I think that this will work better as a website...
http://sites.google.com/site/icncook/
Wednesday
Sunday
#23 (23 Things)
Take a few moments to reflect on your journey. You've covered a lot of material over the past ten weeks.
Q: What does it all mean?
A: Communication, education, society, even life itself is changing at an incredibly rapid pace. I am glad to be here on the "ground floor", learning about these tools. Competent use of the internet is going to be the determining factor between success and failure for individuals, communities, companies, government, nations and ultimately, the world.
Q: How has your thinking changed between Thing 1 and Thing 23?
A: I am far more aware of the accessibility and possibilities that some of these clever solutions offer. I am more than a little wary at the claims of miraculous wonders evolving from them, and keep my enthusiasm in check.
For every plane that flew, dozens crashed. For every brilliant idea, there were millions that stunk.
Q: Has this program changed how you view the Internet or how view education in the digital world?
A: The internet will allow us to be incredibly productive and effective on the 'good end'. On the 'bad end' it will allow the propagation of bad ideas, lies, treachery and deceit at a pace never imagined.
Already we see violent actions and hate-filled speech based on questionable if not outright falsified web information. The fine line between the requirement for truth and accuracy and outright censorship is one not even slightly examined.
Q: What plans have you made for using these tools in and out of the classroom?
A: I'm still thinking about that... I can see Wikis being set up for small group tasks, allowing participation without the stultifying and time-wasting traditional 'meetings'. This will be extremely popular with administrators who are performance-oriented. It will be hated by persons who insist on flexing their 'position muscles' at you and gathering you together in a circle like good little Native Americans.
Q: How will you continue to learn about Web 2.0 tools?
A: I can see these tools as being enormously fun and interesting! Further, they are mostly easy to use, and a good source of amusement.
I think I will find the experimentation and sharing of these tools as much of a hobby as anything else I enjoy! Doubtless, the tools will only get better, faster and more interesting.
Q: What are your big "take aways" from this experience?
A: It is apocryphal at best, but the story goes: Benjamin Franklin observes the first balloon ascension in 1783 while he was Ambassador at the Court of France. Someone asks "What practical use can there be for balloons?"
Franklin answers "What practical use is there for a newborn baby?"
In Web 2.o and the tools we have studied, we are witnessing a newborn baby, squalling, pooping, eating, being cute and growing rapidly.
Practical use? Doubtless that will come, and our little experiments will sometimes pan out and the baby will learn to walk, and other times, there will be colic and tantrums.
Watching this 'baby' grow is something that I shall enjoy, participate in, and continue to learn from for as long as I live!
Q: What does it all mean?
A: Communication, education, society, even life itself is changing at an incredibly rapid pace. I am glad to be here on the "ground floor", learning about these tools. Competent use of the internet is going to be the determining factor between success and failure for individuals, communities, companies, government, nations and ultimately, the world.
Q: How has your thinking changed between Thing 1 and Thing 23?
A: I am far more aware of the accessibility and possibilities that some of these clever solutions offer. I am more than a little wary at the claims of miraculous wonders evolving from them, and keep my enthusiasm in check.
For every plane that flew, dozens crashed. For every brilliant idea, there were millions that stunk.
Q: Has this program changed how you view the Internet or how view education in the digital world?
A: The internet will allow us to be incredibly productive and effective on the 'good end'. On the 'bad end' it will allow the propagation of bad ideas, lies, treachery and deceit at a pace never imagined.
Already we see violent actions and hate-filled speech based on questionable if not outright falsified web information. The fine line between the requirement for truth and accuracy and outright censorship is one not even slightly examined.
Q: What plans have you made for using these tools in and out of the classroom?
A: I'm still thinking about that... I can see Wikis being set up for small group tasks, allowing participation without the stultifying and time-wasting traditional 'meetings'. This will be extremely popular with administrators who are performance-oriented. It will be hated by persons who insist on flexing their 'position muscles' at you and gathering you together in a circle like good little Native Americans.
Q: How will you continue to learn about Web 2.0 tools?
A: I can see these tools as being enormously fun and interesting! Further, they are mostly easy to use, and a good source of amusement.
I think I will find the experimentation and sharing of these tools as much of a hobby as anything else I enjoy! Doubtless, the tools will only get better, faster and more interesting.
Q: What are your big "take aways" from this experience?
A: It is apocryphal at best, but the story goes: Benjamin Franklin observes the first balloon ascension in 1783 while he was Ambassador at the Court of France. Someone asks "What practical use can there be for balloons?"
Franklin answers "What practical use is there for a newborn baby?"
In Web 2.o and the tools we have studied, we are witnessing a newborn baby, squalling, pooping, eating, being cute and growing rapidly.
Practical use? Doubtless that will come, and our little experiments will sometimes pan out and the baby will learn to walk, and other times, there will be colic and tantrums.
Watching this 'baby' grow is something that I shall enjoy, participate in, and continue to learn from for as long as I live!
#22 (23 Things)
In your blog post be sure to include the link to your wiki.
http://dslknf.wikispaces.com/
Then discuss your feelings about using a wiki.
It's rather exciting to be the organizer. I could see a lot of input coming from a group of participants, and by using the email notifications function, making a lot happen in a very short time!
How does a wiki differ from a blog?
On a blog, responses come in the form of comments after the fact. A posting is not alterable, eliminating the sense of participation which may be needed to move a project forward.
When is one more appropriate to use than the other?
When one wishes to share a thought and receive feedback, a blog is the way to go. For cooperative input and sharing, wikis are the thing!
http://dslknf.wikispaces.com/
Then discuss your feelings about using a wiki.
It's rather exciting to be the organizer. I could see a lot of input coming from a group of participants, and by using the email notifications function, making a lot happen in a very short time!
How does a wiki differ from a blog?
On a blog, responses come in the form of comments after the fact. A posting is not alterable, eliminating the sense of participation which may be needed to move a project forward.
When is one more appropriate to use than the other?
When one wishes to share a thought and receive feedback, a blog is the way to go. For cooperative input and sharing, wikis are the thing!
#21 (23 Things)
Q: Describe a wiki you found that inspires you to create one of your own.
The camping example in the Common Craft video of the collaboration on the camping trip seems interesting and useful...
Q: What hurdles might stand in the way of your using a wiki?
Deadheads, trolls and deadwood failing to contribute, misunderstanding the purpose or deliberately trying to sabotage the effort (see Wikipedia-Check out the battle about the pages on disgraced politician John Edwards and the efforts to alter history/prevent changes/ include unflattering materials/etc.)
Q: What would it take to remove the hurdles?
Some form of control or influence on the participants/editing procedures would be necessary for an effective and accurate Wiki.
Of the examples in the 23 Things list of Wikis, it was pretty obvious that the vast majority of them had a supereditor guiding the effort. Without that person or persons, it would seem to me that the likelihood of the project wallowing around for a bit and then failing miserably nears 100%.
Q: Is it worth the fight?
That would depend completely on the value of the final product. This is a form of group management. Successfully done, the whole may be vastly more valuable than the sum of the parts input by the participants. But that's a big "may".
I'd try it!
The camping example in the Common Craft video of the collaboration on the camping trip seems interesting and useful...
Q: What hurdles might stand in the way of your using a wiki?
Deadheads, trolls and deadwood failing to contribute, misunderstanding the purpose or deliberately trying to sabotage the effort (see Wikipedia-Check out the battle about the pages on disgraced politician John Edwards and the efforts to alter history/prevent changes/ include unflattering materials/etc.)
Q: What would it take to remove the hurdles?
Some form of control or influence on the participants/editing procedures would be necessary for an effective and accurate Wiki.
Of the examples in the 23 Things list of Wikis, it was pretty obvious that the vast majority of them had a supereditor guiding the effort. Without that person or persons, it would seem to me that the likelihood of the project wallowing around for a bit and then failing miserably nears 100%.
Q: Is it worth the fight?
That would depend completely on the value of the final product. This is a form of group management. Successfully done, the whole may be vastly more valuable than the sum of the parts input by the participants. But that's a big "may".
I'd try it!
#20 (23 Things)
Q: Include in your post the name of at least one podcast to which you subscribed.
I have subscribed to: : "Stuff You Missed in History Class" - an interesting collection of odd historical ramblings. At about 17 minutes each, they are a bit long, but fun!
Q: Describe your experience using the various search tools.
I cheated. Having used iTunes since it first came out, I am very familiar with it. With the exception of transferring my tunes to a new computer (which can be problematic), iTunes is perhaps the most intuitive and simple search tool out there... But I'm biased.
Q: Which do you prefer and why?
iTunes. Intuitive and simple, with a HUGE population of music and podcasts. It is also happy on my home PC and my office MAC. I know where everything is wherever I go!
I have subscribed to: : "Stuff You Missed in History Class" - an interesting collection of odd historical ramblings. At about 17 minutes each, they are a bit long, but fun!
Q: Describe your experience using the various search tools.
I cheated. Having used iTunes since it first came out, I am very familiar with it. With the exception of transferring my tunes to a new computer (which can be problematic), iTunes is perhaps the most intuitive and simple search tool out there... But I'm biased.
Q: Which do you prefer and why?
iTunes. Intuitive and simple, with a HUGE population of music and podcasts. It is also happy on my home PC and my office MAC. I know where everything is wherever I go!
#19 (23 Things)
Which podcasts did you find interesting?
I found the video-enhanced Colonial Williamsburg podcasts most interesting! The use of live action to support the spoken text, interspersed with expert testimony from the people in period costumes describing their work is informative and entertaining. (http://history.org/Media/podcasts.cfm)
Sadly, many of the others seemed slow, boring and tedious. Production values and good writing are the keys to a successful podcast. Those, and targeting your audience with a useful message
Identify one or two podcasts and describe how you would use them in your work. (Be sure to include links in your blog entry to the podcasts mentioned.)
This is a medium at birth, with a lot of people experimenting. Rather like airplanes back in the day of Wilbur and Orville, there are a lot of crashes.
Not to be mean, but, with notably few exceptions, I find podcasts to be the poorest of information transmission methods. I can read faster than a person can speak (and would prefer to do so), and with podcasts, there is no option to "skim" for salient points before comitting time to them, so, often, it is a complete waste of time.
Sadly, offerings of quality such as the Colonial Williamsburg 'casts are few and far between and many that are out there suffer from poor organization, dull presenters, weak graphics and so on.
It is rather like publishing a book. Podcasts allow anyone to publish their 'book', but there are precious few first-class writers, and even fewer with a story that I need or particularly want to see/hear.
I think I prefer professionals with credentials to the amateur hours of boredom that represents the vast majority of podcasts. Too many are just 'bad radio'.
I wouldn't subject a class or a friend to most of the podcasting world.
I found the video-enhanced Colonial Williamsburg podcasts most interesting! The use of live action to support the spoken text, interspersed with expert testimony from the people in period costumes describing their work is informative and entertaining. (http://history.org/Media/podcasts.cfm)
Sadly, many of the others seemed slow, boring and tedious. Production values and good writing are the keys to a successful podcast. Those, and targeting your audience with a useful message
Identify one or two podcasts and describe how you would use them in your work. (Be sure to include links in your blog entry to the podcasts mentioned.)
This is a medium at birth, with a lot of people experimenting. Rather like airplanes back in the day of Wilbur and Orville, there are a lot of crashes.
Not to be mean, but, with notably few exceptions, I find podcasts to be the poorest of information transmission methods. I can read faster than a person can speak (and would prefer to do so), and with podcasts, there is no option to "skim" for salient points before comitting time to them, so, often, it is a complete waste of time.
Sadly, offerings of quality such as the Colonial Williamsburg 'casts are few and far between and many that are out there suffer from poor organization, dull presenters, weak graphics and so on.
It is rather like publishing a book. Podcasts allow anyone to publish their 'book', but there are precious few first-class writers, and even fewer with a story that I need or particularly want to see/hear.
I think I prefer professionals with credentials to the amateur hours of boredom that represents the vast majority of podcasts. Too many are just 'bad radio'.
I wouldn't subject a class or a friend to most of the podcasting world.
#18 (23 Things)
An oldie but a goodie!
A point left out, is the common use of the internet to share these presentations.
Since the PPT will usually be 'shrunk' to save bandwidth, it is important to adjust your text size, color, drop shadows and so on to retain legibility. I cannot count the amount of "mouse type" and poor graphs that were mushed into illegibility because of this problem.
Q: What did you like about the presentation you embedded?
A: This presentation points up a significant number of problems common to powerpoint presentations. It is, however, only the most basic of primers, and researching the impact of your color and font selection, layouts, etc., can make a WORLD of difference.
Q: How might Slideshare be useful in the classroom?
A: Neat, packaged presentations of this type can be a springboard for discussion, providing a base of information from which to grow. Simple, neat and entertaining, they are easily made and shared!
Q: Out of the classroom?
A: There will come a time when every person must make a presentation to a group. Rather than rely on ones public speaking skills alone, reinforcement of the type offered by slideshare and zoho and others can make the difference between an event that is "snore pie with yawn sauce", and effective, efficient and riveting.
A point left out, is the common use of the internet to share these presentations.
Since the PPT will usually be 'shrunk' to save bandwidth, it is important to adjust your text size, color, drop shadows and so on to retain legibility. I cannot count the amount of "mouse type" and poor graphs that were mushed into illegibility because of this problem.
Q: What did you like about the presentation you embedded?
A: This presentation points up a significant number of problems common to powerpoint presentations. It is, however, only the most basic of primers, and researching the impact of your color and font selection, layouts, etc., can make a WORLD of difference.
Q: How might Slideshare be useful in the classroom?
A: Neat, packaged presentations of this type can be a springboard for discussion, providing a base of information from which to grow. Simple, neat and entertaining, they are easily made and shared!
Q: Out of the classroom?
A: There will come a time when every person must make a presentation to a group. Rather than rely on ones public speaking skills alone, reinforcement of the type offered by slideshare and zoho and others can make the difference between an event that is "snore pie with yawn sauce", and effective, efficient and riveting.
Friday
#17 (23 Things)
SLIDE SHOW... Click on the furthest right icon under the presentation to enlarge.
CLICK TO ADVANCE SLIDES
I found that Zoho was interesting... The others seemed kind of silly.
The possibility of sending large presentations to remote locations might be of some use, but I have to play with it further!
More soon
#16 (23 Things)
Q: How might you use this tool in your personal and professional life?
A: I probably would not.
Without guarantees of a solid and legal sort, I would be fearful of my content being made public, stolen or co-opted. Sounds farfetched? I refer you to Facebook "Terms of Service" change...
And to be brutally blunt, observing Google's practices in China, and their business practices here and abroad, I wouldn't trust them to park my car, much less not appropriate my intellectual properties.
It is entirely likely that they already own everything on every site that they control.
Q: What issues come to mind about using this tool with students (IE, they need email addresses to log-in)?
I would make the "23 Things" training session a MANDATORY part of the 7th grade curriculum. Further, I would negotiate a special Student ID which would protect the student, help guide them away from suspicious and inappropriate sites, and make sure that they were on all manner of info lists and RSS feeds for colleges, successful schoolwork, tutoring, etc., etc.
The possibilities are endless and the marketing rights alone should pay for the entire thing, offer huge discounts, and make me a fortune!
A: I probably would not.
Without guarantees of a solid and legal sort, I would be fearful of my content being made public, stolen or co-opted. Sounds farfetched? I refer you to Facebook "Terms of Service" change...
"...Consumer advocacy blog The Consumerist phrased Facebook's fresh policy as "We Can Do Anything We Want With Your Content. Forever," pointing out that Facebook's ToS spruce-up removed several sentences in which the company said its licenses on user content expired upon account deletion. And that's where the hysteria began.In short,with the stroke of the pen, anything on a site like this might not be mine anymore. True, I could sue. But what are the chances of me beating Google?
"Facebook should now be called The Information Blackhole," one Consumerist commenter proclaimed. "What goes in never comes out. Be careful what you huck in there...."
And to be brutally blunt, observing Google's practices in China, and their business practices here and abroad, I wouldn't trust them to park my car, much less not appropriate my intellectual properties.
It is entirely likely that they already own everything on every site that they control.
Q: What issues come to mind about using this tool with students (IE, they need email addresses to log-in)?
I would make the "23 Things" training session a MANDATORY part of the 7th grade curriculum. Further, I would negotiate a special Student ID which would protect the student, help guide them away from suspicious and inappropriate sites, and make sure that they were on all manner of info lists and RSS feeds for colleges, successful schoolwork, tutoring, etc., etc.
The possibilities are endless and the marketing rights alone should pay for the entire thing, offer huge discounts, and make me a fortune!
#15 (23 Things)
Q: Is RSS becoming easier to understand?
Q: Do you recognize new benefits of using this tool?
Q: Do you remember to check your feeds regularly?
Q: Has it become a habit (or obsession!) yet?
A: Let me just say "YES" to all of the above.
I'm going on year 3 or 4 of using RSS feeds. Some are regular, daily, hourly or weekly, others are just "fishing", keeping an eye out for developments on things of interest to me!
I think that they have reached the level of habit. Obsession? Meh! It's just the internet. I can take it or leave it.
Q: Do you recognize new benefits of using this tool?
Q: Do you remember to check your feeds regularly?
Q: Has it become a habit (or obsession!) yet?
A: Let me just say "YES" to all of the above.
I'm going on year 3 or 4 of using RSS feeds. Some are regular, daily, hourly or weekly, others are just "fishing", keeping an eye out for developments on things of interest to me!
I think that they have reached the level of habit. Obsession? Meh! It's just the internet. I can take it or leave it.
#14 (23 Things)
Q: Include your Delicious username in this blog post so that others can view the bookmarks that you have chosen to share.
A: Um... Well. No. I am completely uncomfortable with the idea of strangers rifling through my files in any case, and, as you will find from my previous post (#13) find Delicious to be cumbersome and goofy from personal experience. Been there, done that, no thanks, not again.
Q: Then reflect on how you think social bookmarking can be used in your teaching.
A: I would rather share a single particularly good and useful site in peer-to-peer discussion than have a rack of suspect 'stuff' suddenly show up in my bookmarks account. Bulk loads of marginal goods are not welcome. I'm busy.
I want first class material only and want to know WHY you think it is first class if you are sharing!
Q: Does Delicious seem to be a tool that can enhance your productivity?
A: I have found this site to be of marginal utility. Perhaps in a committee setting where research of an unknown topic was the order of the day, but I would still elect a 'librarian' who would apply tags and maintain the collection.
A: Um... Well. No. I am completely uncomfortable with the idea of strangers rifling through my files in any case, and, as you will find from my previous post (#13) find Delicious to be cumbersome and goofy from personal experience. Been there, done that, no thanks, not again.
Q: Then reflect on how you think social bookmarking can be used in your teaching.
A: I would rather share a single particularly good and useful site in peer-to-peer discussion than have a rack of suspect 'stuff' suddenly show up in my bookmarks account. Bulk loads of marginal goods are not welcome. I'm busy.
I want first class material only and want to know WHY you think it is first class if you are sharing!
Q: Does Delicious seem to be a tool that can enhance your productivity?
A: I have found this site to be of marginal utility. Perhaps in a committee setting where research of an unknown topic was the order of the day, but I would still elect a 'librarian' who would apply tags and maintain the collection.
#13 (23 Things)
Q: Share your thoughts about tagging.
A: It's fine, as long has you have a standardized method for arriving at the tags.
Q: Is tagging a useful way to organize your digital resources and why?
A: MY resources? Yes. A "social bookmarking" group? No.
Not unless everyone agrees on the tagging protocols, tag names, filing conventions and standards for inclusion in the list. And that's not gonna happen.
Q: What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages?
A: One may select a particular filing system that works for them. It may not work for others. Now, invite some outsiders in to 'help' you. How long will it be before you can't find anything?
Q: What is important to think about before assigning tags to bookmarks or other Internet content?
A: What mnemonics or other devices will best 'jog your memory' to remind you of the content of the given entry.
NOTE: Frankly, I used delicious for about a year. I found it cumbersome and goofy. I need a file to remind me what the tags meant.
Eventually, I dumped delicious, and now use a nice, simple folder and subfolder organization in bookmarks. I could output this list and carry it on a flash drive 'back in the day'.
When it became available, I opened up a FoxMarks account so I could access them anywhere in the world. Much easier, neater and cleaner.
Oh! And anything I want to share is sent by email... Then it's YOUR filing system that gets to deal with it!
A: It's fine, as long has you have a standardized method for arriving at the tags.
Q: Is tagging a useful way to organize your digital resources and why?
A: MY resources? Yes. A "social bookmarking" group? No.
Not unless everyone agrees on the tagging protocols, tag names, filing conventions and standards for inclusion in the list. And that's not gonna happen.
Q: What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages?
A: One may select a particular filing system that works for them. It may not work for others. Now, invite some outsiders in to 'help' you. How long will it be before you can't find anything?
Q: What is important to think about before assigning tags to bookmarks or other Internet content?
A: What mnemonics or other devices will best 'jog your memory' to remind you of the content of the given entry.
NOTE: Frankly, I used delicious for about a year. I found it cumbersome and goofy. I need a file to remind me what the tags meant.
Eventually, I dumped delicious, and now use a nice, simple folder and subfolder organization in bookmarks. I could output this list and carry it on a flash drive 'back in the day'.
When it became available, I opened up a FoxMarks account so I could access them anywhere in the world. Much easier, neater and cleaner.
Oh! And anything I want to share is sent by email... Then it's YOUR filing system that gets to deal with it!
#12 (23 Things)
Q: Review the widget you selected. Are you getting comfortable with embedding code?
A: Yes. It is surprisingly easy. I even figured out how to 'close' a bad line of html from YouTube!
Q: Do you belong to other online communities?
A: No. I am a private person who makes friends slowly and carefully. As a result, I have few friends in number, but the greatest friends in the world!
Q: Are relationships formed online as meaningful as face-to-face relationships?
A: No. There are no real consequences of failure in online relationships. There is also minimal stress. I think that, at best, they are a pale and insignificant way of amusing oneself and imagining a 'real life' with 'real friends', when neither is the case.
Q: Why do you think MySpace and other social networking sites are so popular with kids today?
A: The incredible yearning of the young to be included, regarded and popular is the stuff of legend and those wretched, cloying, bittersweet, ABC 'After-School Specials'.
These kids are unfinished, near-adults, trying desperately to move up into the 'real world' and are seeking approval for their every breath. Throw in a raging hormone monster and questionable parenting, and you have the potential for axe murderers and lunatics running amok! (Ok. A bit of hyperbole, there. It's not always that extreme).
Stupidly, these kids turn to their peers. Children who are no smarter, have no more experience, worldliness, or luck than they have. But that's their support and advice group.
Great.
The internet provides them with these peers and their influence on a continuous basis.
Is this a good thing? I'm sure I don't know.
#11 (23 Things)
Q: What do you like / dislike about leaving comments?
A: Belonging firmly to the "if you can't say something nice, say nothing at all" club, I take commenting as an opportunity to admire and encourage good work, offer assistance or advice -(but ONLY if it is solicited!), and otherwise make the internet a nice place to hang out in.
I dislike the usual things, trolls, sockpuppets, dullards, oafs, lackwits and lickspittles. Someone out there is manufacturing them in job lots. This must cease!
Q: How did you feel when you received your first comment?
A: Since it was: "I think ur teh ghey", I was flattered and amused. To have a L33T-babbling dunderhead work so hard to communicate that he didn't consider us on the same 'level' made me enormously glad!
Q: Why do you think commenting is so important in online communities?
A: Encouragement! It is HARD to write without waffling, cavilling, disclaiming and otherwise wimping around a web page. Sometimes you will be completely wrong and have to apologize!
I advise you to do so immediately. It will be forgotten almost instantly, and you will be a better person for it.
Humility: It can be seriously lifechanging to find that you are not truly an omnipotence in your area of expertise! The experience will also make you a better person
Q: What might this mean for students who share their writing online?
A: Children can be incredibly blunt, cruel, merciless and unforgiving. Teaching them to comment as though they were NOT anonymous is vital. A cruel post can have devastating effects, viz; the story of Megan Meier. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21844203/
We would not like to have that happen again, please.
I believe that the day is coming when simply identifying yourself as "Wizbang1989" is not going to provide anonymity. You will be held responsible for your words, or you will not be allowed to play on the internet.
A: Belonging firmly to the "if you can't say something nice, say nothing at all" club, I take commenting as an opportunity to admire and encourage good work, offer assistance or advice -(but ONLY if it is solicited!), and otherwise make the internet a nice place to hang out in.
I dislike the usual things, trolls, sockpuppets, dullards, oafs, lackwits and lickspittles. Someone out there is manufacturing them in job lots. This must cease!
Q: How did you feel when you received your first comment?
A: Since it was: "I think ur teh ghey", I was flattered and amused. To have a L33T-babbling dunderhead work so hard to communicate that he didn't consider us on the same 'level' made me enormously glad!
Q: Why do you think commenting is so important in online communities?
A: Encouragement! It is HARD to write without waffling, cavilling, disclaiming and otherwise wimping around a web page. Sometimes you will be completely wrong and have to apologize!
I advise you to do so immediately. It will be forgotten almost instantly, and you will be a better person for it.
Humility: It can be seriously lifechanging to find that you are not truly an omnipotence in your area of expertise! The experience will also make you a better person
Q: What might this mean for students who share their writing online?
A: Children can be incredibly blunt, cruel, merciless and unforgiving. Teaching them to comment as though they were NOT anonymous is vital. A cruel post can have devastating effects, viz; the story of Megan Meier. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21844203/
We would not like to have that happen again, please.
I believe that the day is coming when simply identifying yourself as "Wizbang1989" is not going to provide anonymity. You will be held responsible for your words, or you will not be allowed to play on the internet.
#10 (23 Things)
Add comments to the video you embedded. Why did you select it? Were you also able to download a video?
(Embedded)Voted one of the top 100 videos of all time, this 1979 video goes to show that taste is often restricted to the mouth. Nonetheless, it is important history.
(Downloaded)In addition, here is a 'blast' from the past! The tradition White House Easter Egg Roll the last year of G.W. Bush's presidency.
(Embedded)Voted one of the top 100 videos of all time, this 1979 video goes to show that taste is often restricted to the mouth. Nonetheless, it is important history.
(Downloaded)In addition, here is a 'blast' from the past! The tradition White House Easter Egg Roll the last year of G.W. Bush's presidency.
#9 (23 Things)
What do you like or dislike about YouTube? Did you find videos that would be useful for teaching and learning? Is YouTube restricted in your building?
As my profession is making videos, I have been aware of YouTube for... ever. As it is a Google product, they have issues and corporate bias that I find disturbing. Their support for terrorists who show beheadings in order to recruit more terrorists, for instance, also their one-sided support in the Pro-Life/Choice debate, religion in general and conservatism in particular.
The crux of the real problem with YouTube can be summed up by this video (hosted on YT),
Truly, the VAST majority of the videos posted by netizens suffers from this problem
Yes, there are some instructional materials on YouTube, but they tend to lack support items, adherence to state-mandated standards and, most sadly, any sort of scientific rigor.
Again. It is caveat emptor. Know what you are buying, and from whom. On YouTube, check twice.
As my profession is making videos, I have been aware of YouTube for... ever. As it is a Google product, they have issues and corporate bias that I find disturbing. Their support for terrorists who show beheadings in order to recruit more terrorists, for instance, also their one-sided support in the Pro-Life/Choice debate, religion in general and conservatism in particular.
The crux of the real problem with YouTube can be summed up by this video (hosted on YT),
Truly, the VAST majority of the videos posted by netizens suffers from this problem
Yes, there are some instructional materials on YouTube, but they tend to lack support items, adherence to state-mandated standards and, most sadly, any sort of scientific rigor.
Again. It is caveat emptor. Know what you are buying, and from whom. On YouTube, check twice.
#8 (23 Things)
In the same post in which you placed your creation, briefly describe your experience completing Thing 8. Which of these tools intrigues you and why? Was it easy, frustrating, time-consuming, fun? Share some of your ideas for using the images you can create.
"Bill the Merciless"
From http://www.fototrix.com/comic
After fooling around with a number of these things, I found them limited and clumsy. This is not a pat, negative reaction to the whole idea of 'generators', but a reflection of how much easier it is to make these sorts of things with a basic knowledge of PhotoShop.
The problem with the generators is: they produce the same thing over and over. There is not nearly enough latitude for real creativity or imagination to take flight.
Otherwise, they were simple to use, and relatively fun!
"Bill the Merciless"
From http://www.fototrix.com/comic
After fooling around with a number of these things, I found them limited and clumsy. This is not a pat, negative reaction to the whole idea of 'generators', but a reflection of how much easier it is to make these sorts of things with a basic knowledge of PhotoShop.
The problem with the generators is: they produce the same thing over and over. There is not nearly enough latitude for real creativity or imagination to take flight.
Otherwise, they were simple to use, and relatively fun!
#7 (23 Things)
Think of ways you may be able to use Flickr in the classroom or in your work and share your ideas. What issues might you face?
For items which are not 'company classified' or of a personal nature, Flickr or Photobucket might be a good way to supply graphic elements for students or peers to work with. These items might include photos, graphs and charts or other materials to be used as a baseline for assignments or reflection and planning.
There is always the issue of privacy, and, of course, that of copyright infringement. Nonetheless, 'fair use' and education are pretty solid on the sharing of images and information.
I don't think there is much cause for alarm unless you start making piles of money with someone elses pictures!
There is another (free) site that I have used to share videos up to 5 min. in length and stills. It is called Jing.
Rather than emailing large files, Jing hosts them for you and you simply send the link! No tedious downloads!
There are many other cool functions to be had, such as captioning and capturing your desktop as you manipulate items, narration, etc.
Check it out!
For items which are not 'company classified' or of a personal nature, Flickr or Photobucket might be a good way to supply graphic elements for students or peers to work with. These items might include photos, graphs and charts or other materials to be used as a baseline for assignments or reflection and planning.
There is always the issue of privacy, and, of course, that of copyright infringement. Nonetheless, 'fair use' and education are pretty solid on the sharing of images and information.
I don't think there is much cause for alarm unless you start making piles of money with someone elses pictures!
There is another (free) site that I have used to share videos up to 5 min. in length and stills. It is called Jing.
Rather than emailing large files, Jing hosts them for you and you simply send the link! No tedious downloads!
There are many other cool functions to be had, such as captioning and capturing your desktop as you manipulate items, narration, etc.
Check it out!
#6 (23 Things)
Create a post on your blog about one of the photos you downloaded. Why did you choose a particular photo? What is it about the photo that you found interesting?
Voila! A lovely Flickr-downloaded (well, I saved it on my desktop because it's a nice pic), picture!
Why did I choose this picture? It's a TURKEY! Look at that golden crispy skin, the full moistness of the underlying meaty goodness, the potential gravy slathered all over...
Um. Okay. Got a little carried away, perhaps.
I just like turkey, ok? Is that a crime?
Voila! A lovely Flickr-downloaded (well, I saved it on my desktop because it's a nice pic), picture!Why did I choose this picture? It's a TURKEY! Look at that golden crispy skin, the full moistness of the underlying meaty goodness, the potential gravy slathered all over...
Um. Okay. Got a little carried away, perhaps.
I just like turkey, ok? Is that a crime?
Thursday
#5 (23 Things)
RSS can be a difficult concept for some to grasp right away - what questions do you have? What didn't work or doesn't make sense? How might you use RSS in your personal or professional life? Find anything in your searching that you'd recommend to others?
Actually, I have been using RSS feeds for some years now. Most of my questions have long since been answered.
I have always grumped about the small and difficult to find symbols and lack of standardization for picking up a site feed... I'm lazy and just want to point and click.
I guess I always thought that it should be much more like bookmarking. You know, just select the URL and add it to "RSS" instead of bookmarks.
Personally, I am a newshound. I use feeds for collecting local, regional, national and international news as well as commentary and political opinion. As these are all a matter of personal taste, I don't think I should recommend any specifics.
I would recommend checking them (news sites) carefully for their reputation for accuracy and honesty. It's a minefield out there!
Professionally, I use RSS to research certain topics or 'keep an eye' on technical developments in education and technology. A few keywords and, bingo! You're off!
These tend to rotate rapidly as new things of interest take over from old.
Actually, I have been using RSS feeds for some years now. Most of my questions have long since been answered.
I have always grumped about the small and difficult to find symbols and lack of standardization for picking up a site feed... I'm lazy and just want to point and click.
I guess I always thought that it should be much more like bookmarking. You know, just select the URL and add it to "RSS" instead of bookmarks.
Personally, I am a newshound. I use feeds for collecting local, regional, national and international news as well as commentary and political opinion. As these are all a matter of personal taste, I don't think I should recommend any specifics.
I would recommend checking them (news sites) carefully for their reputation for accuracy and honesty. It's a minefield out there!
Professionally, I use RSS to research certain topics or 'keep an eye' on technical developments in education and technology. A few keywords and, bingo! You're off!
These tend to rotate rapidly as new things of interest take over from old.
#4 (23 Things)
Q:It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of blogs out there - how do you handle information overload and how do you think RSS might help with that?
I find that RSS feed are a good, temporary way to find and filter information about a specific topic or from a specific site or set of sites.
The downside is: often the information comes from questionable sources with some pretty odd sets of standards, and failure to personally 'vet' the sites for quality, accuracy and so on, can leave you with the equivalent of a term paper constructed of Wikipedia quotes... Not so good.
RSS is fine if you are confident of the source. Otherwise it's just a fast way to collect a binful of garbage.
I find that RSS feed are a good, temporary way to find and filter information about a specific topic or from a specific site or set of sites.
The downside is: often the information comes from questionable sources with some pretty odd sets of standards, and failure to personally 'vet' the sites for quality, accuracy and so on, can leave you with the equivalent of a term paper constructed of Wikipedia quotes... Not so good.
RSS is fine if you are confident of the source. Otherwise it's just a fast way to collect a binful of garbage.
Monday
#3 (23 Things)
Q:How might a blog support the work you do?
A: It might be used to share latest news, technical tricks, and bargains. A good, interesting blog might help to organize interest groups to make trips, purchases, training sessions and other Professional Development possible and cost effective.
Q: How might you use a blog with students?
A: As a tutor or mentor source immediately springs to mind. There is never enough time to get all of the questions answered in class. A blog might be just the ticket for covering more bases.
Q: How might they respond to a blog assignment?
A: They might take advantage of the tools and do an excellent and in-depth job of research and post an engaging response that included text, images and charts.
More likely, they will cut and paste huge chunks from barely related sites, run spellcheck and call it a day.
Q: What concerns do you have about educational blogging?
A: The same concerns I have about educators and teaching in general. Some practitioners are simply incapable of imagination, creativity, or exploration of new ideas, materials and techniques. A blog is a tool of unknown value at this point. Interested and creative educators may make a huge 'bang' with a blog. Others will make something boring and useless that they and their users will come to despise.
To use a blog because it is 'hip' is to miss the entire point. Not everyone can tap dance. Not everyone can make effective use of a blog.
(This concludes the obligatory '23 Things' curriculum for today).
A: It might be used to share latest news, technical tricks, and bargains. A good, interesting blog might help to organize interest groups to make trips, purchases, training sessions and other Professional Development possible and cost effective.
Q: How might you use a blog with students?
A: As a tutor or mentor source immediately springs to mind. There is never enough time to get all of the questions answered in class. A blog might be just the ticket for covering more bases.
Q: How might they respond to a blog assignment?
A: They might take advantage of the tools and do an excellent and in-depth job of research and post an engaging response that included text, images and charts.
More likely, they will cut and paste huge chunks from barely related sites, run spellcheck and call it a day.
Q: What concerns do you have about educational blogging?
A: The same concerns I have about educators and teaching in general. Some practitioners are simply incapable of imagination, creativity, or exploration of new ideas, materials and techniques. A blog is a tool of unknown value at this point. Interested and creative educators may make a huge 'bang' with a blog. Others will make something boring and useless that they and their users will come to despise.
To use a blog because it is 'hip' is to miss the entire point. Not everyone can tap dance. Not everyone can make effective use of a blog.
(This concludes the obligatory '23 Things' curriculum for today).
#2 (23 Things)
I am required to reflect on stuff for the '23 Things' project that led me to this blog building site and to this rather out-of-place posting. After all, this is an avant-garde, tongue-in-cheek, use-a-lot-of-hyphenated-phrases kinda blog.
Not some dreary record of some training or something..
Quite frankly, this requirement is one of those "you MUST write a letter home to your parents from Camp Tonawanda, (by the shores of beautiful Lake Peepeenono) once a week - OR ELSE".
That said: here we go...
(These are the prompts to be addressed in this letter)
Q:Why are you participating in 23 Things? What do you hope to learn? What new insights did you have during Thing 1? How does writing on the Internet, knowing anyone could read it, change how you write or feel about writing?
Dear Mom & Dad,
I am participating in '23 Things' because my Director insists that it will be good for me. I hope to learn all manner of new and exciting things. Thus far, I have found out that establishing a blog is easy and free (2), and that tedious, pounding piano music, combined with white text on a graphic background for over 7 minutes can cause a ferocious headache (1)!
Writing on the internet seems like a fun thing to do , providing you have something to say and a relatively thick skin. One never knows what will give offense to the feckless dunderheads out there! Why, some might even take umbrage at being tagged a 'feckless dunderhead'! Imagine!
I am going on to item #3 next, because it is number 3 in the series and it is next. No other reason. I'll write more when I can, or when the counselors force me to.
Love,
Your son.
Etc., etc.
Not some dreary record of some training or something..
Quite frankly, this requirement is one of those "you MUST write a letter home to your parents from Camp Tonawanda, (by the shores of beautiful Lake Peepeenono) once a week - OR ELSE".
That said: here we go...
(These are the prompts to be addressed in this letter)
Q:Why are you participating in 23 Things? What do you hope to learn? What new insights did you have during Thing 1? How does writing on the Internet, knowing anyone could read it, change how you write or feel about writing?
Dear Mom & Dad,
I am participating in '23 Things' because my Director insists that it will be good for me. I hope to learn all manner of new and exciting things. Thus far, I have found out that establishing a blog is easy and free (2), and that tedious, pounding piano music, combined with white text on a graphic background for over 7 minutes can cause a ferocious headache (1)!
Writing on the internet seems like a fun thing to do , providing you have something to say and a relatively thick skin. One never knows what will give offense to the feckless dunderheads out there! Why, some might even take umbrage at being tagged a 'feckless dunderhead'! Imagine!
I am going on to item #3 next, because it is number 3 in the series and it is next. No other reason. I'll write more when I can, or when the counselors force me to.
Love,
Your son.
Etc., etc.
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