Ideas to have fun on InspirARTion

More fun with inspirARTion website.

Sharon on a 10 symmetrical axis

Megan on a 10 symmetrical axis

Scott on a 10 symmetrical axis

Ashley on a 10 symmetrical axis

Created using Canva

Fun with Google Apps and Extensions

I found so much information today to boost me forward in my quest to find everything google and to engage students.  One thing that is often overlooked in education is to take time for yourself.  Students lead very busy lives and as a student myself, don't take time to enjoy life.  Today was an exception.  I created an assignment week where students are going to explore what they love.  In doing so, I ran across a website that talked about many different google apps and extensions that can help calm the mind, focus you, or just let you experience stuff in a different way.  I'll have to post more on that later, but for now...here are my fun projects.

The is Sketchpad 3.5.  It is a google app that allowed me to practice Caligraphy and just unwind.
And my new favorite: InspirARTion.  One of the best parts of this app is that it allows you to save the image with a transparent background to add to anything or to save with a white background.  And using Pixlr Editor, I edited some pictures that I took of the kids

This is dude...saved with a white background.

Just start drawing and see what happens- This is a screen shot of what I drew.

One horn short of a unicorn...oops

Just using a different brush stroke

Tried a back version of something

Ashley's senior picture

I took out Ashley, edited the background, and created a trail.

Dude showed up on the trail. :)

There are so many more that I want to tell you about, but this is all for today.  Login to one of the apps and play for yourself.

Using Canva and Marudot

My job today, for me to enjoy, was to use a website to create a calendar of events for the college for Fall 2016 semester.  I used http://apps.marudot.com/ to create the calendar of events, then exported it to receive a file that can be imported on Google Docs or Outlook.  I then created a tutorial on how to import it to either sytem.

Example

Then, I used the dates as a screen shot and used Canva, https://www.canva.com, to create a document of the dates with scenic backgrounds that I had personally taken.

Example

Example

I've decided to make my next project more camera shots.  I want to get my daughters to pose in generic poses, maybe another friend or two, and get some shots for making things.  I also want to take more scenic pictures.

Getting started

I went to a two day conference this week.  After seeing all different technology ideas, some of which were new and some were just reminders, I began wishing I had my blog going again and could just write.  It's hard to find time to write what you are feeling; what's going on in your life.  So much has been going on.  I would hope that what I share could be inspiration to others.

The other thing that I took away from the conference is a renewed sense of doing what's best for student success.  I love my job.  I'm an Enrollment Manager for a local community college.  The bad days are lots of complaints about instructors who didn't do their job well.  The good days are me being able to help students reach goals, be successful, get an education, and strive to be more than they ever thought they could.  I was once that student, so turning around and helping others that were like me seems fitting.

I love technology.  All the fun little gadgets that are being created daily make me wish I had gone into programming.  The idea that what is in my mind, or someone else's, can be put into a program and be available for all to enjoy or play.  Just remember, you are never too old to play.  I often have students complaining that my class is geared toward a high school student who just graduated.  The majority of the questions are just thought provoking questions, but I do like to have fun.  I'm playing Pokemon now, so I posted an announcement on catching all the points possible in class.  After all, "gotta catch 'em all".

This site will hopefully become an informative resource for students and teachers alike.  I will try to keep it current and give you something to learn each time you visit.  Subscribe/Follow so you won't miss out on anything.  I know how busy we can all get.  I have three children (my son is in the Army in Germany now), 1 dog, and 4 cats.  I'm married, work full-time, part-time as an instructor, and take care of my invalid mother who doesn't live with me, but is only 10 minutes away.  More about all of that later, but there's the basics.

I hope you check back often and if you have any suggestions, contact me.

Stay tuned,
Sharon