PPT2YOUTUBE.. making a flash movie

If you read yesterday’s post, PowerPoint into AuthorSTREAM, you will know what I am doing here… trying the competition’s way to insert a video into your blog. 

I think that this video might be too big for a blog.  The file is certainly much larger than the AuthorSTREAM file was and certainly bigger than the original PowerPoint File was. This file is 6 min 41 seconds long.

It is the same file that I used yesterday, but I made it into a MP4 file at 640 x 480 with 30 frames per second.  Those are the recommended statistics or parameters to make the best video.

When I inserted it into Windows Live Writer, where I have been composing my blog posts lately, it seemed to take a VERY long time, but perhaps it was being converted into UTube video style.  We will see how long it takes and if it is able to be posted to my blog, or if it will be too large. I think it took about 10 minutes or so to get it formatted into the Live Writer blog composer.

So, if you see a video, it is OK. If you do not see a video, go through to my actual blog if you are in a reader. Sometimes videos, etc. don’t show up in the reader.

I think it is working right, but I wonder when you look at my blog how long it will take to start.

This is so much fun!  You’d think I was a kid in a toy store!  I AM!

Lifelong Learner! – that’s me!

Technorati Tags: lifelong learners,Power Point,AuthorSTREAM,videos,PPT2YOUTUBE,education,technology tools

Participatory Learning…intrinsic motivation

WOW! I’m overwhelmed!

I just viewed, re-viewed, and viewed again and again, this website to learn all about Participatory Learning. It is  a college (mostly)/high school (some) class that starts Sept 9, 2009…ONLINE. It is best that you go to the site and learn all about it on your own. (Too much information to be explained here!)

Though I will say a few words about it, mostly what I am thinking is how does this apply to elementary school – my area of expertise?

From the website, this class strives to, “… create a learning environment more conducive to producing the types of questions that create lifelong learners rather than savvy test-takers.”{my bold, color, and underlining} 

In this class, a college professor/teacher travels around South America, starting in Peru for sure. Then by votes of the class participants, he travels to 3 other South American countries.  This class continues for 4 college quarters – one country per quarter. Students participate by asking questions, requesting information, visits, and interviews, etc., which will be provided by various sources, partly through the intervention of the college professor traveling in the country and then ultimately the students will make projects (of various types via an e-portfolio, in essence).

For those of you who will not go to the site to read more, another (rather long, SORRY!) quote from the site:

”this class seeks to use well-being and sustainability issues for the provision of meaning and significance–always in a framework where cooperative behavior is more valued than competitive behavior. In today’s schools, the joy of working together and helping others achieve a common goal becomes nearly impossible under the competitive philosophy that predominates. Under the banner of competitive education, other learners become opponents. Helping fellow students learn becomes a losing strategy when students compete for class rank. At this learning space, by framing group behavior differently, learners benefit from each other’s success. Cooperative behavior becomes more valuable than competitive behavior. Sharing is beneficial. Learners get to practice and learn how to work toward common goals. In an age where our biggest challenges are globally interconnected (i.e. climate change, global markets, environmental degradation, communicable diseases like AIDS, SARS, spread of violent ideologies…) it would seem that learning how to work effectively with others–as opposed to against others– would be in great demand.”

The teacher/facilitator, Bill Ferren, touts Will Richardson and his ideas when he states that Will,

"who writes extensively on these matters, believes that, “One of the biggest challenges educators face right now is figuring out how to help students create, navigate, and grow the powerful, individualized networks of learning that bloom on the Web and helping them do this effectively, ethically, and safely.”(see article) {Once again --my bold, color, and underlining} 

He feels that his online Participatory Learning class will accomplish this challenge for his (mostly) college/high school (some) students.  This goal/challenge quoted above by Will Richardson, is something that can be taught/facilitated and the beginnings of accomplishment earned at the elementary level as well.

Bill Ferren, the author/professor, also uses an interview with Mike Wesch, US Professor of the Year to enlighten the viewer about what he is trying to accomplish in his Participatory Learning class. Michael Wesch’s interview video is quite stimulating (as those of you have ever watched Michael Wesch before already might expect!)

All in all, a great journey down a path to learning that we all may want, but how do we get there in today’s climate? with today’s school boards? and today’s budgets? and today’s NCLB testing!

What can you do to make this shift closer to reality, even in elementary school? 

Let me know your ideas, thoughts, and plans.

P.S. I got to the very end of this post and realized that I have not even mentioned intrinsic motivation – a part of the title that I intended when I started this post… If you go to the site, you will find Bill Ferren’s thoughts about intrinsic motivation as well.  That can be an “Easter Egg” for you to look for! LOL

Technorati Tags: Michael Wesch,Participatory Learning,Bill Ferren,Will Richardson,intrinsic motivation,lifelong learners,savvy test takers,cooperative behavior,sharing,competition

Life Long Learning and Information Overload

Wow, I seem to be posting a lot these few days. I am obviously reading a lot too.

I was behind in reading all my blogs in my Google Reader.

I am one of those people who when I check out a book, buy a magazine, or open a newspaper, I want to devour everything in it. I am reluctant to put it down, return it, or put it in the recycle bin until I have "finished" it.

In these days of information overload, this is a problem. There is always going to be more information than I can consume myself. I have to be wise in what I read. I have to learn to pick and choose what I want to read "thoroughly" and rely on others sometimes to synthesize what information is out there for me.

This is a problem that will be out there for all of our students. (That includes each of us as well. WE ARE ALL STUDENTS!)

We must learn how to pick and choose what we become passionate about. We must learn to pick and choose what we spend our time reading, learning, and doing. One of the most critical things we all need to learn is how to prioritize what is most important to us.

Learning is not over when the school day is over. We must all continue to be LIFELONG LEARNERS!

Class, as they say, is dismissed…but certainly not over.

Students, teachers, and parents all need to engage in digital learning. It never stops. Life is one big journey of learning.

Check out many of the posts at Technology in the Middle to learn lots more.

GaETC: School Change and Technology

Here is a great commentary about Education and Technology and where we can go from here.

We need to be careful to NOT confuse the TOOLS with the PEDAGOGY.

It is easy when you are a techno geek like myself, to get caught up in the tools, but the goal is to make LIFELONG LEARNERS out of ALL OF US! (including the teachers!)