Wednesday March 28 iTunes U Unit Post one

Stop shhhh talking. Seriously. Do your in class essay.

Right, the first topic for Shhhhh your next unit. Shhhh. I have a bucket of shush right here. It's a unit on iTunesU.

You should have picked a shhhhh course for yourself by shhhhh now. I'm kind of hoping you have, anyway. It's kind of important for you to pick on to shhhhh finish the course. Shhhh.

In cany case, watch this video and tell me what you think about using Youtube/Khan Academy in learning material for your in class courses. Believe it or not, the way that this gentleman presents material is quite good for learning. Here is one of the random ones that I've watched and actually learned stuff from. Your reflection should be about 300 words and have at least one graphic element (that would be either a picture or an embedded video, please.

And break up your block text too, for goodness' sake! I just saw this blog post. This... this is an awesome post. Level Four. Do this.



Personally, I think it's genius. There is a TED Talk by the Khan dude himself on Youtube as well. You might want to take a look at it. If you get the right one, there is a rather special guest that drops by at the end of the talk. hmmm... I guess I'll have to offer a Tim Horton's card for the student that tells me the name of the surprise guest at the end of that specific talk next time.

Oh, and by the way, here is a Prezi about the APA Sytle report. I hope.



I guess Imma markin' sompin likes a few essmerays 2nite ... lolz

Fourth Blog post

OK, things are going ... well, I guess. I will have updated marks. Would have had them last night but there was a creepy guy in the back row not letting me get the marks inputted. You can let him know your displeasure tomorrow.

I'll rat him out for the angry mob.

In any case, here is the assignment for the fourth blog post for the Shakespeare Unit:

Watch each of the following "Party Scenes" from Romeo and Juliet and tell me why there is such a major difference in the way audiences percive the major characters.

Here's the first version from 1996:





And from the 1968 version:



and yes, you have to watch this version from 1954:



It is basically this same scene, but why is one version so much "Better" than the others?

OK, due by Friday - will be included in the unofficial mid-term mark on April 4th. Should be along side the in-class essay you are writing on Wednesday.

You DO know you are writing an in class essay on Wednesday, right?

Monday March 26

First I will make a quick announcement with good news for the essay we're doing in class on Wednesday. I will not write it here, but I'll let you know in class.


http://www.oawa.ca/default.aspx

Should be exciting.

Then, we'll do the presentations. With a twist.

While the presentations are going, I want you to open the "back channel" the twitter hashtag we've been using (#ndns2012)and keep up the conversation about studying Shakespeare here and the troubles/successes you've been seeing while being in this class. I'd also really really recommend you do some putting together of some ideas for your essay for next time.

If we have time at the end of the class, I will do a quick thing on APA style reports and or see an almost complete mark update for you for this course. Sort of, not complete.

Finally, I have the last two blog posts marked as well as the "in class" blog post from last time marked and ready to go back to you. The essay, and the fourth and final blog post we'll assign tonight, as the last items in the mid term mark I will show you April 4th - a week before you should drop the course before disclosure.

Shakespeare Blog post Number 3

Before doing anything else, go and watch the embedded video on the blog on Wednesday March 19. Then, go to Twitter and do a search (#ndns2012) for the talk we hosted last night. Re-read some of the comments and complete a minimum 300 word blog post on your own blog about the following:

1)Were there any points/comments/ideas made that you agree with? Do you Disagree with any of the ideas that were either tweeted or presented in class?

2) How do YOU overcome the frustration of studying something you have an innate prejudice against? How can a student overcome a barrier in their own education (like “I hate Shakespeare” or “I don’t like the way that class is being taught”) to become a better student/learner?

Due: Saturday March 24 by midnight!

So ... Wednesday March 21

Right, tonight we're going to be doing a bunch of material together.

Before we do anything, here's an assignment I want you to start with ... it goes on your blog ASAP. Work on it on paper to show me what you got if you have to.

First, we're watching this Vimeo Video:



Then, we're going to think about watching Shakespeare rather than reading it. That will be the third blog post for the Shakespeare Unit and it will be awesome because we're going to work on it together. On Twitter. #ndns2012

Thirdly, as you are working on that blog post about reading Shakespeare, you are going to show me what you've been reading/researching and doing for your in class essay in a week.

Fourth, I'm going to show you some ... um .. "interesting" sentences that I read today on your blogs. For real. We need to keep working on your writing.

Lastly, I will show you the selection I picked to base my iTunes U unit on. That is, this is the course on which I will base the assignments I will do and blog about in our next unit together. If I give the assignments to you, I will also be doing them.

Something quick for tonight

So ... an interesting thing happened to me today. I realized that my lesson plan for tonight has to be ... redone.

In the mean time, I'd like my students to read this article and reflect in a post on their own blog about which skills they have and which they do not. Total length should be at least 300 words.

A good blog post will include an image (copyright free, right?) and perhaps an embedded video.

Make sure your Second post for Shakespeare is done (it was due at Midnight March 20, by the way) and I'd be on the research into my play and deep into picking an iTunes course to study for the next unit.

Why? Cuz there's not that much time left in the course.



Last thign: I should have a mark update for tonight, too.

Who's going when

Below is the list of Shakepeare plays (I will not put student names on the internet, sorry) and their order. If you're not sure what play you are doing or anything else, drop a comment on the blog or on twitter

Please note, you have to unprotect you tweets for me to see them. If they are protected, I can't see them ... 'cuz they're ..um ... protected.

Hey look, something timely from the internet!

Things that make the teacher go "hmmm..."

You might be thinking of this song from the C+C Music Factory:



But, no, I'm thinking about this (very short) article today...

I wonder what would happen if you were to asked to check out the blogs of your fellow students... things that make you go "hmmmm..."

Monday March 19

Right I love tonight. Make sure you read the other post for today about your assignment. It's right under this post. Anyway, it's Monday and we've got lots to talk about. I'm going to start with:

1) Essay help. Yeah, have to. I'm thinking this will be a .ppt, as a few did not listen to me when I did it as a marker show on the white board.

2) Sign ups for the Shakespeare presentation Dates. Hopefully this will go smoothly. Actually, We'll go by numbers. I'll have the list posted soon.

3)How to embed a video on your blog. Pay attention, because you have to do this for your next blog post on Shakespeare. It's easy ... here's the video:



4) "show me" the research you've been doing for your Shakespeare essay, which will be done in class on March 28, 2012. If I get time, I'll be able to do one on ones with the 56% (13 out of 23) of the students who handed their essay in on time.

5) How to do a list of works cited on Easybib.com


6) looking for an iTunes U course for our next and last unit, as I had to cut something, and it looks like the "electronic text" unit will have to go. Sign ups for this will be on Wednesday. So, here is the process I'd recommend you follow to find a course for yourself:

First, start with the University you want to attend next year. (McMaster)

Second, perhaps look at what you want to study (Engineering, for example)

Third, look for something you are interested in (For me, Astronomy)

Lastly, something for everyone. Or you Android users can try here for a solution / workaround for your technical issues with this assignment.

Second Blog post for Shakespeare Unit

Work on this in class, in front of me. I will try to get us some lab time, but don't rely on me for that.

Here's the topic:

After checking out your play's listing on Wikipedia, what do you know to be innaccurate or misleading about the main character of your play that is posted there?

Post is due by Tuesday at midnight, on your blog or emailed ot the teacher at the previously mentioned email address for those less technically inclined.

Right on with tonight! Agenda to be posted here shortly, too.

First blog post for Shakespeare Unit

Your response to this question is due on your blog by Midnight March 10.

Yeah, I gave you an extra day. It's all good.

After doing some looking into your play, what can you "expect" from learning about the play?

What I mean by that question is this: Since you are not doing the same play as the rest of the class, how do you expect to study, research and discover for yourself about this play?

post length should be about 400 -500 words.

oh, and check this link out, man

Recap Wed March 7

Right, here are the pics I promised:

Essay topics for the Culminating In class essay March 28.

Blog post assignments - first one will be up shortly

and ....

the presentations for Shakespeare ...

Right ... I'm going to work on the Google Docs thing that was a fail for the class. I will post the List of Date (the agenda for each of the remaining classes as a Google Doc or as a Prezi by the end of the week. Watch for the notice of this by text.

Here is the link for the Complete works of William Shakespeare (reduced). Trust me, it's funny:


I also said I'd put a link to a bunch of Hollywood Bollywood films. Here it is. When you click on it, you have to scroll down. Watch the first one, for sure:



Ok, have a great break ... get your blog posts done for your play!

Wednesday March 7

First things first " Show me" the pic of your "Google search" homework. If you need to get it done now ... look at the previous post.

Second, we're going to be doing some more looking at "How to research"

Thirdly, while we are in the lab and we'll do some in class work with Google Docs.

Fourth -I'd also like you to do some reasearch and posting on your blog with me sitting behind you in the "nagging" seat tonight. We'll work up a list of topics together and get looking at them together. If you need help blogging, this will be when we'll be able to help each other.

Lastly, I need you to vote on the poll from Monday. It's sad that I have to remind you to do that. Here's a sad picture to remind you:

Sign up for the Remindme texts ... it's making me sad.

For wednesday...

Hello everyone. Here's what I need you to do for tomorrow's class:

Ising this link, “How to use google”
do a semi-advanced search on your play. For example type in this:

nice results, right? Specific to the topic (in this case Romeo and Juliet, obviously) and ... right near me, as it is with the Burlington Public Library, too.

Here is a link that will help you get better at Snippit, which I used to get the image above.

When you get a list like this, take a Snippit image (or a Command+Shift+4 image if you are on a Mac product) and save it to your HD. Be ready to show me this on Wednesday. Or take a pic with your phone. An image is needed for this.

2)start/continue to look at/researching your Shakespeare play and finding an electronic book to study for this course. Perhaps a short primer on how to do that through the BPL Yes, it's a smidge early, but there's going to be something to hand in the day we get back from Break.


3)Finally, there will be a #ndns2012 conversation on Twitter tonight at 9pm. Shouldn't be too long, we're just testing out the system. Be a part of it. Will be fun ...

Picture is unrelated.

Monday March 5

First things first ...vote in the previous posts' poll. It will be live during class time. I checked today - after I sent a text out to check the blog, only one vote by Monday at 10:45am... disheartening...

"The plan for today"

1) finish presentations

2) hand in polished essays on dead trees. Sorry trees.

3) how to turn a .ppt into a Prezi ...and then an actual example ... unless the wireless kicks up a fuss...

4) Quick review of Cornell note taking idea for taking notes. And a demonstration of Dropbox... hopefully. Depends on the wireless.

5) "Using City of Burlington research tools” and "Research tools at Major Universities" - this will be on the screen - you will need to take notes, but I will publish it online later.

6)“How to use google” + online assignment. Due by the Tuesday Midnight. Questions on the next post, this time. Next time ... they'll be on Twitter...

7)start/continue to look at/researching your Shakespeare play and finding an electronic book to study for this course. Perhaps a short primer on how to do that through the BPL

For Wednesday:

a)Have some research posted on your blog about your play. If you need a reminder of which play is yours, let me know.

b)go to this link and poke around to see if the University you want to attend will have online content. If that just isn't you thing, check out Athabasca University and see if what they have appeals to you. Be ready on Wednesday to be able to talk/ write about what you saw and looked into with this.

Quick poll

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