Comic Life

After learning a little about Comic Life, I found a YouTube video by diannekrause giving an informative and introductory tutorial about this software. I found this to be a good YouTube video – clear, descriptive and easy to follow. I would recommend watching it if you want to understand how to use Comic Life.  I think comic life is a good teaching tool, and allows students to have creative and enjoyable learning experiences.

comic

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Voicethreads in the classroom

Hi,

I have just found this article on Voicethreads in the classroom by Denise Dierolf and Molly Frazier. This article introduces and discusses what Voicethreads are, and how they can be used in the classroom. Additionally, Dierolf and Frazier outline how to create a voicethread, provide links to examples of voicethreads they liked, and outlined tips for teachers.

A few of the main points brought up by these authors, include the fact that Voicethreads are a technology which make it possible to create and share things with people all around the world, and that they can be used as a creation, discussion and assessment tool. Voicethread has many advantages, and according to Dierolf and Frazier, “is a convenient, simple, interactive, online tool that can be used by person of all ages”. I am hoping to be able to use this learning technology in my teaching practice, and think it would be especially beneficial in the subject of Visual Arts.

What’s so good about blogging???

Until recently, I had never written a blog in my life. Lots of people I know write blogs all the time, primarily for social interaction. So my question is – what’s so good about blogging? and Does blogging enhance one’s education?

In Bec’s blog, she reviews Rachael Boyd’s 2007 video about letting student’s blog. After reading Bec’s thoughts and watching the video, I agree that blogging does allow students to have ownership of their education which is an important thing, and blogging can enhance engagement and participation. Although, I question the place of blogging for communication, literacy and sharing purposes; are there not more effective and better ways of enhancing communication and literacy and sharing resources?

Christy’s blog also discussed benefits for blogging – this time targeting post-secondary students. Some of the benefits included social/group interaction and sharing knowledge. It would be interesting to find out how many post-secondary students use blogging for educational purposes and how many students would find blogging useful.

Constructionism

Computer-based Concept Mapping

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Today I read ‘Computer-based Concepr Mapping: Enhancing Literacy with tools vor visual thinking’ by Lynne Anderson-Inman and Mark Horney.

This journal article looked at concept mapping (such as mind-maps) being created on the computer; highlighting it’s benefits and also briefly outlining practical issues associated with computer-based concept maps.

I have always been a fan of making mind maps – I find them a convenient way of organizing my thoughts and a good way of remembering information. As a child I made many mind-maps in classes (especially in primary school) using paper and coloured pencils. With software such as ‘inspiration’ it is now possible to make concept maps on the computer. As pointed out in this journal article, computers are convenient because they allow you to change and adapt your information easily. For example, it is much easier relocating information and deleting or adding information on a computer than it is on paper. Using paper, mind maps can be messy, as one often has to rub information out and write information multiple times. Computers also have the advantage of being able to save and store information. Students can pick up where they left off, without losing pieces of paper.

Practical issues which this journal article pointed out were that small computer screens may not allow students to see the entirety of their concept maps and therefore could be a difficulty and that concept maps could be difficult to read and mark by anyone but the person who made it – as they are often complex.

Digital Videos

“Digital Video Goes to School” by Helen Hoffenberg and Marianne Handler is an article which discusses the use of video cameras in schools. This article presents a range of advantages for using this technology in classrooms. Some of these advantages include: their ability to motivate and engage students, the higher-level thinking skills students demonstrate when producing video clips, video cameras are a tool to expand the learning environment, and the increased development of technical and visual literacy skills. This article also emphasised the idea of creating life long learners – “preparing our students for the challenges they will face in a digital world.”

I think that the idea of students using video cameras in schools for projects is exciting, yet would require a lot of preparation and time, especially if the students are being taught how to edit the films. I think it would be fun and engaging for the students, and important for them to learn such technical and visual literacy skills for the future. I especially liked the part in this article where it said “Educators must aim for curriculum-driven technology use, not technology driven curriculum.”

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The Sixth Sense Technology

Hi,

I’ve just finished reading Andrew’s blog on educating children in a world with a sixth sense. After watching the lecture by Pattie Maes, I was shocked at this potential technology. It was an intriguing and insightful look at where our world could be in the near future. It was like watching a futuristic movie, and indeed, reference to the movie ‘minority report’ was made during this presentation.

This ‘sixth sense’ made accessing information very easy. It would allow individuals to use natural gestures to access information. An example was given of someone drawing a watch on their hand to find out what the time is. Another feature of this technology is that it is totally mobile, allowing one to use any surface such as a hand, a wall, or even a book to display additional information.

This presentation is well worth watching, even just to contemplate this incredible technology and consider the implications of a world with a sixth sense, and teaching in a world with a sixth sense. As Andrew said “A world where everything comes too easily”

Wordle

Hello,

I just read the blog “guess the wordle” by ripplingpond. I have come across wordle before, but haven’t ever explored this website, or contemplated it’s uses in teaching. I enjoyed reading this blog because it outlines what wordle is, and how it can be used in the classroom.

It sounds like a bit of fun, and I’m looking forward to exploring it further!