I am pretty sure that I should not be the one recommending online applications, but I did have some success editing some photos with Piknik. The process was easy and fast. It was nice also to be able to change the picture size. I liked seeing how the pictures would change as you moved the adjustment arrow. You can not really screw up too badly because you can go back and edit again until the picture is how you want it to be. I liked Piknik and would recommend it to someone looking to edit their photos.
My next experimental jaunt into online applications was Google Documents (GD), which I did not like as much. Maybe it is because I am used to working with Microsoft Word, but GD seemed awkward to me. It does look to have more options, but not enough to make me want to switch. However the Google product I did find to be very interesting was Google Scholar. http://scholar.google.com/
When I used the advanced search and looked for Instructional Design articles with the phrase “rich media” between the years 2007-2009 there were 266 articles to read. When I searched for Robert the Bruce, a medieval king of Scotland, I had 282 articles to read. Wow! What a tool for research! You can select what subject area (chemistry, biology, computer science, social studies, math, the list goes on!) you want the article to relate to. This is a web site worth looking into even if it is not exactly what our assignment was asking for.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
R/D13
In this chapter the thing that struck me was the possibility of Instructional Design advancing to the point of being a personal tutor for each student. When the students can interact with computers with some type of artificial intelligence to help create their own “learning experience” the possibilities will be endless. If this is the case imagine the shift in learning that will happen in our country. Our schools will not be the same. In a way it will almost be like using an ancient or medieval model for schools. Hiring a tutor was the norm then, now though the tutor will be a computer!
The activity I liked the most was reading other peoples responses and seeing some of the great ideas my classmates had to use technology in their classrooms. Another part of the class I liked was the feeling that I was really starting to not be a dilettante with computers, but someone who could take advantage of some of the possibilities they offer us, in the classroom and personally.
The activity I liked the most was reading other peoples responses and seeing some of the great ideas my classmates had to use technology in their classrooms. Another part of the class I liked was the feeling that I was really starting to not be a dilettante with computers, but someone who could take advantage of some of the possibilities they offer us, in the classroom and personally.
R/D12
Chapter 30 did a very nice job of explaining how people learn. Of course we all know that everyone learns differently and that students need to participate in learning in a variety of ways. When I was studying Latin the best way for me to learn the vocabulary was to write the words and definitions out, and say them. I was engaging both the visual and phonetic parts of working memory, and I know that the writing engaged another part of memory too. This is a really exciting part about what we are learning. Students will be engaging that third file of learning by actually help to create what they are learning.
One of the best ideas to apply in this chapter is the use of an advance planner. A planner would be easy to create. This strategy would help the students gain prior knowledge of an event, era, upcoming chapter etc. By using headers and sub headers the material could be organized in a way that could help students write notes, review for a quiz or test, or just help with homework.
Another good idea is to increase the use of visuals. Studies have shown that there is a increase in learning when visuals are used (p 315), and that both still visuals and animation are effective (p316). Using still visuals would be easy, and they could be used for a preview of upcoming material, an in depth look at a topic, reviews, etc. Students could use visuals in their projects. I wonder about where to draw the line on what is too much. I am going to use a gradual approach to using to find what best suits the majority of our students.
One of the best ideas to apply in this chapter is the use of an advance planner. A planner would be easy to create. This strategy would help the students gain prior knowledge of an event, era, upcoming chapter etc. By using headers and sub headers the material could be organized in a way that could help students write notes, review for a quiz or test, or just help with homework.
Another good idea is to increase the use of visuals. Studies have shown that there is a increase in learning when visuals are used (p 315), and that both still visuals and animation are effective (p316). Using still visuals would be easy, and they could be used for a preview of upcoming material, an in depth look at a topic, reviews, etc. Students could use visuals in their projects. I wonder about where to draw the line on what is too much. I am going to use a gradual approach to using to find what best suits the majority of our students.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)