Screencast-o-matic and Learning Management Systems

Screencast-o-matic
    The last few weeks have given me a lot of opportunities for new learning about technology.  Since my last blog I created my first screencast-o-matic featuring delegation as the topic.  Screencast-o-matic was relatively easy to use.  As always, I began my process by watching YouTube videos of how to create one.  I found numerous videos but I really liked one by Andrew Wolf, I have added the video for you to view.  I began by creating a PowerPoint presentation of my content.  I completed it and then went to the screencast-o-matic website and created my account.  All you have to do is click on the start recording button and this gives you a box with hash marks that you place around your PowerPoint slide.  You next click on the red record button and the clock counts down, 3, 2, 1 then you begin to record your presentation.  I highly recommend that you create a script prior to recording.  The script will keep you on track and help with the nerves.  You move through each slide recording your presentation and then click on done recording.  You then will watch your presentation to make sure it is how you want it.  You can then create your own URL or the program will create one for you that you can share.  My presentation was 14 minutes long.  You can make 15 minute presentations with the free account. Here is my first presentation, delegation screencast-o-matic


    I did have a lot of trouble trying to add a YouTube video in my presentation.  I tried numerous times but in the end I just removed the YouTube video.  I searched for YouTube videos for help in adding a YouTube video to a screencast-o-matic presentation but all I found was how to upload your presentation to YouTube, which was not what I wanted.  I wish I could have found a way to add the delegation YouTube video I found because it would have enhanced my presentation, but overall I think it was okay for my first attempt.

SkyDrive
    Here is some information about SkyDrive in case you are not familiar from the SkyDrive tutorial link.

    SkyDrive is Microsoft's version of cloud storage for owners of a Microsoft account, very similar to Google Drive.  SkyDrive allows you to store, sync, and share files with other people and devices in the web.  SkyDrive offers 7 GB of free storage and if you have the desktop application you can upload 2 GB files.
    My computer came with SkyDrive installed.  I was only using Google Drive but I started to play with SkyDrive recently and learned how to create a URL to post articles to Diigo.  Here is my URL for a   Link to article about delegation.
    My professor asked me to create a movie about how to share a URL on SkyDrive, to get another opportunity to make a screencast-o-matic I created a very short step by step presentation on making a URL on SkyDrive.  Screencast-o-matic on SkyDrive

Learning Management Systems
     Both academic institutions and hospitals are using a electronic learning management system (LMS) to create learning, track learning, and as a portal for many services.  U-Indy uses Ace as it's LMS.  On-line classes use Ace for all "lecture" information, take tests and quizzes, grades, forums, and links.  Face-to-face classes also use Ace to submit assignments, take tests, grades, forums, and a place to ask questions.  There has been a lot of discussion around the ease of use as a requirement for LMS's, Ace requires a login on the main screen and then on other areas you must login again.  The dual login wastes time and is redundant.  However, it is nice to have a LMS and be able to see real time grades and feedback.
    The hospital I work for has an LMS as well but you can only access it from the intranet, when talking with RN's from another local hospital they have the ability to log on from home and complete learning modules on their own time and submit the time to payroll.  This would be a great option, completing required modules can be stressful when you are busy at work and do not have the time to complete while on the clock.  This seems to be the number one stressor for new nurses off of orientation.  Most of the modules have a time limit to complete and when you first hire into my hospital a lot of modules fire for you to complete.  As the nurse educator I have been trying to find creative ways for the staff to complete the modules, especially for the new grad nurse.
     Steve Foreman has created a five article series on the Learning Solutions Magazine website that are great.  He writes about choosing the LMS, implementing and maintaining the LMS, and then future trends for LMS's.  The link is attached for you to review.  Learning Solutions article
When you go to the first article you can select the other four by clicking the link on the right side about half way down the page.

    Mr. Foreman sheds light on the painstaking process of selecting the right system for your company's needs.  I really like the fifth article because he shares some insight on what the future holds for LMS's.  Mr. Foreman writes about a program called Experience API which will allow a company to create a learning module then track the work an employee already does and allow the employee to get credit for the "informal learning" they do everyday on the job.  This has huge implications for the hospital I work for.  I as an educator, could create a learning module and then track the learning is actually being used in everyday practice allowing the staff to show they have  learned what was in the module and are using it in practice not to just complete another learning module.

One More Presentation


 

    I have one more presentation due soon.  I am contemplating the technology I will use to create my third presentation on delegation.  I am grateful my professor is allowing us to use the same topic with three different technologies.  I really enjoy seeing the presentations morph and change depending on the technology I choose, this is keeping the focus on the technology.  I really think I am going to use Camtasia or Glogster.  Camtasia allows you to make movies and looks pretty simple but I have to play with it first. 
 Camtasia
Glogster allows you to make an interactive poster and looks a little more difficult, but also looks pretty awesome.  Glogster
 I will let you know what I learn and how it looks on the next blog.  Stay tuned.

Digital Storytelling and Collaboration

Digital storytelling is a great educational tool to use to capture your audience, keep their attention, and get your ideas across.  The YouTube video discusses the 7 elements of digital storytelling: a point of view, a dramatic question, emotion (used to hold the attention of the audience), voice (even if you are scared, your voice will capture attention), soundtrack, economy, and pacing.  I previously thought I was kind of telling a story with my Prezi on delegation but looking back it was only a presentation that lacked the charisma of a story.  I have discovered in the last two weeks that a presentation can also be a story which will be entertaining and informative.  Using a story to teach may even be a better way to have the audience remember the content than a presentation alone.  I can remember a lot of the aspects of a good movie but only remember what was not so good in a bad movie, but I remember some points.  I don't think my Prezi presentation was very memorable but that is what this semester is about, learning and growing.   I think I will use the same content from my Prezi but use a different technology and make a story instead of only a presentation.  I think it is all how you approach the project and with what mindset.  I want to grab my viewers attention and keep it so they remember what I am trying to teach.  My next presentation will be in the form of a story and I'll do a better job to keep the attention of my audience which in turn may educate as well.

I started to play with Microsoft Photo Story 3.  Above is a YouTube video of how to use it.  I chose my pictures to have in my movie and then added a title on each one.  It allows for voice recordings rather easily for each photo and has space for you to write your script on each picture so you can easily read and record each one.  I chose how I wanted each photo to transition and how long to display each photo.  Photo Story 3 lets you add background music from your computer or create your own from templates that are installed in the program, however, it was not easy to add my music from I-tunes even though it is given as an option.   It is not as easy to navigate or create as Animoto is and it does not allow a URL to be created for sharing.  However, it would only be good to be viewed on your own computer or email the video for viewing.  I would not want to use this for a project because it cannot be downloaded and shared easily.  I was having trouble using it on Windows 8 and found the following link to help install it  Windows 8 help.

A great site my instructor, Dr. May, shared is from the University of Houston, University of Houston- digital storytelling.  This site not only has wonderful examples of digital stories, one of my favorites is by Bethany Sacks, A Surgeons Perspective on Medical Television Shows but the site also helps with writing a script, creating storyboards, creating photo collages, recording and editing digital audio, and using Photo Story 3.  All of this information will be helpful with my next project and I have been learning a lot.  I only used two voice recordings in my Prezi but after learning some more I will need to add additional voice recordings and get over how bad I think my voice sounds.  I will be prepared and start with a written script like the University of Houston site suggests.

I have been working on numerous group projects lately for school and my job and have been learning how to use Google Drive.  I really like that I can access documents from my work computer, home computer, and even my smart phone.  I had to learn and play to figure it out but it is really simple once I got it.  Of course I have added a YouTube video on Google Drive, because again I am a visual learner and learn best from watching first then doing.  The video is very detailed on all aspects of Google Drive so it is a little lengthy but I like it.
The video states you can create presentations on Google Drive, that is something I will play with this week to see what type of presentation I can create and if it like a "presentation" or digital storytelling.  Zoho is another collaboration tool, I do not think it is as user friendly as Google Drive simply because I can access my Google Drive documents from any where and cannot access my Zoho files on my phone.  We do live in the age when we use our phones for many things, convenience for any technology is the key.

Life Hacker Collaboration tools is a site that lists numerous collaboration tools.  It is worth checking out if you do a lot of collaborative projects.  It also discusses Cozi, which is an app my family uses to sync our calendars so we all know what we have planned which helps us not overbook activities.  Collaboration tools are not only for the office and school but is important to collaborate at home as well to keep things running smoothly.