bLOGbYTES

SheilaT, a CRS in Virginia Beach, tipped me off to this cool application called VOKI.  VOKI lets you create a character, what they call a scene, and then add a voice to it.  You can record your voice using a microphone or using a telephone.  A sound file can be imported or, like I did in the following example, you can use their text to speech feature.  This seems like another cool way for students to create and present projects.  Much more engaging than a 2 page paper.  Code is provided in a variety of formats for embedding in a variety of applications.  Give it a try.

I just downloaded the latest update for Windows Live Messenger.  I included a feature called Writer.  It provides a means for entering a blog post without actually being logged into the blog.  It appears to be a bit easier that the Word Press entry screen.  I also appears to have a fairly basic text entering capability.  It will be interesting to see how this post looks.

Cool application….I was then able to retrieve the post using Windows Live Writer, add this second paragraph, and then repost it.  Cool Beans!!

There was a great article in the Sunday (Feb. 17) Beacon section of the local paper about a group of teachers at Tallwood HS that are receiving an award from the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission for a project they and their students completed.  It was a great project dealing with using video conferencing to provide students with a better understanding of problems that Sudan is experiencing.  What got me to wondering is the fact that they used video conferencing as a part of the project.  This was but one of the tools our computer resources specialists were introduced to at last August’s training.  I am wondering how many of the CRSs are using, or have trained their school’s teachers to use, the various tools that were introduced during the conference.  Some these include blogs, wikis, RSS readers, podcasting, and, of course, video conferencing.  I know of several schools and staff that are using these tools, but I have no idea how widespread the use may be.  If any of the school division staff actually read this, how about commenting a bit on what you or your school are doing with any of these tools.  “Me thinks” it is likely time to do an informal survey.

As some may realize, I am a fan of the Admirals.  Although it is the “cheap seat” section, I have season ticket and haven’t missed a game this year.  I’ve been using this blog to generally write about work related topics, Web 2.0, etc., but Friday night’s game was such a wild affair that I can’t help but mention it here.  The first two period were relatively quiet, with the Admirals savoring a 4-1 lead with the start of the third period.  Within three seconds of the start of the third period all five skaters for both teams were fighting.  Then, with the officials well occupied, the two goalies met at center ice and joined in the fun.  I have found that when a game gets a bit lopsided in score, the fights will typically break out.  I was ready with a “clandestine” video camera and caught it all.  I believe there were 6 ejections from this one.  Check out the goalies as they pat each other on the back following their “scuffle”.  If you make it down to a game, you can find me in Section 227 Seat C-1. Enjoy….

I would like to thank North Carolina for sending along the smoke from the brush fires that they must be having down there.  The wind shifted this afternoon and it is really pretty ugly outside…..and moving inside.

 I did have the pleasure of stopping by day 2 of digital storytelling training the elementary school instructional technology coordinators were doing with library media specialists and classroom teachers.  The creative projects they developed during the training were outstanding.  Not one of the projects covered covered less than two subject areas’ SOL.  Trainers did a great job and the participants as well.  I told them all that they have proven those teachers that say SOLs have stifled their opportunity to do creative and fun things with kids.  They did it.  Great job to all.

As spring-like as it is outside today it is hard to believe it is ice hockey night in Norfolk.  Go Admirals!!

I hope all have a great 3-day weekend.  We all deserve it about this time of the year.

This guy I know…let’s just call him “Ken”… has a new line in his email signature.  It goes something like, “When are you going to update your blog”.  Well, I’m finally gettng around to writing a short post.  It seems like things are so busy around the place lately that I am not sure if I’m coming or going.  Today I left the office in a hurry to get to a school for the start of a graduate class we are offering on blogging.  I made it on time…..problem was I was a week early. 

 Anyway…here’s new site of the day; new for me anyway.  Like many others in the school division I have been using that cool little application called Twitter.  The other day I came across a neat little application called TwitterScan.  TwitterScan lets you put in a few different search terms for Twitter.  You can set it up so that you get an email once a day of all the Twits posted that include your search terms.  I’m currently searching on blogs, wikis, library, and digital storytelling.  Once a day I get an email that lists all the twits that include those words.  Some of the hits have lead me to others that are working in instructional technology.  I can then follow their posts on a regular basis by adding them to my Twitter following list.  This is but one more way to build your own online professional learning community.   Cool little application.  Give it a try.

I awhile back had a blog entry about Voice Thread.  As you may recall, Voice Thread is a really pretty neat online application for sharing photos and adding voice or text comments.  I have a chat-buddy in China.  A university student that goes by the name of JJ.  Several weeks ago I introduced JJ to Voice Thread, and he has used it a couple of times.  Recently he and a group of his friends went on a vacation for about a week.  He posted several really pretty great photos in a Voice Thread.  I asked him to add some narration in Chinese.  I thought what a great way for our local students that are studying Chinese to hear from a native speaker that is about their own age.  The application will also permit our students to add comments back to JJ.  This thread is located at http://voicethread.com/#b10043.  Cool tool.

Nope..not 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, but almost as good.  How about 50 Web 2.0 Ways to Tell a Story?  It has been an interesting week here in DOTland.  The boss is away for the week and I have gotten to serve as the acting Imperial Ruler.  Actually, the boss is away and because of all the great folks that work in the the office and the CRSs and LMSs in the schools all has gone well.  Anyway, back to my story.  I stole…or should I say discovered…and entry on a co-workers del.icio.us site called 50 Web 2.0 Ways to Tell a Story.  It’s a wiki that is a wealth of resources.  One of the pages on the site lists the 50 tools by category.  You will find slideshow tools such as Bubbleshare, scrapbook tools like Tabblo, and presentation tools such as Slideshare (mmm, that sounds familiar).  Take a look at the site.  I bet there is something there for everybody. 

Funny thing happened at work today — the one person that I think reads this blog sent an email asking when I was going to write another post about a tool that I have come across.  Well, give this one a look. 

Several of us in the division have started using something called Twitter.  Twitter says it answers the basic question…”Where are you?”  I tend to think of it as a mass, social IM site.  When you send a “twit” all of the people that are “following” you receive it.  You can send and receive twits on a cell phone, IM, or on their website.  My preference is using Google Talk.  All I did was add twitter@twitter.com as a contact.  Voila…works like a charm.  One may ask, well…so what?  The other day an elementary school CRS asked a question on Twitter.  Within minutes she received responses from several of us that were following her.  Really neat.  Instant help.  Remember Will Richardson from the CRS conference?  His twit name is willrich45.  Setup a free account, add him to your following list, and keep up with his latest.  At first I just plain did not see what the heck good Twitter was.  As more and more of our CRSs begin to Twitter, it becomes more of a tool rather than a toy.  And most importantly, it is not blocked by the content filter!!!  Set yourself up an account and let me know your Twitter name.  Mine is wjohnsen. 

Need a presentation is a hurry?  Got an hour to get ready for an unexpected class?  You might want to take a look at Slideshare.  Slideshare has a searchable database of presentations that have been uploaded from all over the world.  Although not all of them are available for download, many are.  Even if the entire presentation may not meet your needs, you may find one that will give you some good ideas.  The sample I have included here about blogging is one that you might be able to easily adapt for use with teachers and students.  And, it appears that the site is not blocked =-).  Have a great weekend!