The steps Ohler lays out this week are quite helpful, just like we've done this semester learning about DST and its tools, from our video introductions, to the “playing” with the tools, we will now have some experience as we move forward with our DST. The most salient point Ohler has made in his book is the need for the students to have interest and support, the best quote of the week is, “interest in a DST makes is possible; support makes it successful.” This is what I will keep in mind as I produce my DST for my students; I hope to model the interest I have in their future projects.
Flashback to Saturday’s f2f, the story development process, figure 11.3 perfectly illustrates the input I received from all of you guys in class. The peer-to-peer review was helpful to me in getting started and I know I will be seeking feedback from you guys while we go, I still don’t have an ending. Oh, question, does this book seem written backward? I could have used most of the chapter 11 information in the beginning of the book. Ohler finally lays out some practical and tangible direction here and I can actually see myself following these steps instead of just blindly reaching, like not giving the impression of being in production mode while working in IMovie, when you’re really in the planning stage. I learned that the hard way.
Lastly, I like the writing component of DST. My school is under constant barrage from our administration when it comes to boosting our writing proficiency and I seem to be pigeon holed into some formulaic writing assignment. I have upper classmen that can write their DST throughout various stages of production, and like Ohler said, he’s on a roll this week, “when we write, we think.” When I get my project up and running, I will be building in language literacy objects in my assessments.
Josh,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comments this week about chapters 11 & 12. I agree that chapter 11 would have been useful if moved to the beginning of the book. I think DST would be useful in helping students with their writing. It would be a similar process for students.
I clicked on your video but it says it is private. I will come back later!
Thank you for taking us through your online activities, it was very interesting. It looks as though your students put time and thought into their responses which is encouraging on a American Gov't. level as well as a writing skills level. There were 2 parts where your cursor went below the screen and I didn't know what you were doing, but other than that I found it very easy to follow your process.
ReplyDeleteJulie
IT does seem as though the basics of the program (timeline, steps, etc.) could've been at the beginning of the book, to lay the groundwork for the project. Before I saw that detail, I was picturing a 3-4 day activity. Now I realize it would be much more than that.
ReplyDeleteJulie
I do find that Ohler seems somewhat cyclic in his writing; and sometimes he refers to items he says he'll discuss later that I am wondering about as I am reading the currrent chapter. I think I have given up trying to figure out his organization. I am happy he has releatively short chapters and that I could go back and look when I am ready, and find what I am looking for.
ReplyDeleteI am guessing that he didn't give us this stuff first for 2 reasons: 1) to make sure he talked about story first, which matches his message, and 2) so as not to scare us off with the enormity of managing all those students doing something so techie.
Your video seemed like it wasn't too hard to make. Did you say which tool you used? Like you class discussions!
I think he did mention some of these points in the beginning but he is expanding on them now. I too think the steps could have been earlier. We are all want this book to be more like a reference book that we can jump around on. I guess it becomes that after we read it straight through. I agree with Julie's comment that this is a longer project. I have been doing DST with my class. They are making their own fables. It looks like its going to take about 2 weeks from start to finish.
ReplyDeleteGood points about suggestions for the order and emphasis in Ohler's book.
ReplyDeleteYour video was fine, it's important to be able to read the text, and the text of your students' discussion was clearly readable.
It will be interesting to see if your students can adapt to the stage of story production.