Free Images and Online Presentation Ideas... in Education Today

Some interesting blog posts I discovered recently about free images and creative online presentation ideas...

Female User Icon / http://www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/10678 / CC0 1.0

Free People Icons for E-Learning
http://blogs.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/free-people-icons-e-learning/
July 7, 2015
Tom Kuhlmann
http://blogs.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/about-tom/

Tom Kuhlmann shares how to access free people icons from a variety of sources. But he does more... he also shares examples of how he has used such icons in his work... and he provides instructions about how to properly attribute the icons. Nicely done!

American Flag / Sharon & Nikki McCutcheon / CC BY 2.0

Over 60 Free Stock Images
http://blogs.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/60-free-stock-images/
July 14, 2015
Tom Kuhlmann
http://blogs.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/about-tom/

Tom Kuhlmann (again) shares how to access free images for use in our work. This time he also tells how to edit these images.

Presentations / Peter Morville / CC BY 2.0

10 Creative Online Presentation Ideas for eLearning Professionals
http://elearningindustry.com/10-creative-online-presentation-ideas-elearning-professionals
June 18, 2015
Christopher Pappas
http://elearningindustry.com/elearning-authors/christopher-pappas

Pappas share presentation ideas that will engage your audience. He does not simply list tools for creating presentations, but rather he gives advice about how best to engage your learners with those presentations. His blog post is a hub from which you can access many good ideas. This article is a must read for anyone who wants to improve his/her online presentation skills.

Become a Better Photographer

Have you ever asked a photographer how s/he shoots such great photos? I usually receive the answer, "Take lots of photos." I don't think I truly believed that answer until I worked on Project 365/2014.

No, I'm not a great photographer. But I did take several photos in 2014 that I like. And I shot many photos that I did not like.

What did I learn? I became better at composition, lighting, night shots, seeing details, creativity, and photo-editing.

Summer Lounge Chairs / Jo Schiffbauer / CC BY 2.0

I found that construction, big machines, clouds, hay rolls, and flowers are interesting.

Hay Rolls / Jo Schiffbauer / CC BY 2.0

I discovered that some shots look better in black-and-white than in color.

Night Lights and Snow BW / Jo Schiffbauer / CC BY 2.0

I have taken photos early in the morning and late at night. I shot a photo as I sat in my car as it moved through a car wash. I have used towels, blouses, throws, and scarves as backdrops for items. I followed a blimp to take some interesting photos. I took photos of floors, upholstery, coasters, and trivets.

Bamboo Hot Plate / Jo Schiffbauer / CC BY 2.0

I always have my camera with me. I use point-and-shoot and cell phone cameras. I keep a small tripod attached to the point-and-shoot and I have a small tripod I can use with the cell phone camera.

Was doing Project 365/2014 a good idea? Absolutely! Read about Project 365/2014 here... and view the photos here. Check out my thoughts about the project at Ten Photos... and Counting... (http://teachinginadigitalworld.blogspot.com/2014/01/ten-photos-and-counting.html).

Am I working on a Project 365/2015? Yes... with modifications. Read about the project here... and view the photos here.

Ducks Up Close / Jo Schiffbauer / CC BY 2.0

Photography Resources for Smartphones and the Classroom

Smartphone Shoot / itchys / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

  
"The best camera is the one you have with you."   Chase Jarvis

The cameras most of us have with us most of the time are our smartphones. While modifying a photography unit I decided that I should add some helpful resources for working with smartphone photography.

 




Each of these videos provides useful ideas for taking photos with smartphones.

Muck Farm / Phil and Jo Schiffbauer / CC BY 2.0

•  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onr2824qfIU
  
  • 9 Tips for Better Smartphone Photos

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YroMyQJ-GMQ
  
  • Smartphone Photography: Taking Better Photos with Your Phone

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMCa_1krUeo
  
  • How to take great photos using your smart phone

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGunTKV3QIw
  
  • Five Tips for Taking Better Photos with Your Smartphone

Photo Apps / Jo Schiffbauer / CC BY 2.0

Can we talk about smartphone photography without discussing apps? I think these recommendations are worth reviewing.

• http://www.creativebloq.com/design-tools/best-photo-apps-513764
  
  • The 30 Best Photo Apps

• http://www.diyphotography.net/top-android-photography-apps-serious-smartphone-photographers/
  
  • Top Android Photography Apps for Serious Smartphone Photographers

• https://insidersguide.vzw.com/tech-smarts/top-photography-camera-apps/
  
  • Top Photography Apps for the Camera Pro in All of Us

• http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/10/25/best-photo-apps-for-photographers-reviewed-and-rated/
  
  • Best Photo Apps for Photographers Reviewed and Rated

• http://www.canadianliving.com/life/community/20_best_photo_apps_for_your_smartphone.php
  
  • 20 Best Photo Apps for Your Smartphone

• http://www.mensjournal.com/expert-advice/21-best-photo-apps-for-smartphones-20131125
  
  • 21 Best Photo Apps for Smartphones

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Of course, I want to include some ideas about using photography in the classroom. 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_oALYl_lC

Flickr Badges / Alexander Kaiser / CC BY 2.0

• Using Flickr in the Classroom

• Have students curate a gallery

• Access Flickr's special collections

• Photos taken on phones can be emailed to Flickr using Flickr mail

Pinterest has some good resources for using cameras in the classroom.

• http://www.pinterest.com/nedrai/
  
  • Nedra Isenberg's Pinterest boards

• http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=camera in classroom
  
  • search page for "camera in classroom" on Pinterest

• http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=photography in classroom
  
  • search page for "photography in classroom" on Pinterest
    

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The photography apps I am currently using are the following ones.

on my smartphone... 

• Camera (default app)
• Halftone (http://www.juicybitssoftware.com/halftone/) - turn photos into comics
• iPhoto (http://www.apple.com/ios/iphoto/) - organize, edit, share
• NightCap (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nightcap-night-capture-photo/id486414195?mt=8) - for low light situations
• ProCamera (http://www.procamera-app.com/) - antishake, night camera, burst mode, sharing, video, QR codes and bar codes
• Pxture (http://www.pxture.it/) - photo + mask + font = interesting text effects
• SnappyCam Pro (no longer available in the American iTunes Store) – hold shutter button for burst mode
• ToonCamera (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tooncamera/id392538848?mt=8) - turn photos into cartoons

on my computer...

• ColorStrokes (http://macphun.com/colorstrokes) - selective coloring
• GraphicConverter (http://www.lemkesoft.de/en/image-editing-slideshow-browser-batch-conversion-metadata-and-more-on-your-mac/) - organization, workflow, photo-editing
• iPhoto (https://www.apple.com/mac/iphoto/) - organization, phto-editing, sharing, creativity
• Seashore (http://seashore.sourceforge.net/The_Seashore_Project/About.html) - photo-editing, layers,
• Snapheal (http://macphun.com/snapheal) - remove objects, enhance photos

online...

• Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/) - online photo management, sharing
• PicMonkey (http://www.picmonkey.com/) - photo-editing, graphic design, collages

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What would you suggest that I share with teachers about photography and about cameras in the classroom?