Social Tools Mind Map

Today in class we learned how to create ‘mind maps’ using an online program called webspiration. These programs allow the user to create flow charts or mind maps that help the user to organize the information in an easy to read and understand manner. I think that mind maps are great for people who tend to be more visual learners, as the reader can see how the information relates together by looking at the picture, rather than by reading a bunch of text like in traditional notes. Here is a mind map that I created to show how I can use social tools in the field of education.

Week Eight The Sound of Podcasting

This week in class we learned about podcasting. I also go to Garage Band! I am always excited to use Apple Programs, so I enjoyed working with this Garage Band. I wasn't sure exactly what to put in my podcast, so I just talked about something that I did this past weekend. This week I also finished my Visual Literacy Project in Photoshop. I got kind of frustrated doing this because I didn't remember how to do a lot of the things that I learned in the tutorial. Additionally, I wasn't sure what exactly what to do for this project since the guidelines were so broad, so it was hard for me to decide on what to do with this project. So, I spent basically five hours in the mac lab working on this project and I'm still not very happy with the result!

I think that knowing how to use Photoshop and Garage Band will definitely be helpful in the education field. I can use Photoshop to create fun and creative activities for my students. Garage Band will enable me to create podcasts of some of my lessons so that I can put them on a class website for a student to listen to at a later time.

Here is a link to an article that has been in the news recently. The article is about a recent Ralph Lauren ad that was photoshopped to much. In the advertisement for Ralph Lauren clothes, the model's head appears bigger than her waist. This is an example of how photoshop is being used to give an unrealistic image of women. I think that this relates to this week because I was learning how to do things in Photoshop and this is an example of a 'Photoshop disaster' that I should avoid.

Week Seven Digital Storytelling

This week we learned how to use different programs that can be used to share information via digital story telling. I was really excited to learn how to use iMovie because now it won’t just be an icon on my computer!!! I really am taking this class at the perfect time because it is helping me to learn how to use my new mac! I also watched a presentation about digital technologies like digital photography and video. I also read some information on podcasting and I learned that podcasting stands for portable on demand casting. I once once again excited to see that I was going to have to watch another tutorial for an Apple program, this time it was Garage Band!!!!

I will definitely be able to use both digital storytelling and podcasting in the education field. By knowing how to use cool programs like animoto and iMovie, I will be able to make interesting and fun slideshows for my students. Also, Garageband will enable me to record myself giving either lessons for maybe when a substitute is filling in for me and it will also enable me to make podcasts for the class. I think that knowing how to use so many different technologies and programs will boost my marketability to employers. Additionally, I plan to use some of the cool things that I have learned this week just in everyday life. For example, I have already created several slideshow videos with pictures of my friends and I.

This youtube video shows how digital storytelling can be used in the field of education. This relates to me because I am going into the field of education, so it will be helpful to know of ways to use digital story telling!

Digital Story Telling

Week Six Visual Literacy

This week I finished my photoshop tutorial! the end product wasn’t the coolest picture, but by completing the tutorial I re-familiarized myself with photoshop.I am surprised at how much stuff I am remembering in Photoshop from my Computer Graphics class in high school, I guess all is not lost. I am excited to continue working in photoshop and creating more projects. This week I also learned about visual literacy and I watched a tutorial video on iMovie. I am looking forward to making a video and doing more with visual literacy.

I think that visual literacy relates directly to elementary education. I think that videos are a great way of transmitting information to people and I think that they when used properly they can be very engaging and a great teaching tool.

here is a link to a cool diagram that shows some of the many benefits to using visual literacy in teaching.

Week Five Media and Information Literacy

This week we learned all about Photoshop! I have actually used Photoshop before in a computer graphics class in high school, so I expected this week to be fairly simple. However, to my surprise, I found that Photoshop has changed a lot since I took it in ninth grade and not only that but I don’t really remember much of what I did in eighth and ninth grade especially since that was seven years ago (which is still hard to believe because it seems like only yesterday!!!) I also realized that I had used Photoshop on a PC, so that might account for some of the differences. I know that I was more familiar with it than some of the class and I’m sure that as I work with the program more, stuff will come back to me! I am actually really excited to work with Photoshop again because I remember how much I enjoyed creating projects on the program.

Knowing how to use Photoshop is definitely going to help me in the classroom because I will be able to create images and projects for the class. Photoshop will save me time, while enabling me to create something fun and original for my class. I am excited to learn more about Photoshop and all of the possibilities that come along with it!

Here is a video that I found on youtube that shows some of the cool things that you can do with Photoshop!