CHeck this out
http://content.screencast.com/users/conniegross/folders/Jing/media/e26bf5de-c1a2-4064-8eae-a79e4800592a/judy_welcome.swf&advseek=true%22%3E
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
presentation draft
Here's the link to my presentation on slideshare.
I need to tweak it and find the correct way to upload the sound, as it failed to work.
Arrrrrggggghhhhh.....
http://www.slideshare.net/guest179f0b/emerging-technologies-2
I need to tweak it and find the correct way to upload the sound, as it failed to work.
Arrrrrggggghhhhh.....
http://www.slideshare.net/guest179f0b/emerging-technologies-2
Monday, October 26, 2009
Some cool tools
Here's some tools to try out for presentations
1. Wink.com - application that will allow for presentations - allows you to screen record
2. Prezo -
3. Vcasmo - Allows video and powerpoint side by side; linked together
- useful for instructors who frequently use powerpoints and teaching
4. Zentation -
5. Camtasia
6. Spresent - great animations ; can add buttons and audio
7. 280 slides - powerpoint replacement; create and share url or download as a powerpoint - good for larger files size; lacks privacy settings; can I narrate?
8. Slideshare - upload 280 slides into slideshare as slideshare has privacy settings
9. Screen Toaster
1. Wink.com - application that will allow for presentations - allows you to screen record
2. Prezo -
3. Vcasmo - Allows video and powerpoint side by side; linked together
- useful for instructors who frequently use powerpoints and teaching
4. Zentation -
5. Camtasia
6. Spresent - great animations ; can add buttons and audio
7. 280 slides - powerpoint replacement; create and share url or download as a powerpoint - good for larger files size; lacks privacy settings; can I narrate?
8. Slideshare - upload 280 slides into slideshare as slideshare has privacy settings
9. Screen Toaster
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Something silly
Well, it's a rainy Saturday and I'm putting off doing anything serious. Here's a cute video I just found:
Barack Obama's amazingly consistent smile from Eric Spiegelman on Vimeo.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Power Point and online learning
Here's a copy of info from an Academic Impressions article promoting their workshop on this topic:
In preparation for this online seminar, Online Classroom asked Mr. Gibler a few questions about some of the topics he will address.
OC: Are there PowerPoint design considerations that you recommend specifically for use in online courses?
Gibler: PowerPoint was primarily designed for use as a tool to supplement a live presentation. With an online course, there is no presenter unless you are using an audio recording along with your PowerPoint presentation. If so, the design considerations would be pretty much the same in an online course or an offline lecture–keep it simple, reduce bullet points, avoid too much information, make it as a visual as possible and reduce the number of slides. If you are not using an audio recording you should ask yourself–Is the slide content meaningful by itself? If the answer is no, you probably should rethink using PowerPoint alone and should supplement your PowerPoint slides with a text supplement, notes, or cross-references to other course content.
If you attend this online seminar you'll receive a set of guidelines for PowerPoint presentations that will be useful for both the online and offline presenter.
OC: Which tools can be used to supplement PowerPoint?
Gibler: There are tools like SlideShare that can be used to leverage your PowerPoint. For example, you could transform your presentation into a Flash file and embedded it into your online learning management system or blog. There are also screen capture tools like ScreenToaster and GoView that can be used to record audio narration along with a capture of your online activities that can be useful for demonstrating how to do a task online. In addition, if you are online, you should supplement PowerPoint with online video that can be found at video sharing sites like YouTube.
If you attend this online seminar you'll receive links to a number of resources that will be useful to supplement and enhance both your online and offline presentations.
OC: Can you offer an example of how you might supplement PowerPoint with one of these tools?
Gibler: I've used SlideShare and GoView to create content that I embed into my D2L (Desire to Learn) online courses. They each serve a valuable purpose in communicating and educating students about the topics I'm covering. I've also embedded other content from video sites like YouTube into my online courses. In many cases, I've found demonstrations or examples that others have created that provide an introduction or supplement to the content being discussed in a given course module.
In preparation for this online seminar, Online Classroom asked Mr. Gibler a few questions about some of the topics he will address.
OC: Are there PowerPoint design considerations that you recommend specifically for use in online courses?
Gibler: PowerPoint was primarily designed for use as a tool to supplement a live presentation. With an online course, there is no presenter unless you are using an audio recording along with your PowerPoint presentation. If so, the design considerations would be pretty much the same in an online course or an offline lecture–keep it simple, reduce bullet points, avoid too much information, make it as a visual as possible and reduce the number of slides. If you are not using an audio recording you should ask yourself–Is the slide content meaningful by itself? If the answer is no, you probably should rethink using PowerPoint alone and should supplement your PowerPoint slides with a text supplement, notes, or cross-references to other course content.
If you attend this online seminar you'll receive a set of guidelines for PowerPoint presentations that will be useful for both the online and offline presenter.
OC: Which tools can be used to supplement PowerPoint?
Gibler: There are tools like SlideShare that can be used to leverage your PowerPoint. For example, you could transform your presentation into a Flash file and embedded it into your online learning management system or blog. There are also screen capture tools like ScreenToaster and GoView that can be used to record audio narration along with a capture of your online activities that can be useful for demonstrating how to do a task online. In addition, if you are online, you should supplement PowerPoint with online video that can be found at video sharing sites like YouTube.
If you attend this online seminar you'll receive links to a number of resources that will be useful to supplement and enhance both your online and offline presentations.
OC: Can you offer an example of how you might supplement PowerPoint with one of these tools?
Gibler: I've used SlideShare and GoView to create content that I embed into my D2L (Desire to Learn) online courses. They each serve a valuable purpose in communicating and educating students about the topics I'm covering. I've also embedded other content from video sites like YouTube into my online courses. In many cases, I've found demonstrations or examples that others have created that provide an introduction or supplement to the content being discussed in a given course module.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Open Education Week
Hi... I wanted to share a link with you -
Check out Athabasca University's week long tribute to open education. They have scheduled 5 noon hour seminars (free) on a variety of topics. Friday, Oct 23 - they'll be discussing open educational resources.
Here's the link for more information
http://openaccess.athabascau.ca/events.php#5
Check out Athabasca University's week long tribute to open education. They have scheduled 5 noon hour seminars (free) on a variety of topics. Friday, Oct 23 - they'll be discussing open educational resources.
Here's the link for more information
http://openaccess.athabascau.ca/events.php#5
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Happy Turkey Day
To those non-Canucks, Monday is Canadian Thanksgiving. So, happy turkey day. We Canadians will be stuffed full of turkey, pie and other goodies by Monday night...
What does this have to do with social networking? Well, at yesterday's family thanksgiving dinner, we had an interesting discussion on how the world has changed. My niece's university roommate is an exchange student from Denmark. I asked her if she missed her family. She replied that of course she does, but thanks to Skype, she's in touch every day. She says that it makes her feel like she's still there. For example, when she buys something new, she goes on Skype and shows her mom. They can talk about her purchase so easily. We contrasted that to when I was younger, when my oldest sister moved away from home to Australia. Our contact meant monthly letters (when they arrived) and the annual Christmas "long-distance" phone call (on a party line) in which everyone of us still living at home took a turn on that precious phone call and repeatedly asked the same questions: "How's the weather? What did you have for dinner? Did you go to the beach?". That phone call became an annual ritual and an important part of our family Christmas routine.
Thankfully, we are now in touch through facebook, Skype, google docs, etc. I contrast the Australian experience to that of last week when my youngest sister turned 40. We sisters collaborated on a google presentation that we then posted on facebook. Thankfully, there's no more need for those painful long distance calls.
So, what am I thankful for this Thanksgiving? I know my life has been made much easier by social networking; professionally I can work anywhere, anytime and still be in touch with those I need to be; and as a student I can sit at my kitchen table and work on a class that even though I often feel no one is listening, I enjoy being a participant in. That's the beauty of all our new social networking tools; people can choice whether or not to listen. In a face to face class, that choice is a little more difficult to make!
Despite the concerns and potential problems, for this weekend I chose only to consider the positives. I'd say things are looking pretty good for the next generation!
Thankful in Taber!
Connie
What does this have to do with social networking? Well, at yesterday's family thanksgiving dinner, we had an interesting discussion on how the world has changed. My niece's university roommate is an exchange student from Denmark. I asked her if she missed her family. She replied that of course she does, but thanks to Skype, she's in touch every day. She says that it makes her feel like she's still there. For example, when she buys something new, she goes on Skype and shows her mom. They can talk about her purchase so easily. We contrasted that to when I was younger, when my oldest sister moved away from home to Australia. Our contact meant monthly letters (when they arrived) and the annual Christmas "long-distance" phone call (on a party line) in which everyone of us still living at home took a turn on that precious phone call and repeatedly asked the same questions: "How's the weather? What did you have for dinner? Did you go to the beach?". That phone call became an annual ritual and an important part of our family Christmas routine.
Thankfully, we are now in touch through facebook, Skype, google docs, etc. I contrast the Australian experience to that of last week when my youngest sister turned 40. We sisters collaborated on a google presentation that we then posted on facebook. Thankfully, there's no more need for those painful long distance calls.
So, what am I thankful for this Thanksgiving? I know my life has been made much easier by social networking; professionally I can work anywhere, anytime and still be in touch with those I need to be; and as a student I can sit at my kitchen table and work on a class that even though I often feel no one is listening, I enjoy being a participant in. That's the beauty of all our new social networking tools; people can choice whether or not to listen. In a face to face class, that choice is a little more difficult to make!
Despite the concerns and potential problems, for this weekend I chose only to consider the positives. I'd say things are looking pretty good for the next generation!
Thankful in Taber!
Connie
FASD Podcasts set the future tone
I just finished the most amazing interviews on Friday morning. I have been the instructional designer for the FASD courses for the past year or so. One of the last courses for the program is FAS 154, Case Management. This course acts like a capstone course, and pulls all the information together. The course writer is an FASD expert and lives in Alaska. She wanted to interview 2 of the most well-respected people in the field, one who lives in Ontario and one in Kelowna, B.C. To make a long story short, after several tries at Web2.0 tools, we decided to go the "old-fashioned" route and simply record their telephone conversations. At any rate, we will take these recordings and turn them into podcasts.
I am totally hooked now. It was so easy to capture their stories on the phone, and then convert them to podcasts. And the interviews were amazing. Both women are long-time advocates and pioneers in management strategies for FASD. Their stories were heartbreaking. The Ontario woman adopted a son who lives with FASD. The other woman adopted 3 children. Both stories tell of such difficult struggles coping with the impact of this condition. Their stories need to be captured and shared with others. Everyone should hear about their challenges, and more importantly, about the challenges the individuals face every single day of their lives. Wow - it gives courage a whole new meaning.
These interviews reminded me of a long time passion of mine, that I had almost forgotten about. When I first went to grad school, I was involved in oral history research. I loved the fact that I was capturing the stories of everyday people who had done such interesting things in their lives. I firmly believe everyone has a story to tell; everyone deserves to be heard. Their voices will let the future know what live was really like. Their stories tell of the daily impact of political decisions made by bureaucrats in a distance city who know little of the realities of live; of CEO's who decisions are led by budgets, project plans, board meetings, strategic planning sessions held in a resort far removed from those who will be most impacted by their decisions. Their stories are the forgotten realities of time. And they need to be remembered.
After completing grad school, I went to do some historical research projects recording oral histories of people in my rural community. I loved it. And the people loved knowing that what they had done was important to someone - that they could help in creating a legacy for the future.
These interviews reminded me of that passion. These women and their children need to be heard. Their stories need to be respected and remembered. They need to feel like others care; that their struggles might make the path easier for someone who follows. Podcasting is a simple way to capture these realities.
My only concern is - will the electronic record be accessible forever? How will they replace the dusty archives that historians typically scrounge through? I remember the feel of opening a record book knowing that no one had really looked at it for over 50 years. It was an incredible feeling. Will the digital record be the same? Or will the fact that these records are digitalized mean that no one will have to wait 50 years to find the document? Will making them accessible online truly mean that they will be listened to more often? Or will they become digital trash - left untouched - until someone a few years later discovers a reference to them, but finds only a broken link?
I have to believe that by creating a digital record of these stories, they will be accessed; they will be remembered, they will be listened to and heeded. I have to believe that the Web2.0 era will make important information available to those who really want to have it. I know that I will continue to use this strategy in the courses. I plan to look for opportunities to record the stories of real people to add a sense of importance and reality to courses when appropriate.
Bringing this "philosphical self-debate" back to reality, I guess the use of podcasts will depend upon the context. Like all tools, podcasting is simply one tool that can be used to add interest to a course. But, like things (except maybe golf) a bad podcast is still a bad podcast, no matter how much glitz you add to it. So, I guess I've discovered a few "rules" to podcasting.
1. Make sure you are using podcasts for the right reason. Ask yourself "how will this podcast enhance the learning experience"? Will it really make a difference, or is it just a glitzy tool?
2. Make it count. A poor story is a poor story, no matter how much you try to disguise it. Just like a bad meatloaf can't be improved by ketchup, a boring podcast with a boring story will only bore those who listen.
3. Find the right tool to create your podcast. In my situation, due the techno comfort level of one of the participants, I had to rely upon the trusty phone system. In other case, programs such as DimDim or Skype may be the best tool.
4. Find what works for you. These are ideas that work for me. But that doesn't mean it works for everyone. Be willing to explore and experiment. Move beyond your comfort zone to try something new, but also be willing to admit that sometimes the tried and true old ways work just as well.
I am totally hooked now. It was so easy to capture their stories on the phone, and then convert them to podcasts. And the interviews were amazing. Both women are long-time advocates and pioneers in management strategies for FASD. Their stories were heartbreaking. The Ontario woman adopted a son who lives with FASD. The other woman adopted 3 children. Both stories tell of such difficult struggles coping with the impact of this condition. Their stories need to be captured and shared with others. Everyone should hear about their challenges, and more importantly, about the challenges the individuals face every single day of their lives. Wow - it gives courage a whole new meaning.
These interviews reminded me of a long time passion of mine, that I had almost forgotten about. When I first went to grad school, I was involved in oral history research. I loved the fact that I was capturing the stories of everyday people who had done such interesting things in their lives. I firmly believe everyone has a story to tell; everyone deserves to be heard. Their voices will let the future know what live was really like. Their stories tell of the daily impact of political decisions made by bureaucrats in a distance city who know little of the realities of live; of CEO's who decisions are led by budgets, project plans, board meetings, strategic planning sessions held in a resort far removed from those who will be most impacted by their decisions. Their stories are the forgotten realities of time. And they need to be remembered.
After completing grad school, I went to do some historical research projects recording oral histories of people in my rural community. I loved it. And the people loved knowing that what they had done was important to someone - that they could help in creating a legacy for the future.
These interviews reminded me of that passion. These women and their children need to be heard. Their stories need to be respected and remembered. They need to feel like others care; that their struggles might make the path easier for someone who follows. Podcasting is a simple way to capture these realities.
My only concern is - will the electronic record be accessible forever? How will they replace the dusty archives that historians typically scrounge through? I remember the feel of opening a record book knowing that no one had really looked at it for over 50 years. It was an incredible feeling. Will the digital record be the same? Or will the fact that these records are digitalized mean that no one will have to wait 50 years to find the document? Will making them accessible online truly mean that they will be listened to more often? Or will they become digital trash - left untouched - until someone a few years later discovers a reference to them, but finds only a broken link?
I have to believe that by creating a digital record of these stories, they will be accessed; they will be remembered, they will be listened to and heeded. I have to believe that the Web2.0 era will make important information available to those who really want to have it. I know that I will continue to use this strategy in the courses. I plan to look for opportunities to record the stories of real people to add a sense of importance and reality to courses when appropriate.
Bringing this "philosphical self-debate" back to reality, I guess the use of podcasts will depend upon the context. Like all tools, podcasting is simply one tool that can be used to add interest to a course. But, like things (except maybe golf) a bad podcast is still a bad podcast, no matter how much glitz you add to it. So, I guess I've discovered a few "rules" to podcasting.
1. Make sure you are using podcasts for the right reason. Ask yourself "how will this podcast enhance the learning experience"? Will it really make a difference, or is it just a glitzy tool?
2. Make it count. A poor story is a poor story, no matter how much you try to disguise it. Just like a bad meatloaf can't be improved by ketchup, a boring podcast with a boring story will only bore those who listen.
3. Find the right tool to create your podcast. In my situation, due the techno comfort level of one of the participants, I had to rely upon the trusty phone system. In other case, programs such as DimDim or Skype may be the best tool.
4. Find what works for you. These are ideas that work for me. But that doesn't mean it works for everyone. Be willing to explore and experiment. Move beyond your comfort zone to try something new, but also be willing to admit that sometimes the tried and true old ways work just as well.
Monday, October 5, 2009
My podcast
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