Monday, May 16, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
New Project Sign-in
I've added a new project sign in for project #3 near the bottom of this blog. Follow the directions there when you are ready to share your staff development presentation with me.
Monday, May 9, 2011
YouTube Resources for Web 2.0 Tools
Just found DiscoveryEd2010Web on YouTube. There are 7 videos that cover all sorts of web 2.0 tools appropriate for education. Many of the tools are ones we have explored but some are new to us (me, too). The guys in the videos are entertaining and the video editing is slick. Worth a look if you need some ideas for new tools or how to use the ones you already know.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Project #3: More Info
From the Assignments and Projects Document:
I would expect a demonstration that includes some elements that you've learned so far in EDUC 675 to show your audience the features (what the elements can do) and benefits (how they can improve teaching and learning) of Google docs, Symbaloo, Weebly, Voki, Wordle, XtraNormal, subject specific sites, etc. You may choose an audience (see examples above) and imagine that you are the expert (you really are) who is leading your chosen audience to use or promote more technology use in classrooms. Your job is to be convincing as well as entertaining. The final product will be a Google Docs Presentation or if you looking for a new experience, a Prezi. Use the speaker notes feature in Google Docs Presentations as a script for yourself or a written explanation of how your demonstration will be used. Use links to sites and examples of work you have done. My fondest wish is for you to actually use this presentation with a real audience and report back that you really wowed them. Make this a 10 minute presentation.
May 15: Project # 3 - Persuasive Preso: Features and Benefits. Audience: to department teachers, technology committee to allow access to Web 2.0 tools, Board of Education for more technology and access, other named audience. Should be mixed media, approximately 10 minutes.
I would expect a demonstration that includes some elements that you've learned so far in EDUC 675 to show your audience the features (what the elements can do) and benefits (how they can improve teaching and learning) of Google docs, Symbaloo, Weebly, Voki, Wordle, XtraNormal, subject specific sites, etc. You may choose an audience (see examples above) and imagine that you are the expert (you really are) who is leading your chosen audience to use or promote more technology use in classrooms. Your job is to be convincing as well as entertaining. The final product will be a Google Docs Presentation or if you looking for a new experience, a Prezi. Use the speaker notes feature in Google Docs Presentations as a script for yourself or a written explanation of how your demonstration will be used. Use links to sites and examples of work you have done. My fondest wish is for you to actually use this presentation with a real audience and report back that you really wowed them. Make this a 10 minute presentation.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Course Assessment
I've had some inquiries about how things are going as far as grades are concerned. As I mentioned at our first meeting I expect graduate level work from graduate students. However, it is up to you to determine what that means to you... up to a point. I have a good nose for game playing and scamming the system and I've detected none of that so far.
I'm of the 'mastery learning' school of evaluation. That means I believe in do-overs if a student misses the mark or leaves some stuff out of an assignment. You may assume you are doing well if you don't get a do-over or fix-it notice from me. On the project #2 comments you received I coded these do-over and fix-it notes in red. If you didn't get a red notice and I asked you a question about your web presence you may choose to take my suggestions or not. If I did request a change please communicate directly with me when you have made the adjustment (see next paragraph).
An important note here is that I'm attempting to train you to use the 'comments' feature in Google Docs, this may have not been clear in my note to you about how to see my comments on you projects. When you are viewing the Google Doc that includes my comments you may comment back by using the 'insert' pull down menu and selecting 'comment' . A comment will be placed a the location of your cursor... it will be dated I will be notified of your comment. This is how a conversation can be conducted via Google Docs. Pretty cool. Let's try it.
As always, read my blog! If you have not entered your email address to the right so you will be notified of new posts, do it now. Leave me a note in blog comments even if it is only: "That's cool" or "What BS", I want to know you are 'in class'.
The bottom line on Course Assessment: Everyone gets an A unless you really screw up. Don't make me go there ;-)
I'm of the 'mastery learning' school of evaluation. That means I believe in do-overs if a student misses the mark or leaves some stuff out of an assignment. You may assume you are doing well if you don't get a do-over or fix-it notice from me. On the project #2 comments you received I coded these do-over and fix-it notes in red. If you didn't get a red notice and I asked you a question about your web presence you may choose to take my suggestions or not. If I did request a change please communicate directly with me when you have made the adjustment (see next paragraph).
An important note here is that I'm attempting to train you to use the 'comments' feature in Google Docs, this may have not been clear in my note to you about how to see my comments on you projects. When you are viewing the Google Doc that includes my comments you may comment back by using the 'insert' pull down menu and selecting 'comment' . A comment will be placed a the location of your cursor... it will be dated I will be notified of your comment. This is how a conversation can be conducted via Google Docs. Pretty cool. Let's try it.
As always, read my blog! If you have not entered your email address to the right so you will be notified of new posts, do it now. Leave me a note in blog comments even if it is only: "That's cool" or "What BS", I want to know you are 'in class'.
The bottom line on Course Assessment: Everyone gets an A unless you really screw up. Don't make me go there ;-)
Monday, May 2, 2011
Tagul: Another Wordle look-alike
Tagul is another Wordle look-alike with a simpler interface than Tagxedo but with fewer features, I think. Take a look.
See my trial run to the right... the URL for this blog is the basis for this word cloud (I excluded common English words). Also, Tagul adds a roll-over feature that enlarges words as a cursor rolls over them. I greatly reduced the size of the example so it would fit the space available.
Got great reviews on Tagxedo, btw. Be sure to read what your colleagues are saying... very useful stuff.
Compare and contrast word cloud makers, anyone? Anyone?
See my trial run to the right... the URL for this blog is the basis for this word cloud (I excluded common English words). Also, Tagul adds a roll-over feature that enlarges words as a cursor rolls over them. I greatly reduced the size of the example so it would fit the space available.
Got great reviews on Tagxedo, btw. Be sure to read what your colleagues are saying... very useful stuff.
Compare and contrast word cloud makers, anyone? Anyone?
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Wordle on Steroids
Found this site that allows Wordle-like word clouds to be configured in shapes of your choosing. Problem is it requires the download of a plug-in from Microsoft called Silverlight and the site called Tagxedo does not work with all operating systems and browsers. It is also a bit mysterious (read not user friendly) in its operation. The good news is that once you figure it out it does what it says it will do... word clouds in a variety of shapes. It appears that one can even upload a picture or shape to become a word cloud (I did not attempt this feature).
Here's my attempt... it's the Gettysburg Address in the shape of Abe Lincoln. What do you think? Any ideas on how this might be used? What success did you have with this tool?
Here's my attempt... it's the Gettysburg Address in the shape of Abe Lincoln. What do you think? Any ideas on how this might be used? What success did you have with this tool?
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