Once again, I am amazed at all of the useful Web 2.0 tools that I had no idea existed. The class on October 4, 2011 gave me so many exciting (new to me) tools that I now have numerous ideas on how to implement them into my daily work life.
I am especially excited about using Screencast-O-Matic.com into my work for the two industry sector partnerships that I help coordinate. Both the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance (www.newmfgalliance.org) and North Coast Marine Manufacturing Alliance (www.northcoastmma.org) have a section on the website where job seekers can post their resume and fill out an application. The Alliance manufacturers then review their information and contact the job seeker about occupational opportunities they would be qualified for at that company.
I was at a Veteran’s Job fair called, “Hiring Our Heroes” at Lambeau Field on Saturday. I met with over 60 service men and women about job opportunities within the 80 companies I represent. The Alliances employ over 30 percent of the manufacturing workforce in northeast Wisconsin. I have numerous job openings in all types of occupational fields in manufacturing. At the job fair, I was explaining how the Veterans can post their information on the website. I gave them written instructions on how to go back to the website and post their “network profile.” I believe the website is not difficult to navigate, but having a video using Screencast-O-Matic.com would provide me the opportunity to post a video tutorial on how job seekers can network with manufacturers by using the online resume/application posting tool. There are directions written down on the website on how to post the job seekers information, however not everyone learns via written directions. Using the Screencast-O-Matic.com tool, will provide visual learners the opportunity to understand the process of posting their information in their preferred learning style. I am also a visual learner and I know that I would prefer watching a tutorial than reading the directions. I know I have been helped immensely by Dr. Kim’s tutorials that she posts prior to EDL 755’s Tuesday class.
I also believe that this tutorial video of how job seekers can post their “network profile” will be helpful for Job Center staff. In Job Centers throughout the Bay Area Workforce Development Board, the Alliances website is a hot link on the computers in the Job Center. If you have been to a Job Venter in the past year, you know how extremely busy it is in the building. Job Center staff has not a lot of time to explain how to post a job profile on the Alliances’ websites. Having a video will alleviate some of the time staff has to take explaining the websites.
I also enjoyed learning about Pixlr. In my work, I am creating numerous brochures, flyers and presentations. All of these usually have photographs. I’m excited about being able to manipulate the photographs I use and modify them more to my needs. The ease of use was amazing. Even someone like me who is technology-challenged was able to create some imaginative pictures that without this tool would have been impossible. I believe I will be able to save a significant amount of time in my work day by being able to take a photograph that isn’t perfect to what I need and modify it to what I do need. Before I knew about Pixlr, I would have spent a significant amount of time rifling through dozens of photographs to find the perfect image.
When I consider how visual learning tools impact our learning in society and the college I work for, I realize that we are in a new age to enhance how we communicate with students. As I had shared earlier in this blog, there are different types of learners: visual, written and hands-on. Visual learning tools provide visual learners the opportunity to learn in their preferred learning style. As educational institutions, it is important to find ways to instruct in different types of methods to meet the different needs of each student. I also believe that we as educators shouldn’t eliminate our past learning tools, because of the new technology available. Sometimes in the excitement of having a new high-tech tool, we eliminate past learning tools as being passé. Educators should try and utilize both, because we are working with different types of learners.
This week, I plan on using Screencast-O-Matic.com in videotaping my tutorial for the NEW Manufacturing Alliance website and using Pixlr for a brochure I need to create about the North Coast Marine Manufacturing Alliance. I can’t wait to get started!
I was also blown away by the power and potential of Screencast-O-Matic! It was so easy to use, and a tool I think most students and organizations would find immensely helpful.
ReplyDeleteI agree that visual learning has exciting implications for the classroom, but I think it should be a supplement to learning, not a substitute. We need to offer new technologies in order to connect with students, but we shouldn't completely eliminate tried and true methods that aren't deemed as "hip" or current. As you mention, people learn in much different ways. We need to take these individual learning styles into account when planning classroom, outreach or engagement activities.