#Bluetooth framework for teaching #vmvwiki #vmvhw

This post will be a record of things I discover while trying to set up a Bluetooth framework for teaching (so this post will actually be more like a wiki and change!)

1. Speakers.

• Purchased: HIFI X-6 MINI Sound Rugby Football Wireless Bluetooth Speaker AUX USB Portable Audio Player Music for phone Computer Subwoofer http://www.aliexpress.com/item/HI-FI-X-6-MINI-Football-Wireless-Bluetooth-Speaker-TF-AUX-USB-Portable-Audio-Player-Music/32309649617.html


• Unfortunately Bluetooth  does not work with Windows. Windows cannot locate a driver (it appears that the speaker has no description attached so Update cannot link a driver). Worked fine with iPad/iPhone. Buddy jack design actually not working (linking the speakers together) I think they need to add a din plug output to connect to aux in other speaker for this to work.

2. Mouse.

• Purchased: Adjustable DPI 1600 Brand New Wireless Mouse Bluetooth Rechargeable Optical Mice 3.0 For Notebook Computer Laptop PC BM01-K60 http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Adjustable-DPI-1600-Brand-New-Wireless-Mouse-Bluetooth-Rechargeable-Optical-Mice-3-0-For-Notebook-Computer/32236660866.html


• First issue was that after remaining idle the mouse would switch off. Seemed to be an issue with windows power management. See below for how this was fixed.


• Interesting the side buttons on this mouse - allow a browser back/forward (alt left-arrow/alt right-arrow or backspace/shift backspace-though shift backspace doesn't quite work) - which is not the same as PowerPoint's back button.

---

Configuration issues

Problem: Device disconnects

It appears that by default Windows power saving kills a USB device. The mouse connected would die and not reconnect. To disable this you need to

1. go to Start > type in "Device Manager" >


2. Expand Bluetooth Radios >


3. Right click on Generic Bluetooth Adaptor + Properties, and


4. uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"

 

What is USB isochronous data transfer? #vmvwiki #vmvhw

Have been trying to connect a web cam via an enhanced USB cable, but the audio is not very clear. Some discussion with JJ revealed that USB has different ways it transfers data.
isochronous is one way, and looks like my enhanced cable does not support this (I tried a non enhanced one and the audio was heaps better)
Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB  for more info on USB.
Our next solution is to try and use a
Webcam>USB-Ethernet Adaptor>Ethernetcable>USB-Ethernet Adaptor>PC
Apparently this will allow up to 100m extension which should be enough for my classroom web cam.
Next stop is to find a pair of inexpensive USB-Ethernet adaptors !

Active Learning with PowerPoint #vmvdlt

Active Learning with PowerPoint. A tutorial designed to help you capitalize on those aspects of PowerPoint that lend themselves best to engaging students' interests.

http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/tutorials/powerpoint/

#Facebook RSS in #MediaWiki (#Wikieducator) #vmvwiki #vmvdlt

Following from the Twitter/Wordpress RSS into MediaWiki, I now have a Facebook page RSS feed working. Note that due to Privacy setting Facebook Groups do not RSS Feed.

• Sample Page: http://wikieducator.org/VirtualMV


• Experimental Page: http://wikieducator.org/User:Mverhaart/Wikieducator/TechTips

Christina Bergey has written a blog providing good instructions for this at  http://christinabergey.com/blog/2013/03/get-facebook-group-feed-via-rss/ (note she has "groups" in the URL but this only works  for Facebook pages.

The following code will insert a Panel into your MediaWiki Wiki ( replace YourID, and YourPage)

<div style="font-family: menu,Arial;border: 1px solid #808080; width: 250px; margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;background-color: #F6F9ED;-webkit-box-shadow: 5px 5px 7px #999;">
{|
|[[File:Facebook.png|25px]] RSS from: https://www.facebook.com/YourPage<br /><hr width="248px"/>
|-
|
<rss>https://www.facebook.com/feeds/page.php?id=YourID&format=rss20|short|date|max=5</rss>
|}
</div>

Teacher confidence in using technology #vmvwiki

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Teacher Confidence in use of technology[/caption]

Diagram based on Mandinach & Cline by Mark Anderson where they talk about various stages of confidence related to technology ( http://ictevangelist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Teacher-confidence-1024x485.png )

http://ictevangelist.com/teacher-confidence-using-technology/

A social conference directory (links to Twitter/Linked-in) http://lanyrd.com/ #vmvdlt

Conferences listed and links to other people you are "socially" connected to.

mEducation - 35 Edu Experts on Improving Learning #vmvdlt

An eBook in slideshare

http://www.slideshare.net/DavidRogelberg/mobile-education-27782655?utm_content=buffere096f&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer

Lectures Didn't Work in 1350—and They Still Don't Work Today #vmvdlt

http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/11/lectures-didnt-work-in-1350-and-they-still-dont-work-today/281514/?utm_content=buffer99b22&utm_source=buffer

It all depends on your perspective (Rhino view)

Love this cartoon

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] From https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150329890840190[/caption]

PC-iPad screen share: [1] Windows 7 starter, ad hoc network

According to Microsoft Win7 starter is unable to create an ad hoc network. Am trying to screen share an iPad with a laptop without 3G needed.

A quick search on Dr. Google reveals that the ad hoc network option is actually there in starter, but the link is missing. To set up an ad hoc network just click on start and in the box "Search programs and files" type "ad hoc".. this will bring up the wizard and away you go.

Will add to the post how well this goes with screen share with iPad

 

An amazing map of Learning theories #vmvwiki #vmvdlt

If you are looking for an amazing map of Learning theories ...

http://cmapspublic3.ihmc.us/rid=1LGVGJY66-CCD5CZ-12G3/Learning%20Theory.cmap

A VLE Course #vmvdlt

Using Google Sites and open software to create a virtual learning environment

https://sites.google.com/a/thevleisdead.com/www/home

From eLearning to we-Learning

http://www.bersin.com/blog/post/from-e-learning-to-we-learning.aspx

 

""We-learning" embraces the simple and profound concept that any organization has a collection of knowledge and experience which should be shared. It respects the fact that the training department may, at most, have 5-10% of the knowledge needed and used in the company. And organizational learning is taking place on a real-time basis - always changing and becoming more valuable."

Google Drive Crop Drawing

While there is no actual cropping tool, this is achieved by

1. putting the image on the top left of the canvas then click and


2. drag the bottom right hand corner of the canvas until the canvas is the same size as the image.

Actually quite simple really !!!

Free Programming

 

Codecademy is an easy way to learn how to code. It's interactive, fun, and you can do it with your friends for free

http://www.codecademy.com/

Using Open Education Resources (OERs) in Blended Teaching: Is it worth it?

For the CITRENZ Conference in Rotorua, New Zealand ( http://www.citrenz.ac.nz) I prepared a paper "Using Open Education Resources (OERs) in Blended Teaching: Is it worth it?" using wiki researcher ( http://wikiresearcher.org/User:Mverhaart/CITRENZ/2011OER ).  While developing the paper I asked readers to help build the paper by either editing the paper or adding comments. Interestingly apart from two colleagues there was no feedback -there were many views however. One possible issue is the difficulty in adding ad-hoc comments (as a password/userid etc is required before you can edit/add a comment, a need to know wiki-code, etc..), so to provide another way to allow readers to make comments I have created this blog entry. So if you want to comment on the paper and feel more comfortable with adding to a blog entry, do so here.

 

Best/worst web sites page in wiki

Just added a best/worst web site page to my wiki. Feel free to add/comment (you will need to login first)

http://www.virtualmv.com/wiki/index.php?title=Multimedia:Design:Examples

A database-ERD (+more) diagram tool (like visio)

Another recommendation from JJ.

Dia is roughly inspired by the commercial Windows program 'Visio', though more geared towards informal diagrams for casual use. It can be used to draw many different kinds of diagrams. It currently has special objects to help draw entity relationship diagrams, UML diagrams, flowcharts, network diagrams, and many other diagrams. It is also possible to add support for new shapes by writing simple XML files, using a subset of SVG to draw the shape.

http://live.gnome.org/Dia/Examples

50 Open Source Tools That Replace Popular Education Apps

http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/12068_3888901_4/50-Open-Source-Tools-That-Replace-Popular-Education-Apps.htm

Screen Recorders

After a post on givaway of the day http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/ had  feedback about free screen recorders

Two that came up were

1. Cam studio (open source) http://camstudio.org/ and


2. the online  Screenr http://www.screenr.com