Coming Soon: Science Fair Kick-Off

Today I finished my text. I have some adjustments to make as evidenced in the preview. I have typed the narration in the recording boxes on each page and have to do the recording soon. I'm excited about finding music clips. I'm thinking of circus style music to start off with.

Still Undecided?

Yes. I have dropped in my photos and ordered them. I just wish I had done something with a smaller, more focused academic objective. I will follow through with this...I will. I will finish. I will finish. We are not graded on quality are we? Isn't this more about the process than the product, huh?

Progressing Nicely

Thanks to my sister, I now have my file marked, Website Images. She explained how to use the Print Screen and Paint Program to save and mark up full screen images. It is so easy! I know I have put in well over 6, 0r maybe even 60 hours on this project but I must say I'm learning a lot and generating a lot of questions as well. Now actually finishing and coming up with a final product still sit in limbo but I'm having a great time getting there.

Sneaking in the Back

I never do things the easiest way first, I must learn by frustration. So as I started to manipulate my images I found that I had just dumped them into a folder marked, sci images. I weeded through this mess of images to do my mosaics and then had to stop myself. Again, self analysis was needed. Maybe it was the slow Internet, the heat, the humidity, the hunger of the moment, who knows but whatever it was my mind said, "HALT." Why was I allowing myself to be frustrated, hot and irritated. So my mind said, "ORGANIZE!" So I did. I took a few minutes to subdivide my images into sub folders titled for the part of the video which they will be intended. I also found that i was needing a few more categories of images. I feel so much better. A clear path is just easier to follow.

Slower Than Expected

I began gathering images and thought that would be a snap. Knowing not to just take images, I went to Flickr Commons and found nothing that wasn't 50+ years old most from the National Archives. No offense, but I'm not making a silent movie. After a quick talk with a colleague, I went to Flcikr Creative Commons and had much more success in the image search but for some reason my computer or Internet service was SSSLLLOOOWWW! In frustration I shut down and came back later. In a matter of 45 minutes I collected many images I might be able to use and created 3 mosaics at BIGHUGELABS.com that I know I'll use. I also plan to put in a WORDLE or two. I'm not sure my order of operations is quite right but I think I'll get there. I keep thinking about some catchy, current tunes to play in the opening and background. Any suggestions? OMG: OH, Oh , oh oh, oh , Oh My Gosh! Hmmmm. No that wouldn't work although I found it quite funny when a 2 and 3 year old in the shopping cart were singing it and their mother ask me if it were inappropriate. My reply, "It is a catchy tune!"

Getting Down to Work

I have 2 scripts. Both in a question answer format for my video. I think I'll prepare the Science Fair Video first. I have prepared the script with each question being a frame or two. Now I need to compile a folder of images I want to use with each question. A few questions will just show a shot of my webpage on the school site. Some will show simply a required form but most will show either young scientists at work or dynamite projects. I think I'll start that collection of images now using some I have and some I'll borrow. Let you know how that is going later.

Evaluating Myself! Task 2

I can't believe that I learned so much on this task. I watched the Flash Presentation and did the Website Evaluation activity which was amazing. I must say I did a pretty good job of evaluating the websites given. Are kids doing this at school? I hope so. I watched the Youtube video which was clear and concise. I use a common science website, Chem4kids.com and first used the printable evaluation form but felt like a student would just sluff through it but the University Library Evaluation that you fill out and print was very user friendly for students, like myself. Let me stop and try one more. I used the Evaluation Wizard and think it is pretty good as well. As I'm learning more about using the Internet to research I still wonder if I know enough to guide others. I wonder if my students are learning this in their technology classes. Are these things most middle or high school students know and use? I think I sound ignorant for asking.