WatchKnow - Video

Hi Everyone,

I am posting a blog about a very helpful and easy to use website known as "WatchKnow". "WatchKnow" is a website set up slightly like YouTube, however, WatchKnow is specifically directed at education, teachers and students. I have found this site to be very helpful, as the video clips are only themed around educational topics such as core learning areas, experiments, activities, games, lessons etc. 


These clips are greatly insightful and can truly engage a student into learning, and ensures that they are thinking critically, creatively and highly, by allowing them to interactively view what happens in certain situations, posing questions and understanding topics that words sometimes cannot explain. For example: How do radish seeds sprout? (Please refer to the above video). 


At times, no matter how many times you verbally explain a topic, a student will still not entirely grasp it. Therefore, 'WatchKnow' allows for Learning Managers to visually and auditory show how, why and what the topic is all about, at the click of a button. Visual and Kinaesthetic learning styles will benefit greatly from viewing a 'WatchKnow' clip. According to G Flemming 2010, for these types of learners, visual tools improve the ability to recall information more competently. 

An age filter and topic filter can be set, so that your video clips are narrowed down to ensure a quick and efficient search. 


Above is a quick video that I have found on WatchKnow, to give you an example of the types of helpful clips that you will be able to find. This video would be great for the 'hook' of a lesson!


Thank you,
Bridie Willis


Courtesty of: http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=87 - Radish Seeds Sprouting
Courtesy of: YouTube Clip - From YouTube , produced by DCpages
Reference: About.com - Grace Flemming 2010 "Learning Styles - Visual, Auditory and Tactile". Retrieved from: http://homeworktips.about.com/od/homeworkhelp/a/learningstyle.htm

Voki

Get a Voki now!






Hello everyone!


Today I have explored the use of a Voki Character in Education. Above is the Voki that I have created, feel free to have a look! After personalising, editing and creating a real-life talking character, I have had lots of fun! I have also added voice to my character which I believe is important if a Voki were to be used in any educational activity.


Positives of a Voki in Education:
- students can easily create their own character
- students can add these talking characters to blogs and other networking applications
- Students can practise using the microphone with a Voki, but adding your voice to it, and then listening to it.
- Voki's could be utilised in a classroom context where the teacher could add her voice to it, and pretend to the class that this 'character' is going to come in and talk to us today about...(insert unit of work here).
- Voki's could be utilised in a student's oral presentation where not only the student would be speaking, but the Voki could speak as well, to add an entertainment and engagement aspect to the performance.


Challenges in education:
- May become limited, learning managers should perhaps only use voki's for a short period of time. For example, as the hook of a lesson.
- I cannot see too many challenges for a Voki. I believe that it serves it's purpose well.


Thank you and warm regards,
Brid

PowerPoint

Hi Everyone,
Here is the video that I located on Youtube.
Courtesy to: Youtube (NASA Water cycle Video)

YouTube Video - Water Cycle

Hi Everyone,
This is a video that I found on YouTube. Take a look. It gives you a look at how evaporation, condensation and precipitation all work. This would be great to show a year 3-7 class as it shows fantastic and easy diagrams to follow to ensure that everyone understands how the process works.

YouTube is a great educational tool as it allows a learning manager to show the class a video about the subject content that they are learning. Many students are visual learners and need to 'see' the task or tool before they can actually comprehend it. This is where youtube is great. It is also very simple to use and it would be easy to teach another person including staff members how to use it.






Thank you,
Bridie Willis

Courtesy to: Youtube for using the Video

iMovie for Week 5

Hi Everyone! 


I hope that everyone is enjoying this course as much as I am. I am finding it more and more interesting and beneficial as the weeks go by and this week (week 5) has been really fun and has engaged me!


'iMovie' is a fantastic movie making program which allows you to add photos, videos, songs, podcasts, sound effects and transitions etc at the touch of a mouse!  After exploring these settings and creating my own movie, I have found so many beneficial uses for it educationally. I did create an imovie however, it did not upload unfortunately. I will keep trying to upload it.

Benefits for Education Purposes:
- easy to use
- easy to teach to students, staff and even parents
- at the touch of a button you can change and alter settings such as backgrounds, sounds, add podcasts, songs, photos, transitions etc. 
- fun way of presenting information to students
- students could create an iMovie to accompany their assignments 
- great homework task (create an imovie for homework!)
- can upload to blogs etc easily
- students can personalise their own iMovie


Disadvantages:
- not all students will have access to a computer
- students may not have this program


I look forward to being able to utilise movies for educational purposes in the classroom. I believe that it will engage students, as it is visually appealing, interactive and engaging for all aged students. Students can also make these themselves either at home or at school which is a great bonus for both teacher and student. Utilising movies in the classroom is a great use of ICT's which will further benefit the child in so many ways including becoming more familiarised with media and technology, engaging students into classroom work and for them to explore the possibilities in education through assignments and homework tasks. 


Thanks and warm regards,
Brid








Courtesy to: pakpoint.com for using the iMovie picture.

Courtesy to: Apple for discussing the program "iMovie". 

TuxPaint Program - Great!

Hi fellow bloggers,

I have just had a look at some of the suggested websites from the week 4 email. I clicked on the link for "TuxPaint" link and found an amazing site! 


The positives of this wonderful website:


- allows students to create their own painting (web-based) - creativity
- allows for younger students to interactively learn colours - creativity
- allows students to make pictures for math subjects (counting, groups of etc) - mathematics
- Allows for students to highlight words in text - language and english
- allows students to express themselves through an interactive paint and drawing tool
- allows students to personalise their own work
- allows students to create stories through illustrations
- allows students to utilise a wide range of tools
- allows for students to become more familiar with the use of internet and ICT's in education
- allows for development in coordination
- allows for students to use at home and at school
- sound affects when using tools


There are many more features and advantages on this website, I have only named a few.


Kind regards,
Bridie


Courtesy of http://www.tuxpaint.org/screenshots/ 
Courtesy of flagstaff.k12.az.us for using the image