Moglue

Lately, there has been a wave of interest on creating and publishing your own e-book. The wave gets higher as there has been interest to make the e-book more interactive. So far Apple has created an application – iBook Author which can be downloaded free oops…but yours truly doesn’t have a MAC.

A team from Korea create an interactive ebook application called MOGLUE.

     

Before I start yapping about it, do not compare this with iBook Author.   Both are different in levels and also the approach.

This application can be used on Windows platform. The catch is – to check/preview your changes made on the ebook, you need to download MoglueBooks in your iOS device-iphone/ipad (they are currently developing Mbooks for Android—see image below on the issue)

 

Here is the dashboard (Image 1) for Moglue Builder.

Image 1

On the dashboard, the layout is pretty simple for user to grasp how to move around.

Things provided in their library are images and sounds. You can add your own images and sounds

(Refer to Image 2) Since I am not into the images provided by their library, I decided to “borrow” images from the Web. By the way, when it comes to choosing images, be very selective on the images for the content. Once you download the images of your choice, click FILE —> IMPORT —-> Select the downloaded images —> and the images will be transferred to the application library. The choice of fonts are a variety. Of course, size, colour and rotation for both font and images can be changed. To remove the images from the page, just click on the image, and then press DELETE from your keyboard.

Image 2

 

Image 3

Then there is the part of adding and deleting pages (Refer to Image 3). Just right click on the previous page, and you can start adding pages to the ebook

 

For interactive, there are a set of provided actions (refer to Image 4) which can be embedded on the image ( s ).

Image 4

 

What you need to do is to drag the selected action into the box (which will comes with the image that is embedded on the page) You can add a few actions accordingly depending on how you want the image to interact with the reader. If you want to remove the selected action from the image, all you need to do is  press DELETE.

For more info on the arrangement for actions, go to this link: http://kb.moglue.com/index.php/2-5)_States_%26_Triggers_(Setting_up_actions)

Image 5

 

So to preview the current page or book, make sure you install MoglueBooks in your iOS first. Switch it on in your iOS device. Next, on your MoglueBuilder (installed in your PC), click FIND TARGET DEVICE (Refer to Image 6). By the way, make sure both iOS device and PC are on the same Wifi line. A box will appear (Refer to Image 7). Click FIND and the application will locate the device with the MoglueBooks. If the application is running, the iOS device IP address will appear. Then you can start previewing the page/book from your iOS device real-time. Kinda cool actually! Unfortunately, it can be a hassle for those who do not have iOS device. I do wish the team do away with that, and have the preview change from the desktop.

 

Image 6

 

Image 7

Anyway, the book created cannot be published yet. I can’t seem to find the button for that. I guess the developer is working on that soon.

For those who are in the tertiary education, don’t be put off by the images (meant for kids). I think it is possible to create an interactive textbook / manual / handbook for your audience.

So far Mogluebuilder is great for those who has iOS device (for previewing the changes made on the book or page)

To see what Moglue can produce, check out the ready made interactive e-books:

http://store.moglue.com/html/store/index.php (only can be downloaded in iOS devices)

The ebook which I create is pretty simple. Have not done anything textbookish or complicated as I am not familiar with the application yet. Hmm…maybe I should give it a go and see how it works out.

Storybird:the how

As I have mentioned in the earlier post, I will be writing about how to use StoryBird. The HOW entry looks at how to create a story.

For this online storymaker application, you need to sign-up. It is free. Two options for you to choose from:the regular account or the kid account or the teacher account. I choose the TEACHER account to see what the application can offer for teaching.

PIC 01

As I log in as the teacher account, there are 3 items (see PIC 01) :

GETTING STARTED, ASSIGNMENTS, CLASS LIBRARY

The interesting items which the teacher can use are (1) adding students in her/his community for projects that focuses on storymaking skill. Here the teacher adds the students. (2) assignments-the teacher can create specific assignment. Assignments here not only focus on creating story but collaborating in designing the story, or commenting on the story or even predicting the story. The latter two activities are possible because there is a feature (See PIC02) in this application which allows the reader to comment on the story.

PIC 02

Okay, now let us start creating the story. STORYBIRD provides a set of amazing artsy pictures. Amazing artsy pictures which I felt is sufficient to whet the students’ imaginative appetites. You can choose from the art images or themes (See PIC03).

PIC 03

In my opinion, if a teacher is starting to introduce the application to the students, then the option of asking them to select from art images to start creating will be a better choice. Making the students excited and hooked on the application will be first thing to do. Once the students get the hang of using the tool, and for a more advance activity, then the teacher can include the option of exploring themes.

PIC 04

First, let me choose the art for my story. I pick the Fairy art set (See PIC04). Then you will be brought to this page. Click START A STORYBIRD to begin your storytelling (See PIC05).

PIC 05

Now, this page will appear (See PIC06). Your work station for creating the story. The images on both left and right are for me to choose to create the story. The basic process of creating the story will be ADD PAGE, REMOVE PAGE, and you can even rearrange the CREATED PAGES.

PIC 06

The e-storybook also includes a COVER (See PIC07) which the creator needs to add a title, and even change the author’s name. To be able to change the author’s name provides a sense of identity to the story-teller. Imagine your student coming up with their pen names. You can also change the colour for the cover. Colour palette depends on the chosen image for the cover.

PIC 07

I will choose an image to start my story. Let me start by selecting an image for my first page. All you need to do is to drag the image to the page. Before placing the image, hover the image around the page to decide where you want to put your text. BOTTOM, LEFT, RIGHT or TOP (See PIC08).

PIC 08

Of course, if the issue of writer’s block occur, there is always SAVE and CLOSE option under the MENU ICON. The draft will be saved and you can choose to continue later.

The challenge for this activity is to create a story with just that amount of pictures. Hence, it pushes the students’ creativity and imagination to create an awesome story with that “limited” resource. By the way, never underestimate your students.

Issues such as:

(1)What image is suitable to represent the flow of the story.

(2)How much description to add because [A] if the texts are too lengthy, it can be a put off to the reader or [B] if it the texts are too few, it can be turn off because the parts of the story is incomplete.

can be used as part of the class activities. The students will learn how to manage such problems when it comes to story-telling.

As I an educator from Malaysia, teachers who teach Bahasa Malaysia, and English language can use this tool for composition writing activity. It is not only for the Primary School students but I believe secondary school students can benefit as well. As for Chinese language, the STORYBIRD team is working on  it (See PIC 09).

PIC 09

Do have fun trying out STORYBIRD.

I did.

Previously created 2 stories.

By the way, here is another complete story. My third.

Storybird

Recently, I tried to create to learning objects from the Web 2.0 tools which I introduced during class.

The Web2.0 tool is STORYBIRD.

It is an online tool to create stories.

The provided graphics are amazing. Beautifully drawn artwork.

So far I have created two stories.

My next entry will be more on how to use the tool to create.

GL2010:Day01

17052010: 9am: Andaman Ballroom 1

Online Learning Design using LAMS by Leanne Cameron from Macquire University, Australia.

The reason why I sign up this workshop because I have heard so much about LAMS but am clueless about it.

So, here starts: It seems that it is not so learning object – form. Looks more like a LMS platform but very arranged.  Anyway, Leanne showed her sample: It started with welcome  or introductory page for the students.

As you can see, at the left side of the picture, which looks like a direction thingy, shows the student the steps which they need to take for that particular task / activity. GREEN ARROW shows the activity is not done yet. RED BOX means this is which activity you are at.

This is the CHAT functions. Looks similar to the MOODLE chat. Here, the instructor can divide the chat into groups.

This is the assessment function. From the picture above, these are the SEVEN TYPES of assessment questions. More or less similar to MOODLE.

A survey at the end of the tasks to check the level of the understanding of the students (something that MOODLE doesn’t have – but when this is integrated with MOODLE, MOODLE-LAMS can be quite a powerful LMS)

By the way, you can see the results on pie chart or bar chart. You can see two icons in a red box at the picture’s background.

After the student has finished the many activities in that task, he/she can review the selected activity by DOUBLE CLICK-ing the blue circle (see picture above).

Now you design / map the journey / process of the tasks. Just click AUTHOR (see the tabs at the top-in picture)

And it will lead to this page.

Now on to some hands-on: Designing the lesson

On the left side of the picture (above), you can see the types of function which can be added in the lesson. By the way, we didn’t try all the functions but the try out on some of the functions is pretty much a good start to understand how LAMS work.

First, dragging the NOTICEBOARD to the main box. Double-click to put in content (refer to picture below).

As you can see ( picture above) Looks similar to MOODLE. ADVANCED and INSTRUCTIONS tab is where you will click if there is a need to format the additional functions of NOTICEBOARD. E.g. INSTRUCTIONS is where you can upload file.

Second, added in Share Resources (see picture below)

By the way, if you want delete any of the dragged ACTIVITY, just drag the activity to the TRASH BIN (at the right hand corner-see picture above)

Adding content in Share Resources. It seems that if you are an existing MOODLE user, applying and understanding the functions in LAMS is not much of an issue.

Now this is what one can find in the ADVANCE TAB.

Now this is where you put questions for students to answer.

Now you need to click on the TRANSITION ICON to create the arrows which link from one activity to another activity.

Save the “design” of the lesson in which ever category / location.

Okay. When the BLUE BOX appears (see picture above), it means the lesson is saved.

You can also Preview (by clicking on the PREVIEW ICON). PREVIEW allows you to see exactly what the students will see.

One thing that is unique about LAMS is the STOP feature. (See picture below) There is this STOP SIGN between NOTICEBOARD and MINDMAP. Now STOP SIGN allows synchronous learning among the students. Let me explain a little more. The STOP SIGN is a padlock to another activity. The padlock will be unlocked once every student reaches that activity e.g. NOTICEBOARD. Hence, no student left behind.

As you can see (picture above), the STOP SIGN or better known as the GATE has several properties: Condition, Synchronise, Schedule and Permission. Choose either one depending on the nature of the lesson, the type of students, and the instructor’s expectations.

There are a LOT of resources for LAMS

Download LAMS here: http://lamsfoundation.org/downloads_home.htm

What do want to know about LAMS here: http://lamsfoundation.org/index.htm

Help and also to get templates for LAMS here for all level of education from k-12 to higher education: http://lamscommunity.org/register/?return_url=%2fdotlrn%2findex

Help for integrating LAMS and MOODLE: http://moodle.lamscommunity.org/moodle/

My Learning Space Journey

Talking about Facebook Manners and You!

A VERY INTERESTING RELATED-DC VIDEO posted by Faustina!!

Watch it.

Quote

Facebook Manners and You!
  

Hi there… I found an interesting video entitled “FACEBOOK MANNERS AND YOU”. I came across this video and thought it would be good to share this video to all since almost all of us are active Facebook users. I believe this video also reflect the one of the nine principle of Digital Citizenship which is “ Digital Etiquette”.  I wonder how many of us are guilty of the rules that are being emphasized in this video. I think every Facebooker should watch this video..haha…Happy watching everybody!

Check this out: UPM Forest Life

Excerpt taken from Ilearn Technology:

What it is: UPM Forest Life is an excellent interactive site that lets students explore a forest virtually.  This is the next best thing to actually being in a forest, I can almost smell the pine trees!  UPM Forest Life aims to teach about forest sustainability through an outstanding ‘hike’ through the forest.  Along the way, students can click on points that will reveal videos, pictures with information, and sounds.  Students will learn about forest planning, harvesting, regeneration, respacing, thinning, transport, recreation, training, berry picking, bird watching, hunting, fishing, natural forests, valuable habitats, deadwood, forest structure, water, and native tree species.  Students will also learn about the various animals that call a forest home.  This is an outstanding way for students to learn about tree species, habitat, and animals because it is learning through exploration. UPM Forest Lifewill teach them in a way that no textbook can.

How to integrate UPM Forest Life into the classroom: Although I am sure we would love to take our students on a field trip to a forest to explore and learn first hand, it isn’t always practical or possible.  UPM Forest Life is a fantastic virtual substitute.  It is so realistic and well done that your students will feel as if they have taken a trip into a forest.  This would be an excellent site to use with an interactive whiteboard.  Allow students to take turns being ‘tour guides’ for the journey.  They can click on the various videos, pictures, and information embedded in the forest.  Create an observation journal where students can jot down observations of trees, animals, and sounds that they experience while in the forest.  This site would also be a great one for students to visit individually in a computer lab setting.  Be sure that students are equipped with headphones so they can enjoy the full experience of the site.  After students explore the forest, discuss what it means to have a sustainable forest and why it is important.  This site is perfect for the science classroom or Earth Day but it would also work well in the language arts classroom.  Students could use the UPM Forest Lifeas a writing prompt, after exploring the forest they could write a story with the forest as the setting, or use one of the animals in the forest as a character in the story.  The scenery and sounds in the Forest are so peaceful and restorative, this may be a good site to have going in the background while students silent read…almost like reading above the trees in a tree house!

To learn and be updated more of this methods of ICT learning, go to http://ilearntechnology.com/

Check it out: Planet in ACTION!

Excerpt taken from ilearn technology:

What it is:    This is an incredible site that uses Google Earth as a basis for interactive journeys around the earth.  Students can take a virtual helicopter ride above the Grand Canyon, explore Mount St. Helen, sail a virtual ship in Port of Rotterdam, take a helicopter tour of Manhattan, or Disneyland Paris.  As students explore, they can grab a snapshot and create their own virtual post card.

How to integrate Planet in Action into the classroom:   Virtual field trips just got a lot more realistic thanks to Planet in Action! Planet in Action will take students on a tour of the different virtual places or students can take control and explore on their own.  This is an amazing site to use when studying famous landmarks or places.  Use this site with an interactive whiteboard or a projector-connected-computer.  Take your whole class on a virtual field trip to places that they are studying in class.  This is an outstanding way to bring some life to lessons.  Watch the recorded tour and discuss different landmarks as you see them.  Then ‘hire’ a helicopter ‘pilot’ who can navigate the trip for the class.  Allow students to play tour guide and explore.  Create postcards and virtual tours that can be saved and re-played.  In the computer lab setting, each student can create a virtual tour that can be shared with classmates (complete with a postcard greeting!).  In addition to the virtual tour, students can navigate by using a Google Map to see exactly where they are in the virtual tour.  In the Port of Rotterdam instead of flying using a virtual helicopter, students will actually sail a ship.  Students can choose their ship, blow the whistle, and navigate from port to port seeing actual images from Google Earth.  Your students will want to spend hours learning and exploring here!  Integrate Planet in Actioninto other learning opportunities, after exploring the world virtually, students could create a brochure for the place they visited, write a postcard, or even create a short travel video.

Tips:  This site takes a few minutest to load, be patient, it is well worth it!

Download UDL:Book Builder

Excerpt taken from teacher review:

What it is: UDL Book Builderis a site where you can create your own interactive digital stories.  The books have built in coaches that can support diverse learning needs.  The coaches direct student learning even when students are working independently.  The digital books can include text, images, audio, glossary terms (that are linked within the story), and coaches that can provide hints, prompts, and modeling.  The published books can be viewed online, downloaded to a computer, saved to a CD, or shared with others in the UDL library.  Both teachers and students can use the UDL Book Builder to create interactive digital stories.

How to integrate UDL Book Builder into the classroom: Use the UDL Book Builder to create interactive stories for your students that meet their specific learning needs.  Include students and familiar locations in your stories to boost reading motivation.  Students love starring in their own stories.  As you are creating a book in the Book Builder, be sure to develop the coaches within the book.  The coaches can offer reading hints, strategies, and model good reading.  Start a school library of teacher created digital books.  As the digital library is developed, be sure to note which reading skills are being emphasized so that other teachers can quickly sort through books that will match their students learning needs and interests.  Students can also create digital books from their writing.  The writing should be ready to publish (correct spelling, grammar, etc.).  These stories can easily be shared online with other students in class, in the school, and with pen pals.  UDL Book Builder would be a great tool for creating stories as a class using the interactive whiteboard.

Tips: The UDL Book Builder site has a great section with tips for authors and illustrators using the Builder.  These tips are helpful for any adults creating a book, but are also worth sharing with students using the tool.

Download Tangram

Check this out!!

Reviewed by a teacher who uses it:

What it is: I love tangram puzzles, so when I found Tangram House I was thrilled.  This online version of the Chinese puzzle lets students select a puzzle to complete and work with 7 tans (shapes) to fill the puzzle.  The tans can be rotated, flipped, and dragged into place.  The puzzles can be completed online or downloaded for free as an offline game.

How to integrate Tangram House into the classroom: The format of this website would be appropriate for an interactive whiteboard activity.  Split students into teams that will take turns at the board forming the tangrams.  Encourage the students who are not at the board to help out with good directions and clues for the student working on the puzzle.  This is a good way for kids to practice giving and receiving quality instructions and descriptions.  Tangram House could also be used on classroom computers as a math learning center or individually in a computer lab setting. Tips: Play online or download for free and play offline.