Continuing Your Blog

So today, as I sit down and write my last formal blog post for this class, I think to myself...hmm...how can I keep this blog thing going?  I sit in front of my computer with my fingers posed on the keys and sometimes I just can't think of what to talk about.  Do you find yourself running short on blogging ideas like me?  Well, I knew there had to be some ideas out there on how to keep your blog fresh so I did a search and came across this article.  Although is centered on church blogs, it's actually applicable to any type of blogging.

Article: 10 Tips for Keeping Your Blog Fresh

Some of my favorite suggestions included interviewing someone, writing a review, poll an audience, and inviting a guest writer.  Outside of the suggestions in this article, I've also been told to revisit old blog posts and see if you have anything new to add.  All good ideas!

So even though I am formally saying goodbye to the required blogging in EME 6414, hopefully I will not be saying goodbye to blogging.  Good luck to everyone! :)

Wearable Technologies - A Step Beyond Web 2.0?

I came across an article about Google Glass and the potential implications it may have for businesses.  The article talks about how wearable technologies with artificial intelligence (AI) may be the next big game changer for organizations.  A technology like Google Glass can see what you see and hear what you hear; therefore, the AI can make suggestions on resources that may help you with your current work.  Say what?!  Can you imagine?  I'm in a meeting in which I'm assigned a task and my Google Glass may be able to start immediately gathering information and materials to help me complete the assignment!?  That sounds like a pretty supped-up performance support system!

Also, doctor's could visually examine a patient and without touching them they could have suggested diagnosis, treatment plans, etc.  This lessens the risk of spreading infection and contamination.  It also could help reduce incorrect diagnosis.

Of course with some of the neat perks come some not so cool downsides.  People have to be willingly to have an even deeper invasion of their privacy and agree to a computer constantly gathering information about them and their activities.  Also, we become more and more dependent on AI which could lessen our own critical thinking. 

What do you think?  Is it cool or scary - or a little of both?

Read more here: Google Glass in the Workplace

Creating an Impactful Twitter Campaign

As a communications manager, I sporadically receive solicitations to attend conferences and receive various articles and newsletters.  This morning I received an article from PR News about creating an impactful Twitter campaign.  The article is geared towards companies who are trying to build their Twitter presence, but it could also be used for educators who are trying to build a community of practice.

One of the most interesting tips was the call to use graphics because a tweet with a picture gets nearly three times more retweets than a tweet without a picture.  Interesting...

Here is the article if you would like to read more: Twitter Campaigns

Mastering LinkedIn

I have used LinkedIn for my personal learning network long before I started this class.  I am able to connect with other organizational change management professionals, ask for ideas, share information, and find resources.  I also showcase my resume on LinkedIn and I have been contacted about numerous job offers through contacts that found me on LinkedIn.  However, after reading this blog, I realized I am not using LinkedIn to its full potential.  This blog has some great ideas on how to improve your presence on LinkedIn.

Take a look: Cheat Sheet for Mastering Linked In

In particular, I did not know you can rearrange the order of items on your profile under the edit options.  I also did not realize I could personalize my LinkedIn URL.  This is a great cheat sheet for those who are not LinkedIn experts.

Presenting Your Ideal Self Instead of Your Real Self on Social Media

This is an interesting article about how people use social media as an esteem booster and build an inflated self-perception based on the number of likes, comments, followers, etc. they receive on social media.  This also explains why some people spend so much time on social media.  People want to present their ideal self and maximize their careers, successes, and aspirations, but eliminate their less desirable "real" components.

Here is the article: Huffington Post - The Social Media Effect

What are your thoughts on this topic?  Do you think people are ever truly authentic on social media?

When is Social Learning Appropriate?

I ran across this blog that talks about when social learning is appropriate versus formal learning.  We have been learning about many different Web 2.0 tools this semester and how they can supplement or even replace formal learning.  However, this blog talks about times when social learning is likely not appropriate.  Jobs with routine work and standardized tasks such as bank tellers, cashiers, merchandise stocking crews, etc. are better suited for formal learning versus knowledge work with task variety such as software developers, professors, scientists, etc.  The author argues that routine work leaves little room for task variation and requires standardized skills.  The skills that need to be learned are narrow and focused, so standardized formal training is more appropriate than learner-centered exploratory learning that occurs with social learning.  The blog contained the graphic below, which I thought summarized the point well.

You can check out the entire blog here: Social Learning Blog

Web 2.0 For Lifelong Learning

I was reading through some articles about Scoopit since I recently created a curation and wanted to learn how to best use Scoopit to collect interesting articles and content.  I ran across an article that talked about the use of Scoopit in the classroom, but the article made an interesting point... the article said Scoopit and other Web 2.0 tools lead students to practice digital citizenship and personal responsibility to lifelong learning.  Hmm...that's a pretty interesting statement...personal responsibility to lifelong learning.  Sure, before Web 2.0 came along people learned on the job, through encyclopedias, college courses, etc.  However, Web 2.0 has put learning at everyone's fingertips and essentially we have a responsibility to invest in our development and learning.  I thought was pretty profound!  I had not really thought about it like that, but I do believe we should be teaching students that they have a responsibility to invest in lifelong learning.  What are your thoughts?

Web 2.0 Makes Students MAKERS, not just MEMORIZERS

I ran across this article today from a community of teachers who share Web 2.0 resources through Tweets.  The group uses the hash tag #EdTechChat.  One of their tweets, which became their most popular retweet stated "Web 2.0 makes students MAKERS, not just MEMORIZERS."  I thought this was a pretty awesome way to sum up the differences Web 2.0 can make when incorporated into the classroom.

You can check out the whole article here: EdTechChat

Checking out Glogster

Yesterday, I blogged about ways to use Web 2.0 for assessment and ran across and article that mentioned Glogster.  I had never head of Glogster and had no clue how it worked, so I did a little research.  I found out that Glog refers to a graphical blog and Glogster is a platform for teachers and students to create different interactive Glogs.

Here is an example from the Glogster page:

Teachers can make pages like this to help teach students about any subject and find and share educational content such as videos, audio clips, pictures, and text.  This provides a fun and interactive way for students to learn.  It also allows students to make graphical research papers by creating Glogs similar to the one pictured above.

I haven't signed up to make a Glog yet, but the tool looks promising, so I figured I would share!  Let me know if you have done one before!

Using Web 2.0 for Assessment

Hello, I hope everyone had a good 4th of July!  I am enjoying a nice breeze and some shade on my back porch in Arkansas as I type up this post.  I love taking my work outside!

This week's reading talked about the value of Web 2.0 in education.  In the article it discussed using Web 2.0 for assessment and touched on the need to reform assessment in education.  However, it also called out some of the concern with uses of Web 2.0 for assessment, particularly problems with authorship and intellectual property.  I had not really thought about using Web 2.0 for assessment.  Of course the word assessment automatically triggers images of multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank tests in my mind.  So, I was wondering...how would you use Web 2.0 for assessments?  I did a little research and one of my first search results gave a few ideas.

Here is the site: Web 2.0 Assessments

The site talks about teachers making word clouds for vocabulary and having students pick a word and provide definitions.  It also mentioned using tools such as Glogster or Webdoc to create digital posters about what they learned.  Another idea was an electronic portfolio. 

Personally, I love the idea of Web 2.0 assessments and moving away from the traditional pencil and paper tests because it allows creativity and learners can respond in many different ways.  Plus, traditional tests are just tedious and boring!  What are your thoughts on using Web 2.0 for assessments?