Emerging Technologies 4: Animoto

Animoto seems to be a tool that could be very useful in the classroom. Instead of a powerpoint, you can put your pictures and text in Animoto and it will create this beautiful video that looks completely professional. You can add audio too, so the videos are totally engrossing by the end. All you have to do is upload your pictures and or text. If you just want to create a 30 second video, its free, but if you want longer than that you must pay a fee. This is totally understandable for such a service. However, I did run into a few problems. The program offers music choices but none of them are that great. Also, when I was finished creating the movie, I had to do the publishing part several times before it would work without any errors. So with any type of software or website, there are always problems. But overall, I think this could be a great tool for teachers to engage students and for students to use for projects as well.

Emerging Technologies 3- Adobe Flash CS4

In another class I am taking this semester, we have started to have the opportunity to work with a program from Adobe called Flash CS4. This software allows you to create wonderfully engaging interactive projects for students. These could be movies, virtual fieldtrips, or any other interactive digital experience you can think of. We first learned how to create a shape then make it move. Just this simple animation of making a ball bounce across the screen is very complicated, but when finished, it is really something to see. We are now learning how to import pictures and video clips and create a movie. This movie will eventually contain buttons that take the viewer from one scene to wherever they want to go within the movie. To me, the program is very complicated right now, and I am very proud of myself when I am actually able to create something. But just as with any technology, this will take time and practice. Once I am able to create a completely interactive piece of media for my students, the time spent will be well worth it.

Emerging Technology 2: Photo Editing- Photoshop

Photo editing may seem like something everyone is doing these days, but I'd had never tried it until very recently. I was required to edit some photos for another class that I am in. In doing this I was finally forced to used Adobe Photoshop, for the first time, although I have had the program for some time. With this program, one can crop, rotate, and even change the color and mood of a photo. It is very easy to use and there are many tutorials online that can help a new user like myself. I can see how this technology could be very usedful to a classroom. You can create powerpoints of course, using photos you have take yourself....and just by editing them a little, these photos turn into pieces of art. Photo editing can be useful if you want to create a virtual field trip or webquest as well. Photoshop allows you to edit photos you get online as well. You can't change them completely, but the program allows you to take let's say a plain black and white photo and really make it something to look at by changing the color or hue. If you'd like to see some photos I edited you can take a look at my blog entry title "Theaters through Time." This has several photos that I got from google. I was able to change some of them up a bit using Adobe Photo Shop. The photos look more eye catching than they did orignally.

W531 Module 4-2 Digital Literacy

The blog that I read is called Digital Storytelling:Helping Students Find Their Voice, by Suzie Boss. This blog discusses how digital storytelling can be a worth while project for any k-12 classroom. By having students tell stories about themselves or others they can gain skills in writing, research, visual literacy, critical thinking and collaboration. Also, this type of project allows for students to excel no matter what their learning style. Students also must use digital media to create these stories, so they have authentic experiences with technology. The blog gives several resources of how to get started with a digital storytelling project. You can read this blog at http://www.edutopia.org/digital-storytelling-resources

My Delicious Link

http://delicious.com/angelahattabaugh

Profile Information

My experience with technology really only started less than 2 years ago when I started taking classes for my master's degree in curriculum with a focus on technology. I was very scared because I have always thought of myself as someone who has a hard time learning new technologies. My brain is just not wired for it. But I'm trying.

I currently don't use any type of special programs. We use powerpoint and microsoft of course. I'd like to learn how to use iMovie. My students are using it for a video project, but I still am unsure of how to use it. I am also interested in learning about the Flash software. My biggest expectation from this class is that I will come out of it with something real that I can implement right away in my classes.

I work for Lawrence Township. I'm not really sure what is available to us, but probably many types of software....I just don't know how to use any of it.