Motion Path

The Motion Path assignment was another use of Power Point that I had never considered. I created a pool where you can make the kids go down the water slide or off the diving board. It was fun to see all the different things you can really do with Power Point. If you used Power Point to create a motion path for a learning presentation it would fall under ISTE NETS #2 and 3 for using digital tools to increase learning and present information. You could also allow the students to create their own slide using motion paths which would fall under ISTE NETS #1 since it uses a digital tool to foster creativity. Here is a link to my Motion Path.

Labels

For my Labels presentation I decided to label a diagram of an ant. I had some trouble creating the Show and Hide buttons. It wasn't until I started working on the Motion Path project that I finally figured out how to make them. I enjoyed this assignment because it showed me a use for Power Point that I had never considered. Using Power Point to create a labeled slide like this falls under ISTE NETS # 2 and 3 because it uses digital tools to communicate information while maximizing student learning. Here is a link to my Labels presentation.

Power Point

Instead of using Power Point to give a presentation I used it as a new and different way to read a book with the class. You could project the slide show onto a smart board to make reading more interactive for the class. Of course Power Point is also a good way for teachers and students to give presentations. Using Power Point falls under ISTE NETS #3 because it is sharing information through digital tools. It would also qualify under #2 as well because it is using a contemporary tool to enhance and maximize learning. Here is the link to my Power Point.

Jing Screencast

I used Jing to create a a screencast detailing how to use Myxer to send a ringtone. I really like Jing. In my opinion it has been the most valuable tool I've learned about from this class. The only hard part about making a screencast is that if you mess up going through the steps while you're recording you have to start all over. I had to record mine a few times before I did it right. I really like the editing tools and found them very easy to use. I think using a screencast to demonstrate how to do something is a very useful tool that I teacher could use. Using Jing to make a screencast also falls under ISTE NETS #3. It definitely qualifies as using digital and media formats to communicate relevant information.

Here is my Jing Screencast.

Jing Image

For my Jing image I created a graphic that depicts the water cycle. First, I used the paint application on my computer to create the picture and captured it with the Jing tool. After that, I used the editing tools in Jing to add the labels and arrows. Here is a link my finished image. This is another tool that could be easily used to create graphics for presentations. This assignment falls under the ISTE NETS T #3 because it helps us to "communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats." The Jing tool is definitely a program I will continue to use after this class.

Google Draw Tool

This was my first time using the Google Draw Tool. The only other tool I've ever used similar to this would be the paint accessory on my computer and it isn't able to do all this tool could. I found this tool to be fairly simple to use and I didn't have any major problems trying to make my drawling. This tool has a lot of possibility for creating visual aids and graphics to use for presentations in the classroom. This activity helped me to become more familiarized with the Google Drawl Tool which is a new media format I haven't used yet. That's why I feel this activity relates to the ISTE NETS T #3.


Here is a link to my drawling.

Self Assessment

I just finished the self assessment. It was a very useful tool to help me figure out how I am doing with the class. This assignment falls into the #2 ISTE NETS T since it is designed to help us assess our own progress. I think I'm doing okay in the class but I have hit a few glitches. The biggest problem I've had so far is getting the embedded image on my blog for the self portrait. No matter what I have tried I can't get it to load and I'm really starting to get frustrated with it. I can load pictures from my computer and from other sites so I'm really not sure what I am doing wrong. This is the one time where I miss having an actually class. Other than that, I just need to go back and add some more to a couple of my posts and my blog should be fine.

Update: I finally was able to load my picture thanks to the idea somebody gave me in the discussion forum.

Glogster

I really liked the Glogster activity. Once I played around with all the different features I got hooked on it. The first one I made I wasn't really sure what to put on it, but then I also did one on a concert I went to a few weekends ago. I think the second one came out better because I had a concrete idea to base everything around. I put a link up for both of them.

Here is the link to my Glogster.

Here is my second Glogster.

Learning Outcomes

1. A glog is a graphic blog or a type of online media poster. It allows you to combine video, audio, text and graphics to make your page.
2. I think a glog could be a really useful tool to use in class. You could spend a day going over the basics and showing the kids how to use the features and then assign topics for them to research and make a glog about. It would be give all the kids a chance to not only learn but create something really unique. A glog would be a fresh way to let kids research instead of assigning a research paper.
3. I think a glog falls into ISTE NETS T #1. If you used it to have the kids do class presentations it would allow them to use both face-to-face and virtual environments. Also the glog is designed to let people be creative and individual in what they create.
4. The only problem I encountered while using the Gloster was the the audio clips were sometimes difficult to upload. I had to search for audio clips multiple times before they would show up. At times it became frustrating. Other than that I thought the site was really easy to use.

Self Portrait

I finished my self portrait using Picassohead. This was probably my favorite assignment so far. I didn't really encounter any technical problems while creating and saving my self portrait. My only problem was when I tried to put the actual picture on my blog. For some reason I can't get it to load no matter what I did, so I put a link to the page. I finally was able to load my picture by using Jing.

Here is my self portrait.

Learning Styles Inventory

I just finished the VARK Questionnaire and these were my results.

Visual: 7
Aural: 2
Read/Write: 13
Kinesthetic: 13

My results fit me very well. I usually learn one of two ways, either just reading and memorizing or by doing it hands on. For classes I usually learn through reading. When learning how to work things like a cell phone or camera I usually learn by trying it out. This class I'm using a combination of the two styles. I read the directions and all the discussions on Blackboard and then work my way through the assignment by trial and error.

Snipping Tool

I am redoing my Snipping Tool post. At first I didn't really see the point to this assignment or see the benefit of the snipping tool but now I really like it. I didn't have the right version of Windows so I'm using Jing for my snipping tool. When I did the self portrait assignment I was unable to load the image on my blog or save it to my computer. However, using the snipping tool I took a snap shot of the image and saved it to my computer. After that it was really easy to load it on my blog. I now see just how useful and convenient this tool can be. Since I used this tool to complete my self portrait post I decided to make this my snip image too. This tool can be used for ISTE NETS T #1 for solving problems using digital tools. Also it can used for #4 in context with responsibility and copyright protection.

VoiceThread

I just finished commenting on the VoiceThread and I liked it. I think it's a really nice system and easy to use. I like how there are different options to choose from when leaving a comment. I used the typing option which was quick and simple. Since I did not use the record method for commenting I don't know if it would be harder to use or not. It was nice to be able to read or listen to the reasons other people wanted to be a teacher. It's nice to see and hear that their reasons are the same as mine. I tried to keep my comment short because I started putting down every single reason I wanted to teach I could type an entire page at least.

I think that this activity matches ISTE NETS T #1 because VoiceThread allows people to be very creative in how they respond. It also is a tool that promotes collaboration.