I tried out Google Sketch Up, which is a free 3-D CAD (Computer Assisted Drafting) program. It's not worth the time to learn in my mind because of its limited features. I've been spoiled by Autodesk Software and just can't seem to find a suitable replacement. I'd buy the Autodesk Software, but it's in the hundreds of dollars and more powerful than I need. Sketch Up looke promising, but you can't import pictures for backgrounds, create multi-sided polygons, or o-snap to gridpoints. So, it just won't work for me.
Createagraph is a nice piece of basic graphing software, but is a far cry from Excel. Once again, this free software offers the bare bones basics, but its professional counterpart blows it out of the water. This is a natural occurence, yet it would be nice to find free (or less costly) software programs that go beyond the basic tools, yet keep things basic in an effort to keep prices down. There not be a suitable market for this though. So, the option is to either buy the expensive toy or deal with the basic one.
Samorost-1 is a creepy, odd exploratory game about trying to explore an alien space ship. I wouldn't recommend it for schools. The 3rd screen has an animation of a guy smoking a huka...
Friday, May 21, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Wordle
Wordle is pretty fun!
I created on for the Pythagorean Theorem and another for an introduction to Euclidean Geometry. I think this is a great way to get students interested in seeing a "big picture" (main concept" without forcing them to read a boring paragraph.
It also incorporates various parts of their brains (in my opinion). I think it speaks to both their logical and creative sides...which most likely helps them to integrate new ideas.
I created on for the Pythagorean Theorem and another for an introduction to Euclidean Geometry. I think this is a great way to get students interested in seeing a "big picture" (main concept" without forcing them to read a boring paragraph.
It also incorporates various parts of their brains (in my opinion). I think it speaks to both their logical and creative sides...which most likely helps them to integrate new ideas.
Digital Storytelling
I've been playing around with Digital Storytelling for some time now. Recently, I made this slide shows set to music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDmWpmaJL6c
I made this on movie maker & it was pretty simple and painless. Similar products can be made using Powerpoint, but they run a little smoother and are easier to build.
Students could use this to make presentations similar to those they've been making in Powerpoint in past years. I think that the simplicity of using Automoto or a comparable website/program will encourage students to use this form of media more often though.
I made this on movie maker & it was pretty simple and painless. Similar products can be made using Powerpoint, but they run a little smoother and are easier to build.
Students could use this to make presentations similar to those they've been making in Powerpoint in past years. I think that the simplicity of using Automoto or a comparable website/program will encourage students to use this form of media more often though.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Diigo
Diigo is a rather complicated, but useful site for social bookmarking of other websites. I prefer using iGoogle to keep my bookmarks available from any computer I use. However, they are not open to public sharing. For that purpose, Diigo is superior.
Moodle is a alternative option for students if they wish to keep a wiki/sharing page open. From a class moodle page, links can be added & comments can be stored about the web pages.
If a teacher wants yet more control, then his/her school website could also contain a page of links, and that would give the teacher tighter control of which website links were added to a class list. This option would require a lot more input by the teacher though.
I think that as long as Diigo were closely monitored by the teacher, it would be a very useful site during research work in the classroom.
Moodle is a alternative option for students if they wish to keep a wiki/sharing page open. From a class moodle page, links can be added & comments can be stored about the web pages.
If a teacher wants yet more control, then his/her school website could also contain a page of links, and that would give the teacher tighter control of which website links were added to a class list. This option would require a lot more input by the teacher though.
I think that as long as Diigo were closely monitored by the teacher, it would be a very useful site during research work in the classroom.
Wikis
Wikis have an advantage over Google Docs in that people my sign up to be members without needing an invitation. So, people interested in a particular subject can congregate and "make new friends" without needing to already be in an "inner circle".
However, with this advantage comes the other side of the knife edge. There is a potential for unwanted posts & changes to be made. Internet "graffiti" can run rampant on wikis whilst being all but nonexistant on "invitation only" Google Docs.
Moderating a wiki takes a higher level of monitering. However, it allows for a greater number of "strangers with common interests" to share and learn.
6 of 1, half a dozen of the other I suppose...
However, with this advantage comes the other side of the knife edge. There is a potential for unwanted posts & changes to be made. Internet "graffiti" can run rampant on wikis whilst being all but nonexistant on "invitation only" Google Docs.
Moderating a wiki takes a higher level of monitering. However, it allows for a greater number of "strangers with common interests" to share and learn.
6 of 1, half a dozen of the other I suppose...
Google Reader
Among a couple of rather nerdy Math readers, I also added the "Official Google Blog" to my list of 5 readers. It's a nice "one stop shop" to keep myself updated on how Google, & Gmail are helping me keep up with the exponentially growing world of technology on the Interwebs.
Google Reader is a nice way to have selected blogs come to my home page. Good stuff!
Google Reader is a nice way to have selected blogs come to my home page. Good stuff!
ITunes U
ITunes U is actually pretty "swanky". I now have a lecture about "modern scientific uses of hyperbolic geometry" on my IPod. That's pretty cool for a high end math nerd such as myself.
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