Lesson 1.3: Embedding multi-media artifacts into a post page

Content Overview: Do you agree that we live in a deeply image-saturated culture? Increasingly, the expression, "A picture is worth a thousand words" acquires greater contextual meaning as technology continues to evolve and shape the ways in which we learn and live.

With respect to your teaching portfolio, artifacts serve many functions. Professionally, artifacts provide evidence of your growth as well as documentation of your experiences. Aesthetically, artifacts enliven your pages through the creation of a welcoming and visually stimulating experience for your viewer. Psychologically, artifacts send multiple messages about your essence: who are you? In what do you believe as a teacher and life-long learner? What have you accomplished? What are your professional goals and your plans to achieve them? An additional result of portfolio artifact inclusion is that you gain - and demonstrate - valuable 21st Century Learning Web 2.0 skills: if you can create a portfolio, you can teach students and colleagues to create portfolios as well. THAT is a powerful skill!

In this lesson, you will learn to embed a file, an image, a video, and a URL link in a page. To streamline directions to Activities 1.3.A, 1.3.B, 1.3.C,and 1.3.D, below, make sure you complete the following prior to engaging in each activity:

1. Open a new tab, then click back on this tab;

2. Use the new tab to go to the WordPress site (WordPress.com) and toggle back and forth to this site as needed;

3. Log in to WordPress and sign in. Click on your user name, select "Manage My Blogs" and click on "Dashboard";

4. Go to "Pages" and select "All Pages";

5. On the page called "Trying It Out", click on "Edit" beneath the page title.

Remember, arriving at Step 5 is necessary prior to completing each activity. Using the "Try It Out" page to practice embedding all types of multi-media artifact keeps your work organized on one page. It also allows you to see how multiple artifacts look on a single page.

Okay, here are your Lesson 1.3 activities:

Activity 1.3.A: To embed a file into a page, view the following video: [1]

Activity 1.3.B: To embed an image into a page, view this video: [2]

Activity 1.3.C: To embed a video into a page, view this video: [3]

Activity 1.3.D: To create a URL link in a page, do the following: [4]

Lesson 1.3 Self-Check: Wow! Think about the amazing skill set you have just acquired! How confident do you feel in your ability to embed artifacts and create links in post pages? Identify your level of confidence from the series of statements below. Follow the "Next steps" indicated for your selected level. This meta-cognitive activity will shape your approach to designing and developing your portfolio.

3 - Highly confident. I completed the instructional activities with ease.

Excellent work! Level 3 Next steps: Begin Unit 2: Teaching Standards and Artifact Selection by clicking on the link, below.

2 - Novice. I completed the instructional activities with some effort. This is new to me, but I did it!

Congratulations! Level 2 Next steps: Write a brief reflection on your Lesson 1.3 experience of learning. For each activity, identify what it was that challenged you. Knowing your weaknesses will enable you to return to this lesson for specific remediation with a minimum of reteach time. You may want more practice with the sub-skills that you have identified. When you are ready, begin Unit 2: Teaching Standards and Artifact Selection by clicking on the link, below.

1 - Overload. Often, learners new to the online environment experience "cognitive overload" [5]. This results from the intensity of learning to learn in a new way while simultaneously learning new skills to understand new content. Don't be hard on yourself. I still experience this cognitive state.

You can do it! Level 1 Next steps: The best way to build your confidence is to review the videos - one at a time - until you feel like you are at Level 2, "Novice", for each skill in Lesson 1.3 activities. As you will need these skills when developing your portfolio, don't you think it best to be confident in your ability to use them before you move on? When you feel more accomplished, begin Unit 2: Teaching Standards and Artifact Selection by clicking on the link, below.

Begin Unit 2: Teaching Standards and Artifact Selection

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2.2 Quiz Answers: 1:c; 2:d; 3:a; 4:b