1. In doing this project, I learned quite a bit about how beneficial technology can be. When we first viewed samples of previous PhotoStories that had been created, I was quite sure that the task would prove difficult and nearly impossible. However, after experimenting with PhotoStory and all the tools it has to offer, I learned that it can be quite simple once you get the basics of the program mastered. I enjoyed uploading pictures and narrating them; as much as I don't like to hear my own voice, I was amazed at how my final product was something I never thought I could do. I can truly say that in doing this project I gained knowledgeable information about PhotoStory and its benefits.
2. When my sister got married, her mother-on-law prepared a digital slidelshow with pictures from the couple's childhood, as well as from the years they were dating. All the wedding guests loved the music and transitions of the show. I knew I wanted something similar at my wedding. Now that I am familiar with PhotoStory, I would like to create a slideshow with pictures from mine and my husband's childhood and dating years to show at my own wedding (as far away as it may be)! However, using PhotoStory I can add in our own voices and music and play it back for family and friend to hear.
For years I have enjoyed the art of cooking. My family seems to think that I have become quite good at it, and have always asked me to compile my recipes in a form they could understand. I have never taken the time to type them out, but I feel that using PhotoStory would motivate me to make a compilation. Instead of simply jotting down cooking instructions, I can make a storyline of important recipes with pictures from my creations. I can also verbally explain the instructions for cooking or baking the dish, making it simpler for the experimentors to understand.
3. Seeing as how my ambition is to become a fthird or ourth grade teacher, I can see myself using PhotoStory in a variety of ways. Volunteering in a local elementary school this past semester has shown me how difficult it can be to get and maintain the attention of young children. Unfortunately, simply repeating mundane lectures often fails to complete the task. Instead, I find it helpful to try and make lessons interesting and interactive for the students. I could see myself preparing some lectures before class using PhotoStory, then presenting them to the class. Small children are easily amazed, and to see the bright pictures on the screen and hear my voice coming through the speakers will astound them, causing them to remain actively engaged. I anticipate that after seeing my project they will want to see what they can create. I hope to encourage creativity in my classroom by allowing them to create their own PhotoStory. I will set loose guidelines for the grading, and allow them to experiment with pictures, sounds, and voice levels.
4. In today's society, few people fully understand the importance of mathematics in the curriculum. Additionally, those who do understand its importance do not always see that the subject can be fun and exciting. The goal of my project was to show that mathematics affects several different facets of life, and that numbers and measurements unite the world. My standard was concerning third grade measurements of length and width. I showed how students may currently view measuring, perhaps their parents measure thier height frequently, or they might have seen tailors altering clothes. But I wanted to show that numbers and measurements affect us all, so I added real-world pictures into the scene such as food chemists and interior designers. I followed with showing that by integrating technological assignments into the classroom, students get a better feel for math, and see that it can be interesting and engaging. I hope teachers use Kidspiration in their classrooms to entertain and teach students in a unique way, just as I have done with my BackYard Basics Kidspiration activity. My goal was to show creativity as a component of learning is essential, and that by working together we can all be winners in the race of creative learning. |