Using CLOUD Applications and Programs

Cloud computer is moving into the 21st Century.  No longer does a consumer need to travel down to the local store or computer office to purchase software to perform a certain task.  Many times the purchase of an entire package of software ends up being wasted money as we use it several times for one purpose, then move on to something else.

Cloud computing is a little different.  Hosted on someone else's servers, we can scour the Internet for a program we want to do a certain job.  Once located, one merely has to sign up for an account to use the program, create what they want to, then download the end result.

Some of these programs are free, some are paid for.  In most cases you can access a "lite" version, use it and download the image or creation.  However, if you want all the bells and whistles you often have to upgrade to the full version.

With the free programs, you often will have their advertising banner across an image.

The bottom line though, is that they are fun to play with, and gives a person an opportunity to use both sides of their minds by learning new technologies, as well as utilizing the creative side of their brain.  A winning combination if you ask me.

Now, a bit of advice for anyone using the clouds:

• set up an email account for a dumping ground.  You can set up a free account in Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, wherever, and use only that email account for these applications.  This will help you keep your business or school account free of the mass of emails you may receive or spam generated by these sites.
• complete your due diligence on these sites to make sure they aren't just phishing sites designed to get your personal information.  I only go to sites that I have found while searching blogs, educational sites, and sites recommended by other trusted sites.
• As always, be careful who you give your credit card number to if you plan to upgrade.

Here are some examples of cloud applications:

• Google.docs Using Screenjelly  an earlier blog post describing the use of google.docs using a cloud application to capture a screencast to help viewer walk through the steps
• Awesome-Screenshot using Screenjelly  this is a screencapture program that can take an image of your working screen, save it, and then add text and arrows and other graphics.  Also using Screenjelly cloud software
• Tiny URL  Use a cloud applicaiton to turn that really long URL into something more manageable
• YouTube Downloader  this application allows you to download your favorite YouTube videos for use in presentations. Don't forget to cite your sources.

These are just several of the examples you can find in the clouds.

Technology Tool: Wordle

Create a word cloud poster using Worldle.  It is simple...and FREE.

Just click on the posters below and you will get a pop up window with the poster.  You will be able to print it out.

Press the Randomize button and you will be able to get different posters using the same words.

These samples are the skills we want our youth to develop in STEM related activities.



Type in a bunch of text and it will create word poster for you and you can create them in different formats too.



and then...

Technology Tool: Motivator Poster Maker

Let your kids get creative using Motivator,  Open a FREE account, and create your own motivational poster.  You import your own picture, type in a title and a saying, then press CREATE and it does the work for you.  It allows you to send it to an email address, and if you decide you want to get the poster printed in a large format....of course you can pay for that.

Technology Tool: Animoto

Another tool for exercising your creativity...try Animoto
Free version allows you to create a thirty second slide show.  Upgrade for $5.00 a month and you can create 10 minute videos and higher quality output.

When you sign up for your FREE account, you get a code that you can give to your students (up to 50) to use the free account.

Technology Tool: Glogster Poster Maker

Create your own poster using Glogster...and it is FREE.

Technology Tool: Domo Animation

Here is a fun and time filling tools for your kids. This is FREE and you can create any number of cartoon animations.



DomoNation.com: 4-H Robotics by bygsky


Like it? Create your own at DomoNation.com. It's free and fun!

Timetoast Timeline Development Tool

I found a nice little time line generator that can be used to keep track of things you are working on. Needing an example of timeline material, I decided to go back through my history with the PA 4-H Science team. Below is the actually timeline, and the program allows you to grab the HTML code to embed in other programs.

You can set up your own FREE account at Timetoast

Creative Tool - Generator

Here is a neat little creative tool for you to play with...

Generators

Screenjelly Screen Capture Software

Here is a great tool for capturing what you are doing on your screen.  You can use this a number of ways, and a few ways I have used it is to record How-To videos for the PA 4-H Science website, and for it's sister site 4-H 4-U Productions.

{Click on the box in the lower right-hand corner to enlarge the screen}

Awesome Screenshot

Here is a little technology tool you can add to your toolbox.  This site allows you to do screen captures that you can use in other presentations.  The best thing that I like about this tool is that it allows you to blur out sensitive material that you do not want others to use.



Awesome Screenshot is actually and extension to be used in Google Chrome and is really easy to use.


Video How-To:  {Don't forget to click on the box in the lower right-hand corner to go full screen}

Using Google.docs

Here is a quick and easy vidcast on how to use Google.docs.

Google.docs How -To


To get a better view, there is a box in the bottom right corner you can click on to enlarge the vidcast.