Futuring Reflection

School Train/Fox Becomes a Better Person
The School Train video was interesting and inventive. I think the use of technology in the classroom is important and presents exciting opportunities for learning. I am interested in discovering ways to incorporate technology into my classroom in new and inventive ways. The school train video seemed to be a big project for the topic. I wonder how much time was spent on the video and if the students were learning anything else while the video was being made. I also wonder how much the students actually contributed to the editing and production of the final product. I also wonder how much the students learned form the making of the video. Their voices are on the video and pictures of them, but I don’t know how much they contributed to the final product. I am not able to tell from the video if the students learned what a metaphor is. I know they recognized ways in which school is like riding a train and that metaphor, but I don’t know if they know what a metaphor is outside of that context. The video does not show understanding on the student’s part. I think it is a fun idea and I’m sure the students did gain some understanding from watching the video after it was made as to what a metaphor is. I liked the use of Spanish and English translations. I would have to ask, was the assignment to make a video or was the video something that the teacher made to show what was being taught in her classroom? I would give the video project a C+.
Fox Becomes a Better Person video (well, Fox isn’t a person to begin with, so Fox Becomes a Better Fox is the correct translation, but I wouldn’t mark off for that). This video, though less technologically ‘savvy’ shows so much understanding and skill development on the student’s part. Hannah memorized the story and spoke quite well. She wandered back and forth a bit, but used gestures and voice projection well. I could tell she understood the story. There was a multicultural element incorporated through the oral tradition use, native language and the native folktale. I liked the use of her drawings behind her. The verbal, visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning techniques were all incorporated. I would like to know what the project assignment was. I would give the project an A.

EPIC 2015
After watching this video I was a little awe struck by the ideas. Part of me felt like saying, well, so what? I can separate myself from that, how will that really effect me? Technology can really only effect me and in turn what I do in the classroom if I let it, for the most part? Is some of the affect out of my control though? I had visions of my classes being broadcast on the web or my school website and parents seeing what occurs in class. No big deal, I guess, but I don’t like the idea of that. I think because I don’t know much about podcasting and who does podcast and how and why, I am unaware of all the affect it could have. I do see all this technology as a way to bring the world into the classroom, in real time, but I don’t want to get rid of the hard copy print of media and news. If technology breaks down there is no paper trail or hard copy to have a record of events and history. That all seems a little scary. I don’t like the idea of media being suited and shaped for its audience. It already is to some extent and I try my best to find objective news, which is next to impossible, but I try to find as much about the facts as I can and not concern myself with the jargon. I want relevancy in my news but not just to my interests. I could see Googlezon becoming a reality. I want to show the video to a group of high school students and get a reaction. Has anyone done that? I am really curious.