https://www.emaze.com/@ALWZZOQT/what-is-a-force
Using Emaze was easy, and I like the different templates. The transitions between slides are fun and engaging. I chose a template that was related to my course on forces showing motion of a vehicle on a road. While I’m happy with what I’ve produced, I would have liked the option to do a voiceover on the slides. I have many EAL students, and this might be helpful for them. I tried to upload an audio file, but it comes up looking like a podcast audio clip, rather than a simple voiceover and I didn’t want that as it means students would get instructions twice (visual and audio), creating redundancy, rather than simultaneously. Also, I cannot embed the presentation into my Eliademy site as it is not yet supported. Emaze is new, and hopefully these improvements will happen and I can adjust my presentation.
Through the courses I have taken in MET, I have explored and discussed different digital tools and the benefits and challenges of each, including various social media tools. I have created a number of products using new digital tools including
– Toondoo
– Weebly
– Prezi
– YouTube
– Cmap tools
– and now Emaze.
I have used new digital learning management systems like
– Connect
– WordPress.
and even created a course using the learning management system
– Eliademy.
In the time I have been in the program so far, I have not yet used any of the products in my lessons. However, in exploring these digital tools, I have been able to evaluate each one and decide whether it is right for my students. The SECTIONS model, outlined by Bates (2014) simplifies this process and will allow me to more clearly evaluate whether to implement a particular tool into my lessons. As Siemens states, “Media characteristics need to match with the requirements of the learning outcome” (2003).
My story of using and creating digital tools is not finished. In fact, I believe it is only beginning. I can see myself using a learning management system like Eliademy, or using a website like Weebly as a course management system, or Emaze for a different style of presentation software. I just have not yet begun the process of reworking my courses.
References
Bates, T. (2014). Teaching in a digital age: Guidelines for designing teaching and learning. Retrieved from http://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/part/9-pedagogical-differences-between-media/
Siemens, G. (2003, February 7). Evaluating media characteristics: Using multimedia to achieve learning outcomes. Retrieved July 20, 2015, from http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/mediacharacteristics.htm