Clarifications on Assignments

Hi, everybody.

I know that the assignment descriptions online may seem overwhelming. I tried to make them really detailed so that you would know exactly what was required, but that may have just seemed like too much to all of you. Let's talk about the schedule for the rest of the term.

Digital Storytelling

I'm hoping you'll all have a draft of a script for class this week. The template should help you make that the right length. That's ALL you need for this week. If you don't have that done for class this week, that's OK. I'll help you through it. You're welcome to find an existing text to act as your script, too (a poem, speech, short story, etc.), but keep in mind that it needs to be SHORT!!! I chose civil rights for two reasons: 1) because we've been invited to participate in the MLK celebration in January and 2) because I thought it might help to limit the range of choices so it didn't seem so wide open. You DO NOT HAVE to do your story on Civil Rights, however. You can pick something else that you're passionate about. If you're struggling, the list of Civil Rights topics is here: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dc426fq_64gqbvbm

In class this week, we'll talk more about the images and media and you can start looking for those.

In class next week, we will put together the digital stories.

Please take things step by step like this so that you don't get overwhelmed by it. There's no need to rush this project. I fully understand that you have a lot of assignments in your other classes, too, so take this in small pieces.

These are due on the day of our final as follows:
Section 1: Tuesday, December 11, 10-12
Section 6: Tuesday, December 11, 2-4
Sections 3&4: Wednesday, December 12, 12-2

Technology-Rich Lesson

This is probably the most confusing to everyone because we haven't talked much about it yet. That's my fault and I apologize. I didn't want to overwhelm you with everything before field and I see now that I should have given you as much information up front as possible. Again, let's take this assignment step by step:

1. You should all have a technology-rich lesson plan - either one that you wrote before field or one that you used during field. There. Half of the assignment is done.

2. The contingency plan is a quick paragraph to accompany the lesson plan that tells me what you would do if the technology failed (make photocopies, for example)

3. The classroom management strategies are another quick paragraph telling me what management strategies you'll use during the lesson plan, particularly with regard to technology. So, for example, if you're going to the lab, will you review the lab rules and consequences before you leave and then use walk-around management when you get there? If you're running a PowerPoint in the class, will you have a student run the PowerPoint so that you don't have your back to the class?

4. The examples of the technology are the actual technology pieces - if your lesson plan indicated the use of the PowerPoint, I need to see that. This is the end of the lesson plan part of the assignment.

5. The paper is probably what's confusing/worrying most of you. I hinted at it before you left, but again, I should have given you more information. I tried to outline exactly what you'll need in the paper. This is a chance for you to reflect on how we should be using technology and how you actually used technology. Let's talk about this in detail in class, so don't worry about it for now. If there are pieces of this assignment that feel unreasonable or unvaluable, let's talk about that. I'm flexible about the requirements, though I'd like the spirit of the assignment to remain intact.

I'll have articles that you can use for this on the blog later today, so look for those on the side bar.

As I said in my email earlier today, please come to me directly if you have any questions or concerns. I can be reached this afternoon by email or at 356-0636 or on Google Talk. I'm really here to help all of you and don't want you to be concerned.

Suzy