Useful site on Using Converged Technology to Enhance Learning

I chanced on CIRCL (Consortium for Innovation and Research in Converged Learning) a while ago, and found it to be a very useful group of educators with discussions on a variety of topics relevant to education and learning.  Just want to pass on the info and share with you this site...

Brief Overview of Photoshop Elements 10 New features

The new Photoshop Elements 10 offers many new features for our photography fans, and still at a very affordable price at $80.00. You will find a lot of practical features you can use for your next editing!  Here are some….

In the Full Edit mode, there are three new text tools in the new package that you can use to type text on a shape, on selection or on a custom path that you draw.  Another feature is that Adobe has added more than 30 new options of effects and filters when you are using  the Smart Brush tool.  You can now paint a Pencil Sketch or Oil Pastel effect  over an area of an image, easily add snow, or apply other options from tints and texture area.  Another helpful feature is the Crop tool grid overlay, which applies the Rule of Thirds to help you with determining natural focus points in your images.

In the Guided Edit mode, try the new Depth of Field tool if you ever want to turn your photo quickly into something soft and dreamy. The new Orton Effect is popularized by the photographer, Michael Orton.  Using image blur and gradient tool on a selected focus area, you will be able to create a soft glowing effect.  Thinking of a way to make an image more interesting? Try the new Photo Stack tool, which breaks up a single image into separate pieces of smaller pictures, allowing you to reposition or resize them into a fun collage with custom borders and background.

To share and to create, there are new options of the different kinds of books you can make with your photos. And as for sharing, you have now the ability to tag your photos with the new Face-tagging to Facebook feature, and sharing videos to YouTube directly from the Organizer.

Check out the Adobe site for demo videos.
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html#content-dotcom-en-feature-photoshop-elements-see-whats-new

Learn from Adobe Tutorials:
http://tv.adobe.com/product/photoshop-elements/

My Mobile Blog

Do you want to be able to post from your iPhone or other mobile devices to your blog on Blogger? It's good to set this up because sometimes you just want to jot down the one great thought happened to run through your mind at one moment.

The steps to set this up are very easy. So try to follow now:

1. First send an SMS with the word 'REGISTER' to BLOGGR (256447).
2. We'll reply with the address of your new mobile blog, plus a claim code.
3. Post to your new mobile blog, or choose to link to your existing blog.
4. Text STOP to BLOGGR (256447)if you want to opt out of receiving SMS messages to your phone.
5. To get help from your mobile device, text HELP to BLOGGR (256447)
6. To unlink your device from Blogger, text UNREGISTER to BLOGGR (256447).
7. Sending text messages to BLOGGR (256447) is currently available for US phone numbers only.

Blogger Mobile works with any device that can send texts via SMS, or email via MMS.

Zamzar file converter

Zamzar is a free product which supports conversion between a wide variety of different file formats.  It is very easy to use.  All you need to do is to go through 3 steps on the main page of the site to get your task done.

After you have browsed for your file to convert and have chosen a desired format, you will be receiving an email in your Inbox wherever you choose.  In your email, you will find a link for you to download the converted file. If there's any problem with the conversion, it will give you a message, and the Zamzar support team will look at it automatically.  The entire process is short and sweet.  

Click on a category to see details of our conversion support:

• Document formats
• Image formats
• Music formats
• Video formats
• E-Book formats
• Compressed formats
• CAD formats

There is also an option that you can pay to get an online storage up to 100GB and the ability to convert bigger files, and have faster file conversions. Plans varies from $7-$49 per month.

TwitterFeed.com connects to Facebook & Twitter

I've been testing TwitterFeed this morning, and it takes about 2 hours and more for the post to appear in my Facebook and Twitter accounts! I thought it's supposed to sync faster!?  But it works!!So I am a happy camper now.

TwitterFeed.com can deliver your blog posts to Facebook or Twitter, letting you obtain more visibility for your blog. All you need is to create a free account on Twitterfeed.com, and provide your favorite blog names (and your own) and the RSS feed addresses to syndicate posts as they are being published.  You will also need to authenticate your social networking accounts to create services.

The setup process is really easy, so take ssome time to try this out!  Happy blogging!

Studystack.com - Learning Makes Fun!

What you are looking at below is just one of the many games you can play with learning.  on Studystack.com, the instructor needs only to set up a set of questions and answers, and students can go online to learn by playing.  The site offers free accounts for instructors, and 13 different kinds of games for learning recall.  They include traditional quizzes, tests, flashscards, crossword puzzles, study tables in addition to learning games like hangman, bug match, hungry bugs and target.


More scrambled words at StudyStack.com

Edit Google Docs On-the-Go

Google has come up with a better mobile version for your iPad, iPhone and Android to allow you edit on-the-go.  Whenever you are, on a train or at a stadium, and you need to wrap up the proposal for tomorrow's meeting, you can do it now with Google's mobile app.  You can edit your existing spreadsheets or documents, or to create new ones. You can also go to the Desktop version if you like by simply choosing the Desktop link.

Steps:

1. Login to http://docs.google.com
2. Select your document to edit
3. Click the EDIT button

View this video:

Other Resources 

Edit Spreadsheet -List Filter
http://googledocs.blogspot.com/2009/02/add-edit-sort-and-filter-improved.html

JoinMe- a free meeting app for your mobile device?

Here is one free app at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February this year - join.me, which allows for online meeting, chats, file transfer, remote control, and screen sharing sessions anywhere over 3G and WiFi connection. The Software developer LogMeIn has launched this version for mobile iOS devices including iPhone and iPads.

Online meetings can support up to 250 participants, and there's no limits for meetings. Users do not have to register, but simply enter a one-time auto-generated code to enter session. There is nothing to install or download.  If desired for frequent faster connection, you can opt to install the joinme app on your desktop, but it's an option.

There are a premium plan which supports more than 250 participants along with meeting scheduler and monitoring, background customization and more features.

Check out the iOS version: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/join-me/id409811927?mt=8

Just catching up with PSE 9.0 review from an expert

Author Lesa Snider is the chief evangelist of iStockphoto.com, is the author of Photoshop CS5: The Missing Manual (Pogue Press/O’Reilly) and the Kelby Training video titles Photoshop Elements 8 for Digital Photographers and Practical Photoshop Elements.

Here is a her very thorough review by of the new features, including some pros and cons, of Adobe's Photoshop Elements 9.0.

http://www.macworld.com/article/154370/2010/09/photoshop_elements_9_review.html

Looking for Office Suites? QuickOffice or Documents To Go

These are two apps that my colleagues have made reference to as a production tools for editing documents on the iPhone and iPad. Price - QuickOffice is $14.99 (ipad) and Document To Go is $9.99 (lite) and $16.99 (premium) (ipad and iphone).  The apps are very similar, not 100% perfect in either, but seems like they are both very good tools to consider. 

In a nutshell, the interface is a little friendlier-looking with QuickOffice, but Documents To Go seems to be more space-efficient.  QuickOffice allows drag-and-drop transfer of files to and from your iPad over Wi-Fi without actually connect to the computer.  Documents To Go provides file sharing between device and computer via USB cable.  In case you want to save your document and email it to your colleague immediately, Documents To Go does not have any email function, but QuickOffice does allow for that.

More resources:

http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/16/tuaw-app-shootout-comparing-quickoffice-and-documents-to-go/

http://gigaom.com/apple/ipad-office-suites-quickoffice-or-documents-to-go/

http://gigaom.com/apple/iphone-doc-editing-documents-to-go-vs-quickoffice-pro/

Research on Usability of iPad in Academia

Many schools and colleges have been carrying out research with the iPad.  Educators want to see if this 'consumer product' can also become a productive tool in education, lending new horizons for students.  I'd like to share articles of iPad study on my blog so we can follow the trend and see how the technology will evolve while new needs are being revealed continuously.

Article:  COEHS Faculty Explores iPad Use (Western Illinois University's College of Education and Human Services)

Printing from iPad, iPhone - An article to share

Here are some suggestion if you are interested in printing remotely from your iPhone or iPad.  It's a 'wish-list' feature that some people are watching.  Apple's AirPrint for now only prints to certain models of HP, but as suggested from the article, try Google's Cloud Print.  "Justin Yu, an associate editor at CNet, a technology Web site, recommended a few models at varying prices: the multifunction Canon Pixma MX870 (about $150), Epson’s Workforce 520 ($90) or H.P.’s Officejet 6500A ($75)."  is another venue to check out. 

I would just remind everybody to access the printing cost for ink and estimate the volume of printing before deciding on the model to buy.  Inks are so expensive, and I totally feel for that.  A lot of times, I'd rather go to Costco or Walgreens for print jobs when they have print specials and it's much cheaper than ordering new inks for a project.

Article: 
"Printers adapt to the Web" by Eric Taub, New York Times, February 2, 2011

Which hand should I hold the baton in?

Which hand should I hold the baton in?

Without the help of an iPad, watch this show filled with sheer enthusiasm and originality. Bravo!
Parents- are you going to give your kid a baton or an iPad if you have the choice?   I will definitely give him a baton :-)