Tuesday, July 29, 2008

After session

Good discussion at group tonight. Enjoy the sharing of ideas and how everyone is using/exploring this digital technology.
N.B. If putting sound with powerpoint &/video, need to ensure keep info in same folder for it to work, transfer to pen drive in this form.
Liked Lin's view re looking at adverts from teaching perspective, aiming for maximum impact in shortest possible time.
Certainly aim of effective marketing! Getting the point across quickly. Being able to read between the lines... words not always important... can come later.
As tutors we can certainly learn from this technique - getting the point across quickly and hopefully effectively to the students.
I mentioned my problem re not being able to access mediacat - apparently has been a problem but should be fine - will look later.
Keen to view 'ted talks' (google ted.com) look at creatures amongst others, sounds worth viewing.
We discussed a couple of areas to look at next week - 'snag it', and photoshop. Look forward to this.
Accompanied the beauty students on tour of library this morning - have probably been told before but picked up/was reminded of the on-line beauty magazines/journals available to view... plan to have a look.
Must investigate also if we, as lecturers, can view info available to students from LSC! re EMIT.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Catch up

Well... I had a quick look at wimba.com
Looks great re interactive nature...
so many different ways to be used...
voice - thought could be great way to aid student pronunciation of new terminology such as highlight terminology in given text - student to click on word and pronunciation given/ in form of given glossary - voice/explanation/image or similar to aid understanding.
I've been keen from the word go in using videos as part of student learning various practical routines... great for them to be able to access outside the classroom too.
In create - interactive features, dialogue boxes - increase appeal of written text.... from a student survey carried out the students like using computers/MP3/txting and not so much reading of the hard copy format. They are much more likely to interact if the information is in a format they are using daily... bebo/facebook commonly used - they enjoy/react postively to the variety.
I googled mediacat as the page wasn't coming up... it identified suesdilproject, wordpress.com and my blog site... so didn't get any further there.... maybe have to access from work only.
I had a look on you tube at the weekend... looked at beauty... odd video quite interesting, searched eyebrows re brow shaping and found a couple of good short videos I thought the students could watch. Good to look but can become extremely time consuming/distracting!
I'd forgotten all about my facebook site. Had a couple of emails reminding me to go and have a look.. a couple of old school friends were there! Hardly recognised them!.......................... sent them a beer :)

22 July session

The environment within the group has been really good. I have enjoyed sharing and listening to peoples use of the technology we have been learning and exploring.
We were introduced to WIMBA which looks great. Things shown such as
Voice - board, tools... being able to intro with voice message/voice email...
Live classroom - chat, micro, webcam
Wimba create (similar to course genie) - converting information from word document
Pronto - instant messaging
Looked fantastic!

Will go in for another look... www.wimba.com
I mentioned at the session my probs re finding info for beauty... suggested I look on youtube.
We had another look at mediacat... i still haven't looked at this but am keen to view.

What I've been doing?

Since last session I haven't done so much as I had a head cold/flu. However, I did look on the tafe website for anything that I might be able to use re 'beauty' students learning.
I didn't find anything specific aimed at beauty therapy but went into the hairdressing area and found a learning module on occupational health and safety which was interesting.
I really liked the salon interior with hot spots to identify health and safety issues which I could use. I'd like to go back to the site and see how it could be utlised/ ideas. Tool box code 407
I tried to access 'tlf' but experienced difficulties getting in.
I've been adding converting my assessment onto EMIT which is very rewarding re my progression and understanding!
It's so great to have enthusiastic and patient teachers:)
Looking at the odd blogg site I think images make easier reading, help maintain focus/interest.... haven't added any images to date:(

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

EMIT

Yesterday's session I took along a formative assessment I was keen to put onto EMIT and make interactive.
I was shown how to format my assessment to include multiple answers, fill in gaps, drag and click.... I felt really enthused that I had been able to create this, and a bit sad that I felt so enthused. Maybe I had better get out more!
Today I discussed how I could include the pictures in the assessment, utilising hot spots, drag and drop. We also discussed ideas  re moving the mouse over areas on a diagram to bring up information, brilliant. This is exactly what I want to achieve for the students to make their learning more exciting/interested and varied. 
I'd like to include some sound also, have to think about where/how I would like to include this.