CED0540 week 1

This week was about stats.  The part that I find the hardest about stats is the language.  I feel like stats lingo is similar to an insurance policy – it goes around in circles.  This week we looked at the different types of stats, including the central measurements of tendencies – mean, median, and mode.  Part of our assignment was watching a video that had 9 examples of ways in which stats are used.  The reality is that on a daily basis we come across or use stats, for example surveys and polls, averages, etc.  I’ll really need to take some good notes on the statistics language.  I like math, so that part won’t be to bad.

I use stats in my classes when I collect data for assessment whether it is for grades or for some of the teams I belong on.  In education stats are used all the time by just about everyone.

CED0530 week 5

This week we put our final touches on our Pecha Kucha.  This is a time consuming project, but unlike anything I've done before.  As I continue to work on this project, I'm trying to think of some ways to use this either in the classroom or for presentations to my peers.  Any ideas?  With all this being said this really puts all of the "zen" qualities in place that we have learned thus far - pictures, minimal text, short, not reading from the slides, and story telling.  I'm curious besides voicethread, what would be some other programs that this could be creatd in?

My group is looking at iMovie and Moviemaker.  I'm looking forward to hearing about the other programs.  I know about some of them, but others I've never heard of. 

CED0530 week 4 - Delivery and Prezi

Zen presentation this week was about delivery and the next steps.  In the video Garr Reynold’s mentioned some things I already do.  He stated to practice and time yourself.  When I have to do a presentation I practice and practice while timing myself.  I do both so much that by the time I’m done I have my presentation memorized.  No, I don’t find it mechanical, because I never say it the same way twice.  I think that by rehearsing I feel I can include more of my personality in it because I have the content down.  He also mentioned Toastmasters.  I found that interesting since I have been a Toastmaster member in the past.  As a matter of fact, if I hadn’t done Toastmasters I’d never have been a teacher.  I was SO afraid to talk in front of an audience.  It still happens, but it’s better – thanks to Toastmasters.

Prezi was the tool used this week for presentations.  It’s an interesting program.  I think it could make the audience dizzy depending on how it’s used.  For me personally, I kept losing the content on the very large canvas.  I wish it had something that showed where you are (similar to video games – the small screen showing the whole track for example.)  I had to keep starting over.  For me, I think it’s a program I’ll need to use a little more before I give it a fair assessment.  I’m hoping after I read my classmates thoughts I can come up with some good ways to use Prezi in the future.  It’s an interesting program.

Now I’m working on my Pecha Kucha.  I like the concept, but I think it will be challenging.  I’m hoping I can do it justice.  I looked at some really good examples, so we’ll see where this goes.