No peer review!

Hello Blog Readers

This week I had to submit Task 2 for peer review, I was very excited to do this as I really wanted to get some constructive feedback to help me improve my Task 2's website, blog and also my instructions. I also wanted to review someone elses work so i could see if they had any useful ideas for that i could also include for my task 2.
 

My completed draft website for Task 2



After getting out of bed, tending to my little boy and having some breakfast on Monday morning, i went straight onto the LMS Murdoch site and looked to see if the peer review link had been put up yet, it had! I straight away opened it and followed the instructions that were in a PDF file attached to the Task 2 section of the LMS. I added my website URL and submitted it to be peer reviewed. I then went about reviewing a fellow students work. I read through their website, blog and then proceeded to follow their instructions to help me to gain access to their social media site. They did a online book club and it was extremely well presented. There was a lot of visuals and this helped me to gain some ideas about visuals i could use to complete my Task 2. I gave them some constructive feedback and also complemented them on the great work they had done for Task 2.

It is now Thursday afternoon and the link for peer review has now been closed. I am very upset that in the three days that my website was up on the LMS no one decided to review it. This would have greatly improved my chance of succeeding in this Task as i work well when i have been given constructive feedback to work on. I even posted on the discussion forum for Task 2 and asked if someone would review my Task 2, and it seemed there was many people having the same problem as me.

I have now asked my mum if she would mind having a look at my Task 2 and reviewing it for me, so i can get a little understanding of what i need to do!

My Mum's the Best, Whatley 2011 http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2011/05/review-my-mums-best.html

 

 

 

After writing this blog, I went home and found I had a new Facebook friend request from Jasmine, a girl who is also doing this technology unit. Jasmine is not in my tutorial for this unit, but outside of class we discussed peer reviews and how I had not yet been reviewed. Jasmine then went out of her way to do a peer review for me when she had already completed one for someone else. Jasmine sent me a Facebook message Thursday evening to inform me of this so I could go on the peer review site and have a look. I was so happy with the feedback I was given and have used it all to help improve my Task 2! Thank you so much Jasmine for taking the time out to help me improve my Task!

 

Until next time =)

Using blogs in the outside world

Hello Blog Readers

This unit is proving to be very useful to me, even though I still have a lot to work on when writing my blogs I am really starting to enjoy it. At first when Jenni (My Tutor) explained that throughout this unit we would need to be writing a minimum of one blog a week I nearly had a mini heart attack. I now feel confident that my blogs are improving and I am finding it easier to upload visuals, videos and insert hyperlinks (which I had no idea how to do at first). Now I am even considering starting up my own personal blog as I go to quite a lot of punk gigs, and think I would really enjoy writing about my experiences and sharing them with others. I may even challenge myself and sign up to a new blogging site.

Courtesy of, Adam Paterson: Alarm Magazine, 'The Casualties' http://alarm-magazine.com/2012/review-the-casualties-resistance/

Using blogging as a tool for this Unit has also helped me with my EDN111 unit Living and Learning with Technology as I have been looking at other peoples blogs on coral reef research to help me get some ideas for my assignment of rewriting a information report to make it more accessible for primary aged children. I found a blog called Save the Coral Reef by two primary school students, this gave me insight to what level I should be rewriting this text.
This is the blog below, it is a very interesting read and has helped me immensely.




View blog here: http://save-reef.blogspot.com.au/

 

 

 

 

 I am very proud of my achievement throughout this unit so far and I look forward to handing in my Task 2 for peer review and then for marking.

Until next time =)



Making a screencast- Take 2

Hello Blog Readers

After my failed attempt at creating a screencast using Screenr, I have used Google to find a new website to create my new screencast for my instructions on how to use and contribute to my Mlistr. I found a website called "Screen-O-Matic" and thought I would give it a whirl. It was very similar to Screenr and had many of the same properties. I followed the instructions on the home screen and got to recording my new screencast, I was very nervous this time as I did not want to waste my time again. I used my prepared narrated list of instructions and went through the notions to record my screencast. Once I had completed it I click on the upload button and it gave me a list of options: Publish to Screen-O-Matic, publish to YouTube, or publish to video file. I decided to publish it to YouTube as I use YouTube quite regularly and know how it works.
It worked quickly and within minutes my screencast had uploaded to YouTube!
I then added my YouTube video to my Websites 'Social Learning' page, which was easy as I have already had experience with uploading videos online.

Here is my completed screencast video



Screencasts would be a very useful tool in a classroom, they could be used to set tasks for students and as students learn at different paces, they can watch them in their own time. They could also be used to show children how to access different forms of technology at the same time, using a projector, instead of having to show children individually. I think I have learnt a very useful skill that will most definitely help me in my teaching career.

I asked my friend Belinda to watched my screencast and give me some feedback, she said it was very clear and easy to understand. Belinda also mentioned my son coughing in the background, and how was I looking after a 15 month old while making a movie..... multitasking at its finest!

Until next time =)

Making a screencast

Hello Blog Readers,

Today I could not attend My lecture or workshop as my son an I were both unwell. Luckily I was able to view the lecture "collaboration and teamwork" on the Learning Management System on the Murdoch webpage, by using ECHO360, This lecture has helped to prepare myself for when I begin on Task 3, where I will be working with a team and collaborating our ideas.

Task 2 of my EDN113 unit requires me too construct a set of instructions using multimedia, to help a peer access and use my social media page. As discussed in my previous blog the social media page I choose was MListr, where I created my own movie list called "Favourite comedy movies". I decided it would be more comprehensible if my instructions was backed up by using a screencast to help visually show how to use MListr.  

Last week I came across a website designed to create screencasts. It was called Screenr, it seemed extremely easy to use and there was a 1 minute video which explained how to use the site. After watching the video and following the instructions, I found it very easy to complete my screencast. All I had to do was click the record button, set the size of the screen I wanted to record then run through how to access and use my MListr.


Screenr Homepage
http//:www.screenr.com

 After I had completed my screencast I had to publish it to be able to save the file and publish it on my website. I clicked the publish button and waited over half an hour, nothing happened...... I decided to give my computer a break and came back to it a bit later, I tried again to publish my screencast, this time walking away and leaving my computer running for two hours, after returning, it still said it was publishing. I clicked the cancel button and my screencast just disappeared. I went straight to the help bar and sent a question, explaining what I had just experienced to Screenr, only to be replied to with "our servers are down, please try again later". I wanted to have this assignment well on the way to completion by the end of the day so I decided my best bet would be to choose a new website to redo my screencast. By this point I was extremely frustrated and thought about throwing my computer straight into the trash. I called my friend who is also completing this unit and asked her what she would do in this situation, she recommended trying a new website, but as she was not doing a screencast she had no idea on a website to recommend.

Picture courtesy of: http://pic1.gophoto.us/key/angry%20computer%20gif#

I have learnt from this experience, that sometimes technology fails you, however there is always way to get around it, and I have decided on choosing a new website to create yet another screencast. This is a minor setback, but it has been another learning curve in this interesting unit.





Until next time =)

Creating a social media page

Hello Blog Readers

This week I started on Task 2 for my Edn113 Unit. In Task 2 I have to select a social context and think about how I would like others to contribute to it. Then I will need to find a social media website to support the social event that I have chosen. I will then create 'how to' instructions for a fellow student to review, use and give feedback on my social media site. I also have to update my website to include a new 'Social Learner' page that will display what I have learnt and help make all the information easily accessible for when my peer does the review on my work.

For the first part of my task, I had to choose a social media site and what social event I would use it for, this was an easy choice for me as the example on the Social Learner Ideas document showed a great site called MListr. This site is used to create a list of movies that people can follow and add too. As I have a love of comedy movies I thought this would be an excellent idea. I got straight to work and signed up for an account instantly. It was so simple and within minutes I was signed up and ready to begin. I started a list called "Favourite Comedy Movies" and added 3 of my favourite movies too it, which is the minimum you need to create a list for people to be able to add to. This unit and the idea if technology is starting to get a lot less frightening.  

My MListr Page

Throughout  the process of signing up and creating my movie list I was taking a screenshot of each page and making notes on what I was doing so I could use the information for part 2 of the task. This made it incredibly easy when it came down to creating my script.

Once I had completed my list, I decided I would need to test how to add movies to a list and also how to use other aspects of MListr. I used an old email address to log on and went through the process of adding movies to my list, it was simple and quick. I also learnt how to add a comment to a MListr list and did so successfully. I took a screenshot of every new page I was on and took notes, to help me recall what I had to do to complete this task. There was also a YouTube video in the help section of MListr that showed how to navigate around the site, I found watching this very helpful.

Click here to view Video

The next part of this task was to create 'how to' instructions for a peer to use, review and feedback on. I found this to be a more difficult challenge as I had to figure out how to get my screenshots into a Word document. To overcome this obstacle I asked a fellow student if she had any idea on how to do this. Luckily she did and showed me it is actually easy, all I had to do was go to the insert tab on Word and click on the picture icon and upload the file from 'my documents'. I used the template provided on the LMS and copied it into a Word document. After adding all my screen shots into one column, I then proceeded to use my notes to transcribe how I did each task and I wrote it in a way that can be converted to use as a script for a video. I have decided I will also make a video to compliment my 'how to' instructions to make it even easier for my peer to use the MListr website.

 

The first page of my 'how to' instructions

By completing this task I will be learning skills that will one day help me in a classroom environment. It will be very useful in teaching children how to write a set of instructions using technology, and also how to use social media sites productively. Creating screencast could also be useful to encourage students who are at different stages of learning to do homework, as it is interactive and can then help students can learn a their own pace. This task is also helping me to practising how to instruct someone to complete a task, which will most definitely come in useful in a classroom. So far I am proud of my achievements in this technology unit, I hope I can continue to expand my knowledge and find more resources that will be useful for when I enter a classroom.

I have just discovered the website Screenr, as of yet I have only signed up and that is all. I think it is time for a cup of tea and some relaxing time, then I will attempt this at another date.

Until next time... =)

My Digital Poster

Hi Blog readers!

The third part of my Task 1 for EDN113 was too create a digital poster, upload the file of the poster and attach it too my websites Digital citizenship page. I used Piktochart to create my digital poster, the site was easy to navigate around. After signing up and choosing the layout I wanted for my poster it only took me a further 30 minutes to complete. For my poster I choose the topic cyberbullying as I believe it affects many people today, as technology use continues to increase. 

The images I used for my poster I found on a Google images search, but after attending this weeks lecture and workshop I learnt that I could only use images that were under the creative commons licence. I also learnt that I must reference every image I use, so I had to find where the images came from and then reference them on my poster accordingly.After completing my poster on Piktochart all I had to do was click the save button, save it as a jpeg and then add it too my computers files. Simple!

As I am using Weebly for my website, it was very simple to upload the picture, all I had to do was drag an 'upload file' section onto my webpage then select the file from where I had saved it on my computer.

View my poster

 

Another accomplishment I achieve today was completing my website, after many changes, tests and trials I am finally satisfied with the outcome.

 

Click to view my Website "Jayne's Technology Journey"

 

I am very proud of how far I have come in the few weeks since starting this unit, everything I am learning will be a great skill to have when I enter a classroom of my own! 

 

Until next time... :)

 

Creating a Website

Hello blog readers!

Today I took a dive in the deep end and created my own website! This is part of my first Assignment for EDN113. I decided to use Weebly as it was the only website creator that I had heard of before. When I opened the Weebly home page I found it to be simple and I was signed up within minutes. From then on it was not so simple, I tried to attach my first blog post to my website home page, I could not find out how to add the link, so asked one of my fellow students for help, I was shown where the icon was to click on and then a little screen popped up, from there I simply had to enter the URL. Problem solved!
I still have a lot to work on to make my website more efficient to use. I also have to add my 'about me' section, which I find hard as I find it difficult to talk about myself. Below is a picture of how my website looks so far.



If you would like to view more of my website please follow this link

I can now see how useful learning to make a Website is. In the future I can make myself a professional website that could be attached to my future employment applications. I believe having a website will show prospective employees professionalism and indicate that I have a vast knowledge of technology.

A website can also be utilised in a teaching environment, it could be used to create a classroom profile where the students could keep a blog to showcase there learning. I did some research on Google and found a website with a blog that was written by students and their teacher at Barwon Heads Primary School. The website showcased there learning and would be a great tool to keep their parents/caregivers up to date with their learning.
View Barwon Heads Primary School Website

I am excited to see what next week has in store for me on my technology learning journey! Until then I will continue to work on my website and research more ways technology can help improve learning.

Until next time... =)













My new blog

Hello Blog Readers!

It has been two days since I attended the EDN113 Living and Learning with Technology workshop and lecture, at Murdoch University Rockingham. In the lecture, starting a blog to showcase our reflections on our learning journey was discussed as it is one of the tasks in Assignment 1. In the two days since, I have researched a couple of different blogging sites such as; Word Press and Thoughts. In the end I decided to use Blogger as it can be accessed through a Google account, which I now have! I found that Blogger is basic and easy to navigate around. This is my first blog post ever, lets see how I go.

The main purpose of this blog is to reflect on my thoughts, feelings and progress in EDN113. I will start by expressing that at first I was petrified with the idea of a whole Unit (EDN113) based on technology. Even though I am part of the 'generation of technology', I still consider myself to be a slight technophobe.  However after attending the EDN113 lecture and workshop I slowly became more at ease realising there will be a more knowledgeable other such as, other students, Lecturers and discussion forums that can help me if I do run into some technological trouble. 

In the Workshop for EDN113 I created a Google account, added files to my Google Drive, edited my profile on the Murdoch Learning Management System and introduced myself on the discussion forum for the unit EDN113. When I was first given all these tasks I felt overwhelmed; luckily I had the support of some fellow students who were feeling the same. We all helped each other to complete the tasks and also asked for advice from our Lecturer, Jenni Parker. I managed to complete these tasks within and hour and walked away feeling very proud.  

Today when I decided to begin writing this blog, I read the "Blog Guidelines" that I found on the Learning Management System. The guidelines advised me that I should include links in my blog to other sites. I realised I have no idea how to insert a link to my blog, so to overcome this obstacle I used a trusty YouTube 'how too' video. It is actually quite simple to insert a link on Blogger! Below is the video I watched and followed to learn to create a link.

How to add a link in your Blogger Post

 

My next challenge is to create my own website as it is one of the tasks for my first assignment for EDN113. This scares me as I have always imagined websites would be extremely hard to make and were only created by Internet wizards. I have decided to wait until the next lecture and workshop where we will be getting a demonstration to show how to create your own website. After discussing with my dad that one of my tasks in this unit was to make my own website, he decided that after I have learnt to do this, I would make a website for his project business and he would pay me to so. This unit is helpful already!

 

I am looking forward to the challenges this Unit (EDN113) has in store for me. I am already proud of my progress as my first blog is almost complete. It is time for a happy dance.

 

 

 

Until next time =)