....Big sigh.... All done. All my papers are in. All my work is complete. I could walk away right now and disconnect from this class and from web 2.0. But Bryan, that means no Facebook, no blogs, no Diigo. Most of all, that means no exploring. Web 2.0 is fun! I want to explore. I want to post on my blog and read other blogs. I enjoy web 2.0.
Let's crowdsource it:
Right now there are 70 million Youtube videos.
Right now there are 130 million blogs.
Right now Twitter handles over 400 million tweets per day (http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/6/3069424/twitter-400-million-total-daily-tweets)
The verdict is in: Web 2.0 is fun. People, including myself, love it.
Speaking of crowdsourcing, how interesting is Peer2peer University? What a good idea to have people who are experts and wanting to contribute to the internet in a tangible way contribute to enriching people's lives. My only qualm is that they don't have a way to critique courses. If there was a way to promote the better courses and suggest improvements for the other courses, it would be a very good thing. I definitely see a future for sites like this, though.
Monday, August 6, 2012
week 6
The biggest thing I learned in the last 6 weeks is to be open to new technologies. There are so many web2.0 technologies I haven't tried yet. While some are because I've seen them in use and think there are better options and some are because I don't even know about them yet. This course taught me to always be looking for new ways of solving problems. For instance, the way I was keeping articles I liked in emails and on a word document and in my favorites tab before is silly compared to how I keep everything organized in my Diigo account now.
As a professional, I will be using several web2.0 in my internship I'll be starting soon. One of my main goals will be to keep people connected and engaged. I know we will be using a blog and discussion boards, but I hope to utilize a Diigo group (love my Diigo) also. We already use Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook, so I'll probably have some control over those web 2.0 sites.
Finally, this class was so much fun because we had so much control over our work. Unlike so many other classes, we were able to dive in and explore areas we wanted to know more about. Whether you take an appreciative inquiry approach or try to fill in the gaps, this model allowed us to maximize our efficiency in learning and fit so many theories of adult learning (http://www.mysdcc.sdccd.edu/Staff/Instructor_Development/Content/HTML/Adult_Learning_Page1.htm). Now I feel so much more encouraged to let my learners have more control over their learning - not just to have them write down their own goals, but guide them in their own study more.
As a professional, I will be using several web2.0 in my internship I'll be starting soon. One of my main goals will be to keep people connected and engaged. I know we will be using a blog and discussion boards, but I hope to utilize a Diigo group (love my Diigo) also. We already use Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook, so I'll probably have some control over those web 2.0 sites.
Finally, this class was so much fun because we had so much control over our work. Unlike so many other classes, we were able to dive in and explore areas we wanted to know more about. Whether you take an appreciative inquiry approach or try to fill in the gaps, this model allowed us to maximize our efficiency in learning and fit so many theories of adult learning (http://www.mysdcc.sdccd.edu/Staff/Instructor_Development/Content/HTML/Adult_Learning_Page1.htm). Now I feel so much more encouraged to let my learners have more control over their learning - not just to have them write down their own goals, but guide them in their own study more.
Ten Best Practices for Teaching Online
Upon further reflection, this is going to be the structure of the blog after the course ends. I'm going to post research and explain it as I interpret it.
Also, in the comments of the last blog, Alyn suggested that the teacher should be more present in the class, conversations, etc. I agree with him and found another article (http://www.designingforlearning.info/services/writing/ecoach/tenbest.html) that represents that sentiment.
1. Be present at the course site: the key is "liberal use of tools." I was shocked that some professors can be so unpresent that students may post comments like "Is anyone there?" Wow.
2. Create a supportive online community: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Very important. People need to feel appreciated and welcome.
3. Share a set of very clear expectations for your students and for yourself as to (1) how you will communicate and (2) how much time students should be working on the course each week: It is important to set goals and make the requirements very clear. Students need to know what is expected of them so they can be successful.
4. Use a variety of large group, small group, and individual work experiences: In this class, we have the opportunity to work in groups for our produsage assignments, we can have online conversations in the discussion boards.
5. Use both synchronous and asynchronous activities: In this class, we have webex sessions (none of which fit into my schedule, regretably) and the majority is asynchronous. Synchronous activities are important for building community.
6. Early in the term - about week 3, ask for informal feedback on "How is the course going?" and "Do you have any suggestions?" A great opportunity for students to reflect. I know it caused me to take a more research-based approach improving the blog. It was a very effective strategy because for the remainder of the short class, I will have a more guided approach based on my own goals.
7. Prepare Discussion Posts that Invite Questions, Discussions, Reflections and Responses: This speaks to asking high-level thinking skill questions. Simple correct/incorrect answers do not require much thought. Have a discussion. Better yet, have a debate.
8. Focus on content resources and applications and links to current events and examples that are easily accessed from learner's computers: People are taking the course to learn. Use a textbook written in the last 5 years. Reference research written recently. There is no excuse for antiquated ideas or wasting too much time on common knowledge.
9. Combine core concept learning with customized and personalized learning: I love the exploritory nature of this class. I am learning so much and everything is very applicable to my career and education. At the same time, the development of important ideas cannot be overlooked and I belive it is not.
10. Plan a good closing and wrap activity for the course: This makes sense. Ask the students to reflect and apply their learning.
Also, in the comments of the last blog, Alyn suggested that the teacher should be more present in the class, conversations, etc. I agree with him and found another article (http://www.designingforlearning.info/services/writing/ecoach/tenbest.html) that represents that sentiment.
1. Be present at the course site: the key is "liberal use of tools." I was shocked that some professors can be so unpresent that students may post comments like "Is anyone there?" Wow.
2. Create a supportive online community: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Very important. People need to feel appreciated and welcome.
3. Share a set of very clear expectations for your students and for yourself as to (1) how you will communicate and (2) how much time students should be working on the course each week: It is important to set goals and make the requirements very clear. Students need to know what is expected of them so they can be successful.
4. Use a variety of large group, small group, and individual work experiences: In this class, we have the opportunity to work in groups for our produsage assignments, we can have online conversations in the discussion boards.
5. Use both synchronous and asynchronous activities: In this class, we have webex sessions (none of which fit into my schedule, regretably) and the majority is asynchronous. Synchronous activities are important for building community.
6. Early in the term - about week 3, ask for informal feedback on "How is the course going?" and "Do you have any suggestions?" A great opportunity for students to reflect. I know it caused me to take a more research-based approach improving the blog. It was a very effective strategy because for the remainder of the short class, I will have a more guided approach based on my own goals.
7. Prepare Discussion Posts that Invite Questions, Discussions, Reflections and Responses: This speaks to asking high-level thinking skill questions. Simple correct/incorrect answers do not require much thought. Have a discussion. Better yet, have a debate.
8. Focus on content resources and applications and links to current events and examples that are easily accessed from learner's computers: People are taking the course to learn. Use a textbook written in the last 5 years. Reference research written recently. There is no excuse for antiquated ideas or wasting too much time on common knowledge.
9. Combine core concept learning with customized and personalized learning: I love the exploritory nature of this class. I am learning so much and everything is very applicable to my career and education. At the same time, the development of important ideas cannot be overlooked and I belive it is not.
10. Plan a good closing and wrap activity for the course: This makes sense. Ask the students to reflect and apply their learning.
Quick One-Liner Hints (copied directly from article):
- Create open-ended questions that learners can explore and apply the concepts that they are learning
- Model good Socratic-type probing and follow-up questions. Why do you think that? What is your reasoning? Is there an alternative strategy? Ask clarifying questions that encourage students to think about what they know and don't know.
- Stagger due dates of the responses and consider mid-point summary and /or encouraging comments
- Provide guidelines and instruction on responding to other students. For example, suggest a two-part response: (1) what you liked or agreed with or what resonated with you, and (2) a follow-up question such as what you are wondering about or curious about, etc.
- Provide choices and options for students. Providing choices for students in questioning follows the principle of providing options for personalized and customized learning for students and a way of validating and affirming knowledge and skills. Working professionals are often grappling with many issues - providing choices and options makes it possible to link the learning more directly with their work experiences and needs.
- Don't post questions soliciting basic facts, or questions for which there is an obvious yes/no response. The reason for this is obvious. Once one student responds, there is not much more to say! Very specific fact-based questions that you want to be sure that you students know are best used in practice quizzes.
- Reminder: Log in to your course at least 4 times a week - answer email, monitor discussions, post reminders, and hold online office hours.
best ways to engage people in online discussions
Our professor sent us an email asking us to check-in with her and in doing so, it gave me an opportunity to reflect on my experiences. In reflecting, I realized that I was learning how to be a web 2.0 produser, but not necessarily making the best of my experience to be a web 2.0 facilitator and educator. The example I gave her was that I wanted to learn how to facilitate better discussions online. I came across this post on how to engage students in online discussions: (http://icoblog.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/key-strategies-on-how-to-engage-students-in-online-discussion/).
To examine each point:
1. Set clear guidelines. Isn't this just goal setting? That's something to which every instructional designer can relate. What are we here to do? How do we do it? What is expected of everyone? Beautifully parsimonious.
2. Student-led discussions. Not all discussion boards are created this way. Some courses I have taken through other outlets in the past asked us very specific questions that almost had a right/wrong answer. Is that making the best use of a discussion board? Was there a different way the instructor could have asked the question to provoke more though? Which leads me to the next point...
3. Ask thought-provoking open-ended questions. See above. Plus, those questions do not need to be in the heading. An instructor can post those questions in response to student posts.
4. Make discussion an important part of the class. Adult learners will only do something if they see it as important to them at that moment. Telling someone it is a good way to learn without emphasizing its importance in their current situation is a recipe for failure.
5. Form small groups or teams: I once took a class that had us do a team debate. It was really interesting seeing the difference making teams can make.
6. Create a caring environment: this one was the most obvious to me. I was surprised it was all the way down here.
Great read, though, if you care to read the whole thing. You might want to Diigo it. :)
To examine each point:
1. Set clear guidelines. Isn't this just goal setting? That's something to which every instructional designer can relate. What are we here to do? How do we do it? What is expected of everyone? Beautifully parsimonious.
2. Student-led discussions. Not all discussion boards are created this way. Some courses I have taken through other outlets in the past asked us very specific questions that almost had a right/wrong answer. Is that making the best use of a discussion board? Was there a different way the instructor could have asked the question to provoke more though? Which leads me to the next point...
3. Ask thought-provoking open-ended questions. See above. Plus, those questions do not need to be in the heading. An instructor can post those questions in response to student posts.
4. Make discussion an important part of the class. Adult learners will only do something if they see it as important to them at that moment. Telling someone it is a good way to learn without emphasizing its importance in their current situation is a recipe for failure.
5. Form small groups or teams: I once took a class that had us do a team debate. It was really interesting seeing the difference making teams can make.
6. Create a caring environment: this one was the most obvious to me. I was surprised it was all the way down here.
Great read, though, if you care to read the whole thing. You might want to Diigo it. :)
Friday, August 3, 2012
Increase traffic to YOUR blog
http://www.seomoz.org/blog/21-tactics-to-increase-blog-traffic-2012
In the article "21 Tactics to Increase Traffic to your Blog," we learn the 10th way to increase traffic to your blog are to "Guest Blog (and Accept the Guest Posts of Others)." With that in mind, does anyone want to guest blog on my blog and I'll guest blog on yours?
Here's how it works:
1. Respond in the comments below that you would like to guest blog. I'm only accepting the first person, so the second comment will put out a request that can either be filled by the third person or they can submit their own request.
2. Write a blog and email it to me (bryanbiggers@gmail.com) so I can post it. Include the below disclaimer so everyone knows your brilliant blog post was written by you:
This is a guest blog written by (insert name). The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the author alone and may not represent those of the author of this blog. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.
3. Post on your blog that you posted on my blog.
4. Enjoy the increased readership.
In the article "21 Tactics to Increase Traffic to your Blog," we learn the 10th way to increase traffic to your blog are to "Guest Blog (and Accept the Guest Posts of Others)." With that in mind, does anyone want to guest blog on my blog and I'll guest blog on yours?
Here's how it works:
1. Respond in the comments below that you would like to guest blog. I'm only accepting the first person, so the second comment will put out a request that can either be filled by the third person or they can submit their own request.
2. Write a blog and email it to me (bryanbiggers@gmail.com) so I can post it. Include the below disclaimer so everyone knows your brilliant blog post was written by you:
This is a guest blog written by (insert name). The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the author alone and may not represent those of the author of this blog. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.
3. Post on your blog that you posted on my blog.
4. Enjoy the increased readership.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Just because I cannot talk about Folksonomies enough... :)
If there is any web 2.0 media I have grown in this course, it is in folksomy. Before the course, I wanted to save websites and did so in weird ways (copying URLs, saving in my favorites bar, emailing to myself, etc.) With this course, I have used several bookmarking sites and settled with Diigo. First, let me say that I LOVE social bookmarking. It is a fantastic way to save bookmarks for yourself for use later. For creating one's own library, there is nothing better. If one wants a "free-form user initiated system" for keeping websites for later reference, some form of folksomy is the best way to do it (at least as of now). It serves it's purpose as note-taking for the 21st century.
I do understand the desire to havea more "controlled sytem," too. When searching for information, I always search the internet with a site like Google first. Google sites are more centralized with SEOs, Google metrics and other systems. It is my first stop in searching for information. I understand why, for practicality, evolving and growing communities would want to move toward a more controlled system. It would improve the ability for people to find things. However, I like the ability for me to make my own library with my own key words that make sense to me. In this sense, I am an outsider to the community even though I have a few connections and have joined a couple groups.
If I wanted to move toward including myself more in the community, I would need to assimilate to the community. I would want to "adopt others' systems." I may even want to target specific audiences by tagging a certain way. Not that long ago, I had a conversation with some friends of mine about companies using Pintrest to market. They would take pictures and use pictures by other people and put their marketing material on the bottom. In doing so, they could target specific audiences. I thought it was a brilliant marketing strategy, but the people I was talking to were upset that their social network Pintrest was being corrupted by business and industry.
I do understand the desire to havea more "controlled sytem," too. When searching for information, I always search the internet with a site like Google first. Google sites are more centralized with SEOs, Google metrics and other systems. It is my first stop in searching for information. I understand why, for practicality, evolving and growing communities would want to move toward a more controlled system. It would improve the ability for people to find things. However, I like the ability for me to make my own library with my own key words that make sense to me. In this sense, I am an outsider to the community even though I have a few connections and have joined a couple groups.
If I wanted to move toward including myself more in the community, I would need to assimilate to the community. I would want to "adopt others' systems." I may even want to target specific audiences by tagging a certain way. Not that long ago, I had a conversation with some friends of mine about companies using Pintrest to market. They would take pictures and use pictures by other people and put their marketing material on the bottom. In doing so, they could target specific audiences. I thought it was a brilliant marketing strategy, but the people I was talking to were upset that their social network Pintrest was being corrupted by business and industry.
Recruiting of the future?
A Detroit Lions football blog I read with several authors is looking for writers (http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2012/7/30/3200979/pride-of-detroit-writers). If you're interested, you can email your username, ideas for posts and links to examples of your writing on the comments. This is interesting to me on several levels.
What better way to look for people to write for your blog than to ask your readers! They will apply themselves, tell their friends, and do some of the searching for you. Blogs especially tend to have niche readers, so anyone who might be interested in writing for the blog would be interested in reading the blog.
I see more and more companies using web 2.0 to post their openings. I see them using blogs, twitter, message boards and more. This isn't the way of the future. It's the way of the now.
If you look closely at the requirements, you'll see that the website is getting a little marketing research in the form of many people submitting their "ideas for posts." It can be challenging as an author of a blog to find new ideas for posts. This is a great way to ask your readers to think in depth about what they want to see on the site.
It is interesting to think of a collection of posts as someone's resume. It is good because it illustrates the volume and quality of thier work prior. Also, the reviewers of the information would be able to see the community's response to the posts.
What better way to look for people to write for your blog than to ask your readers! They will apply themselves, tell their friends, and do some of the searching for you. Blogs especially tend to have niche readers, so anyone who might be interested in writing for the blog would be interested in reading the blog.
I see more and more companies using web 2.0 to post their openings. I see them using blogs, twitter, message boards and more. This isn't the way of the future. It's the way of the now.
If you look closely at the requirements, you'll see that the website is getting a little marketing research in the form of many people submitting their "ideas for posts." It can be challenging as an author of a blog to find new ideas for posts. This is a great way to ask your readers to think in depth about what they want to see on the site.
It is interesting to think of a collection of posts as someone's resume. It is good because it illustrates the volume and quality of thier work prior. Also, the reviewers of the information would be able to see the community's response to the posts.
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