Windows Movie Maker, A mobile device and creating a short film

This is how I went about creating the film to warn children of danger.

• I researched the topic 'Dangers children face everyday' on the web and used information from many of the documents to come up with the information displayed in the movie.
• Next I went to the Web to find pictures that best depict the information thought about. You will notice that instead of using a mobile device, pictures from the web were used. (There are definite disadvantages and limitations from using pictures from the web).
• All the pictures were then saved to my computer, then imported in movie maker to begin creating the movie.
• Next, I created sounds to match up with the dangers I wanted to present to children using a text to speech software.
• The sounds were then imported and inserted in the audio field.
• The length of the sounds was matched up to the length of time for which a picture or group of pictures is to be displayed.
• Finally, I Inserted a title and credits then published and saved my movie. The finished product: Movie: Dangers for Children is now ready for viewing!

To create a film using a mobile device is to make an original production. Nevertheless, I count it an incredibly great method to use pictures and relevant audio to create a movie. One might argue that the pictures that I copied from the Web are in most cases copyrighted and can cause serious legalities, federal and civil issues, to surface if publishers decide to enforce their rights. Additionally, one may not be able to find a specific picture on the Web to correspond with the ideas being endeavoured to express. One has to take into consideration fair use also, making sure that he or she does not exploit publicised works to the extent that it seems to be his or her own.

On the other hand though, I believe that pictures are easy to source, almost anytime with a reliable Internet connection, making it possible to create a movie twenty-four hours of the day. In fact, they come in different sizes and varieties and can be edited after which they fit like a Cinderella shoe in a document. With the innovation of photo-shopping also on can re-create a picture to make it look like the sentiments to be expressed in writing.

An SEN resource-Interactive Animal Dictionary

The interactive animal dictionary (done as a PowerPoint Presentation) was created specifically for special needs students. The Interactive Dictionary- SEN resource is one that complements thirty-four others like it in the same file format that is created by my colleagues. I presented relevant information and facts on an animal beginning with the letter 'o' taking into account special needs students.

To create the Sen resource, I considered the specific disabilities or impairments of the students and ensured that whatever technology I used, it will be able to benefit all of them. I catered for the visually impaired and the deaf by inserting sound and text for the presentation of the relevant information. The information that the student needs to know from the slide can be read or listened to. I also inserted a bit of colour for the partially visually impaired to identify key words as they are being read.

I also took into account the availability of relevant software, hardware and Internet technologies that can be used to create the SEN resource. A text to speech software was already available on my PC so I used it to create the sound heard. Sounds could be inserted in PowerPoint from my files making it easy to include on slides. PowerPoint is also a program found on my PC and gives the option of animating slides to make presentation interactive. The images and sounds can be enlarged and amplified through the projector and speakers that are owned by the school. That way, persons who can will see it, and all will see it at the same time. Finally, the Internet is accessible by all and can be used to find relevant pictures of the animal.

SEN students can benefit largely if assistive technologies are incorporated in classrooms. The visually impaired, in this case, could have listened to the information about the animal on the slide since the audio media was utilised. Deaf students could have read along as the text was being pointed by the teacher or a next student.

Re-designing a School's IT and Internet Policy

How are the Internet and information technologies in schools to be utilized? Would Internet access support the philosophies of the school? What are the responsibilities of teachers and students regarding the use of the school's IT facilities and Internet? The response to these questions can be found in a school's IT and Internet Policy also known as the Acceptable Use Policy in the Cyber realm. From my laborious research which was nevertheless fruitful, I gathered much information which allowed me to re-design and publish this IT and Internet Policy for my primary school.

The research process was time consuming and demanding. Many hours were spent trying to locate IT and Internet policies or information regarding these on the Web. In fact, it required me to be very selective in my compiling the data. Although Internet policies are somewhat universal, the ones chosen had to be specific to the culture and had to be inclusive in its outlines. Our schools in Grenada are not connected through the Internet according to districts or so, so the policies identified had to appeal to single independent school settings. When this information was not available, as with most of the references used, I had to be innovative and adapt the information so that it can appeal to my primary school. This is definitely time consuming and energy expending but is certainly worth the effort.

The Web publishes information that is both credible and relevant but it can also be used to do just the opposite. Sites are definitely credible and secure if I see an 's' at the end of 'http' indicating that the protocol is secure. So I checked for the 's'. Also I looked to see the kind of website it is: .com, .edu, .gov, .org. Usually the information in educational, organisational and government websites can be trusted and can link back to a trusted author. Generally also, the information is updated and provides a way to contact them in case of any problems.

After having researched information regarding Fair Use and Copyright law, among others things, I wonder how much of that I actually adhered to as I used public Web information to create the Policy!