I want to show some respect that I have for Thomas Friedman. The untouchables chapter (chapter 6) which is by far the most important chapter in the book does something I like. Friedman boldly creates something here. He not only redefines out social structure but he creates a new class. This is a very bold statement. First, of all what if he is wrong, or don't buy what he is saying? Down goes the book, and up comes some other easier to swallow text. Side note, why does he include Barbara Streisand with Michael Jordan and Bill Gates (Friedman 238)? Anyway, Friedman really puts himself out there in this chapter (well ok he puts himself out in the open with a title like "The World is Flat" but still here is exceptional).
What I am talking about is Friedman's description of Untouchables into four categories: Special workers, specialized workers, workers who are anchored, and adaptable workers. Personally I think I would like to be really adaptable. I like the story about his artist friend working at the New York Times. I would also like to state the belly dancer reference was very odd: "You want to learn how to make the latest chocolate sauce, the whipped cream, or the cherries on top, or to deliver it as a belly dancer." I understand what he is saying, that you have to make yourself adaptable and marketable, but it just struck me as odd at first.
So this blog post was a praise on Friedman's chapter 6. Here's to you Tom ::raises drink::
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Applying a Critical Lens
Last night, searching through youtube I came across something very interesting. My favorite band (and Jason Webley, very interesting man who opened for them...plays the accordion, and i will add, he plays it rather stylishly) covered "Living on a Prayer" by Jon Bon Jovi. I thought this was an interesting selection because The Dresden Dolls (my favorite band) don't strike me as Bon Jovi fans. So, the video began and several things made me want to turn it off: at first there was no visual image, then they just started to play and the quality was bad, and the video quality was not clear ...But then it happened.
Something that I think is exceptionally cool. They stopped playing. And the three of them proceeded to analyze the lyrics of the song. What was happening (in my eyes) was a visual critical paper. They presented their argument, their thesis, and then they provided examples to support their thesis. I thought this was extraordinary. They looked at this song critically and reflected upon it. I love artist's social commentaries on other performer's work. So here is the video, watch it, it is brilliant.
Similarly, in the classroom, I would show my students this clip and then tell them to do the same thing. I would assign them to look critically at a song, analyze and interpret it, and give a visual response. I think that is a very cool assignment, I know as a student I would love to do it.
Something that I think is exceptionally cool. They stopped playing. And the three of them proceeded to analyze the lyrics of the song. What was happening (in my eyes) was a visual critical paper. They presented their argument, their thesis, and then they provided examples to support their thesis. I thought this was extraordinary. They looked at this song critically and reflected upon it. I love artist's social commentaries on other performer's work. So here is the video, watch it, it is brilliant.
Similarly, in the classroom, I would show my students this clip and then tell them to do the same thing. I would assign them to look critically at a song, analyze and interpret it, and give a visual response. I think that is a very cool assignment, I know as a student I would love to do it.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Anxiety
Actually don't read this. Originally I started writing this and it evolved into something else. I was going to erase it but I decided I spent to long of a time writing it for it to complete disappear, I should at least get some class credit for my wasted time.
I am going through something that I can not truly define or understand. Self imposed writers block? Lately, I have not been able to write. Well I have been able to write but, very little. I have been spending a very exorbitant amount of time trying to phrase things perfectly, then after that, being extra extra critical everything is perfect. Relevance of the statement, grammar, accordance with everything else, the flow and pace of everything. This is an odd situation for me because normally I don't even care about grammar, I spend more time on making things sound flashy.
I think this started when I worked my ass off for an in class writing assignment and got a 77. I then proceeded to do my finest work on the re-write, have it proofread by a very credible source and then only received an 87, this brought my overall grade to an 82. I can't get B- on anything. My life is crashing down. I keep getting B- to B+ on everything, I don't need B's I need a A's. My life is depending on this. Because i 'screwed the pooch' last semester I have to overachieve to balance out those horrible grades. I need to get into Grad school, and a 2.5 isn't doing much for me. I think 2.75 is the absolute minimum and most schools are a 3. I feel useless, like everything i put on paper isn't good enough. But I can't give up like I use to when I was younger, because this is my life. If I give up, I am giving up on my future, and what am I going to do then?
The other day i spent 14 hours in the library (not straight, I left for a little, not bragging either, the point is how pathetic I am). I don't understand where the time went or how i even stayed that long because when I am in my room I can barely spend 2 hours doing work most of the time, sometimes I can't even start. Anyway the point is, after doing extensive research and outlining and brainstorming, 14 hours later I had 3 pages of writing (double spaced). How is that even possible? I don't know where the time went. It has since gone to a blur but I can imagine it was anxiety filled. I am so scared I don't even want to write my ideas down. I feel they are so bad that if I write them they will be crap and I will just be editing crap. I need to wait for better ideas, then I can edit and work on those. But the brilliant insight never comes. My writing is horrible and failing and I am going no where. I am going to wind up working at Mcdonalds pretending that it is part time taking courses at csi and probably telling myself I am going to be a famous director someday. Don't get me started on that topic though.
Why am I such a paradox? I love that school is hard, it makes me apply myself and I love that. But why with every ounce of me do I wish it wasn't hard so I wouldn't be in this situation?
All my friends (at home...I dont have any friends here) are incredibly smart. I purposely surround myself with brilliant people, hoping maybe they will make me more articulate or I can learn from them, osmosis or something. But where has it gotten me? I am a junior at a State School and I have a gpa close to my age. My best friends go2 Upenn, Princeton, Harvard, and St. joe's. I don't even wanna compare our gpa's.
The only way I could ever fail my parents is by giving up, and that is exactly what I am doing. I can not commit myself to finishing this paper. And even if I do, it's going to be crap. I am useless and I hate this school and f*cking coma splice's and fused sentences. i never learned that crap before, but here let me take off 20 points because those are serious errors, oh and because you are a marginal writer.
Listen, I am a good writer, I am not a C writer. Maybe in this anal drained creativity society that we call Cortland I am a crappy writer, but...You know what I am a sh*tty writer.
I use to write kids papers in high school. $20 a paper. I'd say, hey what do you want? An 85? ok, i'd write it based on the kids previous performance, the extent of his vocabulary and i'd normally get within 3 points. I personally would always get high 90's. Then I got to delhi and those high 90's turned to low 90's. But that matched with class participation was decent. The grading of other things were always the great equalizer, killing my chance at ever doing exceptionally well. What am I even writing about? Oh, yea, I am writing about not being able to write. See I am typing these words a mile a minute, on my white keyboard, but if I was to move the cursor off blogger onto Pages (mac version of Microsoft office) nothing would happen. Parallel plots of Lear and Gloucester, who cares. I am just going to get killed on the final anyway. Wow, a B- for all your work. Then throw in your wonderful Sociology grade and 2other classes and the Graduate school at Wagner College is going to be knocking my door down with acceptance letters and scholarship information. A school in Pennsylvania wanted to give me a scholarship last year. For track, not for academics. I turned them down flat, didn't even talk to the coach. And St. Rose's Coach wanted to talk to me also, that was more of a favor though. I didn't give him the light of day either. And now look at me. 20lbs heavier, run about once a week. Man I remember when the Delhi coach was recruiting me, man he was excited to get a hold of me and get me on that 4x4 relay. And they ran here last weekend and we all reminisced and had good times, talking about the good old days. How then I had everything, a girlfriend I loved, a team full of friends (family more then just friends, true family, we were together 7 days a week). Now, well let's not talk about now.
There is a science to this world. A math, a plan, some kind of passed down game plan. I was thinking about this before. Why does every bad movie have a cheesie sentimental ending tying everything together? Why does the hero always get the girl? Win the game? Why does the shallow popular girl see something extraordinary in the geeky guy, and vice versa. There is a document of success out there, and if you get a hold of it you follow it. (Not being specific to this one topic) Why is How High a movie? A group of people gave millions of dollars for the production (Executive producers) then people who probably got over a 1500 on their SAT, went to the finest college for free and excelled: directed it/wrote it/did the cinematography/edited it. Hundreds of people finely tuned at their jobs dedicated months of their life for this production. And what was the result, a movie about 2 kids that smoke their dead friend and get into Harvard cause they get a 1600 (Harvard also being very sympathetic to the recent addition of Affirmative action). And movies this bad come out every month. And we as a people support this. Oscar winners are #3 at the box office behind movies that get under a 6.0 on imdb. Because Ashton Kutcher is in it they have to go see it (ok you were kinda badass in Butterfly effect i'll give you that).
So in the end what I think I am trying to say is: because of people like Will Richardson and Friedman and Hobbs, a social outlet is out there for people like me who need to vent, and in a school related setting. That this social networking systems are truly revolutionizing the classroom and that web 2.0 the read write web is truly making things better and motivating students in ways like never before.
I am going through something that I can not truly define or understand. Self imposed writers block? Lately, I have not been able to write. Well I have been able to write but, very little. I have been spending a very exorbitant amount of time trying to phrase things perfectly, then after that, being extra extra critical everything is perfect. Relevance of the statement, grammar, accordance with everything else, the flow and pace of everything. This is an odd situation for me because normally I don't even care about grammar, I spend more time on making things sound flashy.
I think this started when I worked my ass off for an in class writing assignment and got a 77. I then proceeded to do my finest work on the re-write, have it proofread by a very credible source and then only received an 87, this brought my overall grade to an 82. I can't get B- on anything. My life is crashing down. I keep getting B- to B+ on everything, I don't need B's I need a A's. My life is depending on this. Because i 'screwed the pooch' last semester I have to overachieve to balance out those horrible grades. I need to get into Grad school, and a 2.5 isn't doing much for me. I think 2.75 is the absolute minimum and most schools are a 3. I feel useless, like everything i put on paper isn't good enough. But I can't give up like I use to when I was younger, because this is my life. If I give up, I am giving up on my future, and what am I going to do then?
The other day i spent 14 hours in the library (not straight, I left for a little, not bragging either, the point is how pathetic I am). I don't understand where the time went or how i even stayed that long because when I am in my room I can barely spend 2 hours doing work most of the time, sometimes I can't even start. Anyway the point is, after doing extensive research and outlining and brainstorming, 14 hours later I had 3 pages of writing (double spaced). How is that even possible? I don't know where the time went. It has since gone to a blur but I can imagine it was anxiety filled. I am so scared I don't even want to write my ideas down. I feel they are so bad that if I write them they will be crap and I will just be editing crap. I need to wait for better ideas, then I can edit and work on those. But the brilliant insight never comes. My writing is horrible and failing and I am going no where. I am going to wind up working at Mcdonalds pretending that it is part time taking courses at csi and probably telling myself I am going to be a famous director someday. Don't get me started on that topic though.
Why am I such a paradox? I love that school is hard, it makes me apply myself and I love that. But why with every ounce of me do I wish it wasn't hard so I wouldn't be in this situation?
All my friends (at home...I dont have any friends here) are incredibly smart. I purposely surround myself with brilliant people, hoping maybe they will make me more articulate or I can learn from them, osmosis or something. But where has it gotten me? I am a junior at a State School and I have a gpa close to my age. My best friends go2 Upenn, Princeton, Harvard, and St. joe's. I don't even wanna compare our gpa's.
The only way I could ever fail my parents is by giving up, and that is exactly what I am doing. I can not commit myself to finishing this paper. And even if I do, it's going to be crap. I am useless and I hate this school and f*cking coma splice's and fused sentences. i never learned that crap before, but here let me take off 20 points because those are serious errors, oh and because you are a marginal writer.
Listen, I am a good writer, I am not a C writer. Maybe in this anal drained creativity society that we call Cortland I am a crappy writer, but...You know what I am a sh*tty writer.
I use to write kids papers in high school. $20 a paper. I'd say, hey what do you want? An 85? ok, i'd write it based on the kids previous performance, the extent of his vocabulary and i'd normally get within 3 points. I personally would always get high 90's. Then I got to delhi and those high 90's turned to low 90's. But that matched with class participation was decent. The grading of other things were always the great equalizer, killing my chance at ever doing exceptionally well. What am I even writing about? Oh, yea, I am writing about not being able to write. See I am typing these words a mile a minute, on my white keyboard, but if I was to move the cursor off blogger onto Pages (mac version of Microsoft office) nothing would happen. Parallel plots of Lear and Gloucester, who cares. I am just going to get killed on the final anyway. Wow, a B- for all your work. Then throw in your wonderful Sociology grade and 2other classes and the Graduate school at Wagner College is going to be knocking my door down with acceptance letters and scholarship information. A school in Pennsylvania wanted to give me a scholarship last year. For track, not for academics. I turned them down flat, didn't even talk to the coach. And St. Rose's Coach wanted to talk to me also, that was more of a favor though. I didn't give him the light of day either. And now look at me. 20lbs heavier, run about once a week. Man I remember when the Delhi coach was recruiting me, man he was excited to get a hold of me and get me on that 4x4 relay. And they ran here last weekend and we all reminisced and had good times, talking about the good old days. How then I had everything, a girlfriend I loved, a team full of friends (family more then just friends, true family, we were together 7 days a week). Now, well let's not talk about now.
There is a science to this world. A math, a plan, some kind of passed down game plan. I was thinking about this before. Why does every bad movie have a cheesie sentimental ending tying everything together? Why does the hero always get the girl? Win the game? Why does the shallow popular girl see something extraordinary in the geeky guy, and vice versa. There is a document of success out there, and if you get a hold of it you follow it. (Not being specific to this one topic) Why is How High a movie? A group of people gave millions of dollars for the production (Executive producers) then people who probably got over a 1500 on their SAT, went to the finest college for free and excelled: directed it/wrote it/did the cinematography/edited it. Hundreds of people finely tuned at their jobs dedicated months of their life for this production. And what was the result, a movie about 2 kids that smoke their dead friend and get into Harvard cause they get a 1600 (Harvard also being very sympathetic to the recent addition of Affirmative action). And movies this bad come out every month. And we as a people support this. Oscar winners are #3 at the box office behind movies that get under a 6.0 on imdb. Because Ashton Kutcher is in it they have to go see it (ok you were kinda badass in Butterfly effect i'll give you that).
So in the end what I think I am trying to say is: because of people like Will Richardson and Friedman and Hobbs, a social outlet is out there for people like me who need to vent, and in a school related setting. That this social networking systems are truly revolutionizing the classroom and that web 2.0 the read write web is truly making things better and motivating students in ways like never before.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Pokinitis
Pokinitis is another traditional Technology in the Classroom blog entry. Will's blog pretty much says what we have been saying. It reminds me of freedman a lot as well, web 2.0 the read write web.
Pretty much this blog by Will is a furthering of the read write web, creating new content that many people across the world can see. Also, not limiting it to one area, further adapting it to a movie, and perhaps a podcast.
Pokinitis is a good model of how to inspire students to create new content through media and anything that flies in our mind. Anything that fascinates us. That blogs are not just a pouring out of our minds, a journal, but a publishable source. That through blogging we can adapt something we have written to a full length novel, or something tangible.
This is a very simple but signifigant blog post by Will because it very adequately stresses the furthering of the read write web and how he personally handled presenting it to his daughter.
Pretty much this blog by Will is a furthering of the read write web, creating new content that many people across the world can see. Also, not limiting it to one area, further adapting it to a movie, and perhaps a podcast.
Pokinitis is a good model of how to inspire students to create new content through media and anything that flies in our mind. Anything that fascinates us. That blogs are not just a pouring out of our minds, a journal, but a publishable source. That through blogging we can adapt something we have written to a full length novel, or something tangible.
This is a very simple but signifigant blog post by Will because it very adequately stresses the furthering of the read write web and how he personally handled presenting it to his daughter.
Shape Shifting Portfolio
How have I been building my Shape Shifting Portfolio in 307? So far, I have done three block projects. I have become proficient in three programs I was previously not well educated in. Within those areas I have also branched out and dabbled in other areas. At this point in the semester I am knowledged at the level where I can teach these programs to students. The programs I am reffering to are: iWeb, iMovie, and Comic Life. In addition, I have knowledge concerning the entire Adobe Suite, the picture editing programs like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. Aside from learning how to use these programs and being able to teach them to students I have learned how to apply them in the classroom to inspire students creativity. I have learned that students who might not be motivated or labelled "at risk" will respond to technologies like creating a web page or making a movie.
Another thing I have started to do is create mock lesson plans. I have been introducing new media into classroom assignments. So far I have written up critical questions applying to analysis of a video game trailer and a film.
I have also attended two lectures recently. Last night I saw Russell Banks speak, and a few weeks ago I heard Bruce Coville.
Those are the types of things I have done so far in 307 that have defined me as a person, that have made me marketable. These are the types of experiences, and things that I am involved in.
Another thing I have started to do is create mock lesson plans. I have been introducing new media into classroom assignments. So far I have written up critical questions applying to analysis of a video game trailer and a film.
I have also attended two lectures recently. Last night I saw Russell Banks speak, and a few weeks ago I heard Bruce Coville.
Those are the types of things I have done so far in 307 that have defined me as a person, that have made me marketable. These are the types of experiences, and things that I am involved in.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Our Comic coming to Life in Comic Life
Our Comic is phenomenal! I love it. Chris and I have not fully completed it, but just looking at what we have gives me such pride. This is the greatest thing I have ever done. Watching this comic take shape is really wonderful. I can definitely see using this in the classroom. Teenagers will have so much fun, and it is a great source to inspire imagination.
We have split many of the roles in editing and producing the final product. Chris came up with the original concept, story boarded it out, and came up with the original dialogue. What I brought was tweaking little things here and there. I added certain adjustments to the dialogue or the setting, certain actions. I am the voice of what is practical, within the technical terms. Here I am referring to what can we photographed, where, and why. I also brought in my good friend Bill to do all the shooting.
After all the photographs were taken we sat at my mac and through looking at the storyboard, the outline and the rough "screenplay" we began to place images on the page. We would take turns manning the computer. Chris would do a few pages, then turn it over to me, then back forth and so on. It was a great joint effort, because no matter who was at the computer we were sharing ideas and together deciding what looked the finest. It got to the point where one of us did not want to get up from the seat because we were having so much fun. But we were both absolute gentlemen and it was shared equally. I must say though, Chris wrote the bulk of the material. I did shine at certain moments, but he is the master scholar. Most of the stuff I wrote quivered in comparison to his epic phrases.
We are about 90% done, but we have still had two set backs. One rather minuscule, and the other major. When we were looking at the images we had taken, some of them were not as appropriate as we had anticipated so we had to re-shoot some things. This was not bad, it proved quite funny actually because people walking by asked "what the hell are you guys doing?" The major set back was the loss of 5 solid pages of content. We had been saving a fairly good amount, but we held back the more we got into the habit of moving quickly. Then, all of a sudden, comic life closed. This occurrence has happened before, but never this detrimental. So after that we had been working a good 5 hours straight and we decided to finish another day. That was rather frustrating but it could have been much worse, and for that not happening I am grateful.
We have split many of the roles in editing and producing the final product. Chris came up with the original concept, story boarded it out, and came up with the original dialogue. What I brought was tweaking little things here and there. I added certain adjustments to the dialogue or the setting, certain actions. I am the voice of what is practical, within the technical terms. Here I am referring to what can we photographed, where, and why. I also brought in my good friend Bill to do all the shooting.
After all the photographs were taken we sat at my mac and through looking at the storyboard, the outline and the rough "screenplay" we began to place images on the page. We would take turns manning the computer. Chris would do a few pages, then turn it over to me, then back forth and so on. It was a great joint effort, because no matter who was at the computer we were sharing ideas and together deciding what looked the finest. It got to the point where one of us did not want to get up from the seat because we were having so much fun. But we were both absolute gentlemen and it was shared equally. I must say though, Chris wrote the bulk of the material. I did shine at certain moments, but he is the master scholar. Most of the stuff I wrote quivered in comparison to his epic phrases.
We are about 90% done, but we have still had two set backs. One rather minuscule, and the other major. When we were looking at the images we had taken, some of them were not as appropriate as we had anticipated so we had to re-shoot some things. This was not bad, it proved quite funny actually because people walking by asked "what the hell are you guys doing?" The major set back was the loss of 5 solid pages of content. We had been saving a fairly good amount, but we held back the more we got into the habit of moving quickly. Then, all of a sudden, comic life closed. This occurrence has happened before, but never this detrimental. So after that we had been working a good 5 hours straight and we decided to finish another day. That was rather frustrating but it could have been much worse, and for that not happening I am grateful.
Praising Blogging
I want to praise blogging for a moment. And i am going to do that in a round about manner. Last night I was searching for an image to save as my desktop background. As a side note (to this tangent) I only select the best backgrounds. My selection process includes scouring google images for an action shot from a favorite film.
So last night as I looked through Scarlett Johansson images I found a picture that peaked my interest and I clicked on it. The link brought me to a page called Cinephilia. The text began: "Truth be told: I do not get Brian De Palma. Which I think is very different from not liking Brian De Palma. He is a cinephile of the highest to degree, to be sure. But there is something absolutely missing from his films." at that I was in love.
I had mistakenly found myself onto someone's blogger page, and it was quite delightful. As I continued to read I became more and more pleased. This was a true lover of cinema, and even further a well educated woman who casted a very critical eye. She was very hard on the director's and their work, but it was fair and just. It was fair to say I liked her from the start.
It seems this person, has commented on some 100 films, all recent. I started by reading what movies I had already seen. To build her credibility. To see if I agreed. For the most part, I agreed, her vocabulary and mannerisms extremely sophisticated. It was not too hard to follow but she definitely possessed an insight I desire.
I am praising blogs because they have brought me to a place where I can learn more about technical terms and read an urbane critique of films I love. Without blogging, I could never have seen a this part of the world, and definitely not communicate. This is the link.
So last night as I looked through Scarlett Johansson images I found a picture that peaked my interest and I clicked on it. The link brought me to a page called Cinephilia. The text began: "Truth be told: I do not get Brian De Palma. Which I think is very different from not liking Brian De Palma. He is a cinephile of the highest to degree, to be sure. But there is something absolutely missing from his films." at that I was in love.
I had mistakenly found myself onto someone's blogger page, and it was quite delightful. As I continued to read I became more and more pleased. This was a true lover of cinema, and even further a well educated woman who casted a very critical eye. She was very hard on the director's and their work, but it was fair and just. It was fair to say I liked her from the start.
It seems this person, has commented on some 100 films, all recent. I started by reading what movies I had already seen. To build her credibility. To see if I agreed. For the most part, I agreed, her vocabulary and mannerisms extremely sophisticated. It was not too hard to follow but she definitely possessed an insight I desire.
I am praising blogs because they have brought me to a place where I can learn more about technical terms and read an urbane critique of films I love. Without blogging, I could never have seen a this part of the world, and definitely not communicate. This is the link.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Caring Circle
The person I admire the most from 374 and 307 was not at the last class, so I am going to briefly explain what this is about. The purpose of this blog is to pick someone you have class with, and speak about things they have done you admire, or something you see in them that you respect.
The person I picked was Kristin Mark. This girl is great (and not just because she is from Brooklyn!). I admire how diligent Kristin is. A problem I have with school is sometimes I lack the enthusiasm to read everything assigned(we have also taken 2 british literature classes together so this pertains to that as well. Wow I never realized how many classes we had together). Kristen is the epitome of what a teacher wants in a student. She diligently reads everything, and multiple times. Her dedication and caring for school has definitely inspired me. She read twilight in a weekend! For you non-374 people, that is a monster of a book! Kristen does a lot of things with her heart and that is something I feel I share with her. You can tell she wholeheartedly immerses herself in her passions.
Kristen is the student I wish I could be.
The person I picked was Kristin Mark. This girl is great (and not just because she is from Brooklyn!). I admire how diligent Kristin is. A problem I have with school is sometimes I lack the enthusiasm to read everything assigned(we have also taken 2 british literature classes together so this pertains to that as well. Wow I never realized how many classes we had together). Kristen is the epitome of what a teacher wants in a student. She diligently reads everything, and multiple times. Her dedication and caring for school has definitely inspired me. She read twilight in a weekend! For you non-374 people, that is a monster of a book! Kristen does a lot of things with her heart and that is something I feel I share with her. You can tell she wholeheartedly immerses herself in her passions.
Kristen is the student I wish I could be.
Learning
In about 2o minutes i learned very important things applying to music from my excellent classmates. First, I learned how to put a playlist on my blog. Exhibit A: Stairway to heaven is probably playing right now as you read this.
Then i began to teach Meghan how to use comic life. As I showed her the basics she brought up a very simple method i have forgot to remember, using centering and other things to arrange items on screen. So i showed Meghan how to import a picture and apply filters to the picture....
Then i began to teach Meghan how to use comic life. As I showed her the basics she brought up a very simple method i have forgot to remember, using centering and other things to arrange items on screen. So i showed Meghan how to import a picture and apply filters to the picture....
The writings
I read his screenplays very early yesterday before they were posted to the masses, and soon after I read many people's comments on what they had read.
The thing that has unnerved me beyond words was his silent rage. The fact he was painfully shy, to the point of not acknowledging you when you spoke to him or even making eye contact.
The story of the girl coming to his suite is what sticks out in my mind as a staple of his personality. The stoic kid in the back of the class wearing sunglasses, and a hat covering his face, seldom participating. So, the story goes: A girl was running for president and she was handing out candy to the guys in his suite, so she asked him if he would like a piece. Without making eye contact or changing his expression he very slowly shook his head.
But, his words, so full of hate and anger. Such strong use of pent up hatred. You could tell he was grossly underdeveloped because it looked like a 12 year old had written those screenplays, not a senior in college. You were brought into his frame of mind so easily through the plethora of hatred. I am still unhinged after reading those words. I may never get them out of my mind.
You could tell he had been raped as a child and severely neglected.
Another thing that really gets to me is that he bought the guns over a month ago and it cost him $500. He might have saved up, planned. You don't just have $500 laying around. So not only was this a premeditated act but there was severe preparation. I shouldnt analyze or make declarative statements about this but I can not get it out of my head. These assumptions are just my oppinion.
My friend just came in the room and brought up the topic that vt is probably going to get sewed by the families for negligence. I think that is outrageous for them to do. I feel at a time like this, if a family in any way is concerned with $, that is beyond me. After your child has been slain, what is money, it is useless. The outrageousness of a family thinking of money at a time like this would truly amaze me.
Yesterday when i was walking back to my dorm I was struck with something that I have not been able to understand. What is stopping this from happening every single day? What is stopping other countries from bombing us. I would like to think the government, the police, but it still happens sometimes. But on the opposite side, it does not happen that much, so there must be some force in the universe protecting us. This kid was troubled to the max, but there are others out there. And if the trickling effect where to ever take place, there would be a boom in the candle industry. I hope whatever the force is that protects us, spiritual or concrete, deterrent or direct, it is ready for these next few days (threats in 10 different states already).
The thing that has unnerved me beyond words was his silent rage. The fact he was painfully shy, to the point of not acknowledging you when you spoke to him or even making eye contact.
The story of the girl coming to his suite is what sticks out in my mind as a staple of his personality. The stoic kid in the back of the class wearing sunglasses, and a hat covering his face, seldom participating. So, the story goes: A girl was running for president and she was handing out candy to the guys in his suite, so she asked him if he would like a piece. Without making eye contact or changing his expression he very slowly shook his head.
But, his words, so full of hate and anger. Such strong use of pent up hatred. You could tell he was grossly underdeveloped because it looked like a 12 year old had written those screenplays, not a senior in college. You were brought into his frame of mind so easily through the plethora of hatred. I am still unhinged after reading those words. I may never get them out of my mind.
You could tell he had been raped as a child and severely neglected.
Another thing that really gets to me is that he bought the guns over a month ago and it cost him $500. He might have saved up, planned. You don't just have $500 laying around. So not only was this a premeditated act but there was severe preparation. I shouldnt analyze or make declarative statements about this but I can not get it out of my head. These assumptions are just my oppinion.
My friend just came in the room and brought up the topic that vt is probably going to get sewed by the families for negligence. I think that is outrageous for them to do. I feel at a time like this, if a family in any way is concerned with $, that is beyond me. After your child has been slain, what is money, it is useless. The outrageousness of a family thinking of money at a time like this would truly amaze me.
Yesterday when i was walking back to my dorm I was struck with something that I have not been able to understand. What is stopping this from happening every single day? What is stopping other countries from bombing us. I would like to think the government, the police, but it still happens sometimes. But on the opposite side, it does not happen that much, so there must be some force in the universe protecting us. This kid was troubled to the max, but there are others out there. And if the trickling effect where to ever take place, there would be a boom in the candle industry. I hope whatever the force is that protects us, spiritual or concrete, deterrent or direct, it is ready for these next few days (threats in 10 different states already).
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
33 lives
I think we should all speak when something like this happens. This is a very traumatic staple in our lives. Something very near to us. We need to find a way to express ourselves. Artists reflect through their work. And a generation connected through technology, does just that...They speak, console, and aid each other through media. Here are some of the video's people have made already.
Now that I am typing, I am speechless, weak of words. I will come back and edit this at a later time, I have nothing to say right now after watching all that.
Now that I am typing, I am speechless, weak of words. I will come back and edit this at a later time, I have nothing to say right now after watching all that.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Rethinking Japan
I love to travel. My friends and I are very big on road trips and seeing new places. We have each spent time abroad. Over the summer i went to England and Paris. While in England, I met a man in a pub who told me he taught English as a second language in several different countries. He told me how much fun it was, and how he got to see beautiful places. As he was speaking, I realized this is something I would love to do. It was everything I had wanted, I just never knew it was possible. I already had a keen interest in teaching, and traveling was my passion. I thought of exotic places to go (within reach) and things that appealed to me. Last semester I had decided on Japan and Spain. Spain, because the women are beautiful and it seems like a wonderful climate and culture to immerse myself in. I chose Japan, because as you might know I am quite the passionate movie lover; and my obsession at that time was Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola's film taking place in Tokyo. I, however am a dreamer, and that is what I do. I romanticize how I think events will manifest themselves out, and apart from that I do not have a logical cognition of things, especially in film! So I had turned the movie into this great adventure that I would love and take wonderful things from. See new places, meet new people, and breathe in the amazing culture.
Here is what I did not take into account: Lost in Translation is about the disconnection between the two American characters and a foreign land. They are not happy there at all. Their lives are filled with despondency and loneliness. The only consolement comes from the interaction between each other. From that relationship comes this statement: "Let's never come here again, because it could never be as much fun." So I realized the envy i felt was not for a location, but a feeling. This feeling is the original reason I came to write this passage.
I was in the lounge, waiting for the water to boil, when I looked out the window onto a campus frozen in snow. A blizzard of spring. And I leaned my head against the wall, as I listen to my iPod (Radiohead) because I had no one to make lunch with me. I had to fill the air with something, to keep me from realizing the imminent truth. And before the words rushed to my brain the parallel of Scarlett Johannson's character leaning against the glass coincided with mine and I felt like she felt. And i realized, Japan is not going to make that go away, it will only intensify it. I am alone at this college, because these are not my kinds of people. Because, i have shut out the right people, and put hope in the wrong one's. Because I look in all the wrong places, and blame myself for all this.
Because I am not as likable as i always thought I was. Because I incur the wrath of people, and their jealousy. That yes it is their fault they are arrogant prick's but that I have pushed them to the point of justified retribution. I have justified in their minds' maliciousness towards me, and that is no easy button to push in a normal person. These are not people like Sebastian in Cruel Intentions, these are normal kids that I have marred our friendship to the point of them loathing me.
So i do not think more loneliness in a foreign country is what I am looking for right now. Basically i need to get my gpa as high as possible, get the f out of here and go to school in Staten Island or the city.
I doubt anyone is reading this, I probably lost the few that attempted when I was ranting about incurring wrath and justified retribution; but I do not want to send the message I dislike everyone here. Because that simply is not true, and out of all my classes there are the most people I like, in 307. Come to think of it, none of you annoy me, well ONE OF YOU, but you know who you are, and you are OK sometimes, s o m e t i m e s.
My plan now is to be as close to the people who care about me as possible. Home is key, and with my closest friends, because they complete me. I have been talking to a girl I have liked for a while. We are not serious, because she is going abroad in the fall, but still it is some kind of light in an otherwise bleak cave that is Cortland. I am looking forward to this summer, being with people that love me, and forgetting about this God awful place of frozen emotions and uncouth personalities (none of you!).
Here is what I did not take into account: Lost in Translation is about the disconnection between the two American characters and a foreign land. They are not happy there at all. Their lives are filled with despondency and loneliness. The only consolement comes from the interaction between each other. From that relationship comes this statement: "Let's never come here again, because it could never be as much fun." So I realized the envy i felt was not for a location, but a feeling. This feeling is the original reason I came to write this passage.
I was in the lounge, waiting for the water to boil, when I looked out the window onto a campus frozen in snow. A blizzard of spring. And I leaned my head against the wall, as I listen to my iPod (Radiohead) because I had no one to make lunch with me. I had to fill the air with something, to keep me from realizing the imminent truth. And before the words rushed to my brain the parallel of Scarlett Johannson's character leaning against the glass coincided with mine and I felt like she felt. And i realized, Japan is not going to make that go away, it will only intensify it. I am alone at this college, because these are not my kinds of people. Because, i have shut out the right people, and put hope in the wrong one's. Because I look in all the wrong places, and blame myself for all this.
Because I am not as likable as i always thought I was. Because I incur the wrath of people, and their jealousy. That yes it is their fault they are arrogant prick's but that I have pushed them to the point of justified retribution. I have justified in their minds' maliciousness towards me, and that is no easy button to push in a normal person. These are not people like Sebastian in Cruel Intentions, these are normal kids that I have marred our friendship to the point of them loathing me.
So i do not think more loneliness in a foreign country is what I am looking for right now. Basically i need to get my gpa as high as possible, get the f out of here and go to school in Staten Island or the city.
I doubt anyone is reading this, I probably lost the few that attempted when I was ranting about incurring wrath and justified retribution; but I do not want to send the message I dislike everyone here. Because that simply is not true, and out of all my classes there are the most people I like, in 307. Come to think of it, none of you annoy me, well ONE OF YOU, but you know who you are, and you are OK sometimes, s o m e t i m e s.
My plan now is to be as close to the people who care about me as possible. Home is key, and with my closest friends, because they complete me. I have been talking to a girl I have liked for a while. We are not serious, because she is going abroad in the fall, but still it is some kind of light in an otherwise bleak cave that is Cortland. I am looking forward to this summer, being with people that love me, and forgetting about this God awful place of frozen emotions and uncouth personalities (none of you!).
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Apple-Education-iLife Educator
I just watched a really great movie made by a student in a Language Arts class. It was posted on the apple web site, under the Education section. I do not know if any of you have heard of Ben Folds but he is a really great musician who has inspired a lot of people. Apparently he inspired this student for he created a film using iMovie, iTunes, and iPhoto based on his song Brick. Brandon Maas a student from Clackamas, Oregon turned his original poem into a five minute movie, bringing his writing to life in visual format.
This is where we as teachers (and 307 students) answer the question of 'How can we use technology, especially iMovie, in the classroom?' I really like what this teacher has done, and I am sure Brandon loved it, because his finished project is wonderful, it is truly something.
Something else I took from this, is the promotion and support from apple. By them posting all these videos, and by even having a education section on their site, it shows they really care and are behind this type of education. These are the greatest technological brains in America, the most pioneering and sophisticated minds, and they are saying technology in the classroom is something to be celebrated. I, and I think everyone in the class will agree, think this is a great thing.
This is where we as teachers (and 307 students) answer the question of 'How can we use technology, especially iMovie, in the classroom?' I really like what this teacher has done, and I am sure Brandon loved it, because his finished project is wonderful, it is truly something.
Something else I took from this, is the promotion and support from apple. By them posting all these videos, and by even having a education section on their site, it shows they really care and are behind this type of education. These are the greatest technological brains in America, the most pioneering and sophisticated minds, and they are saying technology in the classroom is something to be celebrated. I, and I think everyone in the class will agree, think this is a great thing.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
The Literacy Lab: Eddie and Ron (from O'brien article)
Eddie and Ron did not perform very well in the traditional school setting. They were labeled "at risk" and the article says they "neither expressed much interest in reading and writing related to school." After being assessed by standardized tests and content reading inventories, it was evaluated that they read at a third-grade level.
It seems to me like they have been captive of an unhealthy learning environment far too long. They need to break the bounds of the traditional school system, and be exposed to type of learning that can engage and excite these young gentlemen.
They are given the opportunity to work on a media project. This is where the true learning begins. These two students do marvelous things. They collaboratively design a website, dividing up jobs and synthesizes all different forms of information. It is a well organized procedure with storyboards and tasks divided up. As soon as technology, media, is introduced they go from students limited to 3rd grade reading level to students of unlimited potential. They continue to render their work together, on the webpage, and sort out the text and images. They do a stellar job, really applying themselves like never before.
The final product was spectacular. It is truly amazing what you can get students to do once you find their niche.
It seems to me like they have been captive of an unhealthy learning environment far too long. They need to break the bounds of the traditional school system, and be exposed to type of learning that can engage and excite these young gentlemen.
They are given the opportunity to work on a media project. This is where the true learning begins. These two students do marvelous things. They collaboratively design a website, dividing up jobs and synthesizes all different forms of information. It is a well organized procedure with storyboards and tasks divided up. As soon as technology, media, is introduced they go from students limited to 3rd grade reading level to students of unlimited potential. They continue to render their work together, on the webpage, and sort out the text and images. They do a stellar job, really applying themselves like never before.
The final product was spectacular. It is truly amazing what you can get students to do once you find their niche.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Comic Life
The Chris and Phil collaboration continues. First the i-movie, now comic life. Since we have each been group leaders before, we have decided to be co-leaders for this next block project. We are making a graphic novel/comic book modernization of a scene in Hamlet. We had our first formal meeting the other day, where we sat down to rack our brains for ideas, and put content on paper. Earlier in the week, we had a few informal meetings, where we ran into each other and spoke of things we had rolling around in our heads.
I want this comic to be very visually stunning, so there are a few techniques i am planning on applying (I will not give those away). The tables have turned this time with the access of technology. Last time, i was the one with the video camera, now it is Chris who has a digital camera. Still, most of the work will be done in room 310, for my mac has comic life, making the process very convenient.
For length, we are thinking about 5 pages. I want to pick a length that is short enough to show the class, yet substantial. The scene we have picked is rather short, and relies of flashbacks to fill in the major plot points, so I feel 5 pages will be easily achieved. Doing it tastefully is the hardest part.
I want to thank the previous comic life group for inspiring us to do such a project, if we had not seen your presentation we would definitely not be doing this. So thanks for planting the seed.
I will keep you posted on our advances.
I want this comic to be very visually stunning, so there are a few techniques i am planning on applying (I will not give those away). The tables have turned this time with the access of technology. Last time, i was the one with the video camera, now it is Chris who has a digital camera. Still, most of the work will be done in room 310, for my mac has comic life, making the process very convenient.
For length, we are thinking about 5 pages. I want to pick a length that is short enough to show the class, yet substantial. The scene we have picked is rather short, and relies of flashbacks to fill in the major plot points, so I feel 5 pages will be easily achieved. Doing it tastefully is the hardest part.
I want to thank the previous comic life group for inspiring us to do such a project, if we had not seen your presentation we would definitely not be doing this. So thanks for planting the seed.
I will keep you posted on our advances.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Personal Reflection on project
My project, was to create a film using the mac program iMovie. I was elected the leader of the group since i had previous experience and familiarity with the iMovie program. I selected Chris Turo, Jo Tutko, and Brian Callaghan as members of my group. We named our film, Burn 'em and Turn 'em, Baby!
Initially we decided to do everything collaboratively, instead of dividing up jobs. Jo made the suggestion each one of us write 2 pages of dialogue and then put it together but I quickly dismissed the idea (even though good) because i wanted a very close knit process. I knew later we would shine in our own area's but i wanted the frame work, (the initial genesis of the project) to be agreed on and be a cross-hatching of each others ideas.
The brain storming was a very important part of the project, and besides the filming, took the most substantial amount of time. We simply sat in my room (where most of the work was done) and threw out ideas. Pen and paper equipped in each hand, we racked our brains for ideas, anything that poured out of our minds. I video taped the original brainstorming session to look back at great ideas i had not writen down.
After we had a basic idea of the concept (poker tournament, 3 players and a dealer, mockumentary) we rendered each character (The Duke, Tex Gold, "Sporto" Lance Strongarm, and the Dealer). The next step i am very proud of, and that is the costume design. One thing I have noticed in films is the ability to greatly convey a character without even speaking. The most effective way is through stereotypical costume design. One thing that I have noticed in amateur film is the mediocrity of a character's attire. When you watch a major motion picture every character is dressed appropriate to their personality. I was not going to do a film where we were all wearing a t-shirts and jeans. So each character personalized their outfit.
Chris was VERY helpful with the props and supplying clothing. Half the prop list was items he supplied. Other things were borrowed or even purchased(football, etc). Jo had bought the Poker for Dummies book on the assumption he could return it after the filming. Well, after the first take where Brian knocks the book out of his hand, we realized that no longer was possible. The force of the blow had bent the front cover.
Chris also wrote the screenplay. One day I felt I was doing a subpar job at conceptualizing #89 so I simply turned to Chris and asked him to write my lines because he seemed completely on target.The four of us were such a great producing machine. Brian the first day, seemed to have an endless amount of great ideas. After that, Chris rendered those ideas into a script. I had a vision, a certain look I wanted each shot to take, so at times i was the cinematographer. I took the Director role, basically making the story boards and planning the actions based on the script. Jo, was also great with taking care of the set. Initially, in filming, we had the ghastly setback of having things on camera that should not be. So, after realizing that, Jo got big into moving tables and items and telling me if certain angle's would not work. Brian and Jo helped me with the lighting in the interview scene's. There were many tough shadows that we avoided, because of the two of them.
I learned the limitations of iMovies. That some things are just not possible, you see them on the big screen, but for guys like us, you simply do not have the technology to recreate them. I am referring to a scene from Snatch that we wanted to imitate. Some very valuable things i learned were: slow motion, black and white, and how to play things in reverse. I learned how to extract the audio from a video file, which is very helpful. We messed around with many programs (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, iStopMotion, garage band) to learn how to do cool effects, but at the end of the day, i thought the video was good enough without them. Honestly, they would have been unnecessary, I felt it would have stuck out worse if I had included them.
The question i keep thinking about is what would i do differently? I do not know what i would do differently. I really liked the film, I have watched it at least ten times in entirety and I honestly love it. It is not profound or laugh out loud funny but I like what it is. I agree perhaps it was too long but it is not like i would submit it into a film festival so i think, as a first film it shows some promise.
Initially we decided to do everything collaboratively, instead of dividing up jobs. Jo made the suggestion each one of us write 2 pages of dialogue and then put it together but I quickly dismissed the idea (even though good) because i wanted a very close knit process. I knew later we would shine in our own area's but i wanted the frame work, (the initial genesis of the project) to be agreed on and be a cross-hatching of each others ideas.
The brain storming was a very important part of the project, and besides the filming, took the most substantial amount of time. We simply sat in my room (where most of the work was done) and threw out ideas. Pen and paper equipped in each hand, we racked our brains for ideas, anything that poured out of our minds. I video taped the original brainstorming session to look back at great ideas i had not writen down.
After we had a basic idea of the concept (poker tournament, 3 players and a dealer, mockumentary) we rendered each character (The Duke, Tex Gold, "Sporto" Lance Strongarm, and the Dealer). The next step i am very proud of, and that is the costume design. One thing I have noticed in films is the ability to greatly convey a character without even speaking. The most effective way is through stereotypical costume design. One thing that I have noticed in amateur film is the mediocrity of a character's attire. When you watch a major motion picture every character is dressed appropriate to their personality. I was not going to do a film where we were all wearing a t-shirts and jeans. So each character personalized their outfit.
Chris was VERY helpful with the props and supplying clothing. Half the prop list was items he supplied. Other things were borrowed or even purchased(football, etc). Jo had bought the Poker for Dummies book on the assumption he could return it after the filming. Well, after the first take where Brian knocks the book out of his hand, we realized that no longer was possible. The force of the blow had bent the front cover.
Chris also wrote the screenplay. One day I felt I was doing a subpar job at conceptualizing #89 so I simply turned to Chris and asked him to write my lines because he seemed completely on target.The four of us were such a great producing machine. Brian the first day, seemed to have an endless amount of great ideas. After that, Chris rendered those ideas into a script. I had a vision, a certain look I wanted each shot to take, so at times i was the cinematographer. I took the Director role, basically making the story boards and planning the actions based on the script. Jo, was also great with taking care of the set. Initially, in filming, we had the ghastly setback of having things on camera that should not be. So, after realizing that, Jo got big into moving tables and items and telling me if certain angle's would not work. Brian and Jo helped me with the lighting in the interview scene's. There were many tough shadows that we avoided, because of the two of them.
I learned the limitations of iMovies. That some things are just not possible, you see them on the big screen, but for guys like us, you simply do not have the technology to recreate them. I am referring to a scene from Snatch that we wanted to imitate. Some very valuable things i learned were: slow motion, black and white, and how to play things in reverse. I learned how to extract the audio from a video file, which is very helpful. We messed around with many programs (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, iStopMotion, garage band) to learn how to do cool effects, but at the end of the day, i thought the video was good enough without them. Honestly, they would have been unnecessary, I felt it would have stuck out worse if I had included them.
The question i keep thinking about is what would i do differently? I do not know what i would do differently. I really liked the film, I have watched it at least ten times in entirety and I honestly love it. It is not profound or laugh out loud funny but I like what it is. I agree perhaps it was too long but it is not like i would submit it into a film festival so i think, as a first film it shows some promise.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Another assignment i would give to my students
William Shakespeare's famous poem "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun" is regarded as novel for it makes fun of the courtly love tradition in poetry. During the 17th Century virtually every poem followed the courtly love tradition and had a blazon. Here, he makes fun of this by creating a parody. It is still wonderfully written and existing on it's own, is quite romantic, but on another level is mocking and poking fun at the other notable writers of the time. I recently came across something that i mentally linked with what Shakespeare has done. There are a lot of parodies out there, and most are done by professional comedians or for a skit like SNL or Mad TV. But this is an artist, parodying another artist, and i find that supremely interesting. Like Shakespeare, here, Alanis Mourissette, makes fun of how generic hip-hop videos have become, along with making a direct parody of an extremely popular song, "my humps." Click here for the Alanis video(parody), and here for the original black eyed peas song.
ok this is a rough draft, i have no idea where i want to take this, i just got the idea and put it in text. I like the idea but i think i have to provide more parallels between Shakespeare parodying another poet compared to the video parodies. I was going to use Sir Edmund Spencer's "Epithalamion." Look below if you are reading this, that was a great idea for an assignment. I have to get back to Mukherjee's Jasmine.
ok this is a rough draft, i have no idea where i want to take this, i just got the idea and put it in text. I like the idea but i think i have to provide more parallels between Shakespeare parodying another poet compared to the video parodies. I was going to use Sir Edmund Spencer's "Epithalamion." Look below if you are reading this, that was a great idea for an assignment. I have to get back to Mukherjee's Jasmine.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Suggested Blog Quiz for week of April 9th
Watch this trailer for the video game Gears of War.
Part I:
What emotions are being portrayed (ex. through music, images, etc)?
What is the creator trying to say about this character, his enemy, and the setting?
What do you think is going to happen?
(optional question) Do you think this is a social commentary of the War in Iraq or war in general? Can you draw any parallels to what the creator is really saying in this piece?
Part II:
Put yourself in the shoes of either character and build a story based on the setting, mood, imagery, music, and actions. How did you get in this situation, what are you doing about it? Write a narrative in first person. The length is completely up to you (be creative).
[Optional] Part III:
Compare and Contrast the two versions of these songs. Which is more effective, the original or the new one? Why? Which captures the theme of the video better? Elaborate.
This is the kind of assignment I would give my students to learn new media literacies. Please tell me what you think. And be honest, if I am grossly off topic I would like to know.
Part I:
What emotions are being portrayed (ex. through music, images, etc)?
What is the creator trying to say about this character, his enemy, and the setting?
What do you think is going to happen?
(optional question) Do you think this is a social commentary of the War in Iraq or war in general? Can you draw any parallels to what the creator is really saying in this piece?
Part II:
Put yourself in the shoes of either character and build a story based on the setting, mood, imagery, music, and actions. How did you get in this situation, what are you doing about it? Write a narrative in first person. The length is completely up to you (be creative).
[Optional] Part III:
Compare and Contrast the two versions of these songs. Which is more effective, the original or the new one? Why? Which captures the theme of the video better? Elaborate.
This is the kind of assignment I would give my students to learn new media literacies. Please tell me what you think. And be honest, if I am grossly off topic I would like to know.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Bruce Coville's inspiration
I saw Bruce Coville speak tonight, and let me tell you that is what inspiration is made of. That man is the epitome of doing what he loves, being passionate, creative and getting himself out there(marketability).
If you do not know who Bruce Coville is, he owns a audio book production company, Professor Stearns spoke briefly about him in our last meeting.
I would like to say, for this block Chris and I are making a graphic novel with comic life, but after Coville's speech i am so inspired, i am going to work with audio next block. After hearing what Bruce has done with novel's I want to do the same soooo bad! I am very excited, I am thinking of doing a technology in the classroom version of an audio book. And that would be, a podcast of a short story.
Bruce broke the tradition of most audio books having a single speaker. Traditionally that was the case, one speaker would drone on for the length of a novel. What his production company does is cast each role and have multiple actors read the lines. I think this is fascinating. As he was speaking i kept thinking of animated films or clay-mation where the actors recite the lines as voice-over.
The beauty of audio books is that there are no images (which is why i would not do a modified podcast). Like reading you can still let your imagination hop all over the place creating whatever images you fancies.
I would like to get a bigger group together, and collaboratively write a short story. Maybe 5 of us. I was thinking the length would be around 10 minutes. I need writers!! I am very excited about this, it is the crosshatching of performing a play and writing a story. It is a film, without the film. Some of the most respectable directors say the best acting is executed without having to say a word. Well, this is a chance to conversely give a powerful performance without any actions.
If you do not know who Bruce Coville is, he owns a audio book production company, Professor Stearns spoke briefly about him in our last meeting.
I would like to say, for this block Chris and I are making a graphic novel with comic life, but after Coville's speech i am so inspired, i am going to work with audio next block. After hearing what Bruce has done with novel's I want to do the same soooo bad! I am very excited, I am thinking of doing a technology in the classroom version of an audio book. And that would be, a podcast of a short story.
Bruce broke the tradition of most audio books having a single speaker. Traditionally that was the case, one speaker would drone on for the length of a novel. What his production company does is cast each role and have multiple actors read the lines. I think this is fascinating. As he was speaking i kept thinking of animated films or clay-mation where the actors recite the lines as voice-over.
The beauty of audio books is that there are no images (which is why i would not do a modified podcast). Like reading you can still let your imagination hop all over the place creating whatever images you fancies.
I would like to get a bigger group together, and collaboratively write a short story. Maybe 5 of us. I was thinking the length would be around 10 minutes. I need writers!! I am very excited about this, it is the crosshatching of performing a play and writing a story. It is a film, without the film. Some of the most respectable directors say the best acting is executed without having to say a word. Well, this is a chance to conversely give a powerful performance without any actions.
Half-Nelson
I watched this movie, half-nelson (Ryan Gosling, from the notebook) a few weeks ago. It is about a young school teacher working in the inner city, trying to reach out to his students but being held back by his own drug addiction.
What i liked about it was, there is a scene, where one of the students insults another student. The repercussion is that the insulted student picks a topic and the insulter is forced to give an oral presentation on that topic in a few days. This may not seem like a very big deal, i am sure you may have heard of this or even had it done in your classroom. But, here is the thing. The powerful relationship the teacher has with these students. And the amount of work he can willingly get them to do. Because i can assure you, in an inner-city middle school, there are going to be many insults between peers. And it is not like he is the authority figure shaking his finger at them, once the insult is fired, the entire class erupts for a brief moment as they know the following assignment will be administered. It does not end there, the teacher joins in making suttle jokes about the insult made, regulating and neutralizing the situation. I thought it was a great way to handle an always impending and continual problem in such a setting.
I really loved that scene.
What i liked about it was, there is a scene, where one of the students insults another student. The repercussion is that the insulted student picks a topic and the insulter is forced to give an oral presentation on that topic in a few days. This may not seem like a very big deal, i am sure you may have heard of this or even had it done in your classroom. But, here is the thing. The powerful relationship the teacher has with these students. And the amount of work he can willingly get them to do. Because i can assure you, in an inner-city middle school, there are going to be many insults between peers. And it is not like he is the authority figure shaking his finger at them, once the insult is fired, the entire class erupts for a brief moment as they know the following assignment will be administered. It does not end there, the teacher joins in making suttle jokes about the insult made, regulating and neutralizing the situation. I thought it was a great way to handle an always impending and continual problem in such a setting.
I really loved that scene.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Free Hugs Campaign
This post is in accordance with the post "One World."
I feel the reason these two videos became so incredibly successful is because there is a disconnectedness in the lifestyle we are growing accustomed to. For many of us, the only way we can communicate with our closest friends is through text messages, voice on a cellphone, or instant messaging. These videos find a way for us to come together. To create and collaborate. This video is nothing but optimism at its best, and I think it is a great way to speak in ways 'One World' can not.
I feel both these videos contribute to the read/write web through enhanced media literacy. You read (watch video) and then write (create your own video in response). Things like this are truly a spectacular contribution to web 2.0.
I feel the reason these two videos became so incredibly successful is because there is a disconnectedness in the lifestyle we are growing accustomed to. For many of us, the only way we can communicate with our closest friends is through text messages, voice on a cellphone, or instant messaging. These videos find a way for us to come together. To create and collaborate. This video is nothing but optimism at its best, and I think it is a great way to speak in ways 'One World' can not.
I feel both these videos contribute to the read/write web through enhanced media literacy. You read (watch video) and then write (create your own video in response). Things like this are truly a spectacular contribution to web 2.0.
One World
One World is something that was started on youtube. MadV, one of the most viewed members decided to use his popularity to start a productive movement. He decided to send out an open invitation to anyone who wished to respond. The message was, anything you wanted. The point was to unite us all, and come together. This is not a big deal, it is particularly too sentimental for me. But what happened, was a huge mass of responses, people all over the world voicing their message. Hundreds of thousands of people watched and it became the most talked about and responded to video on youtube. I made one as well. There is another video that i am going to post, which i feel goes hand in hand with MadV's One World movement. Please check it out.
A Digital Decade
This article was extremely relevant to English 307 as was the other Education Week article. I especially liked the tag line under the title. "Technology Counts looks back, and ahead," because that in essence is part of what we do. We evaluate, we look back to see where we have been, and look ahead to see where we want to go as educators. This article stresses the significance of technology in school.
A good point made is the fast changing landscape, and how complicated it is. How the terrain has changed, and that brought me to think of Freedman and his theory of a flat world. How the terrain is changing and the world is flattening.
An encouraging statistic to hear is "In the first Technology Counts, we reported that fewer than two-thirds of U.S. public schools had Internet access, and just 14 percent of those schools had connections on computers located in classrooms. Today, nearly all schools can get online, and the percentage of instructional computers with high-speed access hovers around 95 percent."
This shows that students and teachers are moving in a new direction, and digital technology is helping that. More applications of school work are being done on computers. Digital camera's are being brought in, in accordance with movie making software. The article points out the easy accessibility of posting your own writing and multi-media on the web. Things like Podcast, Blogs, and social networking site's are entering more classrooms, and helping kids create more interesting things for school.
A good point made is the fast changing landscape, and how complicated it is. How the terrain has changed, and that brought me to think of Freedman and his theory of a flat world. How the terrain is changing and the world is flattening.
An encouraging statistic to hear is "In the first Technology Counts, we reported that fewer than two-thirds of U.S. public schools had Internet access, and just 14 percent of those schools had connections on computers located in classrooms. Today, nearly all schools can get online, and the percentage of instructional computers with high-speed access hovers around 95 percent."
This shows that students and teachers are moving in a new direction, and digital technology is helping that. More applications of school work are being done on computers. Digital camera's are being brought in, in accordance with movie making software. The article points out the easy accessibility of posting your own writing and multi-media on the web. Things like Podcast, Blogs, and social networking site's are entering more classrooms, and helping kids create more interesting things for school.
Education week Article #2
When i read about a student like Randy Herrera, all i see are brilliant ways to get him interested in academic content. With a student like that the is almost no limit to the work he can accomplish in (and out) of the classroom. It greatly disheartens me to see his teachers do not hone in on his interests and provide him (and other students) with assignments that will spur their creativity. We are in the business of educating students, and a major part of that is inspiring, motivating, and teaching based on their interests. The classroom should not be a seperate entity to their life, they should coexist into one great sphere of learning. It kills me to hear statements like: “When I step out of school, I have a pretty high-tech life,” Herrera says. “When I step in school, I feel like I’m not me anymore. I have to jump into this whole old-fashioned thing where everything is restricted.”
In 307 i have learned we need to reach these kids, not only reach them, but relate to them. They are saturated in a lifestyle of media and technology, so the classroom should not be a separate entity. I always felt like titling a course "creative writing" was kind of trivial because that is what writing is, being creative. We should strive to be creative in every endeavor. Randy's teacher is choking the creativity out of him with her outdated curriculum.
Later in the article you can see how much Randy enjoys his taste of technology, when he is allowed to make a DVD slide show. That was a breath of air in an otherwise dusty clammed up education. Randy and so many others, need to be educated in a web 2.0 world. The world we, English 307 students, are preparing to invigorate our own classrooms with.
Sadly "In most schools, technology means students using the Internet for research, or PowerPoint for presentations, Goodstein and other experts say. In some schools, students use classroom blogs, or online journals, to post and discuss classwork or share resources...experts say it is the rare classroom that turns blogs, MP3 players, podcasting, video games, or cellphones into learning tools."
I definitely agree with the part of the article that states "By falling behind the technology curve, they argue, schools risk alienating students and miss prime opportunities to teach them how to analyze and understand their increasingly complex world." With movie making programs, blogs, and podcasts educators can relate to students. Those are the prime opportunities, we as educators have to seize, to grab these students' attention.
In 307 i have learned we need to reach these kids, not only reach them, but relate to them. They are saturated in a lifestyle of media and technology, so the classroom should not be a separate entity. I always felt like titling a course "creative writing" was kind of trivial because that is what writing is, being creative. We should strive to be creative in every endeavor. Randy's teacher is choking the creativity out of him with her outdated curriculum.
Later in the article you can see how much Randy enjoys his taste of technology, when he is allowed to make a DVD slide show. That was a breath of air in an otherwise dusty clammed up education. Randy and so many others, need to be educated in a web 2.0 world. The world we, English 307 students, are preparing to invigorate our own classrooms with.
Sadly "In most schools, technology means students using the Internet for research, or PowerPoint for presentations, Goodstein and other experts say. In some schools, students use classroom blogs, or online journals, to post and discuss classwork or share resources...experts say it is the rare classroom that turns blogs, MP3 players, podcasting, video games, or cellphones into learning tools."
I definitely agree with the part of the article that states "By falling behind the technology curve, they argue, schools risk alienating students and miss prime opportunities to teach them how to analyze and understand their increasingly complex world." With movie making programs, blogs, and podcasts educators can relate to students. Those are the prime opportunities, we as educators have to seize, to grab these students' attention.
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