IMPORTANT MESSAGES about C4K Blog Challenge

MESSAGE ONE

You CANNOT do all three C4K comments at once. You MUST wait until next week to do #2 and then wait until at least April 9 to do post #3. The kids do not leave a post a day. And maybe not even a post a week. If that happens, I will have a substitute for you. Send me an email.

This assignment is a THREE WEEK ASSIGNMENT.

MESSAGE TWO

Several students have said their kid has only one post, or they have only an old post. What do I do? The answer is Encourage them to post again. Asking them a question and telling them you are eager to read their next post might do the trick. You are their mentor. How would YOU encourage more posts where you CANNOT REQUIRE them to post?

C4K Joins the World Blog Challenge - Revised 3/27/12 at 12:58 pm and at 6:57 pm

For the next 3 weeks C4K will engage EDM310 students as mentors in the WORLD BLOG CHALLENGE sponsored by Edublogs. You MUST read the post Info For First Time Visitors on the Student Blogging Challenge website BEFORE you do the C4K assignment for this week (and the next two weeks)! Follow all appropriate links on the Student Blogging Challenge site to make sure you know what you, as a mentor, are supposed to do and how you are to do it.

You will leave comments for your student as shown on the C4K Doc for 3 straight weeks (3 different comments). PROOFREAD Your comments. Express interest. Be supportive. Ask questions. You could suggest a post they could write after you check out their hobbies on the student participant’s page. You could also share some of your experiences in blogging.

I was told that all of these students are seniors in high school. This appears to be incorrect. We have some 7th graders assigned to us for sure. So ignore the grade level shown on the C4K Doc. CORRECTION: I thought the column with 12 in it was the grade. WRONG. It is the age. So most of you will be reading 7th graders' blogs. Another Strange mistake. We all make them. The important thing is to find it out and make the correction. If you are afraid to make mistakes you will accomplish far less than those who do and correct their mistakes. (But not those who do make mistakes and don't correct them!)

Many of these students have been blogging longer than you have. Some are beginners. All are mastering the skills of blogging and commenting as I hope you are.

In there appears to be a problem with your assignment, send me an email immediately (strange.john@Gmail.com). For example, if your student has not made another post by your visit in Week 2 (or Week 3), let me know and I will provide instructions about what to do. My thinking now is to set up a reserve list. Information will be posted on the class blog when I figure it out.

You are representing EDM310. Represent us well!

C4K Summary Report for March

There will be only one student in your March C4K Report. I cancelled the first full week of C4K and we will combine all 3 weeks of the Blogging Challenge into the April report. That leaves only the C4K that you did last week for the March Report.

Need a Partner for A New Group?

If so, add your name to the list or call one or more people on the list that is available in a new Doc called Need A Group Partner

SmartBoard Instruction Wednesday 3/21 6 pm by Anthony Capps

Anthony Capps will do a 45 minute to one hour demonstration of how to use the SMARTboard Wednesday night from 6-7 pm in the Lab.

Come if you can and are interested.

New Groups Doc for Project #15 and #16 Registration

A new Groups Doc for Project #15 and #16 should now be in your Docs (To edit) so that you may register members of your new groups. One person in each group should assume responsibility for completing the Doc for each group.

Groups must be registered by these dates:
Project #15 - March 25
Project #16 - April 8

If you are not in a group and and not registered on the Projects 15/16 Doc by these dates you will be barred from completing projects #15 and/or Project #16.

Midterm Evaluations

You have evaluated yourself and I have reached a tentative evaluation for all EDM310 students. My assessments are incomplete because:
• They do not include evaluations of all assignments due Friday 3/9 or Sunday 3/11. I have only data on whether they were completed by Sunday midnight or not
• I have not consulted the Lab Assistants
• I have not thoroughly examined the records to see if some assignments we show as NO (Not Having Been Done) are now Late. Late is better than No, but not by much.

I will send an email today 3/16 to all students whom I have assigned a D or an F at midterm requesting that they meet with me to discuss the differences in our evaluations. Perhaps my records are wrong. Perhaps these students don't understand that all work must be submitted on time and if there is a pattern of Late or Not Done work you will get a D or an F.

HOWEVER, I have not set an appointment if you gave yourself a D or an F and I agree with that assessment. If any of you wish to meet with me, send me an email requesting an appointment.

I also have not set appointments for the 10 students who did not complete the questionnaire which automatically results in a grade loss of one letter. In this case it just lowered Ds to Fs.

There was more discrepancy between my grades and student grades than ever before. Here are the data.

My Grades
F-13
D-25
C-20
B-24
A-42
A Superstar - 2
Total 126

Self Assigned Grades
Did not complete questionnaire - 10 (automatic D or F in all cases)
F-1
D-2
C-9
B-35
A-69
Total 126

85 students gave themselves a grade that was within one grade of the grade I gave them or equal to the grade I assigned.
29 gave themselves a higher grade than I did.
51 agreed exactly with me.
I gave 5 students a higher grade than they gave themselves.

Link to Questionnaire Sent

You should have received a Gmail with a link to the Questionnaire at about 3:30 pm yesterday. It is to be completed (hopefully by Friday midnight 3/9) but the real deadline for the Questionnaire and all assignments due this week is midnight Sunday (3/11).

If did not get the link to the Questionnaire, check your Gmail again and then send me an email (strange.john@gmail.com).

Have a productive and fun Spring Break.

A Very Important FaceBook Exchange

A Very Important FaceBook Exchange

Terri Wagner I'm kinda excited. I decided to give Prezi a try on Project 9b and did it. Not sure how awesome the results are, but I did it! Ck out the Space Shuttle Prezi on my blog and let me know how you think I did. Does anyone else feel they do A effort with B2C results?

John Strange Throw out the A, B, C thinking. This is what is important: "I'm kinda excited. I decided to give Prezi a try on Project 9b and did it. Not sure how awesome the results are, but I did it!"

You took a chance and tried something new. You learned how on your own. You did it. You are obviously proud of your accomplishments. You should be. My prediction: You will do a better job next time. And the next. And you will do more! That is what learning is all about! Learning should never end!

Terri has asked for feedback. Leave her a comment on her Prezi Project 9b post!

Reminders and Clarifications Projects #13, #14, #15 and #16

1. Project #13 Follow the instructions for Project #13 when doing Project #15. Also follow Project #13 instructions for Project #16 if you decide to do some (or all) of your collaboration for #16 not face to face. Final report on collaborative work due May 6.

2. Project #14 Using SMARTboard

Now due April 1

This project can be done individually or in a group (2, 3 or 4 members ONLY) You can create a new group for this purpose.

Record each student separately and post only your portion on your blog

3. Project #15 Due April 29
This project must be done cooperatively in team of 2, 3, or 4 members ONLY

You can create a new group but I would suggest using the same group as you used in #14 if you did that project cooperatively.

You must be in group by March 25 and must be registered in Doc for that purpose.

Your group must develop an original lesson. Materials available in Smart Notebook lessons can be used to a limited extent.

You MUST address MCPS objectives from Mobile County Pacing Guide
Follow all requirements in Projects Manual (p.33)

4. Project #16 must be a collaborative project (2, 3 or 4 group members ONLY). Follow instructions in the Projects Manual. The most important thing is to treat this project as unusually important and to be CREATIVE. Take some chances. Learn some new things in doing this project.

You can be a new group for this project but I would suggest using the same group as you establish for Project #15.

Your group must be formed and registered on Doc established for that purpose no later than April 8 but sooner would be better.

A Project #16 progress report is due no later than April 22.

Any groups can be composed of students from any EDM310 class.

Any dates in this post which differ from those in the Checklist override the Checklist and you should change your Checklist accordingly.

A Thank You From Ferry Lane Primary School in London

My name is Jack Sloan and I teach at Ferry Lane Primary School in London ( y6.ferrylane.net ).

I wanted to just say thanks for all of the comments your students are leaving for my class. It's great for them to hear from the other side of the world, and I hope that you see the power of blogging in schools. Blogs have really opened the eyes and brains of my class, and the improvement in their writing in clear to see as a result.

One little request - please could you ask your students not to include their email addresses in comments? I work hard to ensure my students are safe on the net, and they are extremely sensible. I'm also sure that you are all very nice... However, I don't feel that communication should happen privately between your students and mine without consent.

Thanks again for the excellent comments - I'm looking forward to hearing from you again,

Jack Sloan
Ferry Lane Primary School.

Grades

Several students have asked about grades this week. Let’s start with what I said in the Syllabus:

Your grade is based on the examinations you take, the 15 projects you produce or in which you participate, the formal presentation you make, the critiques you provide of other students’ products and presentations, and your class participation. An A represents Outstanding work; B Above Average; C Average; D Below
Average; F Unacceptable. You must complete all projects ON TIME. Late projects will negatively affect your grade! Dr. Strange will consult with the teaching associates before assigning a final grade.

Everybody starts with an A. If you want to know how to blow that A, just do any of the following and we will probably see you in EDM310 again next semester.

How to blow your A:
1. The failure to satisfactorily complete any of the projects for this course will result in a D or an F and you will have to repeat the course. ALL 15 PROJECTS must be satisfactorily completed to get a grade better than a D in this course. ALL means ALL! In other words, doing 14 (or less) satisfactorily but not 15 projects satisfactorily GUARANTEES that you will get a D or an F for the course.
2. You must correctly complete your Foliotek entries for this course in order to receive a passing grade in this course.
3. You MUST make your weekly posts to your class blog ON TIME (or in advance). Failure to do so will, most likely, result in a VERY POOR (D) grade in this course. DO NOT GET BEHIND IN THIS COURSE!
4. You MUST complete all required posts to your blog.
5. Failure to attend ALL class and lab sessions and the final exam will most likely result in a D or F.
6. Failure to use good grammar, good spelling, and your brain in doing your blog posts will blow your A.
7. Failure to be an active, self-directed learner will also blow that A.
But don’t blow it!

I really don’t like using force to get students to learn. If you are going to be a teacher, you will want your students to WANT to learn. They should not be forced, with threats of bad grades, to learn. I want everyone who takes this class to WANT to make an A and to WANT to do the work that will result in that grade. I want everyone in this class to do A work and get an A! Sadly, that is not the case. The best students do that. The others do not.

It seems to me extremely important that teachers WANT to learn. So if you do not fall into that category, if you are not eager to learn, you should think about a different career!

Let’s count. I asked you to do that the first day of class. “ How many times did I say ‘Don’t be late.’ ” So let’s count how may times I said that in the section on grades in the class materials: 19.

Now let’s take a look at what you think about your progress in this course.

So what is your grade? You know better than I. Are you participating fully in the educational community I am trying to form in EDM310? Are you putting forth your best effort? Are you doing ALL of your assignments ON TIME? Are you asking for help as soon as you need it? Are you attending all classes and labs? Are you planning ahead? Are you learning? Are you excited about learning?

You tell me. If Final Grades were distributed tomorrow, what grade would you give yourself? What grade would you give your classmates whose blog posts you read or don’t read because they have not been posted on time? What grades would you give your team members? Have they participated filly? And on time?

If you have friends in this course who have not yet understood that I mean it when I say do all your assignments ON TIME, please inform them before it is too late.

And for those of you who are leading the way in creating a wonderful learning community ( I am excited by the fact that this is happening) THANK YOU!

I have been told that should not think that I can undo 15 or so years of schooling which trained you that grades should be your focus and have you suddenly behave like learning was the most important part of being in school. I guess that is correct. But I am going to keep trying!

Getting Kids Involved in History Lessons

Another Gem Recommended by Laura Holifield

Adrizzle and GDawgg Productions' New Hit Single

Rafe Esquith Speaks Today at TED Conference

Rafe Esquith Speaks Today at TED Conference

Session 11: The Classroom
Fri Mar 2, 2012
8:30 – 10:15 (I believe this is Pacific Standard Time) which would mean 10:30-12:15 CST

Watch live at TED 2012 Full Spectrum Click on Happening Now in the upper right corner.

While you are on the TED site, look around. Be sure to explore TED University

Thanks, Laura Holifield, for bringing this to our attention!

Need Writing Help? Attend Carly's Help Session

Carly Pugh will hold a special writing workshop on Thursday Feb 23 from 6pm to about 7:30. Several students would benefit from attending that workshop. We insist that you be able to write well in EDM310 since you plan to be an educator. I gave up on requiring that prospective teachers be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide about four years ago. But I am hanging tough on writing.

Come next Thursday night and let Carly help you become a better writer!

Blog Post #4 Assignments Corrected

Several links were not working on the Blog Posts #4 Assignment. I have added several options and removed two. If you have already done your posts, that is fine. If not, all links should work.

Obviously, some changes had been made on the sites I had chosen and links would not work. If you encounter this, please notify me IMMEDIATELY.

Thanks!

C4K (Assignment #2) Now in Docs

This week we visit a number of countries including the United States, Tobago and Australia. The types of web sites that we visit also vary. In some cases you will be commenting on a student's blog that is part of a class blog. In others you will comment only on the class blog. In most, the student will have a blog on which to post.

A Reminder
1, Review the class blog for the student you are assigned and any instructions that may be found there.
2. Find out as much as you can about the class you are visiting.
3. If your assigned student does not have a post, or if you cannot leave a comment for any reason, select another student and notify strange.john@gmail.com
4. I have provided Twitter addresses for the teachers where I could. You may Tweet them if you wish.
5. Use good grammar. Spell correctly. Do not write as if you were texting.
6. Proofread.
7. Constantly reflect on how you might blog in your classroom and what tools you might use.

In Memoriam

From the South Alabamian February 9, 2012:

Bobby Jo Harris Nelson, age 25, died Feb. 4, 2012 at Mobile Infirmary. She was a native of Clarke County and a resident of Escambia County.

A member of the First Asembly of God in Jackson for many years, she served in a variety of church areas, especially with children. She and her husband, Michael, were both members of Church of the Nazarene in Riverview.

Mrs. Nelson had received an Associates Degree and was currently working toward a Bachelors. She tutored students through the University of South Alabama.

She will be remembered for many good things, especially her big smile that lit up an entire room.

Survivors include her husband, Michael Nelson of Brewton; parents, Debra Smith Harris and Charles Wesley Harris, both of Jackson; grandparents, Margaret Ann Dungan and William E. Smith, both of Jackson; brothers, James “Clint” Harris of Jackson and James “Wesley” Harris of Mobile; sisters, Terrie Marie Harris and Melissa Harris (Michael) Gates of Grove Hill; nephews, Seth, Noah and Harris and niece, Maggi Ann.

Preceding her in death were her grandparents, Mona Sue Smith and Woodrow W. Harris.

Funeral services were Feb. 7 at First Assembly of God in Jackson. Interment followed at Odom’s Cemetery in Riverview with the Revs. E.C. Russell and James Meadows officiating. Arrangements were directed by St. Stephens Funeral Home.

Pallbearers included Michael Gates, Harris Gates, Derrick Nelson, Wesley Harris, Coy Whitehead and Clint Harris.

EDM310 Staff and students express their sympathy to the family of Bobbi Jo Nelson. Bobbi Jo was a student in EDM310 in the Summer 2011 semester.

Learning to Make Green Screen Movies

Jacey-Blair and the Jag Brooms

Elizabeth directed Jacey-Blair in a thrilling green screen movie Jacey-Blair and the Jag Brooms last night (Wednesday February 8). Watch it to see how the green screen magic allows Jacey-Blair to fly, as Elizabeth said,

around South Alabama's campus using the new Jag Brooms (a much better way for transportation than the Jag Bikes). This model is called the Modern Commuter 1000.

Song used in this video is "Prologue" from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by John Williams.

You Have Another Chance to Learn

If you missed Elizabeth's workshop, she offers you another opportunity: "You can still learn how to use green screen videos in Adobe Premiere Elements 9. Check out my video How to use Chroma Key in Adobe Premiere Elements 9 from last semester starring previous EDM 310 student Ramsey Willis.

A Sixth Grader Demonstrates Why You Do Videos in EDM310

Watch this video by a sixth grader after reading her comments and her teacher's comment in the blog post. Leave Lauren a comment on her class blog. (See below.)

I left her one in which I said that she demonstrates why you must make videos, why you must encourage creativity, why you must reflect on what you have done, and why you must be prepared to learn from your students. And I would I add that I hope you are as creative in your work for EDM310 as Lauren has been in her work for her 6th grade class!

SPECIAL C4K ASSIGNMENT

Leave a comment for LAUREN on her class blog (where the movie is embedded and her comments are reported). Follow the normal procedures when doing so.

Thanks to Laura Holifield and William Chamberlain for recommending this wonderful post and video.

C4K Starts Today

I think C4K is one of the most important parts of EDM310. You will be commenting on kids blogs throughout the world. But you must PREPARE for this activity before you undertake it. Here's how:

1. Read/watch all material for which links appear in the section for Projects#3, #4 and #7 in the Projects Manual, p. 18
.....a in the opening paragraph
.....b in the General rules numbers 1-5 (on p.18) and 6c (on pp. 19-20)

2. If your C4K assignment has a Class Blog, look it over. see what you can find out about the class and the assignment. For Week 1 I have done a bit of that for you. Where possible I have listed the teacher's name, the school, and the grade. But YOU must explore every week. Don't just treat this as a quick assignment. Think about the way the teacher is approaching instruction, how she uses blogs and for what purpose.

3. PROOFREAD your comment. Do not have it rejected because of your failure to use good grammar, to spell correctly, or to avoid texting techniques.

4. In this first iteration, C4K will take more time than it will later in the semester. Invest quality time in this assignment. I assure you it will be beneficial to you in the future.

Your C4K Assignments will be in your Google Docs later this afternoon (Monday February 6, 2012)

Some Additional Reminders:

Many of these students have been blogging since September. The students at Pt. England School probably have been blogging for 3 or more years! They know more about blogging than you do.

Some of you will comment on Mr. Avery's student blogs. His Twitter name is @mr_avery if you have questions.

Some of you will comment on Mr. Chamberlain's student blogs. Mr. Chamberlain is my hero. He taught me the importance of commenting on blogs when I was in the initial stages of designing EDM310. He has been a great friend and member of my Personal Learning Network (PLN). His students have been blogging for at least 5 months, maybe more. His Twitter name is @wmchamberlain There is a William Chamberlain Fund here at South which awards prizes each year to EDM310 students.

Some of you will be commenting on Mrs. Ripp's student blogs. Her Twitter address is @pernilleripp When I told her EDM310 students would be blogging she Tweeted back "@drjohnhadley oh hooray - my students will be so excited".

Some of you will be commenting on Mrs. Diaz's students. I got her name from the #comments4kids stream on Twitter. Her Twitter name is @MrsDiazClass

Some of you will be commenting on Mrs. Bark's student blogs. Mrs. Barks teaches at Pt. England School in Auckland, New Zealand. You should have read about Room 10 at Pt. England School. This is one of my favorite schools and has been for a long time. These students have been blogging for at least 3 years. We will visit Pt. England School quite often. The students have just returned from their summer break. They are just returning to their blogs. Look at some of their previous blogs. You can comment about other blogs in your comment on their first blog after their summer vacation.

Two Special Reminders
1. If the student to whom you are assigned does not have a post, choose another student and notify me (at strange.john@gmail.com) of the student you selected instead.

2. You must keep track of the link to your student's blog for each C4K assignment. The assignments that you see in the C4K Doc will disappear each Monday morning when new assignments are issued.

Missing - 30 Students Have Not Accepted Group Invitations

If you do not accept your invitation to join your EDM310 Class group you will not have access to the Docs you need to do your assignments. There are 30 students still to accept their invites: 9 in TT11; 14 in TT2; 7 in W6. MW4 is 100% complete! Congratulations MW4!

Challenge to schools: Embracing digital textbooks

A must read: Challenge to schools: Embracing digital textbooks

Two New Docs Should Now Be in Your Google Docs

I have just shared these Docs with the 4 Google Groups that I was forced to create:
Groups Spring 2012
Podcast Assignments: Some Suggestions and Instructions

I have also made significant changes to the Podcast Instructions in the Projects Instructions Manual. We are now at Version 4.

I changed Jacey Blair's Twitter name to @jaceyblurrr in the Syllabus. We are now at Version 4 of the Syllabus as well.

It will be interesting to see whether everyone gets the two documents listed above. You must have accepted the invitation to join one of the 4 groups before you will get any Docs under the new system.

If you do not get the Docs, find your invite and accept it. If you encounter problems, please send an email to edm310help@gmail.com

Have You Accepted Your Google Group Invite?

On Friday I set up 4 Google groups - one for each class. You were sent an invitation in a Gmail (from Dr. John) inviting you to join the group. It is essential that you do so in order to get additional Docs related to EDM310. This is a new procedure that results from Google's blocking mass sharing of Docs.

So far, here is how the classes have responded:

Class.....% accepted.....#accepted.....#awaiting response
W6...........76%...........25...............8
MW4........70%...........21...............9
TT11.........67%...........28..............14
TT2..........51%...........20..............19

As of 1/31/12 3:35pm
Class.....% accepted.....#accepted.....#awaiting response
W6...........76%...........25...............8
MW4........93%...........28...............2
TT11.........74%...........31..............11
TT2..........60%...........24..............16

Questions? Send a Gmail to edm310help@gmail.com

CC Has Started But...

Project #4 Comments 4 Classmates (C4C) has begun. Your assignment for this week (Comment is due by midnight 2/5) will be distributed in a Google Doc on Wednesday 2/1. I have to wait until the MW4 class meets today and finishes their blog posts due midnight 1/31. MW4 missed the first Monday (Martin Luther King Day) and our schedule is messed up as a result.

Be sure to accept the invitation for Google Groups (see the post just above this one) so that you will receive the C4C Doc when I share it on Wednesday.

Send a Gmail to edm310help@ gmail.com if you encounter problems.

Your Pictures Are Now Available

There are several steps you must take to get your pictures:
1. Join the Google Group for which you received an invitation from me today (in your Gmail).
2. Wait a bit, then go to your Google Docs and open the relevant Doc.
3. Click on the link provided and follow the instructions.


If there are problems, email edm310help@gmail.com

Urgent! Free Kindle Book That Is Important - Free Only Until Monday

From Bailey Hammond:


Here's a link to a book about maintaining a clean digital trail in this age of technology. I reviewed it earlier this semester in The Vanguard, but now the author has let me know that it is available for download from today until Monday for FREE in honor of Data Privacy Day. Here's the link: www.lolomgfree.com I really think you'll like it. I've already provided the link on the Facebook page, but I highly recommend that all the students get this book while they can. It's an eye-opener.

NOTE: You can read this book on any device including your computer.

C4T#1 Assignments Should Now Be In Your Google Docs

Report any problems to EDM310 Help.
Be sure to copy link at same time you comment. Add to your post as a working link. See Activities #6 (p.12 Activities Manual) for instructions OR click Link in Creating Post Area (with Edit HTML Tab selected). Paste URL. Add text you want to be "clickable". Test when you View Blog. If you are doing Part 1 of the assignment, test. Then edit post and save post. You will edit and publish post after your second comment is left for your teacher. But test your link before you save the post so it cannot be seen on your blog.

Confused By Dates and Deadlines?

Never fear. Next week you will have a copy of the Checklist in your Google Docs which will provide you with a guide to all dates and deadlines. We cannot use the checklists until we get all of the Gmail accounts working so that we can use Google Docs. Now that we have accomplished that, we will do Checklists in Week 2!

And hopefully you will no longer be confused!

Revised Blogpost Instructions

Version 2 of Blogpost Assignments has been published.

Welcome Spring 2012 Classes

Syllabus Now Available

The Syllabus and other class materials are now available. Click on the link Instruction Manual in the column on the right under Essential Materials for Students and Visitors. The Instruction Manual contains links to take you to all the other materials.

Reminders

1. Bring your computer to class the first day. If you do not have a portable computer, I strongly recommend a Macintosh. Contact me by email for more information if you wish.

2. If you have not secured a Gmail account and sent me your address, you MUST do so before the start of the first class. The sooner you do so, the better.

University of South Alabama Web Site

Questionnaire

The final questionnaire has been sent to your Gmail address. Send me an email if have not gotten it.

Your video reflection (personal evaluation) is due by midnight Sunday.

Wrapping Up the Semester

Some Final Things You Must Do

1. The BlogAssignments document has been changed again. The change today was to emphasize that the Final Reflection (due Sunday December 11) is to be focused on how you have grown (or not grown), how you have succeeded (or fallen short), what you have learned) or failed to understand), how you are different as a result of EDM310. This is YOUR REFLECTION about yourself. It is not an evaluation of EDM310. You will do that in a questionnaire the final week.

2. Next week is Mandatory Attendance Week. If you are not here next week your final grade will be reduced by 1/2 a letter grade.

3. Pay for Foliotek BEFORE you come to class next week. We will do Foliotek in class. If you have not paid for it, you cannot do it. NOTE: If you are taking EDM310 for recertification, or if you are a major in another college and not in the College of Education, you are exempt from Foliotek.

The Science of Sarcasm? Yeah, Right

If I had another week, this would be a Blog assignment.

The Science of Sarcasm? Yeah, Right

Read it. And if your response is "Yeah, right" here are some of the key quotes from the article:

Studies have shown that exposure to sarcasm enhances creative problem solving...

An inability to understand sarcasm [by kindergarten] may be a sign of brain disease.

...23% if the time the phrase "yeah, right" was used [on the telephone], it was uttered sarcastically

Sarcasm seems to exercise the brain more than sincere statements do.

...brains have to work harder to understand sarcasm.

Richard Chin, Smithsonian.com, November 14, 2011

And more. Read the article. You can say "yeah, right." But read the article! And leave a comment here.

Ramsey Willis Stars in E Brooks' Green Screen Demo

Did you miss the Green Screen demonstration by Elizabeth Brooks? Watch it HERE.




Video By Elizabeth Brooks
Demonstration by Elizabeth Brooks
Software: Premiere on the PC
Screen Recording Software: Debut Video Capture
Starring: Ramsey Willis

You really should watch this to understand how chroma key works!

Blog Post #13 Now Complete in Revised Blogpost Assignments (Version5)

In the first four versions of Blogpost Assignments, Blog Assignment #13 had two options which were "to be announced." They are now included in the latest version of Blog Post Assignments (Version5).

C4K # 10 Due 11/13/11 - SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

C4K Assignment #10 Due 11/13/2011 is a different kind of assignment than usual. It has two distinct parts. Part 1 is different than what you normally are assigned to do. Read these instructions CAREFULLY.

Part 1.
A.You will be visiting Ms. Yollis' 3rd Grade Class in California. Do you know who Ms. Yollis is? She is the teacher who rejected 3 comments from EDM310 students because they did not meet her spelling, punctuation and grammar rules for 3rd graders. I hope you have read the post How's Your A? Some of You Wont't Make It Through the 3rd Grade. PROOFREAD your comment. I do not want an email from Ms. Yollis about your spelling, punctuation or grammar!
B: Thoroughly examine Ms. Yollis' Class Blog. That means clicking on all links and tabs; reviewing the material in the blog; exploring and understanding how she uses her blog; how she involves the students; how she involves parents; how she involves classes from around the world. Think about the instructional purposes of her blog. Be sure you watch the video on how to comment. You should also see the Cluster Map of visitors to her blog. Her count started just 2 days before EDM310's did. How do the number of visits compare? I ask you this to demonstrate that you must keep your eyes open AND think when you review her class blog. Ask yourself similar questions. Click on ALL links.
C: When you have finished this part of your assignment, write a thorough description and analysis of Mrs. Yollis' Class Blog, and all of its parts and links. Publish your post. This concludes Part 1 of your C4K#10 assignment.
Part 2 consists of a standard comment on some portion of Mrs. Yollis' Class Blog. Specific instructions are found in the C4K Assignment in your Google Docs. REMEMBER: PROOFREAD your comment before you click the OK button!

Metaphors - A Time to Learn

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:..." Despite the many opposites contained in the time for list found in Ecclesiastes, there is no mention of a time to learn. So I'll add that. I like to think that the reason to learn is not included is that there is no time we should not be learning. We do find "a time to seek and a time to lose." But we do not find a time to learn and a time not to learn. So we will take that as an encouragement to always learn.

This week we have the opportunity to learn about metaphors. Actually, most of you already know about metaphors. You certainly encounter them regularly. And you use them. If you are a Christian and you go to church, or if you read your Bible, you cannot escape metaphors. If you read children's books, metaphors are all around you. If you are a parent, you know about storks that deliver babies and a big jolly old man as large as I am who delivers presents to "good little boys and girls." If you watched the very first assignment in EDM310 you encountered Mr. Winkle.

I had expected you to substitute computers for pencils in the Tom Johnson assignment due last Sunday. Well, maybe I didn't expect that since many EDM310 students miss the metaphor (or allegory). It happens every semester. I guess that the correct statement is that I hoped that you would understand the metaphor, or that you would at least be suspicious that the post was not literally true. I was wrong. And I once again blame the situation on the type of schooling you have experienced in which you are taught that the teacher delivers truth; that you should memorize that truth; that you should burp it back on command; and then forget it after all the tests are complete.

So we now have a wonderful opportunity for learning.

Here are the results of the metaphor assignment:

119 still enrolled (started with 154)
109 active (10 never do anything but have not dropped course.)
20 clearly identified the metaphor. Five of these 20 wrote excellent commentaries.
9 identified metaphor after self described research or reading comments on the post
7 missed the metaphor but had suspicions it was not literal
50 missed the metaphor
23 active students did not do the assignment. My guess: they did not know what was happening in the post. If you did not do the post on time you should consider yourself as having missed the metaphor. You are hereby assigned the Missed the Metaphor Special Assignment.
10 inactive students did not do the assignment
119 Total

What is the Missed the Metaphor Special Assignment? This is it:

Read these three posts:

1. Metaphors: What They Are and Why We Use Them

In that post there is a Special Assignment. Do that assignment in a new post which is Additional Post #1. It does NOT substitute for Blog Post #14 as it did in the Spring semester.

Due midnight Sunday November 20, 2011.

2. Metaphor Discussion Update

3. Jennifer Asked: Why Use Metaphors? Here is My Answer

4. For more information also see:
You Missed the Point! It's Not A Pencil…"

Great Metaphor Posts This Semester

I am awarding a special prize to the 5 students whose posts on last week's assignment were especially outstanding. They will each receive a Kindle copy of the four educational books written by John T Spencer @johntspencer. Mr. Spencer uses the pen name Tom Johnson for some of his writings.

Here are the five prize winning posts:

Gretchen McPherson
Gina Phillips
Angela Pitts
Jenna Reynolds
Ramsey Willis

Prize For Others Who Got the Metaphor

I am awarding a Kindle copy of Mr. Spencer's book Pencil Me In: A Journey in the Fight for Graphite to the 24 other students who got the metaphor.

We all have an opportunity to learn. Even those who got the metaphor. Here is their assignment:

Special Assignment #1 for those who Got the Metaphor

Write a post about why we use metaphors. Give examples in history and literature and even EDM310. Due Sunday November 20, 2011.

And I have an opportunity to learn as well. My question is: Why do metaphors fail to work so often with college students? Or a better question: When do metaphors work with college students? And still another question: "Does the way people are taught affect their perceptions of what schools are about so much that metaphors (and sarcasm0 get lost in the process? If you have any thoughts on these three questions I would greatly appreciate your sharing them with me.

So off we go to learn. A never ending process!

Tweeting Tom Johnson

Look at tweets in #EDM310 for instructions on how to Tweet Tom Johnson.

50,000 Visits to EDM310

At approximately 11:57:24 PM CDT October 31, 2011 we welcomed our 50,000th visitor since January 9, 2010 to the EDM310 Class Blog. That is 661 days or an average of 75.6 visits a day. Our current traffic count is approximately 125 visits a day. The 50,000th visitor is from Quakers Hill, New South Wales, Australia, surfing with Safari and using an Apple product. They came directly to our web site at 15:57 (3:57pm) on November 1, 2011 (Australia time). If you are our 50,000th visitor, leave us a comment so that we can personally thank you!

We thank all of our visitors. We hope you have seen how we are trying to prepare students to use technology in teaching.

Come back soon!

Additional Skype Instructions - Deadline Now 11/13

We had hoped to have a list of local artists, teachers and government officials for you to interview. That did not work out. So we will follow Plan B.

You may interview anyone you wish as long as the subject matter is education and technology.

Some ideas:

Preferred Option:Contact the author of the book for which you did a trailer. See if the author will consent to an interview. If so, this should be your number 1 priority.

Special Opportunity #1. We will soon be announcing a contest which will involve making a video as part of the USA 50th anniversary fund raising drive. Details of this contest will be posted on the Class Blog no later than Monday October 31. Chris Smith, a member of the USA Development Team, will soon provide me a list of 5 - 10 names of graduates of USA with an interesting story to tell about what South has meant to them. A very limited number of you could use those contacts. If you are interested, send me an email. Better yet, find your own USA alumnus - maybe one who stated USA in the early years. Or any graduate with an interesting story about how USA has shaped their life. Interview them.

Special Opportunity #2.Interview Jarrod,the 2nd grader in Australia who is a prolific blogger. His mother has said that would be possible if we can make the time work. A Saturday in Australia would be best so that would be a Friday in Mobile. Jarrod attends the Leopold Primary School in Victoria, Australia. Victoria is 16 hours ahead of us. To interview leopold the best time to do it would be on a Friday between 3 and 6 pm (7 am and 10 am in Victoria). Let me know if you are interested. I have Jarrod's mother's email address. We can set it up. It should be a lot of fun and very informative!

Special Opportunity #3.
Kevin McLaughlin, one of the teachers on our C4T list, emailed me and suggested someone Skype him. An excellent idea!

Contact a teacher whom you have followed for C4T. I think most will say yes to a Skype interview.

Contact a Twitter friend and member of your PLN. Most would be delighted to be interviewed. You can tell them that they will be posted to the EDM310 podcast feed.

Contact a person whose work you have read/watched/listened to as part of a blog assignment. Most will be delighted to talk with you.

Contact a local teacher or school administrator.

Contact a USA faculty member (any department) or any USA administrator. Many will be willing to be interviewed.

Specific Instructions for the Interview:

1. Think about the questions that you want to ask IN ADVANCE. Share them (by email) with the person interviewed but warn them that you may rephrase the question or ask other questions.

2. Make this conversational. Avoid a scripted format. Interact with the interviewee.

3. Try to not go over 15 minutes so it can be one YouTube video without editing.

4. Start with a brief introduction of your guest and then ask them to tell you something interesting about their connection with your topic. Warn them about this IN ADVANCE.


You MUST read the full instructions on page 30 of the Projects Instruction Manual.

If you have trouble with the video and it threatens the integrity of your interview with an important subject (unlikely to be able to do over, etc.), then only do audio. Do not use this as a route to avoid trying your best to do video, however.

You may find it easier to record from the lab.

DUE DATE is now Sunday November 13.

C4K for This Week Now Posted

NOW POSTED

Delayed until late Monday or early Tuesday morning.

I am returning from deep in Texas where I have been for my granddaughter's wedding.

In Memoriam

ScreenJelly Replaced by Debut Video Capture Software

If you are trying to get a copy of ScreenJelly it has been converted to Debut Video Capture Software by MCH Software. You can get a free copy for home use from the MCH Site.

Understand Sarcasm and Satire or You Might be Dangerously Irrelevant as an Educator

As I said in the previous post, we now have 128 students in EDM310. Seventeen did not do Blog Post #5 leaving 111 who did. Of those, 24 students clearly did not understand the satiric/sarcastic nature of Dr. McLeod's post Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please? found on his blog Dangerously Irrelevant. Another six probably missed the sarcastic and satiric nature of the post. The posts of eight students were so poorly written that I could not tell anything about how they interpreted the post - or if they had even read it. Add all these up and we have 73 (65%) who understood Dr. McLeod's post.

Dr. McLeod Tweeted me on Tuesday September 20 concerned about this: "There's a certain percentage of your students that completely misses the irony in 'Don't teach your kids this stuff' :)"

I responded: "Ah yes! And they want to be teachers... About a third [last semester] and probably this."

My guess was correct. 35% missed it this semester.

The failure to understand the post even drew the attention of m.williams-mitchell. Dr. Mcleod drew my attention to this comment in the middle of the EDM310 comments this semester:

um…could someone please reassure me that the requirement for the class was to respond to this post as though one DIDN’T UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS SATIRE??? I’m beginning to fear for our future.

Posted as a comment on Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please? by m.williams-mitchell, September 20, 2011 at 5:34 pm

And Now a Lesson

Let's look at the definitions of sarcasm and satire.

Definition of Sarcasm

sar·casm /ˈsɑɚˌkæzəm/ noun
1: the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really want to say especially in order to insult someone, to show irritation, or to be funny
Merriam Webster Learner's Dictionary

Definition of Satire

sat·ire noun \ˈsa-ˌtī(-ə)r\
1: a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn
2: trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly
Merriam Webster Dictionary

1: a way of using humor to show that someone or something is foolish, weak, bad, etc. : humor that shows the weaknesses or bad qualities of a person, government, society, etc.
Merriam Webster Learner's Dictionary

As juniors in college I would expect you to recognize sarcasm and satire when you encounter these literary devices. Obviously that is not the case. So it is time for learning!

Dr. McLoed's meaning should be clear to you, if your are able to recognize sarcasm and satire, when you read the very last portion of his Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please? post:

don't do any of it, please



really

'cause I'm doing all of it with my kids

can't wait to see who has a leg up in a decade or two

can you?

Remember the Class Motto: I don't know. Let's find out.

That is what we are undertaking to do.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism

There are now 128 students in EDM310. Seventeen of those did not do the Blog Post #5 assignment. Nine of those who did the assignment did not attempt to answer the question Who is Dr. Scott McLeod? That leaves 102 students who answered the question. Of those, 17 copied considerable portions of Dr. Mcleod's About Me material without attribution and without identifying the material copied and committed plagiarism as it is generally understood in academic communities. Another 17 used significant portions of that same material without attribution and without identifying the material copied and a very strong case could be made that they also committed plagiarism. Consequently, I am absolutely convinced that at least a third of this EDM310 class does not know about plagiarism (or doesn't care, or both). And you hope to be educators.

We must talk. About plagiarism. We will do so during Part 1 of the Mandatory Attendance Week.

Here are two things you must do to avoid plagiarism:
1. Always provide the source of the material (or ideas, conclusions, approaches or concepts). We do this with pictures using the TITLE modifier tag. In blogs, a very easy way is to provide a link to the source material. In papers, and you use footnotes following one of many possible style manuals.
2. Always put quoted material in quotation marks. If the passage quoted is long, indent it in a paper or put it un a blockquote in a blog (the quotation mark icon in the post area of a blog).

Yes, there are some exceptions to these two rules. We will discuss them next week. However, you can never be wrong if you follow these two rules.

Why is it important to know about plagiarism and how to avoid it?
1. You can get an F in a course or be dismissed from the University.
2. You can lose your job in the education community.
3. You can fail to teach your students and they may suffer the serious consequences cited above.

Why am I not bringing charges against at least 34 of you? Because I think you do not understand plagiarism and how to avoid it. I will not have that option if it happens again.

Mandatory Classes

Mandatory Classes are in Week 8 which is next week. You must attend or your grade will be reduced by up to one letter grade. With permission you can make some substitutions.

Part 1 classes will be held as follows:
Monday 10/10 4:00-5:15pm
Tuesday 10/11 11:00am-12:15pm
Tuesday 10/11 2:00-3:15pm
Wednesday 6:00-7:15pm
In Part 1 we will cover Plagiarism, Google Docs, writing techniques, and other material.

Part 2 classes will be held as follows:
Wednesday 10/12 4:00-5:15pm
Wednesday 10/12 7:15-8:30pm
Thursday 10/13 11:00am-12:15pm
Thursday 10/13 2:00-3:15pm
In Part 2 we will cover movie making, Google Forms, special search engines and other material

You can come to any Part 1 AND Part 2 combination you wish. If you come at a time other than your enrollment time you must get permission.

If you do not attend BOTH parts you must have an acceptable WRITTEN excuse from a medical doctor, a University official or some other source acceptable to me. Otherwise your grade WILL be reduced.

IN ADDITION you must complete a midterm self-evaluation questionnaire no later than Sunday October 16, 2011. The link to this questionnaire will be sent to you no later than midnight Wednesday October 12.

C4K Assignment This Week and A Tale of Twitter

Last Monday, as I was working on C4K, I found a request for participation in a poll on which New Zealand flag you liked best. That became part of everyone's assignment last week. Then last Friday we got this comment on the EDM310 Class Blog:

Hi from New Zealand

I'm not sure if I am on the right blog but I wanted to say WOW!! Thanks so much for all the comments on our class blog. We have over the last week had so much interest in our New Zealand Flag Debate. We feel very special that your class have picked us and are interested enough to participate.

I just wanted to let you know that the children will be writing about their point of view and why they chose their flag next week. I will also be putting up the results of the poll.

I am also really interested to know what your study is at the moment and how it ties in with a junior blog?
You can contact me direct if you wish
l.laburn@pointview.school.nz

Keep those comments coming... The kids love comments!

Thanks again
Lynne Laburn @llaburn and the Room 3 children

So I responded that I found out about the survey on Twitter. Soon we will know how you responded to the survey as part of your assignment last week. Because of Twitter we are establishing new friends a long way away from us in two directions!

This week many of you will be connecting with Room 3 at Point View School in Dannemore, Auckland, New Zealand. The rest of you will establish a connection with Room 3 either next week or the next. All because of Twitter.

We begin now to visit class blogs as opposed to individual student blogs. Please follow the instructions contained on your C4K assignments this week.