BCA Presentation Example Video

This is a sample presentation I gave in class.  It is similar to what yours will be like, but not exactly the same.  You need to add how much your college will cost and how much your career will pay.  Your graph or chart needs to be different than mine; do not make yours about your animals.

I want you to notice:

• the pictures are not what the entire slide is about.  They support what is being said on the slide.  Sometimes I direct your attention the picture (example: the horses), sometimes I don't (example: the FSU Falcon and all of the business logos).
• slides have bullet points, not sentences.  I don't directly read sentences from the slides.  The bullets are there to remind me what to say to you, but I say much more than what is listed on the slide.
• My presentation took just under 10 minutes, and I was hurrying.  Yours needs to take between 5 and 10 minutes. A grade deduction will be taken for those that are less than 5 minutes or more than 10 minutes.
• The title slide is at the beginning, the conclusion slide is at the end.  You can choose the order of the rest of your slides; the slide order does not have to be the same as what is on the handout from class. The optional slides are optional, the required slides are required...

If you have any questions, see me in class.  Enjoy making your presentation, make it fun and entertaining!

Flipbook Lite

I created a flipbook to practice with, and the photos are attached, but I couldn't figure out how to get it to share as a flipbook movie.  Please ignore my art... There's a reason I never went to art school.

So, the story is, we recycle metal in our home, including aluminum and other metals for money.  (That's a Monster can in the first frame... that my husband drank and I put in the recycle bin!) We recycle for the money, but it isn't really worth the money, because you spend as much hauling the metal to the recycling center as you get from it.  But, it's one little thing that I don't mind to do because at least it mostly pays for itself.

I really wish that our town had a recycling program, but I understand that it wouldn't be very feasible in small towns.

Random Video Posting

I need to check to see if this viddler video posting is working, so here we have a link to a viddler video, randomly chosen from some FBLA videos.

Secondly, we have a different, although just as random, FBLA video uploaded straight from the video file on my PC:

Everything seems to be in order before posting... now let's see if the videos play once I post the blog.

Happy Wednesday Globaloria community!

Keep on "WOW"-ing me!

The last couple of weeks, we have had some impressive action from our Game Design II class members.  On February 1, Daniel (along with Wesley) gave a great presentation about their game from Game Design I and their FBLA game which is in progress.  Together, we explained what digital learning is and how students here at Randolph Technical Center can get involved!  Great job Daniel, and thanks for doing that presentation!


This week, Aaron and Dylan did a presentation online with over 30 principals, superintendents, and Globaloria staff about the Career Technical game that they are working on.  While they worried me (and Mrs. Stalnaker) before it started, they made an EXCELLENT presentation, and I was proud to be their teacher.

  Worth noting this week as well, Nick and DJ have an ongoing "Quiet Contest" that is allowing us all to concentrate and work extra hard.  Thanks guys, you have no idea how much we appreciate the reprieve!

This class is fun?

Today as you were working hard, I was looking around in amazement and everyone was on topic, working so diligently to make progress on their topics.  Then at the end of class... all google broke loose.  Google Translate is a cool tool that will translate and/or read aloud words that you type or paste into the translator.  A similar tool is available on the iMac.  When you are playing around with tools online or on the Mac, remember to always keep your game in mind.  Maybe there is a way to record that translation from Google and put it into your game.  If not, remember that Garage Band is available to you for recording your own sounds and music (including voiceover).  This is one of the most fun and creative classes (I mean you guys!) that I have had since I have been teaching this class, and I can't wait to see your final results!

New Semester, New Year, New Resolutions

Have you set any resolutions for the new year?  Some people joke (or maybe sincerely believe) that this will be the last year of mankind because of the Mayan calendar ending in December 2012.  I believe that if mankind is meant to come to an end, that no man knows the day or time that will happen.

I know that each year, I set new goals about different things, and my classes are always included.  It shocks me that in the last semester of my third year of teaching, I still feel new.  I learn something almost every day, and I take a new experience away from each semester.  At the end of this past semester, a particularly busy and stressful one for me, I still believe that in the classroom is where I belong.  I love being a teacher, but I work each day to be a better one, because I know that I have shortcomings.

What are your goals for the new year?  For the new semester?  How can you be a better student?  What will you acheive in 2012?

Online Ethics

Last week, I had you to read an article from the Huffington Post about people who were fired over facebook posts.  I was interested to know what your opinion is of people who post things online and are then fired or arrested for those things.  There is a fine line between sharing your life and the things in it and being unresponsible or unreasonable.  I think that people who are arrested over facebook, twitter, and other social networking information deserve everything they get.  If you don't have enough common sense to know that you shouldn't post illegal things online for everyone to read, then I'm glad that you got caught. 

I also wonder about people who don't realize that they shouldn't post personal things online when they have a high profile job.  The interesting article to me was the one about the guard from Buckingham Palace that was calling Kate Middleton bad names online.  Did he really think that it would be okay to ridicule her in such a public way?

Teachers and other school officials have also come under fire lately about friending students online in social networks and sharing cell phone numbers with students.  As a teacher, sometimes it is crucial that students have my cell phone number (such as during an FBLA trip).  I realize that all communications between myself and my students should remain absolutely professional, and that is what I strive for every day, no matter what the interface is, be it in person or in cyberspace.  Here is the bottom line for me:  common sense and professionalism are two of the most important things in the life of any teacher or anyone who works with the public.  A lack of those two things could easily get anyone fired (or arrested)!

Where to begin...

This school year has gotten off to a good start, and it seems like we are already settled into a good routine.  This semester with Globaloria seems good for me.  During the first few days, we struggled with internet speed and the speed and availability of the wiki.  Several people downloaded Firefox so that they wouldn't have to rely on Safari or Internet Explorer.  (We feel like Firefox doesn't have as many quirky issues as the other two and overall is a better quality browser.  There are also other browser options such as Opera and Google Chrome.)  We also installed Adobe Flash CS 5.5 on most of our Mac lab computers, but some of those needed an update to the Operating System before Flash could be updated.  In many ways, it seems as if Murphy's Law is trying to apply itself to us, but we just won't let it!

Summer Blues

I've had many experiences this summer, including conferences in places I've never been before like Nashville, TN, and I've gone to my first national FBLA conference in Orlando, FL.  I became a mentor in the Globaloria program, and I attended evaluations for virtual school.  (There are many high school classes available online through WV Virtual School, even career technical courses!)

Personally, I replaced my refrigerator and cleaned out my closet and kitchen cabinets.  I haven't been to one single yard sale (which is unusual), and I haven't read any books at all (also unusual).  In about 2 weeks, we will be heading back to school.  It's hard to believe that the summer has passed so quickly!  (I'm a little sad about that, and I'm sure you are, too!)  I hope your summer was great...  see you soon!

New School Year, New Priorities

This coming school year will be just as exciting for me as the previous two years.  This represents my third year teaching, and my second year in the Globaloria program.  Somehow, I still feel like all of this is new.  I have so many improvements to make, so many things still to learn.  I suppose I was like many students when I first became a teacher.  I thought that after so long, that I would know everything; there would be this magical process by which I would have all of the knowledge that I need... and I would pass that on to students.  Ta-Da... Poof!  (Magic, right?)

In reality, there is no magic unless you make it.  I have continued to learn and improve on my skills, have determined that I have much improvement to make, and I can never let myself get stale.  I want to use Web 2.0 technology to improve my teaching, and I want to have more interactive projects in my classrooms to improve student learning.

So just like every other journey, I keep going, I keep taking one step at a time.  The important thing is, I keep taking steps, I keep moving forward.  I reject letting myself get stale, I welcome challenges... I look forward to Globaloria year two!

Summer 2011

How is your summer going?  Mine has been a whirlwind!  I have been to training... on vacation... and to an FBLA Conference.  I have only been at home for about 5 days this summer!  I still have another conference in Nashville, more training, and some girl time with my "bestie" in Houston scheduled for just before school starts back.

Summer is a great time for reconnecting and refreshing skills.  I really enjoy reading, and haven't had much time to do that this summer, at least not in reading a novel.... but I have been reading online and re-reading marketing material so that I can earn an additional teaching certification.

What have you done to stretch yourself this summer?  What have you done to learn and keep growing?

Flash animation

Just a cute little Flash movie that I saw that I thought some of you might enjoy!

Wrap Up

All of our games are in the wiki Game Gallery.  Go check them out!  Be sure to look at West Virginia Extravaganza by Lindsey Losh and The Debate by David Green. Both were finalists in the Globaloria Civics Game Competition.  Congratulations Lindsey and David!

This has been a great semester, and I have learned right along with the students.  I hope everyone has a great summer!

TED Talks

I am so addicted to TED Talks! 

When people go to conferences, no matter their profession, they pay hundreds of dollars in registration fees, and additional hundreds in travel and related expenses to have information provided to them by experts in their field.  With TED Talks, the cost is reduced to $0!  These talks can be viewed online at the convenience of the viewer, repeated as necessary, viewed in an educational setting, or whatever is the wish of the viewer.

Wikipedia explains the premise of how the TED Talks work.  The TED training sessions can be on anything from science to social issues.  (There are many TED talks that address education issues in the 21st century.)  The speakers range from virtual unknowns to CEOs of major corporations to past presidents of the United States.  The talks are then shared through a creative commons license with anyone who is interested in viewing online.

I think the basic message with sharing and rebroadcasting TED Talks is that people need to be more efficient in the use of human resources.  In other words, why reinvent the wheel?  If the talk has been given and it was beneficial, then why not share the information with others that it could also help?

This being said, some people need to have training or talks in person, one-on-one, or they may just enjoy the setting of a conference.  (Especially when it is January and the conference is in Orlando!)  I don't think face-to-face conferences will never be replaced, however, when you are looking for more bang for your buck, what could be better than a free conference or "talk" from some of the best speakers in the world?

Broaden your horizons... view a TED Talk today!

Getting a Little Behind...

It is the nature of some people to get behind in their work, and most people do it at least occassionally.  Staying ahead or at least caught up, though, can help you to keep stress levels to a minimum, and can improve your outlook, and even your grades!  If you work ahead, there will be more of a chance for teachers to help you and to see work that has been completed and make recommendations for improvements.  If you turn in work late, though, you have less or no time to make modifications and improvements.

In Game Design II, the students (and the teacher!) did very well at maintaining progress at the beginning of the semester, but we have all slacked off the last couple of months.  The time is here, though, to work hard to finish out the rest of the semester.  Work with me, now... buckle down and finish the year out strong!  Your games have the potential to be fantastic, and every person in the class has the ability to make an A for this nine weeks, all you have to do is make up your mind to do it and follow through!

Please help!

I don't know what to blog about...  What do you guys want to read about?

Proud Momma had a "Fabulous" Conference!

Today, I returned from the WV FBLA Leadership Conference with pride in my heart and a lot on my mind.  Our Randolph Technical Center FBLA chapter sent 11 students to state competition.  We brought home 3 state champions in David Green and David Wegman (Game Programming and Simulation) and Leah Armstrong (Public Speaking I).  We also have the new WV FBLA State President in our chapter, David Wegman!  These accomplishments give us so much to be proud of, but they are not all that is on my mind... 

Over the last couple of days, I have gotten to know many of our members better.  I have gained a few new nicknames, I have laughed uncontrollably with you, and I have been brought to tears by you, both out of pride and out of heartbreak.  I hope that the members know that I am proud of all of them.  I hope you know that I understand how hard you worked and how much you stressed over your competitions.  I am proud to be a teacher and advisor for each of my students.  If you work hard and you do the best job that you can do, then you are all champions to me.

That being said, everyone should realize that if they want to achieve more, they have only to work harder.  In the emotional and gripping words of Leah... Nothing is impossible.  We all need to remove that word from our dictionary!  If you didn't qualify to make it to Orlando for the National Conference in 2011, what will stop you from getting to San Antonio in 2012?  Only you can answer that question!

It's mine, it's all mine! Muahahahaha!

Well... okay it's technically ours.  Did you know that the wiki we use is OURS?  We can change it to make it look the way we like it.  It should be interesting to look at, it's our virtual classroom!

While I'm mentioning making things new... you should check out the Globaloria site, they have some new things on there.  Our whole process of learning in this class is discussed on the site, and described in this picture:

There is more to it than that, though!  We are working online so others can check our work virtually, there isn't much that we need paper for, so we are working green.  We are using new tools like our awesome new Wacom Bamboo drawing boards, and we are learning from each other.

Can I share a little secret with you?  You know how everyone always tells teenagers, "Just wait until you get out into the real world, then you'll see!"  Well... welcome to the real world.  I know you aren't paying the bills yet, but this is how the real world works.  You get the tools you need to complete the job, then you work with others to make sure you are open to all ideas, and then you do the best job that you can.  That is the real world!  (Without the bills and responsibility, but hey, you're just teenagers, right?)

Play to Learn article from Scholastic

I know that I have bombarded you with articles to read lately, but I just keep coming across good things to read!  Take a look at this Scholastic article about Playing to Learn.  This article says exactly what I have been telling you in our classroom, something you already know.  Kids love to play games... if they learn while they are playing, that is okay with them, and it works!

We Are Connected

I read a New York Times article about soldiers being connected to home through internet and cellular service.  The article brought up some interesting points about the connectivity that soldiers have through current technology.  Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Skype, and even Blogger allow soldiers to remain in touch with family members like they have never been able to in the past.  There are advantages and disadvantages to this connectivity... the article points them out, but what can you think of that would be an advantage?  a disadvantage?  Why would these things be good or bad for someone who is at war?