Blog that I commented this week 3

Popscreen.com

This is an amazing and relatively new web 2.0 tool that allows the user to bookmark online video, viral video and to be able to collect and share them across the web. KillerStartups.com gave this site a high rating as it is very interactive with other social networking sites. I chose this site because it probably isn't something that I would "go-to" as a first choice for a classroom of high school or college students, but I would go with it after they had learned other social networking technologies. I could also see used outside of the classroom between family and friends as they kept in touch with each other. Media has grown through the web and hand held devices to be a lot more about entertainment and a lot less about the news. Opinion pieces and editorials delivered through all media assets abound. And, why not? People are looking for a way to connect that isn't confrontational. It's best to keep it llight and therefore news and entertainment have gotten all mixed up. Popscreen appeals to this type of user, but as stated, I think it could be used for more serious purposes other than "have you see the latest?" It is after all in the final analysis a cultural commentary of our times, our tastes and ideals. I would use it primarily as a bookmarking service as students would be able to collect videos and use them for class projects through screensaver and other tools. I think it would be a worthwhile bookmarking service to subscribe and it's free!
Below is a screenshot of the website.

BP13_2009103_ReflectiveAsset2

BP12_2009103_Web2.0_Zotero

Zotero is an excellent tool that can outcome with great benefits for students. Is a free and easy to use application that is designed to work as an extension for the Firefox browser. This option can allow students to access, college and manage information. In addition, students and users can use this application to cite research sources. Zoho is a cross platform tool. With this, students can access information that they store in a computer and work it in other computer with a different operating system. The time of using external hard drives or portable discs to share information within computers is being in some situations substituted for new options like Zotero. This web 2.0 tools are accessible and very beneficial since the cite application can serve as a review of citation formats. As much of the web 2.0 tools, zotero can also be access from different computers and can outcome as an advantageous application for students.

This is a video that briefly explain Zotero's concepts and it benefits.

BP11_2009103_Web2.0_Zoho

Image Representing www.zoho.com

Zoho is an ideal web 2.0 tool. The great options to have everything organized for group or individual projects, documents, presentations, file sharing, meetings, discussions, chats and planning are available in this tool. Sometimes being structured and organized become really hard when we need so many applications to do the work and stay in track of every assignment and due dates. I will promote the use of Zoho since provide the options all in one tool. This application provides also an email. For business purpose, Zoho counts with other applications related to the business industry. It is a manageable site with free options for students and instructors. There is no need to install basic software’s and can be accessed from every computer.

BP10_2009103_Web2.0_Evernote

While looking through the web for 2.0 tools that can work in a classroom for instructors and teachers, Evernote appeared to be a good option. After the sign in process, downloading the application and playing with this tool, I found that Evernote can definitely be considered as a tool to be used in a future for me and students. With this application you can capture text, audio, web and video clips. Also, you can retrieve the information whenever you need it or wherever you go. It can be accessed from any computer or inclusively for mobile devices. The program can be installed in your computer and work with various operating systems. You can write the note, save it or share it, or you can copy and paste images to the note. The program also makes screen captures for a basic selection or full screen. This tool can benefit students since they do not need to have everything is post it notes and did not have the risk to loose valuable information.

Image from Evernote site

BP9_2009103_Flickr

After having the interaction with flickr, a web 2.0 tool, part of the findings for this program in education is that provide the option to communicate and facilitate image searching through the web. Flickr can be considered as an archive center. The great benefit is that users can upload pictures or videos from a computer or a mobile phone. Also, adding a brief description and tagging the image to associated concepts to assist in the search process. With this option users can type keywords to find the most related matches.

This Web 2.0 tool provides teachers the benefit to implement this method as a research option. Students that usually need to buy magazines or books with picture to find images for their classes and assignments can use Flickr as an alternative way to find the image that is related with their topics. For example, in a History class students need to find pictures of historic places in a specific town, and they can use this program to find those pictures using keywords to find the tags. Also, students from an architecture class can demonstrate examples of buildings in different parts of the world.

An option to use Flickr in a future classroom is having this tool as an expression or exhibition center. My principal interest is audiovisual projects. Flickr can serve as a portfolio for photography students or production students since this program also allow the option of video upload.

• Example of an image added by me in flickr: In this picture my niece is next to one of the most important walls constructed by Spanish people when they were in possession of Puerto Rico island back in the 1500's. (This also can serve as one of the example mentioned before for architecture or history students)

Blogged that I commented on:

BP6_2009102 Web 2.0 Tools – FreeScreenCasts.com

The first tool I reviewed, TypingWeb, was something I could use easily with little implementation overhead, and could be used immediately. The second tool I evaluated was FreeScreenCast from freescreencast.com.

This tool is both a web sharing service, like many that are available, but also is a software solution to interface and provide an easy method of sharing recorded screen casts both to students and individuals that may benefit from the screen cast.

Before I go into more details, I have to point out that this service is only for the Windows operating system at this time. The software that must be downloaded to provide both screen captures and the ability to upload will only run on Windows PC’s.That being said, this is still a very useful Web 2.0 tool.

The software works similar to most screen recording applications, in that you can choose the specific window to record, or record the entire screen. While recording, an attached microphone will allow audio captures to accompany the video of what is occurring on screen.

Once recording has been completed, you may save your recording to your local hard drive, and also upload the video to the freescreencast.com site. Before uploading, a descriptive title is attached to the file, and once uploaded, the uploaded FLV (Flash video) file is displayed on the freescreencast.com web page with the needed HTML code and URL needed to either bookmark for later viewing and sharing, or the code may be embedded in web pages or blog sites for embedded viewing of the movie.

A search, not available at this time, if it were available on the main web site would make finding videos specific to any subject area much easier. The library is not very massive at this time, but the site seems to be well laid out and easy to access and will certainly grow as the number of users increases.

The video below is an example of embedded video directly from the site.