Education in 20 Years Time-will children ever need pen and paper???

Today we made a Wiki website.
Before today I was not sure what a wiki website was... now I know that it is a web application which allows users to freely edit and adapt the content and structure of the web page. 


Characteristics of a Wiki Website

• Wiki supports hyperlinks and embeds videos and images.
• It differs from a blog through there not being one defined owner of the account , you can add in users to create and adapt the web page.
• Wiki page does not have much structure to it so the users can basically do what they want a need to suit them.

You can also set it up to be a private account so only you and your friends or chosen users can use and are allowed to edit the website.

We used a site called PBWORKS to set up our wiki website. There is a clear 'get started' button which gives you an option of 6 links to choose from. There is a link for Wiki Hub. Our lecturer helped us create our wiki website and gave all our class a username and link to use the website.

The whole class had access to our wiki website and it was interesting to see everyone putting their own style to the front page.  The theme for the class  wiki site was 'Technology Through The Ages.' 

We were then split into groups and my group's theme was Education in 20 Years Time. I found this website similar to a blog but it made it possible for other members of my group to edit our page from their computer. For example I wrote about what I thought technology would be like within the next 20 years and saved the page, then Chris from his computer was able to edit the work and add in video link. 

We found this video extremely interesting and basically it summed up what we thought technology would be like in the future. It was amazing to see how advanced technology could get within a school classroom. This really made me think would there be need for pen and paper? Would children ever need to learn how to write?  

      

Animated Gif

Space Man

2Animate is a software that is easy to download to your computer at home.  I used this application to make an animated gif. The application was easy and simple to use. I chose my own background out of the backgrounds that was provided. I then used the toolbar to create the spaceman. There were different colours, thickness of pen and shapes in the toolbar. I am not very artistic , art was not the best subject for me in school. I felt using this app was a fun and new experience for me. It was easy enough to draw, capture and scan images and then you can click on play and watch your moving animation!  This application would be perfect for children there are modes of how difficult you would like your animation to be, so easy mode would be ideal for children.

PhotoStory

My PhotoStory was made using an application on my Iphone. I was able to download the application from my app store on my phone. I decided to go with an app called 'YourMoments' I was able to read views and comments about the app before downloading it. It is a photo collage maker app. Once I downloaded the app I was able to choose a border or frame- the borders were set up to accommodate a certain amount of images. I choose 6 images as that was the maximum amount of images in one frame. I decided to base my images around the theme 'unconditional love' as it is in my opinion the most powerful connection between people. My son was my inspiration. I decided to tell a story of how love grows. And how instantly you feel love for your child. I feel that many mothers can empathize with this photostory. I choose images to upload in each box which was easy enough to do. The application asked if it was able to connect to my images, I firstly had to change my settings to allow the app to see my images which were already on my phone. This then made it easier for me to basically tick the boxes of the images I wanted in my photo story. I was able to edit the images, crop and change the colour. Also through the app I added the title to the images.

The downfall to this app was that the maximum amount of images you could have in one frame is 6.

An upside to the app is that if you had no images on your phone you could connect to other apps like Facebook or Instagram to then take images from these sites.

Also in favour of the app I could use this anywhere as it is on my phone for example on a train or in a park.

Mothers love

My Mind Map

I used the site Bubbl.us to create my mind map. The site was a great way to put my brainstorming to good use. The site made it possible for me to capture and connect my ideas through using a mind map and also I found it a very useful way to expand and organise my way of thinking. Bubbl.us is simple, quick and helpful way to organise ideas. You have to sign up to register to the website and I think there is a fee depending on how many times you use it. This was beneficial to me when I was revising for exams. I could use the mind map system to revise a certain topic by putting the topic as the centre of the mind map and branch out  on that topic using different colours to organise it. The image above is an example of a mind map I had done recently on the topic 'My Reflection.'
There is a bubbl.us app you can now download to your phone which is an effective way to brainstorm on the go!

Website

Today I have learnt about websites. In our groups we had to find a topic we were all interested in and then say why we choose this website. We choose how to carve pumpkins as our topic.  There is a need to be cautious when choosing a website, if you are say choosing a website for an academic purpose then you need to know that the website is reliable with up to date facts and information. The website should have an author a date that it was published and recent update dates to see when the website was last used and updated. As a group we used the website checker easywhois to check who created the website and if the person or the organisation is valid and reliable.

I need a money tree!

        
 My name is Lauren.
I am in my first year of university, I love the freedom of university life.
I'm currently studying my degree and I like the course so far.
I am a little worried about the work load , hopefully I will be able to manage all these assignments!
I wanted to go to this university simply becuase it's close to home and I needed to be close to my son. I like the structure of the course. I drive in everyday which costs a bomb in petrol!  I need a money tree!