{"id":64,"date":"2015-04-21T18:36:05","date_gmt":"2015-04-21T18:36:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/melissaramon\/?p=64"},"modified":"2015-04-22T01:47:20","modified_gmt":"2015-04-22T01:47:20","slug":"ok-go-slow-down-fast-forward-top-gear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/melissaramon\/2015\/04\/21\/ok-go-slow-down-fast-forward-top-gear\/","title":{"rendered":"OK GO! Slow Down… Fast Forward… Top Gear"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Worldvuze\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s loud. \u00a0It’s full of energy. \u00a0It can seem chaotic if you don’t understand it.<\/p>\n

That’s my grade 7 Language Arts Class.<\/p>\n

It was this class that I chose to work with for my Cohort21 Action Plan. \u00a0My intentions were simple: \u00a0to encourage more boys to read and for them to engage in a novel study that was unlike the old, familiar beat-a-book-into-the-ground routine. \u00a0I added a few layers on: \u00a0a global connection (using WorldVuze<\/a>) and an opportunity to use their work to give something positive to the wider world. \u00a0Then some classic LA bits were sprinkled in: \u00a0vocabulary building sessions, and Big Blog Thinking Questions.<\/p>\n

The result was some inspiring work by a great group of boys. \u00a0Several of them were excited about the simple accomplishment of finishing a work of fiction. \u00a0Others went on to read sequels and trilogies. \u00a0All of them enjoyed the empowerment of choice and the flexing of their creativity.<\/p>\n

I learned a lot through this process. \u00a0It was a challenge to provide enough time for the boys to accomplish their goals without losing their focus and energy. \u00a0It was also difficult to establish evaluation criteria that would honour the individuality that was the heart of each project. \u00a0We worked through these challenges collaboratively as a team, solving the problems together as they arose.<\/p>\n

In order to share the final product (almost<\/em>… the last\u00a0bit isn’t quite done, yet!), I decided to push myself into some tech areas that I haven’t yet explored. \u00a0I used the Android App Framelapse <\/a><\/strong>to document the process and Movie Maker<\/strong> to pull it all together with help and consultation from students who have experience with them. \u00a0I enjoyed the process of producing a quick film about our Journey<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

Link to Video:<\/p>\n