Another photo application - this one does similar things to 'BeFunky' (on a smaller scale) but also allows students to add stickers, glittery writing, word clouds etc., lets students put their faces onto all sorts of animals and famous people and distorts photos. A good way of displaying photos in a more interesting manner - rather than just including a photo of the person they've studied, why not have students include facts or a speech bubble?
Another neat site, this one is all based in an online application - upload your photos, play with the settings and then save them to your desktop to use as you please.
My Examples (the first photo is the original, the others demonstrate just a few of the choices):
A great site (that mostly manipulates photos), handy for students to spice up their images. These are examples of the 'Framer' tool, used on my own photos. There are heaps of other ones to explore - maybe students could be put into groups to experiment with each of them, and then report back to the class with instructions and suggestions on how to use their particular tool.
You can load the photos from your computer or link directly to Facebook or Flickr!
Swimming Sports 2010
Visiting the tigers in Chiang Mai, Thailand - 2010
Ang Thong National Park, Koh Samui, Thailand - 2010
AutoMotivator is a handy little tool that I've been put onto (thanks Miss Mudford!) I recently used it with my students to set goals (instead of writing 'My goal is to...', the students affirmed themselves by saying 'I will...') that we're displaying around the classroom and putting on our wiki. This time round students selected an image from the internet (using image search in google). I've asked them to think about creative shots so that next term when we do them again, they can use their own arty photo (adding a new element and challenge to the task.)
It's really simple to use, doesn't take long and the students can easily save them to their computers to be printed/displayed later.
A free little download that will turn photos into collages, literally in minutes (if that!) - can be shaped as letters or shapes... what a neat way for the students to display photos from class events, make a family display for the classroom, use for research projects etc. Super easy to use.
My example...
Rafting the Wairoa River!
Click on the image to view a larger version. This links automatically which is very helpful if your students are saving theirs to blogs, wikis etc. as they can display a smaller version but still allow parents and others viewing it to see the detail by clicking.
I've been having fun adding bits and pieces to my page (and in the process am learning a lot).
If you'd like to add quick comments to your blog follow the instructions here (http://www.google.com/support/blogger/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=143413); you can change the words like I did to make them more relevant... we live in a busy word and I figure the easier it is to give feedback, the more likely I am to hopefully get some.
Also, you might like to play around with widgets/gadgets - I've added a 'clustrmap'... you can get your own free one here - http://www.clustrmaps.com/. They keep a record of where people have been visiting your blog from which is quite exciting (it's the small things in life haha). Simply apply for your own map and copy the coding in they supply (ctrl C or command C). Then jump back into your blog, click Customize (top right), then select Add Gadget, choose 'HTML/JavaScript' and then paste that coding (ctrl V or command V) into the Content box. Save and you're done!
I've used 'Jing' (which I mentioned last week) to put together a quick recording of how to use the 'wonder wheel' search option in google to branch off at the research stage - a neat way to enhance your use of google and find sub-topics.
Take a look :)
PS: It's my first attempt at actually making a Jing but I think you'll agree it's a great tool! PPS: I tried loading the video onto youtube (because blogger won't let me load up a video directly) but apparently the format isn't supported on youtube! I've now read the help and it seems blogger has issues with Safari (on macs) so I'm downloading the newer version of Firefox which should work - fingers crossed.
Update: Even the new version of Firefox doesn't seem to make a difference, my posting box is still missing the video clip. Any ideas? I might have to try on my PC tonight to see if it's a computer issue or a problem with my login.
Again, updated: Still can't find the embedding code...
Problem Solved!! The 'sharing' option can be changed, so instead of giving a URL link, Jing will supply you with the correct coding - allowing me to embed into this blog.
Times are changing, there's no doubt about that. As educators, we are preparing our students for a world that we cannot fully comprehend.
This clip was first shown at the Sony BMG Conference in 2008 and evokes strong personal feelings. I believe we are doing our students an injustice by playing down the place that e-learning has in our future.
Created and researched by Fisch, K., McLeod, S., & Brenman, G. (2008).
This video always gets me thinking about the need to successfully expose students to learning through ICT - it is the way the future is headed. With that said, not all teachers share this view - in my opinion, this is often due to lack of confidence or knowledge.
In one of our discussions online Pomate Westerlund (2010) brought the following quote to the attention of the group;
"No man is an island" - John Donna (n.d.)
Westerlund (2010) continued to state that the role of 'learners' and 'teachers', when working with technology, is often interchangable; with students, teachers, parents and the community ideally working alongside each other to share knowledge and understanding.
Although I believe the views of teaching through ICT are different to the more traditional methods of teaching, some teachers do not yet seem comfortable handing the 'power' over to their students.
Jacqui Wrigg (2010) noted that some teachers are "reluctant to use ICT" as students often pick it up faster than their teachers, and that some educators are not comfortable with taking on the learning role (or even the position of shared learner), instead preferring to be the 'leader', even if it is to the detriment of the students.
Jerry Leaupepe (2010) agrees, stating that he finds it
"...ironic that we teach models to encourage risk taking, sharing of knowledge, peer think groups, etc, yet we go in the opposite direction.", he continues to suggest that "... the light needs to go more on changing teachers attitudes and ethos towards teaching practice and to really do more of what we teach".
I continued by sharing my views;
"I agree that there seems to be a disparity between what most teachers encourage in their students and what they are comfortable doing themselves. More and more, we ask students to critique, debate, reflect and question the world around them, yet not all of us are comfortable handing power over to the students and potentially having them surpass us.
This definitely isn't the case for all teachers... I think there's a lot to be said for being comfortable and secure enough to 'practice what we preach'." (Holland, 2010)
Something to think about, from Tony...
"An interesting point, Sarah. I wonder to what extent teachers need to be able to do everything that students can do? Is this possible, now? What are the levels of practical competence in using ICT that teachers need to have?" (Hunt, 2010).
I don't consider it a requirement for teachers to be completely 'up with the play' in regards to practical knowledge of ICT. I do however, think that it is important that teachers are interested and happy to explore ICTs. With so much help on the internet offering practical advice and suggestions on how to use different e-learning tools, teachers are able to upskill if they see the benefit in doing so.
Personally, I enjoy experimenting and becoming more familiar with different e-learning tools and I have received positive feedback from my students regarding this. Although teachers do not necessarily need to have a high level of understanding, I do consider it to help; even if only to improve my confidence when working with the students.
When we as teachers have knowledge gaps, students can be a great resource as many of them have grown up with technology being second nature to them. If we have the confidence to hand the reins over to our students, they are often capable of making up for the majority of our shortcomings.
I suppose my main message? Show interest, ask for help and actively explore. Always keeping in mind, we are preparing students for a technologically advanced word.
Glogster allows you and your students to create interactive, online posters - making it easy for even less creative students to make an attractive presentation.
You can sign your class up to edu.glogster yourself, pass out their passwords (have them reset them themselves) and then keep tabs on everything they're doing - once they've completed their work it becomes available to the rest of the class to view. The education version of glogster allows you to keep your students save online as it's designed specifically to be used by teachers and students.
I've printed glogs and displayed them online on our wiki too. Worth a look :)
This is an example I made for my class - they were to make a similar page to be used as a portfolio title page.
What a fabulous (and free) application! Jing allows you to take screen prints easily (take a picture of your screen, it doesn't actually print anything) but most exciting, it allows you to record a video of your computer screen - it was demonstrated to me by way of a podcast video. All the steps were recorded on the screen with step by step verbal instructions... a great way to record multi-step processes and allow students to revisit the instructions anytime they like. I'm looking forward to using this to help my students and getting them to have a play with this programme too!
Having looked over a couple of readings, I've been thinking about just what e-learning means to me. I created this 'word cloud' (to share my thoughts and they key ideas I read about) using wordle.net (a free web 2.0 tool - the more you type in a word, the larger it appears on the final wordle) and then used the 'Grab' application (as I'm working on my school Mac) to copy it. Finally I converted the file to JPEG to allow me to post it to this blog.
My goodness, what a lot of brackets ;)
Roblyer & Edwards (2003) and Colbert (2006).
Click on the wordle above to see a larger version.
Welcome to a record of my learning in EDPROFST 714 - I hope that this blog will both clarify my own understanding and possibly aid you in developing yours (who knows!)
(Click any images that you see in the blog to enlarge them for improved viewing)
