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Case Study: Jason

Writing Through the DSI:  Jason Meets the MUWP

Jason Dillon - Re: Writing Into Monday   7/11/2005; 10:36:39 AM (reads: 870, responses: 6) I hope that through this course I will refine my story-telling skills and gain new skills in sharing information.   I have no skills in digital publishing beyond writting essays and research papers.  The term digital stories is a new one for me.  I have a good idea on how to identify one and no idea how to compose one.  I think that they could be a wonderful final product of a unit of writting about a particular topic.

Jason Dillon - Re: Writing Into Monday   7/11/2005; 10:46:08 AM (reads: 931, responses: 0) The computers that we have in my room are obsolete and nearly useless.  However, there is a computer lab on-site at Enslow that we can access.  The computer skills my students possess are limited to word processing and internet searches.  I feel they would enjoy telling the story of there live's.  Each student enjoys talking about their families and themselves.

Jason Dillon - Re: Writing Into Tuesday   7/12/2005; 10:26:37 AM (reads: 1081, responses: 0) The most intimidating thing I foresee is the story boarding.  Finding the appropiate timing to display the images seems like it is difficult.  I hope that it is easier than I think.  I would suggest someone might lay-out their pictures in order or veiw them in a series to see how each image compliments or detracts from the dialogue.

Jason Dillon - Re: Writing Into Wednesday   7/13/2005; 10:17:56 AM (reads: 1318, responses: 0) The concept of digital stories seems to be much more interseting than a paper r essay.  Students would find this much more fun than the alternative.  I have been impressed with the speed that I have picked up how to do this.  Having other professionals review and assist in the editing process has been very beneficial.

Jason Dillon - Re: Writing Into Thursday   7/15/2005; 11:51:10 AM (reads: 769, responses: 0) The storyboard was almost a side project in my movie.  The structure and content of my narrative could be matched with any pictures of people that could be considered friends to someone.  This arbitrary side-bar mighht have led to more diffuculties than I was willing to take on.  I found myself fretting over how each image may evoke negative feelings of the poeple in the frames that were joined with some of the more negative aspects of my narrative.  The storyboard allowed pauses for dramatic impact that complimented the text.  The excersise was beneficial in the project because it allowed me to see the whole as more of a literary piece than simple an activity.

Transcript of Tapped-In Chat:  Jason Returns to the MUWP

KarenLM: one of the things i was thinking about in my writing was how to merge our ideas and goals for the digital stories with the varied needs of the participants JasonD: What are the categories KarenLM: well, the places where our plans seemed to conflict with your way of working was the peer revision and storyboarding... KarenLM: and so i was trying to think about why we really wanted to do those things or if they could be overlooked.... JasonD: I think small group projects are the most viable for the use of technology. KarenLM: but then, i thought about what's going on with my son....he's working for a really good firm...doing web design...and he doesn't like it that much...the way they work...the job's fine but their process bothers him JasonD: One kid in three will have access KarenLM: what i've noticed however is that his designs are sooooooo much better in the three months he's been working for this place...so he's learning something by slowing his work down KellyChi: I am not so sure that I was sold on the storyboarding.... KarenLM: jason, do you think that a group of 3 kids could create a digital story in a class? KellyChi: Of course I did mine without using the storyboards JasonD: It would be easier than doing individual projects has. DougTr: I dont think storyboarding works well for the digital stories. KarenLM: kelly, when i was re-thiinking the whole experience and went back over my notes...the thing i noticed was that the most revision happened with the storyboarding...that's where people saw things were out of order DougTr: my kids already had a visual idea of what they want to do JasonD: The story boards are paper KarenLM: bill did revision after he storyboarded... KarenLM: the paper was to suggest that storyboarding mgiht be an interesting revision tool independent of computers...that a teacher could use... KellyChi: I like Bill's paper storyboard before he put it on the big posterboard JasonD: I did like the sketch of a memorable place but not the storyboard KarenLM: so what i'm thinking is that the whole digital stories thing has multiple goals...not only did we hope to inspire people to think of ways to use technology...but we also hoped to inspire people to think of other ways of working that have nothing to do with technology KellyChi: yes I would agree with that JasonD: I use movie maker for fun KarenLM: what i find the most fascinating is that many of the teachers we've worked with over the past several years have been really lukewarm about some of the easier technologies (nicenet for example) but they all get really excited about digital stories... KarenLM: hmmmm.s... KellyChi: I liked the digital stories.... JasonD: most people don't use a computer outside of work KarenLM: and making a digital story is one of the most technologically complex thing we present...and people like tighe, and eva and connie...real technology newbies were motivated enough to overcome their fear KellyChi: eventually I would like to set down and get all of my pictures into stories of that nature.... KarenLM: i'd be interested in hearing you guys talk about why you think that happens...what is it about digital stories that are so compelling? JasonD: I want to make a photo-album with my grandmother narrating KellyChi: that would be cool jason KarenLM imagines that jason will want to write the script.... JasonD: I could always here her stories They would be more accurate than I could tell them JasonD: oops hear DougTr: I think that it gets them excited because they see it as an extension of scrapbooking KarenLM: i imagine we all could learn something about storytelling from your grandmother JasonD: scrapbooking is for ladies KarenLM thwaps jason on the head JasonD: Sorry but its true DougTr: haha, ya but I think it is an apt analogy KarenLM: so why do you think scrapbooking is compelling KarenLM: ? KarenLM: i keep forgetting my punctuation marks JasonD: Because I can't see myself doing a scrapbook KarenLM: we could suggest that it's an appalachian thing...we love to tell stories and we love family....but this fascination with digital stories / scrapbooking isn't isolated to appalachia... KellyChi: I think digital stories opens up doors that opens more doors and even more doors....last summer I had so many ideas for new movies that I had to write all of the ideas down so I would forget... JasonD: We should stage a liars digital story conteset!!!! JasonD: oopse contest KellyChi: and I digital stories are less expensive than scrapbooking.... KarenLM: omg, would kids not love that contest!?? KarenLM urges jason to ignore his typos JasonD: My kids are natural liars DougTr: haha JasonD: Its our heritage as appalachians DougTr: I dunno why it pulls thenm iN> I told my kids I would burn a compliation for them and they got very excited about htat KarenLM: is it because we understand stories as a genre? KarenLM: is it because we immortalize ourselves with our stories? KellyChi: and what a great subject but yourself and your life/world JasonD: Stories are better because they dont take all day to hear KarenLM: that's true jason...i know that we use stories in order to make sense of our world...we say, "Give me an example." meaning....we want a story KarenLM: how many lessons do we impart to our students through our own stories... JasonD: All of them KellyChi: I tell my students stories all the time DougTr: things taught by story stick in your head better KellyChi: I agree

A New Teacher's Finances:  Jason Complains and Explains

Monthly Net Income $1300/month House payment/rent $500/month Car Payment $450/month Car Insurance $100/month Cable TV/Internet $100/month Electric/Gas $125/month   $25.00 left (and he hasn't bought food; paid back school loans; seen a doctor or bought a prescription; paid the water and sewer bill; paid a phone bill)

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