My speaking voice was loud enough but I could see first hand some mannerisms that I am aware of and have not resolved yet. I often pause searching for the right word to use and speed up at the end of sentences. This results in a very long winded presentation. It went for almost 17 minutes to present 13 slides. In the end I don't think I fully explained the obscure title of Squirrel Power. I over-explained areas that weren't that complicated to understand and rushed through parts where I should have slowed down.
The most revealing part of this project was the incredible and frustrating time I had uploading video to TeacherTube. I had tried to upload video before to another blog and was not successful. With some assistance from the tech coordinator at our district, I was finally able to upload 1:39 minutes worth of footage to our school's server but we were never able to get it to TeacherTube. I have learned all sorts of techniques for compressing files and editing with iMovie as a result. I plan to take advantage of these new found skills with the science class I am teaching. The students have been documenting a year long science experiment they have been working on. A final documentary is something they will enjoy producing.
Living in a house where we produce our own electricity, I am convinced that the bottom line to alternative energy is not that it is going to save the planet because of the source of the electricity, rather it is going to force system owners to CONSUME LESS energy. Less consumption is the secret to our environmental crisis. We all need to consume less: energy, food, manufactured products. We have invested quite a bit of money into our micro-hydro system. We are now off of the diesel powered grid in Coffman Coveand, but replaced it with lead batteries and many other plastic and metal components of the system. However at the front of our consciousness now is to turn things off and keep them off. We also won't be purchasing unnecessary electrical appliances. Items like the waffle iron, hairdryer, and can opener probably won't get used again. The television and computer will be replaced with more energy efficient options: LCD screens and a laptop.
Fortunately, I have really embraced constructivist teaching techniques so the students don't have to listen to me lecturing all that much and they can do the work of constructing their own knowledge with projects like building their own hydro-wheels and producing their own movies. A true learning experience.
