May 7, 2009
Regardless of Aesthetics - Design Critique
I have converted to Acrobat.com services. The not-so-new online service. Simply put, acrobat is the best looking among all (docushare, googledocs, Zoho, Scribd, etc)
Recently, acrobat.com has release new tools, altogether, a combination of three recently launched online services: Adobe Brio (online meetings), Adobe Buzzword (online word processor), and Adobe Share (online file sharing). Thus with the public beta launch of Acrobat.com, Adobe is taking on Google Docs, Microsoft Office Live Workspace, WebEx, and GoTo Meeting—all at the same time.
Brio is a light version of Adobe Acrobat Connect. It lets up to three people have online meetings for free, with screen sharing, desktop video, voice conferencing, chat, white-boarding. You can add in a regular toll line for a fee. Anyone with a Mac is going to love this. All the documents on Acrobat.com are organized in what up until now has been Adobe Share. The document and file-sharing service now offers five gigabytes of free storage, and lets you embed documents in a widget on other sites across the Web.
Aesthetics: A+++, if not more, it is intuitive, organic and follows every key point in designing for the the users. The service is still in Beta testing, but so is google docs. Compared to googledocs and its bright white background, acrobat.com is easier on the eye.
Usability: A++, there is one reason these guys design the best creative suite in the industry... by paying attention to user feedback and keeping uniformity throughout their product line.
Audience: Well, even though it is well designed, my appeal is that I use their software all the time and I feel comfortable with the flow and positioning of the tools. I can relate and so can anyone who has had experience with any of their products.
Recently, acrobat.com has release new tools, altogether, a combination of three recently launched online services: Adobe Brio (online meetings), Adobe Buzzword (online word processor), and Adobe Share (online file sharing). Thus with the public beta launch of Acrobat.com, Adobe is taking on Google Docs, Microsoft Office Live Workspace, WebEx, and GoTo Meeting—all at the same time.
Brio is a light version of Adobe Acrobat Connect. It lets up to three people have online meetings for free, with screen sharing, desktop video, voice conferencing, chat, white-boarding. You can add in a regular toll line for a fee. Anyone with a Mac is going to love this. All the documents on Acrobat.com are organized in what up until now has been Adobe Share. The document and file-sharing service now offers five gigabytes of free storage, and lets you embed documents in a widget on other sites across the Web.
Aesthetics: A+++, if not more, it is intuitive, organic and follows every key point in designing for the the users. The service is still in Beta testing, but so is google docs. Compared to googledocs and its bright white background, acrobat.com is easier on the eye.
Usability: A++, there is one reason these guys design the best creative suite in the industry... by paying attention to user feedback and keeping uniformity throughout their product line.
Audience: Well, even though it is well designed, my appeal is that I use their software all the time and I feel comfortable with the flow and positioning of the tools. I can relate and so can anyone who has had experience with any of their products.
The Final Countdown
For my final project I am developing a network for nonprofit organization to share, contribute and acquire knowledge to better run, assess and implement tasks for their organization's needs. I am using Ning as the platform delivery system and though there are more and better choices such as BoonEx, Joomla, DocuShare, Ning seems to be the one I am most familiar with even with its limitations... great platform nonetheless.
I see an great use of Web 2.0 Technologies which we have covered over the semester to aid the delivery of instructional material to the learners and instructors.
Designing such framework has been characterized by our reading: A Whole New Mind which I seem to stress in my project more and more. I am thinking creatively. As for the design, I am working on it, and with time I hope to implement concepts of The Design of Everyday Things to create learning project for others to follow.
Project management seems to play a key role thus far.
I see an great use of Web 2.0 Technologies which we have covered over the semester to aid the delivery of instructional material to the learners and instructors.
Designing such framework has been characterized by our reading: A Whole New Mind which I seem to stress in my project more and more. I am thinking creatively. As for the design, I am working on it, and with time I hope to implement concepts of The Design of Everyday Things to create learning project for others to follow.
Project management seems to play a key role thus far.
Apr 29, 2009
The Project - A look back
I decided to attend class by logging in to illuminate on 4/09/09, but I signed in too late that day-- so, I missed the discussion with Rod Dunican about project management and collaboration.
Project management is a key element in everything that needs to be done. From the small things in our mundane everyday life-- to the big unveiling of the next big product. I am fascinated by the amount of work, time and some times human resource it takes to put things together-- even more when projects are done in a time constrain matter.
I think of my self as a planner; however, sometimes I feel like I could benefit from taking some project management training. At work, some times I can see our supervisors relegating work all day long, and I wonder if that is a characteristic of a project manager. However, things get done, and that is ultimately the job of the project manager, get it done.
Project management is a key element in everything that needs to be done. From the small things in our mundane everyday life-- to the big unveiling of the next big product. I am fascinated by the amount of work, time and some times human resource it takes to put things together-- even more when projects are done in a time constrain matter.
I think of my self as a planner; however, sometimes I feel like I could benefit from taking some project management training. At work, some times I can see our supervisors relegating work all day long, and I wonder if that is a characteristic of a project manager. However, things get done, and that is ultimately the job of the project manager, get it done.
Apr 24, 2009
Week 12 - User Interface Do's and Don't
Today in class we discussed the importance of the learning experience in relation to how the user will respond, how much information will the user obtain, how is the user going to get the information and reason on the importance to develop for your audience. As a graphic designer, I could not agree more.
Whenever I start any project I usually do a preliminary research on the audience based on the message or the objective of the message. After mock up is done, I usually find a person (friend, colleague) to critique it and get some feedback. Then, based on feedback I usually go back to whatever stage of the design needs improvement. Sometimes I end up starting from scratch and sometimes it just a need of little touches here and there.
Three key factors for developing learning objective in any media are:
The User experience:
- Does it appeal to the audience?
- Does reach the goal?
Information Flow:
- Will user find everything at hand?
- Will it make sense for the student?
- Does info required flow? Does it carry on?
- Is the information or lesson plan scalable for advance lesson plan?
Intuitive Design:
- Start with what works and then make it look pretty to appeal---not to distract
- Access information on one click/action
- Map, map, content map
I must say designing learning modules is not an easy task and requires a high level of technical user experience experience, so to say, but to summarize the concept of design we must strategize on what the best technical and user-experience assets are for an online meeting/collaboration site to develop the most effective visuals, questions, and overall level of engagment. Ideally, users should be able to pull out the most significant aspects of the product and really highlight those features on the home page as well as elsewhere in the site.
Apr 23, 2009
Apr 16, 2009
Final Project Idea
This is still in the idea development phase, but my idea is to create a site using Wordpress or a LMS or LCMS tool. There are a lot of tools out there and at the moment, I am in the researching stage and have been considering many Web 2.0 tools. Ning, Wetpaint and others are my options, but I will need to map out my project before I decide.
The Project
I volunteer at a couple of not-for-profit organizations in Marin. I teach English to adults at night once a week. I also teach computer classes to kids in low-income areas in Marin (yes, there are some areas believe it or not).
Some semesters; however, there are not enough volunteers and the staff is not very tech savvy either which limits the organization to the verge of closing doors or shut down projects. There is such a lack of communication between non-profits organization.
Can other organization in the Bay Area help? in New York? My idea is to create a site where all not-for-profit organizations can create, find, collaborate on ideas, projects that can help them find fast, cost effective ways to develop and attract more volunteers- as well as grant opportunitties. A non-profit network.
The Project
I volunteer at a couple of not-for-profit organizations in Marin. I teach English to adults at night once a week. I also teach computer classes to kids in low-income areas in Marin (yes, there are some areas believe it or not).
Some semesters; however, there are not enough volunteers and the staff is not very tech savvy either which limits the organization to the verge of closing doors or shut down projects. There is such a lack of communication between non-profits organization.
Can other organization in the Bay Area help? in New York? My idea is to create a site where all not-for-profit organizations can create, find, collaborate on ideas, projects that can help them find fast, cost effective ways to develop and attract more volunteers- as well as grant opportunitties. A non-profit network.
Apr 15, 2009
Design flaw
Per our assignment, here is my everyday thing with a design flaw(s)!
Laptops.
Affordances: The affordance of laptops is to take it everywhere and use it anywhere.... giving us a sense of freedom and the ability to be out there, away from the office.
However this is not the case, the majority of laptops are fragile, and by their design and material, not meant to take the everyday beating that they receive.
-The power cord and connector are usually designed in an L-shape or straight in I-shape ready to yank out the power connector from the laptop in case you stand up and move across the room while still attached or if some one walks by and trips on it.
-By puttin your Laptop on your... "Lap" the only way to prevent your laptop from hitting the ground is by puttin rigid pressure with your fingers! Yet, most of us still do it.
Constraints:
-Power, if you are away from any wall, you are being timed. Yep, on average a notebook will last you 2-3 hours of actual normal use. 4-6 hours if you don't touch it and let sit there.
-Caring for it like new born baby all the time.
Feedback: The only feedback you get is, after you have dropped it, spilled coffee on it, the laptop won't start or give off an annoying beeee-p.
Protecting my laptop or treating it like a baby is probably not the best way to describe how to care for one. My last two laptops (PowerBook, Dell Vostro) suffered from the two flaws above and as it were, they were the main reasons both are R.I.P now. Some one yanked the power connector off my PowerBook when they tripped on it in a classroom and the other just slipped out from my "Lap" down to the cement. Ouch! said my wallet.
Laptops.
Affordances: The affordance of laptops is to take it everywhere and use it anywhere.... giving us a sense of freedom and the ability to be out there, away from the office.
However this is not the case, the majority of laptops are fragile, and by their design and material, not meant to take the everyday beating that they receive.
-The power cord and connector are usually designed in an L-shape or straight in I-shape ready to yank out the power connector from the laptop in case you stand up and move across the room while still attached or if some one walks by and trips on it.
-By puttin your Laptop on your... "Lap" the only way to prevent your laptop from hitting the ground is by puttin rigid pressure with your fingers! Yet, most of us still do it.
Constraints:
-Power, if you are away from any wall, you are being timed. Yep, on average a notebook will last you 2-3 hours of actual normal use. 4-6 hours if you don't touch it and let sit there.
-Caring for it like new born baby all the time.
Feedback: The only feedback you get is, after you have dropped it, spilled coffee on it, the laptop won't start or give off an annoying beeee-p.
Protecting my laptop or treating it like a baby is probably not the best way to describe how to care for one. My last two laptops (PowerBook, Dell Vostro) suffered from the two flaws above and as it were, they were the main reasons both are R.I.P now. Some one yanked the power connector off my PowerBook when they tripped on it in a classroom and the other just slipped out from my "Lap" down to the cement. Ouch! said my wallet.
Apr 14, 2009
In the beginning... Design of Everyday Things
I read this book way back in school for my theory design class. I thought it made some good points on the design aspects of things. Yes, there are some products out there that are poorly designed (Windows Vista), ones that simply underestimate human intellectuality (Windows Vista) and others that pay no attention to customer/student feedback (Windows Vista).
Norman's view is everyone's rants. If we sit down and ask ourselves why things are the way they are, we are bound to find flaws. One of my undergrad projects in my product design class was to find a flawless product.
To my surprise, I came to the conclusion that the TOOTHBRUSH was the most simplistic, most primitive tool/instrument ever. Its success relies on its simplicity. Brush and a handle. Yet, and this is my response to Norman's book, the industry has tried to turn it into a sophisticated instrument (see Oral-B 9100). In other words, companies are restricted in design from the lack of RnD or overcompensation to differentiate from other brands.
The education:
Regardless of the toothbrush, thinking of how people adapt to learning theories depends on many things such as cultural differences, native language, age, gender, social and economical status, etc. All these differences need to be addressed prior to curriculum development to better design and assess instructional design. Another important aspect for the instructor/developer/designer is to focus on a clear conceptual and consistent model that is scalable to the audience's need. This is where I see Web 2.0 tools, such as Wikis, blogs, etc become the key to collaborate with other instructors overcoming instructional obstacles.
Flexibility is a major key factor in designing models, instructors need to be able to adapt and evaluate in a timely matter, to reach those students that are falling behind without retarding the learning process for others.
Norman's view is everyone's rants. If we sit down and ask ourselves why things are the way they are, we are bound to find flaws. One of my undergrad projects in my product design class was to find a flawless product.
To my surprise, I came to the conclusion that the TOOTHBRUSH was the most simplistic, most primitive tool/instrument ever. Its success relies on its simplicity. Brush and a handle. Yet, and this is my response to Norman's book, the industry has tried to turn it into a sophisticated instrument (see Oral-B 9100). In other words, companies are restricted in design from the lack of RnD or overcompensation to differentiate from other brands.
The education:
Regardless of the toothbrush, thinking of how people adapt to learning theories depends on many things such as cultural differences, native language, age, gender, social and economical status, etc. All these differences need to be addressed prior to curriculum development to better design and assess instructional design. Another important aspect for the instructor/developer/designer is to focus on a clear conceptual and consistent model that is scalable to the audience's need. This is where I see Web 2.0 tools, such as Wikis, blogs, etc become the key to collaborate with other instructors overcoming instructional obstacles.
Flexibility is a major key factor in designing models, instructors need to be able to adapt and evaluate in a timely matter, to reach those students that are falling behind without retarding the learning process for others.
Apr 9, 2009
The Social Business of the Capitalist World
On my short visit to the Web 2.0 Expo on Friday.
As I walked around checking every booth asking and listening to presenters on each booth talk about why their ideas are good and why it should be used, and how it's going compete with the myriad of other tools out there that will do the same job in some different way, I was almost done with the whole experience in the first ten minutes.
After an exhausting 20-minute walk around, I sat down with my Coke and bagel and started to reflect on how all this, everything around me might be the beginning, the push, of some new industry term, if such would preserve its current momentum that is, to define such fascination with Web 2.0 within its own industry.
The world revolves around money, and industries are the gears that drive eras that are defined on cultural changes, shifts and trends that drive demands and it is in the industries' best practice to capitalize by supplying the requested goods. What's all these about anyways? Strategic Manageability.
My biggest question is how do people benefits from a social movement trying to gain its way into an industry without structure? How can Six-sigma be implemented to zero-in and analyzed standards to make a movement profitable, productive, responsible? Why are all these small companies here? Just to make a short term investment? Invest, gain publicity and sell out or cash out before the ideas fizzles? What is the lean production? Where would all these take me as a student, teacher, a consumer?
It is hard to define what Web 2.0 is in terms of industry, it is not a product, not a technology rather a movement composed in technological modules. In my opinion, Web 2.0 needs a framework. Web 2.0 is driven by participation.
The transition from the old web to Web 2.0 was enabled by the emergence of platforms (blogging, social networks, etc) that collectively allowed easy content creation and sharing by anyone. Web 2.0 is the antithesis of the monolithic. A composition of modules designed to link and integrate together building a whole or something greater than the sum of its parts.
So, not to say that everything at the Expo was a dissapointment, in fact, some ventures out there are for the greater good. To recap my feelings on what the purpose of the expo should be, and am open to discussion, is to enable the distribution of technologies to integrate and collectively transform mass participation into valuable emergent outcomes. A benefit for all, by all of us.
Regardless of my two cents, below are my best in show:
As I walked around checking every booth asking and listening to presenters on each booth talk about why their ideas are good and why it should be used, and how it's going compete with the myriad of other tools out there that will do the same job in some different way, I was almost done with the whole experience in the first ten minutes.
After an exhausting 20-minute walk around, I sat down with my Coke and bagel and started to reflect on how all this, everything around me might be the beginning, the push, of some new industry term, if such would preserve its current momentum that is, to define such fascination with Web 2.0 within its own industry.
The world revolves around money, and industries are the gears that drive eras that are defined on cultural changes, shifts and trends that drive demands and it is in the industries' best practice to capitalize by supplying the requested goods. What's all these about anyways? Strategic Manageability.
My biggest question is how do people benefits from a social movement trying to gain its way into an industry without structure? How can Six-sigma be implemented to zero-in and analyzed standards to make a movement profitable, productive, responsible? Why are all these small companies here? Just to make a short term investment? Invest, gain publicity and sell out or cash out before the ideas fizzles? What is the lean production? Where would all these take me as a student, teacher, a consumer?
It is hard to define what Web 2.0 is in terms of industry, it is not a product, not a technology rather a movement composed in technological modules. In my opinion, Web 2.0 needs a framework. Web 2.0 is driven by participation.
The transition from the old web to Web 2.0 was enabled by the emergence of platforms (blogging, social networks, etc) that collectively allowed easy content creation and sharing by anyone. Web 2.0 is the antithesis of the monolithic. A composition of modules designed to link and integrate together building a whole or something greater than the sum of its parts.
So, not to say that everything at the Expo was a dissapointment, in fact, some ventures out there are for the greater good. To recap my feelings on what the purpose of the expo should be, and am open to discussion, is to enable the distribution of technologies to integrate and collectively transform mass participation into valuable emergent outcomes. A benefit for all, by all of us.
Regardless of my two cents, below are my best in show:
- OER Commons: is a teaching resource site that lets everyone share and access learning methods and ideas that are allowed to be shared. In my opinion this is a true example of the social business.
- ooVoo 2.0 : I used this for personal use. It is simple and easy to use. ooVoo allows you to video conference with up to six callers around the world, Pretty cool.
- ProtoShare: is a web-based collaborative prototyping tool that helps teams quickly build, discuss, and refine click-able website wireframes and creative design work.
- Tiddla: Mark up websites, graphics, and photos, or start brainstorming on a blank canvas. Browse the web with your friends or make that conference call more productive than ever. No plug-ins, downloads, or firewall voodoo - it's all here, ready to go when you are. Browser-agnostic, user-friendly. This is pretty cool. I use to play with my niece over seas.
Mar 20, 2009
The School Curriculum :: Not a Game Live Event
We attended a presentation by Dr. Kahne about how video games can be incorporated in video games.
Key points that got me thinking were:
1. Can games could become part of the school curriculum if they can be used for a significant educational value?
If yes, then how? There was a little discussion about how educator and game developers can't get along. It seems that game developers, as well as marketing managers, don't really know the right approach to developing educational games. There is a big wall between them. Educators on the other hand, feel like education should not be a "game" or hat students should not have fun doing homework. There was a point brought to our attention that teacher rely on a grade system to evaluate a students' development whereas game developers rely on achievements; as long they reach the next level they should keep going!"
My take? I think as of now, games are still games, there are some that are more educational than others but at the end, they are still games, or have the same game story line, there is end.
The whole game industry relies on selling, meaning that as soon as the new game version comes out, developers are producing the sequel, this has its marketing purpose--to make money. Education on the other hand is a more linear approach rather that the scalable standard game design approach. In conclusion, we should stay away from using the word "game:. Game developers need to take a look at the educational industry and they will, hopefully, find a way to create more education training capsules while at the same time make money.
2. Civic duties?
Dr. Kahn showed us a clip from the video game Halo, and elaborated on the the reason the pitch on the clip was to give the gamer sense of civic duty, help something, the world. My perception is that we can learn every theory, every philosophy, every idea out there, but there is nothing that can replace HUMAN TOUCH, human interaction, the human factor. Someeducational modules/capsules may have great success , but it should not replace LIVE life experience or actually, physically walking on other's people shoes. In other words, I don't entirely agree with the connection of civic duty to be the reason why people would want to learn in a game environment. Or maybe I got Dr.Kahn note entirely wrong.
LM and CMS:
I am a newbie, and the presentation today was very informative. We learn about moddle, drupal and other content management and learning management tools that are open source and available to the public as well as Open Source's terms and conditions. I am looking forward to getting some hand-on experience on developing class curriculum and start creating lesson plans and maybe base my final project on this.
Mar 17, 2009
Podcast Remix featuring ITEC classmates
Here is my podcast.
I kept it under three minutes.
See you guys in class.
I kept it under three minutes.
See you guys in class.
Mar 16, 2009
You know, you look nothing like your avatar
Class was very interesting.
First, we had a light discussion about our reading from last week and this week's "Growing up with Google". We also recorded a mix of what we thought about Dr. Wagner's visit last week. That was fun, I have never done a recording about anything much less in 30-seconds.
With an amateur inspiration about Podcasting, I am looking forward to more multimedia assignments like this. I also learned how to make one.
It's easy; just download AudioCity and boom! you are "DJ Sir Geekalot" all of the sudden. I had the impression that you needed an Ipod in order to create a Podcast, what a misleading verb!
Second Life!
Woh! I was waiting on this presentation for weeks. I had heard of SL but never actually even looked at their site for more info.
So, what is Second Life :
1. Virtual (Social) World
2. Actual people using avatars
3. World is designed and developed by users
4. You can do WHATEVER you want
Second Life and Education?Our presentation was included samples of how SL is being utilized in the classroom and how universities are adapting to this technology. We can only guess where and how we can implement SL in education. Maybe not using SL but maybe educational institutions can develop "virtual universities" for that one only purpose and not depend on the SL franchise.
Aside from the virtual world, our discussion focused on context. Learning and teaching in 21st context is the key to shaping our educational future. As educators we must teach in 21st context because our kids/students are living in the 21st century, a generation that is more open and aware of each others problems and struggles.
We alsowatched a well crafted video “A Vision of Student’s Today” which pretty much summarizes, along with our reading "Growing Up with Google: What it Means to Education", that our young may actually be more confused than we are because they have no guidance on how to use everything that is out there.
First, we had a light discussion about our reading from last week and this week's "Growing up with Google". We also recorded a mix of what we thought about Dr. Wagner's visit last week. That was fun, I have never done a recording about anything much less in 30-seconds.
With an amateur inspiration about Podcasting, I am looking forward to more multimedia assignments like this. I also learned how to make one.
It's easy; just download AudioCity and boom! you are "DJ Sir Geekalot" all of the sudden. I had the impression that you needed an Ipod in order to create a Podcast, what a misleading verb!
Second Life!
Woh! I was waiting on this presentation for weeks. I had heard of SL but never actually even looked at their site for more info.
So, what is Second Life :
1. Virtual (Social) World
2. Actual people using avatars
3. World is designed and developed by users
4. You can do WHATEVER you want
Second Life and Education?Our presentation was included samples of how SL is being utilized in the classroom and how universities are adapting to this technology. We can only guess where and how we can implement SL in education. Maybe not using SL but maybe educational institutions can develop "virtual universities" for that one only purpose and not depend on the SL franchise.
Aside from the virtual world, our discussion focused on context. Learning and teaching in 21st context is the key to shaping our educational future. As educators we must teach in 21st context because our kids/students are living in the 21st century, a generation that is more open and aware of each others problems and struggles.
We alsowatched a well crafted video “A Vision of Student’s Today” which pretty much summarizes, along with our reading "Growing Up with Google: What it Means to Education", that our young may actually be more confused than we are because they have no guidance on how to use everything that is out there.
Mar 12, 2009
Techno Script- not the font, but the technology
This is a short script. I thought it was supposed to be a 30 second summary of Dr. Wagner's presentation that we would narrate into a PODCAST?
"I like Dr. Wagner's presentation. She seemed to have a teaching educational background with a private sector mentality. She is well informed and speculative about both, educational trends and how connectivism along with Web 2.0 are changing or shaping the way we learn. She also seemed concern about how to better utilize the tools of right now than focusing on the future, or in other words, we should embrace what is available now and prepare for the future.
Her website is full of useful insightful blogs about education and technology. I really enjoyed her presentation and look forward to reading her blogs."
Some pondering questions....
How do we prepare students for future technologies?
I would say by having students be more active with today's technologies.
How do we prepare ourselves?
Through reading, peers, playing with new tools that come to light.
How do we decide to stay with sustainable technology?
I really don't know... right now at least.
How is everything that is free (open source) going to help us implement it in educational training?
By using it, retaining what's good and letting go of the ones that have little to offer or that are too far ahead of their time.
What keeps me up at night?
How am I going to be of help to make sure everyone regardless of their location, age (kids, adults, seniors, people with disabilities), social economic status get their hands on these technologies and get better education and become part of the educational caravan? How?
"I like Dr. Wagner's presentation. She seemed to have a teaching educational background with a private sector mentality. She is well informed and speculative about both, educational trends and how connectivism along with Web 2.0 are changing or shaping the way we learn. She also seemed concern about how to better utilize the tools of right now than focusing on the future, or in other words, we should embrace what is available now and prepare for the future.
Her website is full of useful insightful blogs about education and technology. I really enjoyed her presentation and look forward to reading her blogs."
Some pondering questions....
How do we prepare students for future technologies?
I would say by having students be more active with today's technologies.
How do we prepare ourselves?
Through reading, peers, playing with new tools that come to light.
How do we decide to stay with sustainable technology?
I really don't know... right now at least.
How is everything that is free (open source) going to help us implement it in educational training?
By using it, retaining what's good and letting go of the ones that have little to offer or that are too far ahead of their time.
What keeps me up at night?
How am I going to be of help to make sure everyone regardless of their location, age (kids, adults, seniors, people with disabilities), social economic status get their hands on these technologies and get better education and become part of the educational caravan? How?
Mar 6, 2009
Education and the Internet - The Things to Come
Dr. Ellen Wagner presented her knowledge to class today. Opposed to Dr. Bonk last week, Dr. Wagner main concern is how we make the most out of what we have (Web 2.0 tools). Her way of taking on the class was less business-like and more of a instructional role by asking the class questions and concerns about the way we see and understand 1) web 2.0 and 2) present and future roles. Among the many subjects we discussed the following are the ones that grabbed my attention the most.
Web 2.0 Green Tech?
There was some discussion with the question about whether Web 2.0 was a green technology. In reality Web 2.0 was not meant or designed to be a green technology. For example, solar panels were designed as a green technology for energy conservation. They were and still are designed for that purpose. Whereas Web 2.0 is more of a continuous implementation of the ever changing online Internet experience. In fact this technology, the Internet, has created/contributed more waste, or e-waste.
Web 2.0 may reduce the number of prints-- reducing the number of trees needed to make paper, but it increases energy consumption and e-waste. Research by Harvard school shows that it takes as much energy to do a search in Google as it takes to boil a cup of water. Imagine how many times you do a search in one day, how many people? Google came out with a response on this subject. There are viable venues to combat such immense energy consumption and some seem very far in the future, but all we can hope is that at some point "Web x.0" becomes "eWeb."
Business to Education dilemma
One of the reasons I decided to get my Master in Instructional Technology was my desire to teach and to help: 1) kids/adults without the necessary tools (computer, Internet, phone, etc.) whether in poor cities in the US or anywhere in the world. 2) help people like who have that desire to improve and help reduce the gap between the have and the have nots. And this is where I come to the dilemma. How will my transition from the business/corporate world shape me as an instructor to the public sector? Dr. Wagner talked about her experience and how hard it is to push technology that could be use in education but fails to make money. Web 3.0 simulation? I don't see itDr. Warner asked the class what we thought about
Web 3.0 what will it look like?
Web 4.0? There were a interesting ideas, but I started thinking about how our society is all about "us", personality, what many may coin as "Narcissist". And we are, in general. I think Web 3.0 will be based on this modern social trait, we want to be different, customization. Thus, giving birth to cognitive search intelligence from a platform stance. We should be seeing a change in browsers and software and uniform cross-platforms compatibility.
Free Puppy vs Free Beer
This example was probably the best way to describe what I have always thought about all these "free" tools available to educators right now. My questions has always been when are they going to start charging people to use these tools? why are they free? and how much more improvement is there once fees start to roll in? Web tools like SlideShare, VoiceThread, etc ., are cool, but what exactly is their business direction? How will they survive and make sure they stay in business so that educator don't have to run from free services to free services?
Web 2.0 Green Tech?
There was some discussion with the question about whether Web 2.0 was a green technology. In reality Web 2.0 was not meant or designed to be a green technology. For example, solar panels were designed as a green technology for energy conservation. They were and still are designed for that purpose. Whereas Web 2.0 is more of a continuous implementation of the ever changing online Internet experience. In fact this technology, the Internet, has created/contributed more waste, or e-waste.
Web 2.0 may reduce the number of prints-- reducing the number of trees needed to make paper, but it increases energy consumption and e-waste. Research by Harvard school shows that it takes as much energy to do a search in Google as it takes to boil a cup of water. Imagine how many times you do a search in one day, how many people? Google came out with a response on this subject. There are viable venues to combat such immense energy consumption and some seem very far in the future, but all we can hope is that at some point "Web x.0" becomes "eWeb."
Business to Education dilemma
One of the reasons I decided to get my Master in Instructional Technology was my desire to teach and to help: 1) kids/adults without the necessary tools (computer, Internet, phone, etc.) whether in poor cities in the US or anywhere in the world. 2) help people like who have that desire to improve and help reduce the gap between the have and the have nots. And this is where I come to the dilemma. How will my transition from the business/corporate world shape me as an instructor to the public sector? Dr. Wagner talked about her experience and how hard it is to push technology that could be use in education but fails to make money. Web 3.0 simulation? I don't see itDr. Warner asked the class what we thought about
Web 3.0 what will it look like?
Web 4.0? There were a interesting ideas, but I started thinking about how our society is all about "us", personality, what many may coin as "Narcissist". And we are, in general. I think Web 3.0 will be based on this modern social trait, we want to be different, customization. Thus, giving birth to cognitive search intelligence from a platform stance. We should be seeing a change in browsers and software and uniform cross-platforms compatibility.
Free Puppy vs Free Beer
This example was probably the best way to describe what I have always thought about all these "free" tools available to educators right now. My questions has always been when are they going to start charging people to use these tools? why are they free? and how much more improvement is there once fees start to roll in? Web tools like SlideShare, VoiceThread, etc ., are cool, but what exactly is their business direction? How will they survive and make sure they stay in business so that educator don't have to run from free services to free services?
Mar 3, 2009
1 Minute Presentation
Here is my 1 minute presentation. I would have added audio if I have had more time to make it better. I think SlideShare is a very cool tool. I wonder when and at what point all the free tools available will ever change. Will it always remain free to people? How are these venture companies planning their productive future as a competition?
ENJOY!!!
ENJOY!!!
Mar 1, 2009
One for all and all for one: the world according to Dr. Bonk.
Class reflection; Feb-26-09
Our main activity was watching an online (live feed) presentation of Dr. Bunk on his studies and views of the current technology of social learning though Web 2.0. Some of his points were Media Sharing and common interaction among peers in which by sharing sources (on-line) WE ALL LEARN.
One of his main attention grabber phrase was his self made acronym W-E-A-L-L-L-E-A-R-N.
His presentation went on how things have changed from our grandparents/parents way of learning to ours and how technology is enabling access to speak, indulge and show the world our knowledge, our resources to all those with access.
Dr. Bonk's introduction to his "The World is Flat" presentation placed me back in my Latin American studies in undergraduate school. How significant changes over a short period of time can re-route the course of history. Defying moments driving by people seeking power and/or overthrowing power can resolve the enigma of how close, yet how far we are from understanding and learning from each other. Today in education and Web 2.0, our self determination of seeking for wisdom and the reforming impact on the many projects for OpenSourcessness vying for a better, more constructed way of information knowledge base, will open our participation and anticipation of the way we will learn in the future, or at least what we envision.
There were three points that grabbed my attention and what Dr. Bonk calls the "The Triple Learning Technology."
Pipes: the ability of tools and how it is set up.
Pages: What's out there? The availability of free educational content and resources, (OER) OPEN EDUCATIONAL SOURCES.
Participatory Learning Culture: A cultural move towards an open access and collaboration and global sharing.
One last note I would like to mention is the accessibility of these resources. With people having access to the open world/blended technologies through their phones, mobile devices and computers at home and work, will there be a divide between those use it to get what they need and those who put an input to the web of learning? Will we all be contributors or will we all be information gatherers. Something we know for sure is: the world is open and that way-- WE ALL LEARN.
Our main activity was watching an online (live feed) presentation of Dr. Bunk on his studies and views of the current technology of social learning though Web 2.0. Some of his points were Media Sharing and common interaction among peers in which by sharing sources (on-line) WE ALL LEARN.
One of his main attention grabber phrase was his self made acronym W-E-A-L-L-L-E-A-R-N.
His presentation went on how things have changed from our grandparents/parents way of learning to ours and how technology is enabling access to speak, indulge and show the world our knowledge, our resources to all those with access.
Dr. Bonk's introduction to his "The World is Flat" presentation placed me back in my Latin American studies in undergraduate school. How significant changes over a short period of time can re-route the course of history. Defying moments driving by people seeking power and/or overthrowing power can resolve the enigma of how close, yet how far we are from understanding and learning from each other. Today in education and Web 2.0, our self determination of seeking for wisdom and the reforming impact on the many projects for OpenSourcessness vying for a better, more constructed way of information knowledge base, will open our participation and anticipation of the way we will learn in the future, or at least what we envision.
There were three points that grabbed my attention and what Dr. Bonk calls the "The Triple Learning Technology."
Pipes: the ability of tools and how it is set up.
Pages: What's out there? The availability of free educational content and resources, (OER) OPEN EDUCATIONAL SOURCES.
Participatory Learning Culture: A cultural move towards an open access and collaboration and global sharing.
One last note I would like to mention is the accessibility of these resources. With people having access to the open world/blended technologies through their phones, mobile devices and computers at home and work, will there be a divide between those use it to get what they need and those who put an input to the web of learning? Will we all be contributors or will we all be information gatherers. Something we know for sure is: the world is open and that way-- WE ALL LEARN.
Feb 25, 2009
E is For eLearning
After reading the first ten pages of the assigned reading, I concluded on two things: Web 2.0 infiltrated mainstream way before I thought it had. Second, the tools available are emerging rapidly and are going to facilitate everything we think that takes years to learn down to months or even weeks.
I visited most site mentioned in the article and that led me to various other sites offering some pretty ingenue tools for education and business. This morning I read an article on the Chronicle about how a group people developed a little snippet that keeps track of all the people that are being lay off. A bigger company bought the license and is marketing to data management companies to tally up the total number of lay off's since last, week, last months, quarter. The snippet was developed into an add-in/plug-in for mail clients which would automatically send the number of lay off notices back to a server.
So, the group of guys who thought of the idea made money, the company who licensed it is making money and the data center that provides information to other sources makes more money. The point is that technology offers these advantages and right now only a few can develop their ideas into reality, but pretty soon you will be able to make movies, effects, music and little snippets by sharing knowledge and interchanging with others.
The reading identified the following points:
• Identify several different emerging technologies.
• Incorporate emerging technologies in teaching and learning activities to engage learners.
• Explain how emerging technologies will affect education, and vice versa.
• Identify the challenges organizations face in adopting emerging technologies.
One technology in particular that I like and can find useful in an educational environment is RSS feed. It basically downloads news or updates on any particular web article, wiki or blog instead of you going to retrieve information; it does it for you. Ethan made a quick presentation, though I did not quite follow much I hope we can go over more in details on Thursday.
There is a section that states "To thrive in an era of social computing, companies must abandon top-down management and communication tactics, weave communities into their
products and services, use employees and partners as marketers, and become part of a living fabric of brand loyalists” (Charron, Favier & Li, 2006, para. 1)."
This is a very socialist approach in a political sense, but has a capitalist outcome. It probably has a better view if it had an educational connotation. In education, it seems that Web 2.0 will facilitate education to all (as long they can afford a computer and Internet access). Third world countries can reach out to a shared knowledge and information that is widely available right now-- if they can search for it wisely. Speaking of searching, the article also mentions how we have this over-reliance on Google and how we must implement better search or "Intelligent Search."
I came across a site with a few tips for better searching. Use wisely and at your own risk!
Web Search allinanchor:, allintext:, allintitle:, allinurl:, cache:, define:, filetype:, id:, inanchor:, info:, intext:, intitle:, inurl:, phonebook:, related:, site:
Image Search allintitle:, allinurl:, filetype:, inurl:, intitle:, site:
Groups allintext:, allintitle:, author:, group:, insubject:, intext:, intitle:
Directory allintext:, allintitle:, allinurl:, ext:, filetype:, intext:, intitle:, inurl:
News allintext:, allintitle:, allinurl:, intext:, intitle:, inurl:, location:, source:
Product Search allintext:, allintitle:
I do not fully understand MOBS.
I visited most site mentioned in the article and that led me to various other sites offering some pretty ingenue tools for education and business. This morning I read an article on the Chronicle about how a group people developed a little snippet that keeps track of all the people that are being lay off. A bigger company bought the license and is marketing to data management companies to tally up the total number of lay off's since last, week, last months, quarter. The snippet was developed into an add-in/plug-in for mail clients which would automatically send the number of lay off notices back to a server.
So, the group of guys who thought of the idea made money, the company who licensed it is making money and the data center that provides information to other sources makes more money. The point is that technology offers these advantages and right now only a few can develop their ideas into reality, but pretty soon you will be able to make movies, effects, music and little snippets by sharing knowledge and interchanging with others.
The reading identified the following points:
• Identify several different emerging technologies.
• Incorporate emerging technologies in teaching and learning activities to engage learners.
• Explain how emerging technologies will affect education, and vice versa.
• Identify the challenges organizations face in adopting emerging technologies.
One technology in particular that I like and can find useful in an educational environment is RSS feed. It basically downloads news or updates on any particular web article, wiki or blog instead of you going to retrieve information; it does it for you. Ethan made a quick presentation, though I did not quite follow much I hope we can go over more in details on Thursday.
There is a section that states "To thrive in an era of social computing, companies must abandon top-down management and communication tactics, weave communities into their
products and services, use employees and partners as marketers, and become part of a living fabric of brand loyalists” (Charron, Favier & Li, 2006, para. 1)."
This is a very socialist approach in a political sense, but has a capitalist outcome. It probably has a better view if it had an educational connotation. In education, it seems that Web 2.0 will facilitate education to all (as long they can afford a computer and Internet access). Third world countries can reach out to a shared knowledge and information that is widely available right now-- if they can search for it wisely. Speaking of searching, the article also mentions how we have this over-reliance on Google and how we must implement better search or "Intelligent Search."
I came across a site with a few tips for better searching. Use wisely and at your own risk!
Web Search allinanchor:, allintext:, allintitle:, allinurl:, cache:, define:, filetype:, id:, inanchor:, info:, intext:, intitle:, inurl:, phonebook:, related:, site:
Image Search allintitle:, allinurl:, filetype:, inurl:, intitle:, site:
Groups allintext:, allintitle:, author:, group:, insubject:, intext:, intitle:
Directory allintext:, allintitle:, allinurl:, ext:, filetype:, intext:, intitle:, inurl:
News allintext:, allintitle:, allinurl:, intext:, intitle:, inurl:, location:, source:
Product Search allintext:, allintitle:
I do not fully understand MOBS.
Feb 20, 2009
I just came across this ivdeo. It is about Networked Student was inspired by George Siemens and Stephen Downes during fall 2008. The Networked Student concept map was inspired by Alec Couros' Networked Teacher.
PLEASE NOTE: I apologize for any misspelled words or non-connected sentences on my previous rensponses and/or blogs.
I am now writing everything in Word first to format it and spell check it. Thanks!
PLEASE NOTE: I apologize for any misspelled words or non-connected sentences on my previous rensponses and/or blogs.
I am now writing everything in Word first to format it and spell check it. Thanks!
Week 4: iTwitter
I have been doing some more research on Twitter since my last Blog. Working on Group one, Brian talked about Twitter; we had to investigate the reason why one would join the Twitter world. My last comments about Twitter were not of praise, but rather of confusion.
My findings on Twitter have changed.
I Twitter not.
Microblogging in general is changing the way interact, communicate and consume. The self-imposed pressure to blog something every night, or even a few times a week, melts away. Twitter restriction is 140-character length which means there’s never any expectation for thoughts be fully formed. Maybe that’s yet another sign of cultural acceleration and the cheaper snack-sized media info size, but it seems to work for many.
Twitter has a potential to become a partial cure of our ongoing failure to actually read anything. Hundreds of feeds in the RSS reader, thousands of bookmarks, and I rarely look at anything that does not find its way into my inbox. I signed up for a Twitter account last week and so far I have four followers, an Australian professor of Eco-Studies, Dell Outlet, A self-improvement guru and Surfer magazine. How did they find me?
Looking back at my Internet habits, I realized that it tracks my digital paths (nothing new here), on my Internet habits. My profile says I surf, and Twitter looking for Dell Coupons and noted that I volunteer for local ClimateWorks.
Do I follow?
I am following a few people and companies, and so far I used a coupon from Dell.
Again Twitter can become another inbox, a more playful than the first-- essential nonetheless. Twitter has clicked for me in a way no other social network has. The one drawback that applies is that you have to follow and keep checking on updates which means you have to be tied to your desk at all times otherwise the update gets pushed down further each time. You can always track by clicking on the follower you are trying to follow though.
After reading some reviews and notes on Twitter I found out that it is a hybrid between all Web 2.0, not quite IRC, not quite IM, not quite blogging, not quite RSS. It’s all of those things synergized, yet still http-based.
I am still waiting and I will give it time, so far what do you guys think?
My findings on Twitter have changed.
I Twitter not.
Microblogging in general is changing the way interact, communicate and consume. The self-imposed pressure to blog something every night, or even a few times a week, melts away. Twitter restriction is 140-character length which means there’s never any expectation for thoughts be fully formed. Maybe that’s yet another sign of cultural acceleration and the cheaper snack-sized media info size, but it seems to work for many.
Twitter has a potential to become a partial cure of our ongoing failure to actually read anything. Hundreds of feeds in the RSS reader, thousands of bookmarks, and I rarely look at anything that does not find its way into my inbox. I signed up for a Twitter account last week and so far I have four followers, an Australian professor of Eco-Studies, Dell Outlet, A self-improvement guru and Surfer magazine. How did they find me?
Looking back at my Internet habits, I realized that it tracks my digital paths (nothing new here), on my Internet habits. My profile says I surf, and Twitter looking for Dell Coupons and noted that I volunteer for local ClimateWorks.
Do I follow?
I am following a few people and companies, and so far I used a coupon from Dell.
Again Twitter can become another inbox, a more playful than the first-- essential nonetheless. Twitter has clicked for me in a way no other social network has. The one drawback that applies is that you have to follow and keep checking on updates which means you have to be tied to your desk at all times otherwise the update gets pushed down further each time. You can always track by clicking on the follower you are trying to follow though.
After reading some reviews and notes on Twitter I found out that it is a hybrid between all Web 2.0, not quite IRC, not quite IM, not quite blogging, not quite RSS. It’s all of those things synergized, yet still http-based.
I am still waiting and I will give it time, so far what do you guys think?
Feb 16, 2009
Week 3 - SocialText
Week 3 for Eugene
Eugene Lee, CEO of SocialText was our guest speaker. SocialText is web based share point where people from any organization connect and elaborate on projects and keep up with each other. We learn about how business are streaming updates on projects by having a central point or platform where one can track a twitter, blogs, RSS feeds, etc. and thus the idea or the need for SocialText.
Our perception about how we connected in the past is rapidly changing to a even greater challenge for how we share data. Connectivism is changing the way we are learning, what we need, whom we need it from; these ideas are for us to elaborate and to search with the tools that are available to us right now. An ever changing technology will show us that the more we share using new better, more efficient tools are possible because it is what connectivism is all about, push the tools and learn by aiming not what is available right now but what should be available in five years.
Some of the tools out there right now are, for me, still in the making, shaping everytime we tavckle the reasons we should embrace such technology. For example, to me, the whole twitter idea is really more of a cell text boradcasted for the public, for the whole world to know. I also see it as another way to stalk people and to keep an eye on someone. Twitter to me is something in the making. I hope it sheapes up to be something better.
Here is one wiki I found, it's from the educator at Discover Channel. It is an educational wiki with a visual approach. Pretty cool.
http://visualwikipedia.com/en/Discovery_Kids
Eugene Lee, CEO of SocialText was our guest speaker. SocialText is web based share point where people from any organization connect and elaborate on projects and keep up with each other. We learn about how business are streaming updates on projects by having a central point or platform where one can track a twitter, blogs, RSS feeds, etc. and thus the idea or the need for SocialText.
Our perception about how we connected in the past is rapidly changing to a even greater challenge for how we share data. Connectivism is changing the way we are learning, what we need, whom we need it from; these ideas are for us to elaborate and to search with the tools that are available to us right now. An ever changing technology will show us that the more we share using new better, more efficient tools are possible because it is what connectivism is all about, push the tools and learn by aiming not what is available right now but what should be available in five years.
Some of the tools out there right now are, for me, still in the making, shaping everytime we tavckle the reasons we should embrace such technology. For example, to me, the whole twitter idea is really more of a cell text boradcasted for the public, for the whole world to know. I also see it as another way to stalk people and to keep an eye on someone. Twitter to me is something in the making. I hope it sheapes up to be something better.
Here is one wiki I found, it's from the educator at Discover Channel. It is an educational wiki with a visual approach. Pretty cool.
http://visualwikipedia.com/en/Discovery_Kids
Feb 9, 2009
The Reform: Connectivism
Connectivism
There is much concern about the way we learn, at least from my part. Connectivism as I understand is way of learning, a tool, an appeal to what could be an evolutionary step in our society. We are at a brink to step into how the future will shape our knowledge. It seems as though right now we have just put out all the pieces and are starting to gather bits of information to form our future. Conectivism is, right now the tool and the way we are learning. At its heart, connectivism is the thesis that knowledge is distributed across a network of connections, and therefore that learning consists of the ability to construct and traverse those networks.
When I picture Connectivism in mind, it reminds me of early days as a child. I love playing with my lego blocks. I remember putting all the pieces together from everything I had and try to design my own worlds, gas station, house, etc. Learning Theory must be implemented though, and as future teachers we must give shape to the future.
Feb 6, 2009
Second Week!
Today's class revolved on Connectivism. After reading our assignment (http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm) I was left with one question which I went into class with- with the desire to learn what other have gotten from the reading before actually trying to answer it. To me, Connectivism revolves on the way the world is connected today. The Internet, a tool that changes everyday in its format, rules and structure. It is a fairly new technology and we have just started to explore it by introducing it to everyone from our 2-year old niece to 80-year old granpa.
Dr. Foreman mentioned about how people (professors, scientists) with knowledge are putting their theories, findings and their researches, and conclusions for the world to elaborate and take on unanswered questions--thus pushing a creative collaborative learning from all points of the world. Connectivism is making way for people out there in the world to find new, more efficient ways to provide information such as blogs, forums, websites, etc. But then comes the question: how efficient and valid is for a student to research endless blogs and forums about a particular subject where there is no sure way to identify who actually wrote all the information. This is how I came up to my pondering question. As a students in the ITEC program and future teachers, what is our responsibility in the needing process of cleaning up whats out there? What's our role going to be when laws, social norms/ethics catch up to the technology? Are we going to try and control what gets published out there? Can we sort it? Filter? Censor...? Never.
Dr. Foreman mentioned about how people (professors, scientists) with knowledge are putting their theories, findings and their researches, and conclusions for the world to elaborate and take on unanswered questions--thus pushing a creative collaborative learning from all points of the world. Connectivism is making way for people out there in the world to find new, more efficient ways to provide information such as blogs, forums, websites, etc. But then comes the question: how efficient and valid is for a student to research endless blogs and forums about a particular subject where there is no sure way to identify who actually wrote all the information. This is how I came up to my pondering question. As a students in the ITEC program and future teachers, what is our responsibility in the needing process of cleaning up whats out there? What's our role going to be when laws, social norms/ethics catch up to the technology? Are we going to try and control what gets published out there? Can we sort it? Filter? Censor...? Never.
Feb 1, 2009
First day of Class!
This is my first day in Dr. Foreman class ITEC 830 Multimedia Studies. My first impression was positive as I came into the class room. I glanced around the room and saw happy faces waiting to learn and get started right away. One of my first thoughts about joining the ITEC program was that classes were going to be crowed but this class is not and I also learned that there is even a TA for the class. A TA! This, in my opinion, is great, having someone in our level to discuss and ask about our project is essential in the classroom.
We went through the class introduction and expectation for the semester. Dr. Foreman showed us a video of what Web 2.0 is or is supposed to be. Prior to the video, we did a group brainstorm about what we thought when we think of what Web 2.0 is. My group came up with a few interesting points. I am hoping to make it on time to class because I work everyday until five and have arranged to leave early but traffic may dictate my time of arrival. I wonder if others in class have arranged to take the day off???
We went through the class introduction and expectation for the semester. Dr. Foreman showed us a video of what Web 2.0 is or is supposed to be. Prior to the video, we did a group brainstorm about what we thought when we think of what Web 2.0 is. My group came up with a few interesting points. I am hoping to make it on time to class because I work everyday until five and have arranged to leave early but traffic may dictate my time of arrival. I wonder if others in class have arranged to take the day off???
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