Image Manipulation

Hi Bloggers,

This is my experience with the popular online photo editing program Picnik.



The Before.....



And the After....

I must say wow.... I have never used a photo editing program ever... and it's amazing... Let alone how the differences between the above two photos are free. I can't believe how different it is. In hte original photo my nose is so red, but now you could never tell the difference.

Therefore, I must say this has been a positive experience to utilise this program. I have never used one because I didn't realise there were any programs free as I thought you had to purchase them straight up.

I must say Picnik is an excellent program and I now most likely will be utilising it again in hte near future often. The only downside is, you can't use all the options as a program premium needs to be purchased. Nevertheless, it makes no difference to the free online version. It's very user friendly which means beginner users in this program like myself, are easily able to work all the functions.

I must admit that I had troubles in uploading the pictures from Flickr into my blog. This was because I was copying the link rather than the HTML code. As you can see, I worked this out for myself as the pictures are displayed above.

I personally would really like to hear from you all about your comments on this program as i thoroughly enjoyed playing around with the different modes and functions on this technology.

Cheers,
Courtney

References

Flickr. (2009). Photostream. Retrieved on 30th July, 2009, from: http://www.flickr.com/

Picnik. (2008). Photo editing made fun. Retrieved on 30th July, 2009, from: http://www.picnik.com/

Flickr

Hi Bloggers,

The following is a picture I found on the online program called Flickr.


I believe William Nicholson is the person who took this photo in 2007 of these two horses. It's a beautiful and cute photo hence why I decided to choose this one to post as someone else's picture.



The folowing is one of my pictures that I imported on to Flickr.


This was taken in November 2007 on the evening of my formal.

The pictures from above have been taken from an online prgoram called Flickr. Flickr is an online repository for images, (Central Queensland university, 2009). therefore basically anybody can set up a free account and place their images on this site for other people to view.

I have used a program similar to Flickr once before it was called PhotoBucket. They are the same thing basically an on-line storage place where other people can view photos and make comments. What I didn't realise is that Flickr allows you to edit pictures by cropping and using other various tools in conjunction with picnik (editing mode).

I think this a rather ingenious and marvellous tool. It could work really well in a school classroom. This might be a could web tool for finding certain pictures for presentations, that may be completed within the classroom. The children could also learn how to edit photos. By having Flickr each child can add other classroom friends and they can view each others pictures maybe from certain holidays they go on. They could import these pictures at any time especially at home and then bring them to school and possibly make a slideshare view with them. Another flipside is that parents can also view these accounts and observe the pictures.

The only thing would be that parents and teachers would have to monitor what students' are searching as there are some photos that may be deemed inappropriate for students' of a primary school age. However, this isn't a problem as monitoring is not an issue. This is an activity they would learn from by doing which has a retention rate of 75% on the learning pyramid, therefore this would be a good experience for the students. (Active Learning online, 2000).

In my opinion, I think this is a great tool, however I am not entirely sure how effective it would be within a classroom. What are your thoughts?

Cheers,
Courtney

References

Active Learning Online. (2000). Learning Pyramid. Retrieved on 30th July, 2009, from: http://www.acu.edu/cte/activelearning/whyuseal2.htm

Central Queensland University. (2009). Flickr. Retrieved on 30th July, 2009, from: http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=671

Flickr. (2009). Photostream. Retrieved on 30th July, 2009, from: http://www.flickr.com/

YouTube

Hi bloggers,

Before now, I never really thought of YouTube as a website for educational purposes, but on many occasions have used it for my own benefit of entertainment. However, for the use of incorporating ICTs into a lesson, I think some YouTube clips and especially TeacherTube clips would work and fit into the lesson perfectly. Although it's important that the content is appropriate for the lesson.

The following clip I have decided to utilise is a shape song. I have never used it before I only stumbled across it in my searches for a video. The url is as follows: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-Z3f2pdCE

Concept/Topic: Shapes
Grade: 1
Time Frame/Unit Length: 7 lessons
CLO: Space. Shape and line S1.1 – Students identify everyday shapes and objects using geometric names and make and describe simple representations of them.(Queensland Studies Authority, 2004).
Relevant Essential Learnings by the end of grade 3: Space - Geometric names and properties are used to sort, describe and construct common 2D shapes, including squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles and 3D objects, including prisms, pyramids, cones, cylinders and spheres. (Queensland Studies Authority, 2007).

This video clip could be utilised in a starting lesson on space to engage the children within the lesson and give them ideas of what they will be learning. I think this video was could as it was eye-catching and colourful, which would capture those visual learners. The song tune was also rather catchy, this could be used at the start of each lesson within this unit, to possibly get the students' into mathematic mode and the thinking.

YouTube is definitely a sustainable website as it has relevant links, however teachers should make sure that the content is suitable for the students to utilise and work with. YouTube could be used in the classroom for when children are creating powerpoint presentations. They may find a clip that is suitable to their relevant topic such as children in Ethiopia.

Cheers,
Courtney

References

Healy, M. (1993). The Shape Song- an instructional song for young children. Retrieved on 30th July, 2009, from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-Z3f2pdCE

Queensland Studies Authority. (2007). Mathematics: Essential Learnings by the end of Year 3. Retrieved on 30th July, 2009, from: http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/learning/qcar_el_maths_yr3.pdf


Queensland Studies Authority. (2004). Mathematics Years 1 to 10 Syllabus. Retrieved on 30th July, 2009, from: http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/learning/kla_maths_syll.pdf

Powerpoint

Hi bloggers,

I have created many powerpoint presentations over the last few years, however I self taught myself how to utilise the program as I was never taught at school. Therefore, I basically just fiddled around with all the functions, which enabled me to work out how to use the features on powerpoint. At first, I had troubles trying to use it but after playing around for a while, I learnt that it was easy to operate and quite simple (Central Queensland University, 2009). However, since completing the reading I have soon learnt that PowerPoint is the most widely used presentation software in the world (Central Queensland University, 2009). I had never really thought about it in that aspect before but reflecting upon how useful and often I have seen powerpoint utilised, I couldn't disagreement with the statement and don't doubt it at all.

By undertaking the tutorial provided from the course website, I was able to learn many new things, in which I had never knew could be done before.

By using powerepoint for presentations everybody can enjoy them and learn from them in some way. All the functions allow catering for all types of learners. Firstly, it can be visual with the writing videos and pictures and whatever else may be included such as transitions. Secondly, students who learn from the spoken language and listening will be able to engage whether there are voice overs or the presentation is spoken, sound effects may even be added for enhancement. Sound Effects would even be good for all students especially learners who have difficulties in paying attention, certain things that are eye-catching or loud will refocus their attention. These would clearly be affective for learners who are hard on hearing or seeing as mentioned above through words and pictures or sounds and slides.

This could be an interesting way for children to pr sent informational reports, as it is a different way which could then include pictures and videos. It could possibly also be a supplementary tool used to accompany an oral presentation.

Either way, I personally believe that powerpoint is a necessity and that everybody should know the basic features of how to use the program.

Cheers,
Courtney.

References

Act360. (2007). PowerPoint in the Classroom. Retrieved on 23rd July, 2009, from: http://www.actden.com/pp/

Central Queensland University. (2009). Powerpoint. Retrieved on 23rd July, 2009, from: http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=671

Quizzes

Hi Bloggers,

I have recently utilised the program of Classmarker to create my first online quiz, which was a basic quiz based around homophones. The following link will take you straight to my quiz. http://www.classmarker.com/embedded_quizzes/quiz=a62100c44ab635632f24c3fba2e8ed34

I do believe Quizzes are a great tool which can be utilised in classrooms. They provide an effective formative learning resource for students to practice and test their knowledge base (Central Queensland University, 2009). However, these quiz tests have evolved over a number of years and have enhanced students' learning. According to the learning pyramid cited on Moodle website, activities that teach others and are available for immediate use are of a high 90% learning. I believe quizzes could be classes in this category as students' create and make their own quizzes for others to take the may be teaching them something new and they can use it straight away. In the active learning it uses the process of interacting with other people and materials, accessing related schemata in the brain, stimulating multiple areas of the brain to act. (Active learning online, 2000).

Quizzes have certainly changed as they were originally done with pen and paper, however websites such as classmarker can be used to create online quizzes, which are marked instantaneously online. Therefore, students aren't waiting in anticipation for a test paper quiz to be marked. Given the fact that they are done online, on a computer it gives a whole different feel to completing a quiz. From personal experience completing a quiz online, doesn't make me feel under pressure as they generally aren't under any type of test conditions.

Technology is developing constantly and for those schools lucky enough to have interactive whiteboards such as Parkhurst, have the ability to use many amazing programs. This includes the program ActivExpressions which is where each student has a hand-held device and are able to complete quizzes such multiple choice, true/false, short response and many others. The hand-held device allows them to choose which answer or even type in the answer with the device looking like a keyboard on a phone. These results are received instantly also, providing information such as first to answer, percentages of who chose which answer.

I do believe this creates more interest amongst the students, therefore would be an effective teaching tool. Let me know what your thoughts on quizzes are???

Cheers,
Courtney

References

Active Learning Online. (2000). Learning Pyramid. Retrieved on 30th July, 2009, from: http://www.acu.edu/cte/activelearning/whyuseal2.htm

Central Queensland University. (2009). Quizzes. Retrieved on 23rd July, 2009, from: http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=671

Classmarker. (2009). Free quiz maker for online testing. Retrieved on 23rd July, 2009, from: http://www.classmarker.com/

Voki Avatars

Hi bloggers,

Recently I had encounters with Voki Avatars through the use of our course website for Managing E-Learning. Since then i have set up my own Voki Avatar which would be used to introduce a segment (Central Queensland University, 2009).

I have found the idea of the Voki Avatars really quite interesting and believe they are a good interactive tool for younger children especially. This so far would be my favourite technology tool in which I have learnt about throughout this course.

I have set up my Voki Avatar as a lady character who travels around the world. The purposes for which I have set up this character is for a unit of Travelling around the world with a young learning group such as any of the early years of primary schooling. This could be an interesting unit to teach possibly when the Olympics roll around every four years. The sole purpose for this avatar would be for the character goes to each place with the children. An interactive tool which can be communicated with, like the avatar could introduce each country with some handy information. However, it could be taken further with the teacher writing letters from the character about the country they are currently in or the next country that they are to visit on the itinerary. I believe this would work effectively and it would keep the students interest levels high through anticipation of a new letter or message from another country by the avatar.

Voki Avatars are really quite simple to create and are user friendly. I have provided the link below which shows my Voki Avatar and how to create your own.

Get a Voki now!


Cheers,
Courtney.


References

Central Queensland University. (2009). Voki Avatars. Retrieved on 23rd July, 2009, from: http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=671

Voki. (2008). Start customising your avatar. Retrieved on 22nd July, 2009, from:http://www.voki.com/create.php

Setting up an e.Portfolio

Hi all,

Until our Managing E-Learning class last week, I had no idea what an e.portfolio was. As it had worked out i signed up at www.mahara.org which isn't the correct mahara we are meant to be utilising.

Since then I have been on our class website of moodle and followed the step-by-step instructions to point me in the direction of the usage of the correct e.portfolio (Central Queensland University, 2009). I found these to be really quite helpful, and only encountered one problem with the use of them, in which payment did not arise, although the account is still active.

Furthermore since creating my account, I have watched a number of Mahara online screencasts which have provided me with good detailed instructions on how to work and manage my Mahara account and settings, although the 'How to set up my individual profile' video wouldn't load.

I really like the fact that Mahara can be changed into different languages by customising the language as observed in one of the videos (Mahara Screencasts, 2008). This would be effective usage within a classroom if you had learners from overseas or different language backgrounds, which created language barriers. For example the child would create their work and have it in their language but the teacher could easily change it back to English upon viewing the finished product.

This could be a good way to manage assessment in schools and classes. For higher year levels of schooling, the Mahara system would be beneficial to students not only for now but for later on in life as they would be able to display and showcase their skills on their page views. It would be an excellent way of submitting their assessment to the classroom teacher. They could complete their ICT types of tasks and display them on here for peer comments and for marking by the teacher. It certainly would be a different experience for the children, they may find it difficult at first. However, with the best necessary guidance I think it's definitely manageable. It would be worthy of trying it out for an assessment piece which could then be evaluated upon. This Mahara site could also be accessible and/or viewable by parents, this way parents could be kept informed of the work their child is completing.

Cheers,
Courtney.

References

Central Queensland University. (2009). Setting up an e.Portfolio. Retrieved on 22nd July, 2009, from: http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=671

Mahara Screencasts. (2008). Options: How to adjust the e-portfolio system. Retrieved on 22nd Jul, 2009, from: http://www.mosep.org/index.php/lang-en/toolbox/maharascreencasts

WIKIs

Hi bloggers,

The whole subject of WIKIs is new to me. I have previously encountered experiences with Wikipedia - the largest online encyclopedia and that is all (Central Queensland University, 2009). I thought that is what a WIKI was. However, since watching the video called Wikis in Plain English, I have realised that there is a whole new added dimension level to a WIKI. I thought this would be a difficult tool to utilise as it was a whole new concept to me, although from the simple camping inventory list created on the youtube video it appears to be very simple.

This could be a highly effective tool to use in the classroom in a variety of different ways. One activity that could be completed with the older students is an analysis of the actual WIKI system itself. A PMI (Plus. Minus and Interesting) Chart could be completed on a WIKI page itself, where all students provide their input on the system while also demonstrating the use of ICTs (technology) and digital literacy. A PMI is a method for stimulating lateral and creative thinking, it's also a useful way of recognising the value of an idea, rather than being influenced by the emotions that surround it. (New South Wales Government, Year Unknown). Clearly this would be an effective activity for the students to do as it would be evaluating the idea of a Wiki and to see whether the students think it's worthwhile to utilise.

Cheers,
Courtney

References

Central Queensland University. (2009). WIKIs. Retrieved on Wednesday 22nd July, 2009, from: http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=671

LeFever, L. (2007). Wikis in Plain English. Retrieved on Wednesday 22nd July, 2009, from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnLOOTdmly

New South Wales Government. (Year Unknown). Student thinking skills. Retrieved on Wednesday 22nd July, 2009, from: http://www.sustainableschools.nsw.edu.au/Default.aspx?tabid=124&PageContentID=25

Setting up an RSS Aggregator

Hi Bloggers,

The sole purpose of this blog is to explain how I set up an RSS Aggregator. Since completing reading, I have found out that RSS actually stands for Really Simple Syndication (Central Queensland University, 2009.) which acts as a so called 'home base' where you can keep track of several websites at any one time via updates (LeFever, 2007).

I have personally chosen to use Google Reader as my home base. There were multiple reasons for this decision. Firstly, Scot Aldred, lecturer of our course Managing E-learning, made reference that this website was easier to use as it had the folders down the side, therefore more manageable and organised, (Aldred, 2009) which I must say I totally agree. Secondly, I found the google reader link on my blogger page, therefore I clicked on the link and my account was already set up, due to a connection between blogger and google reader. Lastly, it's very simple to use, all you have to do is click on add subscription and copying the URL into it (Central Queensland University, 2009). All your favourite sites are on the left and the new posts and news are located on the right. (LeFever, 2007).

I believe this could be a very useful tool in classrooms, beginning from middle primary all the way through to high school and university. When working on projects as such, students constantly come back to utilise the same website for information, therefore it would be easily accessible to them. There may be updates of newly added information to those particular websites, which would inform the students on a regular basis.

Personally, I think this is a great tool to use and upon learning about this new technology I hope to utilise this in the future as it makes it easier to maneuver around the World Wide Web.

Cheers for now,
Courtney.

References

Aldred, Scot. (2009). Managing E-learning class. Retrieved on Thursday 16th July, 2009.

Central Queensland university. (2009). An Introduction to teachers' Delivery Technologies. Retrieved on Wednesday 22nd July, 2009, from: http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=671

LeFever, L. (2007). Video: RSS in Plain English. Retrieved on Wednesday 22nd July, 2009, from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU

Getting to know me

Hi everybody,

Just posting a blog to make sure this whole blog thing works properly (as I have never used them before) and also to let you know a little about myself.

I'm currently a 2nd year student studying a Bachelor of Learning Management in Early Childhood at CQU Rockhamtpon. I am completing my course on a 3 year structure and if all things fall into place and go to plan, I should finish my degree about October next year.

I am originally from the good old town of Bundaberg, before moving to Rockhampton some number of years ago now. I am now situated just outside of Rockhampton, out near the prison which makes it only about a 10 mintue drive to the university.

I live with my Mum, Dad and little brother Joshua who is 10 years of age. My partner Brenton is a massive help to me and helps to often destress me from my uni work.

Anyway I'm a very friendly person, which I am sure most of you will know already. Be sure to post comments on my upcoming blogs in relation to the Managing E.Learning course, hence the creation of my blogs.

I am looking forward to learning more about technologies and hearing your thoughts on them also, which may provide me with a better understanding of them myself.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Cheers = )