Peer Review Feedback

So the peer review process is finally over. After going into the peer review section to see my review, I discovered that 3 people had done a review each for me so I got plenty of feedback!

The feedback that I received was very constructive and gave me lots of ideas on how to improve my task 2! A couple of people that did a review for me said that I needed to make my instructions for how to contribute to my social network easier. I took this on board and made sure my instructions were step by step and very simple. I also tried using my instructions on different technology tools, such as my pc, an iPad and a macbook laptop. I wanted to make sure that they worked on anything so that I wouldn't get marked down. My peers also gave me some feedback about my actual website. They suggested that I add more visuals (links, images) to it, so I created a few hyperlinks on words/terms that I thought people might not know or understand such as 'tumblr' or 'microblogging'.

The thing that I have struggled with most in this task is the process of converting my power point presentation to a PDF document. I have the 2003 version of powerpoint and am not able to simply save it as a PDF. After many hours of continuously searching, 'powerpoint to pdf converter' I finally found a site that helped me. This site allowed me to upload my powerpoint presentation and then after around an hour they sent me an email with my converted PDF document. In this hour I was very stressed out as I thought it would not work, so I downloaded many converter tools, thinking that they would be faster. I was very, very confused with most of these and I think the one I eventually ended up using from the start was the easiest to navigate around and there were only a couple of simple steps to follow.

Here is a little preview of my power-point instructions!

Finally, I have almost completed task 2! After many long hours sitting at the computer screen lost at what to do next, I feel as though it is ready. I have to finish a couple of minor touch ups with my website and my blog but they shouldn't take me all night - I hope.

This task has definitely been more challenging then task 1, although I still found it quite enjoyable. I love learning new things and new concepts that I haven't even heard about. I didn't even know that I could make a PDF document from a powerpoint and i'm still not entirely sure the PDF document has worked and loaded properly. Ah well, I am quite happy with how my progress through this task has been and I look forward to seeing my results. :)

Thanks for reading once again!

HAPPY EASTER!

Starting Task 3!

The lecture and workshops in week 7 started to talk about task 3. To be honest I feel that they introduced it a bit early as I know I was still focusing on task 2! Task 3 requires us to work in small groups to explore technologies appropriate to teaching and learning. We have to create an authentic learning resource on an educational topic, such as English, maths, physical education etc, that we can share with other teachers.

The lecture gave some great tips on how to succeed in group work.
1) Prepare to research: access the task, know what you have to do, etc.
2) Follow the action plan: do appropriate readings.
3) Review your findings.
4) Plan the outline: of the presentation.
5) Prepare the first draft.
6) Leave a time lag.
7) Review, revise and edit.
8) Proof read.
9) Hand work in before the deadline.

I think these are great little tips to get us started as they are a good step by step process which is easy to follow.

I haven't really met people in my workshop that I sit with each week. I was by myself when we were choosing groups so I decided to get up and sit with two girls that had no one else to go with, forming our group of 3. The first thing we had to do was fill out the group contract. In our group we need to complete a presentation on the making of the resource, which will be presented in our workshops.

The main form of communication that we all agreed on was Facebook. We added each other on Facebook and created a Facebook group with us 3 in it so that we could communicate online. We came up with a couple of ideas, either to teach English or physical education, which we discovered that we are all interested in. Through our online group we are able to message each other at any time, displaying ideas and things that we can do for this task.

Creating my Screencast

I have decided to create my screen cast through Jing, as one of my friends in my workshop suggested it. She said it was a very easy tool to use so I decided to give it a shot. I'm really glad that I found a tool that is easy to use and fun at the same time.

The only problem that I had with using Jing was that my computer drops out from the internet a lot and becomes quite slow. This caused me a bit of trouble as things would take a while to load and upload.

I took some screenshots of my social network for instructions on how to contribute to it for my peer. I needed to find a tool where I can edit the screenshots to the size I want them so I typed into Google, 'photo editor.' I decided to use Pic Monkey Photo Editor as it was easy to use and I have previously used it before.

I discovered that I wasn't able to record my voice as my computer does not have a microphone, so I had to use the screen-casts that I took and put them into a power-point document. I was quite upset with this as I wanted to create a video, but I feel the typed instructions will be just as clear.

I am quite happy with how my website and blog is going for task 2 and am excited for the end result.

Completion of Task 2 Draft

So, the draft for task 2 is due very soon and I am quite nervous although I did quite well in task 1. I feel as though I have not done enough on my social network and my website but it should be ready by the time I have to hand it in for the final due date. The lecture in week 7 discussed task 3 and to be honest I was still focusing on task 2 so I didn't pay to much attention...

I was quite stuck on what to write this blog about so I had to refer back to the blog guidelines a fair bit.

 I also went back to Kate's example blog which is located in the online unit. These gave me a few ideas on what to base this blog post on. Regarding to my website, I had trouble trying to screenshot the screen in order to make my video screen cast with visuals. The textbook does not focus on this detail so I did a search in google, 'how to screenshot on windows' and found some very helpful information. Turns out my friend was also struggling with this as well so I was able to provide him with that information after searching on google.

One of my friends who is in the same unit was having trouble with her website as she could not seem to upload her power-point for her instructions. In the first lecture we were introduced to skype so I told her to go online when we got home. I knew how to do this so I provided her with instructions on the skype chat.

This task has required communication with other peers which has really helped me out for this assignment.

Task 2

The idea of starting task 2 straight after we had just finished task 1 really scared me. The unit is going so quickly and we are already half way through! Task 2 requires us to use a social networking site in order to create/organise an event. Through this task I also needed to complete a set of instructions in order for my peer to contribute to my site. After this they will be able to complete a peer review as will I. I decided to use Tumblr as my social network as I have previously used it in the past and know it is a very popular social networking site. Tumblr is a microblogging site where you are able to post photos, videos, quotes, links etc. Your profile/page on tumblr is what displays your interests and people who follow you are able to see what you post, comment on what you post and also send you messages/questions.

To be honest i'm finding this task quite fun! I love using technology and discovering different ways to use it. I never thought we would be able to use fun social networking sites in an actual assignment and it is a great way to keep people interested! When i'm working on an assignment it doesn't feel like it because it is very enjoyable.

This is a snapshot of my tumblr site 'The Fitness Guru' so far.

At first I struggled to find a social networking site that would let me do what I wanted to do for this assignment. For this task I wanted to create a fitness page where people could see different recipes, workouts and exercises while being able to post their own. Unfortunately after searching in google "social networking sites" I didn't have much luck. I knew I wanted to post recipes in my site so I searched, "recipe sharing social network" but the sites didn't offer the other things that I wanted to post such as videos of exercises and workout tips etc. I asked my friend who is also in this course and she suggested tumblr so I had a look and it offered most of the things that I wanted my social network site to have. The best thing I have found about using tumblr as my social networking site is that people are able to post their own things onto my blog which is fitness related! I never thought i'd be able to find a good, attractive site that would let me do that.

One of my peers in my EDN113 workshop asked me to review her website for task 2. I suggested that she should add a bit more information when explaining the social network she had chosen and also to make the instructions for how to contribute to her site a bit more clearer. Other then that I gave her mainly positive feedback and she also helped me with a couple of ideas for mine in task 2.

Thanks for reading :)