Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Resource Log #14 (Sources #79-84)

#79 “Comic Life Software from Plasq.com” – This is a software program that allows users to import and manipulate digital photos in order to create a comic-book-type publication. With this software, users can import digital pictures into a comic book page template layout and add speech bubbles and lettering. I learned about this software in another Webster class that I’m taking, and I thought it would be a good resource to include in my log because it’s a software program that allows users to use technology to construct a hands-on product. The software is fairly cheap ($24.95 for the standard edition and $29.95 for the deluxe edition) and this site allows you to download and use the software for free for 30 days.

Plasqers. (2008, November 11). Comic life. Plasq.com. Retrieved from http://plasq.com/downloads/

#80 “Ning” – This is an online service that allows users to create, customize, and share their own social networking sites. This service is very popular with teachers because it allows them to create their own educational social networking sites, which significantly lowers the safety/security risks associated with young students using social networking sites. Using this program, teachers can create social networking sites that are closed to the general public and only accessible to their students.

Ning. (2009). Ning, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.ning.com

#81 “Mashup Essentials: Find Out What Mashups Are All About” – After reading the Module E Case Examples in our WikiText, I became very curious about “mashups” and how they are currently used in education. This article discusses mashups and the history behind them, and it gives several examples of how many people use mashups in the real world for professional purposes.

Mashup essentials. (2006). Instages Media. Retrieved from http://www.videomashups.ca/

#82 “Photo Story 3 Download” – Photo Story 3 is a free software download from Microsoft. The software allows users to import pictures, music, and recorded sounds to create a digital movie. It’s similar to Microsoft Movie Maker software, but I think it’s easier to use, especially in the primary grades. I think this software would be a great resource in a constructivist classroom because students can use Photo Story projects to reflect upon, synthesize, and communicate what they have learned (the knowledge that they have constructed).

Microsoft photo story 3 for Windows XP. (2009). Microsoft, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=92755126-a008-49b3-b3f4-6f33852af9c1&DisplayLang=en

#83 “Photo Story Tutorial” – If you’re new to using the Microsoft Photo Story software, this tutorial is a great resource. This tutorial walks you through the Photo Story creation process in a quick and easy, step-by-step manner. As mentioned above, I think the Photo Story software is a great resource in any constructivist classroom because students can use Photo Story projects to reflect upon, synthesize, and communicate what they have learned (the knowledge that they have constructed).

Jakes, D. (2008, December 9). Using Microsoft photo story 3. Community High School District 99. Retrieved from http://www.jakesonline.org/photostory3.pdf

#84 “Twitter” - Twitter is a public social networking site that allows users to create, share, and receive “tweets”, or short 140 character messages, from their “friends” on the network. Many higher education teachers have reported that they use Twitter in their classes to allow students to connect and “tweet” about questions or comments they have about their class work or homework. It’s a very interesting social networking tool, and if you haven’t already checked it out, you need to.

Twitter. (2009). Twitter. Retrieved from http://www.twitter.com

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