Week 9: Let's Make a Video!

Let's Make A Video!

You can record with only a Chromebook..!

I think, I’m in luck...I have a Chromebook!

Also, there were three options mentioned for Chromebook users ...Oh, it just keep’s getting better!
Option one: Google Hangouts on Air

And…

Option two: Movenote

...
Option three: Screencastify

Google Hangouts on Air

Google Hangouts on Air is located in your Google Drive; on the lefthand side, which includes five options to choose from..(technically six, I guess..). The tab that resembles three “dots” is where you will find Google Hangouts on Air (ninth option down).

Now, once you are in Google Hangouts, everything will be recorded (and uploaded to your famous Youtube account)!

Okay, let’s move onto Movenote! I’ve never used Movenote, nor heard of it before this week..so here we go! Movenote works, as explained in TechRepublic, almost as if you are casting a live feed of yourself, with your research beside your live cast to back you up! I like this presentation format better because the presentation isn’t necessarily focused on me..The video feed offers information side by side to my recorded face (which is a unique format and very useful now and for future presentations)!

Another recording option that allows for the computer to capture what’s on the desktop screen is known as screencastify. This is a unique way to essentially “screenshot” what you’re seeing in front of you, while continuing to record your video!

These are very useful tools that were explored this week ...and will come in handy in the future..I'm sure!

Now, making a video was the difficult part! I am awful with presentations..and we shall leave it at that! .I tried out each of the three options explored this week, and my final option that I found the easiest to use was Movenote! So, here is my video below..!

Week 12: Google Forms, Sheets & Maps

Let's learn about Google: Forms - Sheets - Maps

I knew Google was a great resource, but I hadn’t realized the extent of the wonderful resources it offers us Google Users! There are many useful tools in Google Drive, such as Google sheets, maps, and forms (Located in My Drive, under “New”).  I hadn’t fully realized until this week that we have been using Google forms all semester! I created many different Google Spreadsheets/forms before creating my finale Week 9 project. I chose a topic of grocery shopping in Vermont! I figured that would offer me a bunch of different locations which would support the mapping aspect of the project (Can be viewed below).

It took re-watching videos over and over again and for myself to create the first response of my survey, but I finally figured out how to create a form! It was a bit confusing, as I am still getting used to Google Plus, but I figured out that you can add new questions by clicking either duplicate question (which requires more work) or by clicking the “+” button on the upper righthand corner of your creative title. Under “adding new question”, you are also able to upload photos and videos to your survey! You can also create a spreadsheet after receiving responses on your survey! You do this by clicking on the responses, and viewing the green, cross-like box on the righthand side. You can create a new spreadsheet with a new title of your responses, which then allows you to upload into a map, or create a fusion table!

Basically, after you create your spreadsheet, you are able to separately create a map, and import that information from your spreadsheet. How easy does that sound? It’s actually pretty simple! Creating a fusion table requires a bit more work...but not much! Basically, you are taking two tables and fusing them together! How difficult can that be? Not difficult at all, by any means, trust me! Here are the few steps to remember when creating a fusion table:

1. upload two tables
2. merge tables; visualize the merged table on a map
3. style and share the map

Having the option to create spreadsheets on Google is impressive, but being able to combine those spreadsheets and then offer the opportunity to relay that data in a map is mind blowing…. But more in the aspect of how incredible technology (internet) is!

Another fascinating example of how incredible the internet is.. understanding how to import data into sheets without copying and pasting that data. The video revealed that if you take the first box of sheets and write “=IMPORTHTML (“ link “, “table”, 1), and your data will suddenly appear in the format of a chart! How awesome is that?

Here is my example:

=IMPORTHTML (“http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-development/normaldevelopment/”, “Table”, 1)

Multimedia Apps & Tools Slideshow

Why do we live for Creativity?

Sir Ken Robinson's Ted Talk

I gathered a few thoughts from Sir Ken’s TedTalk..

Why are we destroying creativity? Why are we destroying young, inexperienced minds? We all have a lot to gain from one another, while we are all are creative in our own unique way! I feel as I grew up, I would feel more and more embarrassed about putting my work “out there”. Simply asking questions, answering questions or even completing group assignments, I would feel as if my work wasn’t creative “enough”. Why is that? Why is it, that students feel less than their work? Feeling as though completing an assignment wrong, would be shameful. That’s how we learn...we give and we take and we learn by making mistakes. We may not always take that route, but that’s how we understand the concept of “learning”.

The Big Picture: “Fostering A Community”

I would describe the description under the title to be a wonderful act of kindness. The stories shared of the Treehouse Community is beyond inspirational! The sixteen photos share beautiful stories of heartfelt moments, determination, patience, and love for others. I would love to open my home to fostering, but opening a house, better yet a community to many foster families would be a dream come true!

http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/bigpicture/2015/12/20/fostering-community/0b8g1S2szPboBquoddQDYK/story.html?p1=BP_MainPhoto

I decided to look into “Fostering A Community” because the title caught my attention. The title could have meant many things, but it meant something important to me. Something I could sort of relate to.. Fostering children, aiding in the placement process, as well as childhood development. Fostering children is a wonderful thing! More importantly, I see it as helping children who need it. Helping children find their creativity, and simply..find themselves. My parents fostered many children growing up, but the final two children fostered, are my now adopted brothers!

Pixler

Being creative isn’t as difficult as it sounds. Take two side by side photos of the same picture.. Do you see a difference? Tell me...there’s a difference in size, resolution..but thinking creatively how would you create that difference.. It takes exploration, time, and motivation to learn.

Just like creating videos.. It doesn’t sound easy, but if you brainstorm a few ideas, you will eventually have a very creative project! You have to think creatively in order to create a video.. So what comes to your mind when creating a video? ..Remember, be optimistic, original, You are UNIQUE through your own work! Here’s my video that I created this week. I explored nature in my video, as my daughter loves being outside with me, playing in the leaves, running around, back and forth, and being around birds! A unique aspect of my daughter is that she LOVES birds, and calls her grandmother (my mother-in-law) “Dee-Dee”..as my mother-in-law first introduced my daughter to birds! As I said earlier, being creative is about what catches your interest, therefore, make sure to always focus on you! 

https://youtu.be/ZGgne3-1V1s

Audio and Video Blogging

Audio & Video Exploration

This week, we explored audio usage, as well as video use. We did not have to create a video, but we did experiment with SoundTrap {in making a sound clip of ourselves}. I said a verse from a poem I wrote a few years ago titled "Am I Good?". Here is a link to my Soundtrap: https://www.soundtrap.com/playlink/4188d597-a3ce-4806-b11d-c823b0cbbd9f/

We also went on to explore Youtube and privacy settings. I discovered that I can share an external link (which I had assumed anyways). I also learned that the annoying ads that are constantly on YouTube videos can be turned OFF! Yes, that's right, they can be turned off! All you have to do is go to your account settings and under overview, you click features at the bottom and are then guided to a bunch of options that allows you to make your channel work as efficiently as you want it to! 

Youtube!

Youtube is the main browsing site promoting videos sharing. Everyone uses Youtube! I haven’t updated my account in years, yet I use it quite frequently! I may be on youtube often, but it’s usually for school purposes. It’s nice to browse around Youtube again and re-familiarize myself with the improved site. After some searching around, I finally figured out how to locate my dashboard!

Youtube Audio Gallery

I have never even heard of this download frenzy! Through youtube, you have access to “audio gallery” where you can download various music and sound effects for project use! How neat!?

Don’t forget the music by Josh Wanner

Music definitely makes a difference in how situations are portrayed. As in “Don’t forget the Music”, there was a huge difference between the country themed music, horror film music, and the goofy humorous music. Individuals look for humor, emotion and reaction with music. Music helps to tell the story, which is why you, don’t forget the music!

Black Planet Records

I have never heard of a DIY label and FMA curator, but I like their motto “The same thinking people should work together and music should have no boundaries”!

Audio Archive

This was my first time visiting the site “Audio Archive”, but it was quite interesting! It was nice to see how actively used this site is, over four billion views! I also like how they had a forum board..not many community posting, but it is nice to provide forum postings. I figured out how to navigate the site and eventually began listening to live music! I listened to a few songs by “String Cheese Incident”, and they were pretty good! I like how I was able to upload my own tunes, if I had any!  I found that listening to music on audio archive live was quite similar to using my phone to download and listen to music on Itunes!

Where Else Can I Use My Google Account With..?

• Youtube
• Channel
• Soundtrap
• Creating & sharing a sound track!

• Wevideo
• Creating videos! 
• Simple set up and super easy to navigate! 
• The colors don’t make the site overwhelming!