Having FUN with Images in blogs!

As I am a very visual person, and according to Tony Ryan [see previous post] we should use more images in education, I have opted for posting about creative use of images in blog posts.

Frequently we use our own images for our blog posts as I think these are more powerful and I love the ch'n having 'ownership' over their writing and creative imaging also. I teach my class about photography early on in the year - rule of thirds, light, colour, line, texture etc

So how do I display my images in a creative way?
Well I am glad you asked.
There are hundreds of different displayer apps on the web.
Here is a selection of our favourites:

1.  Flickr [costs yearly fee to be unlimted] we use the free 200 shots version. Also heaps of extras for Flickr images can be found here - many Flickr images can be used with no copy right issues. I generally tell my class to leave a positive comment on the image for the photographer if we have used their photo as a courtesy. Spell with Flickr [great for headers] ★★★★★

2. Capzles - a funky photo displayer, free to use, comment moderation, story and spiral display options, add music etc examples here ★★★★

3. Animoto - easy to use, limited images allowed on free account, apply for education account gives longer movies options, often duplicates the movies ★★★

4. Picture trail - slightly more complex to use, but huge variety of options for shapes and action to your images example here  ★★★★

5. Fotobabble - add images easily and use internal or external microphones to speak over the image selections, excellent for ESOL students and low end readers and reading task, easy to use with little support needed example here ★★★★★

6.  Vuvox - create slideshows from your images, free to use, example here ★★★

7. Blabberize - awesome fun for ch'n - use any person or animal image, draw mouths, record sound and watch it cartoon talk - free to use  ★★★★★

8. Photovisi - collaging for your images, mass of choices, ch'n love it ★★★★

9.  Kizoa - presentation and slideshow presenter with images, slow loader ★★★

10. Voicethread - my favourite and easy for others to comment - share your images and add voiceovers - great for collaborations as others can comment verbally also but comments can be moderated - easy to use, images can also be drawn on without destroying image by individuals. Educators account gives unlimited free voicethreads. Also massive library to search from.   examples ★★★★★

11. Photofunia -  add your image to many backgrounds, including billboards, Warhol patterns, buses etc example used as image for illustrating this post ★★★★★

12. Photopeach - creative display of photos in movie style, add own or selected music, free, easy to use, example here  ★★★★

This is obviously just a wee selection of the fun that can be had using images to enhance your blog posts - let me know of any other funky tried and tested ones you have used.

Have fun with Images!

Tony Ryan - Inspirationals for Term 1....Zest practice

Today we had one of our teacher only days shared with Northcote Primary @Learning Network with Tony Ryan.

Tony Ryan is an inspirational speaker in all contexts....amusing, challenging, inspiring and has a zest for life which he shares through many images. He is easy to listen to and often inspires thoughts as the day goes on [ignore the fact that he is an Ozzie] he is open and forthright and I love his conferences/sessions.

A day of inspirations and conversations with others....so where to now?
My goals after Tony:

1. Get a support person on staff to keep me positive even when the proverbial hits the fan!
2. Continue/start/action my goal from early Jan - photo of the day blog with my class  
3. Check out Fun Theory - see what the children think, challenge their thinking with the grid e.g see the one to the left - combine
4. Use some idioms to have some 'fun' during the day
5. Try and laugh more often [when I feel down...stick a smile on] how? Tony says bite a pen between your teeth and make sure your lips don't touch the pen - try it!
6. Teach my class about Google Wonder Wheel - awesome search part of google...who knew it was even there? [Well Tony did!]. On a search in google the Wonder wheel option can be found down the left had sidebar - more visual for ch'n to gather and fine tune their research skills. Each click  from each wheel brings up a refined search. AWESOME! [see above]
7. Use brain exercising every day for 10 mins with the children - thinking matrix [as above], thinkers keys activities, sudokhu, word game, see saw thinking 
8. Para-phrasing practice and ch'n talking [in pairs more often] use the Dilema as starters
9. Challenge their thinking...challenge your own....Save the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus
10. Check out....1000 awesome things [again  and see the beauty in every day stuff]
11. Open my Genuis/Geek bar [not just for ICT] - get ch'n posting Questions they want answers to/problems to sort and get other child experts to help them and support them
12. Continue my Facebook lunchtime support group
13. Look at Prezi.com 
14. Use Cool Iris more often - have a photo up everyday for them to see on arriving in class [quick pair discussion after roll]
15. Don't take life so seriously - chill a bit and do stuff for ME!!! Coz I am worth it!

Yes many ideas brewing and buzzing away...now I feel a bit more 'let me attem'
Thanks Tony for the 'Think Different' day!

TedxAkld 2010

An inspiring day out with fellow colleagues - inspired by the stories of some amazing creative minds.

By far the most inspiring was the Team OneBeep fellows - whose vision is to supply laptops to the world. Specifically third world children with the use of a laptop and radio waves to transfer data and files. An outstanding concept from four undergraduates who are defiantly destined to go far. mega links here to see and catch-up with these inspiring fellows.

Highly amused by Ken Ring - an amazing predictor, weatherman and magician. Cleverly uses humour and magic to astound you and capture your attention. Amazing ability to predict the future - knew the ChCh earthquake was coming some 12 months before it happened. http://predictweather.com

Also got inspired by the photographers/film makers - Plum Jungle - a beautiful coffee table book of photographs in Hyde Park Sydney, and then taken on the road for Australia day and filmed with music.