Google reader makes life much easier.

I am not sure I could cope with all the information I need to keep on top of, without google reader.

• My study material
• My fellow students Blogs
• My students groupwork and conference areas to name a few
• Topics I am interested in  
• News and sport

can all be brought into one web page area.
An additional benefit is the ability to be able to search all these specific locations for key information and find it quickly. Imagine being able to search for a conference post you made containing the word Chasm but you just can't find it. This short clip is just a different approach to help show reader in action and a little bit on mashups.


Short Video Clip using GoogleReader

Social values wiki users adopt, are they really any different?

This activity falls straight in the middle of my tutor group having to prepare fro a group work activity next month, they are in the process of setting rules for group work which will involve the production of a Wiki.

”…plainly put, a wiki is a website where anyone can edit anything anytime they want” (Richardson, W. 2009) 

What is interesting when you consider the rules the groups have set is the way they all seem to focus on social rules. The main focus of the discussion was on:- 

How often members were expected to log into the system
How decisions were to be made
What would happen in the event of problems

There was very little discussion about how to use or behave with respect to the wiki itself. Was this because certain things were taken for granted or were they overlooking this aspect of the activity. As a group they will compile a number of pages together; there are issues that need to be considered.

The creation of the wiki will unfold as they progress as a group, they need to trust each other that the contents added will be original or referenced properly and there will need to be acceptance and value put on each others contributions.

The task of the wiki will need to be made clear and the individual tasks set to the group members will need to be clear, possibly stated at the top of each page.

Is it acceptable to keep correcting the language, is it not best to get the ideas on the wiki before the polishing commences.

It is important that the combined efforts of the group are acknowledged and the responsibility for the production is shared. If this is to be made available to a wider audience then there will need to be willingness to share a collaborative effort and trust each others opinions and values.

It suddenly becomes more complex and similar to any other social event, there are differing characters and a wide variation on opinions some how all the differences have to be moulded together to agreement in the form of a webpage open for all to see; interesting lets hope its not a controversial subject or it will never reach an end.

No doubt there will also be the same social satisfaction when the event is completed and a feeling of mutual pride at its completion and the overall experience in the same way as a combined team drive towards a common goal, ready to move on to the next event. This will only be possible if all members have made a contribution otherwise there will be a number of negative issues to address. Why has one person not contributed as much or met his targets being a common problem. However if the measures are in place to reward the efforts and encourage the less active then the next task may well be improved upon.

Not too dissimilar to a normal team it’s just an online event. The rewards are obvious though,
‘wikis can extend their reach far beyond departmental or organizational limits, expressing the interests of virtually any community’ (Lamb, B.2004).

The enrichment brought to the event then can be quite diverse and opinions very varied a small price to pay for this is the need to adapt the social skills accordingly, taking into account different cultures, feelings, opinions and needs of our wider audience in order to be rewarded with a much wider perspective and valued contribution to the ever increasing electronic media available on the web. 

References
Richardson, W. (2009) Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms Corwin Press

Lamb, B. (2004) 'Wide open space: wikis, ready or not', Educause Review, vol. 39, no. 5 (September/October), pp. 36-48. Available from: http://www.educause.edu/pub/er/erm04/erm0452.asp (accessed 07April 2010).

Just sharing an experience.

I was fortunate enough to be teaching at Surrey University on Saturday and I feel the need to share my experience, why you ask because I saw innovation in action and it worked, not the case at my workplace where every barrier possible is popped in the way.

I arrived at 10:00 for a two hour lecture/tutorial walked in to the lecture room armed with memory stick and prayed. I needn't have worried. I touched a touch panel picked the tools I needed, down came a projector screen, on came the projector, up purred the PC and we were in business. I logged on with the username and password that had been emailed to me, got a friendly welcome; it even knew my name and I was in business. I requested internet access and it was there and low and behold when I popped in my memory stick with a presentation and some notes on 'it worked'. I was in heaven I had arrived early because you just don't know what to expect but thanks Surrey I was impressed.

Back to work on Monday, I'll leave my keystick at home forget about using any video or web 2.0 apps as for Google apps, you're having a laugh. Such is life.

Innovator Interview

Innovation where I work ? Come on there all a bunch of 'Laggards', a bit harsh I know and not strictly true. One of the major problems is allowing the technology in. I managed to interview a colleague who has provided elearning to help address the requirement to update / teach basic mathematics skills to our students.

Like Mark I have enjoyed this although it hammers home the reality that we are behind the curve somewhat, because on reflection I am not sure that an elearning package is particularly innovative these days. Given the circumstances though and the focus on reducing marking time and enabling the brighter students to progress quickly I saw it as innovative. I would much sooner be talking to a colleague that has brought web 2.0 apps into the learning environment though.

Affordance, 'What way does the technology affect our behaviour when we use it'.

Emails:

I think that the use of emails has changed the way we communicate, most emails are short and straight to the point and quite often full of spelling mistakes and errors in our grammar. However it is seen as a fast and efficient way to communicate and it is more acceptable to see the odd error in an email than it would for instance in a formal letter.

So has this changed our behaviour? Yes, many people used to only writing formally have a problem with emails and get hung up over the language, not to dissimilar from the approach first made to 'text speak' with a mobile phone.

I believe this is because as you use the technology we change our attitude, yes we  could spell check and waste more time, but it is meant to be a quick communication with a colleague that also has the odd typo in his emails.

As for text speak once you have used a mobile phone to send text messages you will very quickly realise why text speak has appeared. What is concerning though is when you see exam scripts containing essays and they are full of text speak.

Blogs

I have been a blogger for years but its only during my H808 and H807 studies that I have really realised its use, I thought it was a lot of fuss about nothing, not anymore though.

As for shaping our behaviour twenty years ago if I suggested you published a diary and allow everyone to read it and make comments about your thoughts, I would have been considered mad. However today its common practice, its an acceptable way of finding out information. If someone is prepared to share their thoughts and opinions with you, then 'thank you very much'. I may find it useful, I may not, but I certainly appreciate it being shared. As more people use Blogs it becomes a wider practice and the benefits are realised.

What affect has this had on our behaviour. We are more likely to share information, we feel we should give as well as take information, a community spirit develops and we form worldwide groups sharing a common interest.

Just a few thoughts I hope I am on the right track here.