YouTube phenomenon has girls asking: Am I Pretty?
After my recent viewing of Bully (bullyproject.org), this article sheds even more light on the need for digital citizenship teachings and cyberbullying education.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Great Saturday morning technology for thought
Check out these great resources and articles about technology integration, digital literacy, and digital citizenship that will get your brain going this Saturday morning!
- Ted's City 2.0: http://thecity2.org/splash.php
- Great discussion by Eric Brunsell on blended learning in the classroom: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/blended-learning-research-eric-brunsell?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_content=blog&utm_campaign=blendedlearning
- Digital Citizenship resources: http://mindshift.kqed.org/2012/03/teaching-and-modeling-good-digital-citizenship/
- Story Visit (collaborating while reading books): http://www.scoop.it/t/read-to-me/p/1343379288/story-visit-let-s-read-a-book-together
Friday, March 2, 2012
Google Privacy Settings?
Are going live. So, here are your options:
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Google-Privacy-Policy-Changes-Are-Live-Here-Are-Your-Options-743800/?kc=EWKNLEDP03022012A
You can also browse incognito on Google Chrome. So, I guess this is Google's push to get more to use Chrome. In other browsers, you have to clear your cache. Stay tuned for more.
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Google-Privacy-Policy-Changes-Are-Live-Here-Are-Your-Options-743800/?kc=EWKNLEDP03022012A
You can also browse incognito on Google Chrome. So, I guess this is Google's push to get more to use Chrome. In other browsers, you have to clear your cache. Stay tuned for more.
Anatomy and Art at your fingertips, Apps# 10 and 11: Google Body Browser and Art Project
Google Body Browser: http://www.zygotebody.com/
Google Art Project: http://www.googleartproject.com/
(Both of these applications are still in lab stages; however, it appears that it will stay around longer.)
Google Body Browser:
Synopsis: First of all, you have to have Chrome installed to use this application. And, with the recent revelations about Google's privacy settings, it's further incentive to use Chrome (you can browse incognito with Chrome). This great tool gives viewers 3D views of the human body. And, viewers can view the body (male or female) as the naked eyes sees the body or with one or all of the following: muscles, veins, heart, brain, and several others. Using the indicators in the bottom of the green toolbar, viewers can select the individual (oval with one dash) view or multiple (oval with multiple dashes) views. Note: the oval is called the slider. It can be selected to lock it in either the individual view mode or the multiple view mode OR it can slide. When a viewer slides the bar up and down (when the individual--one dash--slider is selected), more/less features become visible. The slider can be moved left and right as well when the multiple view--multiple dashes--is select. When the slider is moved to the right, the view is activated. When it is in the left position, that view is hidden. Then, in the green toolbar, users can select a male or female body and the various views (from one view to multiple views). In the top right, viewers can select a specific body part to examine (ex: tibia). Using the mouse or the arrows (on screen), viewers can move the body/organ/bone 360 degrees. Using the plus and minus signs and the scrolling bar on the mouse, users can zoom in and zoom out. When different body parts are clicked on, their name appears along with a pin/thumb tack and an 'x.' If you click on the pin/thumb tack, it will keep the part selected while you search for other features. If you click on the background or the 'x,' it will deselect it.
Tips from Google:
Quick guide ('?' to toggle)
Navigation
Click+drag with the mouse to rotate, scroll to zoom.
Or use the buttons in the upper left. The Home button resets the view.
Or use the arrow keys and Page Up / Page Down. The Home key resets the view.
Slider
Use the opacity slider on the left to reveal layers.
Click on the toggle below the slider to control layers individually.
Selection
Use the searchbox at the upper right to search, or click on entities to select them.
Click on the background or on a label to undo selection.
Ctrl+click on entities or labels to hide entities. (Cmd+click on mac.)
Shift+click on entities or labels (or click on the 'pin' icon in a label) to pin an entity. This will keep it selected while you select more.
Some entities can be expanded by clicking on the 'plus' on a label.
Models
Use the model button at the top of the slider to switch models (if others available).
Integration: Now, everyone can have 3D interaction with the human anatomy. Students can work one-on-one with the different body part and enable different views. Students can view how the bones connect and interact. This is very useful for visual learners and those needing a hands-on environment. With the use of projectors and interactive white boards in the classroom, teachers can project the site to an entire class and allow students to come up and interact with the human body in a way that was never before available. Unlike the molds that have filled classrooms in the past, these give students and teachers the ability to view multiple shots at ones and for no cost and no additional equipment. With screencasting tools, a teacher can even record the process as he or she goes through the human body. That cast can be uploaded onto a class Website.
Google Art Project: According to Google, "Explore museums from around the world, discover and view hundreds of artworks at incredible zoom levels, and even create and share your own collection of masterpieces."
Synopsis: This lab project combines the technologies of street view, city tours, and Picasa and blends them into one great project. Now, students and teachers can take virtual field trips to nearly any museum in the world and walk through it (via street view) as if they are actually there. They can look at the paintings as they sit in the actual museums and gather information about each. When you first get to the Website, you have the option to "View Artwork" or "Explore the museum." If you select "View Artwork," you will just see the artwork and the write-ups, but if you choose "Explore the museum," you can walk through it and interact with the art pieces. For instance, you can go to the Palace of Versailles. When you select to explore the museum, you will find the similar viewing options as you do in street view. You can also click on the link to navigate the floor plan (as you would with a map at the museum). You can also use the search bar to type in the specific exhibit you want to see at the museum and it will navigate you to the room and you can view it in street view. When you click on navigate, you can view the specific information on each room. It goes through the history. It also gives the write-ups about each piece of art that you would find at the museum itself. Even better, when you are in the navigation page, you can choose to share the page. So, that page can be sent out to students or teachers. Here is a brief video on its features:
Integration: This lab project is not just for the art classroom. History, English, Science, etc. all have connections to the museums and art within the museums. It's cultural literacy at its finest. And, now, students and teachers can go to the exhibits at no cost and tour it as if they are there. Plus, pages can be shared and embedded within Websites so students can do Webquests at the specific museums. The possibilities continue to grow. Check it out!!
Google Art Project: http://www.googleartproject.com/
(Both of these applications are still in lab stages; however, it appears that it will stay around longer.)
Google Body Browser:
Synopsis: First of all, you have to have Chrome installed to use this application. And, with the recent revelations about Google's privacy settings, it's further incentive to use Chrome (you can browse incognito with Chrome). This great tool gives viewers 3D views of the human body. And, viewers can view the body (male or female) as the naked eyes sees the body or with one or all of the following: muscles, veins, heart, brain, and several others. Using the indicators in the bottom of the green toolbar, viewers can select the individual (oval with one dash) view or multiple (oval with multiple dashes) views. Note: the oval is called the slider. It can be selected to lock it in either the individual view mode or the multiple view mode OR it can slide. When a viewer slides the bar up and down (when the individual--one dash--slider is selected), more/less features become visible. The slider can be moved left and right as well when the multiple view--multiple dashes--is select. When the slider is moved to the right, the view is activated. When it is in the left position, that view is hidden. Then, in the green toolbar, users can select a male or female body and the various views (from one view to multiple views). In the top right, viewers can select a specific body part to examine (ex: tibia). Using the mouse or the arrows (on screen), viewers can move the body/organ/bone 360 degrees. Using the plus and minus signs and the scrolling bar on the mouse, users can zoom in and zoom out. When different body parts are clicked on, their name appears along with a pin/thumb tack and an 'x.' If you click on the pin/thumb tack, it will keep the part selected while you search for other features. If you click on the background or the 'x,' it will deselect it.
Tips from Google:
Quick guide ('?' to toggle)
Navigation
Slider
Selection
Models
Integration: Now, everyone can have 3D interaction with the human anatomy. Students can work one-on-one with the different body part and enable different views. Students can view how the bones connect and interact. This is very useful for visual learners and those needing a hands-on environment. With the use of projectors and interactive white boards in the classroom, teachers can project the site to an entire class and allow students to come up and interact with the human body in a way that was never before available. Unlike the molds that have filled classrooms in the past, these give students and teachers the ability to view multiple shots at ones and for no cost and no additional equipment. With screencasting tools, a teacher can even record the process as he or she goes through the human body. That cast can be uploaded onto a class Website.
Google Art Project: According to Google, "Explore museums from around the world, discover and view hundreds of artworks at incredible zoom levels, and even create and share your own collection of masterpieces."
Synopsis: This lab project combines the technologies of street view, city tours, and Picasa and blends them into one great project. Now, students and teachers can take virtual field trips to nearly any museum in the world and walk through it (via street view) as if they are actually there. They can look at the paintings as they sit in the actual museums and gather information about each. When you first get to the Website, you have the option to "View Artwork" or "Explore the museum." If you select "View Artwork," you will just see the artwork and the write-ups, but if you choose "Explore the museum," you can walk through it and interact with the art pieces. For instance, you can go to the Palace of Versailles. When you select to explore the museum, you will find the similar viewing options as you do in street view. You can also click on the link to navigate the floor plan (as you would with a map at the museum). You can also use the search bar to type in the specific exhibit you want to see at the museum and it will navigate you to the room and you can view it in street view. When you click on navigate, you can view the specific information on each room. It goes through the history. It also gives the write-ups about each piece of art that you would find at the museum itself. Even better, when you are in the navigation page, you can choose to share the page. So, that page can be sent out to students or teachers. Here is a brief video on its features:
Integration: This lab project is not just for the art classroom. History, English, Science, etc. all have connections to the museums and art within the museums. It's cultural literacy at its finest. And, now, students and teachers can go to the exhibits at no cost and tour it as if they are there. Plus, pages can be shared and embedded within Websites so students can do Webquests at the specific museums. The possibilities continue to grow. Check it out!!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
PowerPoint brought into the future, App #9: PowerPoint as a movie
PowerPoint as a Movie:
(I am cheating on this application because this is not really a Web 2.0 tool; however, it is useful knowledge for anyone in business or education).
Synopsis: My first year of teaching, I came barreling into the classroom with ideas to use iMovie (before I realized we were not a Mac school) or Movie Maker to turn poetry into a new medium--digital stories. In the process, I discovered how little my students had been exposed to such movie-making technologies, despite being products of eMINTS (click here for more information on Missouri's technology inclusive program). On the other hand, my students were PowerPoint masters. It seems, by that time (circa 2005/2006), PowerPoint was a one trick pony in the classroom. And, as lessons often go, there were several miscommunications, one of which being the medium by which the projects could be created. With a week left, I discovered that many (all were anxious so they took their projects home to dig up photos and audio clips, and other memorabilia) had done their projects on PowerPoint. As a first year teacher, I was frazzled. I did not know how they could move all of their work into Movie Maker in a timely fashion. However, that's when one of the students showed me that PowerPoint slides could be saved as JPEG files. Well, JPEG files can then be imported into Movie Maker, iMovie, or any other movie-making software. That saved a lot of headaches.
Now, PowerPoint has an option so where you can even bypass the saving as JPEG images. Instead, (in PCs) you can simply go to File Save As. In the Save as type drop-down menu, select Windows Media Video and press Save. It will then export it as a Media file that can be opened in Windows Media Player (just like finished Movie Maker projects). In Macs, you have the same options; however, the steps are slightly different. Instead of going to File--Save As, go to File--Save as Movie. And, that's it! When you save it as a movie, all of the transitions and animations are also still in effect. Of course, now PowerPoint can be saved as almost any type of file or exported into almost all of the Office products. It can be imported into Google Docs, with all of its formatting still in tact.
Integration: Personally, I like that existing PowerPoint presentations can be turned into movies, a new medium. These movies can then be imported into Movie Maker or other movie making software to make a combination of PowerPoint movies. This file can now be uploaded into VoiceThread. And with VoiceThread, you can add audio commentary or visual commentary about the presentation. Therefore, a once good PowerPoint presentation can now be a movie with commentary capabilities. It expands on the PowerPoint one-trick pony. PowerPoint now allows for videos, audio clips, and media to be included within each slide. When the PowerPoint is saved as a movie, those same media clips are exported into the movie. Therefore, all original work is kept in-tact. Perhaps the best use of the PowerPoint-as-a-movie option is its ability to be combined with other PowerPoints into longer movies and to act as a video clip when making longer movies. It is also a great file to upload to your Website for students to watch when they need extra help. PowerPoint is just another software that is working towards inclusive platforms, where multiple file types can be integrated into one, larger, more acceptable file type.
Check out this PowerPoint I created that is now saved as a movie (and can now be imported into this blog).
(I am cheating on this application because this is not really a Web 2.0 tool; however, it is useful knowledge for anyone in business or education).
Synopsis: My first year of teaching, I came barreling into the classroom with ideas to use iMovie (before I realized we were not a Mac school) or Movie Maker to turn poetry into a new medium--digital stories. In the process, I discovered how little my students had been exposed to such movie-making technologies, despite being products of eMINTS (click here for more information on Missouri's technology inclusive program). On the other hand, my students were PowerPoint masters. It seems, by that time (circa 2005/2006), PowerPoint was a one trick pony in the classroom. And, as lessons often go, there were several miscommunications, one of which being the medium by which the projects could be created. With a week left, I discovered that many (all were anxious so they took their projects home to dig up photos and audio clips, and other memorabilia) had done their projects on PowerPoint. As a first year teacher, I was frazzled. I did not know how they could move all of their work into Movie Maker in a timely fashion. However, that's when one of the students showed me that PowerPoint slides could be saved as JPEG files. Well, JPEG files can then be imported into Movie Maker, iMovie, or any other movie-making software. That saved a lot of headaches.
Now, PowerPoint has an option so where you can even bypass the saving as JPEG images. Instead, (in PCs) you can simply go to File Save As. In the Save as type drop-down menu, select Windows Media Video and press Save. It will then export it as a Media file that can be opened in Windows Media Player (just like finished Movie Maker projects). In Macs, you have the same options; however, the steps are slightly different. Instead of going to File--Save As, go to File--Save as Movie. And, that's it! When you save it as a movie, all of the transitions and animations are also still in effect. Of course, now PowerPoint can be saved as almost any type of file or exported into almost all of the Office products. It can be imported into Google Docs, with all of its formatting still in tact.
Integration: Personally, I like that existing PowerPoint presentations can be turned into movies, a new medium. These movies can then be imported into Movie Maker or other movie making software to make a combination of PowerPoint movies. This file can now be uploaded into VoiceThread. And with VoiceThread, you can add audio commentary or visual commentary about the presentation. Therefore, a once good PowerPoint presentation can now be a movie with commentary capabilities. It expands on the PowerPoint one-trick pony. PowerPoint now allows for videos, audio clips, and media to be included within each slide. When the PowerPoint is saved as a movie, those same media clips are exported into the movie. Therefore, all original work is kept in-tact. Perhaps the best use of the PowerPoint-as-a-movie option is its ability to be combined with other PowerPoints into longer movies and to act as a video clip when making longer movies. It is also a great file to upload to your Website for students to watch when they need extra help. PowerPoint is just another software that is working towards inclusive platforms, where multiple file types can be integrated into one, larger, more acceptable file type.
Check out this PowerPoint I created that is now saved as a movie (and can now be imported into this blog).
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Searching brought to life, App #8: Google Search Videos
Google Search Videos: Google Search Stories (make videos from your searches; examples were run in 2010 Super Bowl): https://searchstories-intl.appspot.com/en-us/creator/ (to create video) or http://www.youtube.com/user/SearchStories (to watch video)
Synopsis: Google Search Videos generates videos based on a search. To begin, go to the video creator link listed above. You will find five searching blanks.
To begin, however, you should pick a specific topic that you want to research. In this case, it is the search that tells the story. Once a theme is picked, you can begin entering in correct searching terms and selecting the appropriate filter from the drop-down menu on the right (Web search, images, maps, news, etc.). Google gives you seven searching blanks. The movie ends on the seventh searching term. In the bottom, the video is previewed. Once all seven searching terms and their filters are selected, click on the add music tab. Here, you can select audio to play with the movie. Lastly, your story is created! When your story is created, you can add a title to your story, edit it, add a description, and upload it to youtube. Once the video is shared with youtube, you can download the video and edit it with a movie editing software.
Integration: This is a great way to check students' understanding of Web searching and, specifically, Google searching. Their searching becomes a video that must lead to an outcome and must tell a story. In this way, students are forced to correctly search and show their work.There are countless searching videos on the Website listed above.
This is a good activity to complete at the beginning of a unit. Students will need to research background on a unit. As they research sites, they will put their searching keywords into the Google Search Videos creator. Their final set of searching terms should show the conclusion/answer they have researched. The video should show their research process and how they narrowed down their terms. As other students watch the videos, they too can see the searching process. Again, this video creator is a great way for refining the searching process and developing it into a movie that others can witness.
This video of a young man shows his search to "grow knowledge" and build a business.
Synopsis: Google Search Videos generates videos based on a search. To begin, go to the video creator link listed above. You will find five searching blanks.
To begin, however, you should pick a specific topic that you want to research. In this case, it is the search that tells the story. Once a theme is picked, you can begin entering in correct searching terms and selecting the appropriate filter from the drop-down menu on the right (Web search, images, maps, news, etc.). Google gives you seven searching blanks. The movie ends on the seventh searching term. In the bottom, the video is previewed. Once all seven searching terms and their filters are selected, click on the add music tab. Here, you can select audio to play with the movie. Lastly, your story is created! When your story is created, you can add a title to your story, edit it, add a description, and upload it to youtube. Once the video is shared with youtube, you can download the video and edit it with a movie editing software.
Integration: This is a great way to check students' understanding of Web searching and, specifically, Google searching. Their searching becomes a video that must lead to an outcome and must tell a story. In this way, students are forced to correctly search and show their work.There are countless searching videos on the Website listed above.
This is a good activity to complete at the beginning of a unit. Students will need to research background on a unit. As they research sites, they will put their searching keywords into the Google Search Videos creator. Their final set of searching terms should show the conclusion/answer they have researched. The video should show their research process and how they narrowed down their terms. As other students watch the videos, they too can see the searching process. Again, this video creator is a great way for refining the searching process and developing it into a movie that others can witness.
This video of a young man shows his search to "grow knowledge" and build a business.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Collaborating made easy, App #7: VoiceThread
VoiceThread: http://voicethread.com/
(You have the ability to get a district/school/single educator educational subscription through http://ed.voicethread.com/. The school and district subscriptions create logins for all students and faculty in a secure environment. The single educator/class subscription is less expensive, but creates fewer students accounts--max 50. The educational services do have a cost; however, you can set up a free account without having to utilize the ed.voicethread side of voicethread.)
Synopsis: How it works--When you create your account, you can go ahead and get started! Click on the Create tab (you can do this through the http://voicethread.com/?#e0 or http://ed.voicethread.com/?#e0 link. You will see that you click on Upload. Within the Upload link, you can choose from your computer/flash drive, media sources, a URL, or your Webcam. You must upload images, docs, Webpages, and videos to this tab. You can even select photos from your Facebook account. With those items, you can compose a video with your voice. To do so, just select the files you want to upload and drag them into the correct order. Wait for them to upload. Then, click on the next link, the Comment link. It will ask you to select a picture for your identity (think of it as your profile picture) so you can choose to do it or ignore it. Then, you will notice that it already has your images/videos in a slide show. Click on the comment button beneath the slideshow. This will give you an option to either record audio (via a microphone or video) or record written text.When you click on the video recorder, telephone, record, or type buttons, you will have the chance to add your commentary about the video. However, if you want to mark up the screen, you need to click on type. A pen will appear and you can begin marking up the screen. You can repeat this for each image/video in the slideshow. If you choose to give a video commentary on a video slide, you will see your commentary off to the side, as if you are giving a narration of the scene. Below is the commentary scene.
When you are done adding your commentary, simply click save. You can also press the play button to see the entire "thread." Then, click on the Share link. In sharing, you have the option to share to an organization/group (if you have the educational subscription), getting the link and emailing it yourself, sending it to your contacts within VoiceThread, or choosing one of the options at the bottom of the screen. Here, you can get the embed code to insert it into a Webpage. You also have the option to export the video and to publish it (edit privacy and permissions settings.) In the top left, be sure to title your project and give it appropriate tags so others can search for it.
You may also click on the browse tab from the main page. This allows you to browse other videos created by keyword.
Integration: VoiceThread integrates easily into other platforms (like Websites), making it a great resource in education. It also comes ready with ideas on how to use VoiceThread in the classrom (link on main page). With the browse feature, teachers can browse for other videos created by teachers for lessons. And, with the create feature, teachers can create lessons and upload them to their Website so students can review their lesson when they get home and need the extra practice. How often do you feel you have grasped a concept, but when you get home, you realize you are unsure. With VoiceThread, teachers can create mini lessons and share them with their students so they can get the extra help they need. Students can also create video assignments and share them with their classmates. With VoiceThread, anyone who receives the link, has the ability to comment (through a microphone, video camera, or text) on each slide. Therefore, what was once a single author video now has contributions from any student in the class. And, commentary can be monitored. Students needing extra help on a lesson can comment on the VoiceThread and receive help from the teacher. Likewise, other students in the class can use VoiceThread for peer-review on threads that have been created. The ability to comment on threads that have been sent to you makes VoiceThread stand apart from other similar applications. Users can create a video from a variety of sources, mark it up, comment on it, and then, share it to others for their review. This is collaboration at its finest.
(You have the ability to get a district/school/single educator educational subscription through http://ed.voicethread.com/. The school and district subscriptions create logins for all students and faculty in a secure environment. The single educator/class subscription is less expensive, but creates fewer students accounts--max 50. The educational services do have a cost; however, you can set up a free account without having to utilize the ed.voicethread side of voicethread.)
Synopsis: How it works--When you create your account, you can go ahead and get started! Click on the Create tab (you can do this through the http://voicethread.com/?#e0 or http://ed.voicethread.com/?#e0 link. You will see that you click on Upload. Within the Upload link, you can choose from your computer/flash drive, media sources, a URL, or your Webcam. You must upload images, docs, Webpages, and videos to this tab. You can even select photos from your Facebook account. With those items, you can compose a video with your voice. To do so, just select the files you want to upload and drag them into the correct order. Wait for them to upload. Then, click on the next link, the Comment link. It will ask you to select a picture for your identity (think of it as your profile picture) so you can choose to do it or ignore it. Then, you will notice that it already has your images/videos in a slide show. Click on the comment button beneath the slideshow. This will give you an option to either record audio (via a microphone or video) or record written text.When you click on the video recorder, telephone, record, or type buttons, you will have the chance to add your commentary about the video. However, if you want to mark up the screen, you need to click on type. A pen will appear and you can begin marking up the screen. You can repeat this for each image/video in the slideshow. If you choose to give a video commentary on a video slide, you will see your commentary off to the side, as if you are giving a narration of the scene. Below is the commentary scene.
When you are done adding your commentary, simply click save. You can also press the play button to see the entire "thread." Then, click on the Share link. In sharing, you have the option to share to an organization/group (if you have the educational subscription), getting the link and emailing it yourself, sending it to your contacts within VoiceThread, or choosing one of the options at the bottom of the screen. Here, you can get the embed code to insert it into a Webpage. You also have the option to export the video and to publish it (edit privacy and permissions settings.) In the top left, be sure to title your project and give it appropriate tags so others can search for it.
You may also click on the browse tab from the main page. This allows you to browse other videos created by keyword.
Integration: VoiceThread integrates easily into other platforms (like Websites), making it a great resource in education. It also comes ready with ideas on how to use VoiceThread in the classrom (link on main page). With the browse feature, teachers can browse for other videos created by teachers for lessons. And, with the create feature, teachers can create lessons and upload them to their Website so students can review their lesson when they get home and need the extra practice. How often do you feel you have grasped a concept, but when you get home, you realize you are unsure. With VoiceThread, teachers can create mini lessons and share them with their students so they can get the extra help they need. Students can also create video assignments and share them with their classmates. With VoiceThread, anyone who receives the link, has the ability to comment (through a microphone, video camera, or text) on each slide. Therefore, what was once a single author video now has contributions from any student in the class. And, commentary can be monitored. Students needing extra help on a lesson can comment on the VoiceThread and receive help from the teacher. Likewise, other students in the class can use VoiceThread for peer-review on threads that have been created. The ability to comment on threads that have been sent to you makes VoiceThread stand apart from other similar applications. Users can create a video from a variety of sources, mark it up, comment on it, and then, share it to others for their review. This is collaboration at its finest.
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