Multimodal Reflection

The multimodal project was the only project completed individually this semester.  Since we have been learning about interactive technology, we were assigned to use some type of interactive software program and create a “multimodal” presentation.  We were initially asked to analyze a poem or story on the basis of symbolism and imagery.  Next we were asked to take that interpretation and create a project that incorporated Joddy Murray’s elements of perspective, juxtaposition, layering and unity using one of the interactive software programs.  For the assignment, I chose to analyze the poem “Once by the Pacific” by Robert Frost.  I then decided to use Prezi to create my presentation.  I liked the way that I could create a Prezi presentation any way that I wanted as opposed to some other softwares that just had you choose a presentation format and basically plug in your information and pictures.  Instead, Prezi allowed me to arrange my slides however I wanted and put anything on the slides that I preferred, even video.  Although I was new to Prezi, I was able to align my slides in the shape of a wave (to go along with the poem) and incorporate images from the poem, but also some images from my alternate interpretation of the poem, along with the actual lines of the poem.  For this project, it was also emphasized that we cite everything that we used in the project, even if they were just images found on Google. 

            One of the education standards of technology that applied to this project well was 4,A which states that teachers should “Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and documentation of sources”.  In the beginning of the semester we were taught all of the logistics about citing sources and what is legal.  This project really made us apply that.  I think this caught some people off-guard, because we are used to simply looking up images on Google, and do not necessarily consider them sources.  Our professors emphasized that no matter what you use in a project, if you incorporate something into your project that you did not personally create, it is imperative that you give credit to the person who did create it; this project forced us to do just that.

            Citing information is not something that is encourage for practice, but is an actual legal obligation.  Not only is it imperative to cite information, but it is important for teachers to emphasize the importance of abiding by the laws to their students.  Therefore, in my future classroom I will absolutely require the citation of all sources in the appropriate manner.  This will likely be an easy element to incorporate, as most schools require that teachers have their students cite information. 

http://prezi.com/qqzjdqczbk9o/liz-simpson-multimodal-assignment/

Podcast Reflection

            For the podcast project, we remained in the same groups that we had been assigned to from the “Know Your Meme” project.  For this project, we were pre-required to listen to at least one episode of the podcast entitled “This American Life” and reflect on it on our blogs.  We were then to create our own installment to the hypothetical podcast “This West Chester Life”.  For this assignment, we were asked to find anybody in West Chester with an interesting story, and model a podcast interview with that person similar to those that are created on “This American Life”.  For this project we were provided with an iPod Touch Device and still had our MacBook Pros to work with as well.  My group got in touch with and decided to interview members from the Chester County Paranormal Research Society.  Although the group could not meet us in person, they were willing to contact us via Skype, and with Dr. Penny’s help we were able to download software that would record the interview so we could then use Garage Band to edit the audio.  Because the group that we interviewed had high-quality audio equipment, the interview was very clear and turned out very well.

            According to the technology standards for teachers as defined by ISTE.org, one standard that applies well to this project is 1,D which states that teachers should “Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments”.  The entire premise of this project was to engage with others in order to produce a final product.  Although the intention of the project was to use the iPod Touch Device to interview the subjects face-to-face, my group was somewhat of an exception in interviewing our subjects in a virtual environment.  Through this experience, we learned about the easy accessibility to many various types of software (although most recording software required a paid subscription, we were able to find many that offered free demos which were perfect for our project) and were able to produce a very good final product because of it.  Additionally, because of access to this unique software, we were able to conduct a very interesting interview that we would not have had the opportunity to conduct without the software. 

            One thing that I really liked about this project was the flexibility.  We were given a lot of freedom in choosing to interview anybody we chose, and were given a lot of flexibility when we presented the idea of conducting the interview via Skype.  Originally our group assumed we would not be allowed to do so, because we had been assigned to use the iPod Touch Device, however when we presented the idea we were encouraged to conduct the interview virtually.  Not only was the project flexible, but we learned a lot about various iPod applications used for audio recording, types of software available on the internet, and we also learned a lot about using the program Garage Band.  Not only did we learn about these things, but we realized how simple all of these things were.  Because all of the technological aspects of this project were so easy, I would absolutely incorporate them into my future as a teacher.  I think that it is important to teach students to be resourceful, and the only way to do that is to let them experiment with the various resources available to them.  I also think that our project was such a great success because of Dr. Penny’s flexibility, which is another aspect that I would like to incorporate into my teaching career as well.  Finally, as the standard states, students should engage in learning with other students, colleagues, etc. which is very important.  It is important to realize that everybody has something different to teach you, and by working with others you can only gain more knowledge and insight.  This project reinforced all of these ideals, and they are all aspects that I would absolutely incorporate into my future classroom.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/6p8c30zzaoqbhcq/CCPRS%20Interview.mp3

Know Your Meme Reflection

The multimodal project was the only project completed individually this semester.  Since we have been learning about interactive technology, we were assigned to use some type of interactive software program and create a “multimodal” presentation.  We were initially asked to analyze a poem or story on the basis of symbolism and imagery.  Next we were asked to take that interpretation and create a project that incorporated Joddy Murray’s elements of perspective, juxtaposition, layering and unity using one of the interactive software programs.  For the assignment, I chose to analyze the poem “Once by the Pacific” by Robert Frost.  I then decided to use Prezi to create my presentation.  I liked the way that I could create a Prezi presentation any way that I wanted as opposed to some other softwares that just had you choose a presentation format and basically plug in your information and pictures.  Instead, Prezi allowed me to arrange my slides however I wanted and put anything on the slides that I preferred, even video.  Although I was new to Prezi, I was able to align my slides in the shape of a wave (to go along with the poem) and incorporate images from the poem, but also some images from my alternate interpretation of the poem, along with the actual lines of the poem.  For this project, it was also emphasized that we cite everything that we used in the project, even if they were just images found on Google. 

            One of the education standards of technology that applied to this project well was 4,A which states that teachers should “Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and documentation of sources”.  In the beginning of the semester we were taught all of the logistics about citing sources and what is legal.  This project really made us apply that.  I think this caught some people off-guard, because we are used to simply looking up images on Google, and do not necessarily consider them sources.  Our professors emphasized that no matter what you use in a project, if you incorporate something into your project that you did not personally create, it is imperative that you give credit to the person who did create it; this project forced us to do just that.

            Citing information is not something that is encourage for practice, but is an actual legal obligation.  Not only is it imperative to cite information, but it is important for teachers to emphasize the importance of abiding by the laws to their students.  Therefore, in my future classroom I will absolutely require the citation of all sources in the appropriate manner.  This will likely be an easy element to incorporate, as most schools require that teachers have their students cite information.

http://youtu.be/YBner7eyf4U

Robert Frost: "Once By The Pacific" Analysis

Once By The Pacific

By: Robert Frost

The shattered water made a misty din.
Great waves looked over others coming in,
And thought of doing something to the shore
That water never did to land before.
The clouds were low and hairy in the skies,
Like locks blown forward in the gleam of eyes.
You could not tell, and yet it looked as if
The shore was lucky in being backed by cliff,
The cliff in being backed by continent;
It looked as if a night of dark intent
Was coming, and not only a night, an age.
Someone had better be prepared for rage.
There would be more than ocean-water broken
Before God's last 'Put out the Light' was spoken.

Robert Frost’s poem “Once by the Pacific” can be interpreted a few different ways.  The general theme of the poem is of an angry ocean slamming into the beach which is backed up by cliffs and land.  Some of the various interpretations of this poem include one regarding life and friendship, a biblical interpretation, and one of the end of the world.

            The interpretation that I am particularly partial to is that regarding life and friendship.  In this interpretation of “Once by the Pacific” the audience can interpret the line “There would be more than ocean-water broken before God’s last ‘put out the light’ was spoken” as the world working against someone, and that “Someone had better be prepared for rage”.  The most important line in this interpretation is “The shore was lucky in being backed by a cliff”.  The shore, which can metaphorically be seen to represent a person, is lucky to have support behind them, and because the shore has the cliffs (family, friends, etc.) backing him up he has a chance of surviving the storm that is life.

            The beginning of the poem describes the deceitful qualities of some people, especially in the lines “Great waves looked over others coming in, and though of doing something to the shore that water never did to land before”.  These lines represent the hardships that everybody deals with in life, and although these things do exist, once again it is important to emphasize the symbolic cliff and continent that serve as supports in life.

            I’m not sure how I will complete this project.  One idea that I am having is to show waves knocking a person down and somebody helping them up (or something along those lines).  I would like to incorporate both humanity and a visual of an angry sea into the project.  I am still debating over whether I will prefer to have the poem read during the presentation, or if I will have the words visually represented.  Because the poem is not very lengthy, I should be able to go in any of these directions and create an effective final product.