Week 8- FINAL REFLECTION

(my face is flippped from how I recorded it because it was a selfie vid…**facepalm**)
ABOUT ME
First ever youtube upload…LOL
ABOUT US
Favorite Class Projects (ME + PEERS)
ABOUT LEARNING
Did we meet Course Objectives as follows?
- Critically examine and critique multiple forms of digital storytelling and participatory learning experiences;
- Frame a digital identity wherein you are both a practitioner-in and interrogator-of various media and social networks;
- Iteratively and rapidly produce multiple digital stories by leveraging a variety of tools, methods, and design principles;
- Develop a critical stance toward digital storytelling as a social learning platform and community of practice;
YES!
This course really examined so many new digital storytelling platforms and the themes each week allowed us to examine and observe aspects of the digital storytelling realm. I was creating multiple media weekly, very faced pace, and was an active participant in several social networks and media. The weekly Critiques allowed us to interrogate and examine different media out there. These Critiques, our weekly articles to annotate, the weekly playlist of videos all allowed us to create a critical stance toward social learning platforms, online communities, and an overall open pedagogy model. I would say the course format was excellent in order to satisfy all four objectives!
- What were your greatest take-aways?
My greatest take-aways are the overall impact digital media and storytelling plays in my life, my students lives, and my classroom. It is such a gateway to learning in a new, connected way; encouraging our students to be knowledge-able and not just knowledge. Also, I learned just how much I as a teacher and individual need to learn and grow in regards to digital platforms and media in my classroom environment, eventually incorporating a more open pedagogy model. We all have a voice to share, and through dialogue and online platforms these voices can be heard, shared, and learned from. I also learned to be more open minded towards all of these changes because before taking this course I was more apt to just finding media, not creating it, and wanted to stick to more traditional methods. From doing our Critiques, and learning through assignments and from my peers, I have several new ideas for my classroom that hopeful will lead to more engagement and success throughout the year! This course was a great reminder of the power of being a lifelong learner.
- If you were to teach a course like this — what would you do differently?
I thought this course was extremely well laid out and communication was always there so that I never felt completely lost. I would somehow make it easier to grade, because I can not imagine that weekly process…other than that, I would narrow done the programs my students should use for each assignment. I appreciated the inspiration parts of each assignment breakdown, but did not always know which program would be best to get it done and the toolbox could be overwhelming at times for someone who knew nothing about any of the offerings. I also would put a heavier emphasis on the Critiques, and maybe have students Critique a platform or app from the toolbox, so that they are learning about what is out there and then can utilize it for an assignment for the week. Overall, the layout was great and besides being overwhelmed the course ran quite smooth. The overwhelming nature was part of the learning though I guess.
- How can we improve the learning experience of INTE5340?
I think that this was a great learning experience and there is not a whole lot I would change. Even though there was a lot to do each week, I truly appreciated the diverse set of tasks that got us looking at so many important, relevant aspects of the digital storytelling realm that I would have never known about without this course.
Overall, I have learned so many wonderful things as this course. It truly was foundational for me moving forward and changed my preconceived notions surrounding technology and digital storytelling. It was definitely not easy, and was a lot of work, but I am so thankful for the thinking that was required of us so that we could succeed with guidance from the professor and not just take a lecture-model course. Yay for student voice!
