Learning Log: Digi-Tell Program

Week 1 Date My learning log Bec, Blake and I had ensured that we had a very detailed plan for our Digi-tell, we knew what we wanted the students to gain from the four sessions and also had strategies which we were to put in place depending on the students and dynamics within the group. I believe that doing this was our biggest asset and allowed our first session to run smoothly. Knowing some of the students already we deliberately chose a group that we knew were going to challenge us and be a bit of work, a group of four boys. Something which I initially found a little challenging was that the four boys could go of task and be distracted quite easily, it was when Bec started her hand clapping routine which refocused the group. This was something that we are going to have to further work on. Childs learning log The child that I was to focus on was Jay, as I had previously had connections with Sebastopol Primary school I already knew Jay and had established a relationship with him prior to Digi-tell. Jay was extremely enthusiastic in the first session and wanted to know what the next few weeks entailed for him. Jays enthusiasm was a times disruptive and it was Becs hand clapping routine which refocused him and the group. When we showed our group the Digi-tell that we had made in our tutorials The Pirate song Jay were quite amused and entertained by it. When focused Jay was quite productive and enjoyed making the rice shakers and singing From little things big things grow. The brainstorming activity was very interesting however I soon established that Jay was going to be a student who needed assistance and prompting as he found it difficult to stay on task and write his ideas down. Evidence

29/8

As I have previously been involved with Sebastopol P.S I indicated to Bec and Blake that if we were after a challenge we could go this particular group. See refer to image 1. Evidence
Jay: Do we get to make a movie like this?

29/8

(Above: The boys watching the pirate song)

(Above: Jay with the rice shakers he made)

(Above: The boys brainstorming about the environment)

1 Ashleigh Graham S00091170

Learning Log: Digi-Tell Program

Week 2 Date My learning log It was a little disappointing to see that Aaron one of the initial four students had decided not to return to the digitell program. Something I found quite interesting is when the students suggested an idea with too many syllables to fit the verse, when they would sing it the children could identify that it was not right and they had to shorten the words or modify it. I believe in this session the students really demonstrated the literacy skills that were required in our program. Rhyming and relating their words/phrases to incorporate the theme of environment in particular energy, water and recycling were done quite well with only minimal prompting. It was fantastic to see the connection that the students had made with what they needed to photograph to ensure that in was relevant to the lyrics. Childs learning log Jay was once again very enthusiastic to begin our second session and was also very interested in what we would be doing with the students today. Jay contributed to changing the verses however not as much as the other two boys within the group. When Jay was prompted he was capable of coming up with ideas and phrases which were relevant to the theme of environment. Jay was also able to identify when words or phrases had too many syllables and did not fit into the verse correctly. When the students were given their enviro costumes to dress up in Jay became a little disruptive and attention seeking, he also wanted to disrupt other digi-tell groups to show his friends what he looked like. As a result of this Jay was told to come and sit on the floor next to Bec and myself so that we could wait until the others were ready. During the photographing process Jay was very involved and enthusiastic. He identified photos that needed to be taken which would link with a particular verse and seemed to get a lot of enjoyment out of doing so. I believe that Jay really enjoyed this session as it was very hands on and had a lot of student involvement throughout the entire process. Evidence

5/9

(Above: an example of writing the verses and changing the syllables so that they fit with the song)

Evidence Jay: What are we doing today?

(Above: Singing the chorus and new verses that the group had constructed)

5/9

In the rubric we provided the question was asked, What did you like today? Jays response was everything 2

Ashleigh Graham S00091170

Learning Log: Digi-Tell Program

Week 3 Date My learning log Week three was our groups biggest challenge; the students began the session being quite disruptive and distracted. We recorded the song twice, the first was very quite and the boys mixed up the verses, the second Blake spoke to the boys about projecting their voices so you could hear it better. The second time was a lot better but we identified that the boys began to lose interest. We recorded the song twice, the first was very quite and the boys mixed up the verses, the second Blake spoke to the boys about projecting their voices so you could hear it better. The second time was a lot better but we identified that the boys began to lose interest. As the recording process took a lot longer than what we had hoped we soon realised that the students would not have time to create their digi-tell especially as today there had been a lot of behavioural issues. As a result of this I believe our group was flexible and made the correct decision by sitting the boys down and getting them to choose what photos we were going to use to correspond to each verse. This session was possibly the hardest and most challenging so far and I believe that both Bec and Blake would agree with me. Childs learning log Jay began the session being quite disruptive as he was not willing to listen to instructions. During the lesson Jay was told to sit out due to his behaviour having a pin in his mouth which he then spat on the floor. He seemed quite shocked and taken a back that he had been told off however after then he did participate and calm down. During the recording process Jay was very enthusiastic, when listening to the playback you could quite distinctly hear his voice over the two other students. Jay was fascinated by the recording process and especially the microphone which he was told numerous times not to touch and stay away from. When it was time to begin choosing photos for each verse Jay was very involved and became very excited when he saw and identified pictures that he had taken. Evidence

12/9

Spoke about singing louder and a little more exaggerated so that the microphone could record their voices a little more clearly. After a few times they were not much louder. As a result of the behavioural issues today we have discovered that we were unable to gain evidence such as photographs as we were so focused on ensuring that the students remained on task.

Evidence

12/9

In the rubric for the question What was something you learnt today? Jay responded by writing recording a song. Jay: I took that photo! 3

Ashleigh Graham S00091170

Learning Log: Digi-Tell Program

Week 4 Date My learning log Constructing the Digi-tell prior to todays session was a huge benefit and necessary due to the boys behavioural problems. Although Bec, Blake and I did a lot of the work we all identified that it was the best and only way to make the program run smoothly and effectively. Allowing students time to still experience the process of constructing their own digi-tell and using Photo Story. Therefore I believe that they did not miss out on any of the digi-tell experience. I really enjoyed watching the boys being so proud of their final product and very great full for what we had shared with them over the past four weeks. The Bling bins that I had had made for each of the three boys were a great success and represented as a trophy for finishing their digi-tell and working so well. They also liked the booklet which they could take home, giving them something physical to go away with until they receive their digi-tell CD I think was important and gave the children closure at the end of the program. Childs learning log Jay was very excited that it was the last session and could not wait to show his mum what he had done in the previous three weeks. After going over From little things big things grow Jay began to become a little restless however having another students parents and younger sibling may have been a contributing factor to this. Jay worked with Jaiden on the laptop with the assistance of Blake, he worked really well in constructing his own verse with the photos that he had taken the previous two weeks. He ensured that each photo matched to each component of the environment and then patiently waited for Jaiden to finish his. In comparison to the first week Jays contribution to brainstorming for the bands name was a huge improvement, the contributing factors to this could be that perhaps he was more confident with the group and Bec, Blake and I or perhaps he was more enthusiastic about brainstorming band names than he was about the environment? Never the less he wrote roughly five or so possible band names. Evidence

19/9

(Above: The boys band name that they agreed on and the cover for their CD) The overall response when the boys received their Bling bins was whoa, theyre cool, thanks! They were all very appreciative and could not stop saying thank you. Evidence Jay: Can I go and find my mum yet?

(Above: The students brainstorming sheet for their band name)

19/9

(Above: Jay and the rest of his group with their bling bins, costumes and booklets) 4

Ashleigh Graham S00091170

Learning Log: Digi-Tell Program

When Jay was presented with the costumes, booklet and final Bling bin he was very excited and appreciative of what he received. When Jays mum arrived he was so proud of what he had accomplished over the past four weeks especially the photos that he had taken and the recording of their song. Although Jay did have some behavioural issues it was fantastic to see how much the program meant to him and how much ownership and pride program caused for him, especially when showing his mother what he had accomplished. It was a very rewarding program for all involved.

In the rubric Jays response to what did you like today? was for making a bin Please refer to image 2. Jay: Thank-you for everything that you have done for us... Jay: Mum do you see that photo? I took that!

Above: Image 1

Above: Image 2 5

Ashleigh Graham S00091170