Reading #4

Have you ever heard the statement “My nose is open”. Well, I have my own this morning, “My mind is open”. I received an anonymous tip which led me to research information at a different angle. I wasn’t thinking about the effects school policies have on the amount of technology a system is open to. It touched base with funding, safety, and the legal aspects of implementing technology in the schools.

WK4 Practical Experience Post #3

My last post seem to be the best post. The best thing I learned from the Google Docs tutorial was in the Presentation tutorial. I've played just a little with animation but not a lot. Because I don't use it much, my daughter can work it better than me. I now know how to animate text and pictures. It was never explained to me that way. I am also impressed with with the privacy that Google Docs has and the security that can be given to a Doc. Since it is on the Internet, it needs the security.

I think I really like it and will definitely try to get it approved at least for my class.

WK4 Practical Experience Post #2

As I am going through the Google Docs tutorial, it is seems to be just like the Microsoft package. I never really knew how to add footnotes and the video tutorial really helped to go through it easy. Second I learned about sharing and collaborating a Google Doc. I learned and like how the document(s) stay in one place and everyone goes to it and make changes. So far Google Docs will be great for students working in groups. Easier for everybody to make changes that each person can see right away. In the Microsoft package, sometimes I can't find what I need for formulas in MSExcel. Or maybe there isn't enough information about the formulas so that they can effectively be used. I noticed that they go into a deep explanation about the formulas and how they can be used.

WK4 Practical Experience Post #1

For out last Practical Experience, I chose Google Docs. I know it sounds crazy and yes I should know about it by now but I don't. Previously it wasn't my job in groups to create a Google Doc so all I can tell you is that I've only viewed and responded to conversations on it.

Today, I learned: that there are different kinds of Docs, how to start my own Google Doc, and create sub folders. I see why I should rally to have have access to Google Docs at my school. It will be a great tool for the students to use.

Practical Experience Post #3

Lastly, I learned how to copy adjustments to clips rather than making the same adjustments to each clip. Also with the advanced tools you can add a clip over a clip so that you don't have to split the original clip. The audio can be kept for the first clip and audio for the second clip can be reduced.

I actually learned a lot. I do wish there were other features that could be added to the software. However, this software is good for those just learning how to edit video. It makes it very easy.

Practical Experience Post #2

Well...didn't think that there was nothing else I could really learn in iMovie until I kept going. Chapter 9 and 10 were very helpful. I learned 3 things this time. First, I always wanted to learn how to edit video to the beat of the music. This process was actually easy. Second, I did not know that you add special effects to video. What I did not find in this tutorial was if you could add special effect in the middle of a video clip. My third experience with the tutorial was the most exciting. I love working with the green screen. With the green screen, you can go anywhere in the world. I have worked with it in Adobe Premiere but cannot use the green screen in Windows Movie Maker. I found this to be the most useful information in all of the tutorial videos so far.

Practical Experience Post #1

For my Practical Experience I chose iMovie. I know we've used it before in other classes but I never really took the time to go through the software. iMovie actually reminds me of Windows Movie Maker. I don't really care for Windows Movie Maker because I felt like I was limited to what I could do. In the first couple of chapters of the iMovie tutorial I learned how to display and skim through the video on full screen. I also learned how to manage clips between groups and projects. For some reason this really confused me at first. I now understand the difference.

Reading #3

This week I found only one article that I thought was relevant to my AR research. This article actually took me in a different direction from what I was hoping for. This one talked about the risks of allowing students to be exposed to the different technologies while at school. Some of the risks were: students downloading viruses, students gaining access to files that aren't intended for them, and sites that are linked to inappropriate sites.

BP11_Web2.0 Commercial #2

BP10_Comment on Ashley's Blog

Follow my link to my comments on Ashley's Blog.
http://etc-ashleymay.blogspot.com/2010/09/bp8voki.html?showComment=1284598213405#c4737426712008138973

BP9_Comment on Bruchetta's Blog

Follow my link to my comments on Bruchetta's blog.
http://bruchettaemdt.blogspot.com/2010/09/bp4.html?showComment=1284597056896#c484458933208358599

BP8_3rd Web2.0 Tool

This week for my Web 2.0 tool I chose Kafafa. Yes, it has a weird name but if school systems would allow students to use it, it will be wonderful. This tool allows students to create websites for free.  It actually reminds me of iWeb. It has templates already set up for you so there is no programming. Even though they have a lot of templates to choose from, you can also alter the templates to fit your taste. One thing I really like about the Kafafa is that you don’t have to have all of those irritating advertisements popping up every few minutes, It takes away from the website. If you happen to want the ads, they do offer a way for you to add them to your website while earning a little money on the side. Their search engines are connected to Google and Bing. This means that your website will more than likely pop up when key words are typed in. There is also a Kafafa Pro. Kafafa Pro is an advanced version. The storage is bigger, you can upload many documents of all kinds, have unlimited pages, and have your own customized web address. To acquire usage of the Kafafa Pro website, there is a fee. I did find out after reading further that the Kafafa website is not totally free. If you want your own web address they will give it to you for “a small fee”.  Last but not least, they have a support page with the most frequently asked questions. Just click on a question and the answers pops right up. Students always want to create their own website. Kafafa will be fun for students and inexpensive.

Reading #2

This week I found a lot of information to help with my research. I am now waiting for information from one of my critical friends so that I can determine if my topic is still too broad. I hope it isn't.

BP7_Web2.0 Commercial

BP6_Comment on Jason's Blog

Follow my link to my comments on Jason's blog.
http://mrpeglow.blogspot.com/2010/09/bp4edublogs.html?showComment=1284085780578#c2949338330945331872

BP5_Comment on Melissa's Blog

Follow my link to my comments on Melissa's blog.http://melissalodhi.blogspot.com/2010/09/bp4edmodo.html?showComment=1284081999722#c3197166077426012221

BP4_Web2.0 Tool

For my Web 2.0 tool I chose Schoology. Schoology is a way for teachers, students, and parents to communicate. It will be a good tool for teachers to share lessons, tests/quizzes, discussions, and other school related information such as a calendar of events with students. Parents can log on and retrieve information about their child and administrators can monitor activities conducted in the classroom. They can also find out what is going on in class. It can actually be used by an entire school system or school.

It has a lot of features that I think my class and I would benefit from. My school system has been talking about going green and when I saw the sight I thought what a way to begin. I wanted to be able to allow my students to take tests and quizzes on the computer and the results be sent to me via email. This will allow me to eliminate a lot of paper and the students will be increasing their technology usage. Blogging is something I have been wanting my classes do and the sight offers blogging capabilities. My students are really into blogging but they only do it at home. Currently we do not have means of doing this through our network and I hope this will be an avenue. I know there are other applications online that offer these capabilities but it seems that these services are free and I checked our school’s network and it will allow us to use this site.

Reading

My ARP is about using technology to accommodate the different learning styles. I did not find as much information as I thought I would so I decided to look for the problems. There were several problems found. Most of them were with the control that each school system has and the network.

BP_Diigo Group

BP2_iGoogleScreenShots

iGoogle Home Tab

iGoogle FSO Tab

iGoogle AR/CBL Tab

iGoogle ETC Tab

BP1_Google Reader

picture courtesy of microsoft clip art

Here are a list of my favorite RSS feeds and why they are my favorites. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I have.

Teacher Tube:   http://www.teachertube.com/

            Teacher Tube is a great way for teachers to share their lessons or great ideas with other teachers. My first time watching a video from this site was when I was looking for a way to explain how to do a Math procedure to my daughter. There was a teacher sharing his Math lesson and it helped a lot. I liked it so much I shared it with the teachers at my school.

Free Technology For Teachers:  http://www.freetech4teachers.com/

            This website gives teachers a heads up on new technology that can be used in the classroom. From this website I’ve gotten inexpensive ideas on implementing different technology into my classroom. One of the ideas was the Flip Camera. Last year I purchased several cameras to use as part of my curriculum. The site also gives links to other educational websites.

New York Times:  http://www.nytimes.com/

            New York Time is an online newspaper. I actually have updates sent to my E-mail. There is always something I can share with my students on here. While students are coming in the classroom I sometimes have a Did You Know talk. NY Times usually post new gadgets or the latest technology             coming out. Gadgets are always fun to discuss with my classes. I also like to travel so they send travel ideas and discounts/coupons.

Teacher Tip Newsletter:  http://teachertipnewsletter.com/

            This is another website where I have their updates sent to me via e-mail. This website is good for teaching ideas, bulletin boards, etc. They usually have neat poster ideas. For a low fee they will also print them for you and send them to you. All of their activities/lesson plans are centered around the current month. They have printable handouts for different worksheets and puzzles. Even if you don’t want to use one of their ideas, it can be a start of one of your own.

Education World:  http://www.educationworld.com/

            This site is much like Teacher Tip Newsletter except it has much more to offer. When I can’t find what I’m looking for in Teacher Tip Newsletter I can always find it here.  As you can tell I am a gadget person and this site gives updates on gadgets and of course activities, lesson plans, and technology      integration.