THIS IS FUN!!

Finally, my internship is FUN!! I have done a LOT of work since I last posted (which adds up to a lot of hours, but since they are fun, they have flown by!!). Since my last post, I have sent home permission slips to video tape (and got all but one back), got the video camera, bought the wrong size tapes, exchanged the wrong tapes for the correct ones and started taping. I realized that my friend who owns the camera never got the cord that allows it to upload to the computer, so I went and bought one (yea, it was like $30 but I told my friend that it was my "rental fee.") I finally uploaded all the videos I had taken so far and realized that b/c I kept looking at what I had taped, I had of course taped over other stuff I needed. So I taped and re-taped and taped some more. It took me about a week to get everything I needed of the students (including trips to other schools). I didn't have time at school to tape myself programming the devices so I took three students devices home with me for the weekend. I have spent yesterday and today (Sat. and Sun.) taping some more, uploading more, realizing that I had been uploading the long way and that everything I was doing, the computer would do for me, and taping some more. It is 5:30 on Sunday and I have just finished taping everything I need (I hope). I did take off a few hours yesterday to see Twilight with Stacy (LOVED IT) and work on our group project for the other class, but I'm done. I also spent more time working on the actual website. I tried to upload my uploaded videos, but it was taking forever, so I decided that I will upload them to Teachertube (school version of YouTube that isn't blocked in my district) and post a link to them instead of putting them directly on pbwiki. This coming week, I will be finishing my bibliography and my website and making sure all the loose ends are tied up. I'm almost done!!! WOOHOO!!

Opps...one bright spot!

I forgot to add something to my post. I have been searching for a video camera that I could use to tape then upload the clips to the computer. I have asked my school and even filled out a request for USC to get one of their cameras. I haven't heard back from USC and my school's are either not digital or they are broken. BUT... my department head, a good friend of mine, has offered to let me use his personal one. I'm a little wary of using someone's personal camera, but it is exactly what I need and he keeps it at school, so I have access. WOOHOO!! One dilemma solved!

Waiting is a tiring game!!

Right now, nothing much is happening. I am playing the waiting game. My next step in my project is to video tape students using the assistive technology in the classroom and taping myself, programming the different devices. Right now, I am waiting for permission for parents/guardians to tape. I have gained permission from one parent already, so I am trying to schedule a time to go over to tape. The student is at the high school next door so it shouldn't be too hard to get away to tape a bit. The parent has also given me permission to borrow his device (it is the student's personal device, not the school district's) so I can tape the programming. I should be able to tape him by the end of this week then take his device home this weekend and tape. The other student I would like to use is a little harder to get in touch with. She lives in a group home here in Cola, but mom lives in Greenville. I am debating on whether to just tape the programming of her device and not worry about having her on tape. A teacher here at my school has a student who has special needs and has offered to let me use him anytime I need to. This would help because I wouldn't have to worry about getting everything done during school hours. The only problem is he doesn't actually use the devices in the classroom, so it wouldn't be very authentic. I'm trying to weigh my options: is it better to go with convenience or authenticity?? If I went with the convenience I would of course make a note on my final project (the website) that the student used in the taping does not use the device on a daily basis. What do you all think?