The aim is to get as many responses as possible in 24hour just using #twitter.

The survey is 9 multiple choice questions and comments seeking to find out about twitter users, why, how and where they use twitter. The survey is designed to be fast and yet capture a snapshot of those who found it and responded.

Who, Where, Why and How often.

Link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NJC6L7N

I will publish the results just after Noon, Sunday the 20th of May, 2012 (Sydney AEST Time).

Return to this blog, www.mrhsie.com to view the results. Those that have completed the survey will also be acknowledged in a participants list published here soon after the results.

These are just screen shots of how I have organized them. I love collecting and using apps. I have many favorite. Presenter (with the iPhone remote); iCab browser, iMovie with Intromaker, Dropbox, Giant timer, TeacherPal, Clear, Frame magic, Diigo and Supersonic just to name a few.

As you can see I’m not a big gamer. I mostly use my iPad for work and social networking. I sit at a computer once, possibly twice a week so it is my main for or lesson development.

Safari is ok as a browser but I have found the best for Moodle and DET portal access is Cloudsurfer. Second to this is iCab which is great for in class web browsing through a projector. Very very fast.

I’m happy to answer any questions people may have in relation to the apps I have.

I love the quote by Google Director Johanna Wright

“We are in the early phases of becoming an information engine to becoming a knowledge engine”.

Google is looking at making synaptic type connections with its data to make search more intuitive. The example it gives is that an Oasis is not just vegetation in a desert but also can refer to a band or a haven from somewhere arduous. Google is doing what Wikipedia did by disambiguating data and making connections with what the searcher may also be looking for rather than the obvious.

As a teacher this means that students find information easier but it will also subject then to multiple meaning available for given words, thereby expanding not only their literacy knowledge of language but allow them to build a better cognitive map that one word can have multiple meanings, especially over time. Secondly it alos allows the learner to easily explore for deeper knowledge into a topic from the Google interface itself and not just a range of pages it serves up as links and descriptions.

Take for example one word I explain almost on a daily basis. The word ‘Gay’. Today it is used very differently to when I was their age 30 years ago. Students use of the word “Gay” can be emotive, descriptive or sometimes correct to how I grew up with it. They have some understanding that the work meant ‘happy’ at one time but over recent times with media and social trends the connotations and context in its use has become much more broad. Google seeks to categorise word meanings and connect data, visually and cognitively.

I for one am very interested in the way Google plans to display the data. The side bar system looks well refined in the video released. Today, May 16th it will be rolled out over the US. Other countries in days to come. Let me know what you think in the comments section below or on twitter by writing to @MrHSIE.

You can find out more on Google’s blog here and at their Inside Search page listed at the end of this post.

Applications For Education

Google’s Knowledge Graph could be very helpful in getting students to recognize the multiple meanings of their search terms. The Knowledge Graph could prove to be frustration-relieving for students who are struggling to find information relevant to their inquiries. That said, students should still be taught how to use the proper search terms and search modifiers. Combining proper search term usage with the new Knowledge Graph-based results should yield better results than if students just rely on “Google to do it for them.”

Googles Video on YouTube:

Google has more information about Knowledge Graph here at http://www.google.com/insidesearch/

The Knowledge Graph    5/16/12

“We announce the first feature powered by the Knowledge Graph, which is our huge collection of the people, places and things in the world and how they’re related to one another. The Knowledge Graph powers improvements to Search, helping you get smarter answers and jump start your discovery.”

Googles new Knowledge Engine Displayed. IMAGE" http://weblogs.asp.net/

6 volt 70's bicycle taillight with new 12volt bulb.

Shines high and saves the bugs butt.

I ran a wire up the C pillar from the tail light to run. Two little teck screws hold it into place. The builbs are screw-in and hard to find so I bought six of them and they rattle around in the ashtray. Glad people like my idea. I have a second for my other project, the Bunyip Ratbug (www.thebunyip.net)

While walking to the bus this morning my son showed me an app that I believe will make learning so much more enjoyable for my year 8 and 9′s.

Tonight I was sitting on the lounge with him watching him play Minecraft. I decided to ask him a few questions.

I hope what I have captured makes it to some policy maker somewhere.

Enjoy.

Do you think you repeat the same information over and over?

Would having a second teacher or guest speaker reaffirm information help?

Introducing “Talking”apps.

The idea goes like this. I was walking my six year old son to the bus. He asked if he would bring his iPod along as he was playing with an interesting app. I said sure. When we sat down has asked me to speak to his talking friend and it repeated back to me what I had just said “Good morning”. You could also create action and background events like a distraction. So… I though to myself”, what if you could record what was said by Tom the Cat, Ben the Dog or Roby the Robot. At home with a sick child I had some time to explore this concept. The results were nothing short of amazing what could be achieved.

As a Moodle author and admin I can use the apps to introduce how to do something, what a unit is about or a key piece of information students tend to forget.

Some facts:

• There are about 17 talking apps (possibly many more) half of which are free.
• Most allow video recording of up to 45 seconds.
• One has a news presenting style where the characters talk turns.
• Most have some form of export, either to camera roll or by email.
• The file sizes are very small. Typically 3-4mb per animation.

My plan is to create a range of instructional, factoid and generally interesting skits using the characters to support new information. I have experimented and will post some example below and on youtube for people to get an understanding of what they look like. You only need to speak into them and they will repeat and record what is being said. You may need a couple of takes at first. I found the iPhone to be much easier to record onto than the iPad. My iPad two did not seem to pick up the audio as well.

Links to some apps:

Talking Roby Çelik the Robot

Talking Ben

Talking Tom 2

Talking Tom and Ben News

A spin:

Of course if you had mobile products in the classroom it would be nothing for student to create their own facts and skits using the “Talking”apps.

Please feel free to comment below your thoughts and if you have seen these used in classes elsewhere. I’m sure I’m not the only one with a bright idea.

Grant Ward          https://twitter.com/#!/ward_gee

Justine Abell        https://twitter.com/#!/Jusabell

Neil Fara               https://twitter.com/#!/NeilFara

Roger Pryor         https://twitter.com/#!/pryorcommitment

Rhianna               https://twitter.com/#!/RhiDiscover

Phillippa Cleaves https://twitter.com/#!/pipcleaves

Mac.Cory             https://twitter.com/#!/MrCoryMac

Brendt Evenden https://twitter.com/#!/B_Evenden

Ben Jones            https://twitter.com/#!/benpaddlejones

Nicola Steiner     https://twitter.com/#!/SteinerNicola

tina                       https://twitter.com/#!/tmc071

Jeremy Rennex  https://twitter.com/#!/ehsrenno

Brendan Jones   https://twitter.com/#!/jonesytheteachr

Beau Berman     https://twitter.com/#!/BermanBeau

Robbie Urquhart https://twitter.com/#!/RobbieUrquhart

HCC DER           https://twitter.com/#!/HCCDER

Please let me know if I’ve accidently left someone off the list.

Photos from the day.

The Gathering

Learning with Adventure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neil giving the good oil.

 

 

 

Otherwise known as outdoor learning is not a new concept but often overlooked when programming a new unit of work. With new mobile technology it has never been easier to create materials for students.

Objective:

Have students moving around individually or in small groups around the school collecting key pieces of information. These can be matching images, following clues or moving to points on a map. Each of these points are called a waypoint. Cards at each waypoint can contain clues, new information, sections of a sentence or activities that the group completes on a sheet.

Example Questions:

• What direction was the photographer facing when the image was taken?
• Measure the distance from this to the next waypoint
• How many fauna species can be seen from this point. List.
• Draw a sketch of the scene west of this point.

Pre-emptive Suggestions:

• Outline the aims of the activity
• Highlight safety and supervision requirements. (Boundaries)
• Build each activity to become slightly harder than the last.
• Emphasise co-operation, teamwork and communication, not competition and tactile rewards.
• Ensure you check details and print replacement waypoint cards in case some go missing.

Why?

Adventure Learning ticks the boxes for many students who have difficulty engaging in the classroom. With a focus on lateral thinking and observation those that can be difficult members indoors will often shine when information is presented alternatively.

Student Directed Learning:

Teachers will feel a change of emphasis where the effort is before the lesson and students only require supervision (and possibly a hint or two) during the activity. With materials only requiring placement prior to the lesson students can move around and engage with the environment, questions and/or activity sheet.

Learning:

Apart from the obvious within the content of the waypoints, if students are directed to remain in small groups of three or four they practice turn taking social skills, consultation, questioning and prioritisation.

In 2007 I cobbled together this sequence of impromptu shots taken by phone.  DropBear Baja at Stockton (2007). It was rushed, clips of the day with no real intent to put to music or even publish. From that I decided to do the same but with my latest Bajabug, Yowie. Some mates wanted in on the action and now I’m up to editing. Below are the trailer and a sequence of stills from a particular shoot on the 14th.

Important information about filming.

Stockton Beach has a element of danger. We are operating vehicles in an open space where bystanders are nearby, vision can be obscured, the terrain is undulation and unstable and driver error for those unfamiliar with beach driving is common. I under took a risk assessment to make sure filming was safe and productive.

Before filming we set a number of guidelines to ensure safe, responsible video production?

• Must adhere strictly to all NPWS regulations. (stay off vegetation etc)
• Abide by regulations set by Road & Marine Services (RTA). (<40 km/h
• Cordon an area for spectators that are a “no go zone” by all vehicles.
• Provide Hi-Viz vests to photographers.
• Clearly mark with flags equipment and areas of significant danger.

Other precautions were undertaken such as ensuring all vehicles were registered and comprehensively insured, each driver has over 10 years driving experience at Stockton Beach and the filming was not widely advertised to minimize onlookers. Locations were chosen away from thoroughfare traffic and dune tops clearly flagged. This is not a commercial project.

Yowie Baja taking a dip in a lagoon.

Having been witness to many serious accidents both at Stockton and elsewhere I took every precaution to ensure those participating were not in danger for 5+ minutes of film.

Following this project I plan to make a second advisory film that highlights the different driving (and recovery) methods used at Stockton Beach for new 4WD visitors visiting the beach.

Ever wanted to have a separate computer just for the projector?

Advantages:

Allow students to work from what is up on the smartboard, projector, word file etc while you work independently on the computer.

Make better use of your time by creating resources while on class.

Disadvantages:

When displaying a powerpoint the full screen function will natively revert to the main computer screen and not the projector.

This version uses an XP computer however it works with Windows 7 and Vista the same way.

Hope you can use this for your classroom.

Happy Easter,

Steve.