Animoto

Of all the Web 2.0 applications I have learned about this year, my favorite has been Animoto. I love making professional videos, but who has the time? Animoto is the solution. They have amazing templates to choose from, and uploading photos and videos is a cinch. They have a wonderful selection of music to choose from, or you can even upload your own.
My Mom has breast cancer, and had to have surgery yesterday. Just before she went into surgery I made her a video of her only grandchild, my son Isaac, on Animoto. It brought my mom to tears, and it impressed everyone in the waiting room so much that I had all my family and friends asking me how I created such an amazing video in under 10 minutes. I explained to them just how easy it was using Animoto.
I have learned more in this class in only 7 weeks, than many of my other master courses combined. This class is not easy, but it allows us to use, experiment, and discover many new technologies that we can actually use in the field of education that will benefit the students tremendously.  I would just like to thank our teacher, even though she really makes work hard, and always keeps us busy even while she is on vacation :)

Jing and Web 2.0

I really thought Jing was easy to use and a great way to make howto videos for educational purposes with ease.  I love the "sun" idea, it gives the program novelty, and makes it very easy to use.  I wish they gave you more time to make your videos, but I understand they need to make a buck too and charging for a premium service is the only way to make this application profitable.

Here is my video on Wix.com:


3 other apps I would use in classroom would be:
1.  Cobocards.com -this website allows you to create digital flash cards with illustrations, etc.  What an awesome learning tool.
2. Doink.com- this websites allows you to create custom animations.  This would be a creative way for students to recreate a historical scene.
3. Storyjumper.com - this websites allows users to create their own stories using pictures, animations, etc.

Cloud Computing

I have to admit before watching this video, I really had no clue what cloud computing was.  How sad is that?  As I understand it now, Cloud computing is the ultimate, "networks of networks".  As cloud computing is optimized the goal is to have one computer and everyone else uses personal devices to access that computer via the internet without having to use their own hard drive space and download software and hardware devices.  How cool is that? 

When using Cloud Computing not only can you access software you never have to download;  you can also save, share, and collaborate projects and not use a single kb of your device's harddrive.  I also learned that I already use several forms of Cloud computing like Dropbox.  I am excited for the future of the internet, this video was really enlightening for me. 

Week 5-PhotoStory and Animoto

 I learned a lot this week trying to use both of these programs.  Although you can make really fun and awesome looking videos using Animoto, I found it very hard to use for adding text, etc.  I loved how easy PhotoStory was to use.
I think for my beginning level students I would definately use Photostory.  It is easier to use and create videos with.  Any slide show, or "how to" project would be great for this program. 

For my more advanced students I would have them use Animoto.  I would also use Animoto for personal use, fun videos, cool vacations.  The music and action is really exciting.  I think my students would love this program for making online collages concerning a subject.

Here is my PhotoStory video:  (TURN YOUR VOLUME DOWN)  Sorry, you were warned! 

 

Week 4-Podcast

How can you teach students about copyright?

I think there are several ways to teach copyright? But what exactly should we teach? According to the Texas Technology Standards we should teach our students these principles before they leave high school.

1. Students should discuss copyright laws/issues and model ethical acquisition and use of digital information, citing sources using established methods
2.  Describe the consequences regarding copyright violations including, but not limited to, computer hacking, computer piracy, intentional virus setting, and invasion of privacy;
For my classroom I would first teach these issues by the Socratic Method, hosting an in-class discussion over piracy/copyright/and the consequences.  The following day I would show a series of short videos via YouTube, in this order: 
                                     1.  Internet Piracy
                                     2.  Digital Copyright Violations
                                     3.  Copyright, Digital Media, and Education
                                     4.  Copyright, What's Copyright?
                                     5.  Explaining Copyright Term and Fair Use

  I would then assign a small group project where the students work together on a certain aspect of these issues and make a presentation on these various issues.  They would have to make a Powerpoint presentation over their subject matter.  After two weeks of hard work, research, and collaboration; I would have the students turn them in only to let them know (after they turned it in) The next hour class (same subject)  has not started to do this project yet, but I will allow those students to use any aspects PowerPoint's etc. you created for their own presentations and get the same grade you did for copying it, using it, and putting their name on it. 

This hoax of course would be done to get a reaction from the students.  I would hope they would be outraged, and say things like, "That's not fair"  We did all the work, they can't use our stuff and turn it in??"  Then I will say something like, "Then why do you do it with movies, music, and games that you don't pay for and download for your enjoyment?"  I think they would never forget it, the best part is I would let them leave the room believing the lie.  Only to tell them the next day, after I get a few parent phone calls, and they have 24 hours to stew about it, and Facebook about how angry they are.  It would be hilarious and really drive home a point they would never forget.