Quality Blog Posting: Word Cloud

Here is a word cloud I created using http://www.abcya.com/word_clouds, an easy app to use.

It was really easy to create by adding information and then to change the size, colour, layout, font. Then I saved it to my desktop and uploaded it to this blog.

This is another example of a word cloud DLO creation that I did with a class with an explanation of what and how I did it as a model for students. The class were year 4-5 so quite young and in their first year of 1:1 learning so there is a need to go at a measured pace and show them what your expectations are for the finished blog post.

Canva makes design simple

My first play with Canva was very easy. There is a range of templates, pictures, frames etc available, although some are at cost, to create graphic designs in no time. This tool could be used to graphically show the characteristics of something, eg survey responses, blog statistics, places in the world you've visited....the possibilities are endless. Would be good to trial with a class possibly with making a blog post as the context.

Using voki to Record Learning

Voki is a great tool for students to share their learning by creating their own avatar, choosing a background and then recording their voice or using a range of provided voices to speak about what they have learnt. I saw these DLO's on the blogs of students who are working with another facilitator and so decided to try my own. My short voki below explains one of the characteristics of a smart blogger. I would definitely use this with my classes in future.

Voki app

EduCamp 2016 Attendee

New Magisto Movie

I was at a slam session at the high school and the teacher who presented it showed everyone Magisto. The school here has purchased a licence for all staff but I used a free version that allows a limited number of pictures. You can choose your theme and pictures and the video is created in a few minutes. Very easy to use with good results. Definitely worth showing teachers and students who don't want to use a proper video editing programme.

SAMR with Dr Ruben Puentedura

Apple recently brought Dr Ruben Puentedura to NZ to work with educators around his model for technological integration into teaching and learning - SAMR. I was fortunate to attend this professional learning day. Yes, it was an opportunity for Apple to showcase their products; namely their software for ipad and their new Classroom app which has many of the same features as Hapara Teacher Dashboard. However, it was wonderful to listen to Dr Ruben in the morning and do an activity with him in the afternoon. Other members of the Kootuitui and Manaiakalani community attended along with Maria and me. Notes from the day

Sparkshop

I went to a Sparkshop recently which was a day of some great google learning organised by the Google experts of Auckland. The day began with a slam session of the potential workshops that would be held. All potential presenters had added a slide to a slideshow and were given two mins to give their pitch. There was a google form that everyone used to rate whether they'd like to attend each potential session. After this, the organisers took 15 mins to sort through the voting results and then presented a board of the sessions that had received the most interest, separated into sessions and locations. We were able to pick three sessions and then all joined together at the end to share a slam of one min each for new ideas. I was keen to show everyone my new Google Space.  I attended sessions on sites, forms and extensions/add-ons. It was a really worthwhile day.

The Sparkshop Participants

The Workshops Most Highly Sought

My Spaces