It was a great experience. I love events where I'm surrounded by people who share my interests. Franko and I got to present for the first segment of the conference, which was great because after that we could just enjoy the rest of the event without having to worry. The presentation itself was...well, not what was expected. The animation that Franklin and I worked on only lasted about a minute and a half. We had to present for half an hour.
Basically, I started by introducing the presentation, telling them (Nick and four others) what it would be about, (Blogging in Education) and then we roled the video. So I kind of just stood there, watching Franko's animation and listening to my voiceover when I realized that it was almost the end and we still had 28 minutes to kill. So I started frantically analyzing our video and trying to think of things to talk about or reiterate from there. So the video ended, and there was an awkward silence for about half a second, (doesn't seem like long but I noiced it because I was freaking out on the inside) which I quickly broke by stating the obvious, which was something like: "And that was a brief description on the benefits of blogging in edcation." And from that point, I can't really tell you what I said, because I do this thing when I'm stressed and forced to talk. I start to use a much higher vocabulary and begin to over-describe everything. For instance, I'll be in social studies and I forgot to bring my current events assignment to school, but Mr. Nasshan doesn't notice until he puts us in groups and has us discuss, when he'll call me out on it in front of the class and go: "So Chris, what did you research for current events?" and instead of saying: "It was on black holes, but I left it at home," I'll say: "My currrent events topic was black holes and how they disturb an object's passage through time and space when one comes into close range with another, but unfortunately, due to the error of my memory, it appears that I have left my assignment at my household." I do this pretty much whenever I'm put on the spot by any teacher, and I'm afraid that it's pretty much a constant thing in math class unless it's one of those few times we're working in groups. So instead of getting tongue-tied, I suppose I get tongue-stretched? Tongue-inflated? Whatever. In this case, it was extremely helpful, as I was able to kill about eight minutes talking, and we killed another five or six as Franko explained the different blogging software and each one's benefits and uses. After that, Mrs. DLP allowed us to use her video (the one where you all used the iPads to film each other) as another way to explain blogging and it's impact on the students. I owe you all a big thanks for giving me plenty to talk about through analyzing your reactions to blogging. After the video was done I had plenty to talk about as I basically told everyone how blogging made you all feel and how it benefited you as a student. By the end of that, there were only about 5 minutes left and people began asking questions, which I was very grateful for. (Almost too grateful actually. Sometimes I'd try to answer someone's question before I had finished answering the person I had called on before them.) After the presentation ended, we all were just able to enjoy the rest of the conference and the information that other presenters had to offer. They fed us a snack, then lunch, then there was a raffle, it was all very fun. I really enjoyed the presentation on the ethics of hacktivism, and Aaron Swartz's life. I actually blogged about that same area a few weeks ago. We also went to this presentaion given on Prezi, which is a new presentation software that's better than Powerpoint and SlideRocket combined, mostly due to you ability to include voiceovers and music that lasts for more than one slide. Mrs. DLP was there watching that presentation as well, So we'll probably be using Prezi for school very soon. ( Might as well go to their site and learn about it now! Here's a link to an informative video: http://prezi.com/learn/ ) Overall, it was really fun and I'm super glad that I could attend. Definetely going back next year, when it will be the T.I.M. conference. (Technology In Motion)
Basically, I started by introducing the presentation, telling them (Nick and four others) what it would be about, (Blogging in Education) and then we roled the video. So I kind of just stood there, watching Franko's animation and listening to my voiceover when I realized that it was almost the end and we still had 28 minutes to kill. So I started frantically analyzing our video and trying to think of things to talk about or reiterate from there. So the video ended, and there was an awkward silence for about half a second, (doesn't seem like long but I noiced it because I was freaking out on the inside) which I quickly broke by stating the obvious, which was something like: "And that was a brief description on the benefits of blogging in edcation." And from that point, I can't really tell you what I said, because I do this thing when I'm stressed and forced to talk. I start to use a much higher vocabulary and begin to over-describe everything. For instance, I'll be in social studies and I forgot to bring my current events assignment to school, but Mr. Nasshan doesn't notice until he puts us in groups and has us discuss, when he'll call me out on it in front of the class and go: "So Chris, what did you research for current events?" and instead of saying: "It was on black holes, but I left it at home," I'll say: "My currrent events topic was black holes and how they disturb an object's passage through time and space when one comes into close range with another, but unfortunately, due to the error of my memory, it appears that I have left my assignment at my household." I do this pretty much whenever I'm put on the spot by any teacher, and I'm afraid that it's pretty much a constant thing in math class unless it's one of those few times we're working in groups. So instead of getting tongue-tied, I suppose I get tongue-stretched? Tongue-inflated? Whatever. In this case, it was extremely helpful, as I was able to kill about eight minutes talking, and we killed another five or six as Franko explained the different blogging software and each one's benefits and uses. After that, Mrs. DLP allowed us to use her video (the one where you all used the iPads to film each other) as another way to explain blogging and it's impact on the students. I owe you all a big thanks for giving me plenty to talk about through analyzing your reactions to blogging. After the video was done I had plenty to talk about as I basically told everyone how blogging made you all feel and how it benefited you as a student. By the end of that, there were only about 5 minutes left and people began asking questions, which I was very grateful for. (Almost too grateful actually. Sometimes I'd try to answer someone's question before I had finished answering the person I had called on before them.) After the presentation ended, we all were just able to enjoy the rest of the conference and the information that other presenters had to offer. They fed us a snack, then lunch, then there was a raffle, it was all very fun. I really enjoyed the presentation on the ethics of hacktivism, and Aaron Swartz's life. I actually blogged about that same area a few weeks ago. We also went to this presentaion given on Prezi, which is a new presentation software that's better than Powerpoint and SlideRocket combined, mostly due to you ability to include voiceovers and music that lasts for more than one slide. Mrs. DLP was there watching that presentation as well, So we'll probably be using Prezi for school very soon. ( Might as well go to their site and learn about it now! Here's a link to an informative video: http://prezi.com/learn/ ) Overall, it was really fun and I'm super glad that I could attend. Definetely going back next year, when it will be the T.I.M. conference. (Technology In Motion)