Blog 5 I feel that my progress is where it needs to be for the 5th week of production, but not where it needs to be to be finalize. I will admit that I am anxious to share my story just because it leaves me so emotionally drained and exposes my vulnerability with the passing of my Mom. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done in the next two weeks to be fully prepared for my presentation. 1. Final Review of the Story * Watch my digital story all the way through at least twice. * Check for smooth transitions, clear pacing, and correct spelling. * Make sure images, audio, and narration align well and tell a unified story. 2. Practice sharing * Practice introducing my story out loud Why I Chose this Story What message I want my audience to take away Any important background that helps the audience understand it Time myself to ensure it isn't too long or too short 3. Prepare for Questions * I will think about possible questions the audience might ask and b...
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Blog 3 For a couple of years, I have wanted to tell my story. My story of triumph, failure, heartbreak, love, loss, gains, successes, and defeat, but with a humorous tone. I was once told from a former mentor that "everyone has a book in them, they just have to have the courage to tell it." I feel this. I feel that I have a story to tell and I would love for the reader to be able to not only relate to my story, but be able to take away a positive perspective of my story. Ohler's stages definitely resonates with the story I can tell: * Call to adventure- The main character has a problem, challenge, question or desire. My story would tackle all of these. With the loss of my husband completing suicide, the death of my Mom, my longtime boyfriend leaving, and the sickness of my Dad, I have faced challenges, but in those dark moments came light. I got a wonderful daughter-in-law and son-in-law, a grandbaby, and perspective on the world. With all of these ups and downs, I h...
Blog 2 Part 1- For this blog, the digital story that I chose was The Story of Stuff Links to an external s by Annie Leonard. How do the choices made by the author engage audience members? I feel that the author made several deliberate choices to engage her audience and help them understand complex environmental and economic issues in a clear, relatable way. Leonard engages her audience by making a complex issue personal, visual, emotional, and easy to understand making what could be a dry economic topic into a relatable and inspiring story about our roles in creating a sustainable future. Conversational Tone and Simple Language- Leonard speaks directly to the audience in a friendly, conversational style rather than using technical or academic language. This makes the topic of consumerism and environmental impact accessible to a wide range of people, not just experts. Visuals and Animations- The use of clear, simple animations helps illustrate abstract con...
Blog 1 My name is Monica Christmas-Simmons. I am in my 28th year in education. I started out teaching high school English and American Sign Language as a foreign language. At about year 13, I decided to go back and get my Masters in Instructional Media (Library Science). I then became the Director for Curriculum and Instruction for three vocational colleges in the Tulsa area. After five years in this role, I decided that I missed kids and went back into the classroom for two years teaching 6th and 7th grade ELA. After that, I became the lower elementary librarian for the same school district. I am a widow with two adult children so I decided that this would be a good time for me to further pursue my education and get a second Masters. In my spare time, I enjoy being with my family, traveling to Disney, and studying sharks. I have been toying around with an idea for a story for a while. In 2022-2023, I lost 100 pounds, my Mom and my long-term boyfrien...