Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Assistive Technology (Tutorial Eight)
Creating Success The Seminar Management Professionals
(http://www.creatingsuccess.co.nz/index.php?pr=Time_Timers)
The Time Timer provides the ability to judge how much time is left without having to know how to tell time. The products operate with high colour resolution, large dial numbers, and ultra-quiet quartz movement. These additional features make the Time Timer product line perfect for special needs applications such as students with ASD. With the Time Timer, users understand the passage of time and can monitor their own activities, improving their self-esteem. Better time awareness also relieves the stress and anxiety of disorientation.
20cm Time Timer Audible – $70
The size of the 20cm Time Timer makes it our most versatile product for both individual and group applications. This classroom-tested timer comes with a base for free standing operation. With the Time Timer Audible you have the option to use a visual depiction only, or add sound to signal the end of a time segment.
Time timers at Star Education $82 + GST 30cm
http://www.star-educational.co.nz/view_products.php?cat=22
For pictures and more information on the Time Timers follow the above links.
Boardmaker v6 Standard
Bring Boardmaker activities to life with voice as well as video and animation support and make the computer a student-learning tool with Boardmaker Plus! software. Featuring more than 4,500 Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) in both colour and black-and-white, all in 44 languages, Boardmaker Plus! is a drawing program combined with a graphics library and database that also has the ability to talk and play recorded sounds and movies. This interactive component allows users to create talking activity boards, worksheets, schedules, books, writing activities, games and more, and adapt all materials to each student. Visit http://www.star-educational.co.nz/view_details.php?detail=true&cat=78&subcat=&id=181
Other related links
Ministry of Education-Special Education
http://www.minedu.govt.nz/educationSectors/SpecialEducation/PublicationsAndResources/AutismSpectrumDisordersResourceForTeachers.aspx
Star Educational
http://www.star-educational.co.nz/view_details.php?detail=true&cat=78&subcat=&id=181
Autism New Zealand
http://www.autismnz.org.nz/
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
The Internet and On-Line Communities (Tutorial Six)
The Stroke Network;
On-line Stroke Support and Information resources Always here - we are here for you whenever you need s, 24/7!
Posted On: Monday, May 04, 2009
" I really believe talking about what happened to us stroke survivors really helps. I'm a 3 year survivor as of May 5, 2009. I now speak to civic groups about stroke. What we can teach others is really giving others hope. Thank you for being here for all of us. "
Doug Combs
Posted On: Sunday, May 03, 2009
" I am a stroke survivor of two and a half years Dec. 10, 2006. I find Stroke net a good place to come and be with others like yourself. To find a cause and live up to it. You all are great. Thank you. "
Bruce Schwentker
Posted On: Monday, March 09, 2009
" I was stroked in 02/05. Stroke Network gave me friends who were in the same situation and hurdles I was experiencing. The volunteers have all been so pleasant and understanding. Everyone has made me feel we are one big family. "
Jean Kozelka
Posted On: Wednesday, January 14, 2009
" I love the Stroke Net. It makes me aware that I am not alone when I am struggling I know that I will always have Stroke Net members on my side. You know they say that a club is only as strong as the weakest link, well I can say without a doubt, that there is no weak on the link, you are so strong, and you are what keep me strong. It means al ot to me to be able to go on and chat with the members and to learn how they are coping . So keep on going let there always be a Stroke Net, you keep me safe and thankful. Thank you Stroke Net. "
Posted On: Friday, January 02, 2009
"This site gives validation to my thoughts and feelings of my post stroke life. Thank you."
David Keogh
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Video Production Part One (Tutorial Four)
The Basics
How do I add a video to my blog or web page?
- You'll need to edit the HTML of your blog entry or page—this should be relatively straightforward. In Blogger, for example, just click the "Edit HTML" tab.
- Next, go to the video that you want, and look for the 'Embed' box in the "About This Video" section. Copying the HTML code that's there into your website will create an embedded player; the video will play within your site when the user clicks on the 'Play' button.
You can re size the player by editing the object width="425" and height="350" fields at both the beginning and end of the embedded player code. - Make sure that the sizes you choose have the same ratio as the default numbers, so that the video doesn't get stretched—just multiply the width by 0.8235 to get the height. http://www.youtube.com/youtubeonyoursite#
What is YOUTUBE?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube
YouTube is a video sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips. Three former PayPal employees created YouTube in February 2005.[2] In November 2006, YouTube, LLC was bought by Google Inc. for US$1.65 billion, and is now operated as a subsidiary of Google.
The company is based in San Bruno, California, and uses Adobe Flash Video technology to display a wide variety of user-generated video content, including movie clips, TV clips, and music videos, as well as amateur content such as video blogging and short original videos. Most of the content on YouTube has been uploaded by individuals, although media corporations including CBS and the BBC and other organizations offer some of their material via the site.[3]
Unregistered users can watch the videos, while registered users are permitted to upload an unlimited number of videos. Accounts of registered users are called "channels". Videos that are considered to contain potentially offensive content are available only to registered users over the age of 18. The uploading of videos containing defamation, pornography, copyright violations, and material encouraging criminal conduct is prohibited by YouTube's terms of service.[4]
To sign up with YouTube go to https://www.google.com/accounts/LogoutWarning?continue=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fcreate_account<mpl=sso&hl=en-NZ&service=youtube
Storyboarding and Scripting a Short Film
Storyboarding is putting a written story into drawings so the progress of the story that is to be filmed can begin to become visual. The storyboard is referred to in the production of the film to keep the film makers on track and to stop time being wasted.
Scripting is what is both heard and seen on the screen and should include things like moods and expressions, vocal expression, movement of the characters, sound tracks, lighting, camera angles and shots, background sound and settings etc.
Even if you do a 30 sec video like the one posted here a storyboard and script can save you a huge amount of time. It gets the ideas down, gives you a visual for all the crew to work off and removes the need for hours spent editing at the other end of the shoot.
For some more tips check out Professor Monkey at Overview Video on http://www.sotherden.com/video101/overview.htm. He has some good basic tips to get you through the whole process.