Post 19: Wikipedia: A Starting Point and Not an Ending Point.

From my experience, Wikipedia is not a credible resource when trying to find research for academic purposes. However, I have been known to skim a Wikipedia article here and there when I am unfamiliar with a topic and am looking for general information. 

In reference to academic use, it turns out Wikipedia claims they are not a credible resource as well.

Then why visit it in the first place?

It is interesting that it is a living and breathing body of work based on the contributions of its users. It exists and thrives on the contribution of others and is an amalgamation of information from various sources. It is free and open to everyone which allows for the sharing of information and dialogue to occur. It is the epitome of produsage!

What do I use Wikipedia for?

• Link surfing hang ten!
• Quick and easy general knowledge 
• Starting point for further research
• Settling debates among friends

I do think that this type of environment does set the stage for Wikipedia to become a more reliable resource in the future. If more editors can check the accuracy of the content, Wikipedia might be used in an academic environment in the future. Or, because it is user-driven, it may stay at the same level of being a nice resource when the stakes are low. 

What do you use Wikipedia for?

*Did you notice I only used Wikipedia links?

Post 18: Getting to Know You

Well hello there. Thank you for visiting my blog and reading my thoughts on EME 61414 so far. I had to collect some statistical information for the Knowledge Sharing/Tracking Project and I was curious to see how my blog was doing.

We already touched on how to attract readers to our blogs but I found that visiting other blogs and commenting on posts to be the most effective way to encourage traffic.

Not sure if you have had the same experience?

Overtime, my page views and comments have increased when I have left more comments on other users' blogs. Also, when my blog is mentioned on the course blog I almost always get a significant spike in page views. Is your experience similar?

I found this article to be extremely helpful. 21 Tactics to Increase Blog Traffic. However there are some tips I cannot use because I have purposely used a pseudonym and do not want to mix my personal identity with my blogging identity.

Happy Blogging!

Post 17 : My experience with VoiceThread.

As part of one of our assignments, we were asked to create a presentation in PowerPoint and then upload the slides as images into VoiceThread. VoiceThread allowed me to add audio to my presentation with ease. More importantly, it store the presentation on its site and you can link to it as much as you would like. 

My experience with VoiceThread was a wonderful one! I had no problem importing my slides as images. 

However, I did find some limitations using this tool:

• I cannot change my slides in VoiceThread because they are uploaded as images
• The resolution of the images are also dependent on how you converted them into images
• When I uploaded my images, they were not in order

Some advantages of using this tool include:

• Being able to have media-centric discussions. Users are able to comment on actual media instead of text
• It is extremely user-friendly. It took me about 30 minutes to record my slides.
• This tool supports our best communication tool: our voice
• Provides a human element to our presentations

What was your experience using this tool? Was it easy or hard for you to compile your assignment for the class?

Post 16: Meet the periodic element Calcium (Ca)

We were asked to create a Fakebook profile and I decided I was going to create a profile for the periodic element Calcium (Ca). I used this example to show that this site can be used to not only showcase historical and fictional characters but it can also explain a topic of interest. Just like Facebook has different pages for profiles, websites, companies, and groups, Fakebook can also be used similarly.

Meet Calcium (Ca)

On my profile page I loaded pertinent information about Calcium. For instance, I replaced  the "Born" field with a "Discovered" field. I kept the "Family" field and just listed what group Calcium is in, when looking at the periodic table.

It was interesting that when I began to list Calcium's friends, pictures were generated for the elements. I wonder if this is from other Fakebook profiles or from the internet?

I tried to make some funny posts relating to calcium compounds but, alas, humor is not my strong suit.

How was your Fakebook experience? Please share your link.

Post 15: Webquest Déjà vu

In my previous degree, we were asked to create a Webquest for our students using the World Digital Library (WDL). It is an amazing resource for teachers because it brings history to life. Instead of reading about history, there are different types of media that students can 'explore'. They can listen to audio clips, view historical maps, watch videos and take tours. It is a collaborative effort between the Library of Congress, the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO), and libraries, archives, museums, educational institutions, and international organizations from around the world. (Just wanted to share this tidbit)

"DSCN1535" by Hans Feldmeier is licensed under CC BY 2.0

We were asked to complete a Webquest this week, but how many of us know what is involved in creating one? Not only do you have to plan your content but then decide whether or not these websites are appropriate for your audience as well as if you are comfortable with your students clicking on every button and link on that website (including advertisements). 

So why even create a Webquest in the first place?

• Increases student motivation
• Increases student focus
• If done correctly, the Webquest can meet curriculum standards
• Promotes team skills 
• Promotes higher-level thinking
• Increases student quality of work

Now that I have convinced you that you must design one immediately before you implode. 

What is the secret Webquest formula?

Every Webquest Should Have:

• The Introduction orients students and captures their interest.
• The Task describes the activity's end product.
• The Process explains strategies students should use to complete the task.
• The Resources are the Web sites students will use to complete the task.
• The Evaluation measures the results of the activity.
• The Conclusion sums up the activity and encourages students to reflect on its process and results.

Ready to create one or would just like to learn more? Check out Creating a Webquest It is Easier Than You Think

Post 14: What's in it for me? (Adult Learning)

Based on my experiences in the class thus far, I have had one question on my mind:

How can Web 2.0 tools be successfully integrated in adult learning environments?

I have already explored how these tools can help me in my professional career. Now I would like to know how I could apply them in a real world setting beyond Professional Learning Networks (PLNs). How can I incorporate these type of platforms in an adult learning atmosphere?

I think most of us face that question as instructional designers. Our goal is to leverage learning technologies in order to foster learning experiences and dialogue. Currently I am interning in a large global corporation. They use a platform called Yammer. From what I can tell, this tool is essentially a social network that's entirely focused on the corporation. In order to join the Yammer network, an applicant must have a working email address from the company's domain. 

However, should I and how do I include Yammer as part of my training? Should I create a learning group for a particular department? Should I host a chat with my learners as an addition to the training? Would they even participate?

Please stop by my Scoop.it topic on Adult Learning  in order to familiarize yourself with the learning principles and how it affects design as well as instruction. You can also access the link on the sidebar on the right.  

"http://cliparts.co"Clip art image by Cliparts.co

Post 13: #lrnchat Information Overload! (In a good way)

Can I just say what a unique and amazing experience #lrnchat was? Wow!

This reminds of the days of chat rooms. There was a designated topic and everyone was part of the bigger conversation but still addressed certain responses and questions to individual users.

I have to admit that being on #lrnchat was chaotic but fun. I found myself trying to keep pace with others and the questions posed by the moderator. It was engaging and it never slowed down. It also forced me to think of responses in a quick manner all the while considering the word limitation. That word limitation slowed me down considerably.

Below you will find one of my posts during #lrnchat

In the span of 60 minutes I generated more traffic on my twitter than in the last 3 weeks. For instance, I received several notifications including:

• 8 favorited tweets
• 4 replies
• 3 new followers
• 1 quote
• 1 list add (I didn't even know I could be added to a list)

What a great way to gain visibility!

I tweeted 13 times in the span of an hour. What a rush! I also followed an instructional designer and another #eme6414 classmate. 

:) This experience made my night.