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Sunday, October 24, 2010
PE6 - Flash Part 6
HELP!!!
I lost the timeline. After following along with the Lynda Flash tutorials, I decided it would be better to watch a few first then go back and go through the steps with the tutorial. When it came time to practice, I opened the exercise files in Flash but I did not have a timeline. Somehow the default setting got changed and my timeline was missing. After looking through all the menus and trying several selections I decided to use Adobe help. I did several queries on display timeline and hide timeline but could not find the information I needed. Just when I was about to give up I found a pull down menu I had not tried. I selected the first option on the menu and got my timeline back. Now I can proceed with the tutorials. If you ever lose your timeline in Flash, select the Animator option on the menu shown below.
PE5 - Flash Part 5
Animating a Mask
I continued going through the tutorials for Flash this week. One of the very cool things you can do is to insert a mask over an object. This allows you to hide any part of the object that is not covered by the mask. When you set keyframes to move the object, it starts by just displaying the part of the object that was covered by the mask. This gives the effect that you are adding to a graphic as it moves. For example, you could cover a tree all but the stump. Then you could set a keyframe to reveal the portion of the tree that is not under the mask. You could set the action so it looks like the tree is growing.
PE4 - Flash Part 4
My Journey Continues
As I said in earlier posts, there is so much to learn in Flash. I am overwhelmed at the moment. It definitely will be doable, it will just take a lot of practice. The software is so robust that you can do many things. I look forward to using this program more and more so I can begin to feel like I actually know it. Right now I am beginning to understand what it can do but I'm definitely not ready to animate something without the help of the tutorials. I love the ideas of taking still graphics and giving them motion. There are just a lot of steps to remember. I also have several questions at this point. I know Flash is used for website. I wonder if you can use Flash animated graphics in video? My question may be answered as I mover further into the tutorials. I was struggling with changing keyframes earlier and that question was answered in a later tutorial. I am moving slowly because I actually have to practice the steps several times before they work for me. I have completed several of the tutorials and they are a great reference. I think I would need to go through the entire set of tutorials several times before I could actually say that I know Flash.
W4 Reading
Sunday, October 17, 2010
PE3 - Flash Part 3
This is what I know about Flash so far:
- Get into the habit of converting everything into a symbol
- The symbols I have worked with so far are movie clip and button
- Be sure to create a new layer for each graphic
- Remember to choose the layer you want to work with and lock down other layers so you don't alter them.
- Add keyframes to determine when graphics will be diplayed and hidden
- Stagger keyframes so different graphics will appear at different times
- Flash is a robust program and it is going to take me some times to go through
Click below to see my first Flash creation.
PE2 - Flash Part 2
It's taking me some time to learn Flash. There are many steps, buttons, and features to learn. I went through the first few chapters of the Lynda.com introductory Flash tutorial and then I took a break. When I went back to the tutorial I felt like I needed to go over the first few chapters a second time before I could move on. The coolest thing I have discovered in Flash so far is the Deco tool. The Deco tool has many brushes like a tree brush, a flower brush, a flame brush, and a decoration brush. The most of the objects in the graphic above were drawn with the Deco tool. I'm working on learning how the keyframes work. I understand how to set the frames on the timeline but I can't figure out how to change them once they are set. I am stuck at this point. Hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to change the timing of the frames on the timeline by my next post so I can show you something I created with Flash that actually moves.
PE1- Part 1 Flash
My only understanding of Flash before today was that it could be used to create animations. I had seen Flash animations on websites but knew nothing about making them. When I found out we were going to need to know Flash later in the EMDT program I thought now would be a good time to get started. I began at Lynda.com with the first tutorial. It started right off with a step-by-step video that I could follow. The tutorial also included asset files so I could create the same animation being created in the video. After three hours I had gotten through the first chapter and one-half. It was slow going because the process was new to me. At this point I am comparing using Flash to making a video. There are similarities like both video editing software and Flash use a timeline. They also both use layers if you think of text being layered over video when creating a movie. At this point iMovie seems much easier than Flash. Although I am nowhere near an iMovie expert, I had some prior knowledge of basic editing from using MovieMaker. That experience helped me come up to speed fairly quickly with iMovie. The learning curve for Flash seems to be much greater. After three hours I was able to create a multi-layer file, make graphic files into movie files, and adjust the entrance and exit of files on the timeline. Right now my head is spinning and I know I will definitely need lots of practice with Flash before it becomes natural. Adobe Flash is such a robust program that it is not intuitive like some of the iLife software we have been using. After a short break, I will continue my journey into Flash in PE 2.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
BP11 Comment on K_Jeri - The One and Only - Thankfully!
Jeri Kennedy found a site called PhotoShow. It is a tool for creating videos. It is similar to the Animoto site I reviewed earlier. PhotoShow has additional things like stickers and its graphics are aimed at a younger audience. I thought it would be great to have my students do a concept map comparing the two sites. Click here to read my comments on Jeri's blog.
BP 10 Comment on Cherie's weB LOG
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
BP9 Animoto
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| Click here to see my Animoto video |
A N I M O T O
I found a great tool at Animoto.com for creating 30 second videos. You choose a style, upload pictures and/or short video clips, select your music, add a titles and you have a video. This Web 2.0 tool is fun and easy-to-use. Animoto is also free for creating 30 second videos. For a $30 fee you can upgrade a one-year subscription to create projects longer in length.
Animoto would be a great tool for students to use with vocabulary words or defining new concepts. It would be interesting to give a student a concept like capitalism or socialism and see what kind of pictures and music they can put together to come up with a 30 second explanation of the word. Students could take their own photos or use some from Creative Commons or Microsoft Office. They could also create their own graphics using MS Paint or PowerPoint slides to help illustrate the concept.
A colleague and I teach a class called Graphic Applications. We start with basic graphic editing in Paint then move into Photoshop. As a precursor to Photoshop we do a project called What's Out There. We have our students upload pictures to Picnik.com, BeFunky.com, Loonapix.com, FunPhotoBox.com, and PhotoFunia. Students use the features on these sites to create new pictures from an existing photo. In the past students have submitted their individually edited photos for this project. After finding Animoto.com we decided to extend the project and have students upload their edited photos to Animoto to make a video. After they create their videos students will embed their videos in a Moodle forum so they can view each other's videos on one site.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
BP7 Comment on plugged in with Dennis Woodward
Dennis Woodward talks about is excitement over Google docs. I agree with Dennis. Google docs are some of the most useful tools I've come across. Click on this link or the picture to read my comments on Dennis' blog.
BP6 Comment on edubabel notes
Pat Ort found a great site called Tizmo for helping any student stay organized. Click this link or on the picture to see my comments on Pat's post.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
BP5 Twiddla.com
www.Twiddla.comWhiteboard collaboration
for the Web
Twiddla is a Web 2.0 interactive whiteboard tool that allows users to collaborate using an online whiteboard. They can upload documents, PDF files, web sites, screen captures, and pictures then use the tools to discuss and indicate changes on the screen. Twiddla.com also has tools for instant messaging and audio chat so users can be discussing changes while they indicate them on the document using the whiteboard. You can turn on two different size grids to turn the whiteboard into an interactive piece of graph paper. The menu also contains mathematical formulas so Twiddla could be used for collaboration on math assignments.
Twiddla.com can be used for chatting and reviewing literature with my critical friends during my Action Research project. I can see many uses for Twiddla.com in my classroom as well. Computer Applications students could use Twiddla to proofread each other's assignments indicating changes with the pen tool or text box. Twiddla could also be used for research on the web. A group of Entrepreneurship students could be assigned a particular topic to research. Each student could be responsible for finding web sites on the topic. Students could upload the web sites to Twiddla and highlight important information to share with the group. The group could also go through web sites together using the collaboration tools to point out important information. Students could also upload a study guide to Twiddla and ask each other questions or discuss the information to study for a test.
Twiddla.com has basic features that are free to everyone. Premium subscriptions are also available for purchase.
Monday, October 4, 2010
BP4 Fotobabble
The Web 2.0 tool Fotobabble could be useful in my classroom. In fact, after discovering it last night I used it today. This Web 2.0 tool allows you to upload any photo and record a message to play with the photo. I had to be out of the classroom today and I put a link on Moodle for my students taking them to a talking picture I created using Fotobabble. It was a picture of me with a recording of specific directions for the assignments they were going to work on with the substitute teacher. I can't wait to get back tomorrow and find out what they thought.
I also plan to use this tool with my Graphics Applications students. When my students alter photos using Photoshop they could upload the photo to Fotobabble and give a description of the alterations they made to the photo. We do one assignment where students need to distort pictures of different people. To add a language arts component to the assignment students could use Fotobabble to create a story about how the person got his deformities.
Fotobabble could be used in Language Arts classrooms at any level. Elementary students could draw a character from a story using a drawing program then upload the photo and give a description of their character. Secondary students could do a similar activity with a character from a novel. They could answer a question or tell a story from the character's point of view.
Click on the link below to see the Fotobabble I left my students today.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
W1 Reading
Attendance is a big problem at our school. Each semester I have students who begin their classes but stop coming to school after a few days or a few weeks. Feedback from former students tells me that the teacher student relationship can be a motivating factor in students attending class. For my action research project I would like to measure whether texting students when they are absent impacts their return to school.
The article, The Voices of High School Dropouts: Implications for Research and Practice, talks about several reasons the students drop out of high school. Two of the main reasons stated by the article are skipping and poor relationships with school staff. While this article's main premise was support for keeping the GED test, the statistic on why students drop out will be useful in my project.
Meeker, S., Edmonson, S., & Fisher, A. (2009). The voices of high school dropouts: Implications for research and practice. International Journal on School Disaffection, 6(1), 40-52. Retrieved from ERIC database.
The article, Classroom Management Strategies for Difficult Students: Promoting Change Through Relationships, talks about the importance of student teacher relationships. The the article addresses middle school students and how empathy can be effective in dealing with difficult students. It also states that all students should not be treated the same when it comes to classroom management. Students have different needs and it is best if the teacher can get to know the student and respond in a way that is effective with the student's needs. Many times my students are absent due to family issues. Our attendance policy punishes them rather than shows empathy for their situation. A text message of concern could be a way to reach out to these students rather than alienating them for being absent.
The article, Log On, Don't Drop Out: Technology Trumps Truancy, on Edutopia told about a dropout prevention and recovery program in the Los Angeles unified school district. The program, My Future, My Decision uses technology such as text messaging, MySpace, and YouTube to try to reach students who have missed school or are in jeopardy of dropping out. The program has former students make YouTube videos about their journey to graduation and the importance of earning a high school diploma.
Libby, B. (n.d.). Log on, don't drop out: Technology trumps truancy | Edutopia. K-12 Education & Learning Innovations with Proven Strategies that Work | Edutopia. Retrieved October 03, 2010, from http://www.edutopia.org/los-angeles-dropout-technology
Libby, B. (n.d.). Log on, don't drop out: Technology trumps truancy | Edutopia. K-12 Education & Learning Innovations with Proven Strategies that Work | Edutopia. Retrieved October 03, 2010, from http://www.edutopia.org/los-angeles-dropout-technology
The article, Five Ways to Use Texting in the Classroom, discussing uses for cell phones within the school. Two part of the article that relate to my research are using cell phones for the home school connection and using Twitter to get updated information to students. I am still a novice when in comes to Twitter. I definitely need to do more research on this communication system and see if it is applicable to the goals of my project.
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