I am just learning how to use Wikis in an effective manner. A group of campus tech reps has started one with hopes of creating collaboration of the reps from each campus. Unfortunately, this was started at the end of the school year when many of us are tired and not ready to take on new adventures. After revisiting this lesson, I see what a great opportunity I missed out on as I was caught up in the myriad of emails from everyone which could better be served in a Wiki.
The possibilities of using this application are endless, from group projects to classroom discussions. I see the difference in that all comments can be edited, not like a blog where one can only contribute or add on. When planning and assigning tasks, the need for change can be easily edited to avoid having to repeat steps and to join in on the current status at hand.
I believe I can use this tool when planning a broadcast assignment. All students have different roles and duties. Rather than me using the traditional role of task giver, the students can take ownership in the project and step in where they are needed.
Wikipedia
Monday, June 29, 2009
Thing #15 - Library 2.0
I found these articles interesting and was glad to see that a movement is being established to upgrade what a library was and should now be. The video establishes how learning has changed and the time involved is so much lengthier. We have to become a nation of multitaskers to be able to keep up with the ever growing demands placed on us. The days of picking up a book and giving a report are all but passe. Students need libraries where they can access more than just books, but to get all sorts of input that might not readily be available to them from a home computer.
Not available to them on a home computer? Yes, this puts a high demand on libraries to keep value and purpose. Virtually everything is available on the internet now from blogs to wikis to content databases and mainly, interactive information acquisition. If we can do this all from home, why do we even need libraries? Simple, guidance and expertise. With a myriad of sources available, doing a Google search is no longer feesible with millions of links per topic available. Librarians need to offer and guide the learner to the information needed and to help the learner join in on the global information acquisition by offering commentary and relevance to the topic at hand. A good library needs to offer these tools to students as well as have expertise on how to use them.
Library 2.0 will help metamorphasize and transition the libraries of the past. Books and periodicals are such a minute element in today's expectations of student presentations. Incorporating all the sensory elements of speech, video, and sound now serve the basic structure of completing many assignments. Learners are expected to draw in and present information in a manner that will capture an audience much larger than just the teacher. Learning is now a collaboration in society which grows and develops. Just as in the video, an entire class can contribute and create a presentation which garners much more insight than that of a sole author.
Afterall, if what students are preparing for now will be obsolete by the time they graduate, they need the knowledge and skills to be able to adapt to the evergrowing changes that our society faces. When they join the work force, they need to be able take on the expectations given them and know how to use the tools to create the new things yet to come. Better yet, they will be designing the tools for younger generations to rely on.
Not available to them on a home computer? Yes, this puts a high demand on libraries to keep value and purpose. Virtually everything is available on the internet now from blogs to wikis to content databases and mainly, interactive information acquisition. If we can do this all from home, why do we even need libraries? Simple, guidance and expertise. With a myriad of sources available, doing a Google search is no longer feesible with millions of links per topic available. Librarians need to offer and guide the learner to the information needed and to help the learner join in on the global information acquisition by offering commentary and relevance to the topic at hand. A good library needs to offer these tools to students as well as have expertise on how to use them.
Library 2.0 will help metamorphasize and transition the libraries of the past. Books and periodicals are such a minute element in today's expectations of student presentations. Incorporating all the sensory elements of speech, video, and sound now serve the basic structure of completing many assignments. Learners are expected to draw in and present information in a manner that will capture an audience much larger than just the teacher. Learning is now a collaboration in society which grows and develops. Just as in the video, an entire class can contribute and create a presentation which garners much more insight than that of a sole author.
Afterall, if what students are preparing for now will be obsolete by the time they graduate, they need the knowledge and skills to be able to adapt to the evergrowing changes that our society faces. When they join the work force, they need to be able take on the expectations given them and know how to use the tools to create the new things yet to come. Better yet, they will be designing the tools for younger generations to rely on.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thing #14 - Technorati
How many search engines can we have? Well, after exploring Technorati, this is an additional must. Thru this site, you search other people's blogs on just about any topic you can imagine. Rather than coming up with sites that are published by "reputable" sources, these sites are by the everyday person. You can even post your own blog to become part of their family.
I decided to search for information on using Final Cut Express, this is video editing software used on Mac computers. There were plenty of posts by others on how to get started and how to do specialized items. People even posted videos of their instructions which they had created in either Camtasia or Captivate on how to use this program. One of the most informative was made by a high school student on cloning. By watching instruction given by this student, it was actually much easier to follow than others I had seen on Atomic Learning or lynda.com.
I'll definitely go back to this site and will direct my students in this direction as I also noted that these blogs asked questions on problems where others offered insite on how to fix them. The fact that I found many discussions and videos on broadcast journalism and the tools required for the course sold me.
Of course, Technorati is now included on my Delicious account.
I decided to search for information on using Final Cut Express, this is video editing software used on Mac computers. There were plenty of posts by others on how to get started and how to do specialized items. People even posted videos of their instructions which they had created in either Camtasia or Captivate on how to use this program. One of the most informative was made by a high school student on cloning. By watching instruction given by this student, it was actually much easier to follow than others I had seen on Atomic Learning or lynda.com.
I'll definitely go back to this site and will direct my students in this direction as I also noted that these blogs asked questions on problems where others offered insite on how to fix them. The fact that I found many discussions and videos on broadcast journalism and the tools required for the course sold me.
Of course, Technorati is now included on my Delicious account.
Thing #13-Tagging and discovering Delicious
I found this to be a very cool site. I was able to export all my favorites from my computer into my delicious account. I then went to my second computer, which has different favorites and tried to import them. Well, it wouldn't let me do it - what now? Delicious told me to come back in a couple of hours and try again. This time it worked. I now have a space where I can go from any computer, anywhere, and get to my favorites.
The time saved from having to search for these sites will be immense. My job is also the College Board liason for my campus. There website is immense and very difficult to navigate. I now have all my College Board URL's tagged for easy retrieval. I went ahead and was able to tag all of my sites and it built a system for me, much like organizing folders under My Favorites.
The best part about this is that when my computer breaks down and needs to be re-imaged, I don't have to worry about losing all of these valuable links. Also, if I am working on a different work station and come across information I want to retrieve from my personal computer, it is not a problem as all I need to do is go to Delicious.
I haven't explored tags posted by others that are related to mine yet, but I'm sure I will run across a wealth of information which might save me time from looking through the more traditional search engines.
My Delicious Bookmarks
The time saved from having to search for these sites will be immense. My job is also the College Board liason for my campus. There website is immense and very difficult to navigate. I now have all my College Board URL's tagged for easy retrieval. I went ahead and was able to tag all of my sites and it built a system for me, much like organizing folders under My Favorites.
The best part about this is that when my computer breaks down and needs to be re-imaged, I don't have to worry about losing all of these valuable links. Also, if I am working on a different work station and come across information I want to retrieve from my personal computer, it is not a problem as all I need to do is go to Delicious.
I haven't explored tags posted by others that are related to mine yet, but I'm sure I will run across a wealth of information which might save me time from looking through the more traditional search engines.
My Delicious Bookmarks
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Thing #12-Creating Community Through Commenting
This is an informative little piece that should be read by all new to blogging. Instead of experimenting and taking off, it gives you a little hindsite as to what a blog is, how you can use it as a positive took and also things to watch out for.
2 of the discoveries I noted is that quite a few blogs are personal. They are merely people's diaries, raising discussions on what particularly interests them that day. They don't always seek comment, but do leave the ability for others to do so. The other of course is the Corporate - or as in our case, Educational - blog. This is strictly for use in business and can be open to the world, or just a select few. This is much like our Library2Play blog that we are utilizing for this course.
I have some issues with aliases versus true identity. Farkas describes well her first diving into the blog world as Chilihead, eventually going to her name. To me, a first name is still an alias as many have the same first name, yet you still see very few bloggers who use their complete names. I think for purposes in an educational setting and working with kids, it is important that those students are identifiable, at least by name or student id number. We all know that working with kids, you will have a few that will come out as trolls to bring shame and embarassment to fellow classmates. For this reason, I have outed myself in in previous posts.
Off to visit my fellow classmates...more later.
Here are the ones I visited. Christina's Musical Notes , 23 Things-SBISD Style . Logical Lori , Moulton Lava , and Laptop Learner.
2 of the discoveries I noted is that quite a few blogs are personal. They are merely people's diaries, raising discussions on what particularly interests them that day. They don't always seek comment, but do leave the ability for others to do so. The other of course is the Corporate - or as in our case, Educational - blog. This is strictly for use in business and can be open to the world, or just a select few. This is much like our Library2Play blog that we are utilizing for this course.
I have some issues with aliases versus true identity. Farkas describes well her first diving into the blog world as Chilihead, eventually going to her name. To me, a first name is still an alias as many have the same first name, yet you still see very few bloggers who use their complete names. I think for purposes in an educational setting and working with kids, it is important that those students are identifiable, at least by name or student id number. We all know that working with kids, you will have a few that will come out as trolls to bring shame and embarassment to fellow classmates. For this reason, I have outed myself in in previous posts.
Off to visit my fellow classmates...more later.
Here are the ones I visited. Christina's Musical Notes , 23 Things-SBISD Style . Logical Lori , Moulton Lava , and Laptop Learner.
Thing #11 - Library Thing
What a great way for students to catalog books for their English or Reading classes. It's simple, easy, fast and free. As you build your collection, you will find that reviews will pop up on many of the popular titles by other readers. You can also add your own review once you've completed the novel as well. Students can print out the list for their teachers to see and can report their readings through simple interviews or extensive literary criticisms of the works.
This is yet another cool little tool that requires little time and effort but can build a list for memories to behold.
My Library Thing
This is yet another cool little tool that requires little time and effort but can build a list for memories to behold.
My Library Thing
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Thing #10 - Working with Graphics-Online Image Generators
I got the above clip from Image Chef. Lots of cute little things to create with this site. I don't know how much a high school student would want to use these things though.
Big Huge Labs seems to have the most options. I had fun with the badge maker. http://bighugelabs.com/badge.php
Dumpr had some interesting stuff although it is a pay site as well. http://www.dumpr.net/ They entice you with a few things but then keep requesting that you upgrade for cash. This is my great niece, Carolyn.
And finally I had fun creating Trading Cards. http://bighugelabs.com/deck.php
What I enjoyed about most of these sites, it lets you create photos quickly and easily without the expertise of Photoshop. Talk about saving lots of time. This was a fun exercise.
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