BP14_Flash3

I have finished my first tutorial series on creating a webiste using Flash at Lynda.com with Paul Trani.  Very informative!!  The program itself is incredibly complicated and multidimensional.  However, in the training with Paul Trani, he breaks it down into sizable chunks so that it can be followed.  The training series is broken down into ten sections that walk you through the initial setup of the website to publishing.  Believe me there are a lot of things in between!

After watching this series of informational videos I know why those annoying advertisements start playing out of nowhere.  The advertisers have it set that way, but now I know how they did it!  I also am aware of the annoying sites where you aren't able to tab your way through text areas when entering data.  They haven't entered the code into Flash that allows that.  The default sends you to the navigation bar's first button.  Little things like that I will now be aware of as I am surfing the web.

Here is my certificate for completing the first training session in Flash at Lynda.com.

 
I can assure you that the first time I have to complete a project using Flash I will be watching the tutorial for each section and then completing my project for that section.  That in itself makes Lynda.com an asset that you can't live without.  Especially in Full Sail time!!!

BP13_Flash2

Flash truly takes websites to another level.  Websites using a template are the fast food of websites.  Flash websites are like dining at a five star restaurant.  A totally different experience altogether!

There is so much interaction and dimension that can be added to websites using Flash.  The key seems to be to keep it systematic when adding layers to the different pages.  When you are adding audio to buttons you want to add the audio to each button at the same time so that the audio will occur each time a user clicks on one of the navigation buttons.

Screenshot from Paul Trani training at Lynda.com

One of the amazing things about Flash and the reason it is so difficult to navigate is there are so many options that the user has to choose from.  This is of coarse why it is such an amazing program and why it creates stunningly interactive websites.  Just in the adding audio section alone there were multiple ways in which the user was able to manipulate or edit the audio being uploaded.  First the user was able to choose and edit the audio from a library or upload their own.  Second once the audio was chosen the user then is able to choose from options of how long the audio will play, how loud, how it will fade and to what degree it will be interactive to the user through roll over bars.

Another feature to Flash that is outrageously creative is the video capabilities.  The user is able to upload video from a multiple range of sources and then the choices really start to appear.  The user is able to manipulate the way in which the frame fits around the video, the tools that are attached to the video bar, the viewing options and the way in which the video is introduced to the screen through animation.  The animation library has many options for the user to choose from.  Once the animation is chosen then the user is able to manipulate that action to fit his or her own specifications.  So even though the user is choosing from a set group of animations, he or she is able to manipulate it enough to make it their own.

BP12_Flash1

Wow, what a complicated program!  Basically, Flash is a progam that designs websites by layering graphics and text onto a one dimensional panel.  By layering with tabs and buttons the viewer of the website will only see a layer at a time.  But, to the designer all of the layers are visible.  After watching the first four training sections on Lynda.com it occurred to me that I am very grateful that this program isn't introduced to us until the sixth class in our program.  If we were expected to create our first website with Flash, instead of using the template program of iweb, I don't know if I would have made it this far into the program.  But, after the experiences of the first four months under my belt I know that I will be able to figure Flash out as well.  I am grateful, however, for the chance to preview this very complicated program before I am expected to produce something with it!

Here is a screenshot from Lynda.com of Paul Trani taking the viewers step by step in creating a basic Flash website.

Adding layers of graphics into Flash

From my beginning perspective on the program Flash it is imperative that the user keep very organized while creating.  Each layer must be created in a systematic way.  Each button and graphic must be added in the same order for each of the pages in the same order.  Otherwise, it would be very easy to forget a graphic on one of the pages or add two to one page and none to another.  It is also important to become familiar with the program, Photoshop.  As Paul Trani takes us step by step in creating this website most of the graphics that he is importing come ready from Photoshop.  I would follow this advice and create using Flash as he suggests.  The time to experiment, it seems to me, is after one becomes familiar enough with a program to feel comfortable enough with the standard way to create in a program.  Then is the time to play with it and come up with your own way of doing things. 

BP11_Xtranormal Commercial

This is the commercial that I created for Xtranormal with Xtranormal.  I hope that you enjoy it!!

BP10_Blog Review

Here is a link to my comment on Kevin McLain's blog.

BP9_Blog Review

Here is a link to my comments on Noelia's blog.

BP8_Xtranormal Review

Xtranormal is an animation Web2.0 tool that is fun and easy to use!

This tool creates short animated videos from text.  Simply choose your setting and characters and you are ready to get started.  By clicking on the character you are able to add text that the character will say in the video.  You can add facial expressions and body movements.  You can change the camera angle to allow the characters to seem more real.  There is even a place to add your own voice to characters if you wish to not use the computer generated voices for your characters.

I can see students really enjoying the ability to create animated stories to share with their peers.  You could even connect it to a theme that you are studying, so that they could infuse some of the knowledge of a particular subject that the class is studying into their video.  I can see this tool as a very enticing program to get students writing who otherwise are not motivated to do so.  I am currently working in a secondary special ed class and I can see several assignments where this may be an activity to showcase the knowledge that they have gained at the end of the theme.  Many of these students have to be enticed to do any writing at all.  However, most of them are very involved with digital technology and video games.  The likeness of the characters in this tool to that will create a lot of excitement for the assignment.

Once you have created a video there are many ways to share it.  You can upload it to Facebook, Youtube, Myspace and a variety of other social networks.  You can also email it to yourself and share an url of the video to view right on the Xtranormal site.

The downside to this tool is that it isn't a very sophisticated animation tool.  The motion of the characters and the speech are  a little jolty and unreal.  However, it is a wonderful program to get started with!

BP7_One True Media Commercial

One True Media,  http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/home ,  is an easy to use photo sharing tool that creates video's from your photographs.  It is easy to navigate and could easily be used in the classroom to create digital stories.  It was also a lot of fun to play with vacation pictures and turn them into a little video.  Here is the commercial that I created.  I hope you like it!

BP6_Blog Post

Here is a link to my comment on Mark's Blog.

BP5_Blog Post

Here is a link to my comment on Justin's Blog.

BP4_One True Media

One True Media at     http://www.onetruemedia.com/

This program is free to get started and very easy to use.  With just a few clicks of the mouse you are able to upload several photos and create a montage or video.  This application is perfect for using with students in the classroom to create digital stories.  The instructions were clear and easy to follow.  I can see students using this program to create digital stories about a topic for a report individually or in groups.  Last year I had my fifth grade students write a state report. This program would have been an easy way for them to take their state report and create a video using a little of the text and the visuals for the state that they created.

The first step is to upload your photos into the photobucket.   This can take a little time depending on how many pictures you are trying to upload.  The next step is to choose the theme in which the pictures will be put together into a movie.  This will create a title screen, the transitions and the end slide of the video.  It then gives you the option of changing the order of pictures and you can crop the pictures to fit your vision.  You are able to add text to the slides or in just a few spots throughout the video.  You are able to adjust the color and font of the text as well.

The last step is to add music.  The application has several that you are able to use that gives credit to the artist.  When you are finished creating the video it is easy to upload the video to YouTube or Facebook.  You may also save it as a file and share within email. 

AR Reading notes

My Action Research Project is on creating digital social stories for students on the autistic spectrum.  Here is a look at some of my notes thus far.

BP3_Slide Show

SlideSix

http://slidesix.com/

This Web2.0 tool is amazing for creating, collaborating and sharing presentations.  I originally chose this program because I felt that it would be helpful in my Action Research Project that focuses on creating digital social stories to help teach social skills to children on the Autistic Spectrum.  SlideSix allows users' to create videos from within the program or to import existing projects into the program to enhance.

With this tool it is relatively easy to upload an existing Keynote, PowerPoint or OpenOffice presentation.  It is then possible to add sound, dialogue and embedded video from YouTube or a personal collection into the presentation.  This would help create a more interesting and inviting presentation or social story for the student.  This is important because the more input the student is able to have in the social story, the more he/she will want to watch it.  The more the student watches the social story the quicker the chosen social behavior will be learned.

A bonus application that SlideSix offers is the ability to collaborate online with other users on a document from Googledocs.  In this application a group can collaborate on a presentation and have a discussion as they are doing it.  Each member has the ability to view and make changes to the document.  Each member can view and add text to the conversation as the changes to the document are being made.  I can see this application being highly important to marketers, students, businesses as well as educators.

You are able to create an account and give the application a free trial.  This tool is going to be valuable in my Action Research Project and in the EMDT program at Full Sail.

BP_Diigo Group

Hi Friends,
Here is a screenshot for my newly created Digital Social Story group on Diigo.

BP2_IGoogle Screen Shots

I have set up my IGoogle account as my homepage.  Although I have just started using IGoogle, I know that it will save a lot of time and energy.  It is a very effective organizational tool!

This is my home screen shot.

This is my FSO tab screen shot.

This is my Action Research screen shot.

This is the screen shot of the ETC tab.

BP1_Google Reader

http://www.google.com/reader/view/#overview-page

I have just started using Google Reader in the last couple of days and I can already see how important this tool is going to be!  It will allow me to organize and keep up with numerous blogs within a relatively short amount of time.

Here is a screen shot of my Google Reader

As you can see it makes it very easy to see who has updated their blog and to view the updates.  It also helps you keep up with professional blogs on important topics.  I have chosen five RSS Feeds to follow to help inform my Action Research Project and my teaching.  Google Reader will make keeping up with this important information quick and at my fingertips.

The RSS Professional Blogs that I have chosen to follow are;

• http://autismsocialstories.net/      This blog is designed to help children on the Autism Spectrum.  This is an important topic in my life because I have chosen it to be the focus of my Action Research Project.  I also have an eight year old son with Aspergers' and I see the need to infuse technology into the practice of social stories.

• http://web.mac.com/bernajeanporter/Site/Blogs/Blogs.html    This blog focusses on digital storytelling which is part of my Action Research Project.  I want to use digital storytelling to create social stories to use with students with special needs.

•  http://www.autismpolicyblog.com/    This blog looks at the different legal issues that crop up when raising a child with special needs, specifically Autism.  I think it is relevant to be aware of the laws that govern education and protection of these special children.

• http://buzz.blogger.com/
• http://feeds.technospot.net/technospot/tecnologywalksthewayoflife 

These blogs have the latest information on different technology, both hardware and software, that can enhance my teaching. Therefore, making it easier for me to reach my students.