This is Module 3 assignment: Websites for Creating Multimedia
by Lynda Marshall, EDUC 8847 fall 2012

WEBSITES FOR CREATING MULTIMEDIA

Choices of educational multimedia tools are endless in today's internet driven society. Multimedia applications can be beneficial to the learner if matched with the right tool for the user. With that said, the following multimedia tools were selected based on ease of usage, creativity, inspiring technology, and most importantly, free to user. Lastly, the multimedia web tools are what I would consider to be effective and efficient use of multimedia for learning. The information is also provided in the class EDUC 8847 Diigo web blog page.

Pre Training Activities

1) Name of the site: Xerte - University of Nottingham, UK

URL: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/%7Ecczjrt/Editor/toolkits.htm

Describe what it allows you to do: It is a web-based tool that allows users to create interactive learning content materials.

Describe how it can be used for learning: engage learning in interactive presentation and content materials.

Why is this website better than others i.e. easy to use, better product, effective tool: It is open source software with creativity limited by user skill-sets.

2) Name of the site: Xical

URL: http://xical.org/20.0.html

Describe what it allows you to do: create multimedia presentation that includes audio, video, animation, and interactive diagrams.

Describe how it can be used for learning: originally designed for use of medical school training, it has evolved into a tool for all to use from education to marketing an effective presentation

Why is this website better than others i.e. easy to use, better
product, effective tool: Open source software simply states that everyone is free to make use of the software tool to their desire without having to be dependent of proprietary rights and issues.

Graphic Organizers

1) Name of the site: iMindMap6

URL: http://www.thinkbuzan.com/us/products/imindmap

Describe what it allows you to do: iMindMap6 allows you to create a robust 3D graphic organizer. The tool transforms your thoughts into a flowchart that can be pushed into a presentation.

Describe how it can be used for learning: iMindmap6 enables students to transfer ideas to graphical images all in an easy to read map. Mapping enables the reader to follow and connect with concepts thus enhancing understanding.

Why is this website better than others i.e. easy to use, better product, effective tool: iMindMap6 Basic is a user-friendly tool but is limited to only mind mapping. However, the purchased version offers conversion to presentation and more editorial tools. Mostly, it is the 3D affect that is captivating and makes iMindMap6 stands out from other graphic organizers.

2) Name of the site: Bubbl.US

URL: https://bubbl.us

Describe what it allows you to do: Organize your thoughts in a mind mapping approach. The process is user friendly therefore, more time can be spent crafting ideas in a pathway pattern that is easy to read and understand. Too, the online platform allows users to send their creative thoughts via email or share onsite.

Describe how it can be used for learning: Bubbl.us web 2.0 tool enables students to sort ideas and thought visually online. The html platform along with flash technology allows students to collaborate on project ideas in an easy to use product software.

Why is this website better than others i.e. easy to use, better product, effective tool: The web 2.0 tool is "free" and hands down, simple to use. It allows users to design on spot with no learning frustration.

Presentation

1) Name of the site: Xical

URL: http://xical.org/20.0.html

Describe what it allows you to do: create multimedia presentation that includes audio, video, animation, and interactive diagrams.

Describe how it can be used for learning: originally designed for use of medical school training, it has evolved into a tool for all to use from education to marketing an effective presentation

Why is this website better than others i.e. easy to use, better product, effective tool: Open source software simply states that everyone is free to make use of the software tool to their desire without having to be dependent of proprietary rights and issues.


2) Name of the site: Prezi

URL: http://prezi.com

Describe what it allows you to do: create a twist to a typical presentation that includes audio, video, and an interactive pathway.

Describe how it can be used for learning: Relational thinking is applied by embedding in-depth information inside existing text or image. Overall relational items are group and users are able to connect subject matters with key concept.

Why is this website better than others i.e. easy to use, better product, effective tool: This is a free online tool with option to purchase for more functionality. Prezi offers a different perspective to presentation than your traditional PowerPoint Presentation.

References

Bubbl.us.org (October 12, 2012). Bubbl.us: Brainstorm made simple. [Website]. Retrieved from https://bubbl.us

Prezi.com (October 10, 2012). Prezi: Make your presentations zoom. [Website]. Retrieved from http://prezi.com

Thinkbuzan.com (October 12, 2012). iMindMap6: Fuelling your creativity. [Website]. Retrieved from http://www.thinkbuzan.com/us/products/imindmap

Xerte. (October 08, 2012). Xerte Online Toolkits. Xerte: Open source e-learning. University of Nottingham. [Website]. Retrieved from http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/%7Ecczjrt/Editor/toolkits.htm

Xical. (October 08, 2012). Xical.org. Open source media framework. [Website]. Retrieved from http://xical.org/20.0.html

Two Wiki pages have been crafted per Module 1 Week 2 Assignment instructions.

Links:
Marshall Working Wiki - http://workingwiki-marshall-l.wikispaces.com/home

Marshall Presentation Wiki - http://presentationwiki-marshall-l.wikispaces.com

Please email me at lynda.marshall@waldenu.edu if you are not able to view both Wiki pages.

Thanks,
Lynda Marshall
EDUC8847

Multimedia Artifacts

The three multimedia tools chosen for this assignment were selected based on its ease if functionality, accessibility, and integration into the learning environment, its effectiveness in communication, and its ability to engage teacher and student in a collaborative atmosphere. Too, the media tools selected coincides with Mayer's cognitive theory on the correlations between multimedia and learning. The three multimedia selected are listed from simplicity of use to interactive use.

1) Audacity an open source tool made available from Creative Commons 3.0 license version

First and foremost, this is a freeware or open source tool made available to the public. Too, this basic yet effective approach to multimedia learning tool enables learners to listen to weekly lessons anytime and anywhere with minimal technical efforts. The reasoning behind audio recording is to not overload the working memory nor overwhelm students with technological issues. More importantly, audio recording allows students to replay as often as needed. Lectures that are recorded in chunks coincided with Mayer's (2009) Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning in that audio recording allows students to actively process new information while not to over stimulate the brain with information overload.

Lastly, the listening approach to learning is Learner-Centered in that students have total control on when and where to listen and time spent in listening to the course materials.

Link: http://audacity.sourceforge.net


2) Screencast-O-Matic available as freeware

The freeware version is a one-click screen recorder with a maximum of 15 minutes record time, which is plenty when trying to chunk weekly class materials. Its other features include picture-in-picture recording via webcam and allows rendering of the recording in different versions like mp4, avi, flv, YouTube, and High Definition resolution. The screen recording technology allows teachers to capture visual and audio lecture PowerPoint in chunks and present it from a different perspective thus engaging learners in Mayer's Dual Coding and active processing Multimedia Learning methodology. Too, it allows students to replay the visual and audio recording as often as needed outside the classroom and at anytime and anywhere to enhance learning, which coincides with Mayer's (2009) theory on students' limited cognitive retention on long lectures.

Lastly, the visual and audio recording of course PowerPoint materials is Technology-Centered style learning. Students do not create and edit the video recording but rather watch the video recording via their Learning Management System or from other media platforms.

Note: Screencast-O-Matic has a full version but purchasing is required.

Link: http://www.screencast-o-matic.com

3) SAM Animation from iCreate To Educate

This is a freeware that encourages collaboration with teacher and student in crafting and capturing learning materials in a "stop-motion animation" (samanimation.com, 2012). The software is copyright protected by the folks at iCreate to Educate. The purpose of the software is to present ordinary course materials into a live and engaging learning tool. Teachers and students actively participate in crafting the subject matter and recording its development along the way. The finished project is a video production of the groups work. This is beneficial in learning that all the while students are learning while crafting and recording and are able to watch their recorded video over and over as needed - anytime and anywhere. This approach correlates with Mayer's (2009) cognitive approach to Multimedia Learning i.e. Dual Coding (visual and auditory learning), Limited Capacity (new information is effectively stored in memory when presented in short spurts and less technical challenges), and Active Process (make the learning an experience not a one-way conversation).

Lastly, the software is a learner-centered approach in that students actively create their learning materials.

Link: http://www.samanimation.com

In partnership with http://icreatetoeducate.com

References

Audacity. (2012). Audacity. [Website]. Retrieved from http://audacity.sourceforge.net

iCreateToEducate.com. (2012). iCreate To Educate. [Website]. Retrieved from http://icreatetoeducate.com

Mayer, R. E. (2009). Multimedia learning (2nd ed.). Cambridge, MA: Cambridge Univerisity Press.

Samanimatin.com. (2012). Sam Animation. [Website]. Retrieved from http://www.samanimation.com

Screencast-O-Matic. (2012). Screencast-O-Matic. [Website]. Retrieved from http://www.screencast-o-matic.com