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.

Creating Learners Blog review.

One of the blogs I am following is creating learners by Toby Fischer. After reading the blog I decided it was valuable and should be connected to my blog. I thought this for many reasons. One reason I considered the blog valuable is because it is very current. Every week there is a new post uploaded with new information on different themes with in education. This is important to me as I think it important to take in new information regularly. This blog ensures that there is new information for the reader to mould in to knowledge. The posts are filled with links to where the information has been found as opposed to articles written by the author. On the one hand I find this irritating as I would like to read it from the author’s point of view. However on the other hand, I prefer direct links. I prefer direct links because the reader can then see the exact information the author has, and re-use the information themselves. Another reason I think the blog is valuable enough to be on my blog is because of the availability of sharing posts with social networking sites such as twitter or face book. To me this is very useful as I can share any information I find interesting or important with class mates. The blog is filled with useful links and information that date back a substantial amount. There for I think the blog has earned the right to have a place on my blog.

Mmmmm Raspberry pi.. .

This week, I heard about a new piece of software emerging that both intrigued and surprised me. You may or may not have heard of it; it is called a raspberry pi. After having a look around the website I found out the following: The Raspberry pi is a small computer which can be connected to any monitor, be it computer or TV screen. It is essentially a tiny computer that is affordable. When I heard about this I was instantly won over by the company. I think that it is a brilliant idea and can't wait for it to be released. It will provide children from less fortunate backgrounds the opportunity to have a computer of their own. Not only that, but it means that computers will be more affordable for schools as well. I think this is excellent as in our world filled with ever changing technology; it is important that children are educated and are comfortable with the tech that is available to them.

Referencing!

In my seminar on Thursday the 29th of November, I found out that referencing does not have to be a chore! After going through the steps provided, and playing with the referencing options on Microsoft Office' word processor I realised it doesn't have to be time consuming. I previously was not aware this option was available. By using the referencing options I found that you can store and reuse your references at any time. Not only that but the word processor will also provide your reference list in alphabetical order. This was some what of a revelation. I dare say I will not go back to my old style of referencing again.

Xtranormal dot com.

After having the chance to create my own animation on 2animate I looked at an animation website called Xtranormal.com. The website provides members of the public who register an easy way to create their own animation. There are three types of account available ranging from a basic free package to a small fee package with extra features. There are a lot of story boards, characters and effects to chose from on the website, and easy step by step videos to watch.There is an option to view other members videos as well. I thought this was beneficial as it inspired me to want to create a video of my own. You can view these with out being a member, giving the public an inside look of what they could do were they to register. The website is linked to social networking sites such as twitter and face book, and gives you the option to share your video to these sites. Xtranormal.com also gives you the option to download videos to your desktop. I personally would use this website because I find it easy to use, and very appealing in the way it was designed. However I would like the option to make my own characters and sets as opposed to choosing from a list.

I have made an animation based on the well known saying 'An apple a day keeps the Doctor away'. I used a program called 2animate which made the process of animation much easier. I layered up images, each one with a slight difference from the last to create the allusion of the image moving. I found it to be a very useful program for children and people who are not confident on a computer. I chose the expression an apple a day keeps the doctor away because it is a well known saying that the majority of people are aware of. I have always used and referred to the expression so it is an expression I am comfortable with. I initially thought I would not enjoy the task as I am not confident drawing on a computer. However it turned out to be very fun, and I can see children thoroughly enjoying the experience and getting creative! I learnt that animation is in fact an illusion of a few simple photographs. I also learnt that the more subtle the movement the more realistic the allusion appeared. If the need to create an animation arose again I would definitely use this program. It was useful and easy to use.

A story in 7 photos

Over the weekend I did my best to tell an interesting and unique story through a minimum of 7 photos. Below you can see what my outcome was. I took 7 photos of a combination of my own drawings, and my pet rabbit to create the illusion that my average sized rabbit was a giant monster rabbit attacking a village for carrots. The photos were taken in my home and I used an online photo editor to create the collage effect. I chose to add a small amount of writing just to ensure that there was a basic idea of what the story entailed. When I first received this task I thought it would be a rather simple one, however I was completely wrong. I personally found it quite challenging at first to limit a story down to seven photos that would successfully portray the tale I had in mind. I eventually decided to select three photos, a beginning, middle and an end. Once I had these photos I added the 'scenes' I preferred to fill the story. I made a list of seven scenes and then began to draw my 'sets’ as it were. Once I had done this it was just a case of getting my rabbit to pose for the camera. The story board did not turn out exactly how I'd planned due to a lack of materials and funding. I am however on the whole pleased with my work as I think it is quite creative and illustrates my personality effectively. I thoroughly enjoyed this task as it was different and involved thinking out side of the box.

Attack of the giant rabbit!

This is a mind map that I made using bubbl.us. Bubbl.us is a 2.0 web page which enables you to create mind maps which are perfect for revision or simply processing notes in a different and visually entertaining way. I was showed this website in my Visual communication seminar. I personally found it very useful as it enabled myself to reflect on my studies. I will definitely be using this mind mapping website in my future studies.

The diference betweeen a blog and a website.

After searching through several blogs and websites, it became clear to me that it can some times be very difficult to differentiate between a blog and a website.
     Last Friday afternoon I compared a website about cars, to a blog about cars. Some of the main characteristics of the blog differed greatly from the website. The blog had dates marked above each post which made it easier to search through the information and tell whether, or how current it was. An other characteristic of the blog that made it much easier to find information was the archive.
This is something the website didn't have. The archive contained a list of posts dating back to the first in order of date.
       Both the website and the blog had a space where comments and feed back could be given. I thought this a positive as it means that viewers can share opinions, or use these comments as a review of the website or blog. Both pages also had sub-pages, hyper-links, and links to other websites.
     What surprised me the most was finding blogs that had commercial space. To my (prior-) knowledge, it was only websites that had commercials in order to financially support the web space. I think that this made the blog feel less personal, or perhaps slightly more professional.
    It also became clear that blogs were often connected to the authors other blogs, or social networking site. This also made the web space feel more personal.  
     I feel that I learnt a great deal more about what a blog actually in tales during the session, and would now know the difference.