Week 4 Activities & Reflections
Digital Tool 4 - Digital Images
Digital Tool 4 - Digital Images
Digital Tool 5 - Podcasts
Digital Tool 6 - Digital Videos
This week was an entirely new range of technologies in which we created more accounts for and explored the good and bad qualities of these products which could potentially be used in the classroom.
Mobaphoto is a free program that provides simple editing functions for photo’s when creating photo galleries in websites for example. It is user friendly and allows re-sizing, cropping, red-eye correction and a few other simple tools as well as being able to do this to photo’s in batches. Meaning you can do more than just one photo at a time so the process is quick, efficient and ready to be uploaded as soon as possible. It also allows you to save the images without saving over the top of the original image. The other benefit is that the program is small enough to be downloaded onto a USB stick, so you can manage your photo’s from any computer, anywhere.
For the most part the general gist of it is to limit the download time when uploading digital images to use on your blog, wiki, website or so on. I only had a quick play around and decided it wasn't for me. Just a personal thing where I know there are better programs out there. Therefore I can't see myself using it in the near future, however, I do realise the importance of download time.
Saving download time and download data (if your internet is on a plan basis) is extremely important, especially if you’re on a budget. In summary of this topic, the purpose of shrinking image size is a very important tool to be able to know and use. In addition to Mobaphoto, there is many other programs out there which do the same thing or better, so keep an eye out!
Benefits
- Manage, upload and publish photo’s for the classroom on a group web blog, wiki and so on
- Portable program (USB size) for use in computers at school or at home
- Introduced photo editing to students
Disadvantages
- Not many editing functions available
- Need internet to download the program
- Can accidentally save over original image
The idea of this program is to be able to search a huge database of digital images and digital movies for use on my blog, wiki and website. I enjoyed having a quick play around with this program and believe when I get more time it will definitely come of use in my teaching context for the future. It is time consuming sifting through the database, but on the other hand, it is very rewarding when you find an awesome image or video related to education and it’s exactly what you’ve been looking for the whole time. I personally will definitely be spending some more time on Flickr in the near future. So students, you better watch out for some pretty cool pop ups on my blog soon.
Benefits
- Access to a database of others images and videos
- Vast ranges of images and video’s on offer
- Can still be accessed by guests who do not have Yahoo accounts
- Popularity creates more opportunity for uses to share and embed their personal photo’s and video’s
- Users can protect images (only certain people can view)
- Can organise images by folders and in chronological order
Able to edit titles, tags and create photo sets
- Interaction with visitors and other users – by comments
- View as slideshow
- Provides a safe archive or backup for your original photo’s
- The photo service – others can recognise your photography skills
- Numerous third-party tools and software to work with your images
Disadvantages
- Need a Yahoo ID account to log in
- Time consuming to sift through database of millions
- Users can upload ‘compromising’ or ‘promiscuous’ photo’s = inappropriate
- Storage limits unless you upgrade and pay for a pro flickr account
- No batch tool
- To view titles or captions you have to hover over each image
- Images are all set to a small size
- Navigation is a little technical
- Uploading speed is slow
Image Titled: Education for all
Courtesy of: Designldg - Flickr
I didn't actually use this program as I am privileged to have Adobe Photoshop CS4 on my laptop. Therefore, on Adobe Photoshop I can comment on the ability to manipulate digital images which is in fact incredible. The program itself is very in-depth and would take a while to learn how to use all of the different functions. So far I only have a basic knowledge and understanding of several features but it is definitely an amazing and handy tool to have access to. In the past I have experienced ‘photoshopping’ wedding photo’s to make them look glamorous or old fashioned – exactly what the customer’s idealistic target of what they are after. It can be basic and it can be advanced, depending on the preferred outcome. In a classroom context, I imagine the use of Photoshop could be used to enhance colours, create interesting and funny features in photo’s, make certain objects stand out, blank out objects, and the list goes on as the possibilities are endless. Simply put, it’s amazing what you can do with a simple photo.
The idea of this program is to be able to search and upload podcasts for educational purposes and in fact whilst doing my second Literacy Assignment I came across this Poetry Podcasts for Kids. I had no idea there was so much useful educational resources in these forms of ICT's available for teachers.
There are many positive aspects of this digital tool and I will definitely be utilising it in the best way possible when I’m in a classroom. Student’s no longer have to sit and listen to the one (monotone) voice of the same teacher for a whole year, every class, every day, every week, every term, every semester. In summary, another fantastic tool with yet again endless opportunities in the classroom context.
Windows Movie Maker
The idea of this program is to be able to create your own digital video with samples of photo’s, movie clips, music and a story all put together. My first thought was that this was going to be impossible because I have never done anything like this before. Then in class a fellow student led me to her blog Jannine Peff to view the movie she had spent all weekend making and it was awesome for a first time user! Soooo after tedious editing and picking at this and that, finding some old photos of mine from when I was traveling in France and downloading music for the theme songs, and creating this master piece, i can now officially say I've made a movie. Hope you like the final product because I'm so totally proud of myself and this took me hours to complete.
LIGHTS.....CAMERA.......ACTION!!!!!!
The use of digital movies in the classroom is another fantastic tool. If I can do it the students can do it too! It can be used to make a learning resource such as a documentary about the school, a movie from a school camp and a range of videos relating to a current topic to study in class, and as per usual, the list goes on with endless opportunities. To name a few more for example; to prepare educational segments on safety issues, assist with learning other languages, interviews, record students role play, school performances, frame rapid change science experiments or sporting events as well as compiling still images over a period of time to produce time lapse movies such as the one my students are working on in class now. It can be specifically altered to suit the needs of visual learners and in fact is a great tool for students to interact with.
Plus
- It can be used anywhere (USB, Internet)
- There are heaps of educational videos online to download
- You can create videos about any subject matter
- It can save teachers preparation time
- It can be used for self-paced learning
- It covers multiple sensor’s (audio & visual)
- The programs are simple and easy to use
- It is familiar to most students and has a popular format
Minus
- It can be potentially dehumanising
- It is not always interactive
- There is no immediate feedback for students or teachers
- Students can’t ask questions if they don’t understand (interrupting video play)
- There is no indication to the teacher of students’ understanding, without assessment
- Students may skip essential parts
- There is a need to ensure content specific and relevant
- Terminology can differ between countries
- It has a large file size (email/download)
- Buffering speeds can take time
- Students can be at risk of spending too long in front of screen
- Can’t replace hands-on skills teaching of certain subjects (for kinaesthetic learners)
Interesting
- It can be as interesting as you make it
- See the 'Khan Academy' for some interesting ideas
Whilst researching this tool I also came across this one GoAnimate, which is a website where you can make your own animated (cartoon like) videos.
I also believe that digital videos in the classroom can turn the teaching and learning around by allowing the students to take control. It is a very powerful tool by forcing the creators (students) to perform their own knowledge, not just recall it. For another example of utilising this tool in the classroom see Digital Storytelling.
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