In this post I create another 1 minute message about xtranormal.com
Check it out!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
BP9_2010033_Web2.0Tool
Okay so as it has been stated many times we need to be looking for tools that we can use in our current work environment. I found a tool for fun that I plan on using for my weekly Netcast/Podcast (called "Entertainment for the Rest of Us" for those of you may have forgotten or didn't know). I found a tool that we can create our own movies and embed them on our blog or even play them on our live show.
The tool is called xtranormal. As it is stated on the xtranormal (2010) website, "xtranormal’s mission is to bring movie-making to the people." The concept is easy. You pick the number of actors, choose a scene and then start typing. If you are able to type a few words here and there you are able to make a movie. It is really as easy as that. If you want to get fancy you can start picking camera angles and motions for the actors. It is so easy a kid could do.
Xtranormal does have some adult content on it but this can not be viewed unless you have an account. As you create your movie you label, or rate, it as G, 13+ or 18+. I can see this being used in schools to help with language arts programs. Really the use is only limited by your imagination. Se the short movie I created as a test.
I did have some initial issue in the beginning with the site. I create a movie and went to go publish it. Then the issues began for me. The site would not let me create an account. I sent a quick email to support. By the next day I was up and running and was able to create my movie in less than 5 minute.
I highly recommend this tools. It is a cloud based tools so it can be accessed from anywhere. I am excited to use it on our show. I will try and let you know how it goes.
So check it out. http://www.xtranormal.com
The tool is called xtranormal. As it is stated on the xtranormal (2010) website, "xtranormal’s mission is to bring movie-making to the people." The concept is easy. You pick the number of actors, choose a scene and then start typing. If you are able to type a few words here and there you are able to make a movie. It is really as easy as that. If you want to get fancy you can start picking camera angles and motions for the actors. It is so easy a kid could do.Xtranormal does have some adult content on it but this can not be viewed unless you have an account. As you create your movie you label, or rate, it as G, 13+ or 18+. I can see this being used in schools to help with language arts programs. Really the use is only limited by your imagination. Se the short movie I created as a test.
I did have some initial issue in the beginning with the site. I create a movie and went to go publish it. Then the issues began for me. The site would not let me create an account. I sent a quick email to support. By the next day I was up and running and was able to create my movie in less than 5 minute.
I highly recommend this tools. It is a cloud based tools so it can be accessed from anywhere. I am excited to use it on our show. I will try and let you know how it goes.
So check it out. http://www.xtranormal.com
Reference
Xtranormal (2010). About us. Retrieved March 18, 2010 http://www.xtranormal.com/about_us/
Monday, March 15, 2010
BP8_2010032_1minMSGMind42
In this post I attempt making a video for this weeks favorite Web 2.0 tool.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
BP6_2010032_CommentforMonika
Frustrations with web 2.0 tools.
Learn how Monika really wants to find success on the web using 2.0 tools but keeps running into issue.
Learn how Monika really wants to find success on the web using 2.0 tools but keeps running into issue.
BP5_2010032_Web2.0Tool
For this weeks Web 2.0 tool exploration I went with Mind42 a mind-mapping tool that is free to us just for singing up (see home page image below). This tool has a collaboration function as well as ways of inserting images, hyperlinks and more.
This is a cloud based technology application where all you need is a browser to use it. I am a big fan of using mind maps when in the early stages of planning a project. It allows project teams as well as individuals start identifying the work packages for a project. Mind-maps give you a different visual to what the work involved in a project is and is another way of seeing the work breakdown structure. The nice part about Mind42 is you can invite team mem
bers to a map you started and make them contributors as well. This is wonderful tool to use for young adults as well as kids. Mind42 has an export function that gives a user the ability to use the mind-map in other ways. You can export a map as an RFT file that give a user a nice outline format for a text document. A user can also export as an image allowing them to insert the image into a document. Other export file formats include Freemind, Mindject MindManager and PDF. This gives users great flexibility after creating a mind-map.
Overall the application is easy to use but it would have been nice to see some help videos on the site to help you a user get started. The help file is easy to navigate and has a nice table of contents format. I created a test mind-map just to get use to the application.
I may begin using this application more as I begin to plan out my action research project. As I use it more I may suggest it as a planning tool to be used for the participants of my action research.
To learn more about Mind42 check out the website at http://www.mind42.com.
This is a cloud based technology application where all you need is a browser to use it. I am a big fan of using mind maps when in the early stages of planning a project. It allows project teams as well as individuals start identifying the work packages for a project. Mind-maps give you a different visual to what the work involved in a project is and is another way of seeing the work breakdown structure. The nice part about Mind42 is you can invite team mem
bers to a map you started and make them contributors as well. This is wonderful tool to use for young adults as well as kids. Mind42 has an export function that gives a user the ability to use the mind-map in other ways. You can export a map as an RFT file that give a user a nice outline format for a text document. A user can also export as an image allowing them to insert the image into a document. Other export file formats include Freemind, Mindject MindManager and PDF. This gives users great flexibility after creating a mind-map.
Overall the application is easy to use but it would have been nice to see some help videos on the site to help you a user get started. The help file is easy to navigate and has a nice table of contents format. I created a test mind-map just to get use to the application.
I may begin using this application more as I begin to plan out my action research project. As I use it more I may suggest it as a planning tool to be used for the participants of my action research.
To learn more about Mind42 check out the website at http://www.mind42.com.
Monday, March 8, 2010
BP4_2010031_DisWeb2.0Tool
As most of my classmates know I am no longer teaching in the classroom and have not been conducting training of a regular basis. However, I do present once an while at conferences and for different association meetings.
This task was more difficult for me as I am not sure where my training career is headed and I know that I will not be back in a classroom on a regular basis anytime soon.
So I took a slightly different angle on this assignment.
I looked for a web 2.0 tool that would allow me to help teach the idea of project management. I am a big fan of project management since I have been an IT project manager for over 10 years now.
So I found several tools out there that are considered to be simple project management tools. I also have used some of these tools out there, but some of them require you to pay monthly to use the service after a trial period. I have even used one of these tools for some of our past projects for Full Sail.
I tried to look at a tool that is project management related and that I could try to incorporate into my action research project. The tool I settled on for now is called Busy Lissly. The reason behind choosing this tool is that it is free to use and it does look simple. It doesn’t have some of the more advance time of tools that other tools have but it does have task list, messaging, file sharing and agendas (calendars). The website states “BusyLissy is for everybody who want to organise stuff together. Small businesses, student groups, sports clubs, you name it. Let's get Busy!” This tool could work well for my action research and I hope I can work it in to my project.
Take a look and let me know what you think…
This task was more difficult for me as I am not sure where my training career is headed and I know that I will not be back in a classroom on a regular basis anytime soon.
So I took a slightly different angle on this assignment.
I looked for a web 2.0 tool that would allow me to help teach the idea of project management. I am a big fan of project management since I have been an IT project manager for over 10 years now.
So I found several tools out there that are considered to be simple project management tools. I also have used some of these tools out there, but some of them require you to pay monthly to use the service after a trial period. I have even used one of these tools for some of our past projects for Full Sail.
I tried to look at a tool that is project management related and that I could try to incorporate into my action research project. The tool I settled on for now is called Busy Lissly. The reason behind choosing this tool is that it is free to use and it does look simple. It doesn’t have some of the more advance time of tools that other tools have but it does have task list, messaging, file sharing and agendas (calendars). The website states “BusyLissy is for everybody who want to organise stuff together. Small businesses, student groups, sports clubs, you name it. Let's get Busy!” This tool could work well for my action research and I hope I can work it in to my project.
Take a look and let me know what you think…
References
BusyLissly. (2010). Retrieved March, 8 2010 from http://busylissly.com/en
Thursday, March 4, 2010
BP3_2010031_GoogleReader
I have been using Google Reader for a while now. I originally set it up when I set up to aggregate my Google Alerts I set up for my small business and for my weekly podcast. I also had an alert set up for my name to see what was being published out there on the web about me. (I think it is good idea to keep an eye on your personal brand)
Besides my Google Alerts I also set up a couple of readers related to my field of project management (PM). I listen to a great podcast called the PM Podcast and this group puts out another website called PM Lectures. So I subscribe to the articles portion of this website. In addition I am a subscriber to a few other related PM sites. Leading Agile project management, Project Management Leadership and Voices on Project Management (a blog from the Project Management institute). The reason I subscribe to these blogs it see and here what other people are sharing about project management. I have been a PM for over 10 years and it is important for me to learn what others are saying about my chosen profession.
Other subscription I have in my current Google reader include on to the Marketing Spot blog. As a small business owner it is important for me to learn new a different ways of getting the word out about my business. The focus of this blog is marketing your small business and I love the advice I get from it. The publisher of this site also puts out a great podcast I love listening to.
The last subscription I have is one to my podcast site, Entertainment for the Rest of Us. The main purpose of is to ensure that the podcast is accessible to other subscribers and help resolve any technical issue. Plus I am a narcissistic at heart so I need to keep tabs on myself (ssshhhhh don’t tell anyone).
Now that I am enrolled in Full Sail University and we are learning about these technologies like Google Reader and blogs I have some various subscriptions to fellow classmates blogs. To see these blogs check out my profile.
I also have a recommended subscriptions by Google Reader which is education related. It is Edutopia’s blog. I suspect this was recommended to me by Google Reader because I am following my classmates blogs. At this point I am good with these recommendations and will continue with them while I am enrolled at Full Sail.
Basically I love me some Google Reader but it does get overwhelming… and I just have to make that choice mark all as read… and then just move on!
Besides my Google Alerts I also set up a couple of readers related to my field of project management (PM). I listen to a great podcast called the PM Podcast and this group puts out another website called PM Lectures. So I subscribe to the articles portion of this website. In addition I am a subscriber to a few other related PM sites. Leading Agile project management, Project Management Leadership and Voices on Project Management (a blog from the Project Management institute). The reason I subscribe to these blogs it see and here what other people are sharing about project management. I have been a PM for over 10 years and it is important for me to learn what others are saying about my chosen profession.
Other subscription I have in my current Google reader include on to the Marketing Spot blog. As a small business owner it is important for me to learn new a different ways of getting the word out about my business. The focus of this blog is marketing your small business and I love the advice I get from it. The publisher of this site also puts out a great podcast I love listening to.
The last subscription I have is one to my podcast site, Entertainment for the Rest of Us. The main purpose of is to ensure that the podcast is accessible to other subscribers and help resolve any technical issue. Plus I am a narcissistic at heart so I need to keep tabs on myself (ssshhhhh don’t tell anyone).
Now that I am enrolled in Full Sail University and we are learning about these technologies like Google Reader and blogs I have some various subscriptions to fellow classmates blogs. To see these blogs check out my profile.
I also have a recommended subscriptions by Google Reader which is education related. It is Edutopia’s blog. I suspect this was recommended to me by Google Reader because I am following my classmates blogs. At this point I am good with these recommendations and will continue with them while I am enrolled at Full Sail.
Basically I love me some Google Reader but it does get overwhelming… and I just have to make that choice mark all as read… and then just move on!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
BP2_2010031_EduUses4Blogs
Taking a brief look at educational uses for blogs my general thought is it could be useful. However I am not a big writer and I happen to be a slow reader. So I think to myself how would it help learners who are similar to me, you know the ones that read slowly and are not big on writing. This is not the greatest for them although I do see the benefit.
Stephen Downes (2009) points out in his blog, Half an Hour, that it is a great tool for educators and teacher. In his post title Blogs in Education, Downes makes the following point “Begin simply. Most uses of blogs in the classroom began with the instructor using blogs to post class information such as lists of readings and assignment deadlines. This fosters in the teacher a familiarity with the technology and with students a habit of regularly checking the online resource.” (para. 13) This is a great idea and use of a blog. This way students, peer and parents can see what assignments are due or even past due. Another take away I received from reading Downes post was about leading by example and creating context. He writes, “Before requiring students to blog, instructors should lead by example, creating their own blogs…” (para. 14) I have always been a big believer in leading by example. As a corporate training I use take phone calls just like the students I so I knew what to expect when customers would call our phone lines. I really enjoyed taking the phone calls as well because it felt like a new learning experience for me.
As I did more research on blog in education I came across a great post by Will Richardson (2010) at Weblogg-ed. Richardson had a recent post titled “Teachers as Master Learners”. In this post Richardson writes about how teachers today need to be learners as well. Not just your run of the meal learner but master learners. He writes “What I want are master learners, not master teachers, learners who see my kids as their apprentices for learning.” (para. 2) This is where the web and today’s tools like blogs can be used by educators and students a like. I know teachers, trainers and educators are busy and have personal lives. But I buy into the idea of life long learning and I think these are the type of skills that could be passed on to other learners just like Richardson is saying. We as people are learners and we need to teach each other how to be Master Learners.
The last resource I would like to write about is a site I found from the Western Australian Government Department of Education. This site was appropriately title Bolgs in Education has a list of ideas that can be used by educators with links to samples and tools on how to apply these ideas. I think it is well worth checking out.
As I stated in the beginning, I think blogs are a great idea and can be great learning tools for the right learner. Even if they are not the right type of learners people in general can learn a lot from blogs and if the learner finds a blog they like to read, well they can be part of the community and start contributing as well by publishing their thoughts as comments or creating a blog of their own. That is if they like to write….
Stephen Downes (2009) points out in his blog, Half an Hour, that it is a great tool for educators and teacher. In his post title Blogs in Education, Downes makes the following point “Begin simply. Most uses of blogs in the classroom began with the instructor using blogs to post class information such as lists of readings and assignment deadlines. This fosters in the teacher a familiarity with the technology and with students a habit of regularly checking the online resource.” (para. 13) This is a great idea and use of a blog. This way students, peer and parents can see what assignments are due or even past due. Another take away I received from reading Downes post was about leading by example and creating context. He writes, “Before requiring students to blog, instructors should lead by example, creating their own blogs…” (para. 14) I have always been a big believer in leading by example. As a corporate training I use take phone calls just like the students I so I knew what to expect when customers would call our phone lines. I really enjoyed taking the phone calls as well because it felt like a new learning experience for me.
As I did more research on blog in education I came across a great post by Will Richardson (2010) at Weblogg-ed. Richardson had a recent post titled “Teachers as Master Learners”. In this post Richardson writes about how teachers today need to be learners as well. Not just your run of the meal learner but master learners. He writes “What I want are master learners, not master teachers, learners who see my kids as their apprentices for learning.” (para. 2) This is where the web and today’s tools like blogs can be used by educators and students a like. I know teachers, trainers and educators are busy and have personal lives. But I buy into the idea of life long learning and I think these are the type of skills that could be passed on to other learners just like Richardson is saying. We as people are learners and we need to teach each other how to be Master Learners.
The last resource I would like to write about is a site I found from the Western Australian Government Department of Education. This site was appropriately title Bolgs in Education has a list of ideas that can be used by educators with links to samples and tools on how to apply these ideas. I think it is well worth checking out.
As I stated in the beginning, I think blogs are a great idea and can be great learning tools for the right learner. Even if they are not the right type of learners people in general can learn a lot from blogs and if the learner finds a blog they like to read, well they can be part of the community and start contributing as well by publishing their thoughts as comments or creating a blog of their own. That is if they like to write….
Monday, March 1, 2010
BP1_2010031_iGoogleScreenShots
Screen Shot of iGoogle Home/WGO page
Screen Shot of iGoogle Profile tab (more to come on this tab later)
Screen Shot of FSO tab with Link Box
Screen Shot of AB/CBL tab with gadgets
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