Using Xtranomal for project work

Objectives:

• To learn more about the reasons and problems of overpopulation as well as ways which the government tried to deal with the rapidly increasing population. 
• To learn to take the perspectives of the roles and look at different viewpoints. 
• To make use of ICT, Xtranormal, to create a flash animation, starting with writing the script and then constructing the animated clip. 

Task:
To produce an animated clip online using Xtranormal simulating a talk show on the issue of overpopulation in a country your group has chosen.
Your group must assume the roles of the host and invited guest in the talk show discussing the issue of overpopulation. Your group would need to prepare the script with details on the reasons, problems of overpopulation as well as ways which the government tried to deal with the rapidly increasing population. After writing the script, your group can then construct the animated clip by logging into http://www.xtranormal.com/

The script, link to the movie and references must be sent to your teacher by 25 March 2011.
You must plan carefully and allocate duties for each member of your group. Fill in the forms given to you for this project. All evidence of collection of information or data or pictures must be properly filed. You must submit the list of the websites or internet resources you use together with the script your group has prepared.

You can refer to the screenshots attached to better understand how you can make use of Xtranormal to create the movie. An example of the animation: http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/7649163/# You will need to submit the script to your teacher after you have created your movie on http://xtranormal.com/ You also need to write down the URL of your movie here: http://xtranormal.com/watch/______________

 

Samples work by Timothy http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/11404346/gegoraphy
Geography
by: Timothylcg
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/11689562/geography-project-part-2
Geography Project Part 2
by: Timothylcg

Teaching photo interpretation using jigsaw puzzles

Learned this from Lesson posted on edumall by Gerald Tay. http://subjects.edumall.sg/cos/o.x?c=/subjects/pagetree&func=view&rid=6755 (you must login to edumall to see this) He actually made use of the jigsaw planet to create jigsaw puzzles online to stimulate the student's interest in the learning of the topic "Geography of food".

The jigsaw puzzle is quite an interesting tool - I will actually use this in photo interpretation for the topic on coastal studies - http://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=showpuzzle&pid=330ea41ef34d&ret=%2F The teacher create the puzzles online and the students will have to highlight the main features on the photographs and relate them to what is being taught - eg. landform, process, coastal protection etc.

Play the "FB IMG 1554079059390" puzzle! https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=38ebac73ffc7

What are the coastal features shown in the photograph? 

How are they formed? 

Which type of waves are associated with the formation of the features shown in the photograph?

Game generator

Chanced upon this website from Victoria, Australia - languagesonline for free game creation software download:

Cartoon story maker - http://www.education.vic.gov.au/languagesonline/games/cartoon/index.htm

Memory Game -
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/languagesonline/games/memory/index.htm

Matching game - http://www.education.vic.gov.au/languagesonline/games/matching/index.htm

Tetris game -
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/languagesonline/games/tetris/index.htm

Sentence game -
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/languagesonline/games/sentence/index.htm

Comprehension Task maker - http://www.education.vic.gov.au/languagesonline/games/comprehension/index.htm

User-friendly and the graphics are good. The only downside is that it is not full screen as compared to the one from content generator which I introduced earlier on.

Videos for Internet

Social Studies online resources

NLB resources online http://libguides.nl.sg/cat.php?cid=921 You can also login to edumall using your IC no. - if you have forgotten your password just reset it by clicking on the "forget password" button and the password will be sent to your email @icon Highly recommended - click on Repository (top menu) followed by "browse" - then click on the subject e.g. social studies on the left menu http://library.edumall.sg/cos/o.x?c=/library/reslib&uid=&ptid=84&func=show#txid=850 Edumall Humanities homepage http://subjects.edumall.sg/cos/o.x?c=/subjects/pagetree&func=view&rid=6120 Edumall Social Studies homepage http://subjects.edumall.sg/cos/o.x?c=/subjects/pagetree&func=view&rid=108 funny flash animation http://sendables.jibjab.com/originals/big_box_mart

Adding Flash games into Powerpoint

As for the flash games, I would like to recommend content generator which you can download to generate quiz. http://www.contentgenerator.net/forum/index.php?&CODE=01 Just register as a member for free and you can download some of the software for free. Of course you can also make use of the tools available in the asknlearn portal to create the swf file. The quiz will be generated in the html and swf(flash) format. The graphic is good and the 'Fling the teacher' Quiz is quite humorous.

http://www.contentgenerator.net/fling/default.asp

I generated a quiz on river studies for the sec 1 using the 'fling the teacher' software here - http://lily_lee68.webs.com/River.swf

There are other free software such as a simple multiple choice generator, half-a-minute, space invador, match-up etc. Some more examples which I had created below:

http://lily_lee68.webs.com/basicHalfamin.swf - the students have to guess the economic terms based on clues given.

http://lily_lee68.webs.com/economicindicators.swf - a match-up game on economic indicators

National ICT sharing.

Attended 2 sessions in the National ICT sharing @ Kranji Sec today. Web 2.0 Tools - Podcast and Glogster - in the Multi-disciplinary classroom from Bedok View Secondary Podcast: http://voicethread.com/ http://vocaroo.com/ Glogster: http://glogster.com/ http://edu.glogster.com/ Can be used as a project for collaborative learning and self-directed learning for students. Students take pride in their own creation and motivate them to learn further. Found this rubric on glogster which you can use to grade the projects - click here. Can also be used as a tool for instruction - teacher create glog with all the links such as videos, forums, reflections etc on the glog. e.g. Glog on Bursting Stereotypes. Tried it out myself for the VE lesson on the topic Integrity using glogster and google doc for the form: http://mrslilylee.glogster.com/integrity Digital Scrapbook for EL and Humanities Independent Learning - from Siglap Secondary http//scrapblog.com Easy editing and inserting of: photos and videos sound effects Application: Photo Journals on 3Rs Future Humanities Application: Useful for large no. of photos, diagrams, videos and animations formative assessment Some ideas for: Geography Photo documentary of rivers or learning journey Photo journal of pollution case studies History Documentary of Japanese Occupation: Photos of atrocities and commentaries of survivors Social Studies Photo diary of Northern Ireland Conflicts How is assessment done? via online download and print (credits needed) Pros: Designed templates available creative and aesthetically pleasing way to display information engaging, motivating and rewarding easy to use designed for Web 2.0 - can post online (facebook, blog, twitter etc) and allow sharing user friendly mini photoshop tools available can insert videos from Youtube Cons: Credits needed for exclusive designs and export features - however free designs are more than sufficient cannot work online - however work can be shared and data saved in cloud is secure. Works well with wireless@sg I have tried creating one myself - http://www.scrapblog.com/viewer/vw_full.aspx?sbid=2824633

Mapping new Network Drive

1. Go to My Computer > Tools(in the menu bar) > Map Network Drive...

2. Click on the down drop list and select a drive letter that is not in use from top to bottom, eg select Z(for 1st folder), Y(for 2nd folder), X ... enter folder directory \\10.149.84.128\xxx, replace xxx with folder name. The folder names are Eng, Lit, Math, CL, ML, TL, Sc, DT, FN, Art, Geo, His, SS, CPA, CS, POA, EBS, VE, PE, Music, 3. Please enter your windows account username and password if the system prompt you for authentication.

Information provided by Mr Wong Joo Sai

Enhancing your blog site

Received some questions on blog setup from another teacher and decided to share it here -

1. How can i install the same Message Box I saw on your blog. The one in which students can post messages/questions ?

You can get your own cbox (chatbox for message) at http://cbox.ws/?r=3-2160578 After you have created an account with cbox, click on "publish" and you will see the html code. You can then copy the code into your blog design.
If you are using blogger.com ( blogspot) - just log into your account. Click on "design" on your dashboard, followed by "page elements" and then "add a gadget" - "html/javascript". Just paste the code which you have generated from cbox in the popup window.
You can also control the messages posted by banning those who spam and delete the messages which you feel is inappropriate. With cbox- you can also trace the IP address of those who post the message.


2. Where can I get the different types of themes you displayed for each different subject?

You can download the free themes from http://btemplates.com/blogger-templates/2-columns/ - of course the ones I used are a bit more complicated as I had edited the pictures and the html codes.
Again in your blogger.com dashboard click on "design" then "edit html" - browse for the file you had downloaded from btemplates and save templates.


3. And the flag counters. They look so cool.

This will be easiest - log into http://www.flagcounter.com/index.html to create your counter and then copy the html code In your blogger.com, follow the same steps as for adding the gadget for cbox earlier.

I was also fascinated with the functions of flag counter. They actually showed me that I had 5,865 unique visitors from 87 countries to my blog as at 23 June 2010. This is hardly a year from the time I started the counter in Oct 2009. I am really amazed - some of the countries are quite alien to me though I am a geog teachers. I got to know a student studying in Mauritius who had asked for help in Econs - I must say it is really a global village.

4. How do you get the count down timer for an event on the side bar?

You can get the html code from http://www.usflashmap.com/component/countdown_timer.htm?component_cdt=1

5. What are the cute fishes and turtle animations?
You can choose the gadgets from this website:
http://abowman.com/google-modules/
just modify the colours etc and then copy the html code to your blog add on.

iCTLT Day 2

Concurrent Session 4: Harnessing the Benefits of Wikis for Overseas Fieldwork Research Trips By Hong Thin Yong from Kent Ridge Sec School Wiki as a Web2.0 tool was used to facilitate the organization and planning of an overseas fieldwork. Nov 2008 – 8-day trip to Tasmania Challenges: Admin work – collection of forms Personal reflections Difficult to find common time for discussion and feedback Competency in using fieldwork equipment So what is a wiki? http://pbwiki.com/ http://wetpaint.com/ (ad-free for wikis used for educational purpose) http://wikispaces.com/ http://www.wikisandbox.com/ To experiment with wikis Comparison of wiki and blog Is it complicated to use? Privacy? Tracking http://krsstassiefieldtrip.wetpaint.com/ How was the wiki used 1. Admin work – to disseminate info and doc, soft copies of briefing doc, itinerary etc http://www.box,net/ to store the documents privacy, teacher save time, less paper wastage, min lesson disruptions by frequent meetings, students take responsibility of checking updates 2. Preparing students for the fieldtrip – equipment, instruction how to write report Students could access and read up info anytime – students are responsible for their learning, more engaged 3. Reflection -set up individual page for reflections – students design their own page, personalize them, peers can read their entries and the teacher can track – pre-trip and post-trip reflection 4. Background information e.g. one group assigned on education, minimize work duplication – encourage collaborative efforts e.g. a girl posted on the forum links that will help another group in their research 5. chat room, keep parents informed, online photo album, presentation slides

Powerpoints for download: 2009-12-29_19-31-29_Harnessing_benefits_of_wiki_for_overseas_fieldwork_research_trips.ppt Harnessing_benefits_of_wiki_for_overseas_fieldwork_research_trips.ppt Wiki_vs_Blog.doc UnEarth! Google Earth as a Learning Tool to Aid Geographical Education By Melvin Chng Eng Hee fr Crescent Girls’ Sch Schultz - Spatial literacy skill is needed Spatial knowledge, thinking and acting, spatial abilities Spatial awareness help to horn self concept – to relate ourselves to larger community in the world - Snowman and Biehler 2008 To what extent does google earth facilitate students’ skill in map reading? Control group of 26 girls, experimental group of 16 girls Pre-lesson survey – Do you like map reading? yes Do you find map reading difficult? Manageable, info provided How interested are you in map-reading? (interest – wanting to know about map reading outside class) Fairly interested, Lesser Antilles Lesson – basic skills to navigate google map, familiarize with the functions – zoom in and out, place mark etc Control group used only topo maps Ellis Peak and Ellen Mount lesson – measure gradient and compare with the google map, control Manipulate terrain perspective Save kmz file title: calculation of gradient Ellis Peak Mississippi River lesson – measure gradient, identify ox bow lake Coastal landscape lesson Post lesson surveys and tests ( Map qn and test w 2 Qn) How much do you like map reading now? Experimental group increase in liking whereas the control group has a decline in liking Model Making task Challenges Selecting images which are clear enough to map onto topographical map. Suggestion – contextualized – e.g. go to the Amazon to rescue a girl trapped etc.. Suggestion: Click on volcano icon to see the volcano layer

Presentation download: 2009-12-02_14-10-55_Crescent_Girls_School_AR_Paper-Unearth!.pdf 2009-12-15_10-37-57_1208-310709(Crescent_Girls_School)-Presentation_Slides.ppt Presentation-_Unearth.ppt

Enhance Students’ Analytical Skills with Podcast By Melanie Morisette from School of Film and Media Studies, Ngee Ann Polytechnic Podcasting – ipod + broadcasting record lectures reflection and interviews news or course related updates Youtube generation – more time on computer as compared to watching TV, prefer to select the content they watch Podcast showcase: Joshua Simon – analyzing the film fight club Horizontal learning: opportunities to interact and lean from others Students showcase their learning, With an audience, they are more motivated and competitive. Youtube. Tips for use of podcast - Learn to create a podcast yourself - Although it is an AV work, ask students to write down their text ( more coherent, authenticity of work – not something from internet) - Introduce your students to the effective use of visual and aural elements in their presentation - Require students to use proper citations - Introduce students to creative commons – CC mixer –must credit to author’s name - Image content on flickr Tips of grading podcast - grade the execution of the podcast other than content - delivery – rehearsed and smooth - graphic and music enhancement - audio recording - audio mix of music, video and mix E.g Streamed podcasts from iTunes, Juice or winamp

http://sgNewWave.com/main/ Learning is a social process Podcast is made for an audience – more engaged and competitive Learning is reflective – students enjoy the opportunity to share what they know about a topic. Affordances of Podcast - Easy access resource - Presence and self-expression - Creation of new content - Foster interaction - Contributes to the student’s portfolio and online presence http:// juicereceiver.sourceforge.net http://doppleradio,net http;//odeo.com http://www.apple.com/findouthow/music/#podcast Presentation download

2010-01-13_09-48-01_672-230709(Ngee_Ann_Polytechnic)-Presentation_Slides.pdf Enhance_Student's_Analytical_Skills_with_Podcast.key.pdf Integral Teamwork: Blogging as a Journal of Learning By Leslie Tan from School of Film & Media Studies, Ngee Ann Polytechnic Story telling Keeping a journal – reflection Common reactions – resistance, frustration, fear Perception of journals Paper – laborious, solitary, artificial, academic Blog – a web site in which an indicidual or group of users produces an ongoing narrative, Dictionary.com Digital – engaging, collaborative, authentic and personal Collaborative – “plse feel free to comment” – realize that people was reading Why use blogs? – accessible, simple and fun ( appeals to the attention seeker in all of us) Warning: Privacy issues Sensitive subjects Flaming Obscene/explicit material Accidental deletion Presentation download

2009-12-23_18_40_11_ictlt-leslietanblogging-pres-01.pdf ICTLT-Blogging-PRES-02.pdf Leslie Tan's blog http://redpants.wordpress.com/