Tuesday, September 28, 2010

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.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

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.

Monday, September 20, 2010

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.

Monday, September 6, 2010

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.

Monday, August 30, 2010

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

Monday, June 7, 2010

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

Sunday, June 6, 2010

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.