I cropped this image, played around with the exposure and colours. I ended up changing the image from the usual to the odd appearance. I wanted focus to be directly on his face and the extreme facial make up. The black and white surrounding him creates the focal point of this image his face.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Power point
I have used power point through out my education, so this tutorial was just a reminder. One thing I always had difficulty doing was adding sound. Trying to have it narrate my slides. I was that frustrated with a past piece of assessment trying to save them both together, that I just handed them in seperate. So finally figuring that out was certainly a plus. I have just had a bit of play around with a power point using my own personal pictures and music on my computer. That was the easy part as they were already available. I can honestly say I am not a fan of recording my own voice, just never sounds the same when recorded. Although, powerpoint I created had no educational purpose what so ever, the different forms of learning were still incorporated with in the show. Visual, Audio both apparent to the viewer. In order to keep a student interested in what they are viewing, you need to display more than just words on a screen and a narration. Music, gag noises, image fading in out, etc by using various effects within power point a teacher is ultimately engaging their student. Like I have said in previous blogs, give a student something different and they will remember it.
Voki Avatars
If you can see it and hear it on the computer then what more can you ask for? A teacher could be standing in front of students saying the exact same thing that a manipulated character on the screen and chances are they will remember the manipulated image rather than the teacher. But why? For one thing a teacher is real, obviously but an image that is not seen in the every day classroom lingures on a persons mind, it is memorable and so is the information it is discussing. How do you get a student motivated, engage them in their learning by creating alternative paths. Students all learn different ways, some are audio learners, some visual, some learn better hands on. Which ever form of learning is required one thing is for certain, by giving them something different and aberrant you are increasing their chances of with holding that information.
Get a Voki now!
Get a Voki now!
Mahara- the Educational Facebook.
I Have only really started playing around on Mahara but my first impression was similiar to the first time I signed up for facebook. The way you can communicate and share resources with other students is quite similiar. I don't think this form of communication would be as social as facebook but instead a vital tool for researching and collaborating ideas and opinions. Mahara is a great way of networking and I am only just starting out. I am so sureprised at all these different ways of connecting to the outside world that I honestly can't believe how naive I have actually been. I don't like feeling ignorant and I am certainly glad to now be aware of such ICT's. Now to how this technology can benefit students. One of the major concepts within this course is how ICT's can effectively engaged students in a class room environment. So why not give them an educational Facebook or myspace. Give them a communication system that they also use in a social environment and see how well they adapt. If I used this ICT back in high school I can assure you I would have been much more focused and probably would have enjoyed my time there a whole lot more. The key to a happy student is to engage them by keeping up with their technological needs. A happy student is a productive one.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wiki.. What a way to go!
I just checked out a wiki, http://kellieswiki.wikispaces.com/, and I actually thought it was a fantastic idea and a far better first attempt at Wiki than mine. Hehe. I think the concept of this technology is wonderful. By adding , editing, removing etc information, viewers are gaining a better understanding, a more fresh out look. Whether the Wiki is descussing teaching techniques like Kellies or whether it is discussing a film directors career. The truth is most people look at text books as out dated. The first source I know I go to is the internet. When you want information quick and up to date, this is where you come. The web keeps us connected. I also think that students can gain alot out of this form of communication technology. What better way to inspire them and keep them interested by actually allowing them to partake and change online information. Being apart of the process instead of an outsider looking in. Like they say, give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him to fish and he will never go hungry.
A Fan Of Google Reader.
I'm one of those people who loves the quick and simple approach. If there are too many steps to take than chances are I am just going to wig out. I found that Google reader was excellent with managing everyone elses blogs, I'm just a little disappointed I didn't realise what an advantage I had infront of me a little earlier. Nevertheless, it's always better late than never. I thought the format was a littl similiar to an email account, I guess thats the point. But everything is well organised, you know what you have read and what you haven't. Thought I'd just let you all know I am a fan, no harm in spreading the word, I guess.
cheers.
cheers.
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