Technology Tool - Digital Camera

One of my favorite technology tools is a digital camera. I have used this device for a variety of application and creation of learning aids, including:

• Taking photos of flipchart notes and sending students the images rather than trying to transcribe the images.


• Taking short video clips of training highlights during a session and then inserting a link to the video into PowerPoint. I would then end a session with a couple of these clips to use for reflection of what we covered in a longer course.


• A simple graphic can be created with colored pens and post-it notes. You can then take a picture, insert it into PowerPoint for a colorful diagram.

Technology Tools for Trainers and Students

As an example of how one can use a blog for instructional and learning purposes, I have made the point of creating this blog post. In using a variety of technology tools for training and communication, I have found the following applications of value.

Note: This information is not meant to be all-inclusive, but rather act as a starting point to assist the use of tools and resources for training and presentations.

1. PRESENTATIONS AND VISUAL AIDS

• Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds http://www.presentationzen.com/
• It's the Story, Not PowerPoint http://www.searls.com/present.html
• PowerPoint as a Photo Editor http://www.aroup.com/en/news/2007/06/13/powerpoint-as-a-photo-editor/
• Rethinking the Design of Slides http://www.writing.eng.vt.edu/slides.html
• E-Learning Handbook on Presentations http://c4lpt.co.uk/handbook/presentations.html
  

2. DIGITAL STORYTELLING

• Art, Storytelling, Technology, Education (Jason Onohler) http://www.jasonohler.com/storytelling/
• Bringing Digital Storytelling to the Classroom http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/learnshops/digital/examples.php
• Centre for Digital Storytelling http://www.storycenter.org/index1.html
• Digital Storytelling Resources http://www.teachingteachers.com/index.htm
• Educational Use of Digital Storytelling http://www.coe.uh.edu/digital-storytelling/
• Tools for Digital Storytelling http://www.coe.uh.edu/digital-storytelling/tools.htm
• Tabblo (a new way to tell stories) http://www.tabblo.com/studio/doc/whatisit/

3. COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION TOOLS

• Meebo Instant Messaging Tool http://wwwm.meebo.com/
• Yahoo Messenger http://messenger.yahoo.com/
• Skype (Free Voice Over Internet Messages) http://www.skype.com/
• The Information Guy's Training and Technology Blog http://www.cyberheaven.blogspot.com
• Will at Work Learning blog (Will Thalheimer's research-based commentary on learning) http://www.willatworklearning.com/
• ZapitUp Training Blog http://www.zapitup.blogspot.com/
• Simple Machines Forum http://www.simplemachines.org/
• Topica Discussion Listserv http://lists.topica.com
• Create Your Own Poll http://www.dpolls.com/
• Survey Monkey (Free and Paid Survey Tool) http://www.surveymonkey.com/

4. PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE TOOLS AND RESOURCES

• MW Snap (Freeware version of screen capture program for training documentation) http://www.mirekw.com/winfreeware/mwsnap.html
• Irfanview Graphics Editor (Freeware) http://www.irfanview.com/
• Moodle Learning Management System http://moodle.org/
• Jane's E-learning Pick of the Day http://janeknight.typepad.com/
• Using Technology – Education World http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/archives/technology.shtml
• Top 100 Tools for Learning – 2008 http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/recommended/top100.html
  

MS Equation Editor for Training Documentation

Recently I was preparing some training documentation and I was challenged in typing in a complicated equation in MS Word 2003 and MS PowerPoint. After a little research, I found out about a nice feature that is available via MS Office. Using the Office CD-ROM installation disk, you can install Equation Editor.
To do so if you are using Windows XP:

• Click Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel.
• In the Currently installed programs box, click the listing for Microsoft Office or the individual Office program, depending on whether you installed the program as part of Office or individually, and then click Change.
• On the Maintenance Mode Options screen, click Add or Remove Features, and then click Next.
• If a Custom Setup screen appears, select the Choose advanced customization of applications check box, and then click Next.
• On the Advanced Customization screen, in the list of features to install, click the expand indicator (+) next to Office Tools.
• Click the arrow next to Equation Editor, and then click Run from My Computer.
• Click Update.
• Restart the Office program you were using.
• Then in Word, you can access this tool by Insert > Object > MS Equation Editor.

Several sites that provide instructions for using this tool are listed as follows:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint/HA011327531033.aspx

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/msword_equation.htm

http://callcentre.education.ed.ac.uk/downloads/quickguides/word/WordEquationEditor.pdf

Excellent Portfolio Site

Here is a site that I ran across with a wealth of information and links for creating and using a portfolio:

http://amby.com/kimeldorf/portfolio/

Tools for Online Portfolios

In the past, I have written about the value of portfolios as a powerful tool for job seekers and for documenting your work achievements for performance reviews. People have asked me for information about the creation of portfolios, particularly online portfolios.

I highly recommend the tools and resources provided by Dr. Helen Barrett at her website. She provides a wonderful set of suggested tools and specific examples for creating and using online portfolios. If you are interested in enhancing your career through the use of such tools, be sure to check out her website at:

• Creating ePortfolios with Web 2.0 Tools - http://helenbarrett.com/web20portfolios.html

By the way, although it is somewhat dated, one of my Labour Market Information classes created a comprehensive set of website links available, via the Resources page at my website, as an Adobe pdf file. Click on the following link to directly view this list of portfolio websites:

• http://www.theinformationguy.com/file_lmi_portfolio_2006.pdf

Why pdf?

Recently, participants at several workshops that I have delivered have asked about the value of pdf files, for such things as portfolios and resumes. In describing the value of converting files from MS Word or PowerPoint, I realized that having a good website or two to refer people to would likely benefit them. So here are several sites explaining the value of this file format and several products to convert electronic files into pdf files:

What is a pdf file article:
http://www.software-partners.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=35

How do I create a pdf file from a Word document article:
http://www.computeroffice.law.cam.ac.uk/using_law_pwf/how_do_i_create_a_pdf_file_from_a_word_document.php

PDF 995 software (create pdf files for free):
http://www.pdf995.com/

Cute PDF file creator (freeware):
http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp

Using the Internet Efficiently for Job Search

In teaching a recent course about using labour market information, I came to realize that many career practitioners and job seekers are often overwhelmed with the amount of information available on the Internet. It almost becomes "mental dazzle", whereby people stop looking after awhile because there are too many options to consider in deciding which Internet sites to visit.

One strategy you could adopt is to find several good starting points that serve as portals, whereby someone else has found a series of useful labour market information sites. This could save you considerable time searching on the Internet. But, how the question becomes, where do we find these so-called starting points.

Well, here are a few to get you going:

The Job Stores.com Labour Market Information Sites List:
http://www.thejobstores.com/lmi_links.asp

BC Ministry of Advanced Education Career Planning and Labour Market Information Site:
http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/labourmarketinfo/labourmarket.htm

WCG Labour Market Information:
http://www.wcginternational.com/labour_market_info.html

Service Canada Labour Market Information Site:
http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca/standard.asp?pcode=lmiv_main_q1&lcode=E