Media Manipulation

Using web-accessible tools to design and edit digital media files.

Web-shared media invites web-based tools to produce and refine the files to be shared. Web tools are available for editing photographs (splashup, fotoflexer). Others can allow the creation and sharing of comic strips (toondoo) and for simple animated images for webpages (gifup). Similar editing can be applied to sound files (soundjunction, Jamglue). Moreover, images or videoclips can be annotated with sound – or with visual notes (voicethread). Collections of images can be effortlessly constructed into sequential video clips (animoto) or broadcast as TV-style video (makeinternettv). More elaborate mixing of visual digital material into montages or 'mashups' is also supported (popfly). Sections of web pages themselves can be selected and pasted into such montages (kwout).


Assignment:

Try out one of the tools listed above and share what you created on your blog or wiki!

Fun with Podcasting!!

Podcasting has become increasingly popular among educators. It provides an opportunity for teachers to record their lessons and then post them to a class website. It also allows students to record their reflections, create projects, and share information. A Podcast can simply be an oral blog or it can be a detalied lesson on a topic of interest. In this lesson you will listen to a couple of podcasts that were created by students and teachers. You will also find a podcast of interest and link it or post it to your blog. I will also show you some websites where you can upload your own podcasts. All you need is a microphone and a program called Audacity!



P.S. Don't forget to bring your headphones!!

Assignment: Listening to Podcasts and Linking to Your Blog

1. Check out the following podcasting resources:
Apple's Podcasting in Education
Learning in Hand - A great resource for those interested in checking out what podcasting has to offer
Podcasting in Education- This blogger has an unbelievable amount of resources available for podcasting!
PodOMatic- Create Your Own Podcast!
Pod Bean- Create Your Own Podcast!
Voice Thread - Upload pictures and start a conversation about them!
Audacity- Free audio recording and editing software

2. Check out the links below to some popular education podcasts. Some of these require the use of iTunes. I realize some of you do not have iTunes so I tried to provide a variety of links for you to explore. Choose one podcast to listen to and post a blog entry about what you heard.

Education Podcasts:
Education Podcast Network- A collection of educational podcasts.
Podcast Alley- Podcasts from all different genres
Podcasts on Digg.com- The top education podcasts choosen by the online community

3. Find one podcast that you are a fan of. Post the link, or if possible embed the link on your blog, and share why you choose this podcast.

4. Feel like making your own podcast? Check out Podbean.com! Upload your recording to Podbean and it will provide you with an embeddable player you can post on your blog!

Social Bookmarking and Custom Search Engines

Yes that's right..."Social" bookmarking. Would you like to access your favorite websites from any computer? Are you doing a research project and you ran out of 3x5 cards? Do you want to see what websites other teachers are looking at? Then social bookmarking is your tool. Social bookmarking on websites like Delicious and Google Notebook are fantastic ways to store your bookmarks on the web so you can access them from any computer. They are also a great research tool for students to use to keep track of the websites they visit.

Also, websites like Delicious make a great custom search for your students. You can pick the websites you want them to visit and post them on your Delicious page. The website even provides you with a link or an embedded code for your individual list. Another great way to guide search in your class is through the Google Custom Search. This option is a little more complicated than Delicious. However, you can create a custom page and a Google search box for your class website.

A couple of things you should know before you begin. First, you will have to set up an account. Second, you need to know that "tags" are a way for you to label and organize your bookmarks. They are also used to find similar topics of interst. Finally, both have downloadable tools for you to use from your browser. I have them both on my laptop and I have never had a problem with viruses.


Assignment:

1- Create a Delicious account and start bookmarking your favorite websites. Don't forget to use tags to organize your links.
3- Check out Google Notebook. This site has similar features to Delicious, but it's not a social bookmarking website. I use this feature of Google almost every day.
2- Post your link or RSS feed to your blog. Blog about your experience! How could you use this with your students?
3- Advanced (Optional) Create a Google Custom Search Engine and place it in your blog

Camel Video

Document Sharing

One of my favorite Web 2.0 tools is document sharing. Document sharing allows you to create an online word document, powerpoint, or spreadsheet (or upload one from your computer) and invite people to collaborate with you on the same document in real time. In the past, if you wanted to do something like this you needed to use email attachments. Now all you need to do is create a document, invite friends or coworkers to join you, and get to work. My students have loved the freedom this tool has to offer. They call one another or instant message one another to set up a work session. It's a great tool.


Assignment Part 1: Using Document Sharing



First, check out what is available. Look for links that give you a tour of what the website can do. Sign in to Google if you are looking at Google Docs. Try out what it has to offer. Below you will find a list of websites available for online document collaboration. Next, post a blog entry about what you see.
Google Docs
Think Free
Adobe Buzzwords
Scribd
Zoho Writer

***New*** - Drop.io - It's real time collaboration with documents! Check out the "how to"


Assignment Part 2: Share Your Document
Using Google Docs create your own Word Document. Start a story and invite two other classmates to participate. See what your story looks like in the end! OH and invite me too!

Assignment Part 3: How would you use this in your classroom?
Post your ideas on your blog!

A Couple More Things!

Check out Voice Thread- It's a photo sharing websites that gives you the freedom to record a narration over your project.

Also here's a link to Beryl's How to Use Movie Maker video. If you need a refresher check this out!!

Media Sharing: Digital Storytelling, Videosharing, Photsharing, and More!!

There are thousands of resources available on the web for videosharing and photosharing. Some provide you with a space to back up your photos and videos, order prints or dvds, and share with family members. Others provide you with the unique opportunity to get creative with your photos. You can create your own slideshow, comic strip, music video, photobook, timeline, etc. These website also provide you with a html code which you can use to post your work on your blog, or aggregator. The possibility for student project are endless! In this lesson you will learn how to create your own photo or video project.

Assignment Part 1: Check Out What's Out There

The title of this assignment explains everything. I just want you to explore, play with websites, sign up for websites, and figure out which one works best for you. The final assignment of this lesson will be to create your own photo project and design a project you could use with your students.

Start with the following websites from my Delicious bookmarks-http://delicious.com/MrsFitz/digitalstorytelling

Also, check out Marco Torres' website. I saw him speak last fall and he is phenomenal! He has done incredible things with his students!

Torres 21
http://homepage.mac.com/torres21/%29%20%29%20%29%20torres21%20%28%20%28%20%28.html

Assignment Part 2: Digital Storytelling Ideas

Check out these resources for ideas on how to use digital storytelling in your classroom.

Kings Park Elementary SchoolEducational Uses of Digital StorytellingDigital Storytelling Ideas

Next, share any ideas you may have on your blog.

Assignment Part 3: Create Your Own Story!

Choose one of the resources mentioned in Assignment 4 Part 1 and create your own photostory. If you teach Reading or English you may want to make a story about a book. If you teach Math, maybe a story about a math problem!
Post your work on your blog. You will need to "embed" the video in your blog. Finally, in your blog post share any ideas you may have for using digital storytelling in the classroom.

One More Resource!http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/learnshops/digital/resources.php