Desktop Graphics using Paint

For fun, I made a graphic depicting the reaction of ammonia and hydrochloric acid. The reaction yields ammonium and chlorine and is a popular weak-base strong-acid titration. So using the Paint software on my computer, I drew this diagram.

I used Paint because I had the software already on my computer and because it was similar to one of the first software programs I ever used back when my family purchased an Apple 2e. I have not played with Paint since then so it was fun to see how much I remember from 25 years ago. Not much has changed, as far as I remember, but it took some time to get use to the program again. Why is the fill with color button right next to the eraser button? I repeatedly filled with color when I was trying to erase. So frustrating!

Paint defaults to save as a .bmp file which what I did. It can also save as a .jpb, .gif, .tif, and .png. The file I made is 817 KB. That seems pretty large. When I double click on the file, it automatically opens in Microsoft Office Picture Manager. If I want to alter the file, I need to open Paint and then retrieve the file.

I can see how beneficial desktop graphics can be to me as a chemistry teacher. It has always been a struggle to illustrate chemical equations using traditional software programs. Does anyone else know how to made the 2 in H2O smaller? I can do it in a word document but not in this blog.

So instead when using Paint, I can better illustrate simple and more complex chemical equations. If the software is available in the school, this would make a great assignment for students to illustrate the chemical process they are experiencing in the laboratory. Students get the chance to demonstrate fluency in this technological system. I was able to transfer current knowledge
(reaction of an acid and an base) to this new technology (Microsoft Paint). Both teacher and student can model this digital-age learning (NETS-T #3).

I also need to try out some other desktop graphic software. Since my computer is a dinosaur with Windows XP, I am sure there are other more advanced programs that I could try. There may even be one that is more chemistry friendly.

P.S. After the virus incident from the snipping software, I now have a new laptop with Windows 7. This will give me the chance to try some of these more advance programs as I design and develop even more digital-age learning experiences (NETS-T #2).

Snip, Snip, Snip, Part 1

Since I am old school with Windows XP, I had to download software to get snippy. Thanks to classmate Charity Sypolt who had already encountered the same issue, I was able to go to this website to get the snippy software. I am now able to click on the scissor icon that appears at the bottom right hand corner of my computer screen to start snipping. So I went ahead snipped the Snippy logo from the snippy software. It was really a snap!

***Do not use this website as soon after I did this assignment, I got a virus on my computer. Now I have a new laptop with Windows 7 which includes snipping software.

This assignment taught me how I can customize and personalize learning activities to address the varying learning styles of students (NETS-T #2). I also learned that it is hard to advocate legal and safe use of digital information and technology (NETS-T #4). The website I used to download software is not safe websites, but I had not way of knowing that when I did this assignment.

Images: Screen Print 2

I downloaded this diagram of ethanol (CH3CH2OH) from another one of my chemistry websites. Next I cropped the diagram and added a title using Microsoft Office Picture Manager. Finally I uploaded the diagram to my blog. The file is 125 KB and is a .png file. I am more familiar with .jpg files so this was out of my comfort zone.

This assignment furthers my understanding of designing and developing digital-age learning experiences. I had to incorporate a digital resource in hopes that it will promote learning and creativity (NETS-T #2) Honestly, I think this diagram of ethanol looks like a dog with a red head and and big white nose, but at least that thought will help me to remember this diagram.

Images: Screen Print 2

The Periodic Table of Elements is used often in a high school chemistry class. This picture from one of my chemistry websites is a good visual aid. I am beginning to use these digital-age learning experiences to enrich the learning environment of my high school chemistry classroom. These new technologies will help provide students with different formats to learn and understand new content (NETS-T #2).

After watching the YouTube video on social bookmarking....

1) Describe the 3 steps to recommend in the film to get started social bookmarking?
First, go to de.li.cious to register and add buttons to your browser.
Second, bookmark the websites that I like and will use. It is best to use tags to make the storage and retrieval more user friendly.
Third, be social. Other teachers and students can see the sites I use and bookmark. It is a way to share with others the great websites I have found. I can communicate this relevant information more effectively with students and with other teachers by using this digital format (NETS-T #3).

2) Describe is Web 2.0, and how it differs from previous stages of the web?
At first I was looking for Web 2.0 software. Ugh, is this something else I need to buy? After reading the preface to Web 2.0 for Schools, I realize that Web 2.0 is not a software but a paradigm shift in the way we use the internet. It is a new way of using, sharing, and connecting through websites. In the past, email is what connected people on the web. Now people can connect to individuals or within groups using websites. This is another way to communicate relevant information and ideas to other people. This digital-age media is an excellent way to share ideas and information as well as collaborate with others to support student interaction. (NETS-T #3).

3) What is social bookmarking and what advantages does social bookmarking offer that traditional storage and retrieval of web sites does not?
Traditional storage and retrieval methods benefit me on my own computer. I have my favorite websites tagged for personal use. Social bookmarking benefits others as they can retrieve the same websites I have found to be useful. Social bookmarking helps me as I do not have a laptop. As I go from my home computer to the computers at school, I do not have remember or write down all those nifty websites. I can just go to delicious and retrieved them there. Great! I can share these websites with other people as I use this digital resource (NETS-T #3).

"Social bookmarking sites that a world of chaos and make it orderly."

Get a Delicious Account

At my delicious page, I can store and retrieve websites that are helpful to me as a chemistry teacher. The benefit of using a Delicious account instead of the my favorites feature on my home computer is that I can access these websites easily when I am not at home. I can also easily share this websites with other teachers and students so that collaborate with them using this digital tool. This resource will help support student success and innovation. As a teacher, I can model digital-age work and learning when I utilize my Delicious page (NETS-T #3).

Get an Idea

SAFETY

Safety is paramount in a chemistry lab. Using a variety of media, I can instill in my students safe lab procedures. Hopefully, this will help them understand and internalize the need for safety in chemistry lab. This assignment will help me as I reflect on professional practices to make effective use of digital tools and resources to support student learning. Teaching and encouraging safety is more than just posting safety posters on the wall. Students need to see it, hear it, understand it, and remember it. Using digital tools and resources will help me do just that.

Publish a Document Online

I posted my resume here. This assignment helped me learnt how to adapt a previous learning experience (writing my resume) by incorporating it into a digital resource (google docs). This learning supports NETS-T #2, "Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments."

All this technology is amazing. As hard as it is to learn, I am glad someone is making me learn it so that I have the ability to use it.

Get a Blog/Get an Gmail Account

Welcome to my blog for EDUC 6305. I will have lots more to post as the class progresses, but for now, I have my own blog.

This blog supports NETS-T (National Educational Technology Standards) by fascinating and inspiring student learning and creativity. I as the student will promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness. The power point presentations, wordle graphis, and google documents I create and publish on this blog will demonstrate this creative and innovative thinking.