facebook frenzy and final project

I understand that facebook has become a universal way of communication. I understand that my students in the future will probably use facebook. I think as being a teacher it may be a good tool to use, as I know I use it on a daily basis. I would be able to communicate with my students outside of class, on a seperate account. I am worried about the industrial revolution, but I know that I ahve to embrace it. When we were talking in our group, I had said that when I was a child, I was given and piece of paper and crayons and was let free. Instead with todays age it seems as if students are prohibted to a paint by numbers. Their imaginiation in constricted to technology and hopefully I am wrong. Creatity may get lost and that is what worries me.
Alan Levine also seems to be worried about stiffling creativity. I really enjoyed his presentation, here is his blog: http://cogdogblog.com/
For my final project I will be making a tutorial video on how to play the harmonica. I have been learning how to play for my Aesthetic Education class, and I think it would be really neat to combine technology to it. Dean suggested that I use imovie, but I am not too sure. I am thinking that I will look at the different options Alan Levine gave us. There are many options so I'll have to do some exploring!
I know some of you are feeling overwhelmed with school right now. But there isn't much longer left to hang in there, and maybe this will help.

Oh, busy ones, whose souls grow faint,
whose tasks seem longer than the day?
It doesn't take a cloistered saint
to find a little time to pray.
-Author Unknown

miles and miles away.

Hey everyone, as Robin just did, I'll give an update on my mentorship. It is going really well. I am helping 3 groups of about 5 English students from Maura Moritz's class. They have class every tuesday and thursday and send me their essays over Google Docs. I reply back to them the same way. As I said before they are writing essay on the novel " A Brief Moment in the life of Angus Bethune". They are sending me their essays and I am to give them feedback. So far their essays are wonderfully done. I have been telling them what i have learned throughout the years about writing essays. Such as, supporting your statements with evidence from the book such as quotations. Also, using corect transitions and exlpaining to them that each word they choose to put in their essay, must be put there for a reason other than to fill up space.I am giving them praise and constructive criticism that they can take if they wish. I really enjoy reading their essays and they have done such a good job, I feel like I have read the book. They are not quite finished yet, as I think some revision for proper grammar and some more quotations is needed. I enjoy helping them out even if I am not an English major. I feel like I have some good insight into essay writing since being in University and hope that my advice will help them with this essay and in the future.
Anyhow, I am missing home today, so I think I will go and listen to some Buddy Miles to fit my bluesy mood.


Knowledge is not the same as wisdom;
wisdom is the application of knowledge.
-Heather Kaitlyn Barclay

Glogster

Tech Task #10 is finito, and I really enjoyed doing this assignment. Glogster is like doing crafts on the computer. I think this would be a great tool to use in my classroom. Kids could create collages about themselves and their interests therefore I would be able to learn more about them. Even how they spaced their pictures and the ones they chose would allow me to understand where their artisitic abilities lie.Picking 4 phots was a challenge, but fun nonetheless. Hope everyone is having a good break!

Priceless

I have created my Mastercard video. I was unsure about what to do, but I thought this was an appropriate subject because, well I simply love my dog. I found photos off flikr of torn up couches etc. but, the last photo is of my dog, Tessa. She is a golden lab, and she reeks havoc all of the time, though we have never caught her in the act. I used Windows Movie Maker to create this, like the others and I really enjoyed doing it. I hope you like the final outcome of Tech Task #9!

How To Save The Earth

While looking for presentations I fell upon this one. This slideshow does not only have wonderful photos it is something that I am passionate about and that people are trying to deny. Our world is dissolving before our eyes, and this beautiful place we call home is going to be gone before we know it. We should appreciate what we have been blessed with, and our land, nature, water, everything that mother nature provides us should not be taken for granted. So watch, enjoy, reduce reuse and recycle!

How To Save The Earth

View more presentations from Melvin Pereira. (tags: about the earth awesome)

Mentorship

I have recieved an email from Maura Moritz and her students. I will be working with ten students mentoring them with their essay regarding Chris Crutcher's short story about "Angus Bethune".He is an author and this is the link to the preview the book they are reading. It touches on alot of sensitive subjects such as weight and sexuality. http://www.amazon.com/Athletic-Shorts-Six-Short-Stories/dp/0060507837 .I am excited to begin working with them, and have begun researching the story. This is their agenda for their term. They do some really neat things for example, one day they got to bring their mp3 players to schoo I know I never got to do that in highschool. But it just adds to my undersntading that schools are changing, and technology is really big part of that change. http://arapahoe.littletonpublicschools.net/TEACHERPAGES/MrsMoritz/ElementsofCompositionI/tabid/1913/Default.aspx
Anyhow, hopefully I will be a helpful tool in their classroom! I have not heard from my other mentor yet, but maybe soon.

Today, I am feeling like a little like Alex. I am overwhelmed with the stresses of homework and that school is demanding. For example, the teachers of the classes I am to be mentoring have not emailed me back yet. I would like to begin blogging and know my mentoring fate. I know that patience is a virtue and I understand to the fullest that these teachers have a far larger load than I. Hopefully, it is simply that time is not on their side at the moment, and I will receive an email soon. I am excited to begin this journey. Just stressin' a little, hopefully it is simply my obsessive neurosis. Dean if you read this, maybe some guidance would be helpful and appreciated.

P.s- Robbie, if you read this, you are hilarious. I enjoy your humour, post it more. :)

Last night I dreamed that I ate a ten pound marshmallow. When I woke up, my pillow was gone. Remember... always dream big.
-Tommy Cooper

Smart Board Presentation

The Smart Board is s-m-a-r-t! This method of teaching may not fully apply to a visual arts class, but I am sure that it would come in handy. There are a few aspects to the smart board I really enjoy such as; the classroom can project video output, students can interact with digital content, annotate thinking, sharing files with parents is a great way for parents to be involved in their child's life, instruction can be easier, being able to share information and it can apply to the multiple intelligences. In a visual art classroom I would be able to show the students art from around the world. It could be by students or artists from the Romantic period, you name it and it is an accessible teaching tool. I really like the fact the information can be posted to a website after for further studying. Video conferencing outside of school is neat to. This could be very useful for students who find it difficult to concentrate in class they can go back and find information on their own time or go over what was taught that day or even contact the teacher for more explanation. I remember when I was a kid and even now, when I fall behind in a class I get very stressed out, I would have longed to access my teacher because my worries are always heightened in the evening, when it feels like time is running out. I would appreciate questions to be clarified. Visual Arts will be very much hands on but the smart board is too. I can really appreciate the art world that can be exposed to my students and hope that I will get the chance to try it out someday.

winterwonderland

Even though Sasktoon brought on the cold the feeling of warmth was in the air.

Sasktoon held an event called Winter Fest that had ice scultpures, entertainment, and lantern making. My love and I made our lanterns and then proceeded to walk around river landing. Making the lanterns was easy and fun. It was something I would like to do in the classroom. We got to learn about the Chinese new year which is another reason it would be good to do with students. They would learn about new cultures which is also something I value. As we walked the moon brightly shone off the river while the glistening snow reflected the warm red glow from our lanterns. It was lovely. In this photo some lady insisted on taking our picture in this ice chair. She was nice though, and I am glad she did.


Therefore, love moderately;long love doth so;
Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.
- William Shakespear