Web 2.0 has fostered a change in the educational environment that has made it easier to provide an educational environment that is changing the way we look at the educational process. Quickly defined Web 2.0 is “commonly associated with web applications that facilitate interactive information sharing, interoperability, user centered design and collaboration on the World Wide Web” (Wikipedia).
Information sharing and interoperability are, I feel, key phrases in the definition of Web 2.0. These are key phrases that when applied to education and becoming more and more important. For instance, information sharing has become an integral part of the educational environment. With Web 2.0 applications like Google Docs it has become easy to collaborate on papers or other projects and to share the information.
User centered design and education meet in applications like Animoto and Jing. Both are applications for creating video that can then be easily shared. Animoto creates an engaging way to pass information on by the addition of music and the interesting way the slide shows are presented. Movement and an interesting and engaging background help to create videos that can be used again and again. It’s very easy to present information for a classroom in an engaging way using Animoto. Jing on the other hand allows for the creation of videos that while not as exciting as those produced in Animoto, are interesting and engaging in their own right. The Jing application allows for the creation of a detailed presentation that can then be turned into a video and very easily presented to whomever, where ever as long as there is an internet connection.
Web 2.0 has created an environment in which learning and teaching rely on technology but that technology is very easy to use and facilitates a greater, richer learning environment.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Wordpress.com
Wordpress.com allows you to create and edit a blog very easily. You can change the apperance, add widgets and manage content quickly. I think that the end result is a professional looking blog.
A few other apps that I thought were interesting or would be useful in an educational environment were Flickr, Delicious and Google Docs.
A few other apps that I thought were interesting or would be useful in an educational environment were Flickr, Delicious and Google Docs.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is basically where all of the applications required to do whatever it is you want to do reside on a server somewhere on the Internet, in the “cloud”.
An example of cloud computing can be Google Docs. Everything you do in Google Docs remains on a server somewhere so that you can access it from anywhere. Traveling on a plane, need to access a document from your laptop or smartphone? Easy if it’s stored in the cloud. Spreadsheet? As long as it’s on Google Docs, it’s there. Presentation? There.
A large part of cloud computing is also the social media aspect. Applications such as Twitter and Facebook are prime examples of cloud computing. You’re interacting with others, your documents or posts or whatever you’ve created are always there for you to access and visible to whomever you’ve chosen to be visible to.
Basically, cloud computing is a service that does not require installation of software, configuration of systems or anything beyond Internet access to make the application work.
An example of cloud computing can be Google Docs. Everything you do in Google Docs remains on a server somewhere so that you can access it from anywhere. Traveling on a plane, need to access a document from your laptop or smartphone? Easy if it’s stored in the cloud. Spreadsheet? As long as it’s on Google Docs, it’s there. Presentation? There.
A large part of cloud computing is also the social media aspect. Applications such as Twitter and Facebook are prime examples of cloud computing. You’re interacting with others, your documents or posts or whatever you’ve created are always there for you to access and visible to whomever you’ve chosen to be visible to.
Basically, cloud computing is a service that does not require installation of software, configuration of systems or anything beyond Internet access to make the application work.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Photostory vs Animoto
Photostory was simple to download onto my computer. I watched the youtube tutorial on how to move and edit the images. It was simple and easy to use. The ability to make changes to how the slides transition was a very nice feature. The end result I was happy with.
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Animoto was a little bit more complicated getting the code in and not putting my credit card information in. Once that was resolved the process of creating my video went even faster. That could be because their are just not as many choices for the user to tailor their video. The program does everything for you. . That may be because I had already decided my order and the text comments and the music. The text character limitations were problematic sometimes, I had to change some of my wording.
I liked both of these programs, in different ways I can see applications for both. I would love to have my students use Animoto to make a video about their teaching week.
I put up both of my video's. Enjoy!
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Animoto was a little bit more complicated getting the code in and not putting my credit card information in. Once that was resolved the process of creating my video went even faster. That could be because their are just not as many choices for the user to tailor their video. The program does everything for you. . That may be because I had already decided my order and the text comments and the music. The text character limitations were problematic sometimes, I had to change some of my wording.
I liked both of these programs, in different ways I can see applications for both. I would love to have my students use Animoto to make a video about their teaching week.
I put up both of my video's. Enjoy!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Podcast
This podcast is an instruction of an assignment over the healthy pregnancy.
Podcast Powered By Podbean
Podcast Powered By Podbean
This music came from flashkit.com
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Creative Commons is an alternative to restrictive copyright laws that allows for a work to be used, reused and sometimes even changed. There are various levels of copyright protection that indicate what the end user may or may not do. For instance, there are Creative Commons licenses that let others mix, remix, build upon and change your work as long as they give credit for the original work. Contrast this with the most restrictive Creative Commons license which allows people to download and share the work but they cannot make any changes and must credit the original creator.
The difference between a copyrighted work and a Creative Commons licensed work is the level of protection offered. A work that is copyrighted cannot, generally, be used in any way without paying for said work, or purchasing a license to use it. Creative Commons provides varying level of “licensing” to provide for the sharing of a work. Basically Creative Commons licenses encourage sharing whereas Copyright laws prohibit sharing.
Generally for use in the classroom, if a work is Creative Commons licensed it’s much easier to use. The Creative Commons licenses generally allow for free use and dissemination of a work as long as credit is given. The copyright laws, even for classroom use are restrictive and if followed, make it harder to copy and share a work.
In teaching students about copyright, one should always, always err on the side of too much. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so I would instruct them at the very least to make sure that you credit any work used in a paper, a project or anything else that uses the work of someone else. My district uses a service call “Turn it in” for students to submit papers. It scans the paper for copyrighted material and lets the teacher know what has been used and how closely. This service is helping students get used to not using word for word excerpts as their own and making sure to site all sources.
Link to creative commons information here
Information on difference between Creative Commons and copyright here.
The difference between a copyrighted work and a Creative Commons licensed work is the level of protection offered. A work that is copyrighted cannot, generally, be used in any way without paying for said work, or purchasing a license to use it. Creative Commons provides varying level of “licensing” to provide for the sharing of a work. Basically Creative Commons licenses encourage sharing whereas Copyright laws prohibit sharing.
Generally for use in the classroom, if a work is Creative Commons licensed it’s much easier to use. The Creative Commons licenses generally allow for free use and dissemination of a work as long as credit is given. The copyright laws, even for classroom use are restrictive and if followed, make it harder to copy and share a work.
In teaching students about copyright, one should always, always err on the side of too much. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so I would instruct them at the very least to make sure that you credit any work used in a paper, a project or anything else that uses the work of someone else. My district uses a service call “Turn it in” for students to submit papers. It scans the paper for copyrighted material and lets the teacher know what has been used and how closely. This service is helping students get used to not using word for word excerpts as their own and making sure to site all sources.
Link to creative commons information here
Information on difference between Creative Commons and copyright here.
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