic’ since their work is shared with a worldwide audience. Most students (and teachers) who know that they and their work will be ‘judged’ by everyone and anyone tend to want to put their best foot forward and to produce their best work. Digital storytelling helps students acquire or practise 21st Century Skills such as collaboration, innovation, inspiration, insight, inquiry, and influence.
21st Century Skills
‘Digital Storytelling’ would be highly appropriate and relevant in my current teaching context – an Ontario high school history, civics, law, or guidance classroom. In a history classroom, I could ask the students narrate their own story or the story of a relative who lived through a particular period of interest (e.g. The Depression or Immigrating through Pier 21). In my case, I could post an exemplar in which I narrate my father’s story as a new immigrant to Canada. I could ask them to research a historical figure like Louis Riel and narrate the story in 1st or 3rd person. In law class, I could ask students to narrate the story of someone who changed Canadian law (e.g. Blind lawyer David Lepofsky sued the Toronto Transit Commmission in order to force bus drivers to announce stops and for buses to post stops digitally for hearing impaired customers). In Civics class, students could tell their own story of civic participation (e.g. as an election volunteer). In Careers 10 class, instead of making a poster about their skills, interests, values, learning styles, and personality or about their dreams and ambitions (occupation, spiritual/humanitarian, material, personal growth etc.), they could make a storyboard first and then make a video with themselves as narrators.
To learn about ‘digital storytelling’, I watched a number of videos. The first was the story about Jim Sill, a former video and TV producer who became created an award-winning video production program at El Diamonte High School in California.
I found Sill's story inspiring and I'm looking forward to watching other video's on Sill's YouTube channel and to peruse his website
Mister Sill
I also plan on talking to colleagues and others smarter than myself to see how such a program could be started at my own school or how I might use a scaled-down version of what Sill does (fellow teachers could share the technology and collaborate). My brain is spinning as I think about the possibilities. Video yearbook anyone?
What I really would like to do is be a student in Mr. Sill's class. If you know of professional development opportunities for teachers to learn what their students learn (similar to Mr. Sill's class) either where you live or in Toronto where I teach, please leave such information in this Blog's comment box.
I noticed that Sill (and others) who are video professionals use Apple. I wonder if I should invest in an Apple laptop instead of the Dell that I was planning on getting. I also realize that I need to learn a lot more about copyright and using video or images available on the internet for educational purposes (Fair Use etc.).
I watched a number of digital storytelling videos on the University of Houston's website:
Digital Storytelling @ University of Houston
One video that I viewed was on the KinderTransports of the Holocaust. Unfortunately, Blogger does not seem to read the 'embed' code provided at the site. As a result, I cannot embed the video here. I have embedded two similar YouTube videos, however, below:
With the right training, I think I could incorporate digital storytelling in my classes. Watching video of another teacher doing it is not the same as doing it myself. Teachers are no different than their students.
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”
Confucius
Confucius
Digital storytelling (DS), at its most basic, is telling stories by using modern technology. The narrator might tell his/her own story, the story of a family member or friend, or of a historical or community event using multimedia such as full motion video with sound, photo/image stills, graphics, or animation. This video is then published on the internet/worldwide web. Other terms or synonyms for digital storytelling include digital documentaries, digital essays or electronic memoirs. Digital stories vary in length but are usually between two and ten minutes long.
Examples of digital stories.
There are a number of benefits to ‘digital storytelling’ (DS). To use Gardner’s learning styles model, DS appeals to learning styles that are often neglected or at least not used as much such as ‘kinesthetic’, ‘musical’, ‘interpersonal’, ‘visual/spatial’ while still appealing to the ‘verbal/linguistic’ and ‘logical/mathematical’ learning styles. To use Peter Fleming’s VARK model, there are learning experiences to benefit and use the abilities of those who prefer visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinaesthetic learners. Students benefit from ‘hands-on’, ‘concrete’, and problem-solving in learning. Another benefit of ‘digital storytelling’ is that students are more motivated to learn and complete the assignment. They are so engaged and stimulated that they tend to see the learning more as ‘fun’ and less as ‘work’. Students tend to perform better in these circumstances.
Student learning is said to be more ‘authentic’ since their work is shared with a worldwide audience. Most students (and teachers) who know that they and their work will be ‘judged’ by everyone and anyone tend to want to put their best foot forward and to produce their best work. Digital storytelling helps students acquire or practise 21st Century Skills such as collaboration, innovation, inspiration, insight, inquiry, and influence.
21st Century Skills
‘Digital Storytelling’ would be highly appropriate and relevant in my current teaching context – an Ontario high school history, civics, law, or guidance classroom. In a history classroom, I could ask the students narrate their own story or the story of a relative who lived through a particular period of interest (e.g. The Depression or Immigrating through Pier 21). In my case, I could post an exemplar in which I narrate my father’s story as a new immigrant to Canada. I could ask them to research a historical figure like Louis Riel and narrate the story in 1st or 3rd person. In law class, I could ask students to narrate the story of someone who changed Canadian law (e.g. Blind lawyer David Lepofsky sued the Toronto Transit Commmission in order to force bus drivers to announce stops and for buses to post stops digitally for hearing impaired customers). In Civics class, students could tell their own story of civic participation (e.g. as an election volunteer). In Careers 10 class, instead of making a poster about their skills, interests, values, learning styles, and personality or about their dreams and ambitions (occupation, spiritual/humanitarian, material, personal growth etc.), they could make a storyboard first and then make a video with themselves as narrators.
To learn about ‘digital storytelling’, I watched a number of videos. The first was the story about Jim Sill, a former video and TV producer who became created an award-winning video production program at El Diamonte High School in California.
I found Sill's story inspiring and I'm looking forward to watching other video's on Sill's YouTube channel and to peruse his website
Mister Sill
I also plan on talking to colleagues and others smarter than myself to see how such a program could be started at my own school or how I might use a scaled-down version of what Sill does (fellow teachers could share the technology and collaborate). My brain is spinning as I think about the possibilities. Video yearbook anyone?
What I really would like to do is be a student in Mr. Sill's class. If you know of professional development opportunities for teachers to learn what their students learn (similar to Mr. Sill's class) either where you live or in Toronto where I teach, please leave such information in this Blog's comment box.
I noticed that Sill (and others) who are video professionals use Apple. I wonder if I should invest in an Apple laptop instead of the Dell that I was planning on getting. I also realize that I need to learn a lot more about copyright and using video or images available on the internet for educational purposes (Fair Use etc.).
I watched a number of digital storytelling videos on the University of Houston's website:
Digital Storytelling @ University of Houston
One video that I viewed was on the KinderTransports of the Holocaust. Unfortunately, Blogger does not seem to read the 'embed' code provided at the site. As a result, I cannot embed the video here. I have embedded two similar YouTube videos, however, below:
With the right training, I think I could incorporate digital storytelling in my classes. Watching video of another teacher doing it is not the same as doing it myself. Teachers are no different than their students.
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”
Confucius
Monday 21 July 2014
RSS Feeds
Over the past few days, I've been learning about Rich Site Summary, or as some have dubbed it "Really Simply Syndication" (RSS).
As I've learned, instead of going to websites to find out if anything new has been posted, a person can use RSS to reverse the process. Instead of the user going to provider to check on 'new' content, the provider sends the user new content. A person can use an 'aggregator' site called 'Feedly' where this new material is stored and organized in one place. It's one-stop consuming.
I can see how this might save time in some instances but not all. The narrator on a YouTube video (on RSS) claims that when a user visits a news website like the National Post, he finds that there is 'nothing new' there. This hasn't been true in my experience. When I visit media websites, I find that the links are changing as the news is changing. So, in my experience, just as the news is always changing, the site is constantly being updated. Newsmedia sites are the ones I use the most. I can see how updates would be more relevant, maybe, for podcasts and blogs that are not updated as often.
Here are some links to what will be coming into my 'Feedly' inbox:
News - National Post: http://feedly.com/index.html#subscription%2Ffeed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Ffullcomment.nationalpost.com%2Fcategory%2Ffull-comment%2Ffeed%2F
National Post
Blog - Saving Socrates: http://feedly.com/index.html#subscription%2Ffeed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fjennilevyesq.blogspot.com%2Ffeeds%2Fposts%2Fdefault
Saving Socrates
Flickr - Most Interesting Photos of last 7 days
https://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/
Most Interesting Flickr Photos of Last 7 Days
Podcasts - Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/andy-stanley-leadership-podcast/id290055666?mt=2
Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast
Of all the things I've been learning about 'technology in education', RSS seems to be the least valuable tool I have encountered so far. Maybe I still have a lot to learn. I'm open to seeing new avenues whereby RSS could 'add value' to teachers or students.
As I've learned, instead of going to websites to find out if anything new has been posted, a person can use RSS to reverse the process. Instead of the user going to provider to check on 'new' content, the provider sends the user new content. A person can use an 'aggregator' site called 'Feedly' where this new material is stored and organized in one place. It's one-stop consuming.
I can see how this might save time in some instances but not all. The narrator on a YouTube video (on RSS) claims that when a user visits a news website like the National Post, he finds that there is 'nothing new' there. This hasn't been true in my experience. When I visit media websites, I find that the links are changing as the news is changing. So, in my experience, just as the news is always changing, the site is constantly being updated. Newsmedia sites are the ones I use the most. I can see how updates would be more relevant, maybe, for podcasts and blogs that are not updated as often.
Here are some links to what will be coming into my 'Feedly' inbox:
News - National Post: http://feedly.com/index.html#subscription%2Ffeed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Ffullcomment.nationalpost.com%2Fcategory%2Ffull-comment%2Ffeed%2F
National Post
Blog - Saving Socrates: http://feedly.com/index.html#subscription%2Ffeed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fjennilevyesq.blogspot.com%2Ffeeds%2Fposts%2Fdefault
Saving Socrates
Flickr - Most Interesting Photos of last 7 days
https://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/
Most Interesting Flickr Photos of Last 7 Days
Podcasts - Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/andy-stanley-leadership-podcast/id290055666?mt=2
Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast
Of all the things I've been learning about 'technology in education', RSS seems to be the least valuable tool I have encountered so far. Maybe I still have a lot to learn. I'm open to seeing new avenues whereby RSS could 'add value' to teachers or students.
Wednesday 16 July 2014
Ruben R. Puentedura’s SAMR Model
I find Ruben R. Puentedura’s SAMR model helpful in providing a conceptual framework for the different options teachers have teaching content and skills using current and emerging technology. Having watched a video of him explaining it, I also see his approach as balanced because he does not criticize teachers for teaching using substitution or augmentation to enhance or enrich the learning process. He argues that lessons taught at the modification or redefinition levels are not necessarily superior or better. I agree. I believe there will be times when using technology to improve or enhance learning is appropriate or necessary and can still ‘add value’ to the student’s learning. However, to use technology only at the S or R levels would be to short-change or limit our children and to ill-prepare them for their future or to be contributing members of a globally-competing economy. I look forward to creating more assignments and projects at the M and R level.
In earlier times, if a teacher teaching a Careers course wanted students to benefit from the knowledge, personal experience and expertise of people in the community, the teacher might invite that person to visit the classroom and share in-person. Even today, as I teach Careers 10, I can invite someone or the students can own their learning and invite someone themselves. However, this isn’t always possible, especially if that person doesn’t live in the community. In that case, students might also find occupational information in a textbook, library book, or print magazine.
Substitution: If I substitute technology, students can do research online to try to find the same information. They could access websites like NOC or Job Bank.
However, these websites are pretty ‘no-frills’. For example, there are no testimonial videos of people working in the occupations that students might choose for themselves. In this case, I’d be substituting what students could find in a textbook, library book, or magazine with what they would find online.
Augmentation: As a teacher, I can purchase a membership with a company that provides an upgrade to what students can find online. Career Cruising, for example, provides some functional improvement. It’s a more user-friendly site, more visually appealing, offer’s more one-stop shopping in terms of accessing information, and provides 2 minute videos of people working in a particular field (e.g. lawyer).
Modification: I could significantly re-design this assignment by adding a component whereby the student moves from just being a consumer of knowledge to a producer of knowledge. For example, after researching an occupation using Career Cruising, I could ask the student or a group of students to use an iPad, camera, or camcorder to produce a news video on the occupation.
Redefinition: Finally, I could ask students to make a podcast instead of a video and share that podcast online OR I could ask students to post their video on YouTube AND embed that video on a blog that would also feature writing in addition to the video. By adding the YouTube, podcast, or blog to the equation, I’m transforming the project and the learning by using communication methods that were previously unavailable or, I suppose, inconceivable (I’m sure someone conceived it awhile back before the technology was invented).
In earlier times, if a teacher teaching a Careers course wanted students to benefit from the knowledge, personal experience and expertise of people in the community, the teacher might invite that person to visit the classroom and share in-person. Even today, as I teach Careers 10, I can invite someone or the students can own their learning and invite someone themselves. However, this isn’t always possible, especially if that person doesn’t live in the community. In that case, students might also find occupational information in a textbook, library book, or print magazine.
Substitution: If I substitute technology, students can do research online to try to find the same information. They could access websites like NOC or Job Bank.
However, these websites are pretty ‘no-frills’. For example, there are no testimonial videos of people working in the occupations that students might choose for themselves. In this case, I’d be substituting what students could find in a textbook, library book, or magazine with what they would find online.
Augmentation: As a teacher, I can purchase a membership with a company that provides an upgrade to what students can find online. Career Cruising, for example, provides some functional improvement. It’s a more user-friendly site, more visually appealing, offer’s more one-stop shopping in terms of accessing information, and provides 2 minute videos of people working in a particular field (e.g. lawyer).
Modification: I could significantly re-design this assignment by adding a component whereby the student moves from just being a consumer of knowledge to a producer of knowledge. For example, after researching an occupation using Career Cruising, I could ask the student or a group of students to use an iPad, camera, or camcorder to produce a news video on the occupation.
Redefinition: Finally, I could ask students to make a podcast instead of a video and share that podcast online OR I could ask students to post their video on YouTube AND embed that video on a blog that would also feature writing in addition to the video. By adding the YouTube, podcast, or blog to the equation, I’m transforming the project and the learning by using communication methods that were previously unavailable or, I suppose, inconceivable (I’m sure someone conceived it awhile back before the technology was invented).
Tuesday 15 July 2014
Is the 21st Century Skills Movement a passing Fad?
“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.” F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of the American literature classic The Great Gatsby.
In two articles published by the Washington post entitled “The Rush for 21st Century Skills” and “The Latest Doomed Pedagogical Fad: 21st Century Skills” respectively, Jay Matthews argues that the 21st Classroom Movement, peddled by Ken Kay of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and like-minded educational gurus, is an annoying nuisance at best and a waste of time at worst. Matthews falls victim to what Jay Collins and Scott Porras, in their New York Times best-selling book entitled “Built to Last” call “the tyranny of the OR”. To put it simply, the “Tyranny of the OR” suggests a black and white, either/or approach to an issue. In other words, it must either be a fad or an irrefutable truth. It’s either 100% right or 100% wrong.
In reality, it’s probably neither. Students must be given the skills to succeed in this Brave New Wired-Global Village. Yet critics of the 21st Century Movement make some valid points. For example, the 21st Century skills pedagogical framework is neither a passing fad nor a new, revolutionary approach. As Matthews and others have pointed out, at least some skills that pass for 21st century skills have been around since Ancient Greece. Among other things, teachers have been using Bloom’s taxonomy to make sure they were teaching higher order skills since the 1950s. For example, Matthews writes “I see little guidance for classroom teachers in 21st-century skills materials. How are millions of students still struggling to acquire 19th-century skills in reading, writing and math supposed to learn this stuff?” He goes on to write that the 21st Century movement “…is the all-at-once syndrome, a common failing of reform movements. They say changes must be made all at once, or else”.
He’s right of course. Too often, and this is worse in underfunded schools, teachers are given crash courses in the shiny new theory and very little realistic training in how to implement “on the ground”. Teacher’s College, like so much of university education, is long on useless theory and short on practical relevance. For example, my undergraduate teaching degree mandated a course in the History of Education in Canada but did not even offer an optional course in classroom management. The professional development workshops I attend are too often long on theory and short on implementation resources. We learn about the need for new assessment pedagogy (called Growing Success in Ontario) but are given little paid time to think about and develop courses of study and unit plans that incorporate its principles. In Ontario, Matthews might ask “When are teachers going to be shown, using practical examples from their disciplines, how the new curriculum expectations rolled out in 2014 are to be implemented while incorporating 21st Century methodology and skills outcomes? It takes time and resources to switch over from the way “we’ve always done it.” Matthews statement about teachers receiving little guidance includes the woefully inadequate curriculum documents and Ministry support given to private schools.
The question is not so much “Must we change?” but “How can we change?” Will we give teachers the tools, training, and time to do what they are fully capable of doing?
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