Now that we're almost halfway through, I have to give an update about what I'm using and how...
Facebook - still primarily a personal tool. IMO, it's still the best way to keep in touch with the greatest number of people. Not a great professional or learning tool, per se, but not without merit. My favorite communities are all active here, and future employers will probably be looking me up this way, so it's important to keep up with.
Google+ - I consider this my public persona. Since I exist in the age of the internet, why not? I like that other people can't post whatever they want on my page, unlike some other networks...^^ And, communities of practice are easy to find and join. Sharing is easy and encouraged. Still an A in my book.
LinkedIn - it exists, though I don't log in frequently, as I haven't found it to be as suitable to my needs and interests as some other tools. I think it will come in handy for specific instances of networking, or when I'm more fully immersed in the professional world.
Scoop.it - This is a fun one, but today I tried to create a 3rd topic to follow, and was told I had to pay to upgrade my account. $12.99/month is a little steep for me. I decided to explore using Storify, but I'm having technical difficulties trying to create an account. Will update again once I get it working.
Pinterest - I currently have 43 boards, the vast majority of which are for personal, non-professional interests. I like that there's no limit to the content I can pin, though it lends itself less to verbal content - meaning, if what you want to post does not have an image to represent it, you either have to get creative (find an image to upload yourself, and link to the site) or forget about it. It wasn't meant for academia, methinks.
Twitter - I was all about this one a few weeks ago, but a couple of issues have deterred me from using it frequently. For one, there's always too much to catch up on. Regarding the pro accounts tweeting about education, data, web 2.0, etc., there are always so many links to articles and stories, it's overwhelming. The other is that I can't seem to figure out the conversations. I tried to participate in #lrnchat last week, but I could not find/see others' responses. In general, after this class is over I think I'll be using it as a personal sounding board. I like taking random photos when I'm out and about, but I just keep them on my phone most of the time. Maybe Twitter is a better place for those one-off random photo ops and following those few whose opinions I'm genuinely interested in.
How are you all doing with your PLNs?
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Thursday, June 12, 2014
on curation
Before enrolling in Dr. D's SMOOC earlier this year, I thought the term "curation" only applied to museums.
I've been embracing Scoop.it lately. Last week's post got me thinking about alternative education. Click the picture to see my scoops on that topic.
I like the interface, though every time I try to point out what's special about it, I can think of other sites that do the same thing only slightly differently.
Have you been using Scoop.it? What do you like or dislike about it?
I've been embracing Scoop.it lately. Last week's post got me thinking about alternative education. Click the picture to see my scoops on that topic.
I like the interface, though every time I try to point out what's special about it, I can think of other sites that do the same thing only slightly differently.
Have you been using Scoop.it? What do you like or dislike about it?
Sunday, June 8, 2014
On privacy
Taking Web 2.0 and Learning Analytics has me thinking hard about privacy concerns in the age of the internet and big data. There are at least 2 perspectives from which to discuss the situation: macro level and micro level.
On the macro level, it's about the ease and access companies and governments have of collecting information about us, the transparency of those collection techniques, and how the data will be used. And I think to myself, sure, Google already knows a lot about me, but I seriously doubt anyone who works there actually cares about where I was this past weekend, or what I'm searching for on an individual level. My privacy paranoia tends to skew in the direction of government conspiracy (think Bourne trilogy movies; ever heard of the NSA?), and I'm less concerned about the corporations who just want to know what I'm buying so they can try to sell me things that I either (a) actually do want or (b) won't buy regardless. When I think about macro level privacy, I think about projects like inbloom - it's demise was poor execution. To be sure, there are others just like this popping up, and they will continue to do so.
Of course, the problem without a solution (yet) is determining how these institutions will use the data they've gathered on us in the future. Opinions vary across a wide spectrum here.
On the micro level, privacy is about being able to filter out what people can discover about us based on our digital footprints. I think that for most individuals, this is the more immediate concern. Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg famously declared that privacy is dead. To a certain extent, he's right. I think what's important is that people young and old are educated about what privacy means in the age of the internet. The harm comes in not realizing the permanence of internet info, and not realizing what others have access to.
There are so many ways to share oneself with the world now. Each platform has different methods for managing privacy, but when you want to connect different (but not necessarily all) parts of yourself for others to see and/or get to know you better, it can be tricky.
Personally, I'm still conflicted about my current level of visibility. I've discussed my affinity for Google+ before. I like that it is a place where I can be easily connect with friends and participate in communities. However, the fact that it is such a public platform gives me pause. Then again, as a citizen of the world I think there's something to be said for embracing a public persona. I find myself wanting to be "out there" more than I want to conceal my identity and the idea of a managing false identities doesn't really appeal to me.
On the macro level, it's about the ease and access companies and governments have of collecting information about us, the transparency of those collection techniques, and how the data will be used. And I think to myself, sure, Google already knows a lot about me, but I seriously doubt anyone who works there actually cares about where I was this past weekend, or what I'm searching for on an individual level. My privacy paranoia tends to skew in the direction of government conspiracy (think Bourne trilogy movies; ever heard of the NSA?), and I'm less concerned about the corporations who just want to know what I'm buying so they can try to sell me things that I either (a) actually do want or (b) won't buy regardless. When I think about macro level privacy, I think about projects like inbloom - it's demise was poor execution. To be sure, there are others just like this popping up, and they will continue to do so.
Of course, the problem without a solution (yet) is determining how these institutions will use the data they've gathered on us in the future. Opinions vary across a wide spectrum here.
On the micro level, privacy is about being able to filter out what people can discover about us based on our digital footprints. I think that for most individuals, this is the more immediate concern. Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg famously declared that privacy is dead. To a certain extent, he's right. I think what's important is that people young and old are educated about what privacy means in the age of the internet. The harm comes in not realizing the permanence of internet info, and not realizing what others have access to.
There are so many ways to share oneself with the world now. Each platform has different methods for managing privacy, but when you want to connect different (but not necessarily all) parts of yourself for others to see and/or get to know you better, it can be tricky.
Personally, I'm still conflicted about my current level of visibility. I've discussed my affinity for Google+ before. I like that it is a place where I can be easily connect with friends and participate in communities. However, the fact that it is such a public platform gives me pause. Then again, as a citizen of the world I think there's something to be said for embracing a public persona. I find myself wanting to be "out there" more than I want to conceal my identity and the idea of a managing false identities doesn't really appeal to me.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Social Media in Education: A Vision
Several of this week's readings discuss student interest in using social media (most notably, Facebook) as an educational tool, with findings indicating ambivalence at best. I, too, feel this way, and some of you have expressed the same sentiment.
I think it's fair to say that most people using social media these days has a Facebook account. But did you know that high schoolers these days are not that into it? At least, not the ones I've been talking to.
From the mouths of babes: "Facebook stopped being cool when parents started using it." They are all about Instagram and to a lesser extent, Twitter - at least from what I gather. (If you're wondering where I get this information, I work with a lot of teenagers. Still, take the information with a grain of salt.) I bring this up to emphasize the (for lack of better term) mortality of any web platform.
Reading the findings on how current college students (we who are actively using the site) feel about integrating the SM platform into education, has got me thinking, "What if there was a social media site devoted to educational pursuits?" Like, what if Facebook and LinkedIn had a baby and it was designed for students of all ages - to grow with as they advance their educational careers?
If you haven't read the papers I'm referring to, they report students generally feeling uncomfortable with the idea of using it to augment their educational experience, mainly citing concerns over privacy issues. I believe that just as the creators of on LinkedIn saw the need for a social network dedicated to professionals and their need to network, there is a need for a social network that doesn't cross the line (however arbitrary and individualized it may be) between students' educational and personal lives.
What would this network be like, you ask?
That's a good question.
The vision is blurry, but I see a platform where students of all ages are comfortable communicating with their professors and other students, where it's clear that the intention is for education. It would be open to the public, so that anyone can connect with anyone else, post about what's interesting to them, have quick access to homework resources, and also provide a way for students and teachers to collaborate in a more private space (something akin to Facebook's "groups").
I think that for my vision to work there would have to be a shift in the educational paradigm that fosters more collaborative learning at younger ages. Kids today are more comfortable with technology than their parents, so it's not about them being able to use the technology. I think it's about changing the way we "do" education nowadays. I wish I could remember where I came across the notion that it's no longer about being able to absorb information so much as being able to access and use it properly. We all have everything we need to know in little handheld computers, so instead of keeping them out of the system, we have to find a way to integrate them. This class is all about that concept, but what I'm referring to is something bigger than using standalone applications in the classroom. I'm talking about bringing the entire system into the 21st century by changing the way we see schools. Now, I'm not saying there's no need for classrooms, but maybe there's a need to reconsider the most effective use for them.
One thing that stood out to me while taking Trends & Issues in IDT last semester was how the advent of new technologies, while continually predicted to make a huge impact on the system, never actually did. Not very much has changed in a couple hundred years.
I wonder if the internet is a game-changer.
Your thoughts?
I think it's fair to say that most people using social media these days has a Facebook account. But did you know that high schoolers these days are not that into it? At least, not the ones I've been talking to.
From the mouths of babes: "Facebook stopped being cool when parents started using it." They are all about Instagram and to a lesser extent, Twitter - at least from what I gather. (If you're wondering where I get this information, I work with a lot of teenagers. Still, take the information with a grain of salt.) I bring this up to emphasize the (for lack of better term) mortality of any web platform.
Reading the findings on how current college students (we who are actively using the site) feel about integrating the SM platform into education, has got me thinking, "What if there was a social media site devoted to educational pursuits?" Like, what if Facebook and LinkedIn had a baby and it was designed for students of all ages - to grow with as they advance their educational careers?
If you haven't read the papers I'm referring to, they report students generally feeling uncomfortable with the idea of using it to augment their educational experience, mainly citing concerns over privacy issues. I believe that just as the creators of on LinkedIn saw the need for a social network dedicated to professionals and their need to network, there is a need for a social network that doesn't cross the line (however arbitrary and individualized it may be) between students' educational and personal lives.
What would this network be like, you ask?
That's a good question.
The vision is blurry, but I see a platform where students of all ages are comfortable communicating with their professors and other students, where it's clear that the intention is for education. It would be open to the public, so that anyone can connect with anyone else, post about what's interesting to them, have quick access to homework resources, and also provide a way for students and teachers to collaborate in a more private space (something akin to Facebook's "groups").
I think that for my vision to work there would have to be a shift in the educational paradigm that fosters more collaborative learning at younger ages. Kids today are more comfortable with technology than their parents, so it's not about them being able to use the technology. I think it's about changing the way we "do" education nowadays. I wish I could remember where I came across the notion that it's no longer about being able to absorb information so much as being able to access and use it properly. We all have everything we need to know in little handheld computers, so instead of keeping them out of the system, we have to find a way to integrate them. This class is all about that concept, but what I'm referring to is something bigger than using standalone applications in the classroom. I'm talking about bringing the entire system into the 21st century by changing the way we see schools. Now, I'm not saying there's no need for classrooms, but maybe there's a need to reconsider the most effective use for them.
One thing that stood out to me while taking Trends & Issues in IDT last semester was how the advent of new technologies, while continually predicted to make a huge impact on the system, never actually did. Not very much has changed in a couple hundred years.
I wonder if the internet is a game-changer.
Your thoughts?
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Youtube, the unsung wonder
So, Youtube is pretty much the greatest thing sliced bread, isn't it? There's literally nothing under the sun that someone hasn't made a video about, be it a makeup tutorial or a TedTalk. I turn to Youtube first when I need someone to show me how to do something. We haven't discussed it much in this class, aside from a few shares here and there, but I think this site has the potential to be a very powerful tool in the PLN toolbox. I can't tell you how much informal learning I've done there. Aside from entertainment, informal learning has to be next biggest use of the site.
The playlist feature is great. Yet another way to curate good information.
The following video is one that I really liked. I can't remember exactly how I found it. A tweet, maybe?
Have you seen it?
What have you been looking at on Youtube?
The following video is one that I really liked. I can't remember exactly how I found it. A tweet, maybe?
Have you seen it?
What have you been looking at on Youtube?
Sunday, June 1, 2014
web tools
How I'm using my web 2.0 tools
Facebook - I've had since 2006. Was introduced in college and has always been a strictly social, non-learning tool. Sometimes I share links to things that are interesting, but most often I'm just "catching up" with everyone virtually.
Diigo - This is new to me, and I'm still figuring out how it works best. It seems like another shareable pinboard, with a less attractive interface than Pinterest. Granted, I haven't spent tons of time trying to curate content through this platform, but I did explore a bit. I think one main difference is that it's easier to share academic papers and the like - no photo required. I will have to explore more before I cast final judgment on this one.
Google+ - One of my new favorites, as I mentioned last week. The feed is like Facebook, without all the personal updates, only links to interesting photos, stories, pages, etc. People say it is not very active, but the communities I've discovered are pretty active (though I'm still a lurker in all -- maybe I should change that).
Pinterest - Another app I thought was "pointless" until I finally decided to explore, after which point I couldn't get enough. Check out my Organization board.
Scoop.it - I created an account after hearing about it during SMOOC earlier this year. Actually, I have an academic one and a personal one. I like that there are descriptions of the link along with photos, which, now that I think about it, probably makes it better for posting academic content than Pinterest. I had forgotten about this account for a while, but I'm going to be using it more frequently now.
Twitter - Another one I have mentioned before. I think I'll be using this one for a while. :)
What have you guys been doing? I'm trying to keep up with everyone's blogs, but maybe I missed you.
Any suggestions for other types of tools?
Leave me a link. :)
Facebook - I've had since 2006. Was introduced in college and has always been a strictly social, non-learning tool. Sometimes I share links to things that are interesting, but most often I'm just "catching up" with everyone virtually.
Diigo - This is new to me, and I'm still figuring out how it works best. It seems like another shareable pinboard, with a less attractive interface than Pinterest. Granted, I haven't spent tons of time trying to curate content through this platform, but I did explore a bit. I think one main difference is that it's easier to share academic papers and the like - no photo required. I will have to explore more before I cast final judgment on this one.
Google+ - One of my new favorites, as I mentioned last week. The feed is like Facebook, without all the personal updates, only links to interesting photos, stories, pages, etc. People say it is not very active, but the communities I've discovered are pretty active (though I'm still a lurker in all -- maybe I should change that).
Pinterest - Another app I thought was "pointless" until I finally decided to explore, after which point I couldn't get enough. Check out my Organization board.
Scoop.it - I created an account after hearing about it during SMOOC earlier this year. Actually, I have an academic one and a personal one. I like that there are descriptions of the link along with photos, which, now that I think about it, probably makes it better for posting academic content than Pinterest. I had forgotten about this account for a while, but I'm going to be using it more frequently now.
Twitter - Another one I have mentioned before. I think I'll be using this one for a while. :)
What have you guys been doing? I'm trying to keep up with everyone's blogs, but maybe I missed you.
Any suggestions for other types of tools?
Leave me a link. :)
reflecting on communities
One thing I really like about the communities I joined is the sense of inclusiveness. For the subject I picked in particular, and I think most people can relate this on some level, if one has an unpopular opinion, it can be difficult to find others to share your ideas with. But in these communities, everyone is there to share in the conversation, and if someone steps out of line, there is usually another voice who will put them in their place, or at least start a dialogue about what is respectful or disrespectful.
Also, there's something different about participating that I wouldn't have expected. I feel more connected to the people who interact with me. It brings new meaning to the sense of "community". I'm finding that I wish I was allowed to participate in the second community as well.
Anyone else having a similar experience?
Also, there's something different about participating that I wouldn't have expected. I feel more connected to the people who interact with me. It brings new meaning to the sense of "community". I'm finding that I wish I was allowed to participate in the second community as well.
Anyone else having a similar experience?
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