Panoramic Pictures

This weekend I spent a gross amount of time trying to figure out how to make a 360 degree panoramic picture. Oh, I can make a panoramic picture, but the 360 loop is kicking my rearend!

What I learned about learning technology--everyone has a frustration level, just like in reading. Once you stray too far into that frustration level, the learner is going to shut down and probably get a bad attitude (I sure did!)

The reason for my difficulty was my own fault. My instructor provided excellent directions that I didn't follow real closely. I wanted ot use my own software and was just sure that I could do it. Guess what? I was WRONG! ha!

So I'm eating my humble pie right now and will go back to trying to figure out this assignment soon. I have to get past the block of "I can't do this" first!

PowerPoint Activity

I've just completed the PowerPoint quiz. Though I've been using PowerPoint for years, I had never used the hyperlink or action link features. I really thought that they would both only link me to the Web--I didn't realize PowerPoint could be used for a quiz! This reminded me a lot of HyperStudio, which I assume is probably an antiquated program by now since I never hear anyone mention it!

Since I recently got an LCD projector in my classroom, I'm already dreaming up ways of using this newly discovered feature in my classroom! Thanks!

Obviously my biggest challenge...

My biggest challenge is surely getting this blog done on time every week! Here I am, a day late AGAIN!

As I've said before, I'm working on learning many new applications. This week I did a project for another class with Adobe Photoshop. It was a little bit tedious, but very cool! We learned how to edit photographs using the cloning tool, magic wand, and other color tools. I managed to take a photo of the Old North Bridge while it was under repair, roped off in orange plastic netting, remove all signs of construction and make it look in pristine condition!

As for my students--they are in BLOG heaven! They love are loving the idea of blogging for class every week. And even though I've only offered extra credit to the top performers, I now have 15 students who are voluntarily participating on a regular basis! This week they are writing on the topic of "George Washington in 2006...what would he think of us now?" This blog thing is an excellent way to motivate techie kids! Thanks Ms. Kirkley!

Challenges

I've just submitted my Excel assignment for this class. I found the tutorial extremely helpful and really didn't know that MS had such extensive training resources available online! Awesome.

I did, however, hit a problem. I did most of the assignment weekend before last, but had to finish it up by adding one more book. I sat down tonight to complete that, and discovered I had forgotten how to add the drop down lists! I did figure it out again, but it took a while!

That to me is the difficult thing about technology. If you don't use it often, you WILL forget it. I've been trained on more software through work than I care to remember. I rarely use any of it, and so I forget what I've learned. That's the way it is with all learning though.

Tracy's Blog

Week 3

Okay...I'm late with my Blog! But I think I was a week ahead, so maybe Ms. Kirkley will forgive me! ;)

I may have reached the limit for brain accomodation of new technological information! ha! I worked through the Excel module last weekend. Excel seems like a very useful program and I'm actually seeing how it is that some teachers keep their grades on it! The formulas always threw me off, but with the aid of the training page I could do it. However, using the GradeQuick program provided by the county is so so easy that chances are I'll stick with that until someone makes me do things differently! I am going to try to use Excel for some data that I have to analyze for another class. I'll let you know how that goes!

As I may have mentioned before, I'm learning how to use Dreamweaver as well. I actually put together and published my own web site this week! That has been a blast and my students think is so cool that I can do that! (8th graders are easily impressed--I know the dates of all the wars AND I can publish a web site! ha!)

I chair the School Advisory Counsel for my school and I managed this week to convince them to purchase two more 'smart rooms' for our school. Slowly but surely our school will join the 21st century! I love mine and I hope with all the cool stuff that I'm learning this semester I might be able to do some training for other teachers. Our media specialist does know some things about technology, but her area of unsurpassable expertise is books. It will be fun to share some of what I've learned with other teachers soon.

That's about it for this week. Surely I've worked on more than Excel and Dreamweaver, but right now my brain is working at nothing more than a low hum and I can't remember anything else I did! :)