Posts Tagged CUE
The Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education
Digital Media Academy News + Events | April 2nd, 2009 by Margaret Lim
Recently I became aware of the Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education, a non-profit organization based in the Los Angeles area. The organization furthers the legacy and creativity of Mary Pickford, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Institute has a public research library, in addition to offering educational initiatives using film, video and digital media. Their hope, according to their website, is “to empower students by helping them realize they have a voice that is worthy of being heard.”
At the CUE Conference in Palm Springs, we met Andi Hicks, director for the Mary Pickford Institute. In what follows, she tells about the Institute’s two Mobile Classrooms and reflects on her experience in meeting DMA instructors at CUE:
The Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education’s educational outreach program is designed to “Ignite an Excitement for Learning” by introducing the world of digital media to students through our two Mobile Film Classrooms. Each of our production studios on wheels is fully equipped to teach 21st Century learning skills to students in Grades 3 – 12. (although we have had great success with kindergarteners and special needs children and adults, as well.) Our buses provide total environments where students can focus on learning both technical skills and the art of creative storytelling. Technically, students learn basic camera operation, graphic composition and placement, computer competency, how to digitize and manage data, video and audio editing, information gathering through the internet, and how to output and upload. Most importantly, students learn that they have a voice and one that is worthy of being heard. Scholastically, students are encouraged to use and expand their knowledge of math, language, geography, science and history to augment their storytelling skills. We feel we have created an educational interface to carry students from the classroom to their unique place global community.
I was personally thrilled to discover DMA. And I became even more enthusiastic after attending two 20-min. “pop-out” sessions (Adding music in FCP and Basic Camera Techniques). The instructors were succinct experts who took a personal interest in each attendee. What I learned in those 40 minutes is invaluable, and I will make use of every tip and instruction in not only in my own work, but also while working with others.
I know that concentrated professional training through DMA can only result in the ability for the teachers and staff at the Mary Pickford Institute to become even more proficient and enable us to provide a higher quality of instruction and inspiration to our students. I look forward to a long and exciting future between the Digital Media Academy and The Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education.
Andi Hicks
Director, Mary Pickford Institute
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How Three Days Made a Difference: On-line learning vs. DMA
Digital Media Academy News + Events | March 27th, 2009 by Margaret Lim
Melissa Hughes is an elementary school educator and web developer in the San Diego area. She recently attended the Computer Using Educators (CUE) conference in Palm Springs. Hear her comparison of on-line learning vs. the hands-on experience of DMA:
I have been an elementary educator for over ten years. This past year, I went on child-rearing leave from the classroom. I am concurrently using this sabbatical to earn an online masters degree in Educational Technology from San Diego State University. When it occurred to me that I was in the position to attend the annual CUE conference in Palm Springs, I jumped at the opportunity.
One of the very first details I noticed from the CUE schedule was the amount of training sessions hosted by Digital Media Academy. I had never heard of them, but was impressed by the session descriptions. One was an introduction to Dreamweaver. How timely since one of my recent masters courses was in web design. I recalled how much I enjoyed getting my first taste of Dreamweaver, yet frustrated that the online delivery method of that course had left me with more questions than answers. I had ended the semester having created my first website. However, it was all done by a written tutorial, so I didn’t feel like I had a firm understanding of what I had actually done! What if I wanted to revise my site? Customize it? The class never addressed updates or latest features in the program. Perhaps DMA would be able to clarify in three days what I had been struggling with understanding in three months.
Wow! What an understatement. Even though online learning may be the hot thing nowadays, there is something to be said about learning in a physical classroom. The teachers at DMA used their classrooms for just that: personal learning. They didn’t come across like tech geeks in teacher’s clothing. They didn’t talk down to you if you didn’t understand. Most of all, they were patient. The Dreamweaver session was not a lecture, but a hands-on workshop. The hour-long session wasn’t filled with presenter adlibs, but actual practice with the application. How often does one get to work with state-of-the-art equipment at a conference, for free?! Even the mini 20-minute sessions in the CUE exhibit hall were packed full of information. I walked away from their trainings feeling like I learned more there than I ever did in that college semester.
If or when I decide to go back into the classroom, I know I will be going back energized by what I learned at CUE 2009. It certainly will not be my last CUE conference. For me, it is only the beginning with Digital Media Academy. I am anxious to take their summer course on web design in San Diego. Through it, I hope to help my husband’s small graphics business expand his services. Down the road, I one day plan to open an after-school technology center for elementary school students. Either way, DMA has laid yet another foundation for my ongoing study of technology in the 21st century.
Melissa Hughes
Elementary School Teacher
San Diego, CA
Technology at the forefront of Life Long Learning
Digital Media Academy News + Events | March 22nd, 2009 by Lara
Janet Armstrong is a high school teacher at Adrian Wilcox High School in Santa Clara, California. She recently attended CUE (Computer Using Educators), where she learned of DMA. Seeing the importance of technology in today’s world and the importance of keeping up with and teaching the latest technology to her students, she is going to take a DMA course this summer to advance her skills. The following is her views on technology in the classroom:
Schools have seen the need to educate students to make appropriate, efficient, and productive use of available technologies. At the same time they are compelled to reduce the digital divide that exists between higher and lower socioeconomic groups of students, giving them all access to the same tools. Consequently, as the tools advance, educators must be at the forefront of life long learning.
Life long learning is a phrase that has been buzzing around academia for the last decade. It’s a mindset educators must have to stay connected to the ever-evolving technology that seems to grow exponentially each year. Teachers and administrators MUST stay abreast these advances or they will quickly find themselves fossils.
Skills once reserved only for high school students are more appropriate today for middle school students. This has created the opportunity to expose high school students to cutting edge technologies that are fun, interesting and highly engaging. At Wilcox High School in Santa Clara we are opening two new digital media courses that will employ the use of Adobe CS4 products to teach web design, digital image editing, digital storytelling, and publication design. To be a proficient teacher I must become a proficient user of these tools. This summer Digital Media Academy at Stanford will prepare me to be such a teacher. The Introduction to Web Design with Adobe CS4 – Dreamweaver, Flash & Photoshop course will enhance my current skills as I learn the latest version of these programs to design lessons and activities for my students.
Life today is complex and diverse. As never before, communication involves the constant use of visuals, sound, and action. The digital age is here and education has the responsibility to prepare our children to use the tools today and into the future. Thankfully, the Digital Media Academy is available to assist with this process.
Janet Armstrong
Adrian Wilcox High School
A technology teacher's reflection …
Digital Media Academy News + Events | March 19th, 2009 by Margaret Lim
Karen Sparks is an elementary school teacher at Horizon Prep in Rancho Santa Fe, CA (in North County San Diego). She recently attended a DMA workshop at the CUE Conference in Palm Springs and will be taking a DMA course in the summer to further her skills and her passion for using technology in the classroom. The following is her reflection of her experience in a hands-on class in video editing, taught by Tom Wolsky:
My reason for taking the Final Cut Pro class was to increase my knowledge of the Final Cut Pro software. DMA has a wonderful reputation, and I have wanted to attend a workshop at the CUE conference. I currently teach K-5th grades and teach the iLife suite including iMovie. My goal for my students is to make sure that I am preparing my students for Middle School and High School by learning programs such as Final Cut Pro and Photoshop.
I really enjoyed the Final Cut Pro workshop given by Tom Wolsky at the conference. The room was packed with other educators and the group easily digested the lesson. The pace was appropriate and the group enjoyed making the movie including the Sea World footage. We learned how to select the footage for our project and to import music and titles. Tom reviewed the keyboard short cuts for the most frequently used commands and showed us how much easier it is to learn the keyboard commands than trying to find each command in the menu bar. Tom was very patient with the questions form the class and was able to explain himself very concisely. Final Cut Pro offers so much flexibility and creative room to really express oneself. Final Cut Pro allows for so much control over the media and offers so much potential for one’s project.
The staff from Digital Media Academy was very helpful and knowledgeable. DMA has many interesting courses this summer including weeklong sessions on a cruise in Mexico or the Caribbean. How cool would it be to take classes while on a cruise? I am thinking about taking the cruise to the Caribbean this summer and visiting some wonderful places while being able to learn Final Cut Pro.
In this economy it is so important to continue to improve your skills and taking classes through DMA is a step in the right direction.
Karen Sparks
Horizon Prep
Student Technology Showcase at CUE
Digital Media Academy News + Events | March 7th, 2009 by Margaret Lim
Traditionally on the last day of the annual CUE conference, selected students from various regions of California have an opportunity to present projects as part of the CTAP Student Technology Showcase Program. The California Technology Assistance Program (CTAP) is funded by the California Department of Education and is divided into eleven regions covering the entire state. CTAP provides assistance in integrating technology into teaching and learning, especially in the core content areas. Every year at CUE, the CTAP Student Technology Showcase is an opportunity for teachers across the country to be inspired by real life examples of student work, presented by the students themselves!
I had an opportunity to talk today with three eighth grade students from Abraham Lincoln Middle School in Fresno County, CA. Trent Viau, Celeste Mendoza, Ally Miller and Colton Pierce (not present in the photo) showcased a ten-minute video on General Sherman and his Civil War March to the Sea. I was drawn to their video because of the professionalism of their work. Upon talking to these students, I learned that their documentary had won an award in the 2007 National History Day Contest. Focusing on the contest’s theme of “conflict and compromise,” the documentary asks whether General Sherman’s March to the Sea was “morally correct.” When asked about their conclusion, Trent commented that “it was for a greater good.”
In addition to being impressed with their critical thinking skills, I was inspired by how much work these students put into creating this piece. They started the summer before the 2007-8 school year and spent most of “their own time,” especially weekends, to work on this. They relied on one parent’s computer and created the whole documentary using iMovie and GarageBand. What impressed me about their work was the smoothness of their transitions, the use of historical photos and artifacts, and the eloquent narration. I felt like I was watching the History Channel.
This story is just one example of how technology integrates well with teaching in the core content areas. With the use of video editing and audio recording, history is literally coming alive for thousands of students across California and across the nation. To be further inspired, I would encourage watching the online version of the Student Technology Showcase.
Award Winning Illustrator Peter H. Reynolds at CUE!
Digital Media Academy News + Events | March 6th, 2009 by Margaret Lim
Today at the CUE conference in Palm Springs, I had the unique honor of meeting Peter H. Reynolds, an award winning author and illustrator of children’s books and creator of animation software for children. I waited in line for a long time to ask him to sign a copy of The Dot, one of his most popular books. When I got to the front of the line, I found out why I had waited so long. In addition to signing each book and writing a personal message, Peter took the time to include a unique illustration in each book he signed!
At a conference focused on technology and the latest in creative software, it was wonderful to see that the most popular items purchased today were children’s books written and illustrated by Peter Reynolds. In fact, the book that I originally wanted to purchase and have signed, Someday, had sold out on the first day of CUE! Those who have read Peter’s books know why they are so popular. Peter’s books leave an uplifting message in the hearts of readers, regardless of age. For example, The Dot is the first in a trilogy that teaches readers that we all have the ability to explore creative expression and our fullest human potential. As the book says, “Make your mark, and see where it takes you.”
As Peter Reynolds’ website and blog explain, his mission is “helping kids, especially the ‘off the path’ kids.” He says he was “one of them,” until he was caught drawing in class by a seventh grade teacher who saw his potential and encouraged him further (rather than reprimand him!) That experience began his exploration of comic art and animation. Many years later, Peter would start FableVision, a company focused on creating educational software and animation films. One of their main products, an animation software program called Animation-ish, is designed to have kids animating their drawings in a few short, simple steps! Students can design animations for movies, websites and greeting cards. I myself plan on playing with Animation-ish in the next few weeks and seeing if it might have a good place in our Jr. Adventures in Digital Art and Filmmaking class for kids ages 7-9.
As I wrap up a long day at CUE, where I talked to many people on a variety of topics, I have to say that meeting Peter Reynolds was the highlight of my day. And as I remember that long line that formed to meet him, it is clear that I was not the only adult lost in the wonderful world of children’s literature.
Bert Corona Charter Schools
Digital Media Academy News + Events | March 5th, 2009 by Margaret Lim
Today we began the first of three days at the national conference of Computer Using Educators (CUE) in Palm Springs, CA. What makes this conference unique is the opportunity to hear stories from teachers around the country about how technology is changing education and inspiring student success. Today I had the privilege of talking with Ruben Duenas, Principal of the Bert Corona Charter Middle School in Pacoima, CA. Last year, Ruben sent 15 of his top students to DMA at Stanford University, where students took Adventures in Web Design and Flash. This year, Ruben plans to send another group of 15 middle school students to UCLA for Web Design and Flash Animation for Teens. In the meantime, the group he sent last year is trying to fund raise their way back to another DMA class!
Many of these students come from families that would not be able to send their children to a program like DMA without the encouragement and support of the Bert Corona School. Many of these students, in fact, will hopefully be the first in their family to go to college. The DMA experience thus provides a very unique opportunity for these students to experience college life while gaining new skills in a creative environment. The hope is that these young minds will be inspired and will gain confidence through discovering new interests – interests that lead to truly marketable skills. Furthermore, the college campus experience motivates students to work hard and be college-bound. Ruben’s efforts to send students to DMA for a summer learning experience is consistent with the overall mission of the Bert Corona Charter Schools. As their website explains, “the Bert Corona Charter School seeks to close the achievement gap for urban students in grades 6-8 and equip students for academic success, active community participation and life-long learning.”
What I appreciate about Ruben is that he is trying to narrow the achievement gap in several ways. In addition to providing a unique opportunity for low-income families, he is narrowing in on the gender gap as well. In both 2008 and 2009, he has sent more girls than boys, thus painting the picture to these girls that learning about technology is for everyone!
For more information about our presence at the CUE conference, go to a recent post by Phil Gibson.
Going to the CUE Conference & Training with my MacBook Air!
Digital Media Academy News + Events | March 2nd, 2009 by Philip Harding
Written by Jaime Walden of the John Lennon Bus
Hello Blog,
Today is a wonderful day. Thanks to the Digital Media Academy, I will now be traveling in style with my new MacBook Air. Or, as Brian calls it, “Our first MBA!” MACGyver and myself will be taking our first trip together to Palm Springs, CA for CUE 2009 March 5-7. Over the course of our days there, we’ll be conducting a high school recording session and video premiere, giving tours, and holding “Ask the Expert” video production, web design, iLife, and special effects demos with the Digital Media Academy at our booth. Stop by and say hello, MACGyver and I will be the two smallest ones there.
On Mama’s Jukebox: Elliott Smith – “Ballad of Big Nothing”
Gender Equity in Education
Digital Media Academy News + Events | February 23rd, 2009 by Margaret Lim
I recently read a report commissioned by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Educational Foundation called Gender Gaps: Where Schools Still Fail Our Children. The report is a follow up to their first report, How Schools Shortchange Girls. While the report acknowledges that schools have made progress in providing an equitable education for both boys and girls, some concerns still remain.
The report examines several areas, including how many girls are taking math and science classes, the use of technology among girls, risk issues and preparedness for the workforce. I found the issue of technology use among girls to be particularly interesting. As the report mentions, “Girls make up only a small percentage of students in computer science and computer design classes. The gender gap widens from grade eight to eleven. Girls are significantly more likely than boys to enroll in clerical and data-entry classes, the 1990s version of typing, and less likely to enroll in advanced computer science and graphics courses.”
This concerns me, especially since more and more jobs and careers involve the use of computer technology. As the report says, “A competitive nation cannot allow girls to write off technology as exclusively male domain.”
The report makes several suggestions on how to alleviate this concern. They primarily target teacher professional development, stating “teachers need guidance on how to use classroom technologies to advance the dual goals of excellent and equitable education.” The word that stands out to me in this statement is “equitable.” While we as a society have long recognized the effectiveness of technology on learning in the classroom, how many of us see it as an issue of equity? This is a powerful idea.
Having myself taught in an elementary school classroom, I can attest to the difference between technology being introduced in the primary grades (such as kindergarten or first grade) compared to older grades (such as high school). The earlier technology is introduced into the classroom, the more equitable the access. Walk into any first grade classroom, for example, and you will find kids feeling free to participate in any activity. The later technology is introduced into the classroom, the wider the gap. Hence why there are fewer girls than boys enrolling in high school computer science classes.
However, if more middle and elementary school teachers began using technology in the classroom, imagine how the gap would narrow and how many more girls would have equitable access. To do this, we need district administrators, principals and teachers to see the value in professional development for teachers. We need to see more teachers at annual conferences like the Computer Using Educators (CUE) Conference in Palm Springs or online at webinars hosted by organizations like T.H.E Journal, a publication that focuses on technology implementation in K-12 schools and districts. Or what if across the country, computer classes hosted by the Digital Media Academy became a meeting place for teachers to inspire each other with ideas for reaching students through technology?
Because our courses are offered for Stanford University Continuing Studies units, many of our locations, like Stanford University, The University of Texas at Austin, or Darlington, South Carolina, are already annual meeting places for teachers. Many are taking classes like Web Design, Digital Filmmaking and Storytelling Bootcamp, Final Cut Pro (film editing), or Digital Photography and Photoshop. What would be greatly encouraging, however, is to see our programs be not just a meeting place for some teachers, but a meeting place for all teachers. An investment in each teacher’s professional development has a multiplying effect. Imagine the power that would be unleashed every September if teachers, refreshed and retrained through the summer, walked into classrooms all over the country with new ideas on how to apply technology into their everyday curriculum. As a society, we may actually move towards equity in education. And as the AAUW Educational Foundation wisely notes, “equity is the key to excellence in education.”
