Explain Everything for iPad vs Snag it

It's been a few weeks since my last post on Audioboo and I have to say it's not been easy with a full time job, tutoring from home on 2 online courses and doing all the other bits and bobs I always get involved! It's all under control and it seems like I work and perform better when under pressure! 

Anyways, this blog entry is about Explain Everything, the Apple equivalent of Techsmith's Jing (Jing Pro has retired!) and the updated verion of Snagit . I recently inherited an iPad and so I decided to start using it as much as possible in as many ways as possible in equivalent manner to my desktop, tablet, notebook and laptop! Now, one of the aids I enjoy creating to support my teaching and my own learning too is screencasts. 

I started using Jing and immediately fell in love with it, but soon realised I needed another tool which would allow for more versatility and which offered more features. Jing Pro is great but has now retired and I still wanted more so I explored the free trial version of Snagit and we're now madly in love! :-) Also engineered by TechSmith and knowing the quality of Jing, I didn't hesitate one single minute before buying it. The more I use it and the more I like it to be honest. Now, going back to my inherited iPad (one! :-) I've started trying to find Apple equivalents to different software and so I found out from a colleague a couple of months ago that Explain Everything does pretty much the same. I've created a couple of screencasts for my students and and trainees and I think it's also a valid tool. I must confess that I'm still exploring it and that I think it's a little slower than Snagit, but that may definitely be because of my new 'old' iPad so I must be honest and give it the benefit of the doubt. In short, I still find Snagit a lot easier to use, but this may also be due to the fact that I've been using it longer. For the time being, I'll continue to use both and see if my opinions change somehow. I'll report back in a few weeks on my explorations!

AudioBoo - Me Like It!

OK, since this post is about AudioBooo and the idea is that of using audio, then please listen to ‘AudioBoo - me like it!’ on Audioboo to find out what I think :-)

Robert

Scoop.it or Blog.it?

As usual, it's been almost a month since my last post, but as you know I only add entries whenver I find something useful or a tool which I have tried or come across that I think I need to actually record it somehow. Sooo, here we go. I saw a nice video about Scoop.it and it made me think about what would be best - blogging or Scoopit-ing :-)? Well, I agree with the points made in the short video hotlinked in the previous line, but at the same time I also like blogging. I think you should try it out and then see which one suits you best. A really good tool to curate content and provide your ss/trainees/followers with clear samples of media available on your topic so all good stuff. Blogging on the other hand, I think it's a little slower as you usually blog about one or a few more tools at the same time, especially if you're comparing them. Anyways, some food for thought so here we go! Make your choice!

Robert

Voki - quick voice msgs for your learners

Hello Everybody,

 

 

I'm re-visiting a very nice tool which can be used in the classroom in a number of ways to share voice messages by adding an extra personal and creative touch through an avatar of your own creation. I've just started the first CertICT course of 2013 and as an Assistant Tutor on this one, I'm adding this one here as an example to introduce week 2 of the course. 

Of course there are lots of ways to help your learners work on and develop their linguistic skills.  They can record the intended msg by either typing it up, uploading their own voice recording, etc. And for you as a teacher it would also be a nice way of giving feedback just to mention one possibility!

 

Here's a link to the site and as an educator you have special deals and features too! Voki

Enjoy!

 

Robert

 

Snagit? Yes, you must have it!

Hello and Happy New Year!

I want to start my blogging in 2013 with an awesome application which is not free BUT if you're in education you can get a huge discount and believe me, it's worth buying it. I'm in TESOL  (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and teacher training and as an educator I love integrating technology into my teaching to enhance motivation, engagement and add variety to the lessons. I also like to prepare my own materials and in doing so I've been using Jing (also by Techsmith) for years. It's an excellent free tool to manipulate images and short videos. I've also used EzVid which is totally free but it's a little limiting as you need to record your screen and then add the audio so you can't record a screencast in one go, at least I couldn't - and beileve me I tried and watched the tutorials on Youtube. There are other similar free image editors on the web and they're ok, but if you really need the extra features to add that extra professional touch to them, then you need to buy one.

Anyways, I've been creating more and more Podcasts, Vodcasts and Screencasts lately and so I decided to go ahead and try Snagit since I already know Jing which is produced by them too. I'm still in my trial period (30 days) but I'll buy it as soon as it expires as there are lots of things you can do with it to manipulate images, text and video. The new version Snagit 11 is also great and there are plenty of resources and tutorials available so they've made it easy for you.  I also like the fact that they suppport education and that their tools can really make a difference in today's classroom.  Anyways, here's the link to the site and enjoy! Snagit

 

Robert

PhD TESOL - to be or not to be?

Hello,

A lot has happened since my last post, so here's a brief summary: I finished my MA TESOL and got Merit! :-), I've been appointed Cambridge ESOL presenter, invited to collaborate as an Online Teacher Trainer with TheConsultants-e.com and decided to continue with my studies into a PhD TESOL! Yes, it's been a busy time and so this is why I haven't posted in the last 5 weeks!

Anyways, this post is on my PhD in TESOL studies because I will be investigating the effects of transmedia literacy on CELTA trainees. The term itself is not new, after all what's new under the sky? However, the idea for my PhD revolves around the how all the technology that I use prior and during course affects (positively or negatively) trainee teachers.  The feedback received has so far been very positive, but researching this topic in detail may help bring up new insights into this field, so I'm really excited about it. 

Bye for now,

Robert

Present me! :-)

I came across this very functional tool recently and I love it. It's easy to use and a wonderful way of talking to your clients, students, etc.whenever you cannot meet them face to face or online. It's like Camtasia, IMHO, with the added value that you can be recorded while you make your presentation thus adding a bit of a personal touch!? You can get a free account, but from what I understand you wound't be able to have many presentations up unless you get a plan :-(. They also use the same referral system Dropbox uses so there is a chance of getting more 'storage' e.g. presentation space.  All the same, I think the fact that you can add yourself to the presentation reduces the distance and detached feeling one may get if only listening to the presentation. If you want to try it out here's the link: http://present.me/

Robert :-)