Social Bookmarking is a method of storing, organizing, and sharing websites via the use of "tags" which make them easy to retrieve. If you have ever sent someone a link to a website you found interesting, you have participated in social bookmarking. For this assignment we explored Yahoo!'s free bookmarking service Delicious. We set up our own page and saved 20+ bookmarks of sites that will assist us as we move forward in our careers. I have added a gadget at the bottom of my blog page that lists my Delicious tags and invites you to subscribe to my network. Here is the link to my Delicious page if you would like to check it out:
http://www.delicious.com/visualartsgirl
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
W200 Library Resources
For this week's assignment we researched a topic of our choice using the IUPUI library database. We then shared our findings in a Publisher document which we posted directly to the instructor. I decided to share mine on my blog so that my friends could view it as well. To share my newsletter's PDF file, I uploaded it to scribd.com and embedded the HTML to my post. Let me know what you think!
Blog Newsletter Vol 1
Blog Newsletter Vol 1
Friday, March 4, 2011
Just Have to Share It!
I just have to share it! Take a break from W200, watch, enjoy, go buy a ticket! I know two girls who will be there August 12th!
W200 Assistive Technologies
For this assignment we were asked to explore technology which makes the content on the Internet accessible to everyone. The first group of websites I researched help break through language barriers. I was not surprised to find there are several websites that have the tools available to translate e-mails, typed phrases and words, even whole websites into the language of your preference. Three specific websites we were asked to check out were Google Translate, Paralink, and Babelfish. Of the three I thought that Babelfish by Yahoo! was the most user-friendly. I even installed their translator tool to my blog (see lower right hand side.) You can now translate my blog to any language listed in the drop down box just by clicking on it. There are a few drawbacks to the translation tools such as Babelfish. The translations are not always spot-on. I feel that the tool does get the translation close enough that someone needing the other language could figure out easily what is trying to be said; but it is definitely not a tool to use as a cheat for your mid-term French paper due Friday because most times the grammar and tenses are off. Another problem I experienced was computer lock-up while translating. My computer did well with translating to languages that do not use symbols for text, but locked up most times when translating to symbols. I tend to think this may be just a problem my five year old processor has and not a problem with the actual tool, but thought it merited mention in case others experience the same.
The second group of technology we researched for this assignment included tools for individuals with situations that make Internet use difficult. The websites I explored for this part of the assignment were www.microsoft.com/enable/at and http://www.wested.org/cs/tdl/print/docs/tdl/home.htm . Microsoft Enable gives instruction on ways one can customize computer settings and Microsoft software settings to better suit the user. New settings can aid with visual, hearing, and dexterity impairments. The West Ed website I felt gave more detailed description as to why one would such tools, sharing scenarios in which the technology was used and explaining how not only a physical disability, but also learning differences in individuals can constitute a need for assistive technology.
Finally, we were asked to research Photosensitive Epilepsy. This is a condition most common in people age 8 through 20. It involves a person's sensitivity to flashing lights, moving pictures, transitions from light to dark that may trigger sickness or seizures. I found this website helpful: http://www.epilepsymatters.com/english/faqphotosensitive.html#whatisphoto
At the bank, we have a phrase that we use-"Know your customer!" It's just a quick phrase we use communicate to each other that- I know who this person is, what they need, what they do, what they can't do, what they want, where they live, what is a normal transaction and what isn't, etc. It's how we protect our customers from fraud and banking errors. I think the same practice could be applied as an educator to "Know your student!" It's all about paying attention and asking questions. If you know your student has a history of epilepsy you aren't going to sit them in front of a flashing computer monitor, you're going to find another method to communicate the lesson.
I feel like this lesson covered some very important topics. No cool artsy whatsits to share on this post, just straightforward information useful to educators and individuals alike.
The second group of technology we researched for this assignment included tools for individuals with situations that make Internet use difficult. The websites I explored for this part of the assignment were www.microsoft.com/enable/at and http://www.wested.org/cs/tdl/print/docs/tdl/home.htm . Microsoft Enable gives instruction on ways one can customize computer settings and Microsoft software settings to better suit the user. New settings can aid with visual, hearing, and dexterity impairments. The West Ed website I felt gave more detailed description as to why one would such tools, sharing scenarios in which the technology was used and explaining how not only a physical disability, but also learning differences in individuals can constitute a need for assistive technology.
Finally, we were asked to research Photosensitive Epilepsy. This is a condition most common in people age 8 through 20. It involves a person's sensitivity to flashing lights, moving pictures, transitions from light to dark that may trigger sickness or seizures. I found this website helpful: http://www.epilepsymatters.com/english/faqphotosensitive.html#whatisphoto
At the bank, we have a phrase that we use-"Know your customer!" It's just a quick phrase we use communicate to each other that- I know who this person is, what they need, what they do, what they can't do, what they want, where they live, what is a normal transaction and what isn't, etc. It's how we protect our customers from fraud and banking errors. I think the same practice could be applied as an educator to "Know your student!" It's all about paying attention and asking questions. If you know your student has a history of epilepsy you aren't going to sit them in front of a flashing computer monitor, you're going to find another method to communicate the lesson.
I feel like this lesson covered some very important topics. No cool artsy whatsits to share on this post, just straightforward information useful to educators and individuals alike.
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