Creating animated cartoons/videos

Students have created animated cartoons on the benefit of using videos for educational purposes with Powtoon and Renderforest.

Note 

• The text in a cartoon video is short! 
• You can add sound - music or voice. 
• Images must match the content.

• If you are using the free Powtoon, when finished go to Export (top right-hand corner), and you export TO YouTube. It uploads to your YouTube channel. 
• If you are using RenderForest when finished go to Preview, and if it is alright, click on Download. Download it to your computer. Upload to YouTube when ready.

Create a video introducing yourself using Renderforest

Create a video saying who you are. This is such a nice video to have at the start of a course.

Make the video with the free version of Renderforest. Do not use anything which has Pro imprinted on it. Students have found Animation Videos the best for their needs, and Whiteboard Animation Toolkit.

Include the following in the video:

1. Your name and surname
2. Where are you originally from (e.g. home town)
3. Where do you work and what is your role there, and if you are teaching, tell us your subjects/grade as well.
4. Why did you choose to do this course
5. Something only your best friend would know

When finished go to Preview, and if it is alright, click on Download. Download it to your computer. Upload to YouTube when ready. Please make the video Unlisted. Copy the link and share it.

This was only graded in so much as creating the video, uploading it to YouTube and submitting a functioning link to a video.

Create a video introducing yourself using Powtoon

Create a video saying who you are. This is such a nice video to have at the start of a course.

Make the video with the free version of Powtoon. Do not use anything which has Pro imprinted on it

Include the following in the video:

1. Your name and surname
2. Where are you originally from (e.g. home town)
3. Where do you work and what is your role there, and if you are teaching, tell us your subjects/grade as well.
4. Why did you choose to do this course
5. Something only your best friend would know

When finished Export it and Upload the video to YouTube. Please make the video Unlisted. Copy the link and share it.

This was only graded in so much as creating the video, uploading it to YouTube and submitting a functioning link to a video.

Creating a quiz in Google Forms

You can create self-marking quizzes in Google Forms – most useful if your school has Internet access for all learners on tablets or PCs.

Instructions

Create a self-marking quiz using Google forms

1. Go online and find out how to create such a self-marking quiz using Google forms but the videos below are very clear.
2. Make all the questions on ONE topic from a subject field.
3. Arrange the questions in the correct order, i.e. those collecting information about the student do not have a mark attached and are before the ‘questions’
4. Use at least 2 different types of questions, e.g. True/False, Multiple choice, choose from a list. Do not use ‘Other’ as the computer cannot mark an ‘Other’ question.
5. Make sure at least one question interprets a map, graph or image. Make sure the image is connected to the question. Do not give the image a label. Place the image below the question.
6. Check that the self-marking quiz works – test it yourself, then get friends to test it.
7. Quiz
1. Have a look at http://theelearningcoach.com/elearning_design/rules-for-multiple-choice-questions/
2. Check the answer options – all should be possible, but only one is correct
3. Make sure that all words are spelt correctly
4. Make sure that each question begins with a capital letter and ends with a question mark. A question usually begins with Who, When, Where or How.
5. The questions must be grammatically correct
6. The answers must have capital letters where required.
8. When you have made the quiz make it available to a few and get them to do the quiz.
9. Get the results of the quiz analysed and presented in graph format.
10. Provide an analysis of the results in chart format in real-time, i.e. my results must be displayed.
11. The quiz must look good.

Outcomes and assessment criteria

1. Questions are meaningful and are on ONE topic from a subject field
2. Questions are in the correct order, i.e. those collecting information about the student do not have a mark attached and are before the ‘questions’
3. At least 2 different types of questions are used, e.g. True/False, Multiple choice, choose from a list, etc.
4. At least one question interprets a map, graph or image
5. The self-marking quiz works
6. Answer options – Should all be possible, but only one correct (Essence of good MCQ)
7. Each question begins with a capital letter and ends with a question mark or full stop.
8. Each question is grammatically correct
9. The answers have capital letters where required
10. Provides an analysis of the results in chart format in real time, i.e. my results must be displayed

Useful links

1. Make a quiz using Google Forms - https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Quiz-Using-Google-Forms
2. Design rules for multiple choice questions - http://theelearningcoach.com/elearning_design/rules-for-multiple-choice-questions/ - the link is old but the information is timeless
3. Try the quiz about Multiple Choice Questions

Infographics

Infographics consist of charts, images, icons, and some text that explains the topic and data in a straightforward way.

Canva is a popular app for making infographics. The video below explains how to use Canva to make an infographic based on data that has been collected from conducting an online survey.

The blog What is an Infographic? Examples, Templates & Design Tips is a good teaching source.

Intro Tutorial for Making a Canva Infographic below

How to create an infographic below

The International Computer and Information Literacy Study 2018 is a collection of infographics related to computer and information literacy achievement. The findings presented in graphic format are so understandable - one of the main findings is that young people do not develop sophisticated digital skills just by growing up using digital devices, and providing students or teachers with ICT equipment alone is not enough to improve their digital skills.

Sticky teaching Understanding what a brain can't ignore shows important information for teachers in graphic format in an infographic.

Have a look at the rubric, and on the page, at the bottom, is the rubric available in Word.

Curate content

Content curation is the process of gathering content — blog posts, images, videos, web pages, etc. — from a variety of sources

Useful tools to create shareable content

• Scoop.it - http://www.scoop.it/
• Wakelet - https://wakelet.com/
• Paperli - http://paper.li/

Explore the sites and look at Help
Go to YouTube for tutorials on the latest versions

As an assignment - Instructions

• Select a topic and curate content on the topic (if giving this as an assignment make sure that students do not all have the same topic)
• Needed are links to sources – journal articles, books in your elibrary, blog posts, images, videos, web pages, etc.

For teachers - Why this is important in the classroom

• Good idea to give your students a collection of suitable resources to use for an assignment, or else they spend a LONG time wandering the Internet looking for sites
• Is a way of making sure students do not use Wikipedia
• We would give the learners our curated link and encourage them to use the links we have provided

Assignment - Assessment

• Why do you expect to get full marks?
• Give your URL
• What have you done to curate suitable links on the topic?
• Why do you believe you have a representative spread of links on the topic?
• Variety of sources
• Local and international
• Answer in ½-1 page
• Submit the link and written rationale for your mark

Creating a crossword puzzle

Why

1. The Internet provides many resources for teachers including online facilities to create a crossword puzzle for printing and use in the classroom.
2. Crossword puzzles can be used in class to review terminology, definitions, and spelling resulting in greater retention of facts. A crossword is a good way to test knowledge of key concepts.
3. Using Bloom’s taxonomy, completing a crossword would require lower-order thinking skills. Have a look at the comments on the educational value of crossword puzzles on http://porsiemprevideomatch.blogspot.com/2011/07/educational-value-of-crossword-puzzles.html
4. There are many places online where you can create a crossword puzzle. We are going to use the website http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/CrissCrossSetupForm.asp At this URL they call a crossword puzzle a cross-cross puzzle.
5. This exercise uses many word processing, picture, and Internet skills.

Note

• Before you teach this lesson let the students do a number of crosswords; let them see how the words intersect, and that clues need to be carefully worded. I have had the experience that a number of learners/students and even teachers have never done a crossword, so the experience of completing one is essential before creating one. 
• For some persons the joy of creating a crossword is the magic that a list of clues can be manipulated by a computer program into a crossword format. The lesson is always a magical lesson/experience.

Instructions

Create and format a crossword

Creating the crossword

1. Look at the videos before you start
2. Plan the words to use in the crossword. Type and lay out your text as in the image. Use at least 10 words for the crossword on a theme.
3. Creating the text for the crossword
1. There is a space between the word and the clue
2. When a word is two words, such as ‘electronic mail’ you must make it into one word
3. Clues begin with a capital letter
4. Clues do not end with full stops
5. The clues are statements, not questions
6. The spelling and grammar are correct
7. Clues do not begin with 'The' or 'A' or 'An'
4. Use the following link to make the crossword: http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/CrissCrossSetupForm.asp
5. Complete the boxes and then create your puzzle.
6. Look at the crossword puzzle that it creates. If it is too long or too wide go back and ‘Create my puzzle’ again.
7. Copy the contents of the web page, (using Control-A, then Control-C, and then Control-V), into Word. The crossword part is an image and the text can be edited in Word. Format the crossword text and remove the advertisements. Save the file.

Formatting the crossword

1. Give the crossword a heading. Make sure the wording of the heading matches the content of the crossword
2. Add instructions on how to complete the crossword - Possible instructions which you can change or improve or ignore: 
1. Work in pencil before you ink your work.
2. Fill in the answers you know first. This will make it easier to find the words you are having difficulty with.
3. Instructions are near the top of the page, before the work on the crossword
4. Make the heading text larger than the body text
5. Make all the font in the document the same type
6. Check that there are no spelling or language errors in the heading or instructions
7. If you change the size of the crossword check that the boxes remain square
8. If you change the size of the crossword the boxes must be large enough to write the answer in
9. Make it look attractive with a suitable page border
10. Remove any advertisements
11. Add meaningful images to enhance the page
12. Use images that will be clear when printed
13. Try to fit the crossword and clues into one page
14. Provide a solution/memo/answer in crossword shape - suggestions below:
1. Print your crossword. Answer the questions in pen. Scan the answer and save it as a PDF OR photograph the crossword and insert the image into Word and save it as a PDF
2. Do a screen grab of the crossword, and save it as an image. Open Paint found on all PCs and in Paint 'write' on the picture/image. When finished insert the image into Word and save as a PDF.

Presenting a picture of words in a word cloud image

Sometimes a change in the way in which we display things is a good idea. If you work in a particular ‘boring’ style, information displayed in a different way may make a larger impact.A word cloud:

• Presents a picture of words used most.
• Words used often are displayed larger.
• Highlights main themes and concepts.
• Words used are represented in graphical format.

Be aware that software is continually improving so the best tutorial is usually found on YouTube. Explore the software and look at the help files. Try wordclouds.com/, monkeylearn.com/word-cloud/, freewordcloudgenerator.com/

How

1. Go online
2. Look for a - word cloud generator free
3. Explore, experiment
4. Create a word cloud image
5. When you have the word cloud image download it
6. Save the image as a png or jpg
7. Crop the image as required
8. Use the word cloud to enhance your learner support material

Do a Google search for 'word clouds', for Images. Have a look at the lovely word clouds.

Suggestion

• Create a word cloud of the school rules, and use it to illustrate the document on school rules.

Using comic images to enhance a document

Comic images are fun! This was a lesson used many years ago where comic images were used. It is suggested that you use and adapt the information provided.

Suggestions for a teacher - Create a comic on one of the following topics

• Encourage learners to hand in their work on time
• Encourage learners to use the recycling bins
• Encourage the learners to be positive in their communication with each other

A good comic and storyboard builder is Pixton or Make Beliefs Comix 

Creating a podcast

A podcast has two main steps, create the sound clips and create the podcast itself using Anchor.

1 Create a sound clip

1. The aim of this exercise is to learn how to create a sound file or voice recording, which you would do in a podcast
2. Create a sound file of the text below. Just read the text.
3. The sound file must have no background noise.
4. Pronounce the words clearly.
5. Use any application to record the sound - you could use vocaroo.com
6. You must be able to download the sound file.

Read the text below to make the practice sound file

• Creating a podcast
• A podcast is made up of sound files.
• A podcast is hosted on a site for listening.
• You can make the sound files using the voice recorder on your computer, the voice recorder on your mobile device, or any other place.
• The sound files are imported into an app such as Anchor to create one sound file.
• In Anchor the sound files can be re-ordered.
• The sound files can have different file extensions / be different types when they are imported into Anchor.
• You can edit the sound files on your computer with Audacity or on a mobile device with Anchor.
• You create the podcast using an app such as Anchor (online).
• From Anchor, you distribute your podcast to one or many podcasting sites which you preselect to be heard/listened to.
• You have a podcast name and have different episodes.
• You have cover art for the podcast name.

2 Create your podcast using Anchor

1. Login to free Anchor.
2. Explore Anchor
3. Collect your sound, and maybe music files.
4. Decide where you want to share your podcast - Spotify is used by many people
5. Think about the image and name for the series
6. Think about the image and name for each episode
7. Consider an introduction to the podcast, an introduction to the speakers, and music or voice between the different episodes
8. Create and share 

Useful links

1. Good rubric
2. 10 Ways You Can Use Podcasts in a Course or Lesson
3. What makes a good podcast
4. Academic journal article Podcasts: A technology for all? by Daniela Gachago, Candice Livingston and Eunice Ivala in the British Journal of Educational Technology Vol 47 No 5 2016 859–872 doi:10.1111/bjet.12483

Bloom’s digital taxonomy verbs

Using the correct verbs helps to focus the assessment at the correct level - Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy Verbs

This table shows action verbs for the different levels of the Revised Bloom's taxonomy.

Here is a PowerPoint file where animations must be created for the items in the second list. The action verbs in the second column must be moved to the correct area in Bloom's taxonomy when clicked, when the slide is presented in PowerPoint.

Source

Bloom, B. S., Engelhart, M. D., Furst, E. J., Hill, W. H., & Krathwohl, D. R. (1956). Taxonomy of educational objectives: The classification of educational goals. Handbook I: Cognitive domain. David McKay Company: New York.

Creating a blog lesson

Many people think that making and having their own place on the Internet is difficult. It is not. I am going to create a series of videos and postings showing how it is easy to create your own online space. First we are going to create a blog.

One of the aims of this blog is to share my knowledge of ICT. Hoping that we do this together.

Lesson instructions below

A blog is a place where you can put your diary, lessons, your learners’ homework, get comments from parents and learners, etc. It is a place to express yourself to the world.

It is a quick and easy way to get your own place on the Internet.

Instructions

1. Create a blog with Google Blogger with postings, images, links to other places, and gadgets/widgets.
2. Must be about communicating information on your vision and or yourself, a digital CV.
3. Encourage fellow students, friends, or family to add comments anonymously or under their own names so that the blog is a tool for presenting information and collaborating.
4. Have a look at a blog I have worked on - studyopp.blogspot.com
5. Go to YouTube for information on creating/using the features mentioned.
6. Add gadgets/widgets in the layout such as a calendar, the weather, a clock, etc.
7. Add advanced educational JavaScript features - add the link in the posting area of the blog, not the gadget area as there is not enough space.
8. Impress! Have fun!

Tips

• Save all images on your computer and then insert them into a posting - do not do copy/paste from a website.
• Do not leave open empty lines before or after an image.
• Check that hyperlinks used actually work! Links must be to a special place, not to a Google search! If you want me to view the hyperlink, tell me to do so / make it obvious that it is a hyperlink
• Write your posting in Word, check the spelling and grammar, and then copy/paste to the blog, or write it on the blog but use a grammar check such as Grammarly.
• Any weather gadget must display the weather in Cape Town and in Celsius.
• Any poll/survey gadget must work.
• If you show Your Profile in Google+ fill it in / complete it.
• Any feature which requires an image and a large amount of space, should be on the main part of the blog and not as a gadget.

Assessment

• Has at least 5 postings - 2
• Has at least 3 images that contribute to the content/meaning of the posting where it is found - 2
• Has at least 3 working hyperlinks in postings, to pages that contribute to the content/meaning of the posting where it is found - 2
• Has at least 3 working gadgets - 2
• Have at least 3 comments from anonymous or individual persons - 2
• All material is free from spelling and grammar errors - 3
• All content is uplifting, i.e. would be suitable for your CV (nothing on religion, sex or politics) - 3
• Blog looks good. (Pictures are a suitable size. Font is readable and all postings use same font. Layout is ‘right’.) - 3
• Extra features, with worth - 3 marks each - 6

Total  25