Blog posts

Humorous look at fair use with clips from Disney videos

Copyright and fair use guidelines for educators, with specific discussion of new technology

Interactive site where you can quiz yourself on copyright and fair use issues

True/False quiz on fair use and copyright for multimedia in education

Jane Krauss on the changing roles of teachers and students with project-based learning

How technology and 21st century changes affect the role of teachers, casting them as co-learners with students

How technology-based reform improved collaboration and engaged teachers in activities for professional growth

Information from the Department of Education on how classroom technology encourages collaboration, supports complex tasks, and improves student motivation

Podcast on professional learning communities and how they support student achievement

NETS standards for teachers

Technology standards for students from ISTE

State-by-state standards for K-12 education in most subjects

List of some of the types of multimedia projects possible

Education World article from 2000 with numerous quotes from teachers on barriers to technology integration in the classroom

Comparison of the old and new versions of Bloom's taxonomy

Sample chapter from a book by Jamie McKenzie on essential questions, explaining how they differ from traditional "school" questions. Examples for different age levels are provided.

Connects levels on Bloom's taxonomy different types of actions with technology. For example, this categorizes tagging as an analysis skill, reflective blogging as an evaluation skill, and podcasting or animating as a creation skill.

Brief introduction to storyboarding for multimedia projects with examples of a paper storyboard and a flowchart/mindmap in PowerPoint.

Step-by-step guide for creating linear storyboards for multimedia projects

An interactive exercise where you create a story to go with the pictures in the storyboard, which change every time you load the page. It's a good way to show how the images alone aren't enough to explain the action in a storyboard; you have to have text and directions.

Part 1 of a 3-part series on visual communication, focusing on dominant lines and shapes. Even though this is specifically about images on blogs, the principles can be applied to any visual communication.

Seven elements of visuals: line, shape, form, space, value, texture, color

Principles of visual design with tips for teaching them to children

Online application for editing photos and other images. Basic tools available with a free account.

Copyright-free images from the Library of Congress and a number of museums and other organizations. Primarily historical photos, with lots of great primary source material.

Tips for finding Creative Commons licensed images

Lots of different ways to visualize content and create graphics. Good place to go if stuck on how to represent something visually and create relevant graphics.

Free resources for teachers with information on visual literacy, focusing on visual sources of information like maps, diagrams, timelines, and storyboards

Inspiration for effective use of text with visuals to create powerful messages

Basic concepts for using PowerPoint effectively for delivering presentations, using multimedia learning principles from Richard Mayer. Includes a list of selected readings and example slides.