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EDU 255 ePortfolio Project

Your final portfolio for this class should be created in one of the environments we have used in class; a blog, a wiki, or a Ning site. You will need to create a new site, depending on the tool used in your portfolio. The portfolio should reflect the learning you have experienced in this class and the best work you have done. Not each and every assignment needs to be in the portfolio, though the portfolio should contain content you have created. These may be in the form of hyperlinks, embedded content and so forth. It is fine if some of the content will be copied and pasted from one place to another. Blog posts, other class assignments, or discussion board posts are all potential items that might demonstrate your learning. The portfolio should contain your thoughts about web 2.0 technologies we have seen, as well as demonstrations of your ability to use it.
Your portfolio must contain:
* Creation of a new blog, wiki, or Ning site which will be the main ePortfolio (30 points);
* Your Educational or Teaching Philosophy (This may have changed from your first blog post, so update as necessary) (15 points);
* A blog incorporated into your portfolio (15 points);
* A wiki incorporated into your portfolio (15 points);
* Use of Ning is optional;
* Ten links to relevant blogs, wikis, or other websites with short descriptions; clean links are best (50 points or 5 points each);
* Embedded media: photos (15 points), video (15 points) and audio (15 points) that you have created;
* Additional embedded media relevant to the content of the portfolio;
* Creativity in ePortfolio assignment (10 points);
* The final reflection on the work you have done in this course and the uses it may have should be foremost in the portfolio. (20 points)
TOTAL POINTS (200)
30 Creation of ePortfolio Project
15 Updated Teaching Philosophy
15 Blog
15 Wiki
50 10 links to relevant resources (5 points each)
15 Embedded Photo Gallery
15 Embedded Video File
15 Embedded Audio File
10 Creativity in ePortfolio Project
20 Final Reflection
Please submit the URL to your EDU 255 ePortfolio by clicking on the View/Complete Assignment link in Blackboard.
This assignment is worth 200 points and is due no later than Saturday, July 25th at 10:00 pm.

Creating a Jing Recording... What Fun!

For this assignment you will be creating a Jing screen capture and either adding a link to it from your blog or embedding it into you blog.
I was not too sure about doing a screen recording since I have never done it before. Once I practiced a few times and convinced all of the hardware to cooperate with me, I decided that it is easier to have all of the screens showing in different tabs in my browser before starting the demonstration. I wanted some background music from Kraftwerks to accompany me so I started the music playing before I began. It worked best with the microphone I was using to turn the sound all of the way up since the mic is the noise canceling type. My project is t explain how to post a GPS bike ride log to an online service called Garmin Connect. I then go on to share the activity on Facebook. Thanks for taking a look!

Audio, Effective? Let's Hope So...

How might an audio clip be more or less effective that text? Give one example of how you might use one that you make or one you find on the internet in class.

Using audio in everyday life is a given. That is, unless you are unable to hear or speak! We use speaking and listening everyday in our interactions with each other and the media that we interact with. Just getting out in traffic requires one to be aware of the sights and sounds around us. We use audio when we talk on the telephone. We can even leave a voice mail for someone who will listen to it later to find out what we wanted them to know.

Using audio on our computers shouldn't be such a difficult thing, but it really does seem to be that way. I remember my first computer that had answering machine software on it about 10 years ago. Macintosh computers very early on had voice control software built in. You could tell your computer what command to carry out and it would do what ever you told it to - that is if you spoke the right words! You could ask the computer what day and time it was and a pleasant voice would answer back telling you. This type of software is still available, but seldom used by most.

Using audio in our online world is becoming more commonplace. It is easier and more acceptable to leave an audio or video message online for your followers to listen to. We can even chat by video with our friends and not only hear them, but see them live also. At least we think that they are really live.

Using audio and video in a course makes perfect sense. One could record their own voice to give a message to their students or link to something already online that you want your students to learn from. I recommend several audio and video podcasts to my students. Here is a brief list.

• GeekBrief.TV | With Cali Lewis | Gadget Reviews

• Data Doctors Computer Corner Podcast

• Lab Rats! A vidcast about technology you already own

• Loaded from CNET TV Video Podcast by Natali Del Conte

And finally one of my favorites...

Adding an Embedded Podcast to Your Blog

Logitech USB Microphone Review

Week 6: Impact of Online Video

Online video has quickly become accepted among our students much like the use of computers in delivering off-line, face to face classes. The use of video offers the ability to provide instruction in multiple learning styles such as listening and seeing. Does this mean that TV is taking over our courses and that we must broadcast our entire course and materials? I hope not! I have always prepared my courses to offer something special to the student in the face to face interactions. This offers an incentive to participate and attend class on a regular basis. I can see how this must be modified for online courses, but am unsure of what might work best. The discussion board offers some interaction, but I feel it is a poor substitute. Maybe our discussion boards could be more like Facebook where we just cant wait to see what is going on with our friends. I could imagine a Facebook type of interface becoming part of Blackboard or something that could be used by students and instructors. The problem with Blackboard is that you lose all of the content that makes up the course once the course ends and is closed. More ownership and participatiion might be instilled if we the course could be part of our online identity where we could keep in touch with instructors, fellow students and future alumni of the same course.

Week 6: Online Video Lesson

The video that I have chosen focuses on the assembly of a computer case and internal hardware to result in a complete working computer tower. The lesson objective is to assemble a working computer with all of the a necessary components. An understanding of each component will include the identity and purpose of each. Proper safety precautions are discussed and expected to be followed strictly. This lesson would follow a class lecture and demonstration.

The success of this lesson is essential in becoming a computer technician. Hands on experiences are the key. I might be concerned that some students would simply watch the video of the computer assembly and not complete their own. This course requires attendance in hands on lab activities.

Video: Assembling Your Computer

Create Your YouTube Channel & Video

Mark's Channel

Though there are many video sharing sites, none has made a splash bigger than YouTube. Like Google (which later purchased it), it is hard to imagine the internet without it. Here's a basic primer about YouTube. We realize that video sites are often blocked in K-12 schools, and we would appreciate hearing more of your thoughts on this subject in your blogs (though this is not part of the official assignment :) In part one of this week's assignment, create your own YouTube Channel. Make sure the basic profile info is filled out and familiarize yourself with the tools available for making basic changes to your channel's appearance. Since its part of Google, you can start by logging into your Google account, then go to YouTube and click "sign up".

Copyright and Fair Use...

I would use the image (help key on keyboard) above without breaking copyright law since my PURPOSE is for TEACHING in a NON-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION for TRANSFORMATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE USE. The NATURE of my use relates to the EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES of the course I am teaching. The use of this single image constitutes a SMALL AMOUNT of the source material. My usage will have no SIGNIFICANT EFFECT on the author.

I am responsible for making this decision and would be more than glad to stop using the image if asked by the copyright holder.

Adding Images 'from The Web'

If you choose to 'Add an Image from the Web' using the image upload feature in Blogger, you shouldn't use an image location that is hosted at someone else's expense without their permission. Sometimes this is referred to as 'stealing bandwidth' because every time your blog loads, the image is loaded from their server, and this person likely incurs an expense.

Copyrighted Materials

Before you put an image in your blog, keep in mind that some images are protected as intellectual property through copyright. This means that the creator has sole legal rights to their works and may not want you copying and displaying them. If you're unsure whether or not an image is copyrighted, it's best not to risk it. However, there are places that make it easier for you to find images you're allowed to use:

• Picapp
• Open Photo
• Flickr: Creative Commons
• Creative Commons Search

Related Articles

• Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad C? from School Library Journal.
• Fair Use Checklist - Basic guide for most fair use situations in education.
• Fair Use Code: A Call to Action
  
• What are you teaching in 09? (a meme)
  
• A Copyright Guide for Educators
  
• Fair use and transformativeness: It may shake your world
  
• Copyright 101 for Educators
  

Using Photosharing Sites

I would use a photo sharing site with a class to display images of various activities that we will complete in class. I teach a hands-on computer repair class where the students are expected to recognize various parts and components of a computer and related peripherals.I would upload albums of images that I would expect the students to complete an assignment that involves viewing the images and commenting on each by identifying it and explaining what it is used for in writing. It might be possible to include the students comments in the photo sharing site itself. I'd have to think about that one for a while to see what might work.

Another assignment might be to have the students document a complete computer disassembly and reassembly with photos and explainations in their own online photo collection. This would really get the students involved with the assignment by having them take their own photos and documenting each with instructions and explaination. They might even become competitive knowing that the entire class will see their work.

Happy 4th!

Happy Independence Day