3a-done

Teachers: While attending an eMints technology workshop in Presque Isle, I learned about changing a PowerPoint presentation into individual jpg files. This provided a wealth of ideas, since students get engrossed in using iPhoto and iMovie. So, I wrote the above project description for seventh graders to begin learning this process. My students already know how to use PowerPoint, but this was another way they could use a familiar program.
 * 3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning**
 * a. demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.**
 * Description**


 * Analysis**

I chose this artifact because I think it's an excellent representation of learning about new technologies and methods of using tools. PowerPoint has been used for years, but my students were unaware of the opportunity of making "pictures" out of the individual slides. As I learn about new ways of doing technology-based things, I share them with my students and give them an opportunity to use the new knowledge.


 * Appraise**

The idea that was shared at the eMints workshop was to support digital literacy. A teacher was to print the lyrics of a song, and cut the paper so that two or so lines were on separate pieces of paper. Students would work either individually or in groups to take their lines and find pictures online to support the meaning of those words. Once they finished, of course giving credit to where they got the pics, they turned the slide(s) into jpgs and either emailed them to their teacher or saved them on the teacher's pen drive. The teacher then collected them all, put them in the order of the song, attached the song to them and shared the final product with the class. The neat part was that students weren't told what song it was and because it was suggested to pick one that isn't in their mainstream, picking out which one was near to impossible.

Though I loved this idea, I thought it would be more effective for students to complete the whole process. Not only would they be able to experience the full technological process, but they could truly find meaning in the whole song, rather than just a couple lines. Which is why I decided to change the idea and use it with a poem. This also allows for students to create music in GarageBand and import it into their project. Some students also choose to record a reading of their poem, giving them another experience.


 * Transform**

This is just one example of learning something new and implementing it into my teaching. As technology advances, more and more ideas that make a difference in teaching come out. So, this is not a static process. I will continue to learn new ways to implement these technologies in my teaching, and share them with others, so they may be aware of changes, etc.

As we shift to the MacBook at the middle level, more technologies will be available to us (more capabilities, more memory, etc. providing this). I plan on continuing to grow my knowledge of the availabilities and share them with other teachers to inform our teaching.