Have you ever wanted to record audio but you did not have a software to do it on your computer. I would recommend this free software called Audacity which you are able to combine audio tracks with vocals. It is a great software to record your own voice or sounds you create. Audacity is able to be downloaded on Windows, Mac and Linux.
I have used Audacity on several occasions such as recording audio to add to a website or game I created. At first when you open up Audacity their is a lot of different options that is has to offer. Do not be scared it is not that hard to use. If you are a beginner and just want to do a quick recording this is all you need to know. When Audacity opens click Record to start recording your voice. To stop the Recording press the Stop. You can then play your recording to make sure you do not have any mistakes. After you have checked the audio you can go to file and save your recording. For me I usually export the audio as a WAV or MP3 file. The picture below is what Audacity will look like on your computer. I would also recommend getting a microphone to record.
For those who want to learn more about Audacity and how to use all of the functions that it has to offer their is an Audacity Manual. This manual is a great way to learn about all of the functions of Audacity.
Their is still a lot more you can do with audacity. There are several Plug-Ins that you can add to Audacity. After you start recording you could make podcasts using PodBean or even recording your own music.
Saturday, May 28, 2016
When I was taking GED 400 I was introduced to this screen capturing software called Screencast-O-Matic. This software allows the user to create instructional videos on a topic of their choice. Screencast-O-Matic is a free software which you can download onto your computer to record your computer screen. It works on both Mac and PC with windows Vista or later. Their is a full version of Screencast-O-Matic but it costs an additional $15 a year. If you do not plan to make extremely long videos and are fine with using other software to edit your videos the free version if absolutely great to use. The following picture tells the difference between the free and paid version.
When I was taking the GED 400 class I created my own instructional video. I used Screencast-O-Matic to create an educational video about bisecting an angle in GeoGebra. I liked how I could create a quick educational video and upload it easily to youtube. One of the downsides is that you have to pay for the full version which does not have a max recording time. I also have to do all of the editing using youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZd3GC1ouxo
When you are using Screencast-O-Matic you will have a screen that looks just like this one on your computer. With the free version you only have accesses to make a fifteen minute video. The feature that is nice to use to allow the screen and the webcam to record at the same time.
I found this interesting article that talks about using Screencast-O-Matic to create instructional videos for a flipped classroom. It gives some great tips to follow when creating an instructional video. http://gct.sagepub.com/content/37/1/51.full.pdf+html
Saturday, May 21, 2016
So I was talking to one of my professors this week and he introduced me to this interesting browser based application called Scratch. I had never tried it out before so I decided to make myself an account. Scratch is free to use and will work on Mac and Windows. Scratch will work with Chrome, Firefox and Safari. For Scratch to run make sure your browsers are updated as well as Adobe Flash Player.
When I opened up scratch I immediately went to the create section. You start off with this cat on the screen and scripts that you are able to drag and drop to create movement for the cat. There are several different objects that you can add movement to. On the right side there are tutorials that can be completed. I tried out the create a pong game. It was simple and easy to understand the directions. It is an easy way to teach students about loops and if then statements. Each step-by-step takes under thirty minutes to complete. Scratch is very user friendly and and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to see how to program their own games.
There are a lot of games that people have created using Scratch. I played quite a few of these games and I lost track of time. It amazing how creative people can be with the programing tools that they have. Click here to look at the games created using Scratch.
Scratch is an amazing way to program but if you have a child that you may think is too young for Scratch they have something called ScratchJr click here to check it out.
Saturday, May 14, 2016
So last week I talked about a Graphing software called GeoGebra this week I want to tell you about another one called Desmos.
I first used Desmos when I was student teaching. I had no prior experience using any of its applications but decided to try it out just for fun. Desmos does not have as many functions built into it as GeoGebra but has other amazing applications built into it. Desmos is browser based where your work is saved to Desmos and not to your computer. All you need to do is sign into your Desmos account from any device and your graphs will be their. Desmos also has a free graphing calculator for your phone.
Desmos has two different functions. It's first is for graphing and second is classroom activities. The following picture of what a teacher would see when monitoring the students when they are completing the assignment. The activities name is called Function Carnival. This activity takes about sixty minutes to complete. To use this lesson all that is required is that the teacher has a desmos account and electronic devices for each of the students. When I gave this activity I used ipads. I would not recommend using cellphones since the screens are to small. All desmos activities are monitored in the same way. You are also able to create your own custom activity. This is a great way to prepare students for upcoming assessments. This allows for the teacher to compare all of the students work and see who is off track. If you look at the bumper car part you can see that one student drew the path.
I enjoyed using Desmos and would recommend it for anyone who wants to add technology into their classroom. It is easy to use and has a great amount of resources that are ready to use for any teacher.
If you want tutorials to learn how Desmos works visit their youtube channel.
Technology is something that we use on a daily basis. We use it to a GPS to get from point A to B and cellphones to communicate over long distances. With so many types of technology what types of technology can be used to help teachers in the classroom.
I came across a software called GeoGebra. GeoGebra is used to teach math to students who need to see a visual representation. It is easy and simple for any teacher to learn how to use in the classroom. GeoGebra runs in your browser. It currently works with Chrome, Firefox, Internet explorer 11 and Safari. If you do not want to run it in your browser you are able to download it for your your device. The great thing about GeoGebra is that it is absolutely free to use.
Recently GeoGebra has created an exam mode for teachers who want students to be able to use GeoGebra during assessments. When students use GeoGebra to take a test they are timed for how long they have been using the app. If the student goes out of exam mode their time stops and the page turns red. This allows students to be on any device even their own and ensure that the person taking the test does not use other internet resources.
Click here to try out GeoGebras Exam Mode.
Their are several amazing things that GeoGebra can help create. The flowing is one of those that was created to make the learner think. This would be something that a math teacher could give at the beginning of a lesson to gain the attention of a group of students.
If the following window does not open on your screen or you cannot see the whole thing click here.
To find more interesting material Created using using GeoGebra click here. source
What do I use GeoGebra for?
When I use GeoGebra I embed it into my e-lessons so it can be a visual representation for the students. I also have used it in the classroom to teach students the difference between linear, quadratic and exponential functions. In the Winter of 2016 I created an e-lesson using SoftChalk and I embedded GeoGebra into several of the pages. Click hear to check it out.
Check out a teachers blog about GeoGebra and the amazing things that he is creating with it. I personally liked his number 16 called Flying Bird. Click here to look at his blog
