Tech Happenings @ LvHS

Does it work to post an mp3 file as a video? NO. The workaround is this: Record your audio in PhotoStory over a picture, save as video, and then upload the video file. Not too shabby!

One English teacher worked with me to test the collaborative editing process, and then we developed a handout for keeping it simple for the students. The students will use Google Docs to upload an essay, then invite another student to edit the paper. We decided to focus on three tools: highlighting text (in green, yellow or red), strikethrough, and inserting comments. The teacher will ask the students for feedback on the editing experience after they are done.

Senior religion students will contribute their experiences to a class blog.... reflecting on acts of kindness, learning something new, and going to a new place... as inspired by the Joan of Arcadia television show. Students will also be required to comment on a minimum number of other student entries. The teacher experimented with the "gadgets" blogger has to add text and a photo to display instructions and set the tone. Amazing: seniors totally engaged in the activity and on-task for the entire 90 min. period. wow! What can go wrong: Teacher must invite the students to be AUTHORS, not just readers, if they are to contribute posts to the blog. Teacher needs to use louismail addresses for the students, by copy/pasting the addresses from the class page. Be sure to use commas to delimit, and to use student emails only, not parents. Students must go to their louismail account to accept the invitation! If they don't know their password for LouisMail they are stuck. Students ...

The AP French students produced and presented videos using PhotoStory 3. They scripted their audio recordings, and carefully recorded them over each image. The images were selected from Google Images. The students and teacher need continued direction regarding saving for playback (last step to produce the video file). Also, the process for file storage on the network has changed. Students were asked to transfer via flash drive the video file, and some are turning in the .wp3 photostory file instead. I left this class on their own quite a bit, since the project took place during a very busy week.

Both the Peace through Justice club and the Book Club have started blogs of their own. The moderators and students will contribute postings to the blogs and read comments as they are posted. This is a nice creative way for students and teachers to experience blogging, and perhaps follow some other blogs as well.