Here is my published resume!
As I mentioned in my Voki introduction, I play roller derby. Google docs and sharing has been invaluable in that realm! Google sharing allows many people to share documents, from meeting minutes, the league constitution, to attendance records. It is an extremely helpful way to allow many people to go to a single place for information. We also share training schedules, calendars, staffing needs with other leagues-it's really endless. And I'm just now starting to get a glimpse of how helpful Google sharing can be.
Google definitely has its advantages over traditional desktop applications (TDA). TDAs are extremely limited to similar attachment extensions and Mac vs. PC. Right now, I'm not really sure of any disadvantages, although I am exploring new applications for Google sharing every day. Google sharing is definitely a self-starting process. You have to look at common places like docs or calendars to get the full benefit and that is something I have been trying to remind myself to do more of. The calendar aspect has been invaluable as of late! I need to start putting homework on there! I'm not really into Google +, I think the interface is not as accessible as Facebook, plus not too many people are on Google + yet.
NETS T standards affiliated with Google sharing would be:
3) Model digital age work and learning
5) Engage in professional growth and leadership
Google sharing is great for any kind of work environment. They can be used and accessed pretty much anywhere. It is taking the place of the "water cooler," per se. It is a common area for multiple parties to converge, share, implement, edit, and share again. Advanced classrooms can use this tool to share classroom expectations, course outcomes, or homework assignments. Whether it be a classroom or a boardroom, collections of people constitute a living organism and Google sharing is adaptable to that mindset.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Hello Voki!
This post is about Voki, a free software designed to create and implement a speaking character to help introduce yourself, narrate a presentation, or any other use you can think of! I've seen plenty of these, but never knew they were this easy to access and create.These things usually give me the creeps, but the Voki characters were not so lifelike that they look like robots or androids. When I first clicked on the characters, there was a more Anime-style one that I was disappointed in not being able to locate once I started to create my own character. I also found it amusing to try and spell my name differently to force proper pronunciation of it! I ended up having to hyphenate it to get the proper pronunciation-I was also searching for voices that did it justice too! Hotard is a common Louisiana name and is pronounced with long vowels. After moving up to the Mid-Atlantic, I get Howard or Hot-tard. I should just start spelling it Autard, which is the French spelling it comes from. I just spent time with a friend of mine form Louisiana who have been living in Boston. I was devastated to find he had been pronouncing his very Frenchy name, Hebert as Hee-bert rather than A-bere to cut down on miscommunication. Fortunately, his wife urged him to take up the proper pronunciation again!
Here is my Voki avatar!
So, Voki has made me think about how different text and talking can be, or simple interpretations of text. The inflections and natural diction of the human voice is something that I don't think science has mastered. But, I also don't have an iPhone 4s with good ole Siri-yet.
Personally, I think I would use Voki. I am considering using this tool as an introduction to my online course. It is a cool icebreaker and can reach other learning types, such as auditory learners in an arena what is incredibly visually driven.
The NETS T standards that could be associated with Voki would be:
1) Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity.
2) Design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments.
For me, Voki is first and foremost fun. It is a fun and easy way for students to be creative and have Free reign over their digital selves. Always wanted blond hair? Your avatar can be blond! Always wanted to be a robot, or a space alien? Voki can help! It give students creative free reign while enforcing a digital tool. Voki is so fun that students will forget they are learning valuable lessons in digital initiatives, creating an online presence, and introducing different ways to be heard and learn. I spent a lot of time learning about different ways students can learn, and teachers often forget the auditory learners in an age of power point and digital lecture. With the advent of easy tools like Voki, teachers can take an easy step to reach out to the auditory group. I like the mystery example too. Throw in a Voki -voiced question in on a test! Make children narrate a story step by step through their avatars. The possibilities are endless and the great thing is that it is free and easy! Voki also helps develop digital-age learning experiences and help put a lot of control into the hands of the student. I've found that many students learn best by doing, and Voki is a great tool for that. By showing students how easy and fun Voki is, you are fostering the kind of initiative and fearlessness students need to develop in the fast-paced 21st century world of the cutting edge. Voki will help them keep pace and eventually pull ahead of the norm.
Here is my Voki avatar!
So, Voki has made me think about how different text and talking can be, or simple interpretations of text. The inflections and natural diction of the human voice is something that I don't think science has mastered. But, I also don't have an iPhone 4s with good ole Siri-yet.
Personally, I think I would use Voki. I am considering using this tool as an introduction to my online course. It is a cool icebreaker and can reach other learning types, such as auditory learners in an arena what is incredibly visually driven.
The NETS T standards that could be associated with Voki would be:
1) Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity.
2) Design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments.
For me, Voki is first and foremost fun. It is a fun and easy way for students to be creative and have Free reign over their digital selves. Always wanted blond hair? Your avatar can be blond! Always wanted to be a robot, or a space alien? Voki can help! It give students creative free reign while enforcing a digital tool. Voki is so fun that students will forget they are learning valuable lessons in digital initiatives, creating an online presence, and introducing different ways to be heard and learn. I spent a lot of time learning about different ways students can learn, and teachers often forget the auditory learners in an age of power point and digital lecture. With the advent of easy tools like Voki, teachers can take an easy step to reach out to the auditory group. I like the mystery example too. Throw in a Voki -voiced question in on a test! Make children narrate a story step by step through their avatars. The possibilities are endless and the great thing is that it is free and easy! Voki also helps develop digital-age learning experiences and help put a lot of control into the hands of the student. I've found that many students learn best by doing, and Voki is a great tool for that. By showing students how easy and fun Voki is, you are fostering the kind of initiative and fearlessness students need to develop in the fast-paced 21st century world of the cutting edge. Voki will help them keep pace and eventually pull ahead of the norm.
Hello again!
Hello everyone! Here is my blog 2.0! I started this blog in the summer of 2010 for Educational Technology 2201. I enjoyed the course very much and some of the things I learned in it were invaluable while creating my first online course. I get positive feedback every semester from students who enjoy the hands-on nature of an online course, especially one that is history-oriented! Since being accepted into the MAT program, I found that I would have to take Educational Technology over again to recive grad credit-but I was not dismayed! I am excited to encounter new challenges and update and fine tune skills I have already learned! I hope you enjoy following my progress!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
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