BP7_Comment to Jenn

Hello -

Please check out my comment on Jenn Castro's post. I think you'll enjoy her evaluation of Brain Pop.

BP5_PhotoPeach

Did you ever want to create a quick slideshow that would still look professional? PhotoPeach is just the tool to use. I continue to be amazed at how creative and easy many of these Web 2.0 tools can be. Over the years I've had many occasions when a slideshow would be just great to share an event with family and friends, but I've just not done it knowing how much time it would take to get something that really enhanced my photos and was entertaining at the same time. It was such a great discovery when I found PhotoPeach while searching for another tool to explore. Sometimes the words “quick” and “easy” can be really misleading, but PhotoPeach really delivers.

Just go to PhotoPeach , make a very simple account, upload your pictures, choose or upload your own music, give it a title, and viola! You have a great slideshow complete with background music and creative transitions in a matter of minutes. I created one from pictures of my sister's August wedding, and I uploaded it to my Facebook page directly from PhotoPeach. The directions were really clear, and the process was completely painless. To see if it was as easy as I thought, I tried it out on my sixth grade class. In about 15 minutes they were enjoying slideshows of the pictures they took the day before. It was a real hit, and I'm getting requests to make more. So give it a try. I think you'll be impressed.

BP6_Comment to Zoe

It was a pleasure reading Zoe's post on a creative and fun Web 2.0 tool. Just follow this link to read my comment...

BP4

Web 2.0 tools

(http://www.go2web20.net)

Web 2.0 has so much to offer, almost too much, which is why I appreciated the search system that lets you be specific about what you're looking for. My goal was to find something that I could use with my students, and I found something really delightful...and useful:

Simple Diagrams is a very clever, drag and drop program for creating quick presentations.

There is a free version and a premium version, the download is very quick and easy, and if you like it, the upgrade is very inexpensive.

The program has many great features and has the appearance of a very simple child's program. It's actually quite well designed and would make informal presentations for meetings and advertising, and it could also be used to create comics or illustrate a story. The tutorials have not been designed yet, but it is very intuitive and I found I didn't need one. You just click on "New Diagram" and go to work.

You have a surprisingly large number of options.

The background can be a chalkboard or a whiteboard.

The tools are quite similar to a paint program.

You have a pencil for drawing, text boxes, magnifier,

positioning, lines, and colors choices

for text.

You can also insert images, make sticky notes, or create index cards. All of these can be resized and positioned wherever you'd like.

Four different types of drag and drop images that can be moved, sized, reversed, or filled with text. It is possible to draw freehand with the pencil, but the built-in images are very useful and easy to use.

The page is a portrait image that can be saved as a .png file.

Given the features, cost, and ease of use, it will be a great addition to my students' digital toolset. It's also fun!

There would also be many business and personal uses for Simple Diagrams.

W1 Reading

Brief summaries of the first four articles:

Digital Education: Mapping Innovation

The author presents digital education as a “mash-up”, much like a Google application and states that

- we can use the strengths of technology for project-based learning, including rubrics, supports, and collaborative tools

- layered content engages students

- well adapted to ways students learn today – plug and play operations

but teachers must be prepared by training

Learning to Teach with New Technology: Implications for Professional Development

The characteristics of professional development required for teaching with new technology would include:

- Modeling

- Discussion

- Brainstorming

- Hands-on activities

- Support by giving sufficient time and support in the classroom

Learning Technologies and Their Impact on Science Education

This article reports on programs in Australia, and points to the need for:

- shaping the direction of ICT education

- understanding the government directions and commitments

- identifying gaps and barriers to effective use of technology

- determining new curriculum needs

- monitoring and evaluating programs

- professional development for initiating and using ICT technology

Using Digital Cameras for Multidimensional Learning in K-12 Classrooms

The author points to four major areas of impact for digital cameras in classrooms:

- Curriculum – multidimensional learning, students are visual, encourages writing

- Instruction – hands-on, clarifies concepts, basic photography guidelines, use of camera

- Reflection – basis of feedback, ownership for students, illustrates writing

- Assessment – documentation for student performance, facilitates self- assessment

References

Hoffman, A. (2008, November 19). Digital education: Mapping innovation. Education Week 28(13), 22-23.

Mouza, C. (2002/2003, Winter). Learning to teach with new technology: Implications for professional development. Journal of Research on Technology in Education 35(2), 27.

Parker, L. (2000, September). Learning technologies and their impact on science education: Delivering the promise. Australian Science Teachers Journal 46(3), 9.

Supon, V. (2006, June). Using digital cameras for multidimensional learning in K-12 classrooms. Journal of Instructional Psychology 33(2), 154-156.

BP_Diigo Group

My research has received a digital upgrade with Diigo, a bookmarking tool that allows one to read, highlight, save, and share research articles, sites, and other sources of information. Here's my group page for "Critical Mass", the Diigo group for my Action Research project:

BP2_iGoogleScreenShots

The next step in the ETC process is creating my PLE (Personal Learning Environment) using iGoogle. It's an application that allows me to work with different areas, eg. home, school, coursework, or research, and have all of the resources I need for an activity at my fingertips. Here are screen shots of the iGoogle pages:

The first screen shot is my Home Page, where my gadgets are for general daily activities. I can access my Facebook, Twitter, To-Do List, and favorite web links. I can also include news, weather, or any other item of interest.

The second screen shot is my ETC (Emergent Technologies in a Collaborative Culture) course page. This is where I can find the gadgets I need for my basic course work this month. It gives me access to Blogger, relevant web links, To-Do List, Google Reader, Flickr, and Google Docs.

The third screen shot is my FSO (Full Sail Online) page. I've put the things that are useful for my general work at Full Sail here. That includes a Box of Links, LinkedIn, Full Sail Email, Wimba classroom, and a To-Do List.

The fourth and last screen shot is of my AR (Action Research) page. The gadgets on this page are all related to my year-long research project. I've included a Box of Links, To-Do-List, and Diigo. The links on this page will help with references, APA reference style, research sites, and a sample project as a guide.

All of these pages can be edited whenever it's necessary, and other pages and gadgets can also be added. I'm so impressed with this resource; I can be really productive by working smarter and avoiding all the time spent hunting for resources, making lists, and trying to find url's for my contacts. This has the potential to keep me very organized and on-task. Now if iGoogle could just cook, clean my house, and walk the dogs while I'm doing all this coursework, they'd really have something!