May is almost here...

...and my latest eMagazine is available at...

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

I thought I'd try to engage with interested parties via this blog as well as the usual channels.
Let me know what you think...

The Last week in January & the Start of February 2015...

Let's start with February 2015 -

...so much for the kind words and birthday greetings that so many of you posted yesterday. 

I didn't expect so many! I thought, having retired, it would have been a case of "out of sight, out of mind".

That said, the first item is the eMagazine for February; it's available to read on-line and/or download as a pdf, to share with others, at...

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

If you would like to see earlier copies then you can access the eMagazine archives...

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

What else have I been up to?

Since retiring I've joined my better half at F.A.C.T. (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) in Liverpool to watch some excellent films.

Last week we went to see Treasure Island adapted by Bryony Lavery for, and broadcast live from, the National Theatre.

There were some interesting "Twists" e.g.

It’s a dark, stormy night. The stars are out. Jim, the inn-keeper’s granddaughter, opens the door to a terrifying stranger. At the old sailor’s feet sits a huge sea-chest, full of secrets. Jim invites him in – and her dangerous voyage begins.

 The sets used during the play were stunning!

NOTE: If you are retired you could do what we have done and become members. By doing so you'd get...

• three free cinema tickets, plus 
• £2 off future tickets and 
• 10% off tickets, food and drinks

...at FACT and beyond. No I don't get anything for promoting membership!
Find out more at...

http://www.fact.co.uk/

Then there is our 2015 Walk and Wednesday Pub Lunch (W&WPL)

We've completed four so far (no surprise there) and for each one we've used a check-list to score each pub out of 50.

If you're interested in where we've been and or the resulting "Scores" visit...

http://maghullfoodie.blogspot.co.uk/

What about the walk bit?

They've been included in with our other Meanders, which can be seen by visiting...

http://maghullmeanders.blogspot.co.uk/

We usually do two walks a week...

• the W&WPL mentioned above and
• a Sunday meander ( I haven't posted this Sundays, as it was a repeat of a walk we've posted in the past).
  Here are some pictures I took including playing with the macro-lens on my iPhone...

Anything else?

There are lots of things I do during the week, for example, I usually...

• produce a Jigsaw, 48 rotating pieces each day, that can be done on a computer;
  http://www.acljohn.com/jigsaw.php
• produce a "Doodle" - a coloured drawing done on a blank postcard,
  http://www.acljohn.com/acljohns-doodles.php
• produce a "Sketch" for what I've done the previous day and
• produce a much larger picture at the end of each month, to summarise my month
  https://flic.kr/s/aHsk7ouZ6m 

Here is January 2015's summary

I also, each day, read my RSS Feeds (Keeping myself up to date) and post things I think others would like to read, listen to, and/or watch via...

• My Website (http://www.acljohn.com/),
• Twitter (@ACLjohn; https://twitter.com/ACLjohn)
• Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/acljohn)
• Muzy (http://acljohn.muzy.com/),
• Rebelmouse (https://www.rebelmouse.com/ACLjohn/),
• Scoop.It (http://www.scoop.it/t/technologies),
• FE & Skills Learning Wall (http://acljohn.schudio.com/),
• YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWL4v9nqwcIgO3dNNRBnU9Q)

...and more.

I think that covers "What DL is Happening?" so until my next post...

A long enough break to start again...

Having retired in July 2014, I did one more post and then stopped!
I felt that there needed to be a break before I restarted this blog.

Well this blog will now be a "'This is what I've been doing', Opinions and more" collection of posts...

So what have I been doing?

• What I want...
• When I want... and , more often than not...
• With my better-half

I've probably walked far more than I did when in work; you can catch up with those walks via the "Maghull Meanders" Blog - I'll be posting "Heads-Up" in this Blog as and when I can.

You can view archived walks at...

http://maghullmeanders.blogspot.co.uk/

...and while we are talking about walks I should flag up our "New Years Resolution"

We, my wife and I, decided that we would do a walk every Wednesday and visit a pub for lunch.

This has resulted in extra Maghull Meanders, which I've mentioned already, and a new Blog - Maghull Foodie - 

...where we compare the host establishments using a check-list.

You can take a look at the three we've done so far at...

http://maghullfoodie.blogspot.co.uk/

I was also set a challenge, by my "Little Sister" to do a sketch each day...

Going OK so far as you can see here...

...the first 25 days of 2015.
I'll be posting my daily sketches here, in this blog.

eMagazine

Yes I'm still "Keeping up to date", via daily RSS Feeds, and publishing my eMagazine. I'll be posting here when a new issue is published.

Content has changed slightly and includes links to my "Daily Doodles", Jigsaws etc.; many of which I've produced for our Grandchildren but I'm sharing with a wider audience.

Ye Old "One Stop Shop"

Yes I'll continue to post on Social Media (Twitter (@ACLjohn), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/acljohn) etc.)...

...but this blog will enable those of you who are not into such things, to be able to find out...

What DL is happening?

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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 

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.

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.