Sunday, June 26, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Protable Devices for Education
I have a BlackBerry 9700 that is one year and 2 months old. At the time of purchase it was the newest and fastest BlackBerry model for T-Mobile. I have the internet on it but have only used it for email and Facebook up until now. A few weeks ago I downloaded a couple apps for my own personal use, which was The Weather Channel and a screen shot app. I tried to use them as much as possible just to learn what apps were all about. Finding out more about educational apps has really been an eye opener. I have found so many applications that I would use in the classroom. And I looked at free ones and ones that cost money. I did run into some limitations using a portable device for these applications; screen size, speed and price. I have a Blackberry; the screen is about half the size of an iPhone screen. The apps are certainly viewable but the directions are very very small. The speed was also a factor, my phone is 3G and the download time seemed to take awhile. Once in the app it ran fine with no speed problems. Price for me also acted as a limitation, there were quite a few apps I wanted but I can’t afford to spend a bunch of money on apps right now. I downloaded a free one, a cheap one and a kind of high priced one.
I do not own a tablet but I have played with them before. They are awesome! And I want one really bad. I think having such a portable computer is very beneficial. They are light weight and faster than ever. I never really want to take my large laptop anywhere because I have to pack it all up and it’s a little on the heavy side. I have been able to do all the things on a tablet that I do on my laptop; I just was not able to see how downloading anything took place. Since the device wasn’t mine and I didn’t ask to see a download I don’t know how that works. I would love to use portable devices in the classroom! Not necessarily a Blackberry, but certainly tablets or even iPhone devices. You can use the devices for any subject which will enhance learning within this 21st century. Students can communicate with each other through school approved and networked social networking sites, they can learn about geography to talk to others around the world and learn about faraway places. Students could also be working together while on their own device since technology is so interconnecting.
Three apps I found, downloaded and played with this week are Flower Frenzy, Smart Educational Games, and Baby GO Flashcards. I found all three of these apps on BlackBerry App World through my device. Flower Frenzy is new and it was free. This app would be used in teaching and learning colors and patterns in the early elementary grades. There are three different levels and you have the choice of using hints or not. My daughter has gotten really wrapped up in this game. Another reason I like it is because there has to be an adult enter in a special sequence code when the child is done with the game, this way they can’t get into anything else on your phone if you are not right there. Smart Educational Games was the one I spent the most money one. It was $6.99 and I think well worth it. Any more money and I would have not purchased it. You can choose to play math, memory, puzzles, and earth. You can choose your level and it a child or adult is playing. I think the Earth game is the best because you can name states, select states, find capitals, as well as countries. Awesome geography lessons. The Baby GO Flashcards seem a little pointless, I paid $2.99 and not worth it at all. I want my money back…unless I just haven’t completely figured it out. But it seems to just be flashcard of each letter in the alphabet, along with the sound and a picture. There is a voice or it can be turned off. I found where you can modify and change the card picture name, but the picture doesn’t change and the voice still says the original word. So that was strange. I would use this with early childhood while learning the alphabet; the student would be able to sort through the digital flash cards themselves to practice the alphabet.
So far I have been using the features on my portable device for school work. Our school work, as far as finding educational apps. In my job, I have not had the opportunity to do this yet. If I am in the same reading position next school year, I would like to by the app, Learn to Read. And I would use this as a center in my reading groups. I am excited to find more apps and I am joining more RSS feeds that I have found when searching for apps. I am feeling more and more a part of the digital age every day.
Monday, June 20, 2011
PhotoStory 3 vs. Animoto
I enjoyed using both Photo Story 3 and Animoto. I have used Photo Story before and have always found it easy to use and like to play around with it. I had never used Animoto before and liked it but am just not use to it. There really was no getting use to anything because it was so easy. I used the same subject for both programs. Personally I like the Photo Story 3 video better because I was able to personalize it more, such as how the wording is placed and the color. However, I like the music option in Animoto, very easy to search for and select. Overall, Animoto was quicker and I will use it more in the future. I think it does look more professional as well.
Using Photo Story 3
Using Animoto
Monday, June 13, 2011
RSS
I had a lot of fun setting up my RSS. I wish I would have done this sooner. I found so many in which I subscribed to. My three most favorite I feel others would fine interesting as well are:
Yoga
Gizmodo
Google Analytics
The reason I chose these three as my favorites and ones that I think other would like is becacuse Yoga is relaxing. In times of stress I do a little stretching and relaxion techniques. This feed shows me so many different Yoga poses and what each pose is best used for, wether it be stress, posture, or stretching. We could all use a little stress reliever now and again. Gizmodo is a really cool website that has the latest gadgets in technology. Some of these would be fun and useful in our personal lives and others would be fun and useful in the classroom. I really liked Google Analytics because I have just started getting more into Google this past year. So far I have set up a Google account for email, blogging, using Google Docs and making presentations and now RSS Reader. This site give many great resources and tips on everything else Google is capable of.
Yoga
Gizmodo
Google Analytics
The reason I chose these three as my favorites and ones that I think other would like is becacuse Yoga is relaxing. In times of stress I do a little stretching and relaxion techniques. This feed shows me so many different Yoga poses and what each pose is best used for, wether it be stress, posture, or stretching. We could all use a little stress reliever now and again. Gizmodo is a really cool website that has the latest gadgets in technology. Some of these would be fun and useful in our personal lives and others would be fun and useful in the classroom. I really liked Google Analytics because I have just started getting more into Google this past year. So far I have set up a Google account for email, blogging, using Google Docs and making presentations and now RSS Reader. This site give many great resources and tips on everything else Google is capable of.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Posting Comments
Is anyone else having trouble posting comments to other blogs? Is it really not as easy as just clicking post comment? What are some things you all are doing when you comment here?
Thank you for your help,
Amy Sawyer
Thank you for your help,
Amy Sawyer
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Copyright
http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.pdf
Understanding the laws of copyright have always been a little hard for me. During my Undergrad, I took a test called the C-BASE in which we had to pass in order to graduate. Every session of the test the writing topic was different. My topic was on Copyright. I failed the test and had to take it again the following semester. The second time around I passed, but I couldn't even tell you what the topic was.
I have always had the understanding that copyright meant a work of something that someone created that could not be copied or used by anyone else unless the person cited the reference. Such as using a piece of music on a PowerPoint presentation. I have used music on many presentations and as long as I cite it, then it is legal for me to use it. Doing some more research on the topic today, I understand that using music is a little different then using other materials. Something else I didn't know before is that any work I am currently doing is protected by copyright because of the machine or device I am using. So I think that means anything I write on my computer or smartphone would be considered mine and no one could steal the information unless with my permission for referencing my name.
http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html
Fair use is to be used by anyone if for the purposes of teaching, commenting, news reporting, scholarship and research. However, you have to still check on the copyright of the specific item you are using. Fair use is also dependent on whether or not you are using it for commercial or nonprofit use. The copyright.gov website suggests that you still get the copyright authors permission just to be on the safe side before using anything. I know that in the school district I work in that they have already gone through an extensive copyright checking process to make sure whatever the district is using is legal and fair.
http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/
I have actually never heard of a creative commons license until today. I found the information I was looking for on the flickr website posted above. I feel bad because I have used and posted pictures on flickr before and never really took the time to see what the symbols meant. I have only ever used or posted pictures for educational purposes, mainly presentations for classes. Creative Commons is a non-profit alternative to full copyright.
Working for a school district I am aware of what is available for our use, either it is in our library or teacher resource library. Anything else we want to use we have to check with the district to gain permission. I would assume that could take awhile if they have to look something up that is not already in their system. I do use pictures and music for educational purposes on a daily basis. I have only worked with the younger grades where they do not quite understand this concept yet, but in the future if I ever work with older students we will have many lessons on copyright, fair use and creative commons. All are very important and used on a daily basis around the world.
Understanding the laws of copyright have always been a little hard for me. During my Undergrad, I took a test called the C-BASE in which we had to pass in order to graduate. Every session of the test the writing topic was different. My topic was on Copyright. I failed the test and had to take it again the following semester. The second time around I passed, but I couldn't even tell you what the topic was.
I have always had the understanding that copyright meant a work of something that someone created that could not be copied or used by anyone else unless the person cited the reference. Such as using a piece of music on a PowerPoint presentation. I have used music on many presentations and as long as I cite it, then it is legal for me to use it. Doing some more research on the topic today, I understand that using music is a little different then using other materials. Something else I didn't know before is that any work I am currently doing is protected by copyright because of the machine or device I am using. So I think that means anything I write on my computer or smartphone would be considered mine and no one could steal the information unless with my permission for referencing my name.
http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html
Fair use is to be used by anyone if for the purposes of teaching, commenting, news reporting, scholarship and research. However, you have to still check on the copyright of the specific item you are using. Fair use is also dependent on whether or not you are using it for commercial or nonprofit use. The copyright.gov website suggests that you still get the copyright authors permission just to be on the safe side before using anything. I know that in the school district I work in that they have already gone through an extensive copyright checking process to make sure whatever the district is using is legal and fair.
http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/
I have actually never heard of a creative commons license until today. I found the information I was looking for on the flickr website posted above. I feel bad because I have used and posted pictures on flickr before and never really took the time to see what the symbols meant. I have only ever used or posted pictures for educational purposes, mainly presentations for classes. Creative Commons is a non-profit alternative to full copyright.
Working for a school district I am aware of what is available for our use, either it is in our library or teacher resource library. Anything else we want to use we have to check with the district to gain permission. I would assume that could take awhile if they have to look something up that is not already in their system. I do use pictures and music for educational purposes on a daily basis. I have only worked with the younger grades where they do not quite understand this concept yet, but in the future if I ever work with older students we will have many lessons on copyright, fair use and creative commons. All are very important and used on a daily basis around the world.
OpenSource Applications
- What is your understanding of OpenSource?
- What differences did you find between OpenSource, free, and proprietary applications?
- What are OpenSource apps generally licensed under?
My understanding of OpenSource is that it is free to use and download any computer or device applications. If it were not free then it would not be in the same category or licensed by OpenSource. The licence can be used by everyone in any field. There are no restrictions. It also does not restrict the use of any other software. Also, there are no restrictions on the use of individual technology or style. So I take this as, you can use the applications on Windows computers, Apples, smartphones, etc.
I found that a group of people started calling free software, Open Source because it sounded more professional and friendly to the corporate world. This group of people wanted anyone to be able to see and use what they had created and be able to understand it for modifications and redistribution. It seems as if many groups say they have or use Open Source, but the only group that officially operates is the OpenSource Initiative. However, it is not trademarked.
OpenSource's licensing is extremely hard to understand because of the legal wording and the amount of information, says Wikipedia.com. I would have to agree with this. I was trying to read it, but even the explanation of the licence was a little difficult for me to understand. I have always been interested in technology and I thought I was advanced compared to most people, but after taking some of these grad coursed in Educational Technology, I am starting to feel far behind. I am glad to be learning about it all now though.
So what OpenSource means to me is that it is software programs that are always modifiable by people and free to people so they can continue making better programs for companies, businesses or education because all industries must continue growing and technology advances are the way to do just so.
INST 5330
My name is Amy Sawyer and this is actually my second or maybe third Blog I have started. Since I didn't keep up with the other two, I couldn't even tell you how to find them. I don't even know if I had to make up a blog address like I had to for this one. Watching the two YouTube videos posted in Blackboard really made the whole Blog thing seem more interesting and real to me. Maybe I will continue to blog after this class is over. The picture above includes me and my daughter, Addison. "It's just you and me kid." I am a single mother working my way through school. I am a Title I reading coach for the Independence School District. I love my job but hope to find a full time classroom teaching position for next school year. I am Missouri Elementary 1-6 Certified. =)
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