27/02/2015 - Blog Post 6
Screencast-O-Matic
This week in class we talked about video communication. As we will soon have to create and E-presentation for our group projects we are learning about some tools that can be utilised for these presentations. For this E-lab we had the opportunity to test out Screencast-O-Matic which is a website that allows you to make screen-casters for free. We had to make a short video of a Microsoft word doc and include audio. I made my screen caster about what we learned in this weeks class. I used some of the notes I took during the class and gave a brief summary of the notes I had written to use as the audio. I found using Screencast-O-Matic extremely straight forward and actually quite enjoyable. I think our group will definitely include it as an aspect of our presentation in the coming weeks. I have embedded below the screecncaster I made.
Friday, 27 February 2015
Friday, 20 February 2015
20/02/2015 - Blog Post 5
Pet the Kitty
It has just come to my attention that I never actually made a blog post about our first eLab on the 30th of January. In this lab we set up our accounts on MIT app inventor and made our first app, Pet the Kitty. This is a very basic app and therefore a pretty straight forward process. It involved downloading and re-uploading a picture and sound file to MIT app inventor and following instructions in order to create the app. The only part of this I found somewhat challenging was doing the blocks in order to make the app work. However, this was only because it was new to me and I quickly picked it up. Pet the Kitty was easy enough and good starting point for learning how to use MOT app inventor.
Pet the Kitty
It has just come to my attention that I never actually made a blog post about our first eLab on the 30th of January. In this lab we set up our accounts on MIT app inventor and made our first app, Pet the Kitty. This is a very basic app and therefore a pretty straight forward process. It involved downloading and re-uploading a picture and sound file to MIT app inventor and following instructions in order to create the app. The only part of this I found somewhat challenging was doing the blocks in order to make the app work. However, this was only because it was new to me and I quickly picked it up. Pet the Kitty was easy enough and good starting point for learning how to use MOT app inventor.
20/02/2015 - Blog Post 4
Prezi.
This week we learned how to use Prezi which is a cloud based presentation software and storytelling tool used for presenting ideas on a virtual canvas. I made my first Prezi about this module. I made a number of slides including; A short module description, the learning objectives, a brief note of the different aspects of the course, picture and a YouTube video about MIT app inventor. Overall I really enjoy using Prezi, I think its a really interesting and creative alternative way of presenting information. I think that its very visually pleasing and that the zooming interface and would capture the imagination of an audience. I will definitely use Prezi again in the future. Below is my Prezi on the module.
UPDATE : As embedding the the code in my blog doesn't seem to be working for me here is a link to my Prezi :
http://prezi.com/op7icee4antv/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
Prezi.
This week we learned how to use Prezi which is a cloud based presentation software and storytelling tool used for presenting ideas on a virtual canvas. I made my first Prezi about this module. I made a number of slides including; A short module description, the learning objectives, a brief note of the different aspects of the course, picture and a YouTube video about MIT app inventor. Overall I really enjoy using Prezi, I think its a really interesting and creative alternative way of presenting information. I think that its very visually pleasing and that the zooming interface and would capture the imagination of an audience. I will definitely use Prezi again in the future. Below is my Prezi on the module.
UPDATE : As embedding the the code in my blog doesn't seem to be working for me here is a link to my Prezi :
http://prezi.com/op7icee4antv/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
Sunday, 15 February 2015
15/05/15 - Blog Post 3.
Pintrest and Diigo.
This week in our eLab we learned how to set up and use Pintrest and Diigo accounts.
This week in class we learned all about social bookmarking and Pintrest and Diigo accounts are examples of social bookmarking.
First, we had to make a Pintrest account. We were given instructions to follow which made the process simple enough. We had to pick 5 topics from a variety of many options that interested us so that our feeds would display things we wanted to see. After making our accounts we learned how to make boards, which are were you pin you favourite pictures, videos and articles across the internet. I called mine 'places to go' as I love to travel. Here's what my account looks like!
We also learned how to pin, like and repin. I do enjoy this website but I also find it kind of confusing as it just feels like there's so much going on. The video tutorials that were given to us really helped me.
Next we moved on to Diigo.
To be honest I didn't really enjoy Diigo, I found it quite confusing and not really something I would use in everyday life. Although I do see the value in it and understand why it is so popular. In this part of the eLab we once again made accounts and briefly learned how to use it. This involved adding Diigo to our bookmarks bar and bookmarking an article. As well as using its other functions such as highlighting ,taking notes, taking screenshots, searching, collaborating and using groups and more!
Once again I found the video tutorials very helpful when navigating through the site but overall I would say its not for me. However, I can definitely see myself continuing to use Pintrest in the future.
Pintrest and Diigo.
This week in our eLab we learned how to set up and use Pintrest and Diigo accounts.
This week in class we learned all about social bookmarking and Pintrest and Diigo accounts are examples of social bookmarking.
First, we had to make a Pintrest account. We were given instructions to follow which made the process simple enough. We had to pick 5 topics from a variety of many options that interested us so that our feeds would display things we wanted to see. After making our accounts we learned how to make boards, which are were you pin you favourite pictures, videos and articles across the internet. I called mine 'places to go' as I love to travel. Here's what my account looks like!
We also learned how to pin, like and repin. I do enjoy this website but I also find it kind of confusing as it just feels like there's so much going on. The video tutorials that were given to us really helped me.
Next we moved on to Diigo.
To be honest I didn't really enjoy Diigo, I found it quite confusing and not really something I would use in everyday life. Although I do see the value in it and understand why it is so popular. In this part of the eLab we once again made accounts and briefly learned how to use it. This involved adding Diigo to our bookmarks bar and bookmarking an article. As well as using its other functions such as highlighting ,taking notes, taking screenshots, searching, collaborating and using groups and more!
Once again I found the video tutorials very helpful when navigating through the site but overall I would say its not for me. However, I can definitely see myself continuing to use Pintrest in the future.
Monday, 9 February 2015
09/02/15 - Blog Post 2
Magic 8 Ball App.
This week in our second lab we created an App called Magic8ball. The app was pretty much exactly what it sounds like, it was a picture of a magic 8 ball on the screen that gave you one of eight predictions when you click a button. It also made a sound when you did this.
Shane first did a demonstration on how to make it and then we were told to do it buy ourselves with the instructions provided. The instructions were pretty straight forward so it wasn't too difficult.
We began by downloading a picture and a sound file for the app and then re uploading them to MIT app Inventor, we had done this last week with the 'pet the kitty' app so this was easy enough to do. We then had to insert labels so as to give the user of the app instructions what to do. When all of that was done the designer page looked like this.
Next we moved onto the blocks which is how we programme the app to behave when the button is clicked. This was a little bit trickier then last week as there were more factors to take into account then with the 'pet the kitty' app. This involved connecting the act of clicking the button to the sound file and then picking at random an answer from a possible eight suggestions. When the Blocks were completed they looked like this.
There was a part in the instructions which allowed you to make the magic 8 ball respond to the phone being shaken as oppose to clicking the button however as I was using an emulator I could not do this.
Overall I found this task enjoyable and I think it will help us in creating our apps in the coming weeks.
Magic 8 Ball App.
This week in our second lab we created an App called Magic8ball. The app was pretty much exactly what it sounds like, it was a picture of a magic 8 ball on the screen that gave you one of eight predictions when you click a button. It also made a sound when you did this.
Shane first did a demonstration on how to make it and then we were told to do it buy ourselves with the instructions provided. The instructions were pretty straight forward so it wasn't too difficult.
We began by downloading a picture and a sound file for the app and then re uploading them to MIT app Inventor, we had done this last week with the 'pet the kitty' app so this was easy enough to do. We then had to insert labels so as to give the user of the app instructions what to do. When all of that was done the designer page looked like this.
Next we moved onto the blocks which is how we programme the app to behave when the button is clicked. This was a little bit trickier then last week as there were more factors to take into account then with the 'pet the kitty' app. This involved connecting the act of clicking the button to the sound file and then picking at random an answer from a possible eight suggestions. When the Blocks were completed they looked like this.
There was a part in the instructions which allowed you to make the magic 8 ball respond to the phone being shaken as oppose to clicking the button however as I was using an emulator I could not do this.
Overall I found this task enjoyable and I think it will help us in creating our apps in the coming weeks.
Sunday, 1 February 2015
1/02/2015 - Blog Post 1.
Social Media Experiment.
This week Shane challenged us to try last a full day without using social media as an experiment for class. I attempted to do this on Saturday the 30th of January and failed miserably. I knew beforehand that this was going to be difficult, but not this bad.
Social Media Experiment.
This week Shane challenged us to try last a full day without using social media as an experiment for class. I attempted to do this on Saturday the 30th of January and failed miserably. I knew beforehand that this was going to be difficult, but not this bad.
I started out strong by putting all my favourite social
media apps in a folder on my phone together so as that I would not just click
in to them out of habit. These include; Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube
and Snapchat. I also signed out of many of them to make it harder for me to
access them.
The first time I had to stop myself from checking them was when I
woke up, every morning I start my day by checking my notifications on Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat. More than anything I do this to wake myself up
before getting out of bed rather than a burning desire to see who liked my
picture. Anyway this was the first time I felt the need to check social media,
however I resisted.
I failed a number of times throughout the day, varying from
me accidently logging into Facebook on my laptop when I was studying purely out
of habit, to me purposely watching videos on YouTube with my friends. All in
all it was a bit of a disaster. I managed to stay off twitter and Instagram but
ended up giving in and going on to snapchat, Facebook and YouTube. However, in
my defence I forgot to sign out of Snapchat and the little notifications saying
I had received snaps were teasing me. Even though, as per usual they were
pointless pictures of nothing, not knowing what they were made me feel as
though I was missing out by not seeing them.
Overall I would say it was an interesting experience. I
genuinely thought I would do better than I did which shows me that I’m a lot
more dependent on social media then I thought. These applications have become so
embedded into my daily routine that it just feels like second nature to check
them. (Particularly with Facebook because I’ve had it the longest, even though
it is without a doubt my least favourite form of social media.)
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