http://www.virtualvillagers.com/

http://www.virtualvillagers.com/

Farmville

Creating an MSO: Viral Emotions and the Keys to Social Play GDC09 100n032609

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Creating an MSO: Viral Emotions and the Keys to Social Play GDC09 100n032609

View more presentations from Nicole Lazzaro.

Week 1 wimba

I missed the actual class so I listened to the archive of the event.  From the start I like the class requirements. They fit into what I have a natural inclination to do which is blog. I'm not too sure about this whole e-book thing and the book that was chosen but I am going to stay optimistic. Most of the books are very informative from a thesis research and quote point of view but I never really read it ALL. My Wimba mates were very engaged. I hate missing Wimba cause I don't get to "hang out" with everyone and laugh and chat while class is going on. ( I always got in trouble for that in school). Ok this media project thing is going to be a task. I am not a k12 teacher nor am I going  to be in the future. I am not sure how to make this really relevant to a general audience. I guess that will come. Joe is cool. He has been before and this is his baby so it should be pretty interesting. Overall I am hopeful. I think I can, I think I can, I know I can.

week 4 Tutorial; scratch

In one of the tutorials there was an introduction to scratch and then in one of the interviews which Holly Ludgate had with Ron Smith he spoke about scratch also for education purposes. I am pretty challenged with new information. It takes a moment for me to assimilate it and determine how I can apply it to my own uses or purposes. Then a wonderful thing happened I googled and I found that people have been using scratch for second life and then all my dreams were realized. Instead of having to learn linden labs coding (which for me the learning curve has bottomed out temporarily) I can use scratch to have even more interactivity within second life and with the characters I create and animate.  I am now forever connected to my computer like a borg. Thank Apple for the IPad to relieve my lower back and carpel tunnel woes.

What is Scratch for Second Life (S4SL)?
S4SL is a new easy way to add behaviors and interactivity to your objects in Second Life. S4SL is based on a new easy way to add behaviors and interactivity to your objects in Second Life. S4SL is based on Scratch, a graphical programming language that lets you construct programs by snapping together graphical blocks. With S4SL, you can snap together a few blocks to make your SL pet interact with you using chat commands, make your sculpture change size and color, or make your house respond to your presence.

week 3 Ron Smith Interview

The interview which Ron Smith and Holly Ludgate had on fso was so eye opening. Ron Smith a teacher in LAUSD actually is using online tools on a regular to teach students in the classroom. I know it's like ok duh BriGette, but I hear so many teachers say how hard it is and how much time it takes.. yada yada yada. He was saying how he used his planning time to work on the productions which were used and then when actual class time started he had all of his content in place for instruction.  I love it!
Some of the tools which Ron spoke about I am familiar with but the possibilities which he spoke of for learning were tremendous. Most of the time I surf around looking for new tools or read blogs about these tools not really understanding the implications for learning which they may have. Here is a snippet about each.

google sketch up pro is no joke- I could spend hours on this. I saw the possibilities for learning since you can import google maps and google earth into the sketch ups.

blender- I have (played with) used before. It takes a minute to learn it. (well for me) creating your own "creature" single cell organism and creating its evolution. I have a lot of learning curve for it. Its 3d animation tool but he actually uses this in the classroom with students.

scratch-is a graphical program language with out all the coding. I am looking at how to use this for second life. Still looking at the possibilities since I spend a lot of time in my "virtual for real" world.

Ron talked about a trend in the future- curriculum design and instrucitional material on line to service students who are not confortable in the classroom. I love it especially since the population of adults which I will be involved with fits that model.

wk 3 comment Jes

Friday, january 22, 2010

Week 3- New Tools
I am sitting in a meeting right now because it is the all so important professional development day and I am being told all the information that I have learned from this program. No matter where I am I try and learn or gather useful information. So here are a few programs that I learned about today! Hopefully you will find great use for these resources. My mind is already turning with all the great ideas.
Drop.io.com
edmoodo.com
pbworks.com
storybird.com
todaysmeet.com
voicethread.com
edu.glogster.com
onetruemedia.com
voki.com
vocaroo.com


Keep in mind that I am an elementary school teacher but these programs will work for other grades. I simply remember and jot down the ones that I remember because I can use them in my classroom.
photo from photoxpress.com
posted by jess at 9:35 am
3 comments:
mary seither said...
Jessica Enjoyed reading your post on new tools. I am looking for teaching tools which can be applied to employees in todays workplace. Any references I read, I always look up to see if they will provide the support needed for production and workplace communication.

January 24, 2010 8:16 AM
jbb said...
great list. I know about drop.io and voki.com and just heard about storybird.com. Will have to check out the others. thx.

January 24, 2010 9:23 AM
edmediadesigntech said...
Thank you for the list. Amazingly, I had never heard of any of these tools. I want to work with adults. What I have found is that some tools still work well for adults depending on what you are teaching them. If you are an adult education teacher going over math and you are on fractions and additions some of the tools work well.

week 4 comment on Jess's blog

sunday, january 31, 2010

Week 4 Media Project

Wow this project has been a stress and a half. Everything that could have gone wrong this month has gone wrong. Anything from moving and not having internet to being sick and not having things work out. It is nice to see it all coming together. I have found that my original idea isn't very exciting to me. I actually am not enjoying creating it at all. If I hadn't spent all the time on the content proposal than I would change...I don't want to redo the content proposal. I will keep on working on it and I am sure that I will get excited when it is close to being more complete I will be excited.