google maps photo link

The use of Google maps and GPS within the learning environment provides a new dimension to Geography. Lessons on map reading, mapping an area such as a school grounds, going out on a biology trip and plotting co-ordinates where transects were taken, usage in marine biology when on field trips and working with species identification and plotting are some of the uses of these tools. The function of adding images to a specific area and the option of making it available to the public or restricted usage gives rise to an interactive tool where students can develop conversations with other students and have active learning experiences.
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Tag Crowd

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created at TagCrowd.com

There are a number of tools available to enhance the learning process. Tag Crowd allows you to create a colourful image using words from a text and making them prominent by the frequency they appear in the text. There are many sites with quizzes you can manipulate such as making a word find or a crossword with a minimum of fuss on the learning managers part. The creation of images within bubbl-us is useful if you wish to make a mind map. The use of the interactive white board and the subsequent computer programs can add to the learning environment by taking the old pen and butchers paper into the 21st century.

Digital Storytelling is especially useful for the younger children and those with literacy and reading difficulties. Voice overs and written information can add to the learners tools.

wordle exercise

http://www.wordle.net/create. I made a wordle on this tool but I could only print it out or save it to the public arena, I could not save it to include here or add to my computer without going through the process of scanning the printed image and saving it that way. I think this tool would be more advantageous to primary teachers. If I gave my senior class this or even a word find which is another tool I have played with, they would look at me as if I am treating them like littlies. It was fun but I don't have a use for it at this stage. An easy tool to manipulate.

Photo manipulation

The image I have uploaded to the site is one I manipulated on a photo program installed on my computer call ArcSoft PhotoStudio. I have changed the image by using the drawing tool on pointillism. I have used this is a tool in my pracitcum situation in the year 12 art class. The students were given a part of an image which has been manipulated (pixilated or in art terms changed to pointilism) and reproduce the image in oil pastel. The puzzle is then put together on a wall in the school grounds for the students to be able to 'see' what they have created. It is an exercise in learning to 'look' to be able to 'see'.

I played with the recommended photo manipulation program Picnik but was not prepared to use their publishing criteria. There were similiar features as the above tool.

The use of Flickr as a sharing site of photos is an interesting concept with the student having access to other peoples images and being able to add their images to the site. There are a number of ways you can restrict the use of the images and safe practices with regard to not only this site but all ICT sites is an intricate part of the learning journey. Referencing of computer sites and the reproduction of sites is regulated by copyright laws and the student needs to have an understanding of these laws so as to stay within the safe environs of the law.

Another sharing site we have looked at is Slideshare. The learning manager can access and add powerpoint presentation to the site. These powerpoints can be downloaded and manipulated to suit the learning manager's needs. A good resource for not re-inventing the wheel.

My Voki

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my voki exercise

This is my Voki that I made for my assessment task. The process was quite easy. I have learnt about the Html process and feel I have consolidated the process. This technology tool could be used within the senior sector as an online learning tool within a blog or forum. What I did just find is that I could not have Html and the compose happening in the same blog entry. I have had to have two different entries. I must be missing something somewhere.

Embedding video et al

This was an experiment of embedding a Youtube video to the blog and its uses within the learning environment. Students and teachers have access to creating a video and publishing it to Youtube as well as accessing other people's videos. The teacher can screen the information on the video and link it to the learning task, allowing for further development within Learning Managements Systems such as Blackboard, Learning Place and Moodle. This course has utilised Youtube on Moodle. I have found it difficult to access this information as my download allowance and speed is not sufficient for the technology. I question the general use of any of this technology within the low socio-ecconomic society, as it has been my experience that both schools and home environment do not necessarily have the computing capabilities that this technology needs.

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