PE9_Creaza

Another useful feature in Creaza is mind mapping. This feature compliments the classes that I have been taking, reminding me of a concept map that my classmates and myself were previously introduced to. This feature will help users with planning and brainstorming activities. In addition to the Mindomo mapping feature, the movie editor and the audio editor work well with your own footage and built in templates as well. In order to progress teachers and students to the 21st century standards I think that Creaza is a big hit. 

PE8_Creaza

 This screenshot shows the cartoon/fairytale element of Creaza.com. It is not to hard to use for beginners. However, I better not speak to soon as I am just starting, on this site. I choose my background and then clicked on Characters to choose the little red riding hood. To transfer these features onto the canvas to begin creating you can simply drag and drop. If you take notice to the top of the screenshot you can also add various shapes, text and change font sizes and colors like a word or photoshop application. I think that students and educators alike, can have lots of fun creating here!!!

PE7_Creaza

    The latest Practical Experience tool that I am exploring is Creaza.com. I think that this site is awesome because it creates a user name and password for new users to login and create by telling digital stories. Users can create cartoons or movies to express their ideas. I believe that this is really an awesome web 2.0 tool because it is interactive and modern. The templates are in fairytale formats so that many different audiences can relate. see post 8 for an example of the little red riding hood format.

PE6_Schoolology

This is a screenshot from the Schoolology site that has all of the information for the gradebook. I am hoping that if I add a student they will be able to pull up their grade. I don't want all grades to be shown. If this is the purpose of this site, this is wonderful. I am going to set some students up tomorrow at work so that I can really get a feel for how this works. and I will be back here to update the blog.

PE5_Schoolology

On the Scoolology.com website here is a screenshot of the attendance page. I am currently trying to figure it out so that I can truly take advantage of all of the features on this site. I am hoping this is so that other teachers can find out if students were present or absent in a certain class, but if this is the purpose of that feature it may be some privacy issues if it is open to the public. I am still trying to gain more understanding as I peruse this site.

PE4_Schoolology

 Wowzers. I am excited about this tool. Schoolology.com is a site that allows you to do social networking, and this screen shot is a picture of me registering one of my courses on the site. I think the reason that I am so excited about this site, is because it makes one of the tools that I use everyday, correspond with my job. It is similar to facebook. How awesome would it be if all the teachers at my school were on this site. I think that it would be easier to keep up with questions, and know what clubs and organizations have something going on. I would love to present this as a tool for the school to become more 21st century bound.

BP_12-Dvolver

Take a Look at this quick blurb about Dvolver

BP_11

Please click here to check out my comments to A. Westbrooks Wordle Review. It is an effective tool for opening a topic of discussion, study, or presentation.

BP_10

Ever wanted to try something new ?

                  Please Click this link to experience Brian H's new Web 2.0 Tool and my comments about it. 

BP9

This Weeks Web 2.0 Tool is Dvolver.  This tool is a movie maker that helps anyone make an animated film with captions. I think that this is a great tool, to help students in level 1 Video Broadcasting how to become an effective storyteller. Often in Video Broadcasting courses, we forget that students need to embrace the essence of storytelling so that their ideas will come across effectively and not confuse the viewing audience. Dvolver is known to create creativity widgets. The apps are available via web, mobile, and ipad, which helps people to correlate this tool with modern internet technologies. Even though I would use this technology to teach my students a specific task, that is not the only audience that would benefit from Dvolver. Anyone that is interested in presenting information to a specific group can try this as a different approach to the normal routine. Most people stay safe with a handout or a powerpoint presentation, but it may be a good choice to present in a new way. Moreover another advantage of Dvolver is that it is new. Sometimes we may frown upon that and think about the negative first. However the positives about a new program is that you can become one of the people to present it to the world and help the founders work out the kinks. I believe that this can place you in a situation where you will have to receive credit for any additions that you suggest to make the program more effective. SO why are you waiting hurry up and go to www.dvolver.com

PE3_iMovie

I call this learning experience, transitions, transitions, and more transitions. I say this primarily because it was very difficult learning how to time the transitions just right. I learned that if you just click on the transition that you can adjust the timing on it, until you get it where you want it. Once again, even though I am an editor, when you are working in something new, the little things can catch you. Moreover I am thankful that I understand now. Less time wasted in the future is always a great thing.

PE2_iMovie

This screen shot is of a challenge that I had, the hardest part for me was trying to import in the audio and adjusting the length of it. I needed ambient sound in certain sections of my Second Life Project. I found out that I could just place the cursor on the end of the audio track and slide it to the section that I wanted to serve as the end point. HA!! simple isn't so simple when we overthink things.

PE1_iMovie

As I learn, how to use more features in Imovie, this screenshot shows in the canvas window the first time that I was able to import in video. Originally, I thought this is impossible to do. I believe that this is primarily because I was trying to import in a flv file. I soon learned that if I convert the file or  import in the files that Imovie will support like Quicktime, everything will start to work out fine :)

BP8- REEL CLEVER VIDEO

BP7

Have you ever wanted to stop Re-inventing the Wheel??

image courtesy of udutu.com

Check out my comments on the Thinking about Thinking Blog  that features 

UDUTU.COM, a tool that will allow you to create tutorials, and archive them. 

BP6

As we move with Technology,
I like to find other Web 2.0 Tools that can benefit all of my followers. 

check out IVOTED.COM for instant feedback as you develop programs or content.

image courtesy of ivoted.com

Check out my comments  (upon approval) about IVOTED on Audiochik's Blog via this link 

http://audiochik.blogspot.com/2010/10/bp4-discovering-web-20-tools.html#comment-form  

BP5-Web 2.0 tool review

    
 Moving with Technology is great when you can access sites like 
www.xtranormal.com. 

Image courtesy of xtranormal.com

XTRANORMAL is a site where you can create avatars based on real life characters (celebrities) or characters that you have created. Through these avatars you can use them to present content in an animated format. I bet you are wondering HOW can someone without any animation  or filmmaking experience can complete this task?? Anyone can create these avatars by typing text and the system will automatically convert it. The conversion will take place and the avatar will simply start talking. The main objective of this site is to create mini movies through these avatars to deliver your content. I plan on using xtranormal in my classroom to go over basic rules and also to introduce new content to my students. I think that in order to grasp and keep students attention, you have to constantly be able to RE-create yourself via teaching tools. Please take this website into consideration as you begin your quest to stay above the rest.

image courtesy of xtranormal.com

Click the link below to see a sample of what you can do on xtranormal.com 

http://www.xtranormal.com/watchmovies/

* There is a small charge to access some of the avatars, however there are some free ones available*

BP2_iGoogleScreenShots