Integrating Technology into Education
Learn how to use free/low cost technology tools for teaching and learning in your classroom. Keep up-to-date with latest tech tools curated by an instructional technology expert!
Would you like to go beyond just using computers and office products in your classroom?
There are many free/low cost technology tools out there which you can utilize in your professional life in various ways such organization, learning and better yet teaching more effectively! Among the topics will be covered in this course are:
- Teaching and Learning with Visuals and Video,
- Digital Storytelling,
- Web 2.0 tools,
- Presentation Tools,
- Collaboration Tools,
- Web Design Tools,
- Mobile Devices and Applications,
- Course Management Systems and Lesson Planning Tools,
- Cloud Applications,
- Personal Organization & Professional Development for Teachers,
- and many more…
Exploring technology worthy of use can be time-consuming and intimidating for many teachers. However, this course will feature tools that are easy to master and effective with educators in mind. Also, the course will be updated frequently with new tools based on the feedback from users.
Teaching and Learning with Video
WHAT IS DIGITAL STORYTELLING?
In essence, Digital storytelling is a process of creating a short movie that combines a script or an original story with various multimedia components, such as images, video, music and a narration, often an author’s own voice.
Digital storytelling combines the art of storytelling with a variety of multimedia components, such as sound, music, digital pictures, video clips and text. Digital stories usually last between two and ten minutes. Topics used can include personal tales, retellings of historical events, teaching/introducing a specific subject to an audience, and various other purposes.
Digital storytelling is an educational technology tool that utilizes skills students are expected to have in the 21st century. Information literacy, visual literacy, being creative and taking risks, and using the latest technology to communicate effectively can all be achieved when students actively participate in the creation process of digital storytelling.
Please check following websites for sample stories:
http://www.distco.org/gallery -Official DISTCO Website
http://www.youtube.com/thedistco - Official YouTube channel for DISTCO
DIGITAL STORYTELLING SOFTWARE
Several software can be used for digital storytelling. In this course, we will cover
- Photo Story 3 (Recommended for Elementary Level students or beginners)
- Windows Movie Maker (Recommended for Middle School/High School students or intermediate users)
- WeVideo (Recommended for Middle School/High School students or beginners)
PHOTO STORY 3 INTRODUCTION
Photo Story 3 is created by Microsoft.
Advantages are
- It is easy to use and free if you own a valid copy of Windows.
- Also, the built-in music creation system saves the users when copyright issues are considered for background music.
Disadvantages include:
- Limited to pictures/photos only. Photo Story 3 can not use video clips.
- Simple editing tools (Actually, this could be advantage for beginners!)
- No longer updated by Microsoft.
Photo Story 3 creates two file types:
- Project file (editable), .wp3
- Video file (rendered or produced, editable through project file), .wmv
See Download link under Resources
MOVIE MAKER 2012 INTRODUCTION
Some of advantages of Movie Maker include:
- Auto Movie and Transitions
- Simple Interface and not over complicated
- Comes with Windows
- Movie Maker 2012 has a built in "Record Narration" tool
- Separate Sound and Narration tracks
Some disadvantages are:
- May crash especially with larger video files
- Single video track
- Single Sound/Narration tracks
Moviemaker creates two file types:
- Project file (editable), .wlmp
- Video file (rendered or produced, editable through project file), .wmv
See Download link under Resources
WEVIDEO INTRODUCTION
WeVideo is a cloud based video editing and creation tool. Your files are stored online with Wevideo. Wevideo closely works with Google Drive and Chrome browser. It can be used with Chromebooks and Android phones. Wevideo publishes videos in .mp4 format which is a cross-platform and widely accepted format.
The free version has some limitations such as:
- limited quality of the produced video (only 480),
- bumper (watermark or branding of wevideo at the end of your video),
- 15 minutes of publishing time per month,
- and disability of downloading your file off of WeVideo website (Except the ability to download your file from Google drive, if you publish your video to Google Drive)
Some advantages include:
- Provides copyright free sound and music clips
- Multiple audio and video tracks
- Different modes for different level of users
- Built-in Voice-over and recording tool
- No need to install any software
- Feature rich Freeware version
- Affordable Education version/discount for schools
Working with Google Forms
LearnBoost: Class Management and Lesson Plan Software
Presentation Tools
Collaboration Tools
Screencasting
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