Author Archives: Mark Glynn
Mind Maps
A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea. They are used to generate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas, and as an aid to studyingand organizing information, solving problems, making decisions, and writing.
Mind maps can be used for:
- problem solving
- outline/framework design
- structure/relationship representations
- condensing material into a concise and memorable format
Mind-map tools that I have found useful are mind42.com, Spicynodes, Bubbl.us, SpiderScribe, Slatebox and mindmaple. Mind 42 is great for collaboration as its a web based application that doesn’t require your students to download any software and version control is not an issue. Another great web based application that can be used for mind maps is Prezi. MindMaple is a piece of software that is installed on your computer as opposed to being web based but it does offer considerably more functionality in terms of project management
Related articles
- Mind Map Your Ideas Easier with MindMaple (prweb.com)
- mind mapping (novia142.wordpress.com)
Making online quizzes using Moodle
Frequent in-class quizzes have been associated with positive learning outcomes including increased student achievement, attendance, and confidence (Ruscio, 2001; Wilder, Flood, & Stomsnes, 2001). Frequent quizzing reportedly maintains student study effort and promotes course engagement (Smith et al., 2000; Sporer, 2001). In general students rate the quizzes favorably and believe they are helpful in preparing for in-class examinations. Practice tests help students evaluate their learning and focus study effort accordingly (Maki, 1998).
Blogging through WordPress
WordPress is a fabulous facility that allows any member of the public to create their own blog / website. A blog is a personal journal published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete entries (“posts”) Blog can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog. There are a selection of tools available to help you with your blog; the most common of which is “WordPress”.
There are two different sites – WordPress.com and WordPress.org
WordPress.org is the website where the free WordPress software can be downloaded. For no charge, WordPress.org provides downloadable blog software, community mailing lists, community support forums, documentation, and free themes and plugins.
WordPress.com is different. You do not have to download software, pay for hosting or manage a web server. When you sign up for a WordPress.com blog, you will get a URL like “andy.wordpress.com” or you can map a domain so your blog is available at “example.com” without the “.wordpress.com” portion. You do not control the software or the database; FTP and shell access are not included. As a result most first time bloggers opt for wordpress.com. For more information on the differences between wordpress.com and wordpress.org please click the link below
http://en.support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/
The selection of video tutorials below are taken from YouTube and will help you to set up your own blog through WordPress.com. Click on the small box in the bottom left of the youtube screen to get the full list of youtube tutorials available through this list
I also have collated a series of links related to blogs and they are available through http://www.diigo.com/user/markglynn/blogs
Social Bookmarking for Librarians
Social Bookmarking for Librarians
Enhancing the learner experience, using librarian facilities even when they are not open, is a goal of every college library
Steering Clear of Cyber Tricks on the internet
CareerTech provide tips, ideas and help with web 2 technologies. They have made a great post highlighting simple videos from the YouTube team giving advice for children (and adults) on how to use the internet wisely and safely.
TVs did not destroy Cinemas, e-books will not destroy paper based books
When TV’s were first introduced, people speculated that this will be the end of cinema. In actual fact there are more cinemas now in Dublin than ever before. A fact that will more than likely apply to most capital cities in Europe . So why do people think e-books will remove the need for paper versions of books. While I’m disappointed by Apples recent announcement on e-books – I’m not surprised. But e-books are the way of the future for education. We just need to find the best way to get them into our classroom to enhance the learning experience of our students. The challenge that I would put to teachers is e-publishing has became so much easier in recent times – so create your own book. The benefits will be immense – once you get see your first book finished you will get the bug and want to produce more and more.
Energize your e-learning courses
Energize your e-learning courses with Engage—a quick and easy tool that lets you create lean-forward experiences that learners love. The ability to produce dazzling interactions that turn passive viewers into active learners makes. Click here for the main features of presenter 09
Here is one I prepared earlier
How to…. guide – for making quizzes through Articulate quizmaker
This section gives instructional short video clip instructions on how to compelte various taks using Articulate Quizmaker
Getting Started
How do I create a question with customised feedback?
How do I create quiz with random questions taken from a database of questions?
How to insert my quizmaker quiz into my LMS?
How do I insert hints into my quizmaker questions
Overview of Form View vs. Slide View
How do I set up branching in Articulate Quizmaker
Three things you should know about scoring in Articulate Quizmaker
How do I turn on/off quiz results, or customize my results slides, in Articulate Quizmaker
More advanced features
How do I format my text of my questions
How do I bring in pictures and other media bit by bit – part one – animations
How do I bring in pictures and other media bit by time – part two – timeline
How to use images instead of text in your multiple choice questions
How to use multi “hotposts” within a image in a question
How do synchronize closed captioning and call out graphics with video in Quizmaker
Video-based quizzes in Quizmaker & using Sequence Drop Down for Mad Libs style learning activities
There is also an on-line forum made up from Articulate users throughout the world. It is well worth a visit
Technology Enhanced Learning 