Math & Me - Digital Story Telling

Assignment Description:

This is an assignment that I will use during the first week of the fall 2016 semester for an online math class. The purpose of this assignment is for me to get acquainted with my students and their journey with math up until this point. Because I teach Math Support, a lot of my students struggle with math in one way or another. Math anxiety is a real issue and several of my students unfortunately suffer from it. This activity will give my students a chance to tell me their story; explain to me their relationship with math, be it good or bad, and how that relationship has transformed over the years they spent in school. In the past, I have tried to gain this information from my students in the form of a math study skills book, but I have found that they do not really like to write about why they are bad at/why the hate math. So, I believe that this will give them the opportunity to express themselves creatively in the way they want to and hopefully allow them to have a little fun while creating this digital story. It will also help me recognize their potential and help them individually in the areas that they struggle.

Below is what the students will see!_________________________________________________________________________

Digital Story Telling: Math & Me

Assigned: Monday, August 15th
Due: Monday, August 29th 11:59pm

Hello class and welcome to Math 1107 online! As I am sure you all know, not everyone loves math. Some of us struggle for a number of reasons; fear of math, poor teachers in the past, a dislike for numbers, past failures and the list can go on. Since this is an online class, and I may or may not actually meet you in person, it can be hard for me to get to know the specific needs of each of you. In order for me to get to know you before we actually get down to business, I ask that each of you tell me your own math story.

To do this, you will be creating a digital story, in the form of a video, in which you explain to me in detail your relationship/experiences with math from a young age all the way up until today. This is YOUR story and you are free to tell it as you see fit, provided you follow the guidelines below: (Also, before you begin, please review the grading rubric)

• Create this video using Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Movie Maker, or YouTube. Use selected technology correctly and appropriately.
   
• Story must cover your life span: starting with you as a young child, through elementary, middle, high school, and college up until now. (This can be a quick progression, do not spend too much time on any one stage)
  
  
• The purpose of this story is to explain to me in detail your relationship with math, be it good or bad, and how that relationship has transformed over the years you have spent in school (and out, if necessary). Your story needs to tell me about your experiences with math so far. Examples can be but are not limited to: good math teachers, bad math teachers, bad testing experiences, bad grades, good grades, a fear of math, a love of math, encouragement from teachers or parents, discouragement from teachers or parent. Basically how you arrived at your feelings for math today. ANYTHIING you think is relevant to YOUR story, I want to know!
  
  
• Story should be between 3 and 10 minutes in length.
  
  
• Use your own voice to narrate your story. Make sure to speak clearly and concisely, and use fluctuation to make your story more dramatic and relatable.
  
  
• Make sure to pace yourself. Try not to speak too quickly or too slowly.
  
  
• Use images that relate to and help you tell your story efficiently. These can be your own pictures, images that create metaphors, or even cartoons. (A lot of freedom here)
  
  
• Use some sort of background music. Make sure that it is not too loud and overbearing, but also not too soft that you are unable to hear it. Also make sure that the music goes along with your story line and helps to set the mood.
  
  
• Complete and submit presentation (or link) to me via email by the due date 8-29-2016
  
• Please review the Math & Me Rubric before getting started.

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at asmith18@fairmontstate.edu and I will be happy to help! Please keep in mind the due date and have fun with this project!

*Please view My Struggle with Mathematics as an example.


**Please view 7 Elements of Digital Story Telling to get a better understanding of how to make your story pop!

***And when all is said an done, please view I Don't Know ("Let It Go" Math Parody) for a laugh!!

My Digital Literacy Story

My Digital Literacy Story:  

Media Literacy Autobiography

Media Literacy Autobiography Storyboard

media literacy autobiography storyboard

Any and all advice / comments are welcomed!
Thank you!!

Brainstorming my Media Literacy Autobiography

BRAINSTORMING!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

My relationship with media has pretty much been the same throughout my life. As a kid, I didn't spend a lot of time emerged in different types of media. I didn't get sucked into advertisements and want things because I saw them on TV. As a teen, much the same can be said. As an adult, I'm even more disconnected from certain media like television and radio. I do watch TV shows and a lot of football. None of the shows that I watch have an effect on my real life. I watch them then I go on about my business. I mean, it’s fake. There is no room in my life to be worrying about fictional characters/plots. I mute commercials during TV programs and I listen to Sirius radio to avoid adds and commercials. I am much, much more involved in using social media as an adult, mainly Facebook, but it doesn't sway me one way or the other. I don't let it have an impact on my life at all. I take it for its face value, and usually don't think any deeper than what I can see. This class, obviously, is not the case. I have had to deconstruct images, something that I found to be very tricky simply because it’s something that I have never had to do before. It has made me realize that there is a lot more meaning behind images and text than what just meets my eyes immediately. I have since tried to look at something and think of a few different points of view about it. Honestly, I still have a hard time deconstruction images and don’t really spend much time doing it. But, as far as using media in the classroom, I am completely on board! I am constantly looking for new ways for me to implement technology and media in my math classes. I think that this is something that I will always be working on as the technology use from students increases and we as educators are bringing more and more into our classrooms.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

What are your earliest recollections of watching television, going to the movies or listening to the radio? 
The earliest memory of going to the movies was in 1993 when I went to see Homeward Bound. I think that I remember that so much because I cried and hated the movie because it was too sad for my 6 year old heart to handle!

What commercials or advertisements do still remember from your childhood?
Honestly, as a kid, I just didn't watch a lot of TV. Nothing that I can think of made a lasting impression on me. I watched Nickelodeon more than anything. We lived in the middle of the woods and when the weather was nice, we were outside. I didn't have a TV in my room, so when I did watch TV, 98% of the time it was what my parents were watching.

Do you remember desperately wanting to buy something as a child based on an advertisement? What was it? Why did you want it?
The only thing that I can remember wanting solely off of advertisement was the PC game The Sims. I wanted it because I thought it looked cool and that it would be a fun game!

What are your earliest recollections of using social media?
AIM messenger all the way! I would say I was in middle school when we first got a desktop computer and it came with AOL. I had a few friends that I would regularly communicate on AIM with.

Describe a negative experience with social media?
The negative thing, for me, about social media is just the thoughtless posts that people make. I did my PSA about stopping, thinking, and then posting. I stand by this that wish that people would just THINK how their actions could hurt others.

Describe a positive experience with social media?
For me, the best thing about social media is being able to keep in touch with friends and family that I don't get to see often. Even my grandma has a facebook!

Describe your current media viewing habits (binge watching Netflix shows on iPad).
WHEN I do watch Netflix, I tend to watch 3-4 episodes at a time. I share an account with my sister (an we are cheap-o's so we opted for our account to only let one TV use it at a time) so sometimes I don't have access to it because she is using it. I have a kindle, which I use to surf the web, and rarely read a book. I also have a laptop, which I use for school and online shopping.

Do you have a favorite commercial or advertisement? 
No, I don't. I find commercials extremely annoying and almost ALWAYS just press mute until my program comes back on.

Have you bought something recently because of an advertisement? 
No. Maybe I'm crazy, but I am just not swayed by commercials. I buy something IF I want it, regardless of the advertisement I see for it.

What have you read or heard recently on the radio, TV or Internet that has caused you to have a strong reaction? Describe and explain.
Sadly, the attacks in Paris was the last thing that happened that had me glued to my TV. Obviously, it is a terrible event and I just gobbled up all the info I could from the news on it.

What role has media played in your life?
Not a large role at all. More as a child, but as a teen and adult, not significant at all. I watch TV, movies, and things like that, but I just take it for what it is. It's just a TV show, it's JUST a movie. I don't like fake things have real impacts on my life. If a major character is killed of, I just kinda think "OK, should be interesting to see how this plays out" where as some people think the show is ruined and the vow never to watch it again. Basically, I feel like this: I watch Grey's Anatomy for an hour and then it's over and I'm like "ok, watch you again in a week" then I go about my business. Media does not rule my life, I'm not glued to the TV or my phone, and when I don't have WiFi, it's most certainly NOT the end of the world!

Has your relationship with media changed over time?
As I have aged and matured, I am more removed from media. I have a Facebook, but I pay little attention to the stupid, rude, mean, ignorant posts that I see. I don't react on social media. That's not to say that I agree with or don't have an opinion about something. I just feel Facebook is no place to have an argument, or try to reason with people. I watch


Why is it important to incorporate media literacy into your current or future teaching practices?
It's important because it is the future. If we do not bring it into our classes, students will be less engaged and they will not have the chance to learn how to behave in the digital world.

How will you incorporate media literacy into your future teaching practices?
This is a tough one. Teaching math, I have struggled with this. I have incorporated some BB discussions into my class, as well as a few Ted Talks this semester. This is a good start, and I will always be looking for more ways to use media in my classes.

My Digital Story

My Digital Story (no revisions made)


I would like to thank you all for the positive remarks and the kinds words about the quality of my video. Thank you again!



Summary: 
This is a story of both the greatest thing in my life and the worst thing in my life combined. It's they story of how my family thrived and then dissipated. I know that there are a lot of people (children and adults) that go through similar experiences; all of which are different in their own way but all similar. This is mine.




Describe how your digital story might be used to do at least one of the following things:

1. Raise awareness- Divorce is all around us. People sometimes push it under the rug like its not a big deal. But it IS a big deal. Your life completely changes and sometimes it's just not an easy thing to "get over". I think that by bring this story to light I can connect people who feel the same or have had similar experiences and show them that they are not alone and that it is OK for adults to feel sad about their childhood family and home being ruined.

2. Build self-esteem- I like to think that if I can get through something like this, other people can, too. I hope that someone struggling like I did might see this as a little hope and make them feel like they will be alright in the end.

3. Create an alternative to a stereotype typically portrayed in mainstream media- I feel like in the media, divorce isn't properly shown. There is more to it than just a room at moms and a room at dads and twice as many presents! On TV divorced parents get along and sometimes both parents remarry and all the parents and the kids are just one big happy family. This is no always the case, and I'd like to see a little more true representation in the media.

4. Provide support for others- Again, I hope that anyone who sees this and is feeling alone or sad just knows that there are more people out there dealing with this than you may know.




Explain how digital storytelling can help individuals develop critical media literacy:

I think that by making our own digital stories, we have a better sense of critical media literacy. In order to make my story, I had to download and learn to navigate Windows Movie Maker, a program that I'd never heard of and definitely hadn't worked with. I gained new skills from this. I also feel that by watching other peoples videos, we are able to sharpen our viewing and responding skills. We now can watch with a purpose, and think about sights/sounds in a new way. Now I am able to take apart different types or media and think about with the images and sounds represent. I am able to provide positive reinforcement and give critiques based on a rubric. Basically, by being involved in digital storytelling, I think that people gain a deeper understanding of both what is actually being said and shown, and what is hiding between the lines.

Digital Story Rough Draft

Here is the link to my digital story on YouTube:

Digital Story

Storyboard for Digital Story

Link to my Storyboard.