Week 3 - Paul's notes on Slideshare (www.slideshare.net)

SlideShare (www.slideshare.net)

What's it all about?

At first glance it resembles a 'YouTube clone' by which it functions as a global respository for media. Specifically, SlideShare is a web application that caters as a respository for documents and presentations (and like YouTube, also stores video).

Here's how it works: You go to the site and perform searches on particular content (subjects, titles, lesson type etc) by various keywords or by browsing through channels. What kind of documents you view or receive depends upon your search query.

In addition, you can contribute your own information to the repository by creating and uploading your own documents (DOC, PPT, PDF etc)! :)

So how is this an effective application in the supporting of teaching and learning?

Online availability

As a web application, all you need is a web browser and a username/password for access. There is no need for additional software. As a result, access is made easier.

Free to use ('Basic' account)

A free account is available for students and educators to easily register and use. Other accounts are available (for a subscription fee) with more complex features, but the basic account should suffice.


Large global audience with vast information
There is lots of useful information that independent educators and creators have made online. Because so many people contribute to SlideShare, there is vast information for research and education purposes. Learning communities can be formed online and information can be shared amongst them.  Similar to YouTube, you may also visit other people's channels to see what they have to showcase. It is also possible to collaborate on documents with other students/educators via. comment boxes.

Viral tools for distribution

There are 'share' buttons available for Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn use. Having these viral tools help push content BEYOND SlideShare to allow connections with even wider audiences and keen learners. It also helps those using Facebook to post and embed their own presentations through it.

Security features

Security features are available as to specify which audiences can view documents. For example, a school may create a private lesson with documents only available to their students (and no outsiders).


Voicethread coming soon! Stay tuned.

- Paul

Slideshare is great

It is so much better than reading a book..... Thanks Timothy! Maybe a new trend will emerge as slide learn. I have spent three hours already.

Tasks for this week (3)

We are going to talk about the Web2.0 "Slide Share" this week (week 3).
Then we need to do a micro presentation in the coming class.
Since, we have to make use of VoiceThread for the presentation, so I already registered the VoiceThread and you can share my account to get log-in (the log-in id and password would be sent via e-mail). Remember, rest of you don't need to re-register the VoiceThread.

Now,all you need to do is to go to "Slide Share" and play around it. After that, I need you to share your opinions, your findings, and anything about "Slide Share" via e-mail or through this blog on or before coming Saturday. (8th Oct). So that Paul can have time to finish the VoiceThread on time.

Review of the "Learning Theories Webquest" website

In addition to my groupmate Paul's comments, I have also prepared my review to this e-learning website as follows:

The link of this website is http://people.cite.hku.hk/dchurchill/LTwebquest/

It is a very good website. It is so colourful and attractive. I am interested to further explore this website. This e-learning course makes use of the Problem-based learning (PBL) approach to motivate the students learning so as to have a deep understanding of the Learning Theories. PBL approach is getting most students to use the higher cognitive level processes in learning. In the "Facilitator's Guide", it clearly defined the Purpose (Learning Objectives LOs), Target audience, Prerequisities, and Assessment criteria of this e-learning course. PBL also helped to align the LOs, TLAs and the assessment tasks. I liked the "Resources" area, it provides a collection of useful resources links for the students easily access the resources. There are three activities in the "Learning Process" including the Mindmap, Template, and the Proposal. All these TLAs are fully aligned with the LOs.

I suggested some improvements to this website:

1. It will help the student learning if we could add some multimedia content (ie Video).
2. Integrate the online discussion into this e-learning course which allows for the students to have online collaboration, discussion, and feedbacks.
3. The technology used to build this website was too old (ie. the pop-up window). Suggest to rebuild this website using the latest web technology.
4. Integrate the online quiz into this e-learning course.
5. Provide links for more Mindmap software to facilitate the students.
6. Use the LMS (ie. Moodle) for the peer assessment.

Cheers...Anthony

Group Activity 2 - Mind Map

I have prepared the Mindmap of the Learning Theories using the Bubbl-us application.

Cheers...Anthony

Learning Theories Webquest - Review

http://people.cite.hku.hk/dchurchill/LTwebquest/

Paul's Initial Comments:

Upon visiting the site for the first time, one thing that is really striking is the use of colour. The colour and contrast used is just right and stands out fine (the blue and green give a distinct feeling of 'nature', and is pleasant on the eye).

The container frame used for the page is of a fixed width and height (not too big, not too small) as to ensure usability with a range of screen resolutions - something that should NEVER be overlooked when designing and creating websites. Do you know how frustrating it is when a web designer creates a page that is fixed on a 1920x1080 resolution? If the average person has a bare-basic 1024x768 screen and has to use horizontal and vertical scroll bars to navigate around the site, you'll understand! :) Fortunately, that is not the case with this website,. so well done on that part!

As for the main user interface, it is easy-to-access and is clearly labelled with icons as to know which function does what.

Clicking the icons brings-up respective pop-ups of information (in which case you may need to enable pop-ups on the site). Instructions are clear and concise. Bullet-points and numbered lists are used to keep information structured.

In addition, there are sufficient links as to help you with your webquest. Some of the links bring you to external sites as to help you learn what you are about to research.
The content of the site is short and to-the-point. There is nothing overly-excessive here. It is easy to navigate and locate the information you need.

There is information on the site (under Facilitator's Guide) explaining the purpose of the webquest and why we have them. This is good for newbies that are being introduced to webquests for the first time. For those with experience, it helps reinforce the reasoning behind them.

Using a webquest encourages student-centered learning where the teacher (or the person behind the construction of the website) acts as a facilitator. As facilitators, we direct students to places where they can find information, as well as offering advice as how to go about using their information and research in the construction of answers.
All-in-all, a well-put and respectable webquest site! :)


Suggestions for Future Improvements:

1. Somehow eliminate the use of pop-ups and have all information on-screen. Pop-ups are old concept and a bit of a no-no for browsers of today (with pop-up blockers).
2. A forum or comments system where students can share information together or ask questions on various sections (perhaps something around the 'Conclusion' section?).
3. Look at migrating the webquest onto a more 'modernised' Web 2.0 platform e.g. Moodle. That way, it is easier to organise information and communicate.
4. Employ and integrate more Web 2.0 tools into the webquest.

Cheers, Paul

Hello ! I am Anthony

Dear all,


My RISAL name is Anthony. I am glad to be a member of HKU. It is my pleasure to join this course.


I have worked for IT industry for more than 10 years. I have the past experience in developing the training courses for the system end-users. I have no experience in teaching in school, but I would like to make use of my past IT experience to assist the Education. I think this course could provide a good learning environment for us to further explore the use of Information Technology in Education.


I love traveling and photography. I hope that all my classmates can enjoy their learning in HKU.


Cheers...Anthony