Shawn Arbogast - Educational Technology: October 2010

Sunday, October 24, 2010

FV4 AR Pitch

Here is the final video for my ETC class. I choose the option for my Action Research Pitch. This is my first attempt at such a pitch and I have some other ideas now that I have really critiqued it numerous times and plan on revising it soon.

PE4 Part 3 Garageband

The last part of Garageband that I explored was the Podcast option. With the podcast option I found how easy it was to record my voice, add various chapter markers, add pictures for what it an enhanced podcast and add jingles and sound effect. Within a couple of minutes I could easily record and share to itunes or iweb a professional sounding podcast.

I can easily see using the podcast feature with students to record their science discoveries, make step by step directions or even do a book talk.

PE4 Part 2 Garageband

The next part of Garageband that I explored was the Learn to Play section. In here I was able to view video step by step directions on how to begin playing a piano or a guitar. Both walked you through the very basics in an easy to understand approach. One of the nice features that I found in the guitar lessons was the ability to tune your guitar by using the built in mic or even with a line in input.

I think now that I need to see if my music teachers know about this as I can see how beneficial this could be for some students.

PE4 Part 1 Garageband

Garageband has always been an application I wanted to learn more about, but just hadn't taken the time to. This time I delved into it and found a lot. I started out by trying out the Magic Garageband option. For someone like myself who is not very musically talented, this option can be used to fool anyone. It was very easy to pick which type of instrument I wanted, hear it alone or as a whole and adjust the volume of each instrument. Once I had it the way I liked, simply clicked the button to open the song in garageband. From here I could add, delete and change the song to my liking.

W4 Reading

Sunday, October 17, 2010

W3 Reading

PE3 Part 3 Google Docs - Spreadsheet

For my part 3 post of practical experience, it only seems fitting that it be on spreadsheets since this ties directly in with the forms. I like how when you create your form, in the background it creates a spreadsheet for you. The spreadsheet has all the options that I would typically use in Excel. Setting up formulas, sorting, locking cells and creating graphs are all easily done.

PE2 Part 2 Goggle Docs - Drawing

I had never used the Google Docs drawing feature before so I picked this for my second practical experience. It took a little bit of time to get use to (or rather forget about other programs) the layout and options in the menu. Once I got this down, the drawing application was very easy to use. I actually found this much easier to create/manipulate drawing figures than in Microsoft Word.

PE1 Part 1 Google Docs- Forms

Because I haven't had the opportunity to play with Google Docs forms much, I decided to take this opportunity to use this as my first practical experience. There are a lot of choices that one can make when setting up your form. Because of this, I found that I needed to have a pretty good plan on the questions to ask. I do like the various options on presenting the form. From embedding it in another web site, to emailing to opening it up to others to view on a web site.

BP12_OMM_Qipit

My one minute message on Qipit.

I experienced some issues this time with uploading and using Blogger's video player so I switched to Viddler.

BP11_Comment to Jana

Click here to view my comment to Jana about Bitstrips for Schools.

BP10_Comment to Bruce

Click here to view my comment to Bruce on Dropbox.

BP9_Qipit

Qipit White - http://www.qipit.com/products/qipitwhite/

Qipit White is a great tool that uses an existing Smartphone’s camera to turn it into a digital copy machine. With the application installed on the phone, you simply point the camera and take a picture. The picture is then analyzed to remove glare, shadow and distortion. It then turns the picture into an ink on white scan quality digital pdf file that you can share via email, Evernote, Facebook and others. Plus, copies can be stored and browsed right on the phone for quick access.

I can see numerous uses within the classroom for a product like this. Notes that are put up on the whiteboard can now be quickly and easily converted into a pdf file without having to have expensive interactive whiteboard hardware. In addition, you can already take what a lot of students have, a Smartphone, and allow them to use it. Now they can have no excuse for not having the notes. In addition, group work can become simplified. No longer would every person in the group have to write the same information down. They could designate or take turns with one person writing and the others can take a picture.

New research keeps saying that teachers should welcome the use of cell phones within the classroom for educational use. While most of them refer to using Internet enabled phones for quick and easy access to research, this tool would be another great use. With the right use, a teacher could almost turn their classroom into a paperless classroom.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

W2 Reading

BP8_OMM_Weebly

Here's my One Minute Message on the web 2.0 tool WEEBLY

BP7_Comment to Jeannine

Follow this link to my comment on Jeannine's blog about Kisstunes

BP6_Comment to Karl

Follow this link to my comments on Karl's blog about Embedit.in

BP5 Weebly

Weebly - http://www.weebly.com

Weebly is a great web 2.0 tool for easily creating a web site for use with your students. One of the nice things about weebly is the ability to quickly and easily set up a web site without knowing anything about a web site. It allows you to click and drag to set up your web site. They provide dozens of designs for you to choose from or allow you to upload your own. Plus, you can add all types of design elements from videos to pictures to maps to blogs and more. Making changes is as simple as clicking, dragging and typing.

Some of the added benefits that Weebly provides for educators are no ads, completely free hosting and allows for up to 40 student accounts. With the student accounts your students can communicate back and forth through blogs that as the teacher you have full control over. Plus, with the accounts, students can upload their assignments to you whether they are at home, school or vacation they can still turn in that report to you. In addition, the student accounts are allowed to set up their own web sites and you can password protect them if you would like.

Another great use is to keep parents informed of what is going on in your classroom. By setting up a blog, you can quickly and easily let parents know what is coming up in your classes so that they can help their son/daughter be ready for school.

Weebly has been adding more and more features over a short period of time and promises that there are more to come. I cannot wait to see what is next.

Monday, October 4, 2010

BP4 Edmodo

The Web 2.0 tool that I have chosen for this post is Edmodo. Edmodo is a social network that is moderated by the teacher. It allows students to collaborate and share ideas with others. The site has the look and feel like Facebook so students feel comfortable transitioning into Edmodo.

Some of the features of Edmodo include having classroom discussions, sharing links with students, embedding work from other sites, posting handouts, file storage, text messages and more. Plus, it allows the teacher to be in control of the content. In addition, teachers have to create their account first and then invite their students to join the appropriate groups.

One of the greatest uses that I can see is communicating with absent students. A teacher can easily post any handouts, notes and more for the absent students to gain access to. The ultimate goal would be that when the student returned to school they already had the notes and homework done so they weren’t behind the rest of the students. One of the other great uses would be for reference and refresher for those students who were in class.

While I haven’t had a chance to get students signed into Edmodo yet since my position is not in the classroom, I have talked with several teachers about it who are very excited to get started. I have been starting to use it with my building tech teachers. We are using it for discussions, file posting, storage and sharing links at this time. It has been a great way to increase the communication but in a way that reduces the time spent doing this.

So go and check out this great Web 2.0 tool. http://www.edmodo.com

Sunday, October 3, 2010

W1 Reading

BP3 Diigo Groups

Here is the screenshot of my Diigo action research group page. I have invited all of my critical friends along with several classmates and professors. At this time, only a couple have responded, but I expect the remaining will join at the start of the week when they go back to school and check their email.

I am still learning about this web 2.0 tool and find it very useful on a personal level but am still trying to figure out how I will best use this group feature. On a personal note, I have used other bookmarking web sites before and I find Diigo to be more beneficial since I can highlight, add notes and more.