Here's my prezi mini project!

I learned that Prezi allows you to embed your presentations onto a blog! Didn't know that before. I also learned that it's relatively easy to create a Prezi in just a couple of minutes (not as time consuming as I thought).
Prezi would definitely be a good switch from the same old PowerPoint presentations that so many people use. It can help the student stay engaged. I could see potential problems if one were to do too much with the Prezi. It could distract from the lesson material.
I could use Prezi for:
1) General instruction such as historical context of the literature we are reading
2) Administration of quizzes or tests (could also use it for reviews)
3) I could assign students to prepare oral presentations using this device. To ensure that student's who don't have computers can still use the program, the assignment would be worked on at the school computer lab

Run, Dance, Clap Your Hands on Prezi

Blog Post #5-Movie Reflection

I learned a TON with this assignment. Because this was the first time that I've created a movie, I learned everything creation transitions between sequences to narration.
The easiest aspect of this assignment was (surprisingly) gathering footage. I already had a lot of footage from a recent trip abroad so this assignment allowed me an opportunity to bring it together.
The hardest part was adding music, narration, and making the film flow.
I think that videos can enhance learning because most students love watching films (I think if you create your own, they might be even more interested to view it). Effects and music also keep students attention well. Be careful not to over do it, however, because too much music or effects can be distracting.
I think I will make videos for my classes in the future. They are fun to make and switch things up from the norm.

Peace!

An Example of a Student Created Video

The assignment is as follows: Students will create a "moving biography" aka a documentary highlighting something about themselves. Students may be creative with this assignment and are encouraged to add music, effects, transitions, and narrations to make their moving biography interesting to the viewer. Begin by brainstorming what you want to say. Consider sharing your interests, hobbies, skills, and what makes you unique.
There is no wrong way to do this task. Your video should not be longer than 4 minutes. Go and have fun with this!

My Storyboard! Yeah!

Here is a picture of my storyboard!

Internet Safety

I found our internet safety lesson very valuable. Although not about internet safety, I found it very interesting that we were instructed not to put our parents as "mom" or "dad" in our cell phones. The reason being that if you lose your phone, whoever finds it could just send out a text asking your parents for your social security number or pin number. The same goes for email, facebook, etc. You can never be sure if the person contacting you hasn't stolen your friend's or family member's account and is impersonating them to extract important info from you. Just don't send important and confidential or personal info across the internet or through text messaging. I also like the Google Imager site that can set up your email so that robots cannot harvest your email address.

It is especially important to keep children safe when they are students in your classroom. Frankly, it is important that they are always safe on the internet no matter where they are. This can be accomplished by keeping students informed about internet safety procedures, the importance of not giving out personal information, not downloading from untrusted sites or email addresses. Students who are well informed about internet risks will make better decisions. As the saying goes, knowledge is power.

Website Creation Reflection

Alrighty! Looks like I'm gettin the hang of this website creation dealio. One of the most valuable things that I learned with this assignment is that yes, I can indeed create a website. Seriously though, sometimes the hardest part about doing somethings is just getting started on it. I learned that website creation is fun and relatively easy.

I had a valuable experience as I was constructing the website. When it came time to embed my Google Calendar I hit a "roadblock" as I realized I didn't really know how to do it. Instead of staring at the screen, I just "googled it" and found out how it was done. Easy as pie! I think that I will definitely use a website in my teaching. It simply makes everything more readily available for students to access.

This is me! And this is where I teach (not really)

Alrighty I'm back again!  This time I'd like to say a little about myself, what I like to do, etc. etc.

If you've been following, you already know that I'm from California.  It should be no surprise that I love warm weather!  Boating, outdoor activities, sports-I love them all!  I also love to eat.  I recently spent time traveling in Israel, Egypt, and Jordan for a study abroad-you'd have thought that I would come back with a load of souvenirs.  Nope!  I just ate my way through those countries, spending money on hardly anything but food.  I also love music!  Some of my favorite artists now are Iron and Wine and Band of Horses.  When I say they are my "favorite artists" I mean that I dig a couple of their songs.  It's hard for me to single out one music group and say that I love all of their music.

Because this is a practice blog, I'm going to say (falsely--but because I love the place) that I teach at the BYU Jerusalem Center.  The BYU Jerusalem Center offers students a unique and beautiful opportunity to study the Bible and the land on which it takes place first hand.  Students who attend a semester in Israel will come back with an increased appreciation and love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They will walk where He walked and see some of the same structures and land features that He saw.  It is truly a remarkable experience!
This is where I teach:

 Here's a detailed map of where I teach:


View Larger Map


Here is the best way to contact me:
abcd@email.com

My First Post Ever!

Why hello there!  My name is Donovan Sanchez esquire.  Okay so maybe not esquire but it does sound pretty cool.  I'm from the beautiful state of California, in the city that's home to the Jelly Belly factory (you'll have to research that one).

I'm an English Teaching major at Brigham Young University.  Go cougars!  I bleed blue and white through and through!  I only request that you do not test that last statement.  Please no.

When I graduate from this lovely university I would like to go and change the world!  How will I do this?  Through education of course.  I hope that the courses I give will inspire youth to live up to their potential, become more than they ever thought they could be, and lead happy and healthy lives.  I don't want to be the AP English-Shakespearean-abstract poetry reading type of English teacher.  I want to relate to students!  I want them to relate to what they read.  When my students graduate from high school they will love reading and writing!

Why then have I created this blog?  Well it's for a class, actually.  I hope to learn how to appropriately utilize technology to make the learning process exciting for my students!  All Pow (that means I'm done)!