Similar to SlideShare, MediaFire is a webpage which allows its users to upload and share documents. This is a program which I have only just become familiar with, but i feel that like several other File storage and sharing sites, it could provide a very useful collection of resources. I particularly like this webstie, because, as a university student i have often found myself in the library or at a friends place ready to study, only to remember that the document i need is saved on my home computer! This site allows you to securely save your documents and access them from any computer that you use (MediaFire, 209). The documents that a user uploads to MediaFire, can then be posted to a blog, a Wiki or other file sharing websites.
I have recently uploaded a document to MediaFire in order to familiarise myself with the website and its capabilities. The document is just a simple spelling activities worksheet.
I have always been under the belief that if you give a little, you get a lot. I often refer to sites such as YouTube (2009) and SlideShare (2009) if I am in need of a short video clip or a document to assist an activity I have planned for my students, and although there is not always something suitable, I am very grateful when I find something that is just right for what I am teaching. I feel as though, if I create a worksheet or a presentation which is particularly well designed I may as well share it with the world. Because you just never know! Somewhere out there in cyber space, oneday, it may become really useful to someone else.
MediaFire. (2009). MediaFire: Free File Hosting Made Simple. Retrieved 20 August, 2009 from www.mediafire.com
Thursday, August 20, 2009
PowerPoint and SlideShare
PowerPoints are one of the most common and popular forms of visual presentation software. PowerPoints are simple to create and have numerous purposes. However, learning how to create effective PowerPoints can often be more of a challenge.
It can be quite easy to go wrong with a PowerPoint presentation, simple things such as an overload of text or hard to read font can completely diminish the effectiveness of a presentation.
PowerPoints should be used to increase the interest of your audience, and if this audience is a group of school children, then you certainly DON'T want to distract them!
There are several sharing websites that are available and which allow you to use PowerPoint presentations that have been created by other users. SlideShare (2009) is one of these sites. As with sites like TeacherTube (2009), SlideShare allows you to select and use relevant documents in your classroom. Here is a PowerPoint presentation that i came across while browsing through SlideShare. I feel it is particularly relevant!
It can be quite easy to go wrong with a PowerPoint presentation, simple things such as an overload of text or hard to read font can completely diminish the effectiveness of a presentation.
PowerPoints should be used to increase the interest of your audience, and if this audience is a group of school children, then you certainly DON'T want to distract them!
There are several sharing websites that are available and which allow you to use PowerPoint presentations that have been created by other users. SlideShare (2009) is one of these sites. As with sites like TeacherTube (2009), SlideShare allows you to select and use relevant documents in your classroom. Here is a PowerPoint presentation that i came across while browsing through SlideShare. I feel it is particularly relevant!
Creating and Delivering Effective Powerpoint Presentations
View more presentations from Kiran Budhrani.
SlideShare Inc. (2009). SlideShare: Present Yourself. Retrieved on 21 August, 2009 from www.slideshare.net
TeacherTube. (2009). TeacherTube: Teach the World. Retrieved on 20 August, 2009 from www.teachertube.com
SlideShare Inc. (2009). SlideShare: Present Yourself. Retrieved on 21 August, 2009 from www.slideshare.net
TeacherTube. (2009). TeacherTube: Teach the World. Retrieved on 20 August, 2009 from www.teachertube.com
YouTube
Similar to Podcasts, video clips, such as those found on YouTube (2009) and TeacherTube (2009), are very effective ways of keeping our learners engaged and on task.
These sites have an abundance of video clips about almost every topic you could imagine. This makes them ideal places to search for short videos that might be useful in the classroom. For example, I recently did a YouTube (2009) search for "Pythagorus Theorem" and was presented with 559 matching results.
However, we must be mindful of the fact that YouTube is a public site, with anyone and everyone being able to upload a video clip. As teachers, we strive to provide our students with correct information. Therefore we need to be vigilant with the video clips we find on such websites to ensure that they are relevent and correct.
TeacherTube. (2009). TeacherTube: Teach the World. Retrieved August 20, 2009 from www.teachertube.com
YouTube. (2009). YouTube: Broadcast Yourself. Retrieved August 20, 2009 from www.youtube.com
These sites have an abundance of video clips about almost every topic you could imagine. This makes them ideal places to search for short videos that might be useful in the classroom. For example, I recently did a YouTube (2009) search for "Pythagorus Theorem" and was presented with 559 matching results.
However, we must be mindful of the fact that YouTube is a public site, with anyone and everyone being able to upload a video clip. As teachers, we strive to provide our students with correct information. Therefore we need to be vigilant with the video clips we find on such websites to ensure that they are relevent and correct.
TeacherTube. (2009). TeacherTube: Teach the World. Retrieved August 20, 2009 from www.teachertube.com
YouTube. (2009). YouTube: Broadcast Yourself. Retrieved August 20, 2009 from www.youtube.com
A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words
Digital cameras are a common fixture in modern classrooms. They are often used by the students to document class projects, science experiments, school camps, sports carnivals and simply to take happy snaps around the play ground.
I have recently created an account with Flickr and was amazed at the abundance of images that were on the site. I did a few searches on topics that interest me and was presented with hundreds of results for each search. Here is one of the images that I particularly liked.
Along with Flickr, I also created an account with the image manipulation website called Picnik. After browsing through some of the options I uploaded a photo and had a play with the program. Here is my result.
In my experience, children love to be able to use the digital cameras at school and to have the capabilities through the use of websites such as Flickr and Picnik, to share and alter these images would excite many of the school students I know. Not to mention open up a myriad of media and arts learning experiences which can relate to the images these children capture.
Yahoo Inc. (2009). Flickr. Retrieved on 20 August, 2009 from www.flickr.com
Picnik. (2008). Photo editing made fun. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from http://www.picnik.com/
I have recently created an account with Flickr and was amazed at the abundance of images that were on the site. I did a few searches on topics that interest me and was presented with hundreds of results for each search. Here is one of the images that I particularly liked.
'Horny'
Originally uploaded by Peter Maillardet (2008).
Originally uploaded by Peter Maillardet (2008).
Along with Flickr, I also created an account with the image manipulation website called Picnik. After browsing through some of the options I uploaded a photo and had a play with the program. Here is my result.
In my experience, children love to be able to use the digital cameras at school and to have the capabilities through the use of websites such as Flickr and Picnik, to share and alter these images would excite many of the school students I know. Not to mention open up a myriad of media and arts learning experiences which can relate to the images these children capture.
Yahoo Inc. (2009). Flickr. Retrieved on 20 August, 2009 from www.flickr.com
Picnik. (2008). Photo editing made fun. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from http://www.picnik.com/
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Animations and Simulations
Like many of the other technologies which have been discussed so far, animation and simulation programs purely provide opportunities for students and teachers to present and interact with information in a new and interesting way.
Similar to Voki avatars (Oddcast. 2008), animations can provide an engaging introduction to a task or topic. Having learners creating their own animations is also a wonderful way to have students involved in a topic, whether it be a task of creating a moving story book, or a short animation to accompany their presentation.
Websites such as ExploreLearning (n.d) offer a range of simulation experiences for several ages, including science experiments and maths activities. This software has many obvious uses in a learning environment that may not be able to provide such activities for its students on a regular basis, whether this be due to financial or geographical issues.
This simulation software allows kinaesthetic learners, who learn through doing, rather than seeing or hearing, a chance to experience activities and situations that may not otherwise be available to them.
It is evident that programs which have animation and simulation capabilities would certainly be an asset to any learning environment.
ExploreLearning. (n.d). Gizmos. Retrieved on 19 August, 2009 from http://www.explorelearning.com/
Oddcast. (2008). Voki. Retrieved 16 August, 2009 from www.voki.com
Similar to Voki avatars (Oddcast. 2008), animations can provide an engaging introduction to a task or topic. Having learners creating their own animations is also a wonderful way to have students involved in a topic, whether it be a task of creating a moving story book, or a short animation to accompany their presentation.
Websites such as ExploreLearning (n.d) offer a range of simulation experiences for several ages, including science experiments and maths activities. This software has many obvious uses in a learning environment that may not be able to provide such activities for its students on a regular basis, whether this be due to financial or geographical issues.
This simulation software allows kinaesthetic learners, who learn through doing, rather than seeing or hearing, a chance to experience activities and situations that may not otherwise be available to them.
It is evident that programs which have animation and simulation capabilities would certainly be an asset to any learning environment.
ExploreLearning. (n.d). Gizmos. Retrieved on 19 August, 2009 from http://www.explorelearning.com/
Oddcast. (2008). Voki. Retrieved 16 August, 2009 from www.voki.com
Voki Avatars for classroom use
Voki Avatars are talking character animations which can be customised for use on webpages, mobile phones, and other electronic devices (Voki, 2008). These tools are simple to make and have several uses on the web.
In terms of implementation in a common primary school classroom, I feel that this program would be able to provide some new forms of interaction between teachers and students. Some possible uses for Voki Avatars in a classroom environment include:
Oddcast. (2009). Voki. Retrieved 19 August, 2009 from www.voki.com
In terms of implementation in a common primary school classroom, I feel that this program would be able to provide some new forms of interaction between teachers and students. Some possible uses for Voki Avatars in a classroom environment include:
- an interesting way to engage students and introduce a new topic;
- assist students who have difficulty with public speaking or voicing concerns; and
- avatars could also be created by the students themselves as a fun and interesting way to present information to their peers;
This type of technology would particularly appeal to students who are particularly stimulated by visual and auditory learning tools.
Oddcast. (2009). Voki. Retrieved 19 August, 2009 from www.voki.com
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Webquests
Webquests are a form of web based learning activities. They are most commonly inquiry based experiences and involve a sequence of tasks relating to a topic which can be completed primarily on the internet. Although these WebQuests do take quite a lot of time to create they are interesting and innovative learning tools which allow students to progress through activities at their own pace.
Last year a friend and I created a Webquest using WebquestDirect (2009) for an assignment. It was quite a time consuming process as we were still trying to learn the ins and outs of the creation process. However, it was a great learning experience for us and I certainly learnt alot about how these programs can be implemented in the classroom.
I can see that Webquests would not always be appropriate for classroom use, and would be more effective with middle and upper primary students. Although I do feel that if a class were to complete at least one Webquest per year would provide both a new and an interesting form of assessment and experience for the students, whilst not consuming too much of the teachers time to prepare it.
WebQuests are an innovative way of learning through the use of ICTs, and I feel that, when appropriately administered in a classroom, would certainly maximise the engagement and involvement of all students.
WebQuest Direct. (2009). WebQuest Direct. Retrieved 20 August, 2009 from www.webquestdirect.com.au
Last year a friend and I created a Webquest using WebquestDirect (2009) for an assignment. It was quite a time consuming process as we were still trying to learn the ins and outs of the creation process. However, it was a great learning experience for us and I certainly learnt alot about how these programs can be implemented in the classroom.
I can see that Webquests would not always be appropriate for classroom use, and would be more effective with middle and upper primary students. Although I do feel that if a class were to complete at least one Webquest per year would provide both a new and an interesting form of assessment and experience for the students, whilst not consuming too much of the teachers time to prepare it.
WebQuests are an innovative way of learning through the use of ICTs, and I feel that, when appropriately administered in a classroom, would certainly maximise the engagement and involvement of all students.
WebQuest Direct. (2009). WebQuest Direct. Retrieved 20 August, 2009 from www.webquestdirect.com.au
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