Post 25: Web Design Layout and Design Tutorials

Online Video Tutorials specially designed for learning how to create great web sites. I'm using Camtasia Studio for the production and experimenting with varied outputs.

1. C.R.A.P. (Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, Proximity). Layout and design principles behind every great website. (YouTube Version) (Google Version)

2. HTML Editor: create a new webpage using a free editor called SeaMonkey --- by Mozilla, the folks who make Firefox. (YouTube Version) (Google Version)

3. Modifying an existing webpage using SeaMonkey HTML Editor. (YouTube Version) (Google Version)

Sample: Before and After (to increase Usability, Readability, Comprehension).

• Strategies include: less text, shorter sentences, use of bullets, pull-quotes, and annotated images.
  

Post 24: VoiceThread

VoiceThread is a free, simple, powerful Web2.0 tool. One can upload images and create an audio narrative to describe each image. The result is an impressive annotated slideshow.

Example: imagine posting several photographs of a World War II veteran in action, then having this person annotate (speak) while viewing the photos! Or imagine a student posting photographs or scanning images of a project then speaking about each picture.

VoiceThread is as simple as Click/Upload images, documents, or presentations and simply annotate (record) over the top.

After recording one can share and publish the results. Just copy the URL or the Embedded Coding into an Email, Blog, or Webpage.

Sample #1: Learning about Acute Angles the fun way. Also introduces a web-based whiteboard called Scribbler.



Sample #2: Old photographs uploaded and narrated over the top using VoiceThread.

Post 23: I'd like to welcome...

I'd like to welcome you to the E-learning conference at Newport and a little reminder to turn off your cell phones or put them in the vibrate mode and of course I'm sure we can't think of many applications of this tool in the classroom. Listen

Powered by Jott

--- If you're viewing this Post for the first time it is important to understand that all the Audio and Text you see above was automatically posted and generated by simply using my Cell Phone! Yes, Jott translatted my audio into text! I began the conference by calling the Jott toll-free number and simply recorded a message. After I hung up Jott took over and did all the rest. A few minutes later this Post magically appeared.

Post 22: E-Learning Workshops

Web2.0 Tools, Tips and Topics in the E-Learning World
Nov. 5, 2007 Newport, Or. Conference Flyer and Jan. 16, 2008

__ 1. Welcome Newport HS staff.

__ 2. Begin with small slide show (via Google Docs Presentation tool)

__ 3. Demonstrate a few Web2.0 Tools - with Tips and Topics (via my Google Blog)

• Post 02 - Blog-ology (teacher posts question -> student responses)
  
  
• Post 16 - Teachers: Blog4Staff Workshop and Dale's teacher blog posts
  
  
• Trip blog online2.org/alps and YackLive (walkie-talkie)
  
  
• Post 05 - Why Google Docs rocks (videoYT) (video2)----(docs.google.com)
• demo: German2IntroG.Docs, MMC_Unit 10
  
• Post 10 - Google Docs -> Create/Edit/Share
• Publishing and Tecker911 Demo1 Demo2
  
  
• Post 12 - Jott (use your phone: converts audio to text -> send-to email or blog)
• Post 19 - A/V Blogger (audio recorder). Post to blog or webpage.
• Post 15 - UStream (audio/video recording and Live Broadcasting)
  
• Post 07 - YackPack record/post audio; synchronus or asynchronus (barryj-gmail, POD group)
  
• Post 14 - Social Bookmarking (del.icio.us) video
  
• Post 17 - Cite Referencing (OSLIS and Zotero)
  
• Post 18 - Why RSS (or ATOM)? video1 or video2 (Feedburner and GoogleReader)
• Image and Video uploading (Google Images/Video; Flickr; YouTube; others)
  
• iGoogle (CMS) and Web2.0 Tools

__ 4. Follow-up workshop on Blogging. Leave with your Blog up and running!

Post 21: Building a Blog (Step by Step)

Let's begin by viewing a great little video titled "Blogs in Plain English?
Creating a blog is pretty simple. The following steps include some great tutorials (short videos, annotated illustrations, and step-by-step instructions). One can cut to the chase and create a Blog in 3 minutes. However, if you are new to Blogging then it is wise to walk through the following steps:

1. Create a Gmail Account (if you don't already have one) using this step-by-step tutorial.
   
2. Create your Blog using this step-by-step tutorial (several video clips and illustrations).
   
3. Configure your Blog using this tutorial to modify settings, update personal Profile, and more).
   
4. Activity 1: create a new Post, Publish it, and send the URL to a friend.
   
5. Activity 2: Practice logging out, logging in to Blogger, and Editing a Post.
   
6. Activity 3: For those with a little web design background -> experiment with Edit HTML.

Tracy's Testimony to value of Blogging follows:

I attended the eLearning Guild’s Annual Gathering this year and one presentation really hit home for me. The speaker mentioned that since he had started blogging, a year previous, he had learned more from blogging and reading the blogs of peers than he had in his entire academic career. I though to myself “Ya, right? Who’s going to believe that?” He knew the audience was thinking the same thing and said to just try it and experience it yourself.

So the first thing I did upon my return was start my own and behold he was right. I truly believe I have learned a great deal from this simple process. Blogging is a wonderful way to learn directly from one another. Each day I read many different postings from people I then can summarize, analyze, draw my own conclusion and post my own ideas and thoughts on those same topics. By doing this one simple example of peer-to-peer learning/teaching I am able to learn a many new things each day and expand my existing knowledge on those topics of which I am already aware.

Post 20: Circuit Training Sheet (S.Sheet Demo)

The following spreadsheet was created using GoogleDocs Web2.0 spreadsheet tool. No brainer to use, and simply select Publish to Blog when done.