Choosing a domain name for our 8th grade class websites March 18, 2009
Posted by mvalia in Uncategorized.34 comments
Now that my 8th grade class has almost finished creating their websites and are getting ready to host, we need a good domain name to represent the class. This main page will contain image links to their individual sites. Each student will get their own subdomain.
So what makes a good domain name?
What should my 8th graders choose?
Please read their responses below and come back later to find out which one they voted on.
Fun times developing 21st century skills! November 3, 2008
Posted by mvalia in IS 49, video production, web 2.0.Tags: staten island tech, staten island zoo, video production
3 comments
As 21st century educators teach students to become media producers, the journey through the learning process can be hilarious. When we teach students to use iMovie and Movie Maker, the first projects they come up with as they are practicing using the software and honing their skills often bring out their personalities and make you smile when they produce a really wacky video. Of course we want students to produce moving pieces about the importance of voting or giving students a voice, but it is just as powerful to see students demonstrate their production skills when they are just goofing around.
Many of my students have YouTube pages are filled with comical stuff they do after hours.
The SNL skit that aired November 1st about a group of Staten Island Tech students who created a crazy giraffe video for the Staten Island Zoo is a great example of this playful production. The use of stiffly animated giraffes, slideshow photos and psychedelic transitions are typical ingredients students use when they play around with video production tools. I was also amused that the representative from the zoo said he “hasn’t seen the movie yet,” but was sure it would be OK. He was wrong!
While I am still investigating the back story of the skit and will ask my former IS49 students who currently go to SITech for the full scoop, it wouldn’t surprise me if this video was made by students. I don’t think it was, but as my students are capable of movies of this production level as 8th graders, it should be an easy task for the bright students at SI Tech.
For your enjoyment… Giraffes.
Educational Technology Specialist NY State Certification September 23, 2008
Posted by mvalia in IS 49, educational technology career.1 comment so far
After a year at NYU to complete 12 credits of “non-printed media” coursework and the technology content specialty test, NY state has granted me a supplemental Educational Technology Specialist license.
I originally sought out this endorsement to ensure I would always have a place at my school teaching technology. However, after discussing with my principal, if I switch the paper work at human resources and actually teacher under this license I would have to go through a year of probation and lose the six years of seniority I have under my current license. I will investigate further and update after a few phone calls to the UFT and DOE human resources.
Representational Autobiconography September 16, 2008
Posted by mvalia in Representation and Interaction Design.Tags: educational technology career, NYU
add a comment
Using simple clip art pictures, the video above highlights the important moments of my education and career. Choosing simple pictures to represent the events in educational career was fairly straight-forward. However, I noticed the use of an arrow to direct the audience’s attention was critical. I also developed a narrative as I characterized myself as a chicken that hatched at birth. The roster theme progresses throughout the tale as he grows older and goes through different phases of his life.
To begin this process, I sketched out a quick flowchart on paper and decided which images I would search for. Keeping true to the assignment, I tried not to use any words and the only ones that show up are in the NYCDOE logo. But I figured text in a logo is almost just an icon itself.
As audience members in the class have some pretext of the assignment, they will understand the slideshow. Newcomers may be a little thrown off by the surfer rooster, but should figure it out as the narrative completes itself.
A Little Pollen Left July 26, 2008
Posted by mvalia in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
As part of my personal professional development this summer, I have begun exploring digital photography. This should be another interesting topic to bring into the classroom.
I took this photo at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden on July 15th. It is probably my most favorite photo I have ever snapped.
Teacher Appreciation July 4, 2008
Posted by mvalia in IS 49, educational technology career.Tags: IS 49, student feedback
2 comments
During the cold, dark days of February, its tough sometimes as a teacher to see the impact you have on your students. At the end of the year, during yearbook signings and “you were my favorite teacher” gifts, its interesting to hear from students you thought you may not have reached or the ones that sat quietly and did their work.
Below are some pictures of cards and words students wrote as an end of the year assignment from their language arts teacher. They are not the only reason why I teach and there are many other positive affirmations along the way. But, they will make for some great motivation during the long run of standardized tests during the cold days of winter.
Click on each image to open it open larger in a new window.
The Dell TechKnow Experience at IS49 June 27, 2008
Posted by mvalia in IS 49, video production.Tags: computers, Dell TechKnow, hardware, IS49, NYU, video production
add a comment
For ten Saturdays in this past spring, 15 students attended the Dell TechKnow computer program at IS49. Students were given their own computer, took it apart, put it together and learned the inner workings of a PC. This five-minute documentary is a snapshot of the experience.
The MOUSE Squad at IS49 featured in “The MOUSE Squad Wire” June 20, 2008
Posted by mvalia in IS 49, Uncategorized.Tags: IS49, MOUSE Squad
add a comment
Check out the article written about our MOUSE Squad on the MOUSE Squad Wire newsletter. The article was written by field support representative Juan Garzon.
Getting the Staten Island Advance to Publish Good Stories About IS 49 June 17, 2008
Posted by mvalia in IS 49.Tags: IS 49, journalism, PR, press, Staten Island Advance
add a comment
Earlier this year, our school endured some bad press about a boy who was injured and a comment our principal made about the incident. While this event could have happened in any school, the SI Advance published stories that put our school in a bad light. The stories were newsworthy and the paper had every right to publish them.
However, six months later, that boy is back and is a productive student in our school community and our school has seen a number of positive events that have gone unpublished, despite many e-mails and phone calls to the Staten Island Advance.
Since our bad press, our school has:
Won first place in the MOUSE Squad of the Year competition
Took first place in the Time Warner Cranial Crunch trivia competition
Won 8th place in the FIRST Lego robotics tournament for NYC
Improved our math and ELA scores
Has been removed from the city’s persistently most dangerous list
Opened a new media center
A colleague and I have tried to get a reporter to come to our school and write about some of these “positive” events, but they have not returned our e-mails or phone calls.
However, if you really want to get some good press about your school in the Advance, you can announce it during a PTA meeting and send the notes to the paper.
Below is a scan of the Staten Island Advance “meetings” section from Wednesday, June 11, 2008:
MOUSE Squad Vlog: We Won MOUSE Squad of the Year! June 12, 2008
Posted by mvalia in IS 49, video production.Tags: IS49, MOUSE Squad, video production, vlog
add a comment
In the this episode of the MOUSE Squad vlog, we discuss why we won MOUSE Squad of the Year in the middle school division, show off our trophies and clown around.
