Friday, February 27, 2015
How to Make Any Picture Talk!
Hey everyone! Ive been back from my Alaskan vacation for two days already... yet Im still having a hard time coming out of "vacation" mode to write this post! Thank goodness an easy option came up as the winner as the poll: how to make any picture talk!
Here is the poll... with this choice winning a whopping 56% of votes!
In order to do this tutorial, youll need to visit the following website. Itll probably take you more time to read the tutorial then to actually make one!
This was a picture from while we were cruising. Its really hard to see... but there are snow covered mountains in the back!
In Ketchikan, we went on a nature walk and saw 2 bear cubs in their natural habitat! This one had caught some food!
This Zip Rider was 5,495 feet long and had a 1,320 foot vertical drop... taller than the Empire State Building. And yes... I rode it!!!
In Juneau, we went on a float trip at the Mendenhall Glacier. It was gorgeous!
This was my favorite!!! In Skagway, we went "Dog Sledding." The dogs actually pulled a 750 pound cart with SEVEN people on it!!!
The Hubbard Glacier was just STUNNING!
Read more »
Here is the poll... with this choice winning a whopping 56% of votes!
In order to do this tutorial, youll need to visit the following website. Itll probably take you more time to read the tutorial then to actually make one!
You can download this tutorial as a PDF by clicking this picture!
Note: This tutorial is hosted on Google Drive. To save it from there, just open the file and click File > Download to save onto your computer!
Before I let you know what next weeks tutorial will be, I have to throw in some of my favorite pictures from Alaska!!!
This Zip Rider was 5,495 feet long and had a 1,320 foot vertical drop... taller than the Empire State Building. And yes... I rode it!!!
And of course, heres a picture of my hubby and me on our anniversary! We just loved Alaska! Isnt is gorgeous there!?
Now, for next weeks tutorial, Ill be adding how to print any document at a smaller size... something I use ALL of the time!
Thursday, February 26, 2015
ALISON Free Interactive Workplace Skills Courseware!
- Link to ALISON
ALISON?
ALISON claims to be the worlds leading free online learning resource for basic and essential workplace skills.
ALISON claims to be the worlds leading free online learning resource for basic and essential workplace skills. MISSION?
The mission of ALISON is to enable anyone, anywhere, to educate themselves for free via interactive self-paced multimedia. It is their belief that through ALISON, the cost of access to high quality education can be removed... They also believe that article 26 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states "Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free ..." (read in full) will through ALISON become a reality.
The mission of ALISON is to enable anyone, anywhere, to educate themselves for free via interactive self-paced multimedia. It is their belief that through ALISON, the cost of access to high quality education can be removed... They also believe that article 26 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states "Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free ..." (read in full) will through ALISON become a reality.
JUICE?
ALISON provides high-quality, engaging, interactive multimedia courseware for certification and standards-based learning. All courses on ALISON are accessible for free to individual learners.
The following free courses are currently available:
Touch Typing Skills
A professional typing tutor that helps you to increase your typing speed and accuracy.- European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
Is the worlds largest end-user computer skills certification programme, with more than 6 million candidates in 146 countries (Known as the ICDL outside Europe). - British Computer Society (BCS) Unit E
Is designed to give a more in-depth knowledge and understanding of computer use for candidates wishing to gain a qualification. - Financial Literacy
It contains seven modules of interactive multimedia learning regarding personal financial management. - e-Citizen
Is a new programme for everyone who wants to use the Internet for work, social participation and life.
Great! Though, to enjoy these interactive courseware you would need to register and will be asked to answer questions about your background and interests, so that they can provide you with targeted advertising links alongside your courseware.
If you dont mind registering to learn, and having targeted advertising probably distracting you (a bit!) from the learning process, then this is a valuable resource worth exploring further :)
How to Host a Linky Party!
This Tuesday, Ill be doing another tutorial for bloggers... how to host a linky party!
For those of you keeping track, here is the poll!
This tutorial uses the following website. Click the link below to head over there and follow along with the steps!
As for next weeks poll, Im going to add how to find and install cute fonts!
Read more »
For those of you keeping track, here is the poll!
This tutorial uses the following website. Click the link below to head over there and follow along with the steps!
You can download this tutorial as a PDF by clicking this picture!
Note: This tutorial is hosted on Google Docs. To save it from there, just open the file and click File > Download to save onto your computer!
As for next weeks poll, Im going to add how to find and install cute fonts!
Use Twitter Hashtags to Amplify Your Learning!
Today, I dont spend much learning time following people or particular lists on Twitter, but I do spend time following, reflecting and interacting with relevant learning hashtag conversations (streams) taking place around the world.
If you are confused about what Twitter hashtags are, you have come to the right place to understand the power and possibilities that these learning conversations can do to amplify your learning!
If you are confused about what Twitter hashtags are, you have come to the right place to understand the power and possibilities that these learning conversations can do to amplify your learning!
WHAT ARE HASHTAGS?
"The # symbol, called a hashtag, is used to mark keywords or topics in a Tweet. It was created organically by Twitter users as a way to categorize messages" - Source
For example, #edchat is a well-known and influential hashtag used by many to discuss educational or learning related issues on Twitter. By following (saving) this hashtag you will be able to see all the tweets shared on Twitter including the #edchat hashtag.
Also, please keep in mind that Twitter hashtags can occur anywhere in the tweet, and that they are not case sensitive, as shown in the example below (#cck11 or #CCK11 = No difference):
Today, Twitter hashtags are widely used for conferences, events, courses, topics, trends, etc. enabling people to easily follow and participate via hashtag learning streams relevant to them.
WHERE DO I FIND JUICY HASHTAGS?
Actually, if you are looking for global (or country) trends you can for starters discover some on your Twitter homepage, which will display the top 10 trends at that particular moment.
If you are looking for (#hashtag) trends, then tools like What the Trend?, Twitterfall and Tagalus should be useful.
Actually, sometimes you can discover enriching hashtags by accident, when reading tweets from people you follow. However, the fastest way (to me) is to Google up educational hashtags and find a gold mine like this one: Educational Hash Tags (Cybrary Man)
Here some interesting learning hashtags that you might want to follow (Save):
HOW DO I FOLLOW (SAVE) A HASHTAG?
There are several ways, but if you want to simply follow (save) a juicy hashtag from Twitter itself, you can first:
However, many today hardly spend time on the Twitter homepage itself, and prefer using their mobile devices and tools like TweetDeck to check Twitter updates regularly (every 3o seconds!).
In addition, some prefer real-time updates on tweets and hashtags (a flowing learning stream), and tools like Monitter, TweetGrid and TweetChat are awesome for exactly that. For example, you might want real-time Twitter updates during an event, or learning session on a big screen (or projector), meaning you can reflect and discuss on the spot issues streaming down the screen (no refreshing needed!).
Also, please keep in mind that Twitter hashtags can occur anywhere in the tweet, and that they are not case sensitive, as shown in the example below (#cck11 or #CCK11 = No difference):
Today, Twitter hashtags are widely used for conferences, events, courses, topics, trends, etc. enabling people to easily follow and participate via hashtag learning streams relevant to them.WHERE DO I FIND JUICY HASHTAGS?
Actually, if you are looking for global (or country) trends you can for starters discover some on your Twitter homepage, which will display the top 10 trends at that particular moment.
If you are looking for (#hashtag) trends, then tools like What the Trend?, Twitterfall and Tagalus should be useful.
But then again, I give two hoops what Lady Gaga and The Bebiers tweets, and instead I am looking for educational and learning streams (hashtags), which will most likely never appear on my Twitter homepage. Of course, you could start using Twitter Search, but that is perhaps not the best place to start (unless you know what you are looking for).
Actually, sometimes you can discover enriching hashtags by accident, when reading tweets from people you follow. However, the fastest way (to me) is to Google up educational hashtags and find a gold mine like this one: Educational Hash Tags (Cybrary Man)
Here some interesting learning hashtags that you might want to follow (Save):
- #edchat - Education
- #CCK11 - Connectivism and Connective Knowledge 2010 Course
- #edutech - Educational Technology
- #web20chat - Web 2.0
- #hsc – Homeschooling
- #ecosys – Changes in public education
- #DistEd – Distance education and e-learning
- #innochat – Innovation in education
- #Lrnchat – Learning issues for educators
- #ellchat – English Language Learners
- More... :)
HOW DO I FOLLOW (SAVE) A HASHTAG?
There are several ways, but if you want to simply follow (save) a juicy hashtag from Twitter itself, you can first:
- Copy/Paste the hashtag into Twitter Search (Or simply click the hashtag on your Twitter page) and then Search.
- Then click Save this Search
- Click Home
- Select the hashtag from your Searches... Done!
However, many today hardly spend time on the Twitter homepage itself, and prefer using their mobile devices and tools like TweetDeck to check Twitter updates regularly (every 3o seconds!).
In addition, some prefer real-time updates on tweets and hashtags (a flowing learning stream), and tools like Monitter, TweetGrid and TweetChat are awesome for exactly that. For example, you might want real-time Twitter updates during an event, or learning session on a big screen (or projector), meaning you can reflect and discuss on the spot issues streaming down the screen (no refreshing needed!).
Besides real-time updates, some might prefer getting daily updates from the hashtag(s) they are following in the form of a sizzling self-organized online newspaper. paper.li could do that without you basically doing anything, except for signing up and feeding it your hashtag (e.g. #CCK11 Daily). Really cool!
If you find your Twitter homepage messy for having conversations, you could try Twitoaster, which threads and archives your conversations in real time. This tool could help you improve the way you communicate with your students or connections (followers).
Using Twitter to Transform the Classroom!
HOW DO I CREATE A HASHTAG?
That is so easy! Just remember to keep it unique, short and simple, because we only have 140 characters to make a point, and we certainly dont want the hashtag itself to take up too many characters.
Also, try to avoid commonly and widely used terms like #elearning, because then youre learning stream could be diluted and overwhelmed with too many non-related tweets. For example, the Connectivism and Connective Knowledge 2011 hashtag is shortened to #CCK11.
Finally, once you have created your unique, short and simple hashtag you need to promote it to your target audience, and here are a couple of articles on how that can be done:
Using Twitter to Amplify Connective Learning and Sharing at ICEL 2010
Join the #moodlewish Twitter Stream!
Join the #moodlewish Twitter Stream!
Now, that you know how to find, follow and create Twitter hashtags, you have a powerful...I shall say no more!
Other excellent resources that explore Twitter hashtags:
- Hashtags
- HOW TO: Get the Most Out of Twitter #Hashtags (Ben Parr)
- What Are Hashtags ("#" Symbols)? (Twitter Help Center)
- Twitter users discuss educational issues through Hashtag Chats (Alexis)
- Educational Hash Tags (Cybrary Man)
- Twitter Power: The Twitter Hashtag (Jordan)
- 15 Fascinating Ways to Track Twitter Trends (Ben Parr)
WOW! That wasnt so difficult, was it? :)
In Awe of Mums Shimmering Realities!
WOW! Mum (Nadia Alsagoff), I have to admit I am totally struck by your Shimmering Realities collection! As a result, I want to dedicate this post to my Mum who has inspired me to appreciate art through her passionate lifelong journey as an artist.
Although, I am not the kind of person that would spend hours in an art gallery, I do appreciate and understand the kind of work and challenges so many artists have to go through in life. Being an artist sounds great and fun, but making a living as an artist is certainly not an easy task.
SHIMMERING REALITIES
My Mum retired late last year from her day-to-day work, and has now more time to dedicate to her lifelong passion. Over the last decade or so, most of my Mums work has been expressed in the form of abstract art, but recently she has rediscovered her passion to paint animals and nature.
Actually, this has surprised me, because her eyesight is not exactly great (and has certainly not improved over the years). Also, I am not sure how effective her current glasses are either. I can still remember an incident a few years back, when she walked head on into a street light. Another time, when I was a kid, she walked straight past me on the street without recognizing me.
Though, she could have been day dreaming on both occasions. I remember once, I cut my lip walking past a statue. It was night time, and I didnt notice that the statue or man was pointing his arm and finger towards my direction. I suppose we both are a bit clumsy (understatement)! Or perhaps it is an inherited ability to day dream in potentially dangerous situations.
So, what I am really trying to say is that I am amazed and in awe that she can still paint such amazing paintings of realism. Alright, I will stop writing now, and share with you five gems from this Shimmering Realities collection:
I especially love the Cheetah one. The Cheetahs eyes (of curiosity) and facial expression leaves us to our imagination to figure out its real intention (Yummy!).
Interestingly, Mum has used Facebook to share her latest art, though it is only viewable to her friends (if I am not mistaken). Click here to check (if you are interested to discover more of her work)!
Hopefully, you enjoyed Mums paintings, I certainly did. Thank you!
Mum, you are AMAZING in so many ways :)
Although, I am not the kind of person that would spend hours in an art gallery, I do appreciate and understand the kind of work and challenges so many artists have to go through in life. Being an artist sounds great and fun, but making a living as an artist is certainly not an easy task.
SHIMMERING REALITIES
My Mum retired late last year from her day-to-day work, and has now more time to dedicate to her lifelong passion. Over the last decade or so, most of my Mums work has been expressed in the form of abstract art, but recently she has rediscovered her passion to paint animals and nature.
Actually, this has surprised me, because her eyesight is not exactly great (and has certainly not improved over the years). Also, I am not sure how effective her current glasses are either. I can still remember an incident a few years back, when she walked head on into a street light. Another time, when I was a kid, she walked straight past me on the street without recognizing me.
Though, she could have been day dreaming on both occasions. I remember once, I cut my lip walking past a statue. It was night time, and I didnt notice that the statue or man was pointing his arm and finger towards my direction. I suppose we both are a bit clumsy (understatement)! Or perhaps it is an inherited ability to day dream in potentially dangerous situations.
So, what I am really trying to say is that I am amazed and in awe that she can still paint such amazing paintings of realism. Alright, I will stop writing now, and share with you five gems from this Shimmering Realities collection:
I especially love the Cheetah one. The Cheetahs eyes (of curiosity) and facial expression leaves us to our imagination to figure out its real intention (Yummy!).
Interestingly, Mum has used Facebook to share her latest art, though it is only viewable to her friends (if I am not mistaken). Click here to check (if you are interested to discover more of her work)!
Hopefully, you enjoyed Mums paintings, I certainly did. Thank you!
Mum, you are AMAZING in so many ways :)
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