PP1 Assessment 1: Xtranormal | Text-to-Movie

Xtranormal | Text-to-Movie is F A N T A S T I C ! ! !

There are pre-made scenes and characters in a number of settings. The user writes the script, adds sounds effects, soundtracks, camera angles etc to create a movie. What fun!

At first glance I thought that the use of Xtranomal site would be more suited to primary school students. But after playing around with it I think secondary school students would also benefit from using it.

While I was looking into the features that could be placed into the movie I discovered some sound effects that 12-15 year old's would find very amusing and I am sure they would try to use in any context. So, naturally, I used them in a movie that I created "Superpowers in Action!".



I played this to everyone at home and now the whole family is using this site...it is cool to witness!

PP1 Assessment 1: Wiki creation and website/tool evaluation

I have created the shell for a wiki on two sites; wikispaces and Wetpaint. Both are free, however, wetpaint carries advertisements, which I find rather distracting from the wiki contents.

Please post comments on the site that you would prefer to view.

PP1 Module 1.5: Photo sharing

Sharing photos on the internet is not something that I would usually choose to do. However, Flickr does have the option to have a public or private gallery.

My Flickr account is http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorcycle_madness/.

The pics show some fun I have had this year learning a new skill.

PP1 Module 1.4: Virtual reality and artificial intelligence

This is fantastic!

Task 4 is to Create an avatar in Second Life.

Too easy! I always wanted an excuse to go check out this game but could never justify spending time on it when there are so many other things to do and not enough hours in the day.

Navigation, including flying, was fairly easy to grasp. Although, I would imagine the game would be a lot smoother with a computer that is dedicated to gaming with great internet speed and firewalls set up to accept all aspects of this game.

This game could dangerously see hours just tick by. But what a great way to have fun!

PP1 Module 1.3: Videoconferencing, podcasts and webcasts

Well, this third Learning Task to complete asks “list how you might use video conferencing, podcasts or webcasts within your organisation”, hmmm ... thought provoking.

To be honest, I have never entertained the thought of video conferencing, podcasts or webcasts in the delivery of my lessons or for any other reason around the school. However, now that it has been drawn to my attention, I suppose I have reasons to think about using these tools. Although, thinking usually generates more ponderings and questions then immediate answers, so I have used the 5W’s+H thinking strategy and an online mind mapping tool to outline some ideas how videoconferencing may be used within a school organisation.