Semester favorites

    So many things have been covered throughout the course of this semester in my DED 318 class at Kansas State. We've covered everything from inserting pictures onto a website to how to create your own comic strips online. While all of it has been intriguing there are some specific topics we've covered that I've personally enjoyed. To start, the web tool Animoto is an incredible application. On Animoto.com everyone has a chance to create their very own 30 second video simply by signing into the website with a user name and password. It is an awesome opportunity to take pictures from memorable events or pictures that can accompany a teacher's lesson and put them into an attractive video. Now, with a slight upgrade that requires a small payment Animoto does allow users to make videos as long as they'd like, so you are not restricted to the 30 second video length that is simply their introductory, free video application. Some of my very own Animoto videos will proceed this blog to show the variety available to users.
    A very similar web tool we have learned how to use through the course of this semester is on the website known as Voicethread.com. This tool takes the effectiveness of PowerPoint and ups the ante by allowing you to record your voice to the presentation, as well as allows for others to post their own vocalized comments to your presentation. You can use this tool and draw on the pictures in the presentation, you can add videos, and all of it can be accessed from any computer with Internet. This gives you the possibility of creating an online lesson for students to watch whenever is best for them, specifically when they have missed class for various reasons. Like the Animotos, I will insert in this post one of my own Voicethread creations. http://voicethread.com/share/1979883/
    Upon entering this course, I thought I had a lot of knowledge with computers and the Internet. I had grown up using the Internet for research as well as recreational purposes. However, I had only used a Macbook very sparingly in this time. This computers are revolutionary and one of my favorite things about them is you can take screen shots. That is, you can use the command "Command-Shift-4" (pushing them down simultaneously) and take a picture of anything that is open on your desktop. It is an incredibly useful tool because you are no longer limited to right-clicking, pasting and/or saving a picture for future use but instead take what you want when you want right off the web. I stress that you still MUST give credit for where you take the pictures from. Also, accompanied with this blog post will be a recording of this very blog in a recorded format! This can only be down with Mac's new operating system Snow Leopard, and I believe this will pave the way for all following operating systems. Every computer should have this and its influence is apparent in just how easy it is to use.