Web Conference

I attended a web conference last week and it was pretty helpful. The web conference helped answer questions I had about digital story on the week 1 assignment. Also, it was nice to see that I was not the only one confused about the assignment. Finally, only a couple people had their webcam on and a lot the question were typed in.

Evaluation of Movie Maker and Avidemux

I chose Windows Movie Maker because it was the top choice in Desktop-Video-Guide and I have to agree with them. Windows Movie Maker is a free video editor that comes standard with the newer vision Windows XP or it can also be downloaded from Microsoft website. Windows Movie Maker can add video effect such as fade in, from white effect, from black effect and move clips up or down. However, projects that are done on Movie Maker can only be save as Windows Media Format, but you can imports asf, .avi, .m1v, .mp2, .mp2v, .mpe, .mpeg, .mpg, .mpv2, .wm, and .wmv files types. Audio can also be add in aif, .aifc, .aiff .asf, .au, .mp2, .mp3, .mpa, .snd, .wav, .wma file type and narration from a microphone is also available. Also, only one audio track can be record with the video. Finally, the interface is very user-friendly and ideal for beginners with the storyboard view and timeline to review and modify clips.

I wanted to chose another video editor that was not on the list, so I google and found Avidemux. Avidemux is a free open source video editor that works on multiple platforms like Linux, BSD, Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows. Projects done on Avidemux can be save or converted to as .avi, .flv, .mpeg, .mp4, .mkv and .ogm by drop down list on the left-hand side because of the built-in encoder. However, many file types could be imported, including .avi, .asf, .wmv, .wma, .mkv, .flv, .mpeg, .mp4, .mov and .ogm because of the built-in decoder with multithreading availability. In addition, Avidemux can handle dual audio tracks, but only one internally. The interface is not as user-friendly as Windows Movie Maker because it has more option like multiple preview option with a navigation bar, deinterlacing videos and encoding animation. Finally, Avidemux can be use as standalone MPEG-4 player and it can also save audio or video files only.

In my past learning experience, I never used any video editor and closest thing I have used was Microsoft Photo Story. Thus, all of this was a new learning experience for me. Microsoft Movie Maker was the simpler of the two. It is great to create video for beginners, while Avidemux is for more advance users because of all its options.
Also, I can see video creation impact future lifelong learning by asking students to create video projects and teachers posting video lesson on-line for students. Finally, I will do a podcast powered by podbean.

Desktop-Video-Guide. (n.d.). Top 5 free video editing software programs. Retrieved on April 12, 2009, from http://www.desktop-video-guide.com/top-5-free-video-editing-software-review.html
Desktop-Video-Guide. (n.d.). Top 7 video editing software programs for beginners. Retrieved on April 12, 2009, from http://www.desktop-video-guide.com/top-7-video-editing-software-review.html

Digital Story

The digital story I created took a lot longer than I expected. I had to write a personal story and then find pictures to match the story while using Microsoft Photo Story 3. However, the hardest part of all was the voice recording and trying to make it flow with the pictures perfectly. I had a lot of help from my group and I like to thank Becky Godell, Shanda Shoop, and Katherine Kingston.

Action Research Plan

Action Research Question

• Does the integration of technology help differentiate the curriculum to increase student achievement among all student groups?

Setting the Foundation

• Through campus and district staff development and meetings, student achievement is important goals among everybody in the district.
  

Analyzing data

• Collect student data from District Common Assessment (DCA) and TAKS scores from the Geometry Team.
• Survey the Geometry teachers over the usage of technology in the classroom.
• Compare the data from DCA with results from teacher survey.

Developing deeper understanding

• Review and breaking down the data to look at the sub groups with the assistance of specialist.
• Interview teachers about their usage of technology in the classroom.

Engaging in Self-Reflection

• Meet with site mentor and ask the following question:
• Do I possess the skill and resource needed for to make this action research successful?
• Do I need additional resources and/or skill for this research?
• Am I satisfied with results of the survey?
  

Exploring Programmatic Patterns

• Teacher involvement is needed.
• Is the data skew?
• Do I need a new survey or do I need to revises my questions?
  

Determining direction

• Work with site mentor with the progress of plan.
• Collaborate with colleague on question.
  

Taking action for school improvement

• Write a plan and implement the plan with the campus for 2011 – 2012.
  

Sustaining improvement

• Follow-up meetings on progress on the plan and continue communication with the campus through email.

Action Research

What I learned this week is that action research is a powerful tool and it plays an important role in the success of schools and teachers. I read a lot of wonderful inquiries my follow classmate made about integrating technology, extra-curricular activities, communication with parents and other great ideas. Finally, if we can continue on with this research and uses some of the great information discovered in our teaching, life is going to get so much easier.

Action Reseach

I have learned what the true definition of action research and that there is a difference between action research and traditional, which I did not know. Action research is collected information that is examined and review in a systemic approach in solving problem using logical reasoning. Action research focuses on the concerns of the practioners and plays the role as a knowledge generator. In addition, the practioners are engaged in the design, data collection and interpretation of the data about their question. However, traditional education research is generated by outsiders like university studies and not to schools and classroom individuals. Also, traditional research does not include people involve school like administrators and teachers (Dana, 2009).
Furthermore, I learned that action researched is used by educators for many different settings. First, educator uses action research in university coursework in portfolio project, paper, and thesis or doctoral to obtain an advance degree. Secondly, action research is used with leadership team, which is formed by principal and consists of teachers and administrators. The team share responsibities, problems and decision making with the administration for school improvement. Also, action research are used with PLC to share best practices and professional growth. Finally, action research are used superintendent and district meetings. During the meeting, principals are placed in groups to complete interactive tasks to help each principal indentify an area of practice to study of their own. This goes on throughout the whole year and their work is shared with other at the end of the year (Dana, 2009).

Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA; Corwin Press.

Blogs and Educational Leaders

Educational leaders might use blog to share, learn, and discuss various information with others. Blogs could also be used to interact with stakeholder of educational leaders about current issues or upcoming events.