“There’s an audio blip, and it’s obvious!” Steve Kertis of Kertis Creative told Haley yesterday, just minutes before final presentations. of her audio slideshow. “Fix it.” Fern Creek High School… Read more Summer Media Workshop: A Huge Win! →
My recent essay in Education Week Teacher titled “Why Twitter and Facebook Are Not Good Instructional Tools” has generated a ton of discussion and debate. In the article, I argue… Read more Author’s Response–Why Twitter and Facebook Are Not Good Instructional Tools →
My colleague Joe Franzen recently recalled a meeting, during which he learned of a supposed Emerson quote: “You don’t save souls in bunches.” I googled the quote, and I found a… Read more Saving Souls in Bunches →
If all of a sudden cell phones or internet access disappeared, what would you do? Several of my musings have explored possible effects too much digital communication is having on… Read more w/o my phone or internet, I’d die. →
Have you used Prezi? Or Wordle? How about Xtranormal? Somebody recently posted the Wordle below about their affinity for cell phones. It looks cool, I’ll admit that. But are these the types of technology applications that are truly useful, and worth employing in classrooms? I’ve personally tested out these Web 2.0 programs, and I’ve also attempted to use them in room 137. While they can be used to create products that are pleasing to the eye, or perhaps engage students, the level of thinking that’s required is debatable. Plus, as… Read more Students Create 100%. →
“You’ll never catch me riding the TARC,” one white student proclaimed this morning during first period. “There’s nothing wrong with riding the TARC!” a black girl responded. “You’re right, there… Read more Riding the TARC →
If you haven’t already watched this short documentary about the creator of a cardboard arcade, please do. It’s inspiring on many levels. From the perspective of someone who teaches digital media, it’s such a well-crafted piece. I showed both my English classes and my UDS class the film, and we can only hope to someday find and produce stories half as good. Most public schools do little to foster creativity and innovation. I truly wonder where Caine received his spark of inspiration. One of my students, a soccer player and… Read more Caine’s Arcade →
When he “raises” his voice, it is inaudible. His voice couldn’t even be classified as a whisper–we can usually understand a whisper if we move close enough to the speaker. Yet he has a pleasant demeanor, as do most of the mentally disabled students in my digital storytelling course. His eyes light up when he greets me at the door with a fist bump. He then shuffles to retrieve his notebook and folder, and I’ll inevitably go 70 minutes without hearing him utter a single word. Could you speak louder? … Read more That’s What I’m Talkin’ Bout! →
Roughly two years ago, Steve Kertis of Kertis Creative and I launched our digital storytelling elective class at Fern Creek. We had little equipment, except for a few flip video… Read more It starts with people. →
Paul Barnwell 