Skip to main content

Module 6: Exploring photos and videos on the web


In the past for personal reasons, I did store and use Picasa for editing photos and creating albums. I have to confess that I have moved on since then, however, it is still very useful for those embarking on photo streamlining and editing. It is wonderful that it is a free tool for organising, editing and sharing photos. The simple photo editing tools are useful and I have created Picasa slideshow albums previously. In the classroom students could use Picasa to manage photos for projects or reports or quickly create a movie slideshow. For example, it would be a good way to present a digital portfolio of their work, useful for an excursion report or to make an historical documentary using the sepia editing functions for example. 

I love photo editing tools - it's a bit of a hobby of mine. They can be great fun to play with. I think Picasa is a bit too involved for the primary aged students I currently work with. There are some easier to use applications for the iPad that would be more appropriate for my students. For example, we use 'Doodle Buddy' for iPad. Students can paint with their fingers, doodle or stamp over their own images and there are creative stickers, stencils etc that can be added. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

DIGITAL SYSTEMS: CSER task 5 - Information Systems

Option 1: Think of a lesson idea for "sharing information online safely" or "behaving online appropriately". Write your idea as a brief description with any links to websites, videos or books that you might use in your lesson. Digital Citizenship has to be a key area of focus in the modern classroom with the access to online digital devices that all students have today. The transference of behaving appropriately in class and the playground must now apply to behaving appropriately online. Two key concepts I reiterate in my class are: one, if you would not say it to someone's face then don't type it online; and two, don't be a bystander. This last concept my students are most familiar with. What students require today, is ways of being responsible when inappropriate situations occur.  I am a big fan of Common Sense Education.   Here you will find a vast array of resources for teaching in the digital age. One lesson idea I have used to reinforce appr...

Module 7: Building Online communities

In today's cyber world, there is a plethora of data out there! Therefore, it's a great idea to discuss and learn different ways to tap into this wealth of information. I have some of my own ways - being the avid iPad user that I am - that I will tell you about later. However, I had not read much about Delicious or Diigo and it was interesting to learn of yet another way to try and itemise useful information for future uses. Upon delving further in Delicious I can see a range of benefits that I currently use. For example: there is never enough time to read interesting articles and its great to be able to bookmark pages, authors or work sites that have great lesson ideas you might like to come back to and trial in your own classroom. a benefit that is an absolute MUST, is the capability to be able to access your bookmarks from any device. it's also beneficial to be able to share interesting articles or sites with students and colleagues that promote discussion and act...

Final Reflection

This Web 2.0 course has solidified my understandings and introduced me to some great new tools for the classroom. Web 2.0 has taken hold for educators and is having a significant impact on learning for the 21st century. Overall it can be said that the creation of collaborative learning spaces is huge. What is essential, and something this course most definitely provides, is the necessary and appropriate teacher preparation for the pedagogical impact of using Web 2.0 tools in the classroom. It is imperative that teachers feel comfortable and ready to adopt the educational benefits of Web 2.0 E-learning with the iLE@RN pedagogical model can combine to provide the necessary student learning, teacher designed curriculum and creative lesson planning. You cannot just launch students into this style of learning. Skills need to be addressed that incorporate communication, collaboration, questioning, reflection, critical thinking etc so that learning is at its optimum. I am a big supporter ...