Reaching A High Score Presentation

Last year I rewrote my curriculum to make it into a game, and doing so helped my students master the content.  This is my presentation on what I did, as given at this year's Powering Up With Technology Conference.

PUWT Conference

Presentation (Hosted on Google Docs)

Class page

Apologies for the poor audio quality, I was projecting (using my "teacher voice") to the participants and that tended to overwhelm my mic every time I was next to the computer.

Playing with Frames

I'm at a Clay Animation training session sponsored by my employer.  I've done stop motion animation before, but not with Frames.

I'm really liking Frames.  My previous animations have all been compiled in iMovie or (against my will) MovieMaker.  Those programs work, and are often pre-installed on computers, but Frames was designed specifically for stop-motion animation.  Most of the concerns I had going in were resolved in an "Oh, so it can do that" way, followed by an "Oh, you mean it can also do this?!" moment.

I'd write more about it, but I have to go back to playing ... er, I mean learning how to use this software.

(Oh, and if you liked the music, Bre Pettis made it.)

Support the EFF!

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is doing a fundraiser, and to kick it off they've released a short animated song to show just what they do.

If you're a long term follower of this blog then I don't need to tell you the EFF is awesome. While as an artist I feel I should have the final say with what's done with my media, I think current practices go too far towards enforcing outdated business models.

Image uploaded with plasq's Skitch!

How 2(.0): Personal Learning Networks, 1/4

It occurs to me that I posted this here and here, but totally neglected to put it on my own site.  Oh well.

If you haven't seen my latest creation yet, here it is.  I'm hoping to record part 2 (or more, time permitting) this weekend.

Not in fact a tribal serenade...

... but still darned fun.  We got to play with "Boomwhackers" at the recent DEN NI thanks to Paula White and I recorded a couple short clips with my own new toy.

I think the video could have been better, but the audio's half decent.

boomwhacker1

boomwhacker2

5 Essential Learner Outcomes in Art and Technology

Back when I taught high school, I was often in buildings that were fed by middle and elementary schools that did not hold art education in high esteem. This meant that I had to tailor my lessons to cover things most students learn in their K-8 years but make them interesting for a high school audience.

It also meant that I was able to make a list of things that, once I eventually taught elementary, would be able to drill into my students to prevent premature baldness and graying amongst the high school art teachers.

This list included the following five things:

1. People are not sticks. (I don't mind if a 3rd grader tries to draw a person and it doesn't turn out, but a 3rd grader drawing a stick figure isn't even trying.)


2. Trees are not lollipops.


3. Not every tree has to have a hole in the trunk. (Honestly, half of them draw the holes so they're wider than the trunks!)


4. I've never seen a blue cloud in a white sky.


5. Sky touches ground. (A blue bar at the top is ... a blue bar at the top. Not a sky.)

Granted, I didn't cover these things in every grade and every lesson. Not all students are developmentally able to comprehend my little list, and I still have room in my curriculum to do lessons that are more fun than they are nitpicky.

But at least by the time they leave elementary school all of my students know:

1. A way to draw people that have at least enough mass to wear some clothes.


2. A way to draw trees that are more accurate depictions than a circle (or green cloud) on a stick.


3. That because it can exist on one thing does not mean it exists on everything.


4. More than one way to make cool looking skies , including sunsets, storm clouds, and more.


5. What a horizon line is.

My official curriculum is much more detailed than this, but I suppose these items are my "pet peeves," if you will.

And this sort of got me thinking: Since I might become a technology teacher in a couple years, how will my list change? What are my technology pet peeves that I'll feel I must cover, above and beyond the official standards?

I came up with something like this:

1. Be safe! There are ways to be safe from online predators, stalkers, identity thieves, cyberbullies, and so on. Use them.


2. Be creative! The great thing about the internet is that anyone can create content, including you!


3. Be skeptical! The bad thing about the internet is that anyone can create content, including people who mislead others. Take the things you see online with a grain of salt.


4. Be cautious! Also, what happens on the internet stays on the internet, but not in a good way. Anything digital can be copied and archived, as well as indexed for easy searching. Don't put it online unless you want your mom, teacher, principal, significant others, and any future bosses to see it.


5. Be clear! There media (PowerPoint, website, movie, etc.) should never be more important than the message it's used to convey. Overworked and poorly designed projects can both keep people from remembering the very things you wanted them to learn.

Well, that's my list, at least. What's yours?

Getting Started in Video, with Bre Pettis

I've been a fan of Mr. Pettis' work for a while now, mostly because of stuff like this. I can't wait to see the rest of this series.



Hm, perhaps I should break out my old digital video camera again? I've been focusing on text and audio so much of late...

Academic Aesthetic 138

Hey, where's the audio only version?  I moved that over to Podserve.  Vidcasts like this one will still get posted here, though.

Show notes:

• Chris Craft's Twitter, and subsequent blog entry.

Academic Aesthetic 137 Video

Chris Craft tells me I should register ipostwaytoomanypodcasts.com.  I think he's right.

Show Notes

• It's time to start thinking outside the frame.


• This 'cast is inspired by a recent video by Dave LaMorte.


• I know the painting in the background is more Impressionist than Postmodern.  Sue me.


• Read Bud the Teacher's post about Cathy's Book.


• Post something on Teachers 2.0.  You know you want to...

Academic Aesthetic 136 Video

Episode 136 already? It seems like I only started 135 episodes ago!

Show Notes:

• I've got my first video comment! Thanks, Brian! (Now the rest of you should send in your own!)


• Tech is only scary 'til you try it.


• April is Donate Life Month! Are you an organ or tissue donor?

Academic Aesthetic 135 Video

Twitter vs. Jaiku:  Who do I think will win?  Watch the video to find out!

• My Twitter and Jaiku pages.


• Bud the Teacher's Twitter and Jaiku pages.


• Leo Laporte's Jaiku page.

Academic Aesthetic 132 Video

My latest show is a call for would-be podcasters to start podcasting.

Now.

(And don't forget to send me some audio or video comments!)

Academic Aesthetic 131 Video

In this video I talk about note passing and multitasking.

Academic Aesthetic 130 Video

Here's my latest rambling, where I talk about the definition of art and how it relates to education.

...Ok, you got me - this is a response to Dave LaMorte.  I also make a plug for the Artchive.

Academic Aesthetic 129 Video

My latest video in all it's lack of glory!  (Wait, what?)

Academic Aesthetic 127 Video

It's been far too long since my last episode - Here's the video version of some news that's happened in the interim.

• I'm presenting at MICCA!
  


• Free Online Resources Wikki! (The handout for my MICCA presentation)
  


• Ning is less annoy-ning!


• My PowerBook's mic works again! I don't know why, but I'm not asking too many questions.


• Anime Studio is a fun animation program. Like Flash, but without the price tag.

Academic Aesthetic Netcast 126 (fixed)

I might have a snow day tomorrow, but I don't want one. Why? Because I enjoy what I do too much to stay home!

What do YOU do to make your classes fun?

What do you make?

Bre Pettis has done it again.

Where does he get all those wonderful toys ideas?

You can find more of Bre's stuff over at imakethings.com.

Academic Aesthetic Netcast 125

I'm still playing with my digital video camera.

This time around I lament that I have too many books (yeah, you heard me), and why. It's because the nature of the media has changed, but there are a lot of things that have changed along with it.

PETE&C Preview

This is just a short video to tell you that good things are on their way.



Download the mp4 movie

Download the audio only