Glogster

I just lost my whole reflection on Glogster. ANOTHER one lost. I have figured out the problem now. When you create a "new post" auto save kicks in, but when you "edit post" it does not until you have pressed Save As Draft and then it will start auto save. I keep forgetting about this and just assume it is being saved and then my computer likes to break down when I try to add a link. GRRRR.

Ok. So.
I spent all of today playing around with Glogster to make this cool interactive poster! YES, it was all day, but I had fun. What I enjoyed most about creating a Glog was that I was able to use many of the new skills I have learnt from different tasks over the past month. I also enjoyed the authenticity of this topic because a few weeks ago I went to Mon Repos to see the Loggerhead turtle hatchlings at night and help them safely to sea. I highly recommend going there, it was an amazing experience!

I have developed an approach to ICT's that seems to be working ok. It goes like this:

1. Do the course readings
2. View the tutorials
3. Open an account with the program
4. Google examples to see what other great ideas there are out there
5. Read about what other educators think of this tool and how they are using it in their class
6. Make a plan of what I am going to do - topic + basic features
7. Use Flickr and Google to find relevant images
8. Use Google and You Tube to find relevant videos and possible interactive links
9. Start creating page using design features for title, text boxes, images, graphics, etc
10.Refer back to information and write basic info + make links to videos
11.Use Preview (Mac photo edit tool) to perfect images that are to be applied
12.Add images and make final touches

Reflecting on the process has helped me recognise that I am a fairly linear learner, I like a specific order from beginning to end. As a teacher I realise that I will have global students who need to be catered for and this is the beauty of the internet. Being able to have multiple pages open at the same time allows students to refer back and forth while they are creating their ICT's.


PMI of Glogster:

PLUSES
- System in place for Educators to apply Glogster to the classroom with student accounts and management. This makes it a safe and private environment
- Multi-modal so it supports many types of learners
- Enhances visual literacy skills
- Authentic focus - Can collate information, photos and videos from 'real world' projects and activities in the classroom.
- Parents and future employees can view students Glogs and students can refer back frequently
- Easy to use and easy to embed in other programs like Blogger
- When you edit Glog, it also updates the embedded Glog
- A one stop shop. Can put text, video, photos, podcasts, games, interactive tools all in the one place
- Students can develop technology skills by using many at once
- Students can be creative with the design and content
- Ability to search Glogs from other students all over the world - global connections
- Links the Arts with core curriculum content
- Can be used across all KLA's to display information
- Glogster "can integrate the arts with core curriculum content"(redorbit.com)

MINUSES
- Doesn't save automatically when you are doing work
- Need a certain amount of design knowledge to create a poster that is well balanced and easy to understand
- Time consuming
- No spell check
- Needs to be rigidly scaffolded to ensure students are not distracted by the features and have the relevant topic information added
- "Biggest limitation for our teachers are copyright issues. When widely distributed on the web Fair Use doesn't apply-so students must create or locate copyright-free media" (http://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/649749:Topic:195143?id=649749%3ATopic%3A195143&page=4#comments)

INTERESTING
- Still doesn't seem to be widely used even though it is a great tool
- I saw one Glog that was just framed videos of students reading their stories - a great idea and proof that Glogs do not have to be formatted in traditional poster style
- Can cover as much information as a website without the time, effort, privacy issues and maintenance
- Some reviewers have stated that it is similar to scrapbooking and appeals more to girls than boys

Uses in the classroom:
- To introduce students to a new topic
- To show students behaviour expectations
- For students to creatively present ideas on a topic or theme
- To reflect on students learning journey incorporating multi modal tools like podcasts, videos
- To engage students with diverse learning styles and intelligences by embedding and creating links to a range of audio and visual tools
- To plan out ideas
- To display leaning outcomes
- Create advertisements
- Book reviews with podcasts of students opinions and/ or them reading the story
- Posters on virtual trips

Safe, Ethical, Legal issues:
- "Protection of Children's contact information
Glogster a.s. encourages teachers, parents and guardians to spend time online with their students and/or children. We urge teachers/parents to instruct their students/children to never give out their real names, addresses, or phone numbers without permission when using the Internet." (http://edu.glogster.com/terms-of-use/)
- Click here to read a Glog on internet safety while using Glogster
- Students must reference any material they use that is not their own
- Students and teachers must aware of internet rules specific to the school and adhere to them at all times.
- Students could collaborate to create a Glog about Internet safety. This is a way for teachers to examine their knowledge and ensure that they know exactly what they can and can't do and how to access more information on copyright, etc if they need to.
- Glogster requires that students be 13 years and over to open an account. To make this a safe and legal tool in the classroom teachers first must send out permission slips and then open a teacher account that can be used by all students.


References:
http://www.redorbit.com/news/education/1564910/glogster_launches_education_development_program/index.html