Catching Up After the ETC Course

Hi Blog followers!

I am just taking a very quick 'breather' from the new course (EDE), and thought I'd put in a little comic relief. I've been reading this old, old book from the 70s about college professoring! It's a fun book by Oliver P. Kolstoe, and a quick, fun read. What I love about this little book is the wonderful way it is illustrated by Don-Paul Benjamin. I am including one of his cute cartoon-like illustrations because it made me think of our Action Research projects, and how along the way we are already making some discoveries that are probably not part of the scope of our ideas. I think that's a good thing, don't you? Anyway, enjoy Mr. Benjamin's illustration!

PE6 - This Is It!

My final Personal Experience video! No talking from me on this one, just my final Flash animation. I did not give a 'blow-by-blow' description of what I did on this video, I just show my final result of my two weeks worth of studying Flash. This turned out cute, but I would like to have done more. Time was not on my side. Anyway, I learned a lot, and next time I use Flash, I think I will be able to improve my animations and make them look a little less 'haphazard!' It was definitely worth me looking into Flash, because I really forgot more than I ever think I knew. Anyway, below is my final video which shows how my animation came out in the end.

PE5 - Upward and Onward with Flash

The next installment in my journey to remember how to use Flash animation program!

FV - AR Infomercial

This has a few glitchy moments in it where I am talking on the green screen part. I had to do a lot of 'cutting and carving' - so a lot hit the cutting room floor, as it were! Anyway, I enjoyed most of what I did with this, I tried several different things all at the same time! I think I learned a lot from mixing up all these different video techniques. I will definitely strive to get better as time goes on and I get more experience making these videos! Enjoy my 'infomercial.'

PE4 - Flipped Over Flash

Here is my latest adventure in Flash CS5!

W4 - Reading

What I am reading this week:

This week I found another Taiwanese study about the effects of e-learning on Junior High school students who were tested on their technology learning attitudes and outcomes. It turned out positively for the students’ learning outcomes. Taiwan is doing a lot of study about e-learning.

I also found an interesting British study about e-book learning with 4th and 5th graders who used books on computers to learn vocabulary. Some did well and others didn’t, it was an interesting study that I plan to research further on, especially since my e-book centers on younger students.

An interesting study of Taiwanese Junior High students in a science e-program is the subject of this next paper. The study included a live satellite simulation where students interpreted images and data. The study revealed a more positive attitude toward science especially in males.

I found an excellent article by John Warren on the innovation and future of e-books. This is of complete relevance to my AR projects, since I have written an e-book, and his discussion about the acceptance of e-books is fascinating. A must read article!

The next article I started reading is about environmental education in Chinese elementary schools, which centers around a local pond environment. This is quite interesting to me as my e-book also centers on a local pond.

PE3 - Flash - My Beginnings

Okay, I experimented with Flash a little bit yesterday and some more today, and I have learned how to import graphics to the 'stage' and how to make something move across it.  In my case, I used Little Boat, the character from my children's book I have just completed for my AR project.  I would love to have this little animation done as kind of an 'advertisement' for my book.  That would be so cute if I can pull it off!  Here's what I have so far, pretty bare-bones, but quite functional.  I'm looking forward to adding things to this until it's really what I want.  See my video below: