QR code uses- the mind boggles....

Just when you thing you have seen and heard all there is in the wonderful world of technology, along comes QR Codes. QR codes or Quick Response Codes are similar to the bar codes on the items we purchase but these codes do more than give the price of an item.

A QR code allows you to capture up to 4000 pieces of information in a small area and requires three tools for it to be successful as an educational tool:

•  software to read the code i.e. NeoReader
• internet access and
• an iphone or other device that can take a picture or scan the code.

The uses for QR codes include business cards where the recipient scans or photographs the code on the business card and all the information about the card holder is saved into the recipient's phone without typing a thing. Also the business card owner can put much more information about themselves and their business into a QR code than would normally fit on a business card.
But of course our interest lies in education and this is where the mind begins to boggle.
My personal favourite: Imagine a QR code on the front of library books that has information about the author, other books by the author, other books along the same theme, links to websites, videos and resources on the same topic.
 But don't just take my word for it  click on the following link for more hints on how to use QR Codes in education.
Hints on how to use QR Codes in education.

See below for a demonstration of a person using QR codes.

Live binder link

I have found this wonderful online filing cabinet. Whenever I come across an interesting or useful website I make a note of it but then when I need it I can never remember where I left it.
Then I found Live Binders. I have two binders - one for my own websites and one for use by students. Please feel free to click on the link below to access my Resources Online Binder for students.
http://livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=142926

You will be asked for an access key : cut and paste the following wording in bold and  enter in the box for the access key.
 LynBid's Resources Online

I am happy for you to open the websites and copy to your own livebinders, after all I borrowed them to start with.  Enjoy.

26 July 2011 - Uploading from Flickr

Flickr:Horslips5

Today I was introduced to the wonderful world of Flickr. Flickr is one site that has photos that can be shared depending on the permission restrictions for each specific photo. Also known as Creative Commons.
The photo at right is by Horslips5 and came under the permission of Attribution where the owner allows you to copy, display and distribute the photo provided you give them the credit for it.


There are several other sites that have free access to photos. The following two photos are from  http://freeimagescollection.com/. This site does not require attribution.

Soap Bubbles

Classroom uses??    
Students could be asked to consider the following two photos of bubbles. They could draw a Venn Diagram to show what is different and what is the same for these bubbles.

Boiling Water Bubbles

26 July 2011 - MobaPhoto lesson

Siblings.

Today we learnt how to resize images using MobaPhoto. This photo was originally 3275 KB but after following the steps in the MobaPhoto software it was resized to 245 KB.
The software was saved to my Flash drive for future use and two important facts to remember when using the software are:

• Change the top drop down box to say - 'Optimised settings for uploading online' and
• ensure the box marked 'Replace original picture files'  at the bottom is NOT ticked.
• To place the photo on your blog you simply need to click on the picture icon, click browse, choose the photo you want and add.

Happy 5th birthday.

Playing around with Voki

At first it seemed like a simple task. Place a Voki on my blog site. Seems simple enough  After several attempts and almost giving up I decided to use technology to my advantage so I googled posting a Voki on my blog and came across a Youtube clip in which some young boys give step by step instructions.
As you can tell by my new addition at left, the instructions were successful in stepping me through the process.
Now don't go thinking I have been side tracked once again by the wonderfully weird and wicked world wide web. There is a perfectly good reason why I chose to spend several hours playing around with Vokis. The potential for the use of Vokis (avatars) in the learning environment is huge. They could be used as an online dictionary for literacy, or spelling words on a class home work blog site, ESL students could use them for language lessons or they could be used to post instructions for students in a group task. The possibilities are only as limited as the effort put into trying them.

Voki sourced from: http://www.voki.com/ 

TPACK Round Table

12.07.11 In class blog entry - today we learnt about TPACK  (Technological Pedogogical And Content Knowledge) and digital learning.

Lesson on Creative writing.
Students could be assigned  into one of six groups.
Each group will choose an author and conduct research about their author.
The sites should be pre-approved by the teacher to ensure age appropriate content. Try:
http://www.memfox.com/welcome.html
http://www.jezalborough.com/
http://www.roalddahl.com/

Students could answer set questions about their author i.e. first book they ever wrote, first book ever published.
Some sites have the authors reading their books online.
The  lesson could move onto the students writing and publishing their own stories. The concept of books having separate authors and illustrators could be demonstrated by one student writing a story then another student illustrating the story. Each student would end up with two books - one they wrote and one they illustrated. The students could then do a presentation to the class where the author reads the book and the illustrator explains the thinking he/she used to decide what pictures to create.  Students could use drawing, collage or even photos to illustrate... the possibilities are endless...

Content	Available Technology	Pedagogy
Creative writing	6 internet anabled computers in the class internet access - online tools Microsoft Office	Learning connects with communities and practices beyond the classsroom. Supportive and productive learning environment Independent, interdependent, and self-motivated learning.

On-line stopwatch

I came across this wonderful website that has Collaborative Learning/ Substantive Conversation Icebreakers that I wanted to add to my Useful Websites list on my Blog. It was a reminder of how the  learning in our subjects overlap and interact. In LM2 we heard about substantive conversations for the first time, then in EPL2 we participated in a clock activity that is quite similar to the star activity on this site and here I am adding this site to my e-Learning blog.  On this website is a link to an online stopwatch which would be great to use in the classroom. For classes lucky enough to have an IWB the stopwatch tool would be great to use as a timer for activities and games.

Icebreaker link: http://marynabadenhorst.global2.vic.edu.au/2009/09/12/ice-breakers/

Stopwatch link: http://www.online-stopwatch.com/

All tidied up.... for now.

I am finally happy with my blog page and can now move onto other "homework". There are a few little details I need to address, but will ask for assistance from my fellow e-Learning class mates next week.

Setting up my blog was like decorating a room. I put in the necessities (bed, curtains, furniture) then added a few gadgets (lamps, posters, photos) and ended up with a "room" I feel comfortable in and which, I believe, reflects me as a person. 

From visiting my blog I hope people will get a feeling of who I am as a student and a person. I believe Early Childhood professionals should be caring, sharing people so I have included a few of the resources I love and will add to these in coming weeks.  I hope you find something that interests you and please let me know if you have a terrific resource to share with me.

I confess..I left my room in a mess....

It's midnight and I just can't seem to get my blog page looking right. For some reason my computer is really slow to save changes. Between yawns I wait for the page to save then add a bit more.

It started out fun but now as I get tired, I feel panic that if I stop now and go to bed, someone may look at my blog site and see I left it in a mess.

It's no good. I am getting too tired to think straight so I have to admit defeat, close my blog page down and go to bed....................

"Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray no one will take a peep,
At my messy blogger site,
And think I am a parasite,
If in the morn it's still a mess,
I'll clean it then, I do confess,
So close my eyes and go to sleep,
and pray my messy site will keep."

Image from: http://goodandgracious.blogspot.com/2011/03/to-clean-or-not-to-clean-that-is.html

First e-Learning class - 5 July 2011

Today is my first e-Learning class at CQUniversity and I am having a ball. How can anyone call this study when it is so much fun? I can see I am going to be one of the students who is going to have to limit my personal study time with this course.