Test for EML110

Multi-Modal text and Web Based Tools

Mulitmodal Text on Prezi

IWB as Interactive Picture Books

Here at CSU we have been exploring children's picture books and the IWB. We think that the Smart Notebook software combined with picture books allows for an extremely fun learning experience. The first link is a IWB picture book about road safety, hit the middle of the page for the narrative. The second is a IWB picture book completed from scratch by myself and some CSU students . As you can see the books allow for Mp3 narratives and video integration. The second IWB picture book created by the students is still in rough form, but the idea is terrific and full encouragement must be given to students who are going above and beyond! Hopefully going to create a lot more and even some venture into Comic Books!!

IWB Picture Book - Road Safety

IWB Picture Book -Good Manners

Paperless Higher Research

The notion is nothing new – complete a PhD without relying on paper, that is, literature, analysis, data collection and reporting by electronic means. In the middle of my third week of my PhD I have the following:

- Laptop Computer

- iPad

- iPhone

- Instapaper

- Dropbox

- Google Docs

- Endnote

- Skype

- Kindle

My system currently involves - Skyping with my supervisor (as she lives in Canberra), organised by using Google Calendar and sending summaries and notes of my readings via Google Docs. My notes are created by utilising ‘Notes’ on my iPad or using Microsoft Word on my Laptop. My readings are either eBooks (Kindle or iBooks) or online journal articles saved with Instapaper. I keep a record of all my literature and references using Endnote. All my notes, summaries and literature are backed up using Dropbox.

So far, so good.

There are the aspects of my PhD that I believe will work in my favour, including:

- The PhD will use discourse analysis as a methodology

- There is no perceived data collection

- My supervisor is extremely keen to use electronic means

- I’m a firm believer in the concept of ‘anywhere anytime’ learning

However, there are aspects of my PhD that I believe will make it difficult, including:

- A large component of PhD is a historical analysis of literature, which may not be available electronically

- I’m a ‘scribbler’- and by that I mean I like mind mapping as a cognitive tool. I’m yet to find an efficient mind mapping tool that I like .

It’s only very early days, but my Paper Less PhD is in full swing. I’m hoping that I can keep a running account of my progress. I’m hoping that in the end, the only piece of paper I use is the certificate at my graduation.

Referenced Learning Spaces

Creating a referenced learning space at The Bathurst Fossil and Mineral Museum. Putting up QR codes around most of the exhibition. The QR codes mostly stream video, but we are working on more advanced pedagogies. Hopefully will get down a film it in action soon. We hope to progress from QR codes to Augmented reality very soon.

Referenced Learning Spaces (RLS) is still an abstract idea, so keep watching this space. However, when completed, we at Charles Sturt University hope to create a learning resource package so teachers can learn to create their own (RLS).

Don't use a permanent marker

Lets face it, not everyone knows what an IWB does. Here are some simple posters I've designed to make sure that nobody takes a permanent marker to a 7,000 dollar machine.

Podcasts - connected classroom

I've just finished a series of PODcasts that aim to give students an indtroduction to the connected classroom and the Smart Notebook Software. I also thought it might be a good idea to share them here as well.

These work well with the two introductory Smart Notebook lessons I posted a couple of months ago.

The production is not the best, but I believe they can make terrific additional resources

Here is the link to my public Dropbox folder. Feel free to use or send back any comments.

The Connected Classroom

Introduction to the Connected Classroom

What's in the Connected Classroom

The Interactive Whiteboard

The Hub

Using the Cameras

The Microphones

Making a Call

Getting Started with The Smart Notebook Software

​Getting Started with Smart Notebook

Viewing Tools 1 - Screen Shade

Viewing Tools 2 - Full Screen

Viewing Tools 3 - Split Screen

The Cameras

Drawing Tools 1 - The Select Tool

Drawing Tools 2- The Pen Tool

Drawing Tools 3 - The Creative Pen

Drawing Tools 4 - The Eraser

Drawing Tools 5 - Handwriting Recognition

Drawing Tools 6- The Line Tool

Drawing Tools 7 - The Shape Tool

Creative Tool 1 - Shape Rec Tool

Creative Tool 2 - Magic Pen

Creative Tool 3 - Fill Tool

Creative Tool 4 - Text Tool

Advance Skills with Smart Notebook

​Camera and Linking

Attachments

Lesson Activity Toolkit

Page Recording

Drop Down Menus

Smartboard Tools

Virtual Excursions

One of the most surprising success stories of the connected classroom has been Virtual Excursions. In a nutshell, virtual excursions are done through video connection where students can use their connected class room to visit other places around the globe. When the CCP was first introduced virtual excursion was a extremely 'hit or miss' affair - with some being terrific and others being overpriced and poorly run. This is improving rapidly.



Virtual excursions were also predominately hosted in regional and remote area schools, but this too has now changed. Virtual excursions are a great way to introduce extra activities to your lessons.

Take for instance 'Literature Live - from idea to story' would be terrific to add this to an overall creative writing program. At only $100.00 per school that's less than four dollars per child in a class of 30.

You can head to the website here and start scrolling through the possibilities.

Introduction to the Connected Classroom

The Connected Classrooms Program is a NSW Government initiative to provide the department's staff and students with new opportunities to connect with each other across enhanced technology facilities for sharing resources and data collaboration.

An introduction can be seen below

During my time as a Regional Implementation Officer for the DET we were required to introduce this to a range of schools throughout Western NSW. Cue long trips to Broken Hill and Cobar. However, there was this amazing resource that myself and my old boss slowly refined over the last couple of years.

It's basically two very large Notebook files the comprise two days worth of introduction to the NSW DET Connected classroom. The Notebook files introduce IWBs, Notebook Software, Connected Classroom Hardware and Virtual Excursions.

Follow this link to start downloading them. Be warned - they're very large files.

Day 1 here

Day 2 here

Feel free to copy and paste slides that you like.

Share the love!

Web 2.0 and IWB Resources for the classroom

I've been complying a list of Web 2.0 tools and Notebook software resources.

It's only a small number at the moment - but I hope to add to it over the next couple of months.

http://www.delicious.com/WesternNSWSmart

and yes I know it's delicious, but I've been told that it's going to be around a lot longer.

Social Media in Education

The BX POD held a few workshops this week on Social Media and how it could be used in Higher Education.

We of course went through the serial offenders

Blogger (ping!), Facebook, Wordpress, Youtube etc.

But for the purpose of this post I thought I would highlight some that may not usually get a run.

1. Sound Cloud http://soundcloud.com/
The best way to explain sound cloud is an Mp3 file that also acts as a community forum. The main use for Sound Cloud is obviously music, where it is uploaded and people discuss different aspects of the song. However, from an educational perspective, sound cloud would be terrific as a podcasting tool. Imagine the scenario where a Subject coordinator releases their lecture as a podcast using the soundcloud, then invites students to comment or ask questions. Or, where the subject coordinator releases a piece of audio and students are required to analyse it. Head to sound cloud and check it out.



2. Tumblr http://www.tumblr.com

Sharing and 'liking' aspects of the web is pretty vital for social media. A lot

of people who use social media like to

be defined by what they like. Tumblr infuses all this. Tumblr is a place to share anything

you can think of, photos, music, webpages, quotes, blogs, writings. etc. Your Tumblr can then

be followed by other people. From an educational standpoint - Tumblr would be terrific as a place

where the subject coordinator could 'houses' information they find on the web that relates to a particular subject or topic. Imagine, if you will logging on to a subject and finding that it has a Tumblr with literately 100s of pages of resources that you could use. Tumblr is also a terrific social bookmarking

tool.

3. Micro Blogging - Twitter

Micro-blogging was pretty much everywhere in 2010. The biggest obviously being Twitter.

Twitter is a site where you can relay anything as along it is a in 140 characters or less.

This could mean short updates from the subject coordinator on assessment information, or a new readings that are of interests. Subjects can also establish list of prominent scholars in the field who use the technology.

Cheers

James @ BX POD

www.twitter.com/jamesbrann