I had no idea that there were so many fun and creative ways to create presentations! Who needs PowerPoint anymore!!??!
I chose to use the movie making software found at www.xtranormal.com. It was super easy to use and fun too. I really enjoyed making this animated presentation. Here is a link to preview my movie. http://www.xtranormal.com/makemovies/edit_movie/80c83276-9803-11df-94e8-003048d6740d/thn/
USER NAME: LTEC3440
PASSWORD:123456
Just press play. On the left you can see how I created the movie by inserting different camera angles, animations and emotions. PLEASE DO NOT EDIT OR REMOVE ANY CONTENT.
I am also giving you a link for viewing a PowerPoint presentation of some of my photography. I created an animated gif file and inserted it as a movie file. Please stay on the front page for a few seconds to see the animated effect.
https://classes.lt.unt.edu/Maymester_2010/LTEC_3220_020/jmb0242/jenniferthomas_assign4.ppt
I hope this counts toward credit for an original move…
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Podcasts
After listening to two podcasts I found that I would rather read the material instead of listening to it with no visuals. I thought the opposite would be true but as I listened I found myself getting distracted. I didn’t seem to be able to focus on what was being said. I think that because I am a visual learner I need to either see the material on paper on see the person giving the talk.
If podcasts were the only way of getting information for a class exam I would have to really try hard to focus. I would have to take lots of notes and probably listen to it more than once. A good thing about podcast is that you can replay, rewind, or pause a section that you need hear again.
Podcasts open up a while new realm of learning and way of getting information that should be considered for today’s classroom. As an online student I think that podcasts will be more common for distant education programs.
If podcasts were the only way of getting information for a class exam I would have to really try hard to focus. I would have to take lots of notes and probably listen to it more than once. A good thing about podcast is that you can replay, rewind, or pause a section that you need hear again.
Podcasts open up a while new realm of learning and way of getting information that should be considered for today’s classroom. As an online student I think that podcasts will be more common for distant education programs.
Richard St. John: Secrets of success in 8 words, 3 minutes
I found this video in the side links form Sir Ken Robinson’s video. I clicked on it to see what it was about and loved it. It is short, sweet and to the point. I feel like if you were to apply these principals in the classroom, work or in any situation in life you would be successful. I really enjoyed it and hope you do too!
Three Videos
The three videos in this week’s lesson brought up some really great points about technology and education. All three videos had different topics but they can all be related to each other by asking, how are students being taught and how is technology helping or hurting education.
The first video by Sir Ken Robinson, “Do schools kill creativity?” was brilliant! I loved his funny anecdotes. I agree with him about the school systems stifling the creativity of kids. The education systems do focus on the 3 R’s rather than paying the proper amount of attention to the arts, something I find quite scary; we can’t all be engineers. Mr. Robinson also mentioned how kids who fidget and move are considered distractions and dolled out medication when in fact it may just mean that they need to move! It is extremely important that teachers understand that not everyone can fit into the same learning mold and figuring out how to teach all students is key to having better success in the classroom. I believe there is something to be said about rules and structure, they are what gives us guidance but I think there needs to be a balance that allows for creativity.
The second video, “A Vision of Students Today” was interesting. I think this video is very creative and it points out some really relevant problems that students face – textbooks, standardized testing, boring lectures etc. However, students need to realize that what they get out of the class is based on what they put in. If they are surfing the web or chatting on facebook during the class then how will they know if they are learning things that will relate to everyday situations; they aren’t listening! I get really frustrated with people who are unsatisfied with their situations but don’t look at their actions. Yes, technology can be a great way to enhance education. Technology can make things more interesting, faster, and easier but it shouldn’t get in the way of learning. One of the biggest problems that I see with technology is that it creates a false expectation of immediate gratification and customization in real life. Not every job you have will cater to your wants, not every government form or health care form you have to fill out will be sent to you via a chat room with pop ups pointing you in the right direction. People, not just student need to realize that real life isn’t Burger King, you can’t always get it your way, right away!
The third video, “Web 2.0 … The Machine is Us/ing Us”, was very eye opening. Web 2.0 has changed the way we use the Internet. It has made the Internet a tool that you can interact with not just look at. The idea that the machine, our computers, are learning and using us to teach others about us is a crazy and real concept. I think it is amazing at all the things that are available with just a click but I also think it is incredibly scary. One of the points mentioned in the video is that we need to rethink identity. With all of the linking that Internet can do from site to site, tagging images, publishing profiles, etc. I think people need to be aware of all the information that they are putting out for the world. In a few clicks you can find out a plethora of information on someone – date of birth, high school information, hobbies, addresses, phone numbers, maiden names, information on their parents, the list can go on and on. All of these things can be used for identity theft, fraud, scams and just plan creepy people who get off on looking into others peoples lives. The web is a terrific thing but can be pretty scary if you think about it.
A common theme that I found in all three videos is that everything needs to be balanced and used in moderation. There needs to be a balance of what is being taught in the classroom, art and mathematics should be seen as equals; technology can be a useful tool for making learning less boring and faster but it shouldn’t interfere with the actual learning process, and the Internet with it’s ever changing interface is developing into a powerful tool that is changing the way we communicate and live.
The first video by Sir Ken Robinson, “Do schools kill creativity?” was brilliant! I loved his funny anecdotes. I agree with him about the school systems stifling the creativity of kids. The education systems do focus on the 3 R’s rather than paying the proper amount of attention to the arts, something I find quite scary; we can’t all be engineers. Mr. Robinson also mentioned how kids who fidget and move are considered distractions and dolled out medication when in fact it may just mean that they need to move! It is extremely important that teachers understand that not everyone can fit into the same learning mold and figuring out how to teach all students is key to having better success in the classroom. I believe there is something to be said about rules and structure, they are what gives us guidance but I think there needs to be a balance that allows for creativity.
The second video, “A Vision of Students Today” was interesting. I think this video is very creative and it points out some really relevant problems that students face – textbooks, standardized testing, boring lectures etc. However, students need to realize that what they get out of the class is based on what they put in. If they are surfing the web or chatting on facebook during the class then how will they know if they are learning things that will relate to everyday situations; they aren’t listening! I get really frustrated with people who are unsatisfied with their situations but don’t look at their actions. Yes, technology can be a great way to enhance education. Technology can make things more interesting, faster, and easier but it shouldn’t get in the way of learning. One of the biggest problems that I see with technology is that it creates a false expectation of immediate gratification and customization in real life. Not every job you have will cater to your wants, not every government form or health care form you have to fill out will be sent to you via a chat room with pop ups pointing you in the right direction. People, not just student need to realize that real life isn’t Burger King, you can’t always get it your way, right away!
The third video, “Web 2.0 … The Machine is Us/ing Us”, was very eye opening. Web 2.0 has changed the way we use the Internet. It has made the Internet a tool that you can interact with not just look at. The idea that the machine, our computers, are learning and using us to teach others about us is a crazy and real concept. I think it is amazing at all the things that are available with just a click but I also think it is incredibly scary. One of the points mentioned in the video is that we need to rethink identity. With all of the linking that Internet can do from site to site, tagging images, publishing profiles, etc. I think people need to be aware of all the information that they are putting out for the world. In a few clicks you can find out a plethora of information on someone – date of birth, high school information, hobbies, addresses, phone numbers, maiden names, information on their parents, the list can go on and on. All of these things can be used for identity theft, fraud, scams and just plan creepy people who get off on looking into others peoples lives. The web is a terrific thing but can be pretty scary if you think about it.
A common theme that I found in all three videos is that everything needs to be balanced and used in moderation. There needs to be a balance of what is being taught in the classroom, art and mathematics should be seen as equals; technology can be a useful tool for making learning less boring and faster but it shouldn’t interfere with the actual learning process, and the Internet with it’s ever changing interface is developing into a powerful tool that is changing the way we communicate and live.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Favorite Video
This is the video that I liked the most ~
I really feel like this guy understands the need for creativity and how in many cases as children we are forced to put aside our dreams to follow the rules of the system.The education systems do focus on the 3 R’s rather than paying the proper amount of attention to the arts. Frankly I stink at math but excel more in the creative field, luckily my mother did too and I wasn’t stopped from doodling on my homework and now have a career in graphic design go figure :)!
I really feel like this guy understands the need for creativity and how in many cases as children we are forced to put aside our dreams to follow the rules of the system.The education systems do focus on the 3 R’s rather than paying the proper amount of attention to the arts. Frankly I stink at math but excel more in the creative field, luckily my mother did too and I wasn’t stopped from doodling on my homework and now have a career in graphic design go figure :)!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Mind Mapping -
I tend to be more of a visual learner and can memorize things once I’ve seen them so I really liked this exercise. I do scribble down notes throughout the day but more of a conglomerate of lists, my version of mind maps, but without the fancy colors and images. They are nothing compared to the images of mind maps on the Internet, next to a few of those mine look a little pathetic. I did spruce mine up a little for this exercise ;). Below are two of favorite examples:
from: indyish.com/how-art-creates-mind-and-reality/
from: techknowtools.wordpress.com/.../mind-map-it-out/
I did a mind map on Photography, one of my hobbies. Below is my pen and ink version. Since this was really my first mind map, I had to do it 4 times! I kept messing up or not leaving enough room for some of my branches.
I had never used mind-mapping software. I chose to try out iMindMap. It is really awesome and super easy to use. It does all the work for you; a few moves with the mouse and enter in your ideas and you are done. It was much easier to do a mind map using this software than on pen and paper. You don’t have to worry about planning what your map will look like because you can quickly change your branches. There are a lot of in-depth features that I didn’t use but if I do another one of these on the future I’ll add pictures and stuff. Below is my digital version:
I can see many benefits to using mind mapping for instructional design. One is that you can make a branch for each type of learning style and then expand off of each one with benefits, disadvantages and ways to implement that style into the class room. Another benefit is that it will help the instructor to come up with creative ways to adjust their lesson plan to fit the needs of the class. Mind mapping is also a great tool for visual learners, teachers can use mind maps for teaching the lesson, and it is more fun than looking at a board with list of information. Creating a mind map while teaching a lesson is a good way to get the class to participate and to learn from one another.
from: indyish.com/how-art-creates-mind-and-reality/
from: techknowtools.wordpress.com/.../mind-map-it-out/
I did a mind map on Photography, one of my hobbies. Below is my pen and ink version. Since this was really my first mind map, I had to do it 4 times! I kept messing up or not leaving enough room for some of my branches.
I had never used mind-mapping software. I chose to try out iMindMap. It is really awesome and super easy to use. It does all the work for you; a few moves with the mouse and enter in your ideas and you are done. It was much easier to do a mind map using this software than on pen and paper. You don’t have to worry about planning what your map will look like because you can quickly change your branches. There are a lot of in-depth features that I didn’t use but if I do another one of these on the future I’ll add pictures and stuff. Below is my digital version:
I can see many benefits to using mind mapping for instructional design. One is that you can make a branch for each type of learning style and then expand off of each one with benefits, disadvantages and ways to implement that style into the class room. Another benefit is that it will help the instructor to come up with creative ways to adjust their lesson plan to fit the needs of the class. Mind mapping is also a great tool for visual learners, teachers can use mind maps for teaching the lesson, and it is more fun than looking at a board with list of information. Creating a mind map while teaching a lesson is a good way to get the class to participate and to learn from one another.
Designing for Learners
Instructional Design is a way of formatting the learning modules to enhance learning possibilities. It focuses on the needs of the learner and helps to maximize the learning process. I think it is extremely important to understand that not everyone learns in the same way. Some students are very visual learners and others get more out of a lecture. Some like working in groups and others do better working alone. I tend to be keener on doing projects alone. I’ve realized this over the years and struggle when group projects are assigned. I tend to want to take charge because I don’t like depending on others. This week’s assignment worked out really well. There was good communication on the discussion board and emails back and forth. There was a little lag in the communication but I was pushing the group to work ahead so that was to be expected a little. Again, my desire to take charge… Overall I think it went pretty smooth.
If instructors are aware of the different learning styles and how students work in each area they will be able to get better results. Learning is a process that is different for everyone and you can’t make someone learn but you can make the process easier.
If instructors are aware of the different learning styles and how students work in each area they will be able to get better results. Learning is a process that is different for everyone and you can’t make someone learn but you can make the process easier.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)