Data Visualization Lab

  There are so many sites to visit. I had heard so much about edu.glogster so I thought I would give it a try. I really liked when they first let you play around on a glog and draw. I joined Glogster, only to find out that the drawing tool could only be used with a paid subscription. After playing around with the free clipart and downloaded pictures, I came up with the second screenshot. After I finished, I figured that I could always draw in paint, save it to my computer, then upload it to glogster for use. I also had to relearn how to do a screenshot and save it in the right format.

This is the trial based glogster. I could do a drawing when I didn't have a subscription.

This is the way I could do it after I signed in. I could download pictures and add them to glogster. Although I would like the freedom to do drawing without downloading them from paint, I think I could adapt.




  After fussing around with Glogster for awhile, I decided to investigate other sites. I thought about audacity but we already covered that, even though I know I need to revisit it. I decided to go to the bottom of the Free Visual Tools page. I usually have a hard time getting through the whole list. It was good way to go because I discovered Wordle. I did not know this website existed. It is fun. I could make vocabulary posters with this website. I have been really working with word association in my Chemistry class so I decided to make this wordel.

Playing with the colors, fonts and different combinations was fun. I really like this one but will probably make a black and white version that I can copy repeatedly on school copy machines.





  The next site I visited was Dropbox. I discovered I needed this after doing the majority of my classwork on my desktop today and working on my laptop in the basement this evening. I had saved a few things on the desktop. I know if you use googledocs you are free to open them anywhere. However, I like the thought of taking documents I create at school, putting them into dropbox, and opening at home. I do not have to worry about emailing them or putting them on a flashdrive.

This screenshot shows where the dropbox is located on my computer. It even shows the little icon and how many folders dropbox contains. I can save pictures and documents in the dropbox folders and open them on any computer.

 

  There are many other sites I would like to visit, particulary Slideshare and Screencast to use in my group presentation or my Wicked Problem project. I am really glad to have the Free Visual Tools page for future reference.

  My ah-ha moments came when using wordel to highlight vocabulary and/or word association in my science classes. I also really like the simpleness of drop box for sharing files, especially when I get stressed for time working different computers.