Here's a video I created to bring attention (and funds) to my Action Research plans. Let me know what you think.
Thanks, Terrance
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
PE6_Learning Flash
I knew just where to go to get started using Flash. I began on the Adobe website and watched some of the tutorials there. I also too a look at Lynda.com. I realize that this program's interface is not as intimidating as I initially thought. I believe that I will be up and running soon. I am grateful for the technological resources we enjoy these days. Video tutorials are quickly accessible and very helpful. I will be depending on Lynda.com and Adobe.com as I become proficient in this application.
PE5_How will I use Flash?
So where do I begin my Flash journey? I have decided to think about the many uses of Flash that are available. The Internet offered dozens of great examples. The more I explored the different uses of Flash the more I saw my apprehension start to dissipate. It began to give way to the world of possibility. What can I do with this application to improve my effort to close the digital divide and provide opportunity in my community? With Flash I can create applications, websites, games and interactive surveys that will help me with a technology solution for gathering initial interest. I will be able to also bring crucial data together and send electronic alerts that will build public trust in our operation through a more professional approach. I have also decided to publish my findings utilizing Flash as well. I am looking forward to building my knowledge and professional expertise using this application. I have the software, now I need to learn how to use it. Help... LYNDA!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
PE4_Flash
For years I have been expanding my computer knowledge and doing my best to stay current with best use computer practices. I am a self learner in many ways. In 1996 I remember being exposed to Adobe Photoshop and spent many wonderful hours exploring the software. I graduated from 4.0 to subsequent versions of the software, CS then CS2, CS3 and I am now working on CS5. My mother was a graphic designer and I believe I inherited some of her artistic skill. By learning Photoshop I was empowered with a YES I CAN type of approach to learning new software. I found myself learning more and more programs and applying them with great results in my personal and professional life. Adobe Premier, Final Cut Pro and IBM Protools are just a few of dozens of applications I taught myself.
Unfortunately this eagerness never transfered to Adobe Flash. I believe it was mainly because of what others told me about it. Flash always seemed to be a skill obtained only by the most proficient of designers, a class I never professed to be a part of. I looked at it once or twice and must admit to my own intimidation with the program. In some programs the interface is very easy to understand. You can perform some basic functions with little difficulty that will get you started. Once you have some basics then you can venture into other parts of the program. I did not find this to be the case with Flash. When looking at it I knew that it would take more concentration to learn this program. I am glad to see that we will be required to learn it in the coming months because I am ready to meet the Flash challenge. I am sure I will be ok. I am going to research more about it's use and develop some good strategies for using it in my work. My next posts will cover what I am learning about Flash and how I plan on using the program once I learn it.
Thanks and stay tuned!
Terrance
Unfortunately this eagerness never transfered to Adobe Flash. I believe it was mainly because of what others told me about it. Flash always seemed to be a skill obtained only by the most proficient of designers, a class I never professed to be a part of. I looked at it once or twice and must admit to my own intimidation with the program. In some programs the interface is very easy to understand. You can perform some basic functions with little difficulty that will get you started. Once you have some basics then you can venture into other parts of the program. I did not find this to be the case with Flash. When looking at it I knew that it would take more concentration to learn this program. I am glad to see that we will be required to learn it in the coming months because I am ready to meet the Flash challenge. I am sure I will be ok. I am going to research more about it's use and develop some good strategies for using it in my work. My next posts will cover what I am learning about Flash and how I plan on using the program once I learn it.
Thanks and stay tuned!
Terrance
Sunday, October 17, 2010
PE3_AR tool
I will also use surveys to galvanize support for change. Accessing the skills of community partners will assist our planning and implementation processes.
PE2_AR tool
I will create several surveys that will allow me to bring together that will help me assess the situation on the ground. I will also get any idea about the needs of the people and address these needs based on frequency.
PE1_AR tool
I will be using online data as I move forward. I have found it to be simple to set up and use via my various websites. I need this data in order to properly access my digital divide statistics locally. I will develop 4 to five surveys that will allow me to get a full set of information to evaluate. Survey monkey has been a good tool that I will be using more of soon.
BP11_My comments
Follow me to my comments on Bruce Neubauer's Dropbox blog at this link.
http://bloggedbybruceneubauer.blogspot.com/
BP9_AR Web 2.0 Tool
Spicy Nodes
With SpicyNodes I can make notes easily and organize them with the very user friendly design. SpicyNodes creates amazing concept maps that makes this process interesting and fun. The graphic design of the templates is simple and clean. The notes do not seem cluttered and when highlighted give me room to explore with more depth and focus a particular area of my research or plan may take me.I plan to use this tool to synthesize the data that I am finding from my various AR sources. While reading articles it is helpful to drop ideas or quotes in a place that can be reviewed so easily. Each new entry insures that I can see my plan unfold even more. So it supports a healthy cycle of reading and inputing data (kinesthetic learning) and seeing the benefits through a great graphic display. I believe that SpicyNodes is excellent and I am so thankful I visited my classmate Angela Dixon's blog.
In the future SpicyNodes will help me to lay out concepts for my students, my parents, my staff, my board members, and my clients. It's simplistic user interface and its simple final presentation makes great use of space without popups or new tabs. I will be using this tool quite a bit I am certain of it and I will also be telling others really soon. I hope that someone else finds the usefulness of this wonderful tool. Click here to visit www.spicynodes.org. Send me a good one when you can!
Thanks for reading, and have a good day!
Terrance
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Submission 2 Action Research Blog
Socio-economic factors associated with the digital divide is affecting my community. If I implement technology based communication systems with education programs then increased academic performance and professional success will follow.
I am the director of a technology based learning center. We are located in the target demographic of most digital divide reports. I see the various concerns that specifically affect this community on a regular basis. I believe that access with education will serve a dual purpose in closing this divide. For five years I have directed the operations of my center and recently was awarded a grant to expand our work. I plan on executing my Action Research project in real time as we see measure the effects of implementing our recent award.
I want to find a formula that works and has exponential benefits to the community. Jobs, consumer goods, and education are the basic components of a system I intend to construct.
Consumer goods created to provide local jobs while teaching valuable skills. Through computer refurbishment we will build a cycle of economic growth in our community. We will educate individuals about the use of computers to provide greater benefit to their lives and train some to service and refurbish computers. We can resale computers to revenue that can go back into employing the community.
I recently decided to invite some of the experienced people I work with into my friend circle and I think this will be of great value within the coming weeks. These friends are sharing with me real solutions to closing the divide and assisting me with the implementation of resources. I speak with my critical friends frequently about my vision. They either know me personally or professionally and in both cases have witnessed my passion for community building and technology.
This course has helped me as I continue about this experience. I have been able to compile a nice list of resources and I am finding more every day. They have been incorporated into my reference page and I am learning from great peer reviewed articles. I have also been exposed to some amazing web2.0 tools. I have already implemented igoogle pages with my students and exposed them to visuwords.com and creaza.com. I have no time to waste and want to show as much progress as I can! I am seriously grateful for the last month’s experience. ETC has added color to my Action Research project and I feel empowered with the great things I have learned in this class. Special thanks to the helpful and cooperative Full Sail staff for helping me through some external challenges I faced this month. I am looking forward to the next phase in the Action Research process.
I am the director of a technology based learning center. We are located in the target demographic of most digital divide reports. I see the various concerns that specifically affect this community on a regular basis. I believe that access with education will serve a dual purpose in closing this divide. For five years I have directed the operations of my center and recently was awarded a grant to expand our work. I plan on executing my Action Research project in real time as we see measure the effects of implementing our recent award.
I want to find a formula that works and has exponential benefits to the community. Jobs, consumer goods, and education are the basic components of a system I intend to construct.
Consumer goods created to provide local jobs while teaching valuable skills. Through computer refurbishment we will build a cycle of economic growth in our community. We will educate individuals about the use of computers to provide greater benefit to their lives and train some to service and refurbish computers. We can resale computers to revenue that can go back into employing the community.
I recently decided to invite some of the experienced people I work with into my friend circle and I think this will be of great value within the coming weeks. These friends are sharing with me real solutions to closing the divide and assisting me with the implementation of resources. I speak with my critical friends frequently about my vision. They either know me personally or professionally and in both cases have witnessed my passion for community building and technology.
This course has helped me as I continue about this experience. I have been able to compile a nice list of resources and I am finding more every day. They have been incorporated into my reference page and I am learning from great peer reviewed articles. I have also been exposed to some amazing web2.0 tools. I have already implemented igoogle pages with my students and exposed them to visuwords.com and creaza.com. I have no time to waste and want to show as much progress as I can! I am seriously grateful for the last month’s experience. ETC has added color to my Action Research project and I feel empowered with the great things I have learned in this class. Special thanks to the helpful and cooperative Full Sail staff for helping me through some external challenges I faced this month. I am looking forward to the next phase in the Action Research process.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
WK2_Reading
references
Aerschot, Lina Van. (2008). The link between socio economic background and internet use: barriers faced by low socio-economic status groups and possible solutions. Retrieved October 1st, 2010 from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=10&sid=c34e025e-110e-4930-afd2-5ed0eb79a109%40sessionmgr4&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=35817947
Chapman, L. Masters, J. Pedulla Joseph. 2010. Do digital divisions still exist in schools?
Retrieved October 1st, 2010 from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=10&sid=915fbbf7-645b-4600-9524-4da7cb451aa9%40sessionmgr11&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=48643737
Howard, Philip N. Comparing digital divides: Internet access and social inequality in Canada and the United States. Retrieved October 1st, 2010 from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=10&sid=7ec4caac-96ba-430e-945d-40758a162a69%40sessionmgr12&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=49802916
Stern, Michael J. (2010) Inequality in the Internet age: A twenty first century dilemma. Retrieved October 5th, 2010 from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=10&sid=7be12414-ce85-4bce-b0f5-3a67bdd922ed%40sessionmgr14&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=47657152
BP8_OMM_Elluminate Commercial
As mentioned before I really like the Elluminate platform. I think it will work well within my educational setting. Hope you like the video, inspired by the political ads we have been seeing so much of lately. Enjoy.
Best regards,
Terrance
Best regards,
Terrance
BP7_My comment on a James McPeek's blog
Follow me to James McPeek’s blog, Jammin Jim’s Peak Place. He found a great concept mapping tool.
BP6_My comment on a Carrie's blog
Follow me to Carrie Sanguinetti’s page. She found a really useful web 2.0 tool.
http://carriesanguinetti.blogspot.com/2010/10/bp4.html
http://carriesanguinetti.blogspot.com/2010/10/bp4.html
BP5_Elluminate Web2.0 tool
You know the most difficult part of the last few assignments has been selecting one web 2.0 tool to use and discuss at a time. This has been a mind expansive week for me as I have been exposed to dozens and dozens of great software solutions. Our technology center is growing and I am glad to be growing with it. The applications I select have been chosen because I see them making an immediate impact on our operation. As a social studies teacher I am looking forward to using other applications in the future.
Elluminate is an online collaboration tool that will change the way I interact with my staff and my students. Their phrase “unified learning and collaboration” is an excellent way to consider the approach they took here. On Elluminate our staff can take our regular phone conferences up a notch and reference documents, share video and powerpoint presentations, instant message and more.
I am excited about using this as a intra-office tool. The trial is a great way for me to prepare the center for this new technology. With the Elluminate vspace trial three participants can collaborate. Of course I plan on doing the upgrade to accommodate my new digital connector class of 25, but this is a nice start. We are a 3 person staff so this was the perfect fit! There are a variety of tutorials which I have seen and I have set up our account. We start this week!
I cant wait to use the vroom with classroom and tutoring education. Tutors can schedule a vroom and meet online with students. Even at the center it will be a useful tool for teachers working with small groups like our GED class. With a vspace there is live sharing of various content such as webpages, files, hi-res video, audio via cpu or phone, recorded sessions and smaller break out rooms. Similar to the WIMBA system we use at Full Sail, I plan on using this software to synthesize the learning environment of my digital connectors program. I will also make best use of my center’s space while making the classes interactive and efficient.
To learn more about Elluminate visit www.elluminate.com
Retrieved on Saturday October 9th, 2010 from http://www.elluminate.com/Products/Unified_Learning_&_Collab/?id=305/
Elluminate is an online collaboration tool that will change the way I interact with my staff and my students. Their phrase “unified learning and collaboration” is an excellent way to consider the approach they took here. On Elluminate our staff can take our regular phone conferences up a notch and reference documents, share video and powerpoint presentations, instant message and more.
I am excited about using this as a intra-office tool. The trial is a great way for me to prepare the center for this new technology. With the Elluminate vspace trial three participants can collaborate. Of course I plan on doing the upgrade to accommodate my new digital connector class of 25, but this is a nice start. We are a 3 person staff so this was the perfect fit! There are a variety of tutorials which I have seen and I have set up our account. We start this week!
I cant wait to use the vroom with classroom and tutoring education. Tutors can schedule a vroom and meet online with students. Even at the center it will be a useful tool for teachers working with small groups like our GED class. With a vspace there is live sharing of various content such as webpages, files, hi-res video, audio via cpu or phone, recorded sessions and smaller break out rooms. Similar to the WIMBA system we use at Full Sail, I plan on using this software to synthesize the learning environment of my digital connectors program. I will also make best use of my center’s space while making the classes interactive and efficient.
To learn more about Elluminate visit www.elluminate.com
Retrieved on Saturday October 9th, 2010 from http://www.elluminate.com/Products/Unified_Learning_&_Collab/?id=305/
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
BP4_Web2.0
Wow is all I can say about these tools! I was thoroughly impressed with the various applications offered through GO2WEB20.net. I have a list of great bookmarks from this site. I saw so many things it was hard at first to decide where to begin. Then I learned Orchestrate.
As a community organizer, volunteerism is extremely important to my operation. Student volunteers from local colleges are the backbone of our tutoring operation. In a given semester we host over 50 volunteers and over 100 students. It is important for us to be organized so that we can best serve our students.
Orchestrate does just that. Using the Conductrus software to schedule tutoring sessions we converge online where tutors, center staff, teachers, parents and students can access the tutoring program. With Conductrus we can take scheduling to the next level.
The program is accessible from any internet connection (no download required). The staff members create activities or tutoring opportunities that our volunteers can accept. When a tutoring session has been scheduled all relevant parties are notified by email. The interface has color coded scheduling makes the schedule easy to understand and use. Volunteers can even be organized into groups, subjects and any other category we create. The goal is to make our center more efficient in several areas. This scheduler will give us the freedom to create a tailored platform for our operation. I know this will lead to increased results for our students. We participate in projects and activities that will be posted as well including our upcoming breast cancer walk and our Community Day Festival this weekend.
As a community organizer, volunteerism is extremely important to my operation. Student volunteers from local colleges are the backbone of our tutoring operation. In a given semester we host over 50 volunteers and over 100 students. It is important for us to be organized so that we can best serve our students.
Orchestrate does just that. Using the Conductrus software to schedule tutoring sessions we converge online where tutors, center staff, teachers, parents and students can access the tutoring program. With Conductrus we can take scheduling to the next level.
The program is accessible from any internet connection (no download required). The staff members create activities or tutoring opportunities that our volunteers can accept. When a tutoring session has been scheduled all relevant parties are notified by email. The interface has color coded scheduling makes the schedule easy to understand and use. Volunteers can even be organized into groups, subjects and any other category we create. The goal is to make our center more efficient in several areas. This scheduler will give us the freedom to create a tailored platform for our operation. I know this will lead to increased results for our students. We participate in projects and activities that will be posted as well including our upcoming breast cancer walk and our Community Day Festival this weekend.I must also say that the Octopus software is another awesome tool that we will be using real soon as well. First things first, check out this great tool Conductrus and orchestrate. I know I will!
http://www.go2web20.net/site/?a=Orchestrate
http://www.go2web20.net/site/?a=Orchestrate
BP3_Diigo
Hello friends, I am looking to connect with you on Diigo. Please join me at http://groups.diigo.com/group/tdm-action-research. Many thanks, I'll see you there!
Terrance
See my research on Diigo!
Hello friends, I am looking to connect with you on Diigo. Please join me at http://groups.diigo.com/group/tdm-action-research. Many thanks my friend see you there!Terrance
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Pardon my progress!
Please excuse any delays of correspondence or classwork you may experience from me this week. I am dealing with a unexpected tragic loss. Don't worry, the situation is being handled and should not hinder me long term.
Thanks for your patience in advance and best regards!
Terrance
Thanks for your patience in advance and best regards!
Terrance
Thursday, September 30, 2010
BP1_GoogleReader
Hello,
I am pleased to share these rss feeds with you today. I have found these websites and rss feeds to be greatly beneficial and I hope they will help you as well.
Enjoy!
TM
CNET
CNET’s technology feed is a great resource for the world of technology. It s more comprehensive than other technology blogs because of the amount of information it covers. On CNET’s RSS feed there’s information on all aspects of the worlds of IT, gaming, business tech, media, security and much more. One can also find the latest news, special deals, tutorials, and professional blog contributions. CNET also releases cutting edge information, new products and tech conference information.
Teacher Tube
The well known website has been a integral part of the interactive education process for years. A leader in digital storytelling, Teacher Tube is accessible through most school internet servers.
PBS Media Shift
The collaborative journalism website Media Shift is providing tremendous insight into the world of digital media. The various articles in this site give the pioneers of digital media a credible platform upon which to speak. Made possible by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation this is one of the best sources of useful information on the subject that I have found on the web. Find out more at
TechSoup
Tech soup is an amazing marketing tool that has been around for several years. TechSoup is an organization that makes available computer solutions and training to non-profit organizations. On techsoup.org there are outstanding deals on computer software, computers and other hardware including video cameras.
BBC.com/Technology
The British Broadcast Company or BBC offers a fresh perspective on technology. I thought it would be useful to keep pace with the latest technological news from a world perspective.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
NBC hosts forum on Education this week
New York City
This week has been a good week for education in theory at least. Educators got together from around the country with business and technology leaders to discuss the future of education. The summit, entitled Education Nation was sponsored by NBC. Even President Obama weighed in on the subject. I think it is good to finally have a real debate on education reform in this country. Where the debate leads is another story we should be on the look out for. I am sharing this to continue the awareness because this conversation deserves to be sustained. There is a wealth of great information on the summit online, check out www.educationnation.com.
This week has been a good week for education in theory at least. Educators got together from around the country with business and technology leaders to discuss the future of education. The summit, entitled Education Nation was sponsored by NBC. Even President Obama weighed in on the subject. I think it is good to finally have a real debate on education reform in this country. Where the debate leads is another story we should be on the look out for. I am sharing this to continue the awareness because this conversation deserves to be sustained. There is a wealth of great information on the summit online, check out www.educationnation.com.
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