To all those suffering from revision block. . .

iPad and iMovie.

Today was the first time I have used an iPad, which to some may be a surprise. I was impressed with how easy it was to use, and soon got the hang of it. I recorded(with a partner) a short two minute video on student debt then edited the video on iMovie. iMovie was surprisingly simple to use, and I enjoyed cutting and pasting clips together to make a effective video. However I personally would have liked more editing options as there were slight limitation to what you could achieve. On the whole though, I thoroughly enjoyed my first experience with the ever evolving iPad.

Negative and a positive to a web 2.0 page.

In this extract of my blog I am going to be discussing the positives and negatives of the well-known web 2.0 site, Face Book. Whether or not you use Mark Zuckerberg’s (creator of Face Book) multimillion networking site, I’m sure you have heard of it and what it can be used for. Face book is a web 2.0 site that is used for social networking and sharing information. A web 2.0 site is any website that can be used to interact and socialise in a virtual community; a great difference from the earlier sites that presented a static page where you simply observe the information given. Face Book can be associated with a range of opinions; some love it while others hate it. But no matter what your opinion, it is clear to see that there are both positives and negatives to the web 2.0 site. There are many positives to Face Book, the key one being the socialising side. Face Book has made a difference in the way and amount we socialise. With the aid of this website there is no need for us to so much as leave the house to talk to our friends. As well as it being easy and safe to use, it’s free. These positive features, combined with the ability to upload and store your photos and comment on your Face Book friend’s activity makes Face Book an excellent way to keep in touch with others. However it can be argued that this is too much socialising. The easy access to personal information can be seen as a negative feature of the web 2.0 site. Others can view photos of you, see where you’ve been or where you work and live. Some see this as an invasion of privacy. It is only fair however to acknowledge that Face Book does allow the account owner to personalise the privacy settings; allowing the account owner to decide exactly who can access their information. Another detrimental negative that goes hand in hand with web 2.0 sites such as Face Book is cyber bullying. Bullies have another medium to target and harass their peers. I’m sure you’ll agree that cyber bullying is unacceptable, and despite being a definite issue, it must be recognised that there are security options that can be changed to suit the individual’s account on Face Book. To conclude, Face Book whether you love it or hate it has definitely changed the way we socialise forever. The ever growing web 2.0 site has a variety of positives and negatives, and will continue to be used by millions I’m sure.

Adora Svitak's talk.

A recently watched a talk on Tedtalks by twelve year old Adora Svitak on what adults can learn from children. What I noticed first was how articulate and well planed the talk was, as though Adora Svitak her self was a personification of her argument; that adults can learn from children. One of the key factors that stood out to me was that children have no boundaries on their imagination; what Svitak refers to as 'irrational thinking'. I found her evidence on how this can be beneficial interesting and agreed with her point. Svitak used an example of children being able to design unique and 'irrational' designs for glass making (which sold the most). The children were able to think of glass designs that adults could not due to the lack of limitations on their imagination; they have no concept of 'impossible'. I personally was fascinated by this as I believe that children interpret knowledge in a unique and individual way that we can learn from; the example given by Svitak portrays that perfectly. An other point given to support her argument was that that children have unimaginable dreams that, as we grow up, we lose. As adults we learn that what's 'possible' is limited; kids will strive for the impossible. This is a leaf we can and should take from their book. It is important to dream and strive for the unreachable as it keeps creativity and motivation alive. The last point that caught my attention was that there is a lack of trust between children and adults. Svitak used the example of do's and dont's that are given in schools. The point that adults need to listen to what children want as well as what they themselves want was made. I agreed with this point as I believe that we should give children the opportunity to earn our trust before we create boundaries for them. I found the speech inspiring and agreed with the points made through out. I especially agreed that adults need to create more opportunities for children as they are, as Adora Svitak said 'the leaders of tomorrow'.

Adora Svitak: What adults can learn from kids.

www.Glogster.com - Could it be an education tool?

Glogster is a web 2 app for sharing photos, information, thoughts, and comments in a creative and visual way. This website is filled with colourful images from the moment you open the home page, this is good as it draws in viewers. After creating an account I found there were many ways that the website could be used in an educational context. Glogster has the qualities of all web 2 apps sites meaning one way it could be used in an educational context is through sharing and commenting on information. The posts can also be shared with other social networking sites such a face book. This could be useful in an educational context as information could be shared with other pupils in the class. The web 2 site has options to make posters, and store information on creative readymade templates that can be edited to suit each individual. This is a brilliant way to reflect and revise work in an interesting and entertaining way. It would be good in an educational context as pupils could use this to not only revise but back up work in a format that they will remember. There is also the option of tagging posts. This is a good feature as work can be tagged so that other pupils or students can find information on any topic. It could be used as a learning diary for students also. It is a great way to share and keep information in an interesting and unique way that is personal to each individual.