EDLD 5366 Digital Graphics. 5th Week Reflection.

Self-Assessment

During this course I gained another perspective in how important are some elements of design are in the teaching field, the communication with the community that people should start creating their self-brand since their early years and all they do in social networks could impact positively or negatively in their lives (Utech, 2010).

The new information that I get in this course helped me to expand my knowledge and go deeper in my understanding. I found that the design of the logo was a structured task and is not just art or inspiration. I had some concepts about animation from my experience with Macromedia Flash, but using scratch was very productive because I learned a different way to make animations. At this moment I cannot say which is better. I think that both have different features and we can use the software that we feel more comfortable to work with.

I think that my personal experiences were a good asset in my understanding and affected positively in how I developed my assignments, but definitely I leaned not just to say that something is looking good at a glance, because we need to open our eyes to see the Contrast, Repetition, Alignment and the Proximity. (Yearwood, 2010).

Learn as learner

My strategies for doing my assignments are first read what we need to complete the assignment and see what information is in the readings. At the same time, I try to recall my past experiences and my current job and find the relationship between them.

I think that trying to evaluate or assess your own work is one of the hardest tasks. When you evaluate others’ work you just need to compare if parameters match the established criteria. If the work matches your criteria it is right. However, when you do a work, certain traits or your personality is embedded into the criteria and your can make a bias opinion. It was too difficult for me to design my own logo, and for this reason I asked for opinion from other people in how do I look like for them.

The discussion forums, web conferences, wiki and blog interactions were very resources for my because some time my ideas fluid suddenly in my mind and it help me to organize my thoughts and to develop ideas in different perspectives or even a deeper way.

Lifelong Learning Skills

All that I have learned in this course impacts in my professional development, because I have gained more understanding in how a logo can show what I am: my convictions, my activities and some traits of my personality. I interact with colleagues and the community. For this reason, the directives in how we can communicate throughout the newsletter can be used in general when we send letters home.

The interactions and collaboration with my colleagues is a summative action of knowledge because every classroom and every school face different challenges. For instance, comments from some colleagues leaded our school to invest in Eduphoria to help instruction and testing.

For future research I would like to investigate more on what are the best accommodations for students with special needs students with special needs. Because, I have seen that there are some learning gaps created for language barrier more than learning disabilities and to support English language learners, classrooms and schools must provide many avenues for exploring, learning, and practicing reading, writing, speaking, and listening (NREL, 2010). For instance in third grade were four student that initially they get less than 20 in their math and reading test, they are Spanish speakers but they do not have necessarily a learning disability. White some accommodations for their language they improved for over 70s.

References:
Utech, J. (2010). Creating your personal brand. Retrieved from http://www.thethinkingstick.com/creating-your-personal-brand

Yearwood , J. (2010). Desing Principles. Lamar University.

Northeast Regional Educational Laboratory. (n.d). Meeting the needs of diverse learners. Retrieved from http://www.netc.org/earlyconnections/pub/sec3.pdf

Scratch Animation

EDLD 5366 Digital Graphics - ET8023 -L20262347

This is the Week 3 assignment.

It was made with Scratch 1.4.

It shows the emotion of the Basketball game. I am using two customes, background and sound. I also manipulate the movements with the motion and control features.

You can visit my scratch project at: http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/jgallardo/1461326

Week 1. Reflection. EDLD 5366 Digital Graphics - ET8023

Reflection. Assignment 1.2.

My fist impression is that the author(s) of this book is have a strong knowledge in how develop a work to communicate the message. Probably the tools could be incipient, but how they apply the principles, surprised me.

I can see that the author of this magnificent book make use of the patterns in a good way making the pages more attractive. They have frames with a certain pattern, showing repetition. Even when I am not able to understand the text, I can how the contrast is manipulated in the colors red and black.

In the first picture where the man is receiving the message from the Lord, the image is aligned in the center and the text on top is centered to, making the image vertically balanced. Also, this image has repetition in colors blue, orange, red and yellow.

Most of the text shows repetition in the layout of two columns of text.

In general the pictures with characters have repetition in the patterns that shows a background and

The author shows that manipulate the alignment, because the text is balanced and when it has elements, they are at both sides. The images also have elements that are mainly centered (alignment).

The text has repetition in black and red throughout the book.

The proximity of the text with some of the images, that sometimes appears on top, to the right, on bottom, to the left shows that this text is an explanation of the drawing or related to the characters. Sometimes these remarks inside the drawing, close to the characters. So, I think that it is related with the people that appear there.

The technique that the author(s) used was using drawings that helped to understand better the texts in order to transmit the message. Apparently it was ink over some kind of paper and the whole work is very valuable from the hardcover to the inside. The four elements were applied throughout the book.

Manuscript/Book URL

http://ttpdownload.bl.uk/app_files/silverlight/default.html?id=316a6f8f-ef1b-4d9b-9c46-90084fcb2bc8

Title of Manuscript/Book

Bible from Ethiopia

Week 5 Assignment: PSA Post-Production

Week 5 Assignment: PSA Post-Production

During this course I have worked in an excellent team integrated by Michelle Pittman, Christine Maier, Timothy Stanfield, Lucinda Gallegos and me. The name of the PSA is An Oasis of Technology. Michelle headed the group from the different stages. She provides the narration used for the work.

Based on the original script that was revised during the 3 and 4 weeks we provide the still shots and videos needed. One important step for this process was to obtain the permission from parents to get the shot of the students. Some voice edition and music was selected taking into account the respect of the copyrights.

The interaction between the team members was through the email, group wiki and skype, depending of the activities that we have to do. We share our part of the work in the wiki space to integrate the work and we met in skype when we have to take decisions and voted for the best work that finally released in our wiki space and youtube.

Credits and copyright information was provided in the PSA itself and in our pre-production document. I think that one way of improve our PSA is release it to the public and make them comments and suggestions about it.

EDLD 5363 Week 5. PSA Reflection

Public Service Announcement (PSA) Reflection.





Course Reflection

I envisioned that I would learn some techniques in order to be capable to integrate different elements, still images, voice, music and videos. I think that I have achieved those outcomes because I have experienced the steps that are used from the beginning of the project making the first proposal and the narration script and finally the copyright documentation. I can say that my envisioned outcomes aligned with those that I have reached with this course and the final product (PSA) proves it.

The outcomes that we set from the beginning of the course have been relevant because as administrators and teachers we are able to produce materials for our colleagues, parents or the educational community in general. We can know more about credits and copyrights. Of course, the produced materials will have better quality and a appropriate structure. In addition, as administrators we can supervise other in the production of a multimedia product.

We cannot say that there are any outcomes we did not achieved. But, I think that I would like have learned more about all the features that Adobe Premiere has. I think that the lack of time was a factor that prevent me of master this program. However, I think that I learned the fundamentals or the software in terms of sound, pictures and video integration and the manipulation of transition. Definitely, I can improve my skills if I continue practicing it.

I completed all assignments successfully. I think that we have enough time to read the materials see the videos. On the other hand, I think that I need more time to go deep in the knowledge of editing software. In this final part, the used progressive refinement throughout the course, in order to finish the work by the fifth week.

My first thought that making a video was going to be hard because I have never used this kind of software for edition. I can see that I am a team worker because we reach a certain degree of integration working as a team during the PSA production (the members played different roles and we communicate adequately by skype or email). In general, my attitude was of cooperation and integration as a team. In general, all the members have had this attitude, as well.

Week 4 EDLD 5363 Multimedia and Video Technology

In this 4th week of the EDLD 5363 Multimedia and Video Technology I think that it was a great experience to work with Lucinda Gallegos, Christine Maier, Michelle Pittman, and Timothy Stanfield. All of us have a busy time, but we take our time to meet in skype sometimes.
We have posted in the team blog still shots, the narration and video and we continue tuning up our work.

We will announce soon our final work in this blog.

EDLD 5363 Week 2 Reflection. Open-Source Video Editing Software and Podcast.

Podcast How to add Title and Credits using Windows Movie Maker

Reflection

At the beginning of this assignment, I think that it was a very difficult task because I had no much experience in editing video. I have had some experience in music edition using Encore, Cool Edit and Sound Forge, but a final user level.

I started looking for the software in www.download.com. The keys for seeking were Windows Operating System, Video Editing Software and Free License. From the retrieved list, I chose the programs Windows Movie Maker (Windows Vista) 2.6.4037, t@b ZS4 Video Editing Software 0.94 and Pinnacle Video Spin 1.1.2.542.

By exploring these programs, I found that indeed, is not too difficult to use video editing program for the most common need of a teacher. If you are not a professional, some of these programs could be enough. In my case, I think that Windows Movie Maker satisfies my needs because to strong reasons: It comes with Windows Operating System and allows multiple output and input formats for video and audio. The user can add special effects, music, and speech. It is very easy to share the movie over the Internet or master it to DVD media. With this program, the user can also save the movie back to the DV tape in the camera. Even when it does not allow too many features it is user friendly.

I think this is a strong candidate to be used as standard editing program for my school.

EDLD 5363 Week 1. Reflection on my Digital Story

Reflection on my Digital Story



By working in this first assignment, I have learned how we can create or tools for teaching. As my mentor said “The sky is the limit”. We can do whatever we want. The most important part of this assignment is that we can approach a theme using multiple media and it can be adapted for different learning styles.

I have selected the song The Spring-Allegro from Antonio Vivaldi, to create an environment of serenity and calm. I tried to describe myself and some important parts of my life. I have feedback from some classmates and from my family that was part or the scene.

That was a great experience because I felt like a movie director, and even when I didn’t have the best equipment for recording, I think it was an excellent product for being the first version. We can say that it was the Jose’s Digital Story Part I.

The original post and the script can be found at:
http://eduttalks.wikispaces.com/Personal+Digital+Story+Script+and+Video

Reflection on National Educational Technology Plan 2010. Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology.

The goal for learning is redefine standards and learning objectives according to the 21st century skills and how they will be adopted by schools using technology. The plan focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math and seeks to reach learners anytime and anywhere using cutting-edge technology expanding the learning process outside the classrooms. Leaning process will be a continuous process available 24x7 and will be driven by learner interests.


In teaching the goal is to maintain teachers connected with resources like on line materials and courses, valuable data, content, expertise and learning experiences who lead them to acquire the best practices in education. This connection includes collaboration with other peers or communities to support and encourage them to continue in teaching. Teachers will be provided with resources emphasizing in developing online teaching skills so that teaching learning process take place regardless of the geographic location and can reach more learners.

Professional development and training are related because the latter impact on the former. Although many new teachers are fluent with technology all teachers will continue their professional development attending formal workshops, a variety of online courses and training; and by engaging in communities of professionals to promote ongoing growth from novice pre-service educators to expert master educator.

My concern of this plan is that time is running and we cannot rest. The gap between highly succeed students and the ones that have less opportunities, will not be close if exist a gap in the technology proficiency in teachers. Ongoing training and defining higher standards in assessments is the clue. I think that the trend to increase standards for TAKS accountability is positive in seeking these goals.

The ultimate goal of this program is to rise the proportion of college graduates to 60% of U.S. population holding 2-year or 4-year degree, so that U. S. become again the country with more proportion of graduates in the world, in 2020 and reduce the gap so that all students from high school can succeed in college and careers.

Reference:
Office of Educational Technology, U.S. Department of Education, (2010). National Educational Technology Plan 2010. Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology. Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/NETP-2010-final-report.pdf

Infrastructure fro Technology from The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020

The select the area Infrastructure for Technology in the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020. Infraestructure for Technology to provide easy access to online material and information to all students and promoting the e-learning environment where collaborative learning could take place, and the cohesion of community, as well. In my school this is the strongest area. I the years 2005-2006 was developing tech, 2006-2007 was developing tech and advanced tech in 2008-2009. It showed an increase by 54.5% during this period.

Statewide this area shows a positive trend too. In 2005-2006 48% of schools were developing tech versus 42% advanced tech. In 2006-2007 53% were advanced tech in 2008-2009, the number increased to 60% for advanced tec. Our school has the same tendency of the state for Infrastructure for Technology.

My recommendations in this area are:

Define standards in the use of hardware and platforms, because the lack of standardization can also represent a problem (Guhlin, 2007).

Set a system for tracking computers to have control of the hardware, software and the general usage of the network. I could be helpful to save time, money and human effort (Holub, 2007).

Use firewalls to maintain a secure environment for students and install antivirus.

Create a committee who define policies of use of hardware, acquisitions and issue recommendations.

Maintain a team to solve problems, as part of the “human infrastructure” who provide on-site technical support.

References:

Guhlin, M. (2007). The Case for Open Source. Technology & Learning, 16-21.

Holub, P. (2007). Assessing Your Asset. Systems for tracking and managing IT assets can save time and dollars. Technology & Learning, 16,17.

Texas Education Agency, (2006). Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020. Retrieved from http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/technology/lrpt/lrpt_lrpt.html.

Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020

According to the information in the Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 through the Technology Immersion Pilot (TIP) showed some data regarding the use of technology in schools. In this progress report, the NetDay Speak Up 2007 survey shows how students use technology. I notice that there are a high rate of students using technology to play games. For instance, more than 70% of students K-2 use computers to play games primarily and this trend does not change much for older students. 75% of students 9-12 use computers for school assignments or research, but still 76% use computers to download music.

The TIP objectives are provide and facilitate technology to students, leading to increase their proficiency, increase teacher’s performance and foster parent and community involvement.

Texas was one of the lucky 9 states that received the grant under the Federal Evaluation of State Educational Technology Projects. I allows the state to evaluate the effectiveness of research-based component regarding the use of technology in K-12.

In some cases, it introduces technology for the first time in some families providing the opportunity for parents to be more supportive in their children’s education.

Findings confirm that in the year 3 of TIP the benefit s on teacher growth in technology proficiency and professional productivity. Students use more technology and make slightly more intellectual demanding work.

Indeed, I think that the best is the reduction of the gap between economically advantaged and disadvantaged students; this finding caught my attention because in my campus we have 97% of economically disadvantaged students.

Texas STarR Chart - Golden Rule

Our students’ success depends on how our school provides proper instruction in order to prepare them with the 21th century skills. Following the Long Plan Range for Technology 2006-2010 our campus was evaluated toward meeting the goals for this program. Our School was evaluated following Texas Campus STaR Chart criteria in the four areas: Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparation and Development, Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support and Infrastructure for Technology. The results are shown in the presentation.

Texas STarR Chart - Golden Rule

View more presentations from jgallardovir.

Conference June 1, 2010.

I attended the conference on Tuesday June 1, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. I was anxious, I think that students experience some times this feeling when is their first contact with some particular subject or theme (in my case this was my first contact with this educational platform). I tried to test the software first, microphone, speakers and the bandwidth, as well. I arrived on time to the meeting and after some minutes testing the sound and dealing with an environmental echo we started the conference.

We discussed about the textbook that we are going to use in the course, the where is the Internship handbook (that I already had downloaded, but I had no read with detail).

I think that was important that Daryl Ann Borel focused on the internship and the aspects that we have to arrange in order to comply successfully with the hours required for the internship.

Aside the social aspect, conferencing allows us to share experiences, ask questions and build knowledge.

In general, the conference was fine and I am sure, the next time it will be better.

Starting up

This is the first posting of this blog. The purpose of this blog is for sharing experiences and point of views of how technology can be applied in the educational fields, not only in within the classrooms, but in the whole process that involves education: curriculum design, lesson planning, information delivery, testing, feedback and administration.

I am working at Golden Rule Charter School in Dallas. This masters program is a great opportunity to enrich our knowledge in how we can apply technology in our schools. I am very excited and I hope to enjoy this journey with all of you.