Your ideas 2 15March 2010 to ???

I can see room for a few esthetic improvements to make WIZIQ even more "betterer".

• The welcome page with the count down is not very inviting. I would like to be able to customize it to my needs, pictures, perhaps streaming music or a list of upcoming classes; every one has different needs.

• The raise hand icon should change color from green to lets say red, so it is easier to see.

• Whilst I like the idea to pass the microphone around, I can also see merit in the “press to talk" system. An option would be nice so the teacher can choose what suits him best.

• A selection of skins would be nice too, or the possibility to make changes. The washed out colors are not to every bodies liking. The ability to match the skin to the theme of a webpage would look so much more professional.

I can see room for a few esthetic improvements to make WIZIQ even more "betterer". • The welcome page with the count down is not very inviting. I would like to be able to customize it to my needs, pictures, perhaps streaming music or a list of upcoming classes; every one has different needs. • The raise hand icon should change color from green to lets say red, so it is easier to see. • Whilst I like the idea to pass the microphone around, I can also see merit in the “press to talk" system. An option would be nice so the teacher can choose what suits him best. • A selection of skins would be nice too, or the possibility to make changes. The washed out colors are not to every bodies liking. The ability to match the skin to the theme of a webpage would look so much more professional.

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Not sure if I am able to follow the PNG issue. What exactly do you want to do?

Not sure if I am able to follow the PNG issue. What exactly do you want to do?

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PNG, if I understand correctly allows a picture or graphic to be shown without its background. This gives the perception of an object vs an image. When you click on any of the shapes, etc. in the whitboard you will see it has a frame or footprint that resembles a regular picture but only shows when you select it.

this class:
http://how2wiziq.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-2-wiziq-405-entrepreneur-leve-tv.html

and the upcoming class on Saturday:

PNG, if I understand correctly allows a picture or graphic to be shown without its background. This gives the perception of an object vs an image. When you click on any of the shapes, etc. in the whitboard you will see it has a frame or footprint that resembles a regular picture but only shows when you select it. this class: http://how2wiziq.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-2-wiziq-405-entrepreneur-leve-tv.html and the upcoming class on Saturday: <div style="width:481px;"><p style='margin:0px;padding:0px;'><a href="http://www.wiziq.com/online-class/283548-wiziq-math-left-brain-or-whole-brain" target="_blank">WIZIQ Math Left Brain or Whole brain?</a> by <a href="http://www.wiziq.com/George" target="_blank">George Machlan</a></p><p style='margin:0px;padding:0px;'><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="481" height="407" id="player"><param name="movie" value="http://authorlive.wiziq.com/aliveext/EmbedauthorLIVE/authorlive.swf"/><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowNetworking" value="always"/><param name="FlashVars" value="sessionkey=95DC2967CF4B42498CB061DACA6690B9" /> <embed src="http://authorlive.wiziq.com/aliveext/EmbedauthorLIVE/authorlive.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" FlashVars="sessionkey=95DC2967CF4B42498CB061DACA6690B9" allowscriptaccess="always" allowNetworking="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="481" height="407"> </embed></object></p> <p style='margin:0px;padding:0px;'>Get your own <a href="http://www.wiziq.com/Virtual_Classroom.aspx" target="_blank">Virtual Classroom</a></p></div>

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Agree, agree, maybe, agree. Lori you are batting a thousand.

Agree, agree, maybe, agree. Lori you are batting a thousand.

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The Pièce de résistance at WIZIQ
OK, sit back and get comfortable... this is going to take some time to lay it out...
Without sharing all of my research and screwy theories I would like to simply say the following:
Since the TV and particularly now with the digital-online age we have been rewired. We are less and less left brain dominant learners and processors of information. Sure some remain so (academics) but the vast majority of the population we deal with as teachers are ever increasingly Right Brain dominant. (That's the premise, don't bother reading more unless you can tentatively buy into that.)
Left Brain
Loves text and numbers
Rule driven
Black/White little to no grey
Logic is king
Can deal with abstract concepts
Loves control
Gate keeper
Can write stuff real good
(Sound like anyone you know?)
Right Brain
aka La La Land
Imagination
Intuitive
Loves colors, and 3d movies
Inspiration
Experiential
Originator of speech and emotes
Sings and expresses emotions
Converses in icons, images and tangible objects

Wiziq has most of the tools and features currently in place to accommodate most of the input and expressive output the Right Brain needs to become an equal partner in the learning experience.  One of the areas that are a little lacking is in the emoticons, shapes and symbols.  Way too few for a right brain's desires (the left brain really only needs text) and no matter how many WIZIQ provides for us, they will never be enough.

We have already discussed several work-arounds in the How 2 WIZIQ tutorial series here:
http://www.how2wiziq.blogspot.com/
The problem is that it takes a lot of extra steps to perform and must be repeated for each class.

WHEW! That is a lot of information without a suggestion, eh?  Well, here is the suggestion...

Instead of giving us fish (nem emoticons, shapes and symbols)
Give us a fishing pole and basket!
1.  We need a simple icon generator.  Any graphic we create should be importable as png or transparent thingy to create a vast number of props (new word for emoticons, shapes and symbols). It would also be nice if it standardized the imported size and pixel density.  WIZIQ would never have to deal with a user's complaints of not having the right Icon thingy again.
2. We need a simple basket (white board pallet) and closet (content library feature) for storing our toys and stuff we create that can readily be brought into a classroom.  Note: not individually like current uploads, rather entire boxes of thematic toy sets.  It would also be nice if students could have there own baskets to be brought to class and used/shared.

That's it!  Note that once you allow png imports we can live without the above but it sure would be nice. 

OK maybe a few more items...
If we are going to create an environment where many students can assist and take part in whiteboard activities we must unbundle the white board controls. A slider bar should only affect students view, not all views.  B Only drawing tools and icons should be available to students. C this is a big one... if a student or teacher creates a multi part item (e.g. stick man, or mathematical formula or graph) there needs to be a way to group these parts into a new entity for manipulating.

I will not go into why I think this is such a wonderful idea.  I would be happy to clarify the need and desirability with anyone who needs it. (I have been sharing weekly in the How 2 series.)  Until we can talk, please take my word for it... the inclusion of students in the whiteboard and giving them truly creative capabilities with Right Brain tools can make us a remarkable organism.

Or, I'm off on another of my La La Land (right brain) hoots ;-)

PS this blog posting can also be found at my main blog here:
http://www.myeslfriends.blogspot.com/

<strong><span style="font-size: large;">The Pièce de résistance at WIZIQ</span></strong> OK, sit back and get comfortable... this is going to take some time to lay it out... Without sharing all of my research and screwy theories I would like to simply say the following: Since the TV and particularly now with the digital-online age we have been rewired. We are less and less left brain dominant learners and processors of information. Sure some remain so (academics) but the vast majority of the population we deal with as teachers are ever increasingly Right Brain dominant. (That's the premise, don't bother reading more unless you can tentatively buy into that.) <strong><span style="font-size: large;">Left Brain</span></strong> Loves text and numbers Rule driven Black/White little to no grey Logic is king Can deal with abstract concepts Loves control Gate keeper Can write stuff real good (Sound like anyone you know?) <strong><span style="font-size: large;">Right Brain</span></strong> aka La La Land Imagination Intuitive Loves colors, and 3d movies Inspiration Experiential Originator of speech and emotes Sings and expresses emotions Converses in icons, images and tangible objects Wiziq has most of the tools and features currently in place to accommodate most of the input and expressive output the Right Brain needs to become an equal partner in the learning experience.&nbsp; One of the areas that are a little lacking is in the emoticons, shapes and symbols.&nbsp; Way too few for a right brain's desires (the left brain really only needs text) and no matter how many WIZIQ provides for us, they will never be enough. We have already discussed several work-arounds in the How 2 WIZIQ tutorial series here: <a href="http://www.how2wiziq.blogspot.com/">http://www.how2wiziq.blogspot.com/</a> The problem is that it takes a lot of extra steps to perform and must be repeated for each class. WHEW! That is a lot of information without a suggestion, eh?&nbsp; Well, here is the suggestion... Instead of giving us fish (nem emoticons, shapes and symbols) Give us a fishing pole and basket! 1.&nbsp; We need a simple icon generator.&nbsp; Any graphic we create should be importable as png or transparent thingy to create a vast number of props (new word for emoticons, shapes and symbols). It would also be nice if it standardized the imported size and pixel density.&nbsp; WIZIQ would never have to deal with a user's complaints of not having the right Icon thingy again. 2. We need a simple basket (white board pallet) and closet (content library feature) for storing our toys and stuff we create that can readily be brought into a classroom.&nbsp; Note: not individually like current uploads, rather entire boxes of thematic toy sets.&nbsp; It would also be nice if students could have there own baskets to be brought to class and used/shared. <span style="font-size: large;"><strong>That's it!</strong></span>&nbsp; Note that once you allow png imports we can live without the above but it sure would be nice.&nbsp; OK maybe a few more items... If we are going to create an environment where many students can assist and take part in whiteboard activities we must unbundle the white board controls<span style="color: red;">. </span><strong><span style="color: red;">A</span> </strong>slider bar should only affect students view, not all views.&nbsp; <strong><span style="color: red;">B</span></strong> Only drawing tools and icons should be available to students. <strong><span style="color: red;">C</span> </strong><span style="background-color: yellow;">this is a big one...</span> if a student or teacher creates a multi part item (e.g. stick man, or mathematical formula or graph) there needs to be a way to group these parts into a new entity for manipulating. I will not go into why I think this is such a wonderful idea.&nbsp; I would be happy to clarify the need and desirability with anyone who needs it. (I have been sharing weekly in the How 2 series.)&nbsp; Until we can talk, please take my word for it... the inclusion of students in the whiteboard and giving them truly creative capabilities with Right Brain tools can make us a remarkable organism. Or, I'm off on another of my La La Land (right brain) hoots ;-) PS this blog posting can also be found at my main blog here: <a href="http://www.myeslfriends.blogspot.com/">http://www.myeslfriends.blogspot.com/</a>

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"Press to talk" idea is great, in my opinion. Typing is soo time consuming. And we loose the track of the conversation as we try to catch the attention of the teacher for the microphone.

MERVE

"Press to talk" idea is great, in my opinion. Typing is soo time consuming. And we loose the track of the conversation as we try to catch the attention of the teacher for the microphone. MERVE

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