Bev's Blog

Reflecting on Moodling…..

I have a love-hate relationship going with Moodle. I will start with the fact that my site is not quit complete and I would love nothing more than to be completing it at this moment- The fact that I am not is part of the reason I HATE Moodle. I have huge connectivity problems with it, especially at this time day (evening). Often after making one change, everything would freeze and I would have to exit Moodle and go back in. It was not unusual to take 5 or 6 attempts to get back into my project. As I was working on two Moodle projects at the same time, I wasted many precious moments waiting to get into Moodle. For the last hour I have been unable to access my project, so will occupy my time elsewhere.

But I do love Moodling. When everything is going right, and connectivity is not a problem, I have thoroughly enjoyed creating my Digital Storytelling Module. This unit is being developed for a specific purpose. I need a group of geographically diverse teenagers trained in Digital Storytelling (DS) to help me work with groups of seniors who are creating their own DS that will be uploaded on to our county’s Historical Weblog. The seniors are interested in this project but lack the technical skills- so I need a trained workforce. Very few teachers in our district have much working knowledge of DS but are interested. This unit is meant to provide an introduction for students, but also an introduction for teachers- vicariously through the students’ work.

I committed to working with six groups of seniors and then I went to a three day training session on Digital Storytelling put on by The Center for Digital Storytelling (CDS). And then I felt sick. There were 3 instructors and 8 students. We kept the 3 instructors hopping- 3 instructors trained in journalism or documentary film making or some other skill I don’t have. I wondered and am still wondering how I am ever going to pull this one off. I am going down to Denver in August to take a 5 day DS facilitator training workshop also put on by the CDS, and I am sure this will help, but I still have a steep hill to climb.

Working on this unit has really helped me to focus on the steps that I will need to take to help guide people through the DS process. It is often said that the best way to learn something is to teach it, and I am sure working on this unit has helped me to consolidate many of the concepts.

Technically speaking I have developed many new skills. I know how to upload files, create forums, quizzes, and embed videos. I know what graphic user interface is and I know that things can look one way in Safari and another in Firefox. I also know that little demons get in my computer and move things that I cannot unmove. My site may not be full of bells and whistles but I do think it will provide the learning opportunities that will allow students skills in DS. I will continue to adjust and tweek as needed.

Note to John Egan- The Introduction and the two modules- Finding Your Story, and Media Productions should be the focus of your assessment all part of my Digital Storytelling unit.