Categories
Art Education Netcast Technology

Academic Aesthetic S2 Ep 1

Decided to get back to my roots and start podcasting again.  Hopefully I’ll be able to keep this up, as it certainly is fun to do.

Since it’s been so long, I decided to start back at Episode 1.  All the old stuff will remain on here as “Season 1.”  Long live Season 2!

Show Notes:

As this is my first episode in a very long time I am definitely looking for feedback and/or submissions for the show.  You can leave them as comments here or post them to my Tumblr account (anonymous posts do not require an account).

Categories
Technology

Apps You Need: Windows Edition

I recently (and by this I mean yesterday) purchased a new laptop.  One might ask how someone on a teacher’s salary can afford such wonderful toys, to which the answer is buying clothes from thrift stores and $1 frozen meals from the grocery store.  (Also I don’t buy new computers often, so the costs are spread out.)

As a new computer, I needed to install certain apps to make it usable.  Don’t get me wrong, there’s some nice software that comes with it … but not a lot of it.  And since it’s running Windows 8 (Why I’m running Win 8 is a blog post in itself), it starts with even fewer good apps than most.

So as I went on my downloading spree for free (teacher’s salary, remember…) programs that would make my computer more than an expensive paperweight, I figured I would list them here.

1. Chrome/Firefox

Internet Explorer is the best browser for downloading a better browser, mainly because any browser you switch to will be a step up.  I love Chrome for its elegance and built-in self-updating Flash, I love Firefox for its NoScript addon.  I love both of them for their security and reliability.  One can argue which of these two is king of the hill, but I use both simultaneously.

2. GreenShot

On Mac OS X, you can press Command-Shift-3 to make a screen capture save itself as a timestamped .png file right to your desktop.  Want to select only a part of the screen? Command-Shift-4 will get the job done.  Want to do the same thing in Windows?  Well … there’s Print Screen … but then you have to open an app to paste it in and save it.  GreenShot is an open source program that gives you more power over screenshots than OS X dreams of, with multiple output formats, the ability to change save locations (I save to Google Drive), and optional plugins for a variety of image sharing services.

3. Google Drive/Dropbox

You should not assume a file exists unless it exists in at least two places.  Hard drives die.  Files get deleted.  Backups are important.  Both Drive and Dropbox serve similar purposes for allowing you to (almost) instantly have copies of your files in “the cloud,” allowing you to access them from multiple devices and share them with others if you need to do so.

I’d feel guilty if I didn’t tell you that the Dropbox link above is a bit self serving.  If you use it to make an account, we both get a little extra space (500MB at the time I’m writing this) added to our free accounts.  Since I routinely store student work in my Dropbox account, this is a big deal for me.

4. VLC Media Player

It’s free and plays any audio or video format I throw at it.  It can even re-encode movies if you need to compress them down from larger file formats.  There’s not much more I can say about it, but that’s all I should NEED to say about it.  I even install this on my Macs because of how useful it is.

 5. Open Broadcaster

What Command-Shift-3 is for screen captures, Quicktime Player is for recording screencasts.  (Click here for a Quicktime Player tutorial) This functionality (while not as widely known as it should be) comes included with every version of OS X running Snow Leopard or later, but Windows has no such functionality.  Now there are a handful of apps that can fill that void, but my current favorite is Open Broadcaster.  It was written for gamers who wanted to record or stream their gameplay, but it works just fine for any program.  I first found out about this marvel from this post, which also includes useful video tutorial links for how to configure it.

6. GIMP/Inkscape

Many of my lessons involve graphics.  Now I could probably get Adobe’s Creative Suite installed on my school’s computers if I begged asked nicely, but I don’t want it.  It would result in me showing these really nice programs to my students, then telling them “Oh by the way unless you’re independently wealthy or a thief you can’t go home and use these.”

I don’t have that problem with GIMP (for photo editing) or Inkscape (for vector graphics).  They’re free, they work, they’re even compatible with the “professional” software that they replace.

(I’ve made several Inkscape tutorials.)

7. Audacity

Free audio editing?  Yes please.  I like GarageBand for making music, but I love Audacity for all my other audio recording/editing needs. (Click here for a tutorial)

8. Minecraft

If you don’t know why I installed Minecraft, then you haven’t been paying attention to the gamification movement.  I know Minecraft isn’t free, but it’s worth every penny I paid for it.

-=-=-=-=-

There are plenty of other apps I’ve installed in the last 24 hours (Don’t get me started on my Steam and GoG libraries), but those are the main 8 categories.  Did I leave something out?  Leave a comment to let me know!

Categories
Education Technology

Reaching a High Score #LevelUpBC #edtech

This presentation has gone through several revisions since I first presented it over a year ago. Here’s the current version of it that was presented at this year’s MSET iConnect event on December 1st, 2012.  The event was managed by the incredibly talented Selena Ward.

Presentation’s Google Doc:https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1L9p2HNPnnn6gWTKkG3YrI6nrSvdrCov01_D2vw1J0Fk/edit

Reality is Broken: http://janemcgonigal.com/

Article on Lee Sheldon of Indiana University:

http://www.itnews.com.au/News/169862,employers-look-to-gaming-to-motivate-staff.aspx

Warcraft in School: http://wowinschool.pbworks.com

Minecraft in School: http://minecraftinschool.pbworks.com

Level Up Book Club: http://levelupbc.blogspot.com &http://levelupbc.tumblr.com

(And if you want to know more about me, go to http://aaronbsmith.com )

Categories
Education Technology

iConnect Presentations

For those of you attending my sessions today, here are my presentations just in case you want to follow along.  Assuming the audio quality of the recordings is acceptable I’ll post the video as well.

 

Categories
Education Netcast Technology

Academic Aesthetic #179: On 4th Grade and Conversations

Show notes:

Categories
Education Technology

Good Idea, Bad Idea

This is my reaction to New York City imposes new social media rules for teachers.  Click to read the article, it’s worth it.

I agree a set of rules should be established.  Every day I see people of all ages posting things that they really shouldn’t.  That stuff doesn’t go away, particularly if it’s embarrassing.

As for the schools mentioned in the article who ban social networking outright?  I’m waiting for them to ban computers and start teaching how to bang rocks together.  When it comes to technology, you can’t TEACH it if you can’t USE it. 

Social networking is one of the things that permeates the internet right now.  If I had to ban all social networking tools from my classroom over half my curriculum (including Edmodo, which is a spectacular teaching tool) would be toast.  I’d be back to teaching just MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel for 180 school days.

Categories
Netcast

Academic Aesthetic #178: Problems and Solutions

This is an episode about problems and solutions as I look ahead to next year’s curriculum.

Problem

9 week curriculum needs revising.  This is a course that can be repeated every year.  Even if I didn’t need to change the lessons to keep it interesting to ME, I would still need to change the lessons to keep it interesting to my students.

Solution

Change the “plot” of most projects.  Instead of building a tree using 3D Tin, build a flower (or something else)!  Projects too simple for a “plot” change can be retired, replaced by new assignments.

Problem

Major curriculum needs a large overhaul.  There were many projects that worked well, but others that did not.  Some were based on specific time-sensitive events, like our school’s Fall Drama production.  In addition, the majority of the class (I have 7 students moving on to High School) will be in the course next year.  This can’t just be a repeat, I need a full year’s worth of new projects.

Solution

Don’t reset points, levels, or projects completed.  Incoming majors will still be Level 1.  Returning majors (7th and 8th grade) will be whatever level they were in June. This will require more levels to be added (Current cap is Level 5) with more complex assignments to accommodate returning students.  Current thought is to include assignments that involve more than one media file.  Instead of “Record an .mp3” they may have to “Create a podcast series with no fewer than 5 episodes.”

Problem

Film Festival projects are cutting it close – very close – to our deadline.  With 5 weeks to go many students still have not finished their scripts.

Solution

Spread Film Festival projects out through the entire year.  Script/Storyboard due Q1, Final Movie due Q3, Trailer due Q4, and a new “Making of…” project due Q2.  These projects will reside OUTSIDE of the Levels format existing for the other projects, and can be handed in regardless of the level of the student.

Problem

5th Grade curriculum relates to the 9 week curriculum much more than it does to the Major curriculum.  Incoming Majors have experience with technology but there is much room for improvement.

Solution

Redo 5th grade curriculum to follow gaming model.  Move some “retired” 9 week lessons to 5th grade to give them a feel for the program, then simplify some Major lessons and introduce them has higher level 5th grade projects.

Problem

Site design could use an overhaul.  (This seems to change every year.)  I used MediaWiki for Middle School’s class sites because I wanted to teach myself how to use MediaWiki.  Now that the challenge is gone I am seeing MediaWiki’s shortcomings.  My options are to install plugins to give MediaWiki the functionality that it lacks OR to move on to something else.

Solution … ?

Hand coding, Google Sites, WordPress, Drupal, Wikispaces, Tumblr, … something else?  I am still looking into all of my options.

Problem

Many of my tutorials must be redone.  Some are no longer relevant as better techniques have been developed, others need to redone now that websites and or apps have been upgraded.

Solution

Nothing to it but to do it.  The kinks for this have already been worked out, the rest is just time management.

Problem

Technology can be lacking.  We have more cameras this year than any previous year, yet I do not have enough cameras to provide one to each student.  Many students do not have technology at home needed to complete assignments.  This has been partially solved by creating “low tech” projects that relate to technology but don’t require it for an A.  More can and should be done.

Solution

Donors Choose for cameras?  Create a “recommended purchases” page on the class site?  (I cannot “require” anything more than a flash drive, but I can “recommend” anything.)  Provide weekly lab time after school to any students that wish to work on something.

Categories
Education Technology

Common Ground Maryland 2012 Twitter Digest Day 2

2nd verse, same as the first.

  1. A little slow getting ready this morning, but now I’m all set to head out to Day 2 of #CGMD12.
  2. Blog: I know where I’ll be Session 8!
  3. So apparently @UnhelpfulTeachr is following me. Wonder if she checks Twitter on her phone during class while confiscating student phones.
  4. Looking forward to Camp ITC in Rm 345, presented by fellow @pgcps employee Tia Simmons!
  5. Oh there’s a lot more than 2 of us! :) RT @msreneescience: I’m at Baltimore Convention Center (Baltimore, MD) w/ 2 others.

-=-=-=-=-

  1. Camp ITC presentation resources: http://bit.ly/IDBJpd
  2. “I have a PhD in ADHD.”
  3. Follow Tia Simmons @techtia! #CGMD12 #campitc
  4. http://todaysmeet.com Free online chat, participants don’t need to register.
  5. When building your own CampITC, Plan the Who, What, Where, When, Why, & How first. Set guidelines to narrow things down.
  6. “Scout out” your tools ahead of time. Google Apps, Elluminate, etc. Start early to help people adjust to the format.
  7. @misteryork1 That’s an issue with any conference. I always check what organization the speaker represents in the schedule. (In reply to Mr. York complaining about sales pitches disguised as sessions.)
  8. “Chat & Chew” sessions – time for discussion vs. lecture.
  9. Establish “Camp Rules.” Guidelines so that participants know what is expected from them and from the “Camp Counselor.”
  10. One of the #CampITC rules: “Reflect & implement new strategies.” THIS CANNOT BE EMPHASIZED ENOUGH! (Emphasis mine.)
  11. #CampITC Schedule: Session 1: Getting to know your camping guide (Pedagogy)
  12. #CampITC Schedule: Session 2: Take a Hike (Prep/Planning)
  13. #CampITC Schedule: Session 3: From Camping to Classroom (Putting it together/Reflecting)
  14. #CampITC use a variety of tools for communication/evaluation – Email, wikis, “corkboard” sites, etc.
  15. #CampITC Give stuff at the end. Certificates, raffles, door prizes, etc.
  16. I really like the idea of doing a #CampITC. Thinking of setting one up for my building.

-=-=-=-=-

  1. Ready for the session on screencasting to start in rm 318. What’s this about a web based screencasting app?
  2. Many people here have already made screencasts. Starting off by bringing the rest up to speed.
  3. Screencast: Recording of whatever is seen on the screen + voice, often for making tutorials.
  4. (Screencasting is also often used when creating machinima or streaming video games.)
  5. Web based screen casting tool: http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/
  6. http://screencast-o-matic.com is Java based, which means it’s cross-platform.
  7. http://screencast-o-matic.com allows you to post videos to YouTube or sort them into “channels” on their site.
  8. http://screencast-o-matic.com allows video downloads as well, including .mp4 .avi .flv and .gif
  9. Paid version and free version. Free limited to 15 minutes. (If yours is longer than that it should be broken into parts anyway.)
  10. This session has already “paid” for itself. http://screencast-o-matic.com is as good as QuickTime for short recordings.
  11. 3 Steps to Screencasting: Plan, Create, Publish. (Good for any media creation!)
  12. “Develop a narration” – avoid “Ums,” “Uhs,” and long pauses when recording. Scripts are great.
  13. Set up a website (wikispaces suggested) to showcase recorded videos.
  14. YouTube hosting is good and free. (I still reccomend having an additional site to showcase/sort videos.)
  15. Use Screencasts to teach/present to parents. (Great way to show the SchoolMax Parent Portal?)
  16. I really like this screencasting session, alas, I must be somewhere else shortly. Was definitely worth my time.

-=-=-=-=-

  1. Hm, is the #cgmd12 Flash Mob upstairs or downstairs?#WeveHadThisProblemBefore
  2. @harbeckc It was at the Pratt St. Lobby. @thetechtiger had me record video.

-=-=-=-=-

  1. Not sure if the people in this room are waiting for my #CGMD12 session or holdovers from the last one. We’ll see if they leave when I start.
  2. Reaching A High Score Presentation: http://bit.ly/HNSgH3
  3. Thanks! RT @APPliedClub: It’s a PACKED full house at the Reaching a High Score session. I’m sitting on the floor. WTG @theartguy
  4. Not sure how I got that crowd… RT @Jennzer: #CGMD12 @theartguyalready has a the crowd rolling… Reaching a High Score room 324
  5. RT: APPlied Club ‏ @APPliedClub “One student not passing is too many.” - @theartguy So true!
  6. RT: APPlied Club ‏ @APPliedClub Those who suggest blocking everything as a solution to distraction problems have no idea how to teach technology. @theartguy
  7. RT: Jennifer Weaver ‏ @Jennzer “Are we teaching students to get things right the first time or are we teaching them mastery?” #CGMD12 @theartguy
  8. RT: Selena Ward ‏ @thetechtiger Ok. 1st recommendation for next year: give @theartguy a bigger room.
  9. RT: APPlied Club ‏ @APPliedClub Tons of enthusiasm about meeting students where they already are, take the learning to them. So awesome and inspiring! @theartguy (NOTE: Not sure we were in the same presentation.)
  10. RT: Matthew C. Winner ‏ @MatthewWinner “@theartguy: Reaching A High Score Presentation:http://bit.ly/HNSgH3 #CGMD12” watch this guy! His gaming vision for education is AMAZING!
  11. RT: Justin Eames ‏ @Techucation Can’t wait to implement the ideas I heard about in presentation by@theartguy. Always engaging.
  12. OK, that’s enough with over-inflating my ego. Now to hang out in rm 320 for presentations by @thetechtiger & @MatthewWinner

-=-=-=-=-

  1. Lights, Learning, Action is starting in rm 320! There’s still room, come on in!
  2. @thetechtiger tell me more about that webinar thing. I’m interested.
  3. “You can’t just say you want the next version of Shakespeare.” Start simple. (via @thetechtiger)
  4. 1st example: 3 word video (via @thetechtiger)
  5. Find @thetechtiger‘s resources online at http://selenaward.com/
  6. Six word memoir: “Old too soon, young too late.” (via @thetechtiger)
  7. My 6 word memoir: “Uh oh, was that thing on?”
  8. Google Search Stories: No acting needed, all typing.
  9. To make a Google Search Story you also need good search skills in addition to story writing skills. (via @thetechtiger)
  10. Paper Slide videos: Very much like the “In Plain English” videos. (via@thetechtiger)
  11. Paper Slide Videos: Need Camera Person, Narrator, & Paper Slider (via @thetechtiger)
  12. Shoutout for AFI’s curriculum. It’s FREE! (Via @thetechtiger)
  13. Next Vista “Teach a project in 90 seconds.” (Via @thetechtiger)
  14. I inturrupted @thetechtiger. I’m sorry!
  15. On Air Free – makes iDevice into a teleprompter (via @thetechtiger)
  16. “If you crash and burn take a deep breath and try again.” (Via@thetechtiger)
  17. Another AWESOME presentation by @thetechtiger at #CGMD12 – She rocks!

-=-=-=-=-

  1. Getting ready for @matthewwinner‘s presentation in room 320! Game on!
  2. @atruger OK I am now in love with http://www.picmonkey.com/ – THANK YOU for this resource!
  3. Thrilled to be in this session - @matthewwinner and his co presenter (twitter unknown) are doing a great job!
  4. “They already have math in [the Wii] but they’re not telling anyone about it, which is really stupid.” (via @matthewwinner)
  5. Full mix of Wii experience levels here. (I’ve never used one.)
  6. “When I walk into a math room, I want to hear a healthy math buzz.”
  7. Watching video of students playing a skiing game while others record scores & find mean & average. (via @matthewwinner)
  8. “Who’s doing the thinking/talking in your room?”
  9. Digital handouts for @matthewwinner‘s session: http://bit.ly/HYx5qD
  10. Using a Wii bowling game to teach decimal places. Game lets you bowl with 100 pins. (via @matthewwinner)
  11. During @thetechtiger‘s session @matthewwinner pointed out “Could not connect to the internet.” is a 6 word story.
  12. “While we play I have my phone out and have a student take pictures.” (via @matthewwinner)
  13. “We need to use these tools to connect to THEIR world.” (via@matthewwinner)
  14. The Wii seems to mostly be used as an engaging way to gather relevant data. My challenge will be how to do something similar.
  15. Their high score is held by a 2nd grader. (via @matthewwinner)

-=-=-=-=-

  1. I hope we can afford it – if I can I’ll be there! RT @sbeducator: Really liked #CGMD12! I will be there next year…and will bring others!
  2. RT: Charity Harbeck ‏ @harbeckc @theartguy Art of Video games exhibit link. http://t.co/EsbJRrAR
Categories
Uncategorized

I know where I’ll be Session 8! #cgmd12

I know where I'll be Session 8! #cgmd12

I know where I’ll be Session 8! #cgmd12,
originally uploaded by TheArtGuy.


Categories
Education Technology

Reaching a High Score Presentation

You can also click this link to see the presentation.