Presentation and slideshow tools

Our classes are experimenting with a few new presentation tools this month.

1.  Animoto for Education - Turns photos, video clips and music into stunning video slideshows which can bring your lessons to life.  See a sample of our senior tribute this week.
2. Drop Mocks works with your Google account anda very simple tool to use. All you do is just drag your  image file on to the web browser screen and that's it! Drop Mocks only works in the latest versions of Google Chrome or Firefox 4. Also, you can only use common image file formats such as jpg, png, gif, and tiff.  Each drop mock generates a URL for easy sharing, but no embed codes at this time, see a sample from my desktop images   http://www.dropmocks.com/mVZdI
3. Moving Beyond Slides with Prezi .
   This Prezi, created by Adam Somlai-Fischer, is both a great prezi example that explains how Prezi’s are different than traditional slideshows. Overall, Prezi allows you to break a way from bulleted text and sequential viewing of your slides. You can still use images (and bulleted text) and you can even embed video.  If you work best brainstorming and organizing with mind maps, then Prezi may feel very fluid and natural to you.

On the horizon to try ...

1. VuVox lets you do a lot, without needing a lot of high-tech know-how. Students and teachers can generate impressive multimedia collages and panoramas of their work.  VuVox can easily import RSS feeds, and your photo collections
2. myBrainShark is the individual, free version, of the Brainshark product suite. Brainshark allows you to upload PowerPoints, MS Word documents, and pictures that you can then narrate and share with friend, co-workers, students, etc (you get the point). The site also provides a podcast and video recording option too.  And, you can add your Prezi into Brainshark too. Brainshark is a  great option if you are looking to personalize and add audio to your work, but do not require responses or audio feedback from your viewers. This is an excellent tool for students to generate presentations in as well. Presenters can even record audio by calling in on their phones. The downside: to use the free version you must leave your content  viewable to the public.
3. VoiceThread is an “audio/visual discussion board.” Voicethreads are a great tool to  facilitate discussion about a topic. This is a favorite site for educators desiring a way to create more engagement, interaction, and feedback on academic work. This is also an excellent tool for students to present their own content and solicit feedback.

Survey

Please take the class survey before leaving.

Agenda - May 17th 2011 Session 4

Review:
1. Blogger (posting)
2. Twitter
3. Google Sites posting and updates

New
4. Google Log into your tiger mail https://mail.google.com/a/maynard.k12.ma.us
    and enter the following Enter start.maynard.k12.ma.us    (Customizing the page)
    See handout with add stuff
5. Google Form/Survey
6. Edmodo (currently down 5/17)
7. Presentation Tools (Prezi or Google Docs/Presentation)

Community Learning and Web 2.0

There are many tools that you can use to collaborate and share information.  

Over the last few weeks you have been exposed to a variety of tools to use with students: 

1. Blogs
2. Twitter
3. Google Sites
4. Google Apps/Presentations

We will continue to use the tools each week, in order to become comfortable with the process and more importantly connect to your content areas.

Prezi along with examples
examples that I made on  Bullying, 21st Century Learning
and other examples more using "Community people"

21st Century Learning on Prezi

Addtionally, we will review some addtional tools:  

• Edmodo
• Animoto
• Nings (join content area groups, english companion ning)

Please post a comment with any feedback.  I will work with each of you to customize your lessons and needs over the next few weeks.

Are you interested in summer session on using Web 2.0 or Google Apps?

Session Two

Today's class will review
- Twitter (#EDCHAT - Tuesday Topic @7:00 PM)
- Blogger (comment moderation)
- Google Site (Presentation)

A few tips for blogging,Twitter and Google Sites

I hope everyone has been posting to their blog this week and following twitter.
Just a reminder, when you setup your blog you should moderate your comments. Here is a link to help you set this up. You can find the comment moderation setting on the Settings  Comments tab, along with all of the other comment settings: Selecting "Always" will automatically enable comment moderation for all incoming comments on your blog. If you enter your email, all posts will go to your email account.  You can then determine if you would like to publish the comments.

Remember to update your page on the class Google Site with your blog link and twitter name.  You will then have the opportunity to comment on your colleagues posts.  To learn more about Google Site click here.

I have emailed everyone in the class with a reminder about class tomorrow and to post to your blogs.
Feel free to click on the  "Post a Comment" link below to share what you have learned this week.

Session 2 - May 3rd 2011
Review

• Blogger - Class Postings and Class Blog
  - Moderate - Comments
• Twitter Review #maynard and #edchat
• Google Site Add link to Page
• Introduce Google Presentation Site/Wiki for collaboration