Editing Images with Microsoft Office Snipping Tool

 I enjoyed the articles and YouTube videos I watched, by Dr. Linkdbeck and prototype:IT about image editing. I have a lot of experience editing images in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Microsoft Email, and Gmail. A majority of what I watched and read was familiar, but I was surprised by the number of features available in the Microsoft Office Snipping tool for capturing images. I’m eager to update some of my old PowerPoint presentations to try out some Microsoft Office Snipping Tool tips I did not know before the YouTube video.

I learned a few keyboard shortcuts. Such as Shift key, Windows key, and S, to quickly access the Microsoft Office Snipping tool to capture everything on your screen. I desperately need to learn this trick to create step-by-step instructions for our dual credit students. It's such a great trick. 

In one of the videos, I learned a few more useful tips. The Mode menu free-form snip has some great features. You can draw a free-form shape around a specific area, such as a drop-down menu, an app, or a dialog box. A full-screen snip will capture the entire screen. The Delay snip will allow you to take a time-delayed screenshot of contact menus, flyouts, and anything else that will close when you click somewhere else on the screen. The delay feature allows you to choose the amount of time in seconds.

Please share the tips and tricks you use with the Snipping tool that makes your work efficient!

Resources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j96f1p92q8w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z34GY__WiYE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNqKytYwz74

https://www.clker.com/clipart-1910.html

Personal Learning Networks (PLN)

After reading Peps Mccrea's article How Personal Learning Networks (PLN) Are Evolving Staff, TeachThought. “3 Ways Personal Learning Networks Are Evolving.” TeachThought, 2 Mar. 2015, www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/personal-learning-networks/#google_vignette. Accessed 24 May 2024., I am convinced that PLNS are important and that change is necessary. In this article, Mccrea discusses three types of PLN evolution. She discusses how to make personal learning networks (PLNs) more genuine and agile, how to test oneself within their PLN, and how to professionalize them. It was refreshing that Mccrea suggests sharing your ideas with your PLN before they are completely formed to seek feedback. I'm always anxious that I won't be able to communicate with others unless every word is perfectly worded. I am quite self-conscious and concerned about how I will be seen. My main concern is that I will be perceived as incompetent. She adds that you should tell who affected you and how you built on others' ideas and ran with them.

Additionally, Mccrea also suggests that you follow individuals on social media whose views are different from your own. Publicly challenging oneself and keeping in mind that the purpose of debate is to criticize the subject matter, not the other person. Others who have interacted with people whose ideas differ from their own have offered the same advice—which is perhaps easier said than done. Her recommendations for professionalizing your PLN around your skill set. Work together, exchange ideas, and utilize a variety of platforms to forge and promote your identity.

Resources:
https://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/personal-learning-networks/#google_vignette

Experience with Professional Learning Networks

Unknowingly, I have taken part in Professional Learning Networks (PLN), especially in my role as a Next Steps Idaho Region 4 Ambassador. As part of my job, I've attempted to develop effective channels of communication with high school guidance counselors, career and college counselors, college recruiters, and support personnel. A Facebook group, questionnaires, and monthly emails were some of the methods used to determine the most effective communication method. I continued to communicate with the four groups via emails and the Facebook group because the poll received a mixed response. After the first year, I discovered that I needed to draw a line between my personal and work lives on Facebook, so I made a professional profile. In this capacity, I joined various Facebook groups under my professional profile to broaden my audience and learn from others. I also recognized the need for a Facebook group for parents to learn about dual credit and post-graduation steps, which I have yet to develop due to the considerable amount of work required. As I write this, I am strongly considering creating the parent Facebook group as a part of the work I complete for my summer OLP 4407 class.

I highly recommend using a range of platforms and resources by high school personnel, educators, and postsecondary recruiters. Our students will benefit more from our ability to effectively work together, impart knowledge, and absorb it from one another. Since my postsecondary colleagues and school partners are rarely in the same building as me, we have to find new ways to interact with one another.

Welcome!

Hello! My name is Nikcole and this is the first blog I am writing for my OLP  4407 course at Idaho State University. My summer class is 6 weeks long, and I will share technology tools I explore and how I believe we can use them to support learning in Human Resource Development instructional technologies.

Please share your input regarding the content of my blog and help me continue exploring technology tools this semester!