Sunday, November 23, 2008

Windows Movie Maker

November 10, 2008. Our ED 105 class was given one last group project, which is to come up with an advertisement based on the category that our group was placed on. We were instructed to come up with an advertissement and upload our video to the website jumpcut.com. My group fell under the category of Language software. Before continuing further on, my group mates were Christine Agbanlog, Jordan Jucutan, Marvin Espeleta, Michelle Avila, and Therese Polig. We made an advertisement of Rosetta Stone. In order for us to continue further on, we had to make sure that we came up with a scenario, storyboard, and what our advertissement should be based on. We came up with an idea of combining different types of languages together in different scenes. The languages that we tried to imitate were Chinese, Tagalog, and Putaki (a made up language). We combined the elements of comedy and seriousness in our advertissement. Thank god we did a tremendous and superb job. WE put our efforts into it. The scenes that we used to make our ad possible were American Memorial Park, Fiesta Resort and Spa, and the Saipan Airport. Jumpcut was having a bad day or probably woke up on the wrong side of bed and did not allow majority of the groups work to be uploaded. Therefore, our instructor told us to use either Windows Movie Maker or I MOvie. Our group worked under Windows Movie Maker. It was very useful in terms of uploading videos, user friendly. It allowed us to input our voice, and add some effects to it. In conclusion, Jumpcut is a website that allows people to upload their videos and show it to other friends or a class. If jumpcut is not working well, Windows Movie Maker or I MOvie will help you accomplish your assignment in terms of uploading videos.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Slideshare Software

October 22, 2008. During our class for ED 105 Introduction to computers for teachers, our class was to present what we have been working on last week; a powerpoint presentation using the online source www.slideshare.com. The main objective of this presentation was to see whether or not we understood the concept of using a slide show program from our computers and then uploading it into an online slide show software. The information that we used during this class assignment was an encyclopedia or an online encyclopedia. On my part, I used an online encyclopedia called Encarta. My topic was about music for it is my passion. First, I used the powerpoint program in the Apple computer. I have to admit, I did have problems using the Apple for I was not that aware with its feautres when using powerpoint; therefore, I had to ask help from a classmate. After finishing my information in the powerpoint program, I had to sign up for slideshare.com for it was a must; required for it is the site that we used to view our slideshows with. After signing up for slideshare.com, I uploaded my powerpoint slideshow presentation. The last step for this assignment was for us all to present it infront of the class. In this activity, I learned that Microsoft Powerpoint is not the only slideshow software that could be used to conduct meetings or presentations. As a teacher, powerpoint would be very useful in terms of lecture and conducting of class projects. It is very beneficial in terms of teaching for it is easy to use and straigh to the point. In other words, if you want to conserve more paper, then using slideshare is very beneficial; you do not have to pass papers in class to do your presentations. In conclusion, Microsoft Powerpoint is not the only software that allows its users to create slideshow presentations, but there are more than one online.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Slideshow Presentation Softwares

Hello everybody!!!! Today is another interesting day of ED 105 Intro to Computers for Teachers. October 08, 2008 is our presentation day for the Slideshow Presentation. First and foremost, before beginning this group assignment our instructor gave us each group a website to us; Picturetrail.com, RockYou.com, Slide.com, and Photobucket.com. Aside from the site was also a rubric to follow in order for our group to deserve an A. The main objective of this assignment was to be in groups of 4. In our group, we had to come up with a slideshow presentation; the slideshow had to deal with a story. After getting in groups of 4, our instructor then gave each of the 4 groups in class a website. The website contained a slideshow software and we were supposed to use it. Our group was assigned to Rock You.com. Our story was about a magic pencil and notebook. The magic pencil and notebook only worked on our main character Ambulo Blunt if and only if he puts in effort into reviewing. However, after discovering that his pencil and notebook had powers, he abuses their powers and procrastinates each and every day. Rock you was amazing, it was user friendly and had alot of features. Rock you allowed us to put a background music for our slideshow. The unique thing about rock you is the fact that it allows you to change the skin of your slideshow. For our slideshow, we used a plasma HD television skin and at the same time an old movie effect for our pictures. If you are interested in looking at how our slideshow looks here is the link to it http://www.rockyou.com/show_my_gallery2.php?instanceid=124218292; highlight this link and copy it and then paste it in your address bar. Comparing rock you to the other online slideshow softwares, I would prefer rock you to be used in class. It has all the features that a person needs in order for them to meet their expectations when it comes to slideshow presentations. In conclusion, all the 4 groups that participated in the online slideshow presentation did extremely well. Each presentation was unique, interesting, and impressive. In addition, online slideshow softwares are great. If you are tired of using your Microsoft Powerpoint software, there is always another option such as Rockyou.com and Photobucket.com; both sites are free and easy to use.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Digital Camera Scavenger Hunt.

September 29, 2008, for my class ED 105 we had a different class activity. This activity is one of the best I've had so far. For the Digital Camera Scavenger Hunt, our instructor gave us a digital camera and a paper. The paper contained a list of objects that we are supposed to scavenge out here at NMC and take a picture of it. A White Toyota Echo, a handicap parking lot, an instructor that wears eyeglasses, and a funny picture were some of the items that was mentioned on the list. Being used to uploading pictures online, this activity was no hassle at all; however, the only hassle was the fact that there were some items that we struggled finding. Although in the end, we managed to get all the objects taken. In conclusion, the main purpose of this assignment was to get us students used to uploading pictures from the digital camera to a computer.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Online Word Processors

During our last ED 105 class, we discussed several types of web based softwares and its features. Today, on September 22, 2008, we did something similar; however, this time it was online word processors. Our ED 105 instructor Mr. Jenkins, introduced us four types of online word processors; Zoho, iNetword, Think Free, and Google Docs. These online word processors are all similar to each other; however they have different features. During class, we were divided into four groups and within the group, we were given one processor. For each group with one word processor, we were assigned to explore the program itself and see what available features it had to offer us users. I was in group two and our group handled iNetword. For iNetword, it was just like Microsoft Word; however, this program was not just a word processor. iNetword was a combination of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Powerpoint, Photobucket, and 50webs; 50webs is an online software that allowed a person to create his or her webpage. My group and I found iNetword somewhat a user friendly program; you had to explore the program itself for awhile. What fascinated us was the fact that this program allowed a user to save his or her file into the internet or even save it into their computer. The other thing was that it had a built in calendar. This software was so organized that you could create tabs that will be inserted at the side of the window that your using. My group members and I rated this software a 9 out 10. It had templates in the program; however, we expected it to be like Gliffy where you can search images online and retrieve it when found. This software was somewhat user friendly, but we had to play around with it first. In conclusion, if you are looking for more than one online word processor, the internet has alot in store for you.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Reflection and evaluation of web based softwares that we tried for ED 105

School has started and it has been three weeks already. All the web based soft-wares that Mr.Jenkins showed in class are great; however, some have weaknesses. There were 3 web base d soft-wares, gliffy, mindmeister, and mnemograph. Gliffy was the software that allowed us to create maps; make a map showing where we lived. Mindmeister on the other hand, was the software that had everyone bugged; it was a software that allowed us to create a web. Lastly, mnemograph, this was the other software that helped us create timelines. They were somewhat ok, however the only web base software that I liked was gliffy. Out of 10, I would give gliffy a 10. A 10 because it was user friendly, aside from that, you were able to retrieve pictures online and use them in the graph. Besides gliffy, we were also introduced to the mind mapping program called mindmeister. This software totally pissed me and my group off. Instead of it being user friendly, it was more of anger friendly. Out of 10, it deserved a 2.5. You had to play around with the software in order for you to get a hang of it. The last software that we were introduced to was the mnemograph. Mnemograph was a software that was created for people to use when creating a timeline. It was user friendly but at the same time somewhat hard to get a hang off. It was like mindmeister; however, its instructions were so clear, vivid, and straight to the point. I would give this software a rating of 7.5 out of 10. Mnemograph was so plain, the only thing that you could change was it's background, size of font, and color. Other than that, it was plain. Among all this 3 web base softwares, I prefer Gliffy. It outrated the other 2 softwares.