TeachOIT: a Blog for People Who Teach with Technology

Sister Blog that is asking for people to join the conversation about Digital Storytelling best practices.

Lessons Learned about Digital Storytelling: "We had the opportunity to work with several classes last semester that were using Digital Storytelling for student projects. Here are some lessons we have learned that will hopefully help facilitate any Digital Storytelling project your students might undertake"

Digital Storytelling Goes Hollywood

Digital Storytelling Goes Hollywood: A short interview with Joe Brennan, who teaches Digital Storytelling at Wilkes University.

A beautiful listing of 21st Century Skills

Ruth Reynard really breaks it down in this good 'overview' article over at THE Journal. I especially enjoyed how she lays out 21st Century Skills in great detail (aka the Skills employeers are looking for). Web 2.0 Tools and K-12 Challenges

Most teachers are also aware that their students already posses technology skills that they do not possess but remain unclear as to how those skills can be integrated into their specific instructional discipline. While the larger issues of funding and teacher resourcing will continue to be very real challenges we must face, I would suggest that teachers should focus not so much on the technology skills their students already possess, but on the transferable life skills that these technology tools can develop in students when handled well by teachers within instructional contexts.

Could be very useful for anyone trying to map out funding priorities - and how technology will fit in.

The Shortie Awards

The Shortie Awards is Calling all Student Filmmakers! Call for Entries 03 April 2009!

The Shortie Awards: Student Film and News Festival is seeking international entries from all student and teacher filmmakers and news producers.

The Shortie Awards is a FREE festival recognizing original digital media productions created by student filmmakers, ages 7-18, and their teachers. The festival focuses on nurturing imagination and choice making in students.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 03 April 2009

Entry Form: http://www.shortie.org/festival/submit

Films may be no longer than 10 minutes - Fact or fiction.

The entry categories are in festival are:

. Live Action: Narrative, Documentary, Experimental, PSA, Music Video, or Other
. Animation: Stop-Motion, Claymation, Machinima, Digital, or Other
. Daily News Broadcast

The age categories are in festival are:

. 7-10 years old (2nd to 5th grade)
. 11-14 years old (6th to 8th grade)
. 15-18 years old (9-12th grade)
. K-12 teachers

THE ENTRY FORM AND GUIDELINES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE WEBSITE AS WELL AS DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT AT WWW.SHORTIE.ORG.

International applicants: contact abaer@mhznetworks.org for alternative mailing methods.

Lifehacker wants your votes

Hive Five Call For Contenders: Best Video Editing Software?: "The digitization of film has taken elaborate editing out of the care of those with access to expensive editing equipment and placed it within the realm of the average consumer. This week we want to hear about your favorite video editing software. What tools help you turn raw video into a polished product?"

The Contest Has Launched

Youth: sign up to upload your video and vote for your favorites!
iTeachers: help your youth to create videos and posters and enter them.
Deadline is April 15 - tax day!

MO Project
MO Project is a contest about a movement. Californians are making neighborhoods healthier and we want to hear from you. Join in! Think about what's working, what's not working, and how to make it better. Your short films and posters will be shown to state and local representatives to help shape future funding and laws.

Make a short film or a poster and enter today!