I tried MN Museums for two reasons: first, I enjoy museums and don't know much about those outside of the cities and second, Northern Lights Library Network is working on a written directory with pictures and basic information about museums in wesr central and northwest Minnesota. Kathy Enger, the director of NLLN, is working with the MN Historical Society to disseminate this information. How great it would be to incorporate this research with into the MN Museums app.
Since many relatives live in the Twin Cities, I tried the Going Out app. It had many good features. If you look for things to do, you are also offered a list of eating venues nearby. Most of the restaurants have range of information including prices, type of menu, specialties, even food reviews.
This app is particularly helpful for someone who lives out of town (like 380 northwest).
Monday, March 31, 2014
Thing 16: Sounds
I chose to investigate Soundcloud because I was interested in recording sounds and finding interesting music and podcasts.
The program allowed me to classical and folkways music plus science and technology podcasts. I listened to several and enjoyed them. I am following 37 people.
Then I recorded myself singing a nonsense song I learned as a child. It took quite some time to save it, but other than being a better singer, this turned quite well and was very easy.
This could be an audio booktalk that a student could play on an iPad sitting next to a book display. It would be very cool and unexpected.
The program allowed me to classical and folkways music plus science and technology podcasts. I listened to several and enjoyed them. I am following 37 people.
Then I recorded myself singing a nonsense song I learned as a child. It took quite some time to save it, but other than being a better singer, this turned quite well and was very easy.
This could be an audio booktalk that a student could play on an iPad sitting next to a book display. It would be very cool and unexpected.
Thing 15: Infographics
I would make infographics on Photoshop or InDesign, but I did try i Visual Info Touch Lite. So I measured my German Shepherd and my tiny cat, Peanut, discovering that Louie the GS is three time longer and taller than Peanut, but weights 50 times more. This could be a really great infographic.
First I was not able to find a cat or dog shape to use (I was in the free version). I chose a box and attempted to make one red and one blue. While trying to resize them to make one three time taller than the other, I went crazy trying to use my finger to grab the handles. After 10 minutes, I gave up and deleted the program.
Next I moved on to Info.Graphic. At first is would not open - ahhhh, I waited about a minute and the main page finally showed up. Next I tapped on a category - 33 seconds later the main page for that category opened. Tapping on a graphic I liked, I waited another 40 seconds for it to show up. It was fast to save it to my camera roll/photos file. To go back to choose another graphic, it only took 28 seconds. Not sure if I would use this much, considering how slow it is. On the other hand, the graphics are pretty cool.
First I was not able to find a cat or dog shape to use (I was in the free version). I chose a box and attempted to make one red and one blue. While trying to resize them to make one three time taller than the other, I went crazy trying to use my finger to grab the handles. After 10 minutes, I gave up and deleted the program.
Next I moved on to Info.Graphic. At first is would not open - ahhhh, I waited about a minute and the main page finally showed up. Next I tapped on a category - 33 seconds later the main page for that category opened. Tapping on a graphic I liked, I waited another 40 seconds for it to show up. It was fast to save it to my camera roll/photos file. To go back to choose another graphic, it only took 28 seconds. Not sure if I would use this much, considering how slow it is. On the other hand, the graphics are pretty cool.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Thing 14:Videos
I have used Final Cut Pro for years. It is pretty hard to give up the bells and whistles and the ability to edit with total control, but I found Vinny interesting for simple videos such as a promo, a birthday party, etc.
First I recorded a few seconds of one of my dogs and one cat, cropped, added music. Fun! Then I used two pieces of videos saved on my iPad. The first one looked good, so I posted it on my Facebook page. It took a little while to upload, but worked well. The second one was shorter. I added to this one. The upload failed. I shortened it; failed again, and again. Feeling a lot less enthusiastic about this app.
Socialcam wins my vote. Using the video that failed in Vinny, I added music and uploaded it to Facebook. A few seconds later it was up. I then spent way too much time looking at videos of German Shepherds - so cute, just like our Louie.
In a library, I would make short booktalks and public service messages about events and activities to post on the library web site.
First I recorded a few seconds of one of my dogs and one cat, cropped, added music. Fun! Then I used two pieces of videos saved on my iPad. The first one looked good, so I posted it on my Facebook page. It took a little while to upload, but worked well. The second one was shorter. I added to this one. The upload failed. I shortened it; failed again, and again. Feeling a lot less enthusiastic about this app.
Socialcam wins my vote. Using the video that failed in Vinny, I added music and uploaded it to Facebook. A few seconds later it was up. I then spent way too much time looking at videos of German Shepherds - so cute, just like our Louie.
In a library, I would make short booktalks and public service messages about events and activities to post on the library web site.
Thing 13: Presentations
Deck slideshows is easy and quick, but I don't know where you could use it. It would need to be for 1-on-1 or projected on a wireless network. Not exactly what the promo suggested. Also, there are just a few presentation designs that are free. I get quite frustrated when programs or apps tease you and try to almost blackmail a user into purchasing features that are not free.
Skip Deck and use Haiku Deck. Easier to add pictures, make backgrounds, add text. A great bonus is that you can type in a word and the app will find a copyright free picture(s) that meet your criteria. Then you can share the presentation multiple ways.
Lensoo - fantastic. A mini lecture with diagrams, pictures, text, colors, backgrounds. Not as many options in each category as I would like, but with the option to record/animate actions and to record description, it can be used by teachers to set up stations or mini-lessons and for students to show what they know. I wish my school had iPads!
Skip Deck and use Haiku Deck. Easier to add pictures, make backgrounds, add text. A great bonus is that you can type in a word and the app will find a copyright free picture(s) that meet your criteria. Then you can share the presentation multiple ways.
Lensoo - fantastic. A mini lecture with diagrams, pictures, text, colors, backgrounds. Not as many options in each category as I would like, but with the option to record/animate actions and to record description, it can be used by teachers to set up stations or mini-lessons and for students to show what they know. I wish my school had iPads!
Thing 12: Books, Books & More Books
The Wattpad is interesting and I found a short novel that I might read. The program is easy, although I am not sure that, with the books I own and the books I am downloading from Classicly, I will want to read many books from amateurs.
Classicly is wonderful. I have used Project Gutenberg, but this is more robust and has everything I looked for - autobiography by Goethe, Faust, and Divine Comedy. Aristotle was the pick of the day! This is my kind of literature.
The directions for Audiobooks baffled me for a time, but after getting the app downloaded, the number of item available whetted my appetite. I downloaded many titles that will be perfect for those 5 1/2 hr. drives to Victoria or Farmington or St. Paul.
Finally, the YALSA's Teen Book Finder will be a valuable asset for the English teacher that I am working with at school.
The apps in this category should be publicized to everyone who loves to read. Thank you, 23 Things planners!
Classicly is wonderful. I have used Project Gutenberg, but this is more robust and has everything I looked for - autobiography by Goethe, Faust, and Divine Comedy. Aristotle was the pick of the day! This is my kind of literature.
The directions for Audiobooks baffled me for a time, but after getting the app downloaded, the number of item available whetted my appetite. I downloaded many titles that will be perfect for those 5 1/2 hr. drives to Victoria or Farmington or St. Paul.
Finally, the YALSA's Teen Book Finder will be a valuable asset for the English teacher that I am working with at school.
The apps in this category should be publicized to everyone who loves to read. Thank you, 23 Things planners!
Thing 11: Library & Reference
It has take quite a while to explore ELM and other library search apps. I am doing some training and needed to do a great deal of exploration to be able to train others to use them.
ELM has expanded greatly since I retired four years ago and the tutorials for grades K-8 are amazing. A friend who is a kindergarten teacher had a great time with her students researching animals, based on ideas from the tutorials.
The web site I created for the school where I used to work has not kept the media center page updated. I was asked to do the necessary revisions and took that opportunity to create a new personalized ELM page. It was not without challenges, but is finally up will offer new functionality for teachers and students.
Two other search apps I have used are Overdrive and Zinio to access our public library resources. Overdrive is pretty easy and works well, even though the number of materials are not extensive due to the NW Regional budget and the high cost of electronic books.
Zinio, on the other hand, is a nightmare, even following the Zinio tutorial. I was able to set it up after several attempts. Having to set up two accounts is confusing. Searching works well, but downloading/saving and pulling up the magazine is not straightforward. As the public librarian and I looked at Zinio, we both kind of gave up on Zinio. It is too much work to set up and use.
ELM has expanded greatly since I retired four years ago and the tutorials for grades K-8 are amazing. A friend who is a kindergarten teacher had a great time with her students researching animals, based on ideas from the tutorials.
The web site I created for the school where I used to work has not kept the media center page updated. I was asked to do the necessary revisions and took that opportunity to create a new personalized ELM page. It was not without challenges, but is finally up will offer new functionality for teachers and students.
Two other search apps I have used are Overdrive and Zinio to access our public library resources. Overdrive is pretty easy and works well, even though the number of materials are not extensive due to the NW Regional budget and the high cost of electronic books.
Zinio, on the other hand, is a nightmare, even following the Zinio tutorial. I was able to set it up after several attempts. Having to set up two accounts is confusing. Searching works well, but downloading/saving and pulling up the magazine is not straightforward. As the public librarian and I looked at Zinio, we both kind of gave up on Zinio. It is too much work to set up and use.
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