Survey

Above is a little survey I created with Google Forms.  This was an interesting exercise.  As first I had no idea of what to survey and then I started to prepare for my Veteran's Upward Bound course.  An obviously the idea hit.  I created a survey to give to my veterans on the first day of class.  I asked for a little background information and some personal information.  I usually ask for this information.  Some I have them write down, some is required by the class and other information I jsut usually hold conversations with the group and find that information out.

I completed my survey and published it to my blog.  I thought about were to put the survey so everyone in the class would have access and found it easiest to publish the survey before writing the blog.  Lucky me, I had two students show up for class tonight.  So I now have results for my survey.

SEE RESULTS HERE.
http://bit.ly/17DbOyM


I found this to be an interesting exercise.  I do see uses for forms in the classroom.  I just wish the forms were more robust, so I could do more math quizzes etc., but this is for free so we will just go with it.  There are plenty of ways to apply this application in the classroom - first day of school survey, syllabus survey, parental notifications, etc.

As always to need to see how this exercise fits with the ISTE-NETS-T standards.  Well, obviously it fits with Standard 2, our little design and develop expericencs and assessments.  It is an assessment tool, and a survey tool.  We can do all sorts of learning with surveying people and we can create online tests until we drop.

Easy to use. Easy to understand, Google Forms.

Prezi - Numbers: Types and Relationships Yet Again

Well, after about two days of working on this and starting over two or three times, I think I have a decent Prezi presentation of my original PowerPoint presentation.  I had a few issues transferring the PowerPoint to Prezi, but decided to create my own stuff in the end.  I learned how to create my own backgrounds, how to create my own collection of images, how to change colors, and many other things.  The only thing I could not figure out was how to size frames.  Being a little OCD this started to bother me and it still does, but over the years I have learned to let it go.  So you can click here to see my newest Prezi or you can watch it here on my blog at the bottom.

Here is everything from the beginning.  It has been an epic journey.  I started with a PowerPoint and ended with a Prezi.

So here is the link to the original PowerPoint.
PowerPoint Presentation

This is probably the most boring way to present a topic. 

Next we worked on the movie.  This was a really cool way to present a topic.

And finally the Prezi.

As you can see the topic and concept remain the same, but the presentation is different for each.  If class is boring create a Prezi, if you have some time change it to a movie.  I always think in terms as all my presentations are "works in progress."  I am constantly changing and modifying to make the presentation better.  Nothing in my world is ever done.

In regards to the ISTE-NETS-T standards, Standard 1, Standard 2, and Standard 3 apply to this exercise.  Creating movies and Prezis will inspire students to  create their own works of art in their own ways.  Students can visually see relationships and have images to remember topics.  Teachers are not standing in front of a class lecturing in a monotone voice and teachers are showing they are were not left in the 20th century where books and chalkboards existed.

Video Killed the Radio Star

Well, this is better than a stupid PowerPoint presentation.  One of my Vets called it "Death by PowerPoint." He was describing the long, boring PowerPoint presentations he had to sit through in the Army.

So this is the PowerPoint presentation I submitted as my PowerPoint for the previous assignment.  I do think this makes the presentation a lot better, but I am still one for talking to the class and not showing videos, but I think there are many ways to incorporation homemade videos into the classroom.  (Notice I used the word talking and not lecturing.  That is another topic of discussion.)

If you have issues  seeing the video on this page, here is a  link you can click to see the video.

As always we need to see how this works with the ISTE-NETS-T standards.  Creating video content easily applies to Standard 2:  Design and develop digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments.  Creating a video of relevant content is any easy and innovative way to present information to the masses.  It is stimulating and keeps ones attention.

PowerPoint

Today's exercise deals with PowerPoint and DropBox.  I have been using PowerPoint  for what seems like forever.  We used to use it as an easy way to document software our company made, simple screenshots and arrows with short and sweet descriptions of what each form did.  Now that I am using the most current version of PowerPoint I really enjoy all of the new little functions available.  I truly love the equation editor.

As for DropBox, I have had an account for a few years now, but have never used it.  I use SkyDrive instead.  Yet again DropBox is another one of those sites where files can be stored and used on the fly where you don't have to worry about thumb drives.  I don't even use a thumb drive anymore.

My PowerPoint Presentation or PNG Images of My Slides Since DropBox Does Not Play Nicely with Microsoft is one that I use in my Veteran's Upward Bound Math class.  Most of the Vets in the class are non-traditional students and they seem to get a chuckle out of the presentation.  This presentation is used to introduce the different types of numbers.  I had a bunch of animation in the presentation, but decided for the purpose of this exercise, the animation was not necessary.  I did however use a technique I read about a few years ago.

Throughout the presentation I want to enforce the relationships between the different types of numbers and how they are built upon each other.  In the lower right hand corner of each slide I place a small icon that links each slide back to the first slide.

As always we must discuss how this piece of technology fits into the ISTE-NETS-T standards.  This exercise applies to Standard 2:  Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments.  With the use of PowerPoint, lessons are easily created and edited.  I am constantly editing all of my PowerPoint lesson, making them better.

Jing a Ling a Ling

I have spent the last three days working with Jing.  As in my previous post, Jing is a neat screen capture tool where a user can add notations to the captured screenshot.  Recently I have tried out the video capturing tool.  This is just as simple to use.  Jing puts a little "Sun" on the screen around the border.

Jing Sun

This sun is movable.  It got in my way and I just clicked on it and moved it over.  If you mouse over the sun, 3 prongs appear.  The left prong is for picking your screen shot, the center prong is for your history and the right prong is settings, closing the application and other things.

To capture my video, I selected the the cross hairs or the left prong.  From there I selected the size of my screen capture and selected the movie option.  The microphone automatically turned on and I was given 3 seconds to prepare.   So after 10 tries, I finally got something usable.  Not that the movie is all that great, but it is better than the original one.  You can check out my video here.  I tried to embed the video, but since we are playing with flash, I had to google for the the html code.  After about 5 tries with different yet similar codes - I give up.  I guess if I really need to embed the video, I could spend a few hours on it, but who's got time for that?

As always we must investigate what ISTE-NETS-T standards apply to this little lesson.  Standard 2:  Design and Develop Digital Age learning Experiences and Assessments is the standard that is applicable to let application.  Using editable videos is a technological sound way to teach a lesson.  Bright colors and fast moving content should captivate students and hold their attention while bringing relevant content to the classroom.

As for the embedding thing, it is really getting on my nerves.  I'm going to figure this one out, but I'm outta here for now.

Happy Father's Day!

Jing Image

Yesterday and this morning I spent a few hours playing with Jing.  This is a very basic screen capture and annotation software.  If you don't have access to PowerPoint, Screencast.com  Screencast is a storage place for  web access to images and videos created by Jing.  You can check out my screencast presentation by clicking here. Over the past years I have begun to heavily rely on sites such as screencast.  I can access my files anywhere, edit them, and present them from any computer that has internet access.

Jing Image

it is pretty cool.  I put together an annotated screenshot of a highlights page I use in my developmental math classes. Here I circled the important formulas needed in the chapter and highlighted important facts.  I saved my work and I can easily place my image in any type of presentation I need.  I also noted that the image can be sent to

This little exercise in Jing is applicable to the ISTE-NETS-T standard 2:  Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments.  By using Jing/Screencast.com and other similar sites I can easily develop lesson plans using this technology.  Highlighting certain aspects of the lesson, important ideas and topics are brought to the forefront.  Assessments are easily incorporated using artifacts created by this technology.  Jing is an easy and effective way to present material to a class.

Diigo

If you haven't noticed I keep changing the layout and general overall look of my blog.  I added two links to follow me on twitter and my diigo library.  I also changed my last blog to make my embedded Prezume fit better.  You might want to take a gander at that.

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Anyway, on Friday after posting my last blog, I came to the conclusion that specifically for this class I need to change internet search engines.  I have started using Chrome.  It seems to me that if you are using Google products you need to use all Google products.  Same goes with Apple and Microsoft.  Things just seem to work together better and are a lot less frustrating.

Recently I spent some time messing around with Diigo.  This is a pretty cool bookmarking app.  After installing the diigolet app I started gathering articles for my Diigo library.  So far my library is small, but it is

expanding.  The diigolet app has many functions.  I found the screnn shot feature fun. I started grabbing

 screen shots and then I found I could dd sticky notes and highlights right on the screen shot.

I also bookmarked an article on how to add a widget to blogger.  Some of you may find that interesting.

This whole app again applies to all of the ISTE-NETS-T standards, but one standard really shines with this app:  Standard 5;  Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership.  With the use of Diigo, I can organize and store articles, images, and person thoughts on topics important to my personal and professional growth.  This information can be shared with others and others can share with you.

Prezi

Very Cool! 

I have heard about Prezi and I have seen it in action before.  This is the first time I have used it.  Just running through my resume brought millions of ideas into my mind of uses in the classroom.







I found the application easy to use and user friendly.  It was similar to PowerPoint, but with using the template I found myself restricted.  Some of the "Click to Add Text' boxes could not be deleted, but I figured a work around for those.  (I made them really, really small and moved them off to the side.)  I really liked the insert image feature.  Since I was looking for specific images, the "Insert Image - from Google Images" was a dream.  Click, scroll, and insert was all that I did.  Shapes, music and videos were also easy to add.  I didn't add any of those.  I looked at adding music, but I am a complete moron when it comes to iTunes and Apple - that is another story.

As far as making connections,  this little exercise really highlighted Standard 2 from the ISTE-NETS-T standards:  (Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments."  With this little application there are unlimited ways to present a lesson.  The imagery and animation helps highlight important details in a lesson.  The lesson can be presented in a unique way to help facilitate remembering the information of the lesson.  This is the digital age.

Resume Revisited

This morning I spent a few minutes running my resume through a free online application, http://rezscore.com/,  that reviews your resume.  I guess the sites algorithms looking for key words. 

After a quick 5 second review the site grades your resume on what HR people, head hunters and general hiring gurus are watching for. Obviously current buzz words are key to this one.  I ran my resume through the application and found out I use too many first person verbs.  This awarded me with a B.  I guess that is OK.  I was hoping I would do better, since I spent so much creating, editing and re-editing the thing.  So I took my resume and tried to reword it using more third person verbs, and I still received a B.  I think I might have a limited vocabulary.  Anyway check out my new resume at Alyson Balzer Resume and tell me where you think I can improve it.

Another thing really cool about the rezscore cite was the little skills chart that appeared after running the software.  The Skills graph highlights words used in your resume.  Looking at my skill set, I have high demand and very general skills.  The words Teacher and Community really stick out.  I need to get those words in the upper right hand corner.  Thesaurus here I come.

My Mess-terpiece

Look at Me

Creating the Mess-terpiece

I had fun creating my self portrait using Picassohead.com.  I picked what looked like  "duck face" lips to keep up with those millennials who are constantly taking self photos for their Instagram.

The site wasn't too complicated to use.  Simply drag and drop facial features to the canvas and off you go to create your own self portrait.  Colors were easy to use and the site also gave the RGB numbers so you could go back and use the exact same color again instead of guessing.

The Connections

Standard  1:  "Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning" is the connection.  Exercises like this - simple to use web sites - help students learn by doing something different.  The simple drag and drop features emphasize the topic being taught and not how to use the website.  These sites inspire students to explore.   Questions like "What happens when I do this?" flow freely in the classroom.  Students' natural curiosity facilitate and inspire learning on sites like this. The really neat thing about sites like this is that they are free.  I constantly use free graphing calculator sites in my classes.  Currently I use this free calculator. 

Snipping

Learned a new trick today.  For those of you using Windows 8,  finding the Snipping Tool is a little more challenging as there is not a Start button.

Here is what I did to find the Snipping tool. 


Where to Find the Snipping Tool

As you might be aware Windows 8 does not look like any previous version on Windows.  To find the Snipping Tool while using Windows 8, flick on the right side of the screen and pull up the search/settings menu.






Snipping Tool

Click on the Search icon.  Type in Snip and make sure apps is selected.  The Snip Tool appears on the left side of the screen.  Click on the Snip Tool icon.








This is a great little tool.  Images can be grabbed from the web and displayed in presentations.  I do use this tool frequently.  It is extremely easy to grab screenshots of examples off the web and display on an projector for great illustrations of the current topic being taught.

I do use the PNG format when saving screenshots.  PNGs work better in Photoshop and GIMP (free Photoshop).