And follow this link to my comments on David Middlebrook's RILS:
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
BP8_RILS Final Project
Hello, everyone.
I finally got a hold on how to get videos from Viddler to my blog. Thanks, FSO Support!
Here is what I have for my Final Project:
Here is what the scenario will be when I present this at my school:
Enjoy the reading!
I finally got a hold on how to get videos from Viddler to my blog. Thanks, FSO Support!
Here is what I have for my Final Project:
Here is what the scenario will be when I present this at my school:
Enjoy the reading!
Brief Overview:
The users will be able to configure their iGoogle home page to the point where it meets their specific needs.
1.) Target audience:
My target audience will be a class of approximately 20 sixth grade students.
2.) Materials:
· Access to a computer with Internet access
· A notebook for taking notes of the process
3.) Objectives:
· Students will create their own unique iGoogle home page using the options available through the Google software.
· Students will apply the knowledge of Web 2.0 software that they can use for their specific purposes and add them to their iGoogle home page.
· Students will understand the importance of iGoogle and how they can use iGoogle as a “pathway” to their unique Internet needs.
4.) Procedure:
i. All students will need to access the Google home page.
ii. Once students access the Google home page, all students will be required to create their own Google e-mail address [this is a requirement if they are to use iGoogle].
iii. Students will then log onto iGoogle using their newly created usernames and passwords.
iv. Students will be shown how to configure iGoogle through the “Settings” options. Students will be shown what options they can use to configure their home page (e.g. how to add “boxes of links,” reconfigure their different linked pages, create different pages with the same iGoogle account).
v. Once students are finished, students will “test” their pages to see if their links are fully functional.
5.) Web 2.0 tool:
The Web 2.0 tool is iGoogle. iGoogle is essentially a home page replacement which allows the user to access many areas of the Internet through their one home page.
6.) Social Participation:
· Students will work in collaboration to configure their iGoogle pages in order for them to be unique for their own use.
· Students will need to identify what they would like to have on their home pages first.
· Students will first learn about the widgets and search the widgets they will need to put in their home pages.
· Students will be shown how to configure the home page itself (add, delete, and edit widgets, choose their unique theme, etc.).
· Students will work together to “test” their home pages to see if their links are operational (e.g. write blogs to each other from the iGoogle page, write e-mails from the iGoogle page).
7.) Making Connections:
· Students will first write what they would like to access (e.g. access to Facebook, access to their e-mail)
· Students should decide what is important for them to access since their iGoogle will be unique for them (e.g. a need for an online dictionary, a need for an online encyclopedia, a need for access to social media).
· Students will decide what links will allow them to communicate with others. Students must also realize that others will be able to see their page when others access their page.
8.) Create/Produce:
All students will have a fully unique and functional iGoogle home page.
9.) Assessment:
Students will work in collaboration by checking the iGoogle home page of a partner; this collaboration will be between two students. Students will “test” the home page of another student. Things that should be checked are (1) working links, (2) aesthetics (e.g. how it looks [too much information on page, not enough information on page]), (3) relevant use for what a student needs (e.g. are pages appropriate for a sixth grade student, will student make use of information on page). There will be an online assessment created that student will use to “grade” the page of another student.
10.) Reflection:
a.) The reflection for the student should be written and placed online. This way, students can practice both their writing skills and practice using one of their Web 2.0 tools to reflect what they learned (e.g. write on a blog so others could hear, create a concept map of what they learned).
b.) Because I will be the person implementing the RILS, I would write my reflection online for others to see; when I mean “others,” I mean my fellow teachers and possibly other students who may have access to my blog (which is where I plan to write my reflection).
Saturday, August 20, 2011
PE5_iGoogle
Wow, this video has been a pain to download. What can I say, the technology is rebelling against me this month.
Anyway, here's my video on iGoogle:
I know it's not the best video in the world, but I believe it is a good introduction into what iGoogle is. I know I probably missed some critical parts of the software, but this much I can say. If you want to make iGoogle the most effective piece of software out there, you have to be patient and configure it to your specific needs. It will take some trial and error, but it can work.
I plan to introduce this to the teachers this coming school year, along with my students. Seeing how we are becoming a more "technological" school, we need to catch up and not fall behind. And I have a feeling that Google is going to play a huge part of that.
Try not to be too harsh. I actually used more of iMovie's functions, like the embedding of the sound and actually adding my voice through iMovie (I used to embed my voice through Screenflow).
Enjoy!
PE4_iGoogle
For my next post and for my RILS assignment, I'm going to be introducing iGoogle. From what we have been working so far here at Full Sail University, iGoogle has been something that has become somewhat paramount for all of us. I know that I have pretty much replaced my home page with iGoogle. Here's what my iGoogle home page looks like:
What you see is the view of both the "top" and the "bottom" of the page, since I didn't want to put the whole page on on slide.
One of the things I like about iGoogle is that you can configure the home page and add quite a number of links and "gadgets" which allow you to see a whole lot of what the Internet had to offer. The "settings" option also allows you to configure the tabs that you could use on the home page. In essence, you could have a number of "landing pages" on your single home page. It's actually a good option; you could configure iGoogle, for example, to work for home, school, and work, all on one single page:
I'm still working on what is available and what my target audience could use.
I'll end this for now. The next post should be the video on how you could configure iGoogle with some of the different options it has.
What you see is the view of both the "top" and the "bottom" of the page, since I didn't want to put the whole page on on slide.
One of the things I like about iGoogle is that you can configure the home page and add quite a number of links and "gadgets" which allow you to see a whole lot of what the Internet had to offer. The "settings" option also allows you to configure the tabs that you could use on the home page. In essence, you could have a number of "landing pages" on your single home page. It's actually a good option; you could configure iGoogle, for example, to work for home, school, and work, all on one single page:
I'm still working on what is available and what my target audience could use.
I'll end this for now. The next post should be the video on how you could configure iGoogle with some of the different options it has.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
BP7_OMM
Hey, everybody.
I'm writing this part because mostly because of some really bad timing, so let me explain.
I was having way too much trouble downloading from Viddler to Blogger. I don't know why, I wish I knew. So I had to go another route in order to download my video to my blog. For those of you that remember last month, I'm still having trouble with the technology. I guess it's not user-friendly with me right now.
I'll be honest, I don't know how the video will be when you all see it.
And I'll be even MORE brutally honest when I say that this has not been my best work as of yet. In fact, I'm rather unhappy with it. I know I could have done better. Hey, no excuses from my part. I guess everyone has a course where for some reason the stars don't align and everything seems to be going a bit wrong.
I apologize to you, Professor, and everyone that reads this. I really don't mean to vent, and I don't know what kind of grade I'll be getting for this assignment, but it's kind of how I'm feeling right about now.
Just -- try not to be so harsh, OK? This class has been the most difficult for me so far, but I'm doing my best to say afloat and keep in line with everything that needs to be done.
Thanks, everyone, for understanding (I hope).
(There.....I feel a whole lot better).
PE3_iMovie
Hey, everybody.
Well, I finally completed the Lynda.com iMovie'11 training. And here's my certificate to prove it:
Hey, I'm kind of proud of myself for being able to complete this project.
It was not really that hard. Really, it wasn't. But with time running out and suffering from a severe summer cold and having to turn in everything according to Pacific Standard Time, it does get difficult. But here's a "teaser" of what I created:
You might not be able to see it clearly, but on the Event Library I have "OMM Prototype," "OMM Prototype 2" and "OMM Prototype 3." This was not a difficult trailer to put together, but I did not want to just add the same shots over and over again. So I had to refilm for more shots, hence the versions 2 and 3.
You can watch the full trailer at the "BP7_OMM" portion of my blog. What can I say, I'm trying to promote my video..........
But I think it came out pretty well. It's definitely something I will show my students this school year. And I think the trailer theme worked out pretty well for this assignment.
I'm just hoping you all approve.
Thanks for watching.
As Stan Lee always says, "'Nuff said!"
Well, I finally completed the Lynda.com iMovie'11 training. And here's my certificate to prove it:
Hey, I'm kind of proud of myself for being able to complete this project.
It was not really that hard. Really, it wasn't. But with time running out and suffering from a severe summer cold and having to turn in everything according to Pacific Standard Time, it does get difficult. But here's a "teaser" of what I created:
You might not be able to see it clearly, but on the Event Library I have "OMM Prototype," "OMM Prototype 2" and "OMM Prototype 3." This was not a difficult trailer to put together, but I did not want to just add the same shots over and over again. So I had to refilm for more shots, hence the versions 2 and 3.
You can watch the full trailer at the "BP7_OMM" portion of my blog. What can I say, I'm trying to promote my video..........
But I think it came out pretty well. It's definitely something I will show my students this school year. And I think the trailer theme worked out pretty well for this assignment.
I'm just hoping you all approve.
Thanks for watching.
As Stan Lee always says, "'Nuff said!"
PE2_iMovie
Hey, everybody.
Wow, this project has been a bit of an adventure. Here's what I've done so far with the iMovie tutorials:
And so far, this what I have been doing with the iMovie part:
I kind of like the Indiana Jones theme in iMovie. Hey, it's still a work in progress.
I just have to warn all of you, I don't think I'm going to have my movie ready until almost the final minutes. Hey, that's what I get for living in California. I have a 3 1/2 hour loss, which means I have only until about 8:30 p.m. my time to turn everything in. Talk about vein under the gun, right?
Talk to you all later!!!!!
Wow, this project has been a bit of an adventure. Here's what I've done so far with the iMovie tutorials:
And so far, this what I have been doing with the iMovie part:
I kind of like the Indiana Jones theme in iMovie. Hey, it's still a work in progress.
I just have to warn all of you, I don't think I'm going to have my movie ready until almost the final minutes. Hey, that's what I get for living in California. I have a 3 1/2 hour loss, which means I have only until about 8:30 p.m. my time to turn everything in. Talk about vein under the gun, right?
Talk to you all later!!!!!
BP4_Second Web 2.0 Tool Review
Hey, everybody!
For my second Web 2.0 tool review, I'm going to use a fan favorite - Second Life!
I know we have been using Second Life (SL) since the start of our Full Life journey, and it's been a program that I really want to use when we get back into school. I think the students would love to see some of the places they see in a textbook come to life "virtually."
Since we have been using SL, there have been a couple of updates that needed downloading. Here is what the login page looks like now:
With Second Life, I've called it a "Facebook on steroids." It's a virtual environment where people from all over the world can communicate with each other via the Internet and via virtual environments that have been created by the same users of the program.
In this software, there are many virtual environments you can visit. There are places that are "real," which means they exist in the real world. Let me show you an example:
As you can see here, this the virtual environment of Abbottabad in Pakistan. And if you don't know what that is, this is the compound where Osama Bin Laden was killed by U.S. Special Forces not too long ago (Go U.S.A.!!!).
For what I want to use this program is more on the historical side. There are also virtual environments that are geared for history. For example, the Great Wall of China is here in SL:
You could also visit somewhere more "local," like Mount Rushmore:
The program has to be downloaded onto your hard drive. The other option is to either choose the free or Pro option. The Pro option has many more options available to the user, but you are charged $9.95 a month for this subscription.
I want to use SL as a way to show, like I had stated, worlds from a more historical perspective. I would like students to see history a little bit differently, more differently than just what is in textbooks. I think that students could use this program to "talk" to each other while at the same time explore the different environments that SL has to offer.
So far, I have used SL only here through Full Sail. I have not had a chance to explore more of the lands in more depth and scope. I have found the Great Wall of China, Mount Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty, and the Presidential Oval Office among other worlds.
Well, that is SL in a nutshell. Answer back when you get a chance.
Thank you, everyone!
For my second Web 2.0 tool review, I'm going to use a fan favorite - Second Life!
I know we have been using Second Life (SL) since the start of our Full Life journey, and it's been a program that I really want to use when we get back into school. I think the students would love to see some of the places they see in a textbook come to life "virtually."
Since we have been using SL, there have been a couple of updates that needed downloading. Here is what the login page looks like now:
With Second Life, I've called it a "Facebook on steroids." It's a virtual environment where people from all over the world can communicate with each other via the Internet and via virtual environments that have been created by the same users of the program.
In this software, there are many virtual environments you can visit. There are places that are "real," which means they exist in the real world. Let me show you an example:
As you can see here, this the virtual environment of Abbottabad in Pakistan. And if you don't know what that is, this is the compound where Osama Bin Laden was killed by U.S. Special Forces not too long ago (Go U.S.A.!!!).
For what I want to use this program is more on the historical side. There are also virtual environments that are geared for history. For example, the Great Wall of China is here in SL:
You could also visit somewhere more "local," like Mount Rushmore:
The program has to be downloaded onto your hard drive. The other option is to either choose the free or Pro option. The Pro option has many more options available to the user, but you are charged $9.95 a month for this subscription.
I want to use SL as a way to show, like I had stated, worlds from a more historical perspective. I would like students to see history a little bit differently, more differently than just what is in textbooks. I think that students could use this program to "talk" to each other while at the same time explore the different environments that SL has to offer.
So far, I have used SL only here through Full Sail. I have not had a chance to explore more of the lands in more depth and scope. I have found the Great Wall of China, Mount Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty, and the Presidential Oval Office among other worlds.
Well, that is SL in a nutshell. Answer back when you get a chance.
Thank you, everyone!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
PE1_iMovie
Hello, everybody.
Here we are, Week #2 on our Month 4 journey through Full Sail University. Man, how dramatic!
This assignment has been driving me crazy! I guess that's because I went off on vacation for five days to Disneyland and didn't have time to really work on it. Oh, well, at least I had a whole lot of fun!
But, I have managed to catch up a bit with this assignment. So far, I've been working on Lynda.com trying to learn more about iMovie '11. So far, this is what I have do so far:
As you can see, I am almost done with the "Working with Effects" portion and am ready to start the "Working with Audio" portion. I knew that the training was long, but even so, it's been an eye-opener. I didn't know iMovie could do all of what I have seen.
Well, here's what I have from iMovie so far:
I know, I know, it's just the beginning. But I know this video will get better. If it looks familiar, that's because it is! It's Second Life. It's the software that I would like to introduce to my sixth graders this school year. So I would like to make this presentation great not just for the class, but also for the teachers and students that will see it.
OK, stay tuned for more updates on my project.
Thanks for reading!
Here we are, Week #2 on our Month 4 journey through Full Sail University. Man, how dramatic!
This assignment has been driving me crazy! I guess that's because I went off on vacation for five days to Disneyland and didn't have time to really work on it. Oh, well, at least I had a whole lot of fun!
But, I have managed to catch up a bit with this assignment. So far, I've been working on Lynda.com trying to learn more about iMovie '11. So far, this is what I have do so far:
Well, here's what I have from iMovie so far:
I know, I know, it's just the beginning. But I know this video will get better. If it looks familiar, that's because it is! It's Second Life. It's the software that I would like to introduce to my sixth graders this school year. So I would like to make this presentation great not just for the class, but also for the teachers and students that will see it.
OK, stay tuned for more updates on my project.
Thanks for reading!
Monday, August 8, 2011
BP2_Edublogs
Hello, everyone.
Looking through the Web 2.0 technology, I think I found something that both students and teachers can use. It is called Edublogs. This technology allows both students and teachers to write their own blogs on the Internet. What makes this technology unique is that you don't need an e-mail address in order to have your own blog.
Here is what the Edublogs introduction page looks like:
And this page allows you access to Edublogs once it is filled out:
As you can see, on the part where it asks for an e-mail address, it asks whether you have an e-mail address or not. You can still create your own blog, but without the e-mail address it will not allow you to reset the password. So, for students, it would be imperative to save their passwords.
Once they have logged on all of their information, you name your blog, and that is basically it!
On this blog, Edublogs gives you a bird's eye view of what Edublogs and a few good words about how Edublogs works.
It's a very simple style of blog, which may be a good start for students. It keeps all of the clutter of too many fancy fonts or pictures on the page. Sometimes simple is better.
For Edublogs, both teachers and students can create their own blogs. Students have the advantage of having blogs with no e-mails attached; students just need to remember their passwords. It is an easy program to use and simple to set up. With more practice, I believe that students and teachers can start using this program at school and help them communicate not only with each other, but maybe with others at different schools throughout the county. Teachers have the option of taking the Pro version, which allows for more options.
Let me know if you all could you use this. I know I can.
Thanks, everybody.
Don't forget to comment!
Looking through the Web 2.0 technology, I think I found something that both students and teachers can use. It is called Edublogs. This technology allows both students and teachers to write their own blogs on the Internet. What makes this technology unique is that you don't need an e-mail address in order to have your own blog.
Here is what the Edublogs introduction page looks like:
And this page allows you access to Edublogs once it is filled out:
As you can see, on the part where it asks for an e-mail address, it asks whether you have an e-mail address or not. You can still create your own blog, but without the e-mail address it will not allow you to reset the password. So, for students, it would be imperative to save their passwords.
Once they have logged on all of their information, you name your blog, and that is basically it!
After you have logged on to your blog site, you will get this page: the Dashboard. Here at the Dashboard you basically have everything you need to start your blog. It has all of the basic information (e.g. blog posts, number of posts, links for customizing your posts). The good think about this Dashboard is that to the right of the page the user has links for getting started with Edublogs, including help with getting the blogs started to getting students to start their own blogs.
In fact, Edublogs already gives you your first blog post. It looks like this:
It's a very simple style of blog, which may be a good start for students. It keeps all of the clutter of too many fancy fonts or pictures on the page. Sometimes simple is better.
For Edublogs, both teachers and students can create their own blogs. Students have the advantage of having blogs with no e-mails attached; students just need to remember their passwords. It is an easy program to use and simple to set up. With more practice, I believe that students and teachers can start using this program at school and help them communicate not only with each other, but maybe with others at different schools throughout the county. Teachers have the option of taking the Pro version, which allows for more options.
Let me know if you all could you use this. I know I can.
Thanks, everybody.
Don't forget to comment!
BP3_iGoogleScreenShots
Hey, everybody.
Here are my screenshots of my iGoogle. It's definitely the way to go with all of the stuff we have to do.
Enjoy.
Oh, and yes, I'm a Chargers' fan, a Finding Nemo fan, and a Halo fan!!!!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
BP1_Welcome to my blog
Hello, everyone!
Well, we're in month four in our adventure across Full Sail University.
(sounding like Captain Jean-Luc Picard) Our 12-month mission: to explore strange, new technology; to seek out others for help; to boldly go where no student has gone before!
Wow, sorry about going all "Star Trek" on you guys.
Anyway, this blog will follow my studies through Full Sail University and will also chronicle the 2011-2012 school year at my school, Rockwood Elementary School.
I just found out that we're going to have a new principal for the upcoming school year. Is that good....or bad? Hey, your opinion counts.
Well, I'll end this piece for now. So, for anyone reading this, go ahead and follow me as we take on another school year and our trek (no pun intended) through Full Sail University.
See you all online!
Well, we're in month four in our adventure across Full Sail University.
(sounding like Captain Jean-Luc Picard) Our 12-month mission: to explore strange, new technology; to seek out others for help; to boldly go where no student has gone before!
Wow, sorry about going all "Star Trek" on you guys.
Anyway, this blog will follow my studies through Full Sail University and will also chronicle the 2011-2012 school year at my school, Rockwood Elementary School.
I just found out that we're going to have a new principal for the upcoming school year. Is that good....or bad? Hey, your opinion counts.
Well, I'll end this piece for now. So, for anyone reading this, go ahead and follow me as we take on another school year and our trek (no pun intended) through Full Sail University.
See you all online!
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