ETC Mth4 Final Video (Documentary)

PE9_ Modifying Objects in Flash

The key to modifying objects is to remember the SELECT tool and to understand the difference between object drawing and merge drawing. For this Web 2.0 tool, I've got to practice, practice, practice.

PE8_The Deco Tool is My Kind of Tool!

Pretty Impressive Huh?

So I’m thinking as I go along with these Lynda.com tutorials is, “when will I get to something easy?  Something that’s not related to merge and object drawing, toggling, toolbars and setting document properties?  Something I won’t forget?  And then in chapter 2 in the very last section, I got what I asked for. 

It’s called the Deco tool and it must be heaven sent.  This tool creates some of the most complex-looking, yet beautiful artwork with the click of the mouse.   And even more fantastic is that it’s EASY.  In no time, I created an awesome downtown scene, if I may say so myself.  Of course, I tried to throw in my prior knowledge with the shapes, but that didn’t quite go as I had planned.  All in all though, the Deco tool is the tool for me.

PE7_My Introduction to Flash CS5

I am an artist, but I’ll have to admit that I am not a VISUAL one.  My craft is words.  So when I braved into the world of Flash (CS5), I had not idea what I was getting into.  Thankfully, I have an entire month to play and experiment before Flash becomes reality.  The screenshot below is very basic because that is my Flash level – BASIC!  In Lynda.com, I am starting at the beginning.  In chapter 1 I learned about the basics:

File types (fla or swf)

The difference between “the stage,” the “timeline,” and the “pasteboard.”

There are a lot of technical terms like vectors and bitmaps that I’ll have to get used to.  But what I was able to accomplish after about many minutes of watching, pausing and note taking are the images you see below:

I'm still in basic mode with I added some flair, or at least I think I did.

Basic lines, circles, and other shapes.

BP12_Wordsift: Where Verbal meets Visual!

BP10_My Comments on Nancy Madrigal's Blog

Hey guys, check out my comments on Nancy's wonderful One Minute Message (OMM) about Quizlet.  It's easy and fast.  And coming from a person who doesn't know computers, when I say fast, I mean it!  You're going to really like the benefits of using this with students in K- beyond...

Set-up is FREE, but an upgraded account at $10 a year, is definitely worth the investment.  After you view my comment, check out her commercial.

My First Flashcard!

BP9_Wikispaces "A Great Space to Collaborate"

 

I can upload videos from blocked Sites like YouTube to view at home.

This is the Home page that welcomes visitors.

I think this wiki stuff is interesting. It looks like there are several functions in this easy to use application that makes my life easier while engaging my students more. For example, if I assign my students a group assignment, their wiki page can be a common area. If they want to discuss class topics, there is a discussion area that looks pretty similar to a university style forum. What's good about that is... no new accounts to keep track of or log into! Then there's the notification tab. Whenever, wherever I am, I can be alerted to changes students make.  In that way, if someone is trying to sabotage the efforts of the group by – let’s say – deleting everything, I’ll know it.  And because Wikispaces keeps copies of all the edits, the information can be restored.  All in all, this is a promising tool…

So I have decided to give Wikispaces a try. My students are safe in this virtual environment. (WordPress is out because the site is blocked at my school site.) So Wikispaces is it! With the complimentary plus plan for teachers, I can protect my students much better than if I had asked them to create a blog because I can restrict access.

So far I have a welcome page, two videos and my first assignment.  My only concern after getting all excited about this Wikispaces was whether or not my students and I could access it at school.  Well guess what! We can.  Here’s a partial list of the planned activities with Wikispaces I can’t wait to try!

·      Have weekly discussion posts in place of paper homework assignments. (I’m saving trees and myself from the hassle of tracking student work and oh yeah, I can LOCK posts after deadline!)

·      Post movies/slideshows associated with stories or concepts we learn.  This means they get to take the classroom home with them and makes parental help easier for parents.  There’s nothing like trying to help your child with an assignment they can’t explain.  In a word – AGGRAVATING!

·      Link important URLs to students for resources.  How many times have you heard, “I couldn’t find the website.”  No more miscopied URLs or excuses. Yaaay!

·      Invite parents to join. In fact, I am offering students extra credit if their parents get in on our conversations. Talk about added perspective.

·      Celebrate student achievements and post pictures of Student of the Day, Week or Month.