As you've probably gathered from recent posts, I'm really interested in tools that administrators can use to record and share brief presentations on just about any topic they can think of. For example, a welcoming message on the school blog or a monthly online update for parents and community members. Today I spent some time trying out Jing.

This tool allows you to use images or screen captures to create narratied videos (up to 5 minutes). I'm in the process of figuring out out you really get the final product embedded somewhere. In the meantime, I did a quick video on how to edit a page on the webtoolsforeducators wiki.

Right now you need to click on a link near the bottom of the page to see the video, but I've downloaded it and am using Zamzar to convert it, then will get the file posted and (I hope) embedded pretty quickly. 

Whew! 

Posted by sjbrooks_young at 8:08 PM PST

Updated: Saturday, 29 December 2007 8:11 PM PST

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The Pew Internet and American Life Project release a new report on Teens and Social Media just yesterday. Growing numbers of teens (ages 12 to 17) are creating their own content online (think Web 2.0 apps), about 64% of online teens now. Girls outpace boys when it comes to contributing to blogs and posting photos. However, boys are more likely to post video files.

Learn more by clicking the link provided in the paragraph above.

Also, I did the Tapped In session tonight where I sent people  to a VoiceThread I'd created and embedded in a  page on my Web site (here as well). Despite the problems I had getting the audio recorded, it worked liked a charm tonight when folks were viewing it. So, I think I'll be using it more frequently.

Posted by sjbrooks_young at 9:02 PM PST

Updated: Thursday, 20 December 2007 9:07 PM PST

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So I spent the greater part of this morning uploading another VoiceThread, one I plan to use later this week in a Tapped In session. This time I was working with a PowerPoint file. I got that uploaded, discovered that I couldn't delete single slides once it was there, do deleted it and did some additional editing. Then uploaded it again. I wanted to make verbal comments and did, but had a heck of a time with some of the individual slides. Finally, I also posted the notes for each slide so that if the audio disappears again, folks can read the text. Whew! It definitely has a way to go, and I didn't try any of the doodling tools, but I think I stick with it a bit longer.

Here's what I did today.

Posted by sjbrooks_young at 12:27 PM PST

Updated: Sunday, 16 December 2007 12:29 PM PST

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I've been playing with a presentation tool called VoiceThread. A subscription runs about $30/year, but there is a special deal for educators. Anyway, I'm thinking about using this next week during a Tapped In presentation in lieu of me copying and pasting comments. Attendees can view the VoiceThread then go off and explore a wiki for a while before regrouping for a Q&A.

Here's a presentation I've done to explore importing photos from Flickr and adding text comments. Once Prairie Home Companion is over, I'll try recording audio comments!

Posted by sjbrooks_young at 4:36 PM PST

Updated: Saturday, 15 December 2007 4:42 PM PST

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Someone, somewhere recently posted a request for reasons why schools should permit cell phones on campus. I'll be darned if I can remember who it was, so I'm posting here.

Steve Dembo has blogged about a Web 2.0 tool called Poll Everywhere. Basically, you set up one or more questions (like you would with a personal response system (PRS)), but then gather responses via cell phone. As with PRS, you can embed the survey into a PowerPoint presentation and show results instantaneously. They are also promising the ability to respond via computer in the near future.

Right now the catch is that after the first 100 responses, there's a fee per response (ranges up to $74.19 for 500 responses). In a classroom, that could get expensive very quickly.

Anyway, apparently the company is interested in working with educators and looking for volunteers (in schools where students are allowed to use cell phones) to use Poll Everywhere and give feedback. If you're interested, use the link provided above to visit Steve's blog.

If it were feasible costwise, I could see this being a reason to have students use cell phones. 

Posted by sjbrooks_young at 12:08 PM PST

Updated: Saturday, 8 December 2007 12:12 PM PST

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Yesterday, the Associated Press released a poll on Instant Messaging (IM). There was one particularly interesting result. Forty-three percent of the teens who participated in the poll reported they use IM to avoid embarrassing situations including asking for or accepting a date (22%) or breaking up with a boy or girlfriend (13%).

"If they freak out or something, you don't see it," said Cassy Hobert, 17, a high school senior from Frenchburg, Ky., and avid IMer who has used it to arrange dates. "And if I freak out, they don't have to see it."

It's no surprise that teens also admit using IM to say things they wouldn't say in person--hence the rise in cyberbullying.

What message should educators and parents take away from this? 

Posted by sjbrooks_young at 1:39 PM PST

Updated: Friday, 16 November 2007 1:42 PM PST

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Last week ISTE, SETDA, and the Partnership for 21st Century Learning released a joint report entitled Maximizing the Impact: "The Pivotal Role of Technology in a 21st Century Education System,"  urging reknewed emphasis on the importance of technology use in education.

The report urges educators to use technology comprehensively to:

1. Develop proficiency in 21st century skills.

2. Support innovative teaching and learning.

3. Create robust education support systems.

Every school leader needs to review this document which can be downloaded using the link provided above.

Technorati Tags: ISTE, SETDA, Partnership for 21st Century Learning, school administrators, Susan Brooks-Young

Posted by sjbrooks_young at 5:00 PM PST

Updated: Friday, 16 November 2007 1:40 PM PST

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Do you have a staff member or two who thinks that emerging technologies have had little or no impact on his/her life? Share this spoof of a pilot for the TV show 24 set in 1994 and then talk...

Technorati Tags: emerging technologies, school administrators, Susan Brooks-Young

Posted by sjbrooks_young at 11:03 AM PST

Updated: Sunday, 11 November 2007 11:06 AM PST

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We have a new grandbaby in the family who will be a member of the class of 2025. Needless to say, we're thrilled. But I can't help wondering...what will the future and public education have on offer for her and her peers???

Technorati Tags:school administrators, Susan Brooks-Young

Posted by sjbrooks_young at 3:57 PM PDT

Updated: Monday, 5 November 2007 4:17 PM PST

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I first began using AirSet a little over two years ago. This free tool offers a place to create and manage private (invitation only) and public groups--a great resource for ongoing professional development and other educational uses. At that time, the site provided a calendar, contacts, to do lists, a blog, and a place to post links.

It's really grown since then. Now you can post files, photo albums, playlists, and...they've just added the capability to create a wiki and a group web page. If you haven't checked out this site, now's the time.

Technorati Tags: AirSet, school administrators, Susan Brooks-Young

Posted by sjbrooks_young at 3:54 PM PDT

Updated: Friday, 26 October 2007 3:56 PM PDT

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