Using only a cell phone, create a digital story that answers the following essential question/prompt: “ I knew I was going to be an educator when…”
Technical Requirements:
iPhone
Animoto Application
Magisto Application
Reflection:
Although my professor (in the end) did allow us to utilize other computer based editing tools, I decided to tackle this challenge with just my smartphone. Yes, it would have been much easier to shoot a bunch of material (videos and pictures), upload them into iMovie or We Video and publish a pretty rich and organized final product. However, I did not see that as the point of the exercise. I wanted to experience what it would be like for a teacher who does not have access to a 1:1 computer environment or computer lab, and whose only choice was to have his/her students utilize their smartphones. I wanted to see what was possible given these constraints. I wanted to see the technical limitations. I wanted to see if I could in fact tell a “story” with just my smartphone. And, I wanted it to be authentic.
As I began to address the essential question, I began to form a story in my head. As my digital story attempts to convey, I certainly did not become an educator right away. I probably never had that “ah-hah” moment. Rather, I was never cut out for greedy world of Wall Street and as John Cusack so perfectly shares in the film Say Anything, “I don’t want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career.” These words, and what was behind them, always resonated with me. In my digital story, I try to show that corporate America was never 'it' for me, and that I would rather work in the creative and collaborative world of academia.
Now, attempting to show this idea with just my smartphone was certainly challenging. I utilized two applications that pretty much produced the same result. I captured a series of photos with my smart phone that I thought best represented and “told” my story. They included pictures of Wall Street, money, teachers, historical figures, classes conducting PBL, etc. The only issue with both applications was that they did not allow me to choose the order of the photos. Thus, to my chagrin, they were randomly presented. Further, Magisto did not allow me to write captions to go with the picture. Therefore, you had to be smart with photo selection, choice of music and theme. In the end, after comparing the two apps, I would give the edge to Animoto, only because it allows for captionsLastly, from a technical perspective, students will need a strong cellular connection to order to complete this assignment. Be sure to build in time for Uploading the videos and photos, and processing the final product.
The strongest element of the assignment was the fact that it was centered on an essential question (nice move SB). Too often, teachers are designing lessons around technology simply to use technology. This often leads to lessons that have not been enhanced by technology, but only replaced by it. When we start with an essential question, it gives the class an anchor. When the students begin to design, create, and build using Web 2.0 platforms, the teacher can always ask “how does that cool tech feature or app help to answer the essential question?” If the students have trouble answering this question, the tech was an unnecessary add-on and not adding value to the learning process.
See both digital stories below (made by Animoto and Magisto)