Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Week/Deadline #5
- listen to weekly podcast (week 4 and 5 will be up in Gabcast by the end of the evening 3/18 and up in iTunes sometime tomorrow!)
- course build: Basically get building! I'm hoping that you will attempt to build a complete module; however, that means different things to different people/courses. Once you've completed building some materials, please share them with us in some manner. If they are materials in password protected LMSs, consider taking screen captures and sharing them in Picasa or your blog. Please do post a "course build" blog entry that talks about the processes of building this module (difficulties, surprises, excitement, etc.). At this point I'm just a cheer leader! If you want feedback on what you are doing, please just make sure to invite feedback (ask specific questions) in your blog. The rest of us will be sure to go in, read, and respond.
- new technologies: Video, well, I already briefly introduced Jing as a method to make screen capture videos. There are lots of tools out there to help make videos from different raw materials; some examples include:
There are also lots of ways to "publish" video materials, with YouTube being the most popular (upload video that is then made into a Flash file that you can embed in other resources like wikis and blogs). Many schools (with Mesa CC being one of them) are slowly developing methods for streaming video from their own servers. Ultimately, video is a HUGE topic. If you have specific ideas or questions, ask below and we can start a dialog.
- find course content: Instead of making your own videos, find some pre-made ones. Sites to check out (and don't forget to think about copyright issues...) include:
- blog entry: reflection on learning from week and briefly discuss a video you found (try to embed it into the blog posting).
- wiki entry: Please find a resource about accessibility and online learning and post it to the ADA wiki page
- iGoogle: add links about either your topic or about online teaching and learning to your online teaching & learning resource page (at least 4); remember, you have to re-share with me since iGoogle doesn't automatically update on my shared page :-(
- And for a good laugh...what would you do if you owned the internet? (video from TED)
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Another way for screen captures
I'm seeing and getting questions about screen captures and such. Another tool I was recently introduce to, and like, is Jing. Jing allows you to do static screen captures as well as audio/visual movies of screen captures (the stuff I shared with you all the first week of class).
It allows you to have "embedding code" that I was then able to paste into the HTLM of this post and you get the image below. It also uploads to their site and you can get a link. And if you upload it to there site, you can go there and "save as" to get a PNG file that can upload to Picasa. It even looks like it allows you to send directly to Flickr...I didn't play with that yet.
It allows you to have "embedding code" that I was then able to paste into the HTLM of this post and you get the image below. It also uploads to their site and you can get a link. And if you upload it to there site, you can go there and "save as" to get a PNG file that can upload to Picasa. It even looks like it allows you to send directly to Flickr...I didn't play with that yet.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Testing new Tech
Yes, I know...I need to catch up with you all. However, currently I'm at sxsw interactive and I've got a new list of technologies to play with. I'm so happy! I want to test this audio reply tool...so you are the GPs. Please do try to reply!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Technology for Week 4
Image posted by Strangeless @ Flickr.Podcasting
It's really very simple, podcasting is audio blogging. The big mistake that many make is thinking that podcasting is just recording an audio file and posting it to your online course. That's just putting a multi-modal resource in your course that helps with different types of learning (for example, people who put audio recordings of vocabulary works so students know how to say the word). Instead of thinking of podcasting as simply audio files, you have to think of them as subscriptions. When you subscribe to your RSS feed of a blog, you get updated entries delivered to your RSS aggregator. Guess what, iTunes (in terms of RSS) is just an audio RSS aggregator. Notice no where did I say podcasting has to be downloaded to an iPod (or other MP3 player)...podcasting is the syndicated audio files, not the technology you listen to it on/from. (I just finished my rant portion of this broadcast...).
Notice we have also moved into the world of vidcasting, which is syndicated videos. In terms of your online courses, I'm currently imagining you can using podcasting in teaching & learning in two ways: weekly updates (more casual, definitely "good enough" production level) and polished course long series that you would reset and redeliver each time you taught the course (obviously more polished production since you'd be reusing them). According to Andrew, MCC's iTunesU tech-guru, iTunesU (which all of the campuses have started in some form or another) along with the new apple Leapord server will allow for the re-syndicated model of course podcasts. Learning Management Systems (LMSs) are also adaptable, and I'm sure we'll see podcasting capabilities (actual syndication, not just audio files) there soon as well.
Browsers & Extensions
If you own your own computer, it is worth the time to personalize your tools so that you are more efficient and don’t have to remember where everything is. One of the easiest ways to do that with your internet tools is with your internet browser. First, let’s talk about your internet browser (and honestly, this is for you PC folks, if you have a Mac…email me on the side and I’ll prepare a separate rant for you). Most of you are probably using Internet Explorer (IE), the little blue “e” swoosh icon, for your internet browser. This is the program that comes default with windows. Good program, most internet pages and programs are designed to work well with IE; however, because it is Microsoft, it is the least secure. I suggest that you switch to Firefox ; it is a powerful free browser that does not contain as many security flaws (in other words, do your online banking in Firefox). And Firefox is Mac friendly!!!
It's really very simple, podcasting is audio blogging. The big mistake that many make is thinking that podcasting is just recording an audio file and posting it to your online course. That's just putting a multi-modal resource in your course that helps with different types of learning (for example, people who put audio recordings of vocabulary works so students know how to say the word). Instead of thinking of podcasting as simply audio files, you have to think of them as subscriptions. When you subscribe to your RSS feed of a blog, you get updated entries delivered to your RSS aggregator. Guess what, iTunes (in terms of RSS) is just an audio RSS aggregator. Notice no where did I say podcasting has to be downloaded to an iPod (or other MP3 player)...podcasting is the syndicated audio files, not the technology you listen to it on/from. (I just finished my rant portion of this broadcast...).
Notice we have also moved into the world of vidcasting, which is syndicated videos. In terms of your online courses, I'm currently imagining you can using podcasting in teaching & learning in two ways: weekly updates (more casual, definitely "good enough" production level) and polished course long series that you would reset and redeliver each time you taught the course (obviously more polished production since you'd be reusing them). According to Andrew, MCC's iTunesU tech-guru, iTunesU (which all of the campuses have started in some form or another) along with the new apple Leapord server will allow for the re-syndicated model of course podcasts. Learning Management Systems (LMSs) are also adaptable, and I'm sure we'll see podcasting capabilities (actual syndication, not just audio files) there soon as well.
Browsers & Extensions
If you own your own computer, it is worth the time to personalize your tools so that you are more efficient and don’t have to remember where everything is. One of the easiest ways to do that with your internet tools is with your internet browser. First, let’s talk about your internet browser (and honestly, this is for you PC folks, if you have a Mac…email me on the side and I’ll prepare a separate rant for you). Most of you are probably using Internet Explorer (IE), the little blue “e” swoosh icon, for your internet browser. This is the program that comes default with windows. Good program, most internet pages and programs are designed to work well with IE; however, because it is Microsoft, it is the least secure. I suggest that you switch to Firefox ; it is a powerful free browser that does not contain as many security flaws (in other words, do your online banking in Firefox). And Firefox is Mac friendly!!!
Now, some ideas on how to personalize your Firefox browser (and most of these can work in IE as well). At Firefox’s website there is an “add-ons” tab. Within that area is a list of “search engines.” Add as many of those that are useful. They will all then be options in a drop down menu in your browser window. Since I use Google the most, it stay up there; however, I also like being able to drop down to IMDB (since I love movies), Wikipedia (it’s an encyclopedia!!), Webster for a dictionary, Weather Channel if I’m traveling, and Food Network if I’m actually going to attempt to do something in the kitchen. You probably also want to go download all the “plugins” so that they various tools work from within Firefox. After that, just browse the recommended add-ons and extensions. You’ll probably find a couple of tools that work for you. Now, since we are doing the shared gradebook thing, I highly suggest you download and install the Better Gmail add-on. It will force a "https" login to Gmail. The extra "s" is for "secure."
Don’t stop at Firefox’s website. You’ll probably want to also:
- Google Toolbar (http://toolbar.google.com)
- Social Bookmarking Toolbar, both del.icio.us and Diigo have toolbars you can download. Check out their “tools” or “help” sections
week/deadline 4 stuff
Thanks folks for your patience. I fought catching bronchitis over the weekend... it won! My goal...get ahead of you all during spring break when you are catching up. :-)To-do:
- listen to weekly podcast--delayed until I don't sound like a frog that smoked 20 packs of cigarettes. I'll post a blog when it's up! :-)
- course build: Design your course activities for the first week? What will students do? Where? How? Provide drafts of the entire prompt, etc. Share (with everyone) a document of a complete description of first week activities (w/full prompts), comment on a couple!
- new technologies: Podcasting & Browsers (see separate blog posting)
- blog entry: Reflect on learning from week and briefly discuss a podcast you found that you might use (link us out to the podcast so we can choose to listen to an entry or two).
- wiki entry: add entry about first week issues, introductions, activities etc.
- find course content: Go to the MCCCD Queen of Podcasting's (Dr. Alisa Cooper, SMCC) bibliography on podcasting and scroll down to the "Finding Podcasts" section and try to find a few already produced podcast for your course.
- iGoogle: add the course podcast (so you'll want to search for podcast widgets and link from either Gabcast or iTunesU)
- schedule appointment w/instructor to talk about course design (phone, Skype, IM, f2f,...)
Image posted by MikeOliveri @ Flickr.
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