Logo Maker

Workshop participant Claire O'Neill sends this tip via Twitter:

For #wms09 "Visualize" workshop participants: RT@joycevalenza, http://supalogo.com/, sweet & easy logo maker.

PowerPoint Timer

During our August workshop at Williams College, several asked about the PowerPoint break timer we used.

This is a free template from Microsoft. The 10-minute version is here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC011799971033.aspx?CategoryID=CT101423491033

You can also find 15, 5 and 1 minute versions on the site. I googled "Power Point Timer Template" and found a few Web sites that offer instruction on making your own timer.

Here's an online timer that can be set on the fly for any time period. http://e.ggtimer.com/

Please tell us how you make use of these timers in your teaching.

--Meg and Beverly

Charts, Graphs and Cognitive Overload

Software makes it so easy to produce a professional looking bar graph or chart for your presentation. The temptation to plop one or several into your slide deck is hard to resist. But the complexity and "noise" in these visuals may obscure your lesson or message.

Read these tips from the Rapid eLearning Blog and slim down your data graphics -- or try another approach to make your point.

http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/try-these-tips-for-great-looking-charts/

The best online photo editors

LifeHacker reviews five free editing services:

http://lifehacker.com/5307419/five-best-online-image-editors

Free Icons

These are designed for websites, but might be useful for/inspiration for your next slide deck.

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/06/07/50-fresh-useful-icon-sets-for-your-next-design/

GOOD news!

GOOD magazine's infographics are now available on Flickr.

http://flowingdata.com/2009/06/03/good-magazines-infographics-now-archived-on-flickr/

Proverb for Presenters

Tell me a fact and I’ll learn. Tell me a truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.

via @BertDecker on Twitter

You can be a designer!

Start here with these resources from marketing guru Seth Godin.

http://www.squidoo.com/become-a-really-good-graphic-designer

Clipart put to good use

Touch helps make connection between hearing and sight

So says a French study, reported in Science Daily. The haptic, or tactile-kinesthetic, sense in the hands seems to cement the visual and auditory channels in a study of adult literacy learners. More research is needed to uncover the specific brain functions at work.