MindMeister.

MindMeister is a tool that allows to collaboratively create mind maps and share them online. It can be used for real-time collaboration and brainstorming sessions. Users can create, manage and share mind maps online and access them anytime, from anywhere.

Take this quick tour around mindmeister...


 Jill initially put me onto this resource, she is currently using it as a tool to communicate with her debating team, discussing topics etc. Here is a review of how she has found the resource:

  My Experience with MindMeister: Jill Ewbank

I decided to use this tool to plan a debate with a couple of really bright year 11 students. We needed somewhere we could brainstorm ideas, easily cut and past to and from, and a ‘mind map’ design to help our ideas flow.  I found the website through a simple google search.

Essential Details:

What is it? – A collaborative online mind mapping tool.

Cost – Free for Basic membership, only allows for 3 mind maps and limited exporting options, however can still export as a PDF to save on the computer.

Platforms – There is an App for iPad and iPhone, also an online platform through any browser.

Pros –

As a teacher, it is easy to set up a mind map, the whole interfaces is very usable and quite intuitive. There is a ‘how to’ tutorial you can do to get the most out of the program, however I was a little time poor and skipped this and decided to ‘wing it’. I probably didn’t use every function available, however the students found it very useful.

You also have a great deal of control over what students post up. There is also a chat function associated with the mind map that you can easily look through the history.

Cons –

I tried to use the iPad app, but had a great deal of trouble once the students began to post on the mind map. 

We also had a minor panic when I accidentaly deleted everything the students had written and couldn’t ‘undo’.  However, once I realised that I had to kick the students off the page in order to undo the process this was rectified.

If you only sign up to the ‘basic’ membership, there are limited ways you can export the mind map document, I exported as a PDF simply as a back up.  If you were wanting to cut and paste text, you need to do this directly from the website version of your mind map.

Uses in the classroom –

I used this for a Debate prep, which was 3 students and myself. I don’t feel this would work in large groups as too much would be going on whilst they were collaborating. I do feel it would work in small group work for students to explore an idea, brainstorm and develop strategies or arguments. It would be great to print out the PDF and use as any sort of Evidence for subjects that require this for assessment. One big issue is that you can only ‘own’ 3 maps on the basic membership, which limits your control. If you decided to upgrade your membership there are many more options and much more control. It would be worthwhile for departments to look at an education membership if it is something they feel they could use regularly.

Screen Shots…

This is our mind map, zoomed out quite a bit, you can see how much information we could put up on the map. It is very easy to zoom in and out of the map so you can read through information or focus on different parts of the map. The students decided to colour code certain aspects to make it easier to read.

 A ‘zoomed in’ section of our mind map… clever kids hey!

For those of us who are very…. Visual... there are many themes that help with presentation… one example below.

 The limits for this resource seem to be endless for collaboration and class discussion purposes.

If you would like help implementing or using this resource please do not hesitate to ask!

Shaun

Cloud Based Storage.

Online backup is now a must have for all computer users, as we now live in a digital age where our whole digital life is stored online.

Our files, photos, music, video, financials and more are all stored on our computer hard drives.

But what happens if your hard drives crash?

All hard drives will fail eventually and they usually happen at random when you least expect them.

We no longer have CD collections, or DVD racks with our films, or photo albums of our photos, they are all stored on our hard drives.

Theft, Fire, Accidental deletion, hardware failure, all these can contribute to lost files.

Files which are no longer just binary text, these files are irreplaceable memories which money cannot buy back.

Online Backup is like insurance, for free, or a small monthly fee (Less than the cost of a Cinema Ticket) you will never have to worry about your files again. If you get a new computer and you need to restore your files and documents its literally a click of a button.

BCE provides students with 30GB of free storage using Google Drive, this should be set up for every student on our network. Students simply go to Google Drive and sign in with their student email and password. Students can have this storage enabled at IT, classroom teachers can also arrange with IT to have the trainees come to their environments to set up a whole class in a short period of time, a recommended strategy.

I use the following Cloud Storage platforms:

Apple iCloud: When it comes to ease of use, iCloud easily outpaces the competition. It’s not so much that the other cloud services reviewed are difficult to use (they aren’t), it’s merely that iCloud has done it the simplest. All of your files are in one place and it doesn’t require any hands-on management; you simply download or save a file once and it is instantly available on all of your devices. When you sign up for iCloud, you automatically get 5GB of free storage, with upgrades available.
Best for: Simplicity of use between Apple products, iPhones, iPads and Mac.


Google Drive:
You get a little bit of everything with this service, including a word processor, spreadsheet application, and presentation builder, plus 15GB of free storage space.
If you already have a Google account, you can already access Google Drive. You just have to enable the service. Upload to Drive, photos, videos, documents, Photoshop files and more, however, you have to share that 15GB with your Gmail account, photos you upload to Google+, and any documents you create in Google Drive. While you can access any of your files from the Drive Web site, you can also download the Drive desktop app for Mac and PC to manage your files from your computer. Like other cloud storage services, Drive has apps for iOS and Android, so you can manage your files from your phone.
You can edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, even if you created the document in another program. If you use Gmail, it's easy to save attachments from your e-mail directly to Drive with just a few clicks.
Best for: Access of documents you want frequently, or anyone who wants a few office tools with their cloud storage.

Dropbox:
It's reliable, easy to use, and a breeze to set up. Your files live in the cloud and you can get to them at any time from Dropbox's Web site, desktop applications for Mac, Windows or any mobile ISO device. Dropbox gives its users plenty of opportunities to get extra storage to beef up the paltry 2GB you get Free when you sign up.
Best for: Simple sharing when you use tons of different kinds of devices.

Why I use more than one? Simple, why put all your eggs in the one basket?? I still use an external hardrive as well, I have a dedicated email account that is only used as a file storage platform too. Online Backup is insurance, hard drives eventually WILL fail, simple.

Here is a recent review of 10 of the world’s leading cloud storage companies testing their service for speed, reliability, security, ease of use, cost and their support. Personally, I think trust, reliability and security to be the most important factors to consider when considering your options, so use this guide to help you find the best cloud storage provider to suit your needs.

Thanks,

Shaun

Brisbane Catholic Education's LMS... LIFE.

With a shift back to the reformatted LMS provided by BCE, LIFE, i thought i would provide a few answers as to WHY you should make an effort into getting your LIFE experience back in track.



Check out the lesson LIFE WHYs??? on Blendspace: Check out the lesson LIFE WHYs??? on Blendspace



More information to follow.



Shaun

E-Resources and you. Worth Having A Read...

In today’s digital world, a web of learning resources surrounds every individual. It’s an environment wherein each resource connects to others, creating an overall structure in which (life) learning takes place. The learning ecosystem is the combination of technologies and support resources available to help individuals learn within an environment. And, I would add, that same combination of technologies and support resources helps individuals perform within an environment. It is business-relevant performance with which we must primarily be concerned when thinking of the so called 'global community' our learners stand poised to enter, if they have not already.

It is the learner’s entitlement to be able to create, collaborate and communicate with ICT’s in their learning environments through access and the use of technology.

What do you think of these comments? It is certainly a interesting discussion point... agree?

Have a great day,

Shaun

Apple's GarageBand Version:10.0.02

Firstly, this resource I initially consisered to be quite specific to the Music Department however through our inservice led by Jill Ewbank, it really broadend my ideas for incorperating GarageBand into many aspects of general class activities.

Im no musician, but I can see why this resource is so popular with them. GarageBand features a standard matrix where MIDI files, recorded/imported audio files can be modified and manipulated. With seamless iTunes compatibility, tracks can be imported and exported with ease. The program offers users tools to make minor adjustments to sequence and sound with basic synthesizing and mixing features.

One obvious advantage GarageBand does have, is its seamless compatibility with other iLife products, E.g: iPhoto and iMovie. GarageBand can be used to score films or provide soundtracks to these products and the simierlarities between the editing process accross all the iLife products means you can initially fumble your way around while learning how to use each of them.

GarageBand is compatible with any files that can be converted to MP3 or included within iTunes. While instruments like microphones or guitars can be given direct line-ins. It features built-in help guides, tutorials and search features in addition to a detailed FAQ section and forum hosted by its Manufacturer, Apple. Additional assistance can be obtained via email.

GarageBand works well for the casual hobbyist, music class or as an audio recording device for Pod Cast, it lacks most of the tools and features to go beyond simple editing and modification tasks, but if you are creating your own album you would not be using this resource, though it is possible. Apple does offer additional add-ons and upgrade features, that allow you to refine your practice further from the base model.

The last version had a default PodCast option which has not been carried through to the new update, however it is still very possible to use this resource for Pod Casting, the following link is an example of just that. In the link, you will hear audio of the inservice session with Jill and other teachers who were discussing the PodCast oppertunities with GarageBand and other editing information.

If you would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact me!

Shaun

Flipgrid.

Flipgrid is a "free at first resource" that allows teachers to pose a challenge to students with detailed, robust online discussion capabilities.

Grids can be classes, sections, groups of students, research groups, faculty groups, or any collection of users interested in a common strand of questions. Each grid can hold an unlimited number of questions, and each question can hold an unlimited number of video responses.

Questions are short, text-based prompts (think Twitter™) that can include basic formatting (e.g., bold, italic) and links to websites or documents.

Review

Pros:

For a free program, it's very detailed and has tons of potential to bring classes closer together in the pursuit of knowledge.

Cons:

Some kids may not have the technology available at home to participate in Flipgrid conversations.

Bottom Line:

It's a simple way for kids and teachers to create online discussion, as long as kids are mature enough to use it wisely. 

Engagement

Seeing and hearing students' video responses can make discourse fun; the site allows personalities and ideas to shine in 90-second clips. Design is colorful, clean, and intuitive.

Pedagogy

Users have 90 seconds to respond to a teacher's question in any way they see fit; that's empowering. They also have to condense answers into that short amount of time, a transferable communication skill for sure.

Support

A two-minute help video guides kids through the process, and the homepage outlines a pretty comprehensive step-by-step process. That said, there's no way to ask questions aside from sending an email.
Conclusion:

I think this resource is really flexible, you can tailor this to suit your class needs really simply. As you may have seen, I used this resource to take a snapshot of information the ICT Department was seeking. Hopefully you used it!

If you would like further information on this resource and how to embed it into your learning environment, don't hesitate to get in touch.

Shaun

Shamblespad.

Shamblespad is an excellent resource you can use to gather whole class ideas and check for knowledge and understanding. ShamblesPAD is a tool that enables collaboration on documents in REALLY real-time.

You may be in class discussing information with high or low student interaction toward a topic, to control the flow of responses or to bleed a response from a learning group, introduce a shamblespad.

Simply create a customized URL that relates to the topic and click on "New Pad".

Once the page opens, you will be met with the below message which is a default "Heads Up" about the capabilities of Shamblespad. You will notice in the picture below the pads are compatible on mobile devices, however you can not embed pictures. You can Embed other URL's to link to other sites.

I delete most of this message strait away and embed guidelines of how to use the pad, remember, everything that is written on the pad is viewable. I normally wait 5 minutes to tell the learners this so they can figure out they can write stuff and everyone can see it! Obviously this encourages "Tom Foolery" at which time I then inform them that everything that is written on the page is savable and the responsibility of the student who wrote it. This is a nice opportunity to remind students about their role in Digital Citizenship...

Below is a simplistic example of how I start a class on a pad, clear direction and most importantly, make sure they place their name after the comment they post to encourage ownership over their work as well as linking them to any inappropriate comments.

 This example was done very quickly in a busy class, I was in a situation where I was getting bombarded with information and rather than take notes on the board, which I was already doing, I opened the class up to this resource. It is up to you how stringent you are with grammar, today I simply wanted responses and made the class aware I was only interested in information RELATED to the question posed. Here is a link to the result after 5 minutes.

In the past I have used a shamblespad per class, essentially setting it up like a lesson plan with clear guidelines and instructions, the students then work independently/collaboratively toward the tasks set. I have had great success using this strategy with classes who struggle to engage, as they can see the work their peers are achieving, encouraging participation.

If you would like to see more examples or discuss implementing a shamblespad into your learning environment, I look forward to hearing from you.

Shaun

Dipity. (Timeline Tool)

Dipity is an interactive web-based timeline tool. It’s easy to use and helps reporters organise mass amounts of information into a format that looks great on the web and allows audience to enter the story in a different way. Dipity’s timeline format has a small learning curve compared to other timeline soft wares.
Pros:

• Dipity is easy — easy to make, easy to update, easy to embed.
• Users can follow the timeline to be notified of updates, which makes Dipity great, not just for traditional timeline stories, but for ongoing stories such as earthquakes in a given city over time.
• Allows users to pull in data updated in real time, such as the last 100 tweets from a local politician.
• Viewers can contribute to time lines (this feature can be turned off).

Cons:

• Money: With the free account, you can create three time lines and paid plans start at $4.95 per month for 10 time lines with a big jump to unlimited for $49.95 per month.

Let’s get started:
Make a free account and click “create a timeline.”

Input a name and description for your timeline. Choose a timezone, a category, upload an image icon and manage the permissions. Click “continue to add events.”
Dipity allows TONS of different methods for inputing events on the timeline. For most of the events, they automatically update, although I’m not sure how useful most of this would be.
Using an email address or username you can import recent play history from Pandora, a user’s 100 most recent Delicious bookmarks, 100 most recent tweets or 20 most recent YouTube videos. The timeline creator can also pull tweets, Flickr photos, YouTube videos and items from Google News based on a keyword search. This is very cool when using this resource as a research scaffold...

The real nit-and-grit of Dipity is its interface for entering single events. 

Enter information for the event title and date. This information will show on the front of the event, and users will have to click the event to see the description. The timeline looks much better if each event has a picture, although adding pictures is sometimes not an option depending on the topic. Creators can also add a video URL, link (such as a link to a corresponding news story) and the location.

Be aware: When inputting a date, Dipity forces you to enter a day, month and year. This is frustrating if an event spanned a year, occurred over a date range or the specific date is unknown.
Press “add event.”
When all the events are uploaded, press the yellow “continue” button.

The next screen is for advanced settings. Default zoom manipulates the time the viewer will see in a single screen. For example, if you were making a timeline on a shooting that latest several hours, the zoom would be best set to half hour, but if you were making a timeline on the history of the universe, you would select 5,000 years. Don’t stress out about it too much — automatic usually works well enough.

Center on Date lets you change the date in the middle of the user’s default screen. Pick the climax of your timeline or the most important event and let users see the rising and falling actions. Tag keywords to help your timeline group with time lines of similar subjects (“crime,” “earthquake,” etc.). Choose a comments option and theme and click “save and view.”
 
To embed your timeline, click “embed” in the right corner of the timeline box.

The embed code is at the top in HTML, along with some options with customizing the timeline’s size and color.

Had success using this resource? Share your experience both positive and negative in the comment section.

 
 Shaun

Timeline.

Timeline: This easy to use and free resource can be used in many ways.

Create a graphical representation of an event or process by displaying items sequentially along a line. Timelines can be organized by time of day, date, or event, and the tool allows users to create a label with short or long descriptive text. The ability to add an image encourages students to create a visually appealing project.

Add, drag, and rearrange items as needed. Saving capability allows students to return to their work and make revisions. Final work can be shared via e-mail or saved to the device's camera roll.
Designed for use in the school environment, this app features a simple profile system so that multiple users can create and store their own timelines on the same device without confusion.

This tool is also mobile capable through an app that mirrors the web-based platform, so users familiar with one can easily adapt to the other. In fact, users can send their editable .rwt files to an email address and then open their timeline right in the online or mobile tool!

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  If you use time management plans, timelines or schedules in your units this resource is excellent!

  
  

  If you would like to see how Timeline has been used or could be used in your learning environment, please don't hesitate to get in contact if you seek assistance!

  
  

  Shaun

Scootle

Scootle: a one stop shop for online curriculum content.

 

Learn, teach and collaborate using digital resources to support the Australian Curriculum. 

The Le@rning Federation (TLF) has developed Scootle, a website to allow jurisdictions to give their teachers a quick, approachable way to find and use digital curriculum content in their classrooms, and their school leaders a means to oversee this usage and draw on it for future school-level planning.
Scootle helps educators to provide individualised learning to cater to students’ diverse needs, facilitate collaborative student learning and create additional means for teacher collaboration within a school.
What is Scootle?
Scootle (www.scootle.edu.au) is a ‘one stop shop’ that contains more than 7800 items of digital curriculum content from The Le@rning Federation. It provides easy ways to find, organise and use this material. TLF’s digital curriculum content includes:

• learning objects: interactive, multimedia resources designed for Australian and New Zealand curricula
• digital resources: items sourced from Australia and New Zealand's premier cultural institutions that may be a section of moving image footage; an image of a document, line drawing, painting, or map; a photograph; an audio file of a song or broadcast
• teaching and assessment resources: assessment objects, teaching notes and assessment ideas to support the digital curriculum content.

This material is indexed using the subject headings of the Schools Online Thesaurus, an agreed Australian and New Zealand vocabulary of curriculum topics and terms for educators. Search results can be viewed on timelines and Google maps, providing new ways for teachers to discover relevant resources, and also to construct challenging learning experiences for students.

I highly recommend every member of staff to register for this resource, it is FREE and contains a wealth of opportunity for your learning environment.

Leave some feedback if you find something of interest?

Shaun

 

iBook Author.

iBook Author is a fantastic tool to present or store information:

The following information will provide you with the knowledge to:

• Create a multi-touch iPad book on a MAC.
• Choose templates and looking at how to customise the templates
• Dragging and dropping images, or text from Word or Pages to create content in your ibook
• Using widgets and how these add value to the ibook
• Examining the built in accessibility features of iBook Author and how these can make your ibook accessible to all readers 

You can share your iBook to a variety of platforms, if you would like one to one assistance setting an iBook up or to discuss how to use them in you classes please do not hesitate to contact me.

Shaun 

iMovie MacBook (November 2013 Version)

Recognised by learners the world over, iMovie is a general starting point for basic video editing and movie creation. Before you watch this tutorial, it is recommended you spend a few minutes familiarising yourself with the iMovie platform.

 
Apple’s iMovie, has reinvented itself all over again. Apple’s new version of iMovie is sleek and sophisticated both on the Mac and on iOS devices. It retains a lot of advanced features from prior versions, but keeps its interface clutter- and confusion-free for newer users. And it’s added a new avenue for easily sharing movies to your computer and Apple TV. 

The welcome box that shows up on the first run of Apple's entry-level video editing program touts the following as highlights of the new iMovie for Mac:

• New design
• Quick Sharing
• Movies and Trailers (referring to new themes for your video projects)
• Enhanced editing tools
• iMovie Theater (a new iCloud capability that lets you watch your movies on any of your Apple devices remotely)

Interface—Putting a Movie Together with iMovie
Apple has moved the action buttons around in the interface, instead of a row of tool buttons in the middle of the interface between the preview and timeline, editing buttons appear above the video preview window. These include buttons for color balance, color correction, cropping, stabilization, volume, noise reduction, equalizer, and video and audio effects. At bottom left of the screen, you'll now see the Transitions, Titles, Maps & Backgrounds, iTunes, Sound Effects, and Garageband choices. This move of these below the source clips is a move towards a more pro video editing approach, in which transitions and titles are types of source content.

The program's method for adding clips to your movie has been improved. In the previous version of iMovie, when you tapped the cursor on a clip in source, it would select a seemingly random-size subclip, and double-clicking showed the Clip Inspector. Now, a Plus sign appears when you click on a clip, making adding it or part of it to the project much simpler. .
As in Final Cut Pro, iMovie's timeline is "magnetic," meaning whenever you add or trim a clip, the rest of the movie ripples into place, and no gaps are left. There was no way to change this behavior that I could see, in case you want to have blank space to hold for later use. Most consumers, however, will be well served by iMovie's behavior.

Importing and Organizing
iMovie's import window snaps into action when you plug in video media. But instead of creating new events based on the content's date and time the way iPhoto does, iMovie simply imported files to the same Event that the last import unless I changed the Import to:" box to New Event." The new Import down-arrow button at the top of the program window makes importing easier in cases when the window doesn't open by itself.

I successfully got the program to import .MOV, .MPG, .MTS, and .MP4 files, but not WMV files. Direct video capture video from the Mac's built-in FaceTime camera is another option. You can skim thumbnails of videos you're importing to preview them. A free media converter to use if you are using files other than these.

Audio
From the bottom left panel, choosing Sound Effects offers hundreds of sounds and background music options, from nature environments to electro beeps. If those aren't enough, you can choose anything from your iTunes library as well.
You can also apply effects to your clips' existing audio, from the Adjust toolbar's Video and Audio Effects button. Some cool tricks like robot voice, pitch raise or lower, or different room acoustics—even Cathedral—are available. Like the Video Effects, these aren't adjustable, just presets.
Voiceovers are still a cinch, with the Window ' Record Voiceover menu option adding a microphone icon to the preview window. When you hit the mic, a 3-2-1 countdown helpfully tells you when to start yakking.

Sharing—iMovie Theater
Clicking on the northeast-pointing share icon reveals a box of expected sharing outputs: Email, Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, and many more. You can also share with yourself through iTunes or by saving a video file locally. But the big new choice is iMovie Theater, and there's a whole tab for it in the app. Switching it to Theater view shows "posters" of videos you've shared to it from iMovie.

The key to Theater is that anything you place there will be viewable on any of your other Apple devices—including iPads, iPhones, iPod Touches, Macs, and Apple TVs. That last one is a big deal when you're talking about watching movies! It's sort of like an iCloud Photo Stream for video. And like Photo Stream, one place you won't be able to see the movie is in a Web browser: it's not added to your iCloud.com page. And iOS devices will need to have the iMovie app installed to watch Theater. The video is sized appropriately for each device, and looked great on my iPhone 5.

Like most digital resources, the key to success with iMovie will be you playing around with it. As a basic media outlet and creating tool it is still the market leader. If you would like to organise a one to one PD session with me regarding this resource I'm happy to oblige!

Some useful links to other iMovie tutorials.

iMovie on Mobile devices: 

Shaun.

Zaption Video Creator.

Zaption, is revolutionizing online video for education. Teachers, trainers, and content publishers use Zaption’s intuitive web app to quickly add images, text, quizzes, and discussions to existing videos from YouTube, Vimeo and private video libraries.

Think iMovie, now triple the outcome with evidence of learning thrown in for good measure...

Simply, this resource is awesome! You can add elements from particular You Tube or VEMEO clips and create questions and quizzes that relate directly to the chosen clip.The bases of this resource is creating 'TOURS', so rather than watching a Click View video and downloading the task sheet, you can find content that exists on You Tube, Teacher Tube or use Videos of your own to create the experience with strategically place checks for understanding embedded along the way.

WATCH THE SHORT VIDEO ABOVE TO GET A BETTER IDEA...

 The result is an interactive learning tour that transforms video from a “lean back” experience to an engaging “lean forward” activity. With Zaption’s analytics, teachers get immediate feedback on how students interact with the content and understand key concepts.

Why use this resource???
Students love being fed information!! Tailor the content to suit your UNIT needs and use the Zaption video as a formative piece of assessment?

Here is a list of HOW TO's when using Zaption.

If you would like more info or training of how to embed this resource into your planning, I'm happy to oblige!

Shaun

You Tube Channels.

Video is fast becoming the example that is followed up upon a google inquirey. Creating your own You Tube Chennel allows you to store and share videos that you have saved or created.

Need help fixing your bike? Looking for a new make up look or hairstyle? More and more, as a society we’re looking to YouTube to help us learn new things.

The same goes in education. Your learners are absolutely aware of this as well.

Can’t figure out how to do your trigonometry homework or need an extra study boost going into a test? YouTube can probably help you out. But as we all know, though the Internet can be a wealth of information, it’s not necessarily all good information. That’s also the case with instructional content. It’s not always necessarily that it’s not “good” information.

Sometimes it is simply that the information is not presented in the best way for the student who is looking for help. Not to mention the fact that the student might have to skim through three or more videos searching for what they need. This is time consuming–and for a student who might be in crunch time studying for a test, not really their best use of time.

Creating your own You Tube Channel will provide you with a platform to store useful vidos that are specific to subject content.

How video is driving personalization in education.

This is where the work of companies such as Glean and PBSLearningMedia gets me excited. Glean’s goal is to provide a space for students and teachers to discover the best educational video lessons on the web. Hundreds of amazing teachers post educational videos online every day; Glean has organised these videos by subject and topic, tagged them by educational standard, and wrapped them in interactive tools like Q&A. PBS LearningMedia is your destination for direct access to thousands of classroom-ready, curriculum-targeted digital resources. PBS LearningMedia builds on the strength of public media and is designed to improve teacher effectiveness and student achievement. Resources are aligned to American Common Core and national standards and include videos and interactives, as well as audio, documents, and in-depth lesson plans. You can browse by standards, grade level, subject area, and special collections. You can also favorite, and share resources with your class and colleagues through folders and social media. Best of all, PBS LearningMedia’s basic service is free for PreK-12 educators. There is  ertainly a wealth of resources to have a look over and use in your own context.

If you are not registered with Teacher Tube yet, you should be.

Teacher Tube is a video sharing website similar to, and based on, YouTube. It is designed to allow those in the educational industry, particularly teachers, to share educational resources such as video, audio, documents, photos, groups and blogs. The site contains a mixture of classroom teaching resources and others designed to aid teacher training. A number of students have also uploaded videos that they have made as part of K-12 and college courses. The website has over One Million+ educational members and over 500,000 educational videos. Something for everyone!

Create your own account with these sites and use the readily available resources at will! 

Give it a try, share your constraints and considerations in the comments to help those who are yet to attempt it!

Shaun

Weebly FREE website builder.

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Weebly: Named as one of TIME's top 50 Best Websites.

The easiest way for anyone to build a website. If building a website intimidates you, you’ll want to try Weebly. 

Almost every website builder advertises itself as the “easiest” way for anyone to build a website. But I’d like to settle this once and for all. Weebly is actually the easiest way for anyone to build a website. Here’s a few reasons why.

Generally, websites have two sections that need editing: a content section that is unique to each page and a header and footer section that wraps around all pages.

In Weebly, editing the content section of pages is straightforward. Each page has a content area in which you drag and drop “elements.” Elements include basics like paragraphs, photo galleries, titles, buttons as well as the more advanced elements like YouTube videos, columns and forms.

 Here is a link to an invaluable review and step by step set up and explanation for creating a Weebly framework.

In my own classes, I have been using Weebly as a scaffold for students to present research and assessment items. Very user friendly, I initially provide half an hour for the learners to have a 'good look' on the page with specific information they must embed onto the resource (Name, Title, Topic, Headings etc.).

Here is a link to a page I created for my year 10 Hospitality class. The task is based around Cafe Culture and would normally be handed out as a task sheet for the students to work on with research tasks to be completed on Word Docs. The advantage of using this scaffold is the information can all be stored in one place.

Here is an example of a students work submitted this term (Term 1). You can see how the display of this framework allows creativity and a large amount of text. Why use a word document when you can have your students present in this format? 

As teachers we can use Weebly to create a 'Landing Pad' for our students. Embed resources, information, links to particular websites and critical information required for individual units or overarching subject pathways. Like the BCE Learning Management System 'LIFE', Weebly can be used to scaffold information that students can access at any point of time. Faculties can create 'live' websites that reflect the specific needs of topics. These can then be reviewed after use and refined.

If you would like assistance in setting a Weebly page up, please do not hesitate to ask. If you have already used Weebly in your learning environment, please comment below and share your experiences with the platform! 

Thanks,

Shaun

Blogger Tutorial

I find BLOG's to be a simple way for learners to deliver, present or store information that I'm asking them to acquire. Just like THIS BLOG Education and Instructional Design, you can create a platform that engages an audience to view information you desire to share, across digital and mobile platforms.

I believe a BLOG is a really good entry level into digital learning incorporation. Currently I have over 10 BLOG's being used in different ways across 5 classes.

An example of how to incorporate a BLOG into your practice is using it as a 'sometime's or 'fulltime' replacement of a work book. You can ask your students to create a platform, similar to this blog as an example, and then embed 'Pages', each page could represent a Term. The students could name the page Term 1. and in that space they achieve class tasks.

This is no different to them creating a folder on their desktop and using Word or Pages formats to achieve class tasks. However, it is encouraging your students and yourself to think differently about your instructional design AND intent. It also highlights accountability, digital ownership and engages them to use their laptops as something more than a media player while they write out the document the teacher wants them to.

Example of what the layout might look like:

If you would like to see more examples of embedding a BLOG into your practice, I'm happy to show you and to help you manage and create a platform for your needs.

Cheers,

Shaun

Introduction:

This BLOG has been set up in a basic, easily achievable and FREE resource to underpin the ideals that education technology is accessible and available to anyone and everyone.

This BLOG will scaffold resource reviews and provide real time examples of how to access, set up and use E-Learning resources to aid instructional design within your learning environment.

E-Learning is no quick fix to education, nor is it a stand alone objective, it is however a way to use technology to help foster relationships between teacher and students.

The instructional design that underpins a verbal suggestion to a student, a specific task sheet or practical example all stem from the knowledge of the educator being relayed to best equip the learner to make the greatest learning achievement.

Nothing changes when introducing E-Learning opportunities to your students.

“Be intentional and select tools that align with your curriculum objectives. Plan technology use as another tool to get the job done, like books or crayons.” (Meris Stansbury, 2014)

Q. How will all this link to everything else that we have to do? 

Simply, that's up to you. Throughout your faculties, teaching groups and year levels, you will already have instructional design in place. This BLOG will specifically be relating resources that can provide engaging, time smart and sustainable options for you as educators to make choices for implementation best suited for your learners interests.

Before we get underway, here is an awesome article from eSchool News relating specifically to the ideals of this BLOG, Enjoy.

10 questions to ask when choosing education technology...

Stay tuned for regular updates.

Shaun.