Weekly Report and Reflection #11

As you know, this week we learned about the creative tools, screencast and podcast. These tools are unlike many of the other ones we have explored in that they have an expressional flair to them. They are typically used for entertainment, but can be repurposed and used as educational enhancements. They allow for quick and easy expression of ideas and a free way to export media. They are not like the collaborative work tools, but they do have a similar function as voice thread in that audio content can be shared between project partners. I would definitely add this to my PLE, probably under Information Platform. It is useful for absorbing information, and can be accessed without the use of internet, which makes for easy, passive learning. I often listen to podcasts in the car or as I am exercising, and the ability to learn without have to watch or read anything makes these tools especially effective in that they do not require full attention. Because of these features podcasts especially are ideal for busy students who are always on the go.

This week in my feedly reader, I came across a couple of podcasting sites, one of them being the "Science Friday" podcast that airs weekly. While I probably wouldn't have read an article of this kind, given the passive nature of podcasts, I find that they are easy to sink into, and the podcast covers everything from the bacteria in cheese to the war on cancer. One particular podcast, one about the Zika virus caught my attention. In the podcast, the speaker outlines that the type of mosquito that carries the Zika virus is at an all-time high in America, which may be a cause for concern. I find this interesting because yesterday I came across an update that there may be a confirmed case of Zika in America. If you'd like to listen to this yourself, I have provided the link, and urge you to subscribe to some educational podcasting channels on your iPhone, as I find that this tool is particularly useful in helping you learn without even trying.
Have a good night everyone!
-A https://feedly.com/i/explore/%23podcasts

Podcast

This week we learned about Podcasting, and how it can enrich your academic life. I was previously aware of podcasting, but had only ever considered its function as a source of entertainment used for when you are otherwise occupied and can't watch the screen of your phone.  However, I have explored some tools today, and found that simple websites like RecordMP3 and Sound Cloud can be very effective/efficient ways of teaching and learning about given topics in a timely manner. Using podcast or screen casting (showing short clips of your screen), provides you as a digital citizen with interactive tutorials- screen casting for the people who need to see what to do in order to learn, and podcasting for those who like to listen. I often listen to sermons through podcasts, and my mother listens to book reviews. Conversely, my friend who is very hands-on, likes to see exactly what needs to be done in computer programs, and so prefers to watch screen casts. Such tools can also be effectively used in presentations of material and understanding how to use them effectively can enhance your teaching style for class requirements and even for legitimate teaching positions.Like any other content however, when you share your work on social media, it is important to properly license it to protect your work. A creative commons license can do this. Here is mine!
Until next time,
A



 
Working and Living in the Digital World by Amy Holliday is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2546536089257469953#editor/target=post;postID=3467762548491382104.

My Slideshow- Weekly Report and Reflection #10

This week we learned about how to properly credit individuals for their work in slideshows. I created my slideshow using Google Docs because it is what I am most comfortable using, compared to Prezi and other tools, and while I had been previously aware of copyright in a very ague sense, this new information has changed how I will present information the future.

I had always believed that plagiarism only applied to words. You get taught from a very young age that it is inappropriate to use other people's thoughts and ideas in your essays, but very rarely did I hear anything about other people's photos, or even music. In fact, I would often post photos on instagram or pinterest that did not belong to me, without any consideration.

Every piece of media content on the internet was created by someone, and learning about creative commons laws and copyright a little more has showed me that it is important to give people credit for all of their work. Not only does it make you a better and more respectful digital citizen, it's the only legal way to share others' content.

I discovered that there is a function on Google search in which you can limit your searches to only the photos that are available by the creator to share with others. However, it is very important to note that there are often "some rights reserved" sections in these creative commons licenses that allow them to collectively grant others to use their content, and it is important to remember to always cite the sources of your selected work.

I have also explored Creative Commons and Prezi, and still found Google Docs to be the easiest to use. Prezi is a wonderful tool for fancy presentations, but I do find Google Docs slides to be the most user-friendly.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1iF30je2lEO4c58kPs_WIZ7J5mKlNdpyCagwLpLOrs0g/edit?usp=sharing

Retrieved from https://www.bestthinking.com/trendingtopic/relateditem/647

An article I found this week in my reader that caught my attention was about how the use of technology can be a factor in anxiety and depression. The article explains that those who turn to their devices when things get tough, and use them as distractors from the real life issues they face are at a much greater risk for developing anxiety and depression than those who use them purely for entertainment purposes. I can see why this would be, because just as not dealing with issues and using other distractors like work can enhance issues, there will be a lot of unresolved emotions resulting from the ignorance towards difficulties.

Okay, that's all for now folks!
-A

http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20160315/could-too-much-cellphone-time-signal-anxiety-depression?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Weekly Report and Reflection #9

This week, in learning about Voice Thread, I realized the usefulness of being able to share, in real time, information with classmates on given topics. This tool would be particularly useful in a collaborative project in which each classmate has knowledge about different topics, such as the technology use scenarios we had all written about in our previous posts. In this way, we would all be able to conveniently share our knowledge with each other, in whichever way is most comfortable for us, unlike other collaborative tools such as Google Docs in which we only have the option to type additional info. I used both text and audio files for my comments, as I am comfortable talking and writing about topics, but less so being in front of a camera (especially in my pyjamas). It is particularly helpful to have options available to ensure the comfort and efficiency of the tool. I would add this in the collaborative section of my PLE for sure, as it is both useful and not at all time-consuming as compared to some other methods of information sharing.

This week in my feedly reader, an article about the detrimental effects daylight savings time may have on the body caught my eye. Specifically, the article details an increased risk of ischemic stroke, largely as a result of a minor disruption to individuals' internal clocks as a function of turning the clock back or forwards. In recent studies, it has been shown that the Mondays and Tuesdays after daylight savings time saw an increase in cardiovascular related deaths of roughly 10%. However, after these two days immediately following the change in time, there was no difference in probability of heart attack or stroke, and the risk was significantly higher for those aged 65 or older. While I don't consider this to be a huge effect, I will certainly be weary if I get a pain in my chest for the next few days.

Have a good week folks,
-Amy

Technology Use Scenario #14

Technology Use Scenario #14:

Mr. Hutchinson wants to keep his students' parents aware of classroom activities. He remembers hearing about using Twitter posts at a technology conference. After doing some research, Mr. Hutchinson finds both positive and negative viewpoints related to using Twitter in the classroom. He believes that for what he wants to do- inform parents of their child's daily work- these posts would be appropriate. Before setting one up, however, he consults with the principal and technology support person to see if there are any legal issues. Both say that what he wants to do is perfectly okay. Mr. Hutchinson then sets up a professional Twitter account and informs his students and parents about where to find the information. Is social media a good way to share information? (Ribble, 2014)

Mr. Hutchinson's use of technology in this situation is entirely appropriate. He was thorough in establishing the safety and lawfulness of his choice, with special consideration to its professionalism. His method is not only convenient for students and their parents alike, ultimately allowing them to check on what is going on in the classroom without having to directly contact the instructor himself, but may also be beneficial to learning for his students. In my personal experience, if you make work seem like play, i.e. using something that is normally only used outside of the classroom to inform and seek opinions on learning activities, his students may take more interest in them. As long as Mr. Hutchinson's posts remain professional, and their is no inappropriate interaction with his students online, his method of informing parents is acceptable and efficient in the educational

setting. 

VOICETHREAD

This week in ADED 1P32 we learned about voice threads, and were able to use one as a class.
Voice threads allow everyone in the class to add comments using audio or video clips, text or photographs to enrich and further develop every classmate's understanding of a given topic. Adding to a voice thread is fast and easy to accomplish and adds a dimension that is suitable for every type of learner to a project.

I would likely place voice thread under collaborative work in my PLE, as it really is a platform for information sharing and an efficient method of knowledge enhancement for every group member. It is similar to collaborative Prezi or Google docs in that the comments are added in real time, and all group members can view the contributions of others. Voice thread even provides the options to share or embed the finished projects, which I have done here.

I hope that you find this new tool to be as enriching to your learning as I have.
Have a good week!
-A

Weekly Report and Reflection #8

This week in ADED 1P32 our class learned primarily about Wikis, which are online pages containing information about a given topic that can be directly accessed and edited by peers. Wikis allows for the convenient sharing of knowledge and are essentially a pool of information, where individuals can collectively learn about areas of interest. Wikis are more easily accessible than other tools in that some require explicit permission for any posts to be made on the website. These restrictions are in place to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on the webpage, but for the trusting, Wikis are certainly a more convenient option.

Also this week was a lesson on the rights and responsibilities a digital citizen has in their online environment. While I tend to weigh more heavily on the importance of understanding one’s responsibilities, I recognize that knowing what you should not be denied as a citizen can also be extremely beneficial. In my concept map, as pictured below, I include freedom of speech/expression as I consider it to be of particular importance, as well as a variety of responsibilities I believe are of significance.

This week in my reader I came across an article detailing the positive effects of tea on heart health. This caught my eye because I am actually a consultant for Steeped Tea incorporated, and I realized that such a claim by medical professionals may be of further support to my business. The authors claim that a cup of tea a day reduces the risk of calcium build up in the arteries, and states that a recent study has found that these individuals were 35 times less likely to suffer a heart attack. I guess a cup of tea a day keeps the doctor away. And also the grave.

Bye for now.

-Amy

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20160301/a-daily-cup-of-tea-may-soothe-your-heart?src=RSS_PUBLIC