"Voices of the Heart" Digital Story

Ok so Kelly, Susie and I created a digital story using Powerpoint and then turning that into a Quicktime movie using the PowerPoint Program. I never knew that you can do that in PowerPoint. I learned quick a few neat tricks but I still have a ways to go in learning all that these wonderful programs have to offer. So cross your fingers and wish me luck has I try my best to upload this movie onto my blog.

Room 132 Vlogs

While researching vlogs I came across this blog/vlog from Bre Pettis a former Seattle, WA LanguageArts middle school teacher titled Room 132. On his blog he posted a powerpoint that he converted into a movie "Blogging For Teachers: Presentation For the Seattle Middle School Conference" He created some wonderful vlogs for his students and some are with his students. Sit back, relax, watch, and think of the possiblities for us as educators and how motivating vlogs can be for our students.

Vlogging and the Presidential Race 2008

I just read this blog about vlogs that are sure to impact the 2008 presidental election. This blog lead me to the New York Times site that lists all the 2008 candiates and links to their websites, blogs and other multimedia. Who would have thought in the last election of 2004 how much impact and influence the internet and web 2.0 applications would have for the Presidential Election in 2008. Now all presidential candiates have websites, blogs and some dare to have vlogs. Here is John Edwards vlog to see how the candiates are using the web to get their message across. On Hillary Clinton site there is a contest to make a 30 second video that is being sponsered by YouTube and CNN that will be seen during her July23rd debate. If this is going on in the 2008 election I wonder what we will see in 2012 election.

Vlog - Deaf Dish: Through the Eyes and Hands

I was thinking about assistive technology and came across this excellent vlog "Deaf Dish: Through the Eyes and Hands". My only problem is that I don't know American Sign Language (ASL), and there is no captions under her signing, however I enjoy reading her blog. Right now she is taking a break for the summer, busy with her kids and life which I could totally relate to. There are previous vlogs to view. If you know anyone that is deaf or can read ASL direct them to this site and see what they think.

Digital Story "Remember Me"

I just show this wonderful digital story created by 15 yearold Lizzie Palmer. I read about her in this School Library Journalarticle. I thought her movie "Remember Me" was a piece of art and it moved me to tears. If you get a chance to view it let me know what your thoughts are.

Create Your Own Vlog

I found this project on CNET site about creating your own vlog. It is in the form of a vlog. Another great site that has a tutorial is freevlog. Then I stumbled across this vlog from the TILT(Teachers Improving Learning with Technology )site that Julie Matz worte to us about. Scroll down the page till Episode 14 "So you want to be a videcaster?". Of course I haven't found the time or courage to start my own vlog on my blog. I keep thinking of this article I read Thinking of video blogging? You should probably forget it by Penelope Trunk. I mean all I would vlog about is the topic of vlogging although I find the topic to be interesting I am not sure if my vlog would be good. Well maybe one day soon I will gather up the nerve and vlog,vlog, vlog until then it just me and my good old reliable blog.

iTunes, Apple Applications and Education

This week the topic of discussion was iTunes. You can access music, television shows, movies and podcasts from the iTunes store.On the iTunes podcastand education website there is a link on the left side that will open your itunes application. There is a podcast about creating a podcast.




Apple is an bringing education to a new level with all their wonderful applications such as iphoto, imovie, garage band to name a few. There are some wondeful movies created by K-12 schools on the apple website for social studies, language arts, math, science, and other, using these applications. It inspires me to see the possiblities.

Oh a Vlogging We Will Go

The second topic I will be blogging about is Vlogging. Vlogging is just like blogging but with video. When a vlog comes to mind I think of Rosie O'Donnell since she has a blog that she vlogs on. I never really go to that site but I will say when I was on maternity leave 6 years ago and she was raving about Mac computers and making iMovies of her family I was inspired to get Macs for my library. The a few years later we were given the Manhattan Borough Grant to do over the library. You could spend the money on anything but books so my inspiration became a reality. I know have a cart of 15 iMacs. I also ordered 28 emacs to build a technology lab for our students.

On my quest to search vlogs I came across this vlog about the iphone on this site http://www.webpronews.com/ I love the way they have vlogs on their site.

In this article I found this quote"Vlogging gives average citizens an audience and a chance to make their voices heard." However I believe that there is use for vlogs in the educational community. My quest is to now search for that perfect educational vlog and when I come across it I will let you all know.

As for now I must go and search and who knows during the next six weeks I will attempt to create a vlog that I can post on my blog. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Here is looking forward to the journey of vlogging.