Librivox...my final project!

So...things didn't go as expected. I did learn how to use the technology, but was unable to publically post my project. I recited "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth, downloading the necessary technology as instructed on the LibriVox website. However, when I went to upload my recording it wouldn't provide me with the necessary URL links. So, I emailed to the link at the bottom of the page, as directed, but have not yet received a response. Thus I have proceeded to the best of my abilities. However, on the LibriVox link above there are examples of other poetry readings as well.

Overall I found this new technology difficult to navigate. Many of their links of "how to..." were not updated or provided vague instructions. I had to struggle through most of it by tinkering around with the technology. However, as Professor West has mentioned, this is probably what most of us do when discovering how to operate a new technology. I think that this type of technology would be helpful in the classroom as viewed by my lesson plan ideas on the wiki; however I am not sure how often we ought to utilize it. It's purposes are fairly limited - recording and listening to recordings.

I've got it!

While looking through all of the options and possibilities with this assignment, I really wasn't sure what to do. We've done a classroom blog sight...movie (for their final project)...and so much more. Through my other education and English classes at BYU I've also learned the basics of wikkis, diigi groups, and so forth. That's when I really stated to think!

What would best help me as a teacher next semester? What would be most helpful and relevant to the learning opportunities for my students? What unit needed the most "help"? And that is when it hit me. I have been trying to figure out the best way to read "The Giver" next term. There are some recordings I have found, but most of them are boring or dull. Aka: My students would just sleep through the book! And that's not what I want...I am hoping that they will become vigorous readers through their interaction with texts in my class. I also considered having the students read. However, in most my classes at BYU, they suggest that we read the majority of the book with the students to help improve their reading. Struggling readers usually don't get better by listening to other struggling readers read.

Thus, for my project I would like to learn how to operate Librivox and submit my own reading of the novel. This would enable me to add characterization and personality to the reading without losing my own voice. Furthermore, it would also be interesting to experiment with the possibility of students reading. As was mentioned in the voicethread, it would be intriguing for students to do their own interpretive readings. Perhaps each student could read a few pages and together there'd be a recording of a couple chapters. I'm not sure. But as I explored this idea I recognized that it held a lot of potential :) I'm excited to start and excited for others to become involved. Tell me what you think if you have suggestions!

PS...my book is "The Giver".