Recording reflections

One of the themes which comes up regularly is the need to record reflections. This could be after a class, when a few thoughts could be helpful for future lesson planning, after some training when some thoughts are required for a CPD record or for keeping a record throughout a programme of professional development. I don't know about you, but I struggle to corral my woolly, fluffy, mis-shapen thoughts into an online box to be filled in. I find my best thoughts and reflections are always somewhere else - sitting in the bath, doing the washing up, ironing....anywhere but when I'm sitting with that screen in front of me, trying to gather some sensible and worthwhile thoughts together.

There simply had to be a better way - and I think we've found it. Did you know that you can attach a soundclip in a Word doc? Did you know that your computer probably has an inbuilt microphone and the simple software needed to record an off-the-cuff thought without the need to do anything but a couple of clicks? I didn't. But now I've found it I want to use it all the time.

From the Start Menu, go to Accessories/Sound Recorder and a click should open a small window.

I don't think further instructions are needed, do you? Click, talk, save.

The file, when saved, goes into the "documents" folder by default, or of course, you can specify exactly where you want it to go. It's a ".wma" file and shouldn't be too difficult to find. don't forget to change the box to "all files" though, or else you won't see the .wma files listed.

When you're ready to embed it into your Word .doc (or .docx) "insert object", find and double click on the .wma file you created. A small logo will be inserted to show where to click to hear the sound clip.

Fun, eh?

(and if you're one of those lucky people with a pocket voice recorder, then it's easier still!)