Week 8

I have looked at other digital projects in the class and many of them look very professional. I think my digital project without the sound will be just in the middle of all of the projects in terms of complexity.

I did like Pat’s screencast of Access. It looked very professional and the way she taught it while on screencast was very good. The content was easily understandable. I saw a couple of prezi projects and they did not have sounds. I really regretted stretching myself too much and proposing to put sound in my prezi. I did not think I won’t be able to do it.

But even if I was not able to put sound in my prezi, I did learn so much from researching possible solutions to my audio problems. I learned about the website that converts files, Zamzar. I have learned about the software Natural Reader, Webinaria, Screencast, VLC, Windows movie maker, Quicktime. I did not know anything about all these tools before. It was a learning experience but a painful one as I did not get to accomplish what I wanted to do.

I am normally on top of things especially in my school work. I am very disappointed with myself but it is what it is and I just have to accept it. The whole course was great and it was the course where I learned so much just by researching information myself and teaching myself to use so many online tools.

I have decided to continue learning and I will take the online learning program after the PIDP.

Week 7

This is the last time we are meeting as a group for the wiki. We have to determine our group grade and what Jenn will submit as the rationale for our grade. I think we did well. We have worked together and have accomplished what the rubric is describing as exceptional work. All of us contributed. I have visited other wikis in this class and I’d say that in terms of layout and content, our wiki compares well.

I am still working on the sound of my wiki and I am having a hard time. Now I am trying to use a microphone to record from the speakers instead of directly from the software. It seems to be better but it is still not loud enough. I have tried screencast but the image gets blurry. I have tried youtube downloader but it its taking so long. I will have to look for anothe way to add sound if I will get this done.

I have checked out other digital projects and some of them are as simple as a blog or a video that is just a few minutes long. I am now wondering why I got myself into this complicated digital project. I should have proposed something simpler. But since I am already here, I will try my best to get this done.

Putting in sound in my prezi is such a huge challenge.

Week 6

What I learned this week is about creative commons and fair dealing as they apply to teaching. I have read educational exceptions to copyright infringement. I am almost complete in researching content for the wiki articles assigned to me.

I also finished my prezi for my digital project and it is looking good. I have researched how to insert the sound not just in prezi but possibly using screencast and movie maker. I also downloaded the software Natural Reader so that the voice will sound more professional than my voice. I have written down my options in getting the sound on to the prezi. The prezi can only accept .flv video files and my sound recorder saves in .wav.

I think I can do this. I wanted sound in my presentation to make it different from regular prezi.

Week 5

I worked on the wiki layout this week. I met with my groupmates and asked if I can change the layout. I felt that we need to put effort in making our wiki look and feel professional. Now being conscious about copyright, I had to look for a copyright free, copyright image to put on the header of the wiki.

I wanted to move our wiki to google to get better templates but I think it is too late now. We have shared the link to our class. It was a challenge to learn how to improve the layout but I got it done.

This week, I also learned how to insert links in the wiki, both internal and external link. I also learned how to insert an image.

I also created a personal wiki. I think I have gained so many skills in navigating wikis that I am comfortable creating them and suggesting using them to my family and friends.