VoiceThread+on+Splashup

= =   Description: Splashup is a web based software product, also known as cloud computing. It is used for editing images, including webcasts. This is a good tool for teachers because it is available anywhere as long as there is an Internet connection. They say it is the next best thing to Adobe Photoshop. It is because it is free with Internet connection. The screen looks just like Adobe Photoshop. Layers, filter, multiple imaging, brushes, text editing, and even drawing are available. I used editing software to design the above .jpg image on this page.  There isn’t a help menu on the online version so having some experience in Adobe Photoshop would be helpful. It also offers a simpler version which can be downloaded and used on your own computer. Process: The first step in this process was learning about Web 2.0 technology. Reading articles and viewing presentations brought to life the wonderful new world of technology called Web 2.0. The second step was to choose one of the new Web 2.0 technologies. Everyone in the class was to choose one; we were given a link in our email to PBWorks. As I found out this is another outstanding example of Web 2.0 tools. PBWorks is used for collaboration using interactive Wikispaces. Our Wikispace had a page full of choices of Web 2.0 tools. I chose Splashup. When our choices were made, we sent notice to our classmates. It worked very well to keep everyone informed. Time was spent learning as much as possible about Splashup. The next step was to learn about VoiceThread as this was the audio/video product to be used to introduce Splashup. There were many instructional videos to help with this process. VoiceThread included posting .jmp images and clip art, making powerpoint slides and posting a youtube video. To make the different screen shots(I got these from Splashup website) that explained the many uses of the product, I copied and pasted the pictures into slides in a powerpoint. I then saved the slides (one by one) as .jpg images. All that was only part one of VoiceThread. Part two was adding audio to images and powerpoint. Probably the hardest part was adding the YouTube video. I had to download a converter before it would work. Last part of VoiceThread was inviting all classmates and instructors to view it.

Reflection: I enjoyed this project so much. It was like learning going full circle. Learn, decide, learn, create, learn, utilize. Learning about Web 2.0 technology has really opened my eyes. I had no idea there was so much out there available for teachers to use. I teach computer software and I am amazed at what I don't know. I can see how beneficial this is for online learning. VoiceThread wasn't that hard to use either (once I figured it out). I will definitely be using this in my online class. I was glad I chose Splashup. It works much like Adobe Photoshop. I have Adobe Photoshop on one of my computers but it never failed when I needed to edit an image I was never at my home computer. Splashup fits the bill for that because it is available on any computer as long as it has an internet connection. I can't wait to view all my classmates VoiceThread so that I can be more up-to-date on Web 2.0.

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