Digital Story Reflection

Becoming aquinted with the software was the most challenging aspect of this assignment, and also took the most amount of time.  Once i understood how to use Movie Maker the project became exciting, since i knew what i was capable of doing with this software and how many possiblities there were.  After that, a quick storyboard was developed, and i went straight to recording my story.  After recording i went through the audio second by second to make sure the illustrations appeared in sync with the audio.
I made a story about the discovery of the disease, so their wasn't any dramatic questions or emotional content

Digital Story Day 4 (pt.2)

We outlined the entire story.
Piece of cake.
Now i just need about 10 hours to myself in front of my computer

Digital Story Day 4

I have all the information needed to discuss the relevancy of the metabolic disorder me and my partner will be creating a digital story for.
By the end of the class i would hope to have a basic outline of the beginning, middle, and ending to our story.
I wish i had a mac.

Digital Story: Day 1 (pt.2)

Plenty of great ideas for the Digital Story, can't wait to get started.  Thinking outside the box, might as well have fun with it.

Digital Story: Day 1

Digitial Storytelling sounds alot like an enhanced, more entertaining and professional version of Powerpoint.  I've had tons of exposure to powerpoint, and i have spent countless hours dealing with video editing on my laptop, so i don't expect this to be difficult.

Tutoring

The kids at my job are all different ages and from all different backgrounds but they all hate doing school work; not one smile until they're halfway through the door on their way out.  The booklet after booklet technique isn't very exciting,  although the results don't lie and each student progressively does noticeably better. The improved grades are most likely the product of gross repetition, following the adage that practice makes perfect. So why do parents pay enormous amounts of money so that their child merely completes packet after packet with no true instruction? The environment,  that's why. Living in a world of constant disruption and procrastination doesn't help students focus enough to learn the material at an optimal rate. Kumon isolates the children, reducing the oppurtunity for potential socialization and distraction. Soft, calming music is heard throughout the center, sharpening the students focus and soothing them in the process. They are also timed, and are aware of their requirements, which adds pressure for the student to perform, potentially motivating the students to outperform their former scores. The students are encouraged to work on their own, and ask for help only when its entirly necessary. All these techniques of Kumon essentially create a sanctuary of learning ,a getaway for the students, a boot camp of education which forces the students to work to the best of their abilities. I believe the studying techniques can be improved vastly,  and its quite simple; apply a physical workout routine of twenty minutes of elevated heart rate before the student's begin their work. Studies show that working out stimulates neurogenesis, as well as increases levels of seratonin and dopamine ; both chemicals are responsible for happieness and enthusiasm and at peak levels will improve learning functions such as memory and focus. With the addition of a lite workout the students will undoubtedly improve scores as well as overall cognitive ability. Another addition to the Kumon method would be a short period of meditation. Studies show that meditation is ultra healthy for the brain, increasing brain size and quickening the re-wiring process known to the neurons in the brain. The beneficial health qualities of meditation have only recently been realized by the general public, and in some places in the US, especially California, the thrend has been catching on as knowledge of the exercise spreads. A perfect balance of all three aspects, hard studying,  lite workouts and deep meditation would be the best environment for students to learn and would rationalize the notoriously hefty tuition.