Phixr was so easy to access. I signed in using my gmail acount, uploaded a picture and started playing with the features in less than one minute!
I was able to crop and frame my favorite picture from our character breakfast at Disney last week.
Phixr would allow me to upload the picture to Facebook, but I would have to give it access to my existing pictures on FB, so I did not do that. It also allows me to upload to Snapfish so I can directly order prints.
Since working with a single picture was that simple, I thought I would mix it up by uploading ten pictures and test the multiple picture option. If this is as easy, I can see myself using this program in a science class where students upload and mix pictures from lab experiments as a way to tell the story of the lab. Don't get me wrong, they would still need to do a formal lab write up as preparation for college, but I could assess their conceptual understanding from hypothesis to conclusion via the photographs. It was not as easy as I wanted to combine the pictures into a collage, but I still like the idea of creating a photo lab report to accompany a written one.
Before this assignment, I never heard of Think Free, so this was the perfect opportunity to check it out! Their "Cloud Office, Everywhere" description on their webpage could be describing Google Docs, as it boasts of affording users the ease of collaborating in online Office Environments.
The write up and the images support my presumptions of its similarities to Google Docs, especially with their beautiful concept map paired with its professional youtube promotional video.
ThinkFree is not as its name suggests; it is not another run of the mill open office software programs. In one of the write ups it claims that one of its special abilities is to export files as PDFs. I just clicked over to my Google Docs and I can download word documents as a PDF. It also claims it can work on Android devices where Google Docs cannot. Tomorrow I will borrow my daughter's cell phone to test this claim. For tonight, I found a website http://thinkfree-office.en.softonic.com/ so I can take a free look at the software; play with it to see what it can do! While I thought I found a way to do an end run around the system, I should have read what I previously stated: I cannot play with this for free. My only analysis can be made on the software claims, Youtube videos and random blogs on ThinkFree. From my perch, do not see a difference between the currently free Google Docs and Think Free. If I cannot use Google Docs on an Android phone tomorrow, that would be the tipping point toward paying for the service.
When I started creating my own web page, I was excited to have so many templates from which to decide. I spent hours trying to force my ideas into the formats, and actually created and deleted three sites, sub-pages, uploaded videos and pictures. I read and re-read the information on how to change templates. Becoming very frustrated, I scrapped the templates and made my own site. My greatest disappointment is that I do not have a beautiful background. Just like everything else in this class, I will return and update this throughout the week. For now, I will debut my first attempt at a completed web-site Edington: Take One.
I am so excited; I have never learned how to do online concept maps. I've looked at the research that shows that students creating concept maps increases their conceptual understanding of a concept, helps them identify connection among concepts and increases learning. To learn how to create a dynamic concept map is very exciting!
So, I've created my first concept map on Inertia. I would use it as a model for a class, where students would be asked to create their own concept maps providing the details on the definition, history, and examples they've experienced. Since most students have cell phones with video capabilities, I would ask that they create classroom appropriate SAFE demonstrations of inertia (SAFE = following all traffic laws and school rules).
I am interested in the create a team feature and am going to explore that next. If anyone wants to do that with me, respond to this blog. I also want to explore the zooming and panning feature, which sounds similar to Prezi.
One thing that made me sad, was that the links to the youtube video and the simulation were not dynamic links once converted to the JPG file. The Inertia video can be viewed
and the simulation can be found by clicking this basic link. If anyone knows how to make the bubbl.us dynamic, please let me know. Thank you!
This time was much simpler. I debated between doing Google Maps or the Camtasia; since I worked on Camtasia last night, I gave it a go. It took only three to four minutes. This is really cool software.
I did run into a bit of a challenge or learning opportunity when I attempted to embed the video because people do not really like to click a link http://www.screencast.com/t/Y3ePZrpL
to get to the video. When I finished the video, the Camtasia screen gave me two options
I thought I could use the embed code along with the option of interpreting typed HTML and the video would appear. This was not the case. I copied the embed code and pasted it here
I received a HTML warning about an opening tag. Since I am not well versed, actually cannot speak, tech language, I was at a loss. Being curious, and a math person, I began a mission to find an opening tag without a closing tag.
Again, the only image that appeared was the bookcase, the background to my blog. I am very confused, and motivated to fix this. (I do realize that I could simply upload this to Youtube and avoid all of this added stress, but where would the fun be in that?)
Again, I tried to read the code, and I noticed a break between Camtasia and Studio, I will try fixing that.
I realized early on that the links do not work in preview mode, so you need to save and publish to test things. So, I saved my work, published, found that the links did not work. Ok, that gives me some data with which I can work. Unfortunately, now that I've reverted back to draft mode, the links are invisible. Action question: does anyone know why this happened?
Back to being a physics teacher, driven by curiosity and I am going to try one more thing. MAP but this time I only have a hyperlink with a plain word map. So, I am left with the question as to why Google Blogger does not interface with Camtasia embedded videos and resolve to upload it to Youtube to actually embed the video here.
Action question: Is there a way to embed the Camtasia videos into this blog? I would love comments and suggestions! I should have known better that my three minute Camtasia activity was too easy :)
Finally, we have an activity I've tried before. This time, I will take it up a notch. I've created a photo book in Snapfish. My goal is to put faint music in the background and read the book in my screen capture. One challenge, actually two, are my boys, ages five and four, who are not asleep as of yet. I am hoping when I have everything ready to go the house will be quiet. Perhaps I can use a decoy. If the sky clears, I can pose to go out stargazing as we have a real opportunity to see a comet in tonight's sky. If you click on the link on the right, it should take you to the article describing the comet and position tonight. The site has been dynamic so far in that the position it posted yesterday is different than the position it posted today. Personally, I like the dynamic blogs that change with additional data.
SCREENCASTING
The first video I embed will briefly show how I used Camtasia to record my reading the book. I did embed a hotspot, a hyperlink to the Camtasia web-site, but when I produced and uploaded my video, I received a warning that Youtube did not support hotspots. Another disappointing feature is that I did not record a screen capture of how I ultimately added the audio behind my voice; perhaps I will take this as a personal challenges for the balance of the week.
Disclaimer: I did not find how to add additional audio to my video/screencapture via trial and error; rather, I found a Youtube tutorial that gave me step-by-step instructions. While the instructions are for a former version, it gave me insight as where to look for what I needed. Now Here is my first attempt at creating a children's book in Snapfish, and recording the book and the audio using Camtasia.
I could not resist the challenge. I went back into the video and recorded how I found and put the music behind the reading of the book. Here are those instructions. It is not a perfect explanation, as I made a few errors during the audio. However, it does demonstrate learning!
I also could not resist creating a polished copy of just my book and my voice. I guess I am finally getting comfortable doing this online. Thank you for the opportunity.
It is almost here, I am so excited. Perhaps this confirms for you that I am a certified math geek in that I celebrate days like this. On the other hand, it just might be my precursor to my St. Patrick's day celebration! Either way, it is March and we are quickly approaching the Vernal Equinox, one of the two days each year when the length of the day equals the length of the night. It is really a fascinating topic, feel free to read more online at timeanddate.com.
Another reason I love March is that we have a plethora of family birthdays and I have people to celebrate every week. This year, the Roman Catholic Church will start the process of selecting a new pope,celebrate holy week and Easter Sunday. It is a very exciting month. I am also excited to learn new technology tools to use to promote learning and understanding. Here we go!
(Did I even mention the basketball side of the month?)
