August Reflection

Just in case you missed some of the things I did, during August 2013, you may want to read/take a look/listen...

• to the five podcasts I posted at http://snack.to/a7x9enmp or
  downloadable as mp3s.
  They may be of particular interest to learning providers who are...
  - setting up new teams;
  - considering using iPads in their learning environments;
  - looking at deploying iPads in learning environments;
  - want some heads-up suggestions on must have accessories; and/or
  - looking to save money by considering Chromebooks in the learning environment.
  Remember: you can provide feedback, ask questions, add your experiences.

• the three eMagazines (Interactive at http://www.flipsnack.com/ACLjohn/) or
  downloadable as pdfs. 

• the blog post, resulting from experimenting with VCRec at http://acljohn.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/just-testing.html.
  Note: this tool is a must for those of you looking at producing resources for...
  - Flipped Learning Environments;
  - Flipped CPD;
  ... and much more.
  Probably the easiest way to convert existing PowerPoint presentations into video clips.
• the finds, curations, during August, that probably saves me the most time and money, was Clipping Magic at http://clippingmagic.com/. A must for those in media, photography and more.
  Note: other curations I've posted during August can be found at ; remember, these curations can be filtered by Tag.

I've also been working with Anita, on our updated Moodle - Work in Progress - so feel free to take a peek at http://moodle.rsc-northwest.ac.uk/; feel free to let us know what you think so far. Constructive comments please!

Just testing!

Well that isn't quite true.

What do you mean John?
Well this is a second effort at trying out this free software.

So what software is that?
VCRec.
Find out more at http://www.vcrec.com/.

It's a long story but having found & downloaded the recorder, I had to experiment. The end result...

Warning:- I'm impressed at how simple it was to use the recording tool,and add the text, image etc., so you could well be seeing some more.

So you can't use the interactive version of the eMagazine!

Two things!

1. The latest edition of my eMagazine is out (23rd this year - 3rd this month); and
2. You can view flash objects on your iPad (including the interactive version of the eMagazine)

A number of you will be more interested in Item 2 so, rather than you scanning to the bottom of this post, I'll cover that first.

There are a number of Browsers that will allow iPad users to view and use flash objects but, from those I've tried, the one I use is Photon Browser. There is a cost to adding the Photon App to an iPad but the advantages it brings make, in my opinion

Photon is a full-fledged browser with all of the added features one would expect in a web browser, including tabbed web pages, full screen browsing, private browsing, anonymous browsing, bookmarks and the ability to print.


The Photon Browser also optimizes certain features for Flash, such as the ability to split the screen for Flash video playback and an easy rotation lock for playing Flash games.

Now for Item 1...
The latest eMagazine can be accessed and/or downloaded and/or viewed interactively at...
http://www.acljohn.com/emagazine.php 

It would be nice to get some feedback, either at the end of this blog post or on the feedback form at the bottom of the page using the link above.

Practitioner CPD - 3M's

For many of the Learning Providers I support, getting practitioners together for CPD isn't easy; in fact, because of their wide range of skills and/or interests, experience etc., it probably isn't always appropriate. 

When it comes to CPD, quality matters. 

Many are looking at "Flipped Models" for delivering their CPD and as a result Staff development professionals are not only tasked with creating useful, relevant, and meaningful content, but they're also responsible for addressing practitioner motivation and making sure the learning experience has a lasting impact.

The link below is to a post looking at using the 3 M’s (taught by Michael W. Allen) to increase the chances of success. 

It equally applies to resources being produced by practitioners for "flipped learning environments".

Read the full post at...
http://info.shiftelearning.com/blog/bid/305719/The-3-Big-M-s-of-Successful-eLearning-Courses

How many of you are using or considering using "flipped models"?

Why no feedback?

One of the most important parts of producing resources, blog posts,videoclips, helloslides etc., are the comment / rating sections at the end.

As an eLearning Adviser, I highly appreciate the comments and even constructive criticism that is offered in the comment sections.

But where is it?

I get lots when we meet face to face but little else. To be fair, there is an exception, I've lots of feedback on one of my Functional Skills video clips -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL3PtlxYkZ4  
...and the eMagazine was mentioned in the Customer Satisfaction Survey carried out by my employers.

You are are a highly educated bunch, with strong opinion and I'd love more feedback about the content and/or any impact it has on your current practice. 

So please feel free to add your insightful and thoughtful feedback. 

That said, I look forward to reading more comments and/or ratings at the endof posts like this.

Yes it's number 22!

It's also available for a weekend read. 

To be fair, you probably won't want to waste the sunshine at the weekend. As always I hope there is something there for all of you.

Do feel free to share it with others. It can be accessed...

• at http://www.acljohn.com/emagazine.php 
• as a pdf at  http://www.acljohn.com/resources/July_2013%27s_eMagazine_Issue_22.pdf 
• as an interactive flipsnack version at http://www.flipsnack.com/ACLjohn/f7cfdas5 

Other Flipsnacks you may have missed, including the "Art Finds", are available at...
http://www.flipsnack.com/ACLjohn/

P.S. How about providing me with some feedback? Star rating is an option I've added.

Is this the first step of a very long journey?

As I hope you are already aware, I try to share things that I find with as wide an audience as possible. 

Those "things" include anything that could enhance current practice within education.
The trouble is, the more I share the harder it is for me, and I guess you, to locate specific items.

My strategy, yes I have one, puts the emphasis on producing valuable, useful, and interesting content.
The primary objective, of the content I share, is to meet the needs of users; practitioners, learners, administrators, managers, assessors and other stakeholders.

Scoop.It! and Mindmeister to the rescue.

 

Scoop.It!: allows me to curate content that can be filtered by Tags. This helps visitors, and me, to focus on specific curriculum areas, tools, portals etc. Take a look at http://www.scoop.it/t/technologies.

Mindmeister:  on the other hand, I use to "create" publications; see below...

What has this to do with the "First Step"?
Well I've started to pull together, one "area"/step at a time, curations already posted, into one document. 
I'm using Mindmeister to do this and the end products will be made available upon completion.

Yesterday I posted the "First Step"!
It pulls together my "Art Finds" - take a look at http://www.acljohn.com/art.php. There is a pdf version and an Interactive version, created using Flipsnack.

Do feel free to share with colleagues, especially those working with Art learners.
P.S. Note I've added Star ratings for posts. It would be nice to have some feedback on this and/or other posts.

21st eMagazine for 2013

Not sure why, but I forgot to let readers know that the latest eMagazine had been posted on 1st July 2013.
The pdf can be accessed at http://www.acljohn.com/resources/July_2013%27s_eMagazine_Issue_21.pdf.

Hope you have time to read it before the next one is published.

3 New Live Binders

Just a quick update about three new Live Binders, produced to curate resources for three workshops last week.

1. Apps4Education - A plethora of educational apps are flooding the market.which apps stand out from the crowd? Why? How are they used? Is the time ripe for practitioners to take advantage of these teaching tools? 
2. Enhancing Current Practice: #1 - Using ILT (Information & Learning Technology) to enhance current practice and
3. PowerPoint Surgery - Enhancing the use of PowerPoint for Teaching & Learning 

These Live Binders, and others produced by myself, are available to anyone who is interested. They can be found at...

http://www.acljohn.com/live-binders.php.

These Live Binders will be added to, and/or reviewed/updated, at regular intervals.

As always I hope there is something there for everyone.
A big Thank you to Myerscough for your hospitality and encouraging feedback.

The Exhibitors Room

Issue: 20 June's 3rd plus other resources

The latest eMagazine is available for you to download and/or read online.

Visit http://www.acljohn.com/emagazine.php or http://www.flipsnack.com/ACLjohn/fhi2vali for a fully interactive experience.
Archives are available at http://www.acljohn.com/emag-archive.php.
I've also added the helloslide produced at yesterday's Annual Event; available at http://www.helloslide.com/presentations/25mmrmqmqq/play-youtube-videos-without-distractive-features and the two Live Binders that I used in the workshops...

• Enhancing the Learning Experience at http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=923766 and
• A 21st Century Practitioner should be able to... at http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=923942.

I've also created a CPD YouTube clip from the same PowerPoint as the Helloslide above. this can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=RgIIARrrQzw.
I hope there is something there for everyone.

Issue 19 of my eMagazine is now available

...take a look,and/or share it with colleagues.
Visit http://www.flipsnack.com/ACLjohn/f7p8w5mp.
or use this embedded widget...

pdf versions can be downloaded on my website at http://www.acljohn.com/emagazine.php.
Archives can be found at http://www.acljohn.com/emag-archive.php.
As always I hope you find something of interest to you!

A lot has happened since my last post.

I've had a break, with my wife, in the USA visiting the USA Branch of the Dalziel Clan. 
During the stay I posted Issue 18 of the ACLjohn's eMagazine. The first to be published from California; well to be honest, the first to be published outside the UK.

Today, the 12th June 2013, I've been evaluating flipsnack.
I've tried interactive versions of the eMagazine in the past but, always sad because the hyperlinks failed to work in the way I hoped they would.

...to the rescue, well hope so! It depends upon what you think.
Take a look at...

http://www.flipsnack.com/ACLjohn/f7klg5mp

or use the embedded example below...

Let me know what you think, please.
As usual,you can access the latest 2013's eMagazines on my website at...

http://www.acljohn.com/emagazine.php 

and the archives at...

http://www.acljohn.com/emag-archive.php

Last post for May 2013

Issue 17 of my eMagazine is now available on my website.

3rd eMagazine for May 2013

Take a closer look at...

http://www.acljohn.com/resources/May_2013%27s_eMagazine_Issue_17.pdf 

Take a look at earlier publications at...

http://www.acljohn.com/emag-archive.php

Booked your place yet?

Watch live streaming video from locus at livestream.com

More information at...
http://jiscevents.force.com/E/EventsDetailPage?id=a06U000000BjdtOIAR&srvc=JISC%20RSC%20North%20West 
Booking at...

TO BOOK CLICK HERE

Learners - "Upload course PDFs and/or ePUBs to Google Play Books"

Google have announced a great update to Google Play Books. 

Practitioners and learners can now upload their own PDFs and EPUB files to Google Play Books. 

Why is this so great?

Well...

• upload files and they can be read on an iPad or Android device with the Google Play Books app. 
• when files are uploaded users will be able to bookmark, highlight, and use the dictionary tools just like they can with any other book in the Google Books app. 

Learners can use the new upload option to add study guides and notes to Google Play Books to take them anywhere in a digital format. 
Yet another reason to provide resources to learners as pdfs. 

How do you do it?

Click on an image to open slideshow (larger images)

Step: 1

Step: 2

Step: 3

Purchases still accessed in their own window.

P.S. If you're looking for a tool to create EPUB documents, take a look at dotEPUB.

Issue 16 of ACLjohn's eMagazine published

Available Now (16/05/2013)

Download, and/or view online at...

http://www.acljohn.com/emagazine.php

Also available in the eMagazine archives at...

 http://www.acljohn.com/emag-archive.php

NOTE: This publication will only be available at the first link until the next update.

Please provide some feedback using the form near the bottom of the page at... http://www.acljohn.com/emagazine.php 

Created to produce a How-To - also included

In the process of producing a clip on "Converting PowerPoint to Video for Free" I produced this clip.

You can also access it at...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EvCYBwlGnk

An the clip that  I was producing is this one...

You can access it at...

http://youtu.be/lvSduv376Es 

As always, feel free to share and/or embed in VLEs, Blogs etc.

Enhance your presentations...

...when using PowerPoint.

Watch video on YouTube at...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDUOC8csXMQ 

or the embedded clip below.

I'll be providing a clip on "Converting PowerPoint to Video for Free" in the near future - watch this space.

15th eMagazine for 2013 now available

Now available

I've published the first eMagazine for May - the 15th for 2013. It can be viewed, along with archived eMags, at http://www.acljohn.com/emag-archive.php or directly online at http://www.acljohn.com/resources/May_2013%27s_eMagazine_Issue_15.pdf.
Section 3.4 links to CPD resources that all learning providers are free to use.

Chirbit - Digital skills practitioners need - ACLjohn - share audio easily

Chirbit - Digital skills practitioners need - ACLjohn - share audio easily

Click the link above to listen to the audio.
An example essential digital skill is...
Practitioners should be able to: Create and edit  digital audio
This could include...

• Converting files to different formats;
• Converting text into audio files; 
• Recording audios

and much more. 
I'll be including links to various web-based tools, apps etc.
Any ideas?

Thank you for listening I look forward to your list of essential skills.

GMAIL - Keyboard Shortcuts...

Here's a nice infographic that, with some practice, will save you time; be more productive!

There is a temptation to make this more compact :-)

Last eMagazine for April - May's is already in production.

The final post for April has been posted over the weekend...

As always I hope you find some of the content useful.
Please provide some constructive feedback, and/or any ideas for conten,presentations etc.
You can find the 14th eMagazine for 2013 at...

http://www.acljohn.com/resources/April_2013%27s_eMagazine_Issue_14.pdf 

Watch this space for issue 15.

Unlucky for some

Yes the thirteenth issue of my eMagazine has been published today (20th April); it's the third this month

Third for April 2013

As always, I hope you find something that is useful to you or your colleagues; please feel free to share this and other publications.
View it on-line at http://www.acljohn.com/resources/April_2013%27s_eMagazine_Issue_13.pdf.
Archives are available at...
http://www.acljohn.com/emag-archive.php where the pdfs can be downloaded.

BYOD

Thought it was time to revisit WIDEO and, rather than just "playing" I thought I'd produce something that you may find useful.
Take a look at...
 http://www.wideo.co/view/110811366203485298 
or watch it on this embedded version.

The Regional Support Centre - Northwest will be doing an event on this soon so perhaps a little investigation/thought about BYOD may inspire you to engage with their event.
Details have already been posted at...
http://jiscevents.force.com/E/EventsDetailPage?id=a06U000000CU5XWIA1&srvc=JISC%20RSC%20North%20West and booking is at the bottom of the page that opens.
A good starting point, and the one that inspired this wideo, is the publication posted by Microsoft. Read their Blog Post and/or download the informative pdf at...
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ukfe/archive/2013/04/16/byod-in-education-what-is-bring-your-own-device.aspx.
I still need to look at adding background audio and a few other elements but, let me know what you think of the wideo.

Embed Part of a YouTube Video

My latest effort is embedded below and via this link...
http://www.helloslide.com/presentations/sz4hoj3ses/embed-part-of-a-youtube-video 

Using this presentation practitioners and learners can easily, for free, embed just a part of YouTube video with time stamp for start and end. 
This helps to trim the YouTube video and the viewer will concentrate only on a certain portion of the video. 
Hopefully, you will find this useful.

Welcome to the University of Suli Breaks.

I look at a large number of RSS links daily, some of which include video clips. 
I start looking at many of them and, in some cases, watch the whole clip.
However, it isn't often that I, not only watch the clip but also look for others. 
It's even less likely that I then spend some time looking at these additional clips.
Well today was one of those days. 

The clips?

• I Will Not Let An Exam Result Decide My Fate

Lyrics available at http://universityofsulibreaks.tumblr.com/post/47944196535/iwillnotletanexamresultdecidemyfate

...and...

• Why I Hate School But Love Education

Note: I can quite see how Suli Breaks, has been hailed by many as one of the greatest poets to have graced the mic in Britain. He's also currently considered one of the best performers within the UK, with his lyrical content unsurpassed by any.

"In all walks of life, I feel that it is important to listen to others, question what we do and reflect/review current practice."

By doing just that, we can adapt, plan, and bring about changes that will enhance current practice.
What do you think?

2013's Issue 12 Now available...

Catch up with past issues at http://www.acljohn.com/emag-archive.php

The latest issue of my eMagazine is now available...

• to download at http://www.acljohn.com/emagazine.php or
• to view it online at http://www.acljohn.com/resources/April_2013%27s_eMagazine_Issue_12.pdf 

This issue also includes 3 Walks: One in Scotland and two here in the Northwest of England, UK.
I hope you find something of interest.

Shared Google Drive Folders To Distribute Assignments etc., to Learners

This presentation goes through the steps needed to create Shared Google Drive Folders.
This will allow practitioners to share files, videos and much more with their learners.
Ideal for Work-Based Learners and/or those who are unable to attend face-to-face sessions.

24/7 access, any time, any place, anywhere.

Also available via this link…
http://www.helloslide.com/presentations/w2cb5qk4g3/shared-google-drive-folders

April's 1st eMagazine Published

http://www.acljohn.com/emag-archive.php for Archive

View the latest publication online at…
http://www.acljohn.com/resources/April_2013%27s_eMagazine_Issue_11.pdf 
Please…

• Feel free to share with others and
• provide some constructive feedback/sugestions

I hope you find something of interest for you and/or your colleagues

CPD: Adding Check Boxes 2 Word

This Helloslide presentation is designed to help Microsoft users add check boxes, to their Word documents.

Latest Helloslide Presentation

Watch and listen to the presentation at...
http://www.helloslide.com/presentations/a6mzo83eb0/adding-check-boxes-2-word 

Easter Reading

My latest eMagazine is now available.
Visit http://www.acljohn.com/resources/March_2013%27s_eMagazine_Issue_10.pdf.

Do let me know what you think and/or what you would like information about.
Have a good Easter Break.

2nd eMagazine now available

Just a quick update, my latest eMagazine was published yesterday; on Pi Day (or should that be 22^nd July (22/7) =3.14

I hope there is something there for all of you.

Read and/or download the publication at http://www.acljohn.com/emagazine.php or

http://www.acljohn.com/resources/March_2013%27s_eMagazine_Issue_9.pdf

Enjoy!

1st eMag for March 2013 - 8th for 2013

Please note, all views expressed in this eMagazine are my own.

Read the latest issue online at http://www.acljohn.com/resources/March_2013%27s_eMagazine_Issue_8.pdf or

Visit http://www.acljohn.com/emagazine.php.

For archived versions of the eMagazine visit http://www.acljohn.com/emag-archive.php