ICT+and+the+Visual+Learner

toc =ICT Tools and the Visual Learner= = = [|VARK] as a simple and usable approach to tackling Learning styles. For the classroom practitioner we need something that is simple to apply and use. Gardner's Model of Multiple Intelligences is brilliant work, but it is to unwieldy and complicated to use in the classroom. However [|Fleming (2001)] proposed a simpler model that is easy to used, applied and tested with my students. This model is [|VARK]**V**isual, **A**ural, **R**ead/Write and **K**inesthetic.

So visual learner are those whose prefered learning style (in a learning situation) is what they see. These learner like

So to lets have a look at these different "likes" of the visual learner and match some tools to these. many of these tools can be used again and again
 * Seeing teachers body language and facial expressions
 * Pictures, illustrations and diagrams
 * Posters
 * Cartoons
 * Collages
 * Slide shows
 * TV Shows
 * Films and Videos
 * Flowcharts
 * colouring books
 * Graphs and charts
 * maps
 * Flash cards
 * Underlining and highlighting

TV Shows Video and Movies

 * Video libraries like
 * [|Youtube]
 * [|vimeo]
 * [|eTV]
 * [|TV 3 On demand]
 * [|TVNZ On demand]
 * [|MediaStorm]
 * [|National Geographic Liv]e
 * Online video based news channels
 * [|BBC News]
 * [|TVNZ News]
 * [|TV3 News]
 * Camtasia - this is a tools by [|TECHSMTH] that does screen capture and heap more including producing scorm based quizzes and tests - brilliant
 * [|Camstudio] - this is an open source screen capture tools and its a great starting place
 * [|Photostory 3 (version 3)] - Microsoft got it right a brilliant tool I love it and its free (but not open source). Not designed for Windows 8
 * Fraps. One of my students found this free tool that allows screen capture of games. You can use this to make machinema movies. Very cool! - []
 * Moviestorm - this is a great tool for creating animated movies. [] registration required
 * Animoto - this is a web 2.0 tool that creates short video clips from images and sound files. []
 * Pinnacle's Videospin is a free PC based alternative to windows movie maker - free - http://www.videospin.com/Redesign/
 * [|Pencil] - an animation tool - onion skinning and a whole heap more - great on a tablet

Mind Maps, Flow charts and Brain Storms

 * [|Inspiration & Kidspiration] - the standards - good solid products but perhaps touch expensive
 * [|Smart Ideas] - if you own a smartboard you can buy at a good price a site licience of this tool. Its a good product, java based
 * [|Freemind] - this is an open source product - get it from sourceforge. well worth a look. Great value for move, again java based
 * Cmap - this is a very cool free tool. Not a small download but easy to use and powerful. Perhaps not as kid friendly for the early years but for seniors - http://cmap.ihmc.us/
 * [|Microsoft Visio] - so much but so expensive. Great if you can afford it.
 * [|Mindmapper], like [|Mindomo]
 * [|Concept draw] - this is great for science and medical stuff
 * Visual Understanding Environment is a mind mapping tool produced buy tufts - good free mind mapping tool - [|VUE]
 * [|RFFlow] - this is a very cool flowcharting program - I would recommend it.
 * Web 2.0 Tools This could include [|mindmeister] [|Gliffy] or [|Drawanywhere]

//Pictures, illustrations and collages//

 * Adobe & Corel Products - not free but these are the benchmarks, we mustn't forget Macromedia (opps Adobe) freehand and fireworks.
 * [|Artrage] (limited version is free)
 * [|The Gimp] - this is photoshop for free, very hard to look past this open source tool
 * [|Inkscape]
 * Rasterbator - I love this tool. Take one image, load rasterbator (or goto it online) produce one rastered image of any size (see the picture) http://homokaasu.org/rasterbator/ online web 2.0 version http://homokaasu.org/rasterbator/wizard.gas?Phase=1
 * [|Tuxpaint] - these are cool for the younger user, add in the stamps and young students can make amazing collages easily - http://www.tuxpaint.org/
 * Kahootz - very cool for the younger user
 * [|Paint.net] - a nice clean and simple downloaded tool -
 * Kidpics
 * [|Blockposter]This cool web 2.0 app will let you increase the size of any uploaded image with very little pixelation



Visual Planning

 * MS Project (Gantt charts, Critical pathways diagrams..)
 * RFFlow - this cool little tool also goes gantt charts
 * GanttProject - this is a simple free and open source project available from sourceforge. Well worth a look and I definitely recommend it. - http://ganttproject.biz/
 * OPenProj - this is a very powerful project management tool - Java based - http://www.projity.com/ - free open source desktop project management software available on sourceforge

Flash Cards

 * [|Pauker v1.6] - this another little application that creates flash card. Get it from source forge. Open source and free
 * Moodle Flashcards - [|Moodle] is a LMS or learning management system. One of the many many modules you can load into this does flashcards. Its also open source
 * [|Hot Potatoes] - This is a very cool commercial product that is available free to schools by application. It makes web based learning object. In the match activity tool it will also make flash cards

Mapping Tools

 * Google Earth - several version the free one is brilliant and the pay for version....http://earth.google.com
 * Google Streetview
 * Google Sky
 * Google maps & Streetview - http://maps.google.com
 * [|Google Sketch up] - why include this here. well one of the neat tricks with sketch up is you can build the building at what ever location..i.e. the tower of London and upload this model to Google earth

Charts and graphs

 * Excel - Microsoft's workhorse
 * Calc - this is the offering from staroffice and[|openoffice.org]
 * Web 2.0 tools
 * google documents - http://doc.google.com
 * zoho documents - http://www.zoho.com
 * Digitiser
 * [|Tinkerplots and fathom] are highly recommended software for visualisation, graphing etc

Visualisation & Simulation

 * [|Crocodile Technology] - this is a commercial product but worth a look - also has a dance version
 * [|Crocodile Physics]
 * [|Alice] - this is a programming tool for manipulating visual objects - kid friendly and free
 * [|edusim] - visualisation software for the interactive whiteboards

Presentation Tools

 * PowerPoint
 * iWork Keynote
 * [|Prezi]
 * Open Office - very hard to look past this incredable tool - free and very well featured. The latest version open office 3 is very very good. [|http://openoffice.org]

Web Publishing

 * .eXe - this is a tool that produces SCORM compliant and IMS compliant learning objects. Very powerful. Developed in New Zealand and I swear by it - open source, professionally developed. [|http://exelearning.org]
 * Adobe Dreamweaver - the industry standard, hard to beat but not cheap. Very good school deals are available though
 * NVU - very cool free HTML editor. recommended. [|http://www.nvu.com]
 * Adsoft foxeditor
 * [|Moodle]
 * [|LAMS] - A LMS and also can be added into Moodle - worth a look at l[|amsinternational.org]

Comic Creation Tools
There are a number of tools available that allow the user to create comic style presentations and publications. These are brilliant tools for the visual learner. They are engaging, fun and allow for creativity, expression and imagination: The two that I know of are: >
 * comic life (mac and PC) - []
 * hypercomics - comic book creator - http://www.mycomicbookcreator.com/download/hypercomics/

I have produced a couple of tutorials for comic life for windows. Thyey are on teachertube. Here are the URLS: [|Comic Life for windows pt 1] [|Comic Life for windows pt 2]

RSVP - Rapid Sequential Visual Presentation
This is a technique for increasing speed of reading. The technique is this:instead of having a page of text to read through, the RSVP tool shows you one word at a time in one spot - you focus on the one spot and can control the speed of sequence. Because of the single focus the rate at which you read increases. This tool set has its own page - RSVP

Online Dictionaries and Thesaurus
Online dictionaries and thesarus

=Web 2.0 tools and the Visual Learner= Web 2.0 Tools and technology lend themselves to Visual Learners. These can be as resource materials or as online tools. Here are some worth considering:

**video tools, media portals and sites**
These sites have vast amounts of video that is available but in the case of google and youtube a degree of teacher previewing is very advisable
 * [|Youtube]
 * [|Teachertube]
 * [|Google Video]
 * [|Vuze]
 * **Video Tools** || **Name** || **Url** ||
 * Photo/audio Tool || Voice thread || http://voicethread.com/ ||
 * Video Editor || Jumpcut || http://www.jumpcut.com/ ||
 * Video Editor || Eyespot || http://www.eyespot.com/ ||
 * Video Editor || Pinnacle Share || [|http://www.pinnacleshare.com] ||
 * Video Editor || Cuts || [|http://www.cuts.com] ||
 * Video Editor || Splashcast || http://web.splashcast.net/ ||
 * Video Editor || TouFee || http://www.toufee.com/ ||

**Screen Capture Tools**
Techsmith, the company that produces Camtasia and Snagit also have an online option called the **Jing** - http://www.techsmith.com/jing/ this is available in free and premium editions

On the iPad, iTouch and iPhone screen grabs or shots can be captured by pressing the power and home buttons simultaneously. //Hint:// check this blog post out - http://www.webdesignbooth.com/useful-screen-capture-tools/
 * Grab** is a standard Apple application that allows the Mac user to select either
 * a Selection
 * Window
 * Screen
 * Timed Screen
 * Snipping tool** - is a Windows Vista or higher tool - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Use-Snipping-Tool-to-capture-screen-shots
 * Skitch** - http://skitch.com/ is a mac tool (requires mac OS of 10.5 or higher) also look at this widget from that apps store - **Screenshot Plus** http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/business/screenshotplus.html

Animation Tools

 * **Animation Tools** || **Name** || **Url** ||
 * Animation Tool || ANIMOTO || [|http://animoto.com] ||
 * Animation Tool || DVolver || http://www.dfilm.com/live/moviemaker.html ||
 * Graphic Editor || Ajax Sketch || http://www.ajaxwrite.com/ ||
 * Photo Editor || PicNik || [|http://www.picnik.com] ||

Cartoon Tools

 * **Cartoon Tools** || **Name** || **Url** ||
 * Cartoon Creation || Toondoo || [|http://www.toondo.com] ||
 * Cartoon Creation || ComicsSketch || http://www.mainada.net/comics/ ||
 * Cartoon Creation || makebeliefscomix || http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/ ||
 * Cartoon Creation || Bubblr || http://www.pimpampum.net/bubblr/index.php ||
 * Cartoon Creation || Captain Underpants || http://www.scholastic.com/captainunderpants/comic.htm ||
 * Cartoon Creation || Toronto Library Kid's Space || http://kidsspace.torontopubliclibrary.ca/story.html ||

Hypercomic also has an online version of their comic creation tool. Its a simple series of steps with drop down menus to help you create and publish your comic. http://www.hypercomics.com/

**Flowcharts**
There are also a variety of tools available on line for this aspect of the visual learners toolkit


 * **Flowchart** || Gliffy || http://www.gliffy.com/ ||
 * || **Flowchart** || Draw Anywhere || http://www.drawanywhere.com/examples.aspx ||
 * **Flowcharts** || **Name** || **Url** ||
 * Flowchart || Gliffy || http://www.gliffy.com/ ||
 * Flowchart || Draw Anywhere || http://www.drawanywhere.com/examples.aspx ||
 * Mind mapping || MindMeister || [|http://www.mindmeister.com] ||

Timeline Tools

 * **timeline tools** || **Name** || **Url** ||
 * Timeline || xTimeline || http://xtimeline.com/ ||
 * Timeline || OurStory || [|http://www.ourstory.com] ||
 * Timeline || Dandelife || http://dandelife.com/ ||
 * Timeline || Time Rime || [] ||
 * Timeline || TimeToast || [|http://www.timetoast.com/] ||
 * Timeline || Dipity || [] ||
 * Timeline || Time Glider || [|http://timeglider.com/] ||

Drawing and Imaging Tools

 * **Drawing tools** || **Name** || **Url** ||
 * Drawing Tool || OffSet Type.Network || http://offtype.net/ ||
 * Caption Images || Caption Bubble || http://www.bubblecaption.com/create.html ||
 * Drawing Tool || GE's Imagination Cubed || http://www.imaginationcubed.com// ||
 * Drawing Tool || Splash up || http://www.splashup.com/ ||
 * Drawing / Painting Tool || ArtPad painter || http://artpad.art.com/artpad/painter/ ||
 * Drawing Tool || Mr PicassoHead || http://www.mrpicassohead.com/create.html ||
 * Drawing Tool || Brushster || http://www.nga.gov/kids/zone/brushster.htm ||
 * Floor Planning Tool || Floor Planner || http://www.floorplanner.com/tryit/ ||
 * **Application Type** || **Name** || **Url** ||
 * Newspaper Headline Generator || Fodey || http://www.fodey.com/generators/newspaper/snippet.asp ||
 * Clapper Board Generator || Fodey || http://www.fodey.com/generators/movie/clapper_board.asp ||
 * Graffiti style text generator || Graffiti Creator || http://graffiticreator.net/ ||

**Slideshows**
The major online productivity suites also include presentation tools. These are obviously suited to slide shows Here are some of the main ones:
 * || **Presentation tools** || Thinkfree Show ||
 * || http://product.thinkfree.com/desktop/show ||
 * ||  || **Presentation tools** || AjaxPresents ||
 * || http://www.ajaxwrite.com/ ||
 * ||  || **Presentation tools** || Zoho Show ||
 * || http://show.zoho.com/jsp/zoho_login.jsp?targetURL=%2FHome.do ||

**Maps**
Mapping tools abound on the internet from national based products to global ones. Some have brilliant add-ons that can be used to facilitate "Virtual Field Trips" like Google's Street View
 * [|Google Earth]
 * [|Google Maps]
 * [|Microsofts Live Search]



**A Visual Dictionary**
[|http://www.visuwords.com] This is a brilliant site with a brilliant open source tool. Its an ongoing project that visually draws links between the entered keyword and definitions /related terms/persons etc

Click here for more online dictionaries - Online dictionaries and thesarus

**A Visual Search component in Search Engines**
This is an add-in or extension for Firefox and now for Internet explorer [|http://www.visual-search.net]

Customise your search using visual search plugin for firefox. This plug in allows you to modify your search by double clicking on words within the search results. Goto the web site - [|http://www.visual-search.net] - and install the plug in - Restart your browser Goto Google and enter a search string in the search field. Then slow double click on the words you want to eliminate or add to your search. + adds the words and - removes them This refines the search and updates the field.

KartOO
[|KartOO] has been around for a while but its quite a neat way of searching the web. It has a small preview screen for the sites in the top left hand corner of the page and you see a visual representation of the links between the sites. [|KartOO] is a visual Meta Search engine - a search engine that searches several other search engines to find the desire results. http://www.kartoo.com/

The engine has several useful features like:
 * Saving search maps
 * Printing search maps
 * Opening saved search maps
 * Bookmarking
 * Keyword lists
 * Preview of the web pages found - hover over the site on the map
 * Multiple language support - visual represented by flags
 * zoom etc

The KartOO toolbar (above) has graphical representation of the available languages rather than the words - a good visual approach

Search-Cube
[|http://www.search-cube.com] This is a visual and kinaesthetic search engine. The search results appear in the form of screen shots of the pages in a manipulatable cube. You use your mouse or cursor keys to orientate the cube and select the page you want to open. Hovering over an image will bring up a preview of the page or image beside the cube.



**Posters and Visual representations**
Getting the visual student to design a poster is a good strategy. Again there are a variety of web 2.0 tools that will facilitate or enable this task. These include:


 * Graphic Editor || Ajax Sketch || http://www.ajaxwrite.com/ ||
 * || Photo Editor || PicNik || [|http://www.picnik.com] ||