Key Area 3

As a language arts and literature teacher, I love our language and so have chosen to work mainly with words. Learning to utilize multimedia to enhance words with images, sounds, etc. has expanded my horizons as a teacher and refilled my oil. My students now live in a multimedia world; they are exposed not only to the power of the written words but to the music and graphics that often accompany these words. I need to look at projects that will tap into their experiences and reflect the world around them.

Pinnacle Product

I felt like a fish out of water in my multimedia class. I had so little experience in this area compared to many of my classmates, and I had no experience with working with digital film. However, my instructor was patient with me and helped me through the steps of producing this film using Pinnacle. I still don't consider myself an expert in filmmaking, but I decided to pursue my master's degree to stretch myself, and this assignment did just that.

MultiMedia Product

SEED 766 gave me another chance to hone my multimedia skills. I did feel more confident working on this film due to my previous experience in using Pinnacle. My Pinnacle product was created in a lab at DSU. Since I was working at a distance for SEED 766, I actually used my school's equipment and editing programs to create my speech video. Now I am much more familiar with what is available to my students locally and would feel more confident in working with them on such a project.

Web Site

I use my web site as a communication tool for my students, their parents, and even other staff members. I receive the most appreciative comments about my Assignments page. It is a tool students can use to keep organized in their school work. I use my web site to post class materials that my students might find handy. For example, currently my web site contains two PowerPoint presentations that I've used in my literature classes: one on mythology and one on the novel The Pearl. Although we have viewed them in class, I post them for students who might want to use them for review.