**For comments and posts about these applications, also check the HOME tab.**
GLOGSTER:
DELICIOUS:
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http://www.delicious.com/thelightninginme
GOOGLE DOCS:
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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GM0yU8WRpOPViL6_4dHayqFlJQsjWjScS2ezzIUyLv4/edit
For comments/thoughts about Glogster, Delicious, and Google Docs, see the home page posts.
GOOGLE READER:
Google reader has been an interesting experience. I enjoy how easy it is to conglomerate all of the blogs that I am interested in into one place. It also makes it easy to organize different types of blogs you may subscribe to. Even though I use Google Docs on a daily basis, I hadn't really tried out Google Reader up until now. I think it will take some time playing around with it to really discover its capabilities, but I like what I've experienced so far!
WIKISPACES:
Ok, while I understand the potential and many collaborative uses of this website, it is probably the LEAST friendly website I have ever encountered. It's very basic, some of the graphics seem outdated, and it was really difficult to figure out. Glogster made wikispaces look like a very complicated joke. The website says it offers the ability to add videos, but coming from my experience with Glogster where you click "Add video" and then you can search and find YouTube videos right there in the application, it didn't work out as simply.
I followed the directions to add a video--I opened up Youtube, got the embed link, and put it where it said to. No video. I asked to add a table--I got a very simplistic version of a Word table (I couldn't even edit it in the application! Which means the size is not editable). I tried to color background, add line breaks, change fonts....all of which was much more difficult than it could have been.
I feel that the interface has a long, long way to go. Basic is fine--as long as it's simple and easy to use. This site was a far cry from either.
Rating: 2 out of 10 (and it only gets the 2 because of the potential)
To share information currently, I use a combination of Facebook, Google Docs, and my Blog. Wikispaces might get more attention from me when I have ample amounts of free time to throw around.
Link to my wikispaces:
https://standbackimgoingtotryscience.wikispaces.com/home
DIGITAL STORYTELLING
For my digital storytelling project, I decided to use Little Bird Tales--a really neat site that allows children to turn their artwork into stories with their own voices! I also played around with the site Animoto and definitely plan to do more with the two in the future.
Little Bird Tales is a genius idea--kids draw their own work, adults can import it and add written captions if necessary, and the child can tell the story as it moves along. You can upload pictures from your computer or draw them right on the site.
There were a few bugs. I'm not sure if the problem ultimately lies with my outdated computer and software or the website itself, but I had a little bit of a difficult time navigating the site and getting it to do what I wanted. When I drew a picture, it was difficult to save it without losing it the next time I drew something new. Also, there were certain buttons that wouldn't work--an "x" button to close a drawing (the back button wouldn't work either, although I discovered ESC would), changing pages wouldn't work unless I clicked on them exactly 3 times (don't ask how long that took to figure out), and a save changes button that flashed on screen (option yes or no) that disappeared before I could click an option.
Other than the bugs--which I mostly navigated around--I thought it was a fantastic site. I will definitely find a way to integrate it AND animoto in my lessons. Little Bird Tales would also be a great project to work on with a child during babysitting or for a present for a parent.
Here's my oh so brief, horribly illustrated (but with love) "story." If nothing else, I had a lot of fun, and I think kids will like it too!
OTHER NEW MEDIA--PREZI!
The teacher that I work with has been talking about prezi from the beginning, although I never got a chance to use it. She described it as a souped up version of PowerPoint--prettier, easier to share and work with, and with a lot of capability--SHE WAS RIGHT!
Prezi is a FANTASTIC discovery. After I warmed up to the interface, I got it in no time! With easy to embed media from Google images and media from your computer or YouTube, easy to edit (and pretty) template presentations, and easy to share anywhere abilities, this website, along with Glogster is one of my favorite finds. I only wish I had known about it sooner!
With great ease, I created a prezi about the periodic table, complete with images and a video. Goodbye PowerPoint, HELLO PREZI! I'm going to recommend this site to everyone I know. I can also see assigning Glogster and Prezi projects to my students later on down the road...
Here's my Periodic Table Prezi!
http://prezi.com/3letqogrstus/periodic-table/
3 COMMENTS TO OTHER BLOGS:
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THE END! :)
Really nice blog! It looks very professional! Great job
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