Post-Project Post

A post-project gizmo that I am looking forward to trialling is a wireless mouse that operates with a USB receiver – making it transferable to a computer in any classroom or lecture theatre.  I think this would be very helpful for advancing PPT slides or a live search while being able to move around the room.

ICTS are temporarily out of these; I’m waiting for the next supply to arrive.

Catch-up

I missed session five, and quickly realised how helpful it’s been to have some dedicated time to work on blog postings, investigate technologies and tools, and check on what others in the project are doing.

During the past few weeks I’ve been finding out a bit more about VOIP tools that could be used to communicate via the Internet with students using voice and picture. Some of these allow taking over the keyboard  - great for demonstrating search techniques to our distance students, or students at other campuses.  Elluminate’s vRoom is one software, Wimba is another (and likely to be the chosen product at MIT).  I received a comment on this blog to look at Mikogo, which also allows screen/keyboard sharing. I have a microphone headset to experiment with – so am waiting for the software to be available on campus.

Learning more about using an interactive whiteboard was the initial aim of my project.  I’m hoping that we’ll be able to have the notepad software put on a computer in our training room in anticipation of getting a whiteboard next year.   Having some practice with the notepad will mean that we’re able to make the most of the features of the whiteboard.  Waiting for a response from ICTS re: my request to have notepad added…

DIL Blogs

Thanks to Barbara for showing me how to import these!

Lin’s blog http://linsmusings.blogspot.com/
Barbara’s blog http://bgarrioc.wordpress.com/
Jannie’s blog http://janniemol.blogspot.com/
Maree’s blog http://www.mareesjourney.wordpress.com/
Rozanne’s blog http://funky25.wordpress.com/
Oonagh’s blog http://mybloggon.blogspot.com/
Hemi’s blog http://hemi1965.blogspot.com/
Tony’s blog http://taniera.blogspot.com/
Glynis’ blog http://glynisreflections.blogspot.com/
Sue’s blog http://suesdilproject.wordpress.com/
Anne’s blog http://anneharvey.wordpress.com/
Busby’s blog http://buzzblogonspot.blogspot.com
Nanar’s blog http://nzdigitaleduspot.blogspot.com/

Workshop Four, 2 July 2008

Tonight we are following our own interests.  I am looking forward to experimenting with the Smartboard, and the vRoom when two or three other library staff and myself visit the LTC on Thursday. 

Followup – The Library team enjoyed the Smartboard, and feel that it would be helpful in getting students hooked into a session.  Cost is a problem, and the purchase will have to be part of the budget for next year.  In the interim we’ll try to get the Notepad software pushed to our computers, or the computer in the Smart Centre, so we can experiment with that.

I also attended an impromptu presentation of Wimba, which looks great for teaching in a virtual classroom, allowing multiple connections, and lots of interaction – even screen sharing.  I can see that it would be helpful for talking to off-campus students, and demonstrating searches with them – or sitting in my office and demonstrating something to a class in a lecture theatre!

Workshop Three, 17 June 2008

After a review of projects we looked at technology for podcasting – digital audio/video files.  Files have to sit on a server. On campus this is mediacat.manukau.ac.nz, with QuickTime for play.  Externally, Firefox browser has a plugin to capture videos, and another for RSS feeds.   More to investigate at home – though I will ask ICTS to add Firefox to my screen.  Dave also showed us Audacity,  free software for recording and editing sound. 

Of more interest to me – Oriel gave me the Web address for (more) free software – VRoom - similar to Skype.  Would like to see if I could use this to talk to students at home who are having problems with catalog or database searches.  So, will use the honorarium to get the necessary camera/microphone.

At a lunchtime LTC showcase Dave showed a video with ‘hotspots’ that provided a camera closeup. A virtual tour of the Library with important areas/functions highlighted could be fun and useful.  Possible third project!

 

 

 

Workshop Two, 10 June 2008

Unfortunately I missed this workshop!  The group had  a chance to experiment with the Smartboard, which is my first interest.  Fortunately there will be a LTC lunchtime session on the 19th, so I can learn more about them then.

During the week I’ve had a look at two social networking Web sites, Del.icio.us and Twitter .  I couldn’t get very far with them on campus – the firewall blocks adding the Del.icio.us buttons, and stops the streamed video on how Twitter works.  Must have a look at home.

 

Workshop One, 3 June 2008

In the first workshop  we met most of the group, and exchanged ideas about what we may want to gain from the project.  Main areas of interest at this point are podcasting,  digital video, Smartboard, and  blogs. The videos on dil were thought-provoking, and the survey made me think about how comfortable (or not) I am with different technologies. 

I’d like some tools to make teaching and learning more interesting for me and students.  I plan to start by learning how to use a Smartboard, and see what other opportunities develop during the project. I have mixed feelings about podcasting for Library purposes, but perhaps will be inspired by what others in the group are doing!