EdTechWalden

Scholastic BookFlix is a new interactive online literacy resource for Grades PreK-3 that pairs fictional video storybooks from Weston Woods with classic nonfiction eBooks from Scholastic. While reading and stories have been around for centuries, the availability of having videos and books read aloud through the computer is a more modern creation. Book Flix is a subscription based site through Scholastic, featuring many popular children's literature in a variety of subjects. Each subject provides the student with a video based on a book, and another which is read aloud page by page. This site fits into the category of technology centered, where Mayer (2009) acknowledged technology often drives the method of instruction. Students in my classroom enjoyed being able to view and hear their favorite books providing the auditory and visual learners more opportunity to enjoy the story.

Youtube is a site that gives the user the opportunities to post videos about almost anything online. It is a video sharing website where users can upload and share videos. I chose this as a resource because it has a large resource of information that can be used for teaching purposes. Youtube makes posting and searching for videos simply because it is very easy to use.

What it is: YouTube provides millions of free videos on every topic imaginable. However, in addition to finding videos, YouTubes new video editor allows users to create their own videos as well. Why it's better: YouTube provides a user-friendly interface that most are familiar with. Videos, images, sounds, text, and photos can all be combined to create instant videos that provide prior knowledge to students. All videos under 15 minutes are free. Since YouTube is a part of Google, all items are synced with your Google account. While there are many other free video creation tools available, YouTube truly does provide an easier experience.

YouTube offers users the opportunity to compile their work in the form of a video. One feature of YouTube is the capability of adding closed caption. Videos can be used for essential and generative learning because it provides a platform for learners to authentically demonstrate their understanding of the content.

My multimedia project title is is How to Utilize Multimedia to Create Effective Instructions. The Value of Multimedia in Learning written by Shank (2005) outlined the benefits of multimedia in learning. A well-designed multimedia presentation helps learners build more accurate and effective mental models than they do from text alone. Shephard synthesized studies showing potential benefits of well-designed multimedia, including: (Shephard, (n.d) as cited in Shank 2005, p.4). A well constructed multimedia presentation can definitively be identified as learner-centered approach to learning. Mayer (2008) also describes potential benefits of multimedia. Given that humans possess visual and auditory information processing capabilities, multimedia, he explains, takes advantage of both capabilities at once. In addition, these two channels process information quite differently, so the combination of multiple media is useful in calling on the capabilities of both systems. Meaningful connections between text and graphics potentially allow for deeper understanding and better mental models than from either alone. Shank, P. (2005). The value of multimedia in learning. Adobe Systems Incorporated. http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/thinktank/valuemedia/The_Value_of_Multimedia.pdf

The topic of my multimedia workshop is on How to Utilize Multimedia to Create Effective Instructions. I plan to use PowerPoint as my multimedia artifact. In Jones (2005) article she establishes the fact that the technology of choice for most projects was PowerPoint. The main reasons for selecting PowerPoint for my multimedia project coincided with what was discussed in this article. PowerPoint is accessible and familiar to most educators and students. It is simple to use, can be created on desktop, visually stimulating, sounds or auditory stimulation can be added and can be use for cognitive abilities. In addition, PowerPoint has presentation versatility because it can be used as an original file, PDF format, and html format. It can also run with videos and have narration added. Finally, the software allows for interactivity. The focus of the multimedia workshop is to create a learner-centered approach to learning instead of a technology approach to learning; the software is used to facilitate this process (Jones 2005, p. 1). Mayer's (2008) active processing is when meaningful learning occurs and learners are engaged in the active cognitive processing during learning and instructors must figure out ways to prime the learners to pay attention to relevant material, and mentally organize the information and integrate the information based on their prior knowledge. The ability to actively process information can be associated students dynamic, collaborative and synergistic construction of significant knowledge within a multi-learning environment. Jones, D. (2009.). PowerPoint with a learning point. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater--19th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning, Retrieved July 10, 2010, from http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/Resource_library/proceedings/03_37.pdf

This website is an interactive graphic organizer tool. It is a free resource that allows the user to create many graphic organizers to be used in a class. It is very user friendly, and can be designed to fit any workshop. Also, it allows real-time collaboration.

This website offers pre-made rubrics that teachers can use for various reasons. I will use this website to allow participants in my work shop to use to create their own rubrics for their work stations.

This site helps the teacher create assessments which are authentic and allow the learner to work towards completing the objectives.

Rubrics are a great way to assess student learning and Teach-nology provides many different rubrics for all types of authentic assessments. I have used this site many times in my own classroom for performance tasks, group projects, and individual projects. It offers pre-made rubrics and guidance on creating your own.

Brief Description: Slide Share is a website where an individual can upload and share their presentations, personal/professional videos, and documents (word and pdf). Information uploaded can be shared with everyone on the website or restrictions (limited viewers) can be placed on your information. Brief Explanation: Slide Share is a good presentation website because your information can be categorized, receive feedback, and is easy to use. Also a key plus for this website is that it is free.

Slideshare - Slideshare is a website that allows users to upload various types of presentations: documents, presentations, and professional videos. I like this site because it attempts to keep non-professional data off , unlike sites such as You Tube that is for general use. Setting up an account is easy and the basic membership is free, which is always nice.

SlideShare is a tool that allows users to upload presentations or videos they have created to be shared with others. This site also allows users to search for presentations and videos on topics of interest. Having used this tool before, I have found it easy to use and can see how it might be used to share any presentations or videos created for the workshop with staff who were unable to attend or with a much broader audience. 

Assignment, Module 3 - Edmodo.com is a free, secure, social learning site for classrooms.  It is a blogging-type platform that allows users to share ideas, post questions, polls, files, links, and other assignments.  Students can create an avatar for responding to the assignment.  It also allows for mobile access and messaging.  It includes a class calendar, a grading application, and RSS feeds.  Educators can set up a secure site for each class or learning unit.  It can be employed in a  synchronous or asynchronous format.   Also, it includes a teacher connections forum.

* Edmodo is a social networking/learning management system tool for students and teachers to engage and personalize learning, connect with resources, and measure progress. It can be used for essential or generative learning through participation in discussion threads, learning groups and communities, delivery of content for assignments and resources, and taking tests and quizzes. * I found Edmodo to be better than other authentic assessment activity resources because many teachers use it as a learning management system, it is easy to use and provides a safe and secure online classroom environment that is free. Edmodo also provides the capability of interfacing assignment and assessments with other web resources.

I am amazed at the capabilities of collaboration software. The use of Elluminate, in particular, has been demonstrated in LiveChat presentations by a number of my professors. With a network such as proposed in my Smartboard entry, and with all computers equipped with webcams, the breadth of educational technology can be put on display. This is perfect for the purposes of my workshop.

* Name of the site: Authentic Assessment Toolbox * URL: http://jonathan.mueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/toolbox/tasks.htm * Brief description of what it allows you to do and how it can be used for essential or generative learning: This is a great site to help teachers develop an authentic assessment for their students. It will be good in the workshop I am developing on Web. 2.0 from the later days when the participants are thinking on what they will develop. * Brief explanation of why you found this site to be better than others you found (e.g., more effective, creates better products, easier to use, and so on). This comes from a knowledgeable source and cites Grant Wiggins.

* Name of the site: Graphic.org * URL: http://www.graphic.org/ * Brief description of what it allows you to do and how it can be used for essential or generative learning: This seems to be a great site for teachers to understand different graphic organizer configurations and to be able to download and alter them. * Brief explanation of why you found this site to be better than others you found (e.g., more effective, creates better products, easier to use, and so on): This site has usable links (those I explored worked, at any rate). It suggests uses and provides critical questions, suggestions for uses, and strategies

Graphic.org is a great site with a multitude of resources for the teacher to access. The site offers an explanation of each type of graphic organizer it list and which area of study would best fit the design.

Slideboom is a web site that allows you to upload, store, and then publish presentations to the web. It works with power point animations and is free.

Slideboom http://www.slideboom.com/ This site will allow me to upload my powerpoint presentation so that the participants will always have access to it without having to have a download. This site is free and plays the slideshow in a video format. This site is a good site for developing the participant's essnetial laerning allowing them to process the infomration form a vairety of ways; visual, and auditory. I chose this site becasue it is free and it can be accessed from any internet site. This will be good for the participants to use as a reference after the presentation.

Slideboom is a website to upload Powerpoint presentations even 2010 and keeps the full presentation intact.Slideboom will also allow the user to embed their presentation into websites like wikis, blogs, Facebook, etc.Slideboom has an add-on(iSpring free) where you can upload your presentation directly from Powerpoint. For those reluctant to try new technologies, this is an easy place to start. Like other presentation technologies, Slideboom allows the user to organize and integrate the information presented.

Storybird is another presentation tool that will be used as a means of sharing information throughou the workshop. Storybird will be one of the options for teachers to use in creating their final product. Storybird is a free online tool used to create and promote digital storytelling. The website is very user-friendly with strict parameters which is wonderful for K12 education. The website and its creators pride themselves on being "family-friendly". With this in mind teachers can also feel at ease sharing this tool with their students.

A short how to on making graphic organizers. It gives you step by step on oranizing and creating a graphic organizer using Microsoft Word which basically everyone has access to and can be used for essential learning. I found this video easier to understand and more effective in turns of my Multimedia Workshop. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2EkOCXNLQM

Easy to use fully interactive web interface. Filled with easy start graphic organizers templates: You can share and collaborate on graphic organizer with friend. Allow you to organize your class assignments in shared projects. You can also create mindmap, circle diagrams and storyboards. it is great for generative learnig and collaboration with others. I found this website to be better than other because there are multiply multimedia you can create. All you have to is sign up for an account, http://creately.com/Free-K-12-Education-Graphic-Organizer-Template

This program is free to download and use to create tutorials that can be created for a specific presentation. It allows the user to capture screen shots and add sound, explanations etc. to the tutorial. By using a tutorial that is created specifically for this workshop, participants will be able to follow along and produce the desired outcome. Also, if the tutorial is uploaded to a wiki page, participants can access the site to review at a later date.

Quick View on pre-training competency include reading assignments that can be used during and after training. Structured warm- up activities such as, video/films and note-taking .To attract and maintain the attention of the participants handouts (such as questionaires or keyterm scramble sheets) are useful and can be circulated some time before the training. I like this article because it gave me some ideas for my pre-training activity for my multimedia presentation and I learned how important pre-training is as well as it was useful for generative learning. http://www.unescap.org/tid/publication/part_seven2184.pdf

Authentic AssessmentFile Format: Microsoft Powerpoint - It discusses how one can use PBL and authentic assessments to meet the needs of learners. It's a essential learning tool as well as an assessment tool. This website was one of the most effective and easy to identify with. http://www.tcet.unt.edu/weblibrary/ppt/rubric2.ppt - Similar