Blogging Creates Real Dialogue

Back in November, my fourth grade class blogged about a great author named Robert Kimmel Smith. We had been reading his books (three of them), enjoying them very much, studying the craft of his writing and working hard to improve our own writing pieces. I decided to email him to tell him all that we were doing and how much he inspired us, and then I sent him our Classblogmeister URL. To my incredible surprise, he not only wrote me back but he also dropped by our blog and left some comments!!!

He wrote that he might be persuaded to come visit us on a sunny day in June. Fast forward a few months and several email correspondences later, and on a not so sunny day in June he did arrive. Once again, I was as excited as my class. I could barely sleep last night. He spoke about his life, about his writing and about writing in general. We presented him with a "Golden Inspiration Award" about how much he has inspired us with his writing and provided enjoyment with his reading.

He is truly inspirational, and if you would have seen me today you would have thought that I just shook hands with Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui.

What is the point? Well, the point is that the connections that we can make online can lead to friendships, admiration and respect. I feel blessed to have played a role in this connection.

This is a REAL picture - no Photoshop here!

Digital Killed the Analog Star

My camcorder was once state of the art. It was 'teeny-tiny' compared to the generation of cameras that came before it. It was relatively small and compact. It fit into one hand. Making it even more cutting edge was the swing out LCD display that you could look at while filming instead. Memories were stored on tiny tapes that were like little cousins to standard VHS tapes. Many a memory was captured for posterity using it. It is still in good shape, but with no reasonable way to bring those memories into the digital zone I found myself at a crossroad. I have been using my digital camera to record some moments of video, but it is extremely limited and the quality is not really up to par. It was time to enter the digital age.

Many people that know me would be surprised that I don't already own a digital camcorder. I love using technology, but not 'randomly'. I, for example, do not own an Ipod or mp3 player, as I am perfectly content with the CD players in my car and home. On my computers, I do play mp3s as well as Internet radio stations. Once again, I am happy with what I have, and it works for me.

My summer semester now in T.E.A.M. is all about digital video. I have really been challenging myself in what I can do. Although I can't say for sure that I have learned anything as far as technical or application knowledge, it has given me the setting and opportunity to explore and see what I can do.

So far this summer, I have made 4 movies and 2 more on the way. I made one simple one called a "talking head" video which is just me talking and a trio of stuffed monkeys around me (Don't ask!!!), a funny video with my students based on a scene from the movie "Monsters Inc", another video detailing the making that video itself complete with raw footage and narration, and also a short video testing out the reversal of video. Next up will be our class's digital yearbook (I make one every year) and my class will be making a funny rap video based on multiplication. I have used standard applications such as Photo Story and Movie Maker, but additionally I have used a variety of applications to convert audio and video to different formats, sampled and mixed audio myself and used special effects in an effort to be up to par with the millions of "Spielberg-wannabes" whose successes are on sites like youtube.com showing most of us how just any run of the mill person can be a videographer.

So I did it, and I hope to have my digital camcorder within the next few weeks. I had been using my school's camcorder, but the school year is coming to an end in a few weeks, so it's time for me to take the jump and get our own. This will be used inside my classroom and outside of it. If you'll excuse me, I have some more memories to capture... digitally this time!