Reading the Syllabus

Slowly making it through the 12 page syllabus for this class... had to look up a techie term AND a for real word! (Iteratively=Repetitively) 

But I'm glad because it gives me a chance to get a head start on some of the assignments. After June 3rd I feel good about saying I can spend 5 hours a day working on this course. I feel that could be a realistic expectation.

If I stay on top of it.

I have to blog and twit and create "digital storytelling assignments" and critique and respond and blog and twit and on and on and I don't even post to Facebook much anymore. And the syllabus says things like: "the future of digital storytelling - and more critically, the future of open learning and pedagogy -"

I am excited about "developing a unique digital storytelling focal theme" - just brainstorming what that could mean:

Growth mind-set
Intrinsic motivation
Goal Setting
Progress Monitoring
Grit-Resilience-Tenacity

I hope I can use TedTalks and NPR stories as sources...

In the Beginning

Final class needed to earn my Masters in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education from the University of Colorado, Denver.

INTE 5340 Learning with Digital Stories:

• 12 page syllabus for an 8-week course
• must open a Twitter account
• must blog and Twit daily

Okay, I admit the first hurdle will be my attitude and dislike for techie, computer-centric, social media mania b.s.

It's a defense mechanism.

I didn't grow up playing computer games or surfing the Internet and honestly I get overwhelmed thinking about all the stuff you have to learn... I can't even use the I-pad in my classroom (but then the students love to show me stuff).

So why am I taking this class? Well, honestly I thought it sounded like a film class. It wasn't until I cracked into the epic syllabus and started to see all the requirements for posting to Twitter and using all these social media sites that I started to freak out.

But, I'm also taking the class with two good friends, so we can support each other and I will get a crash course in some basic 21st century techie crap I've been Ostriching about.

Still, not really sure what I'm doing, but I'm just going to let myself go unfiltered and try to put out those thoughts and opinions I have "out there" as quickly as necessary; so I can complete this course, which will complete this degree, which will complete my higher education.

Which will be interesting to see if it actually feels completed or not.

oh, and follow me on the twit : @belwood303