Well, we have reached the end of the course! In some ways it has gone really fast, and in other ways, it seems ages from those dark days when I had no idea what blogging was all about... The world of Web 2.0 really has opened up another world to me and opened my eyes. But before I get carried away... No why not!? I really enjoyed the course and found the format useful: the class time and time in between, where I could explore each tool in more depth.
I have really engaged with some of the tools and now can't imagine what I did before I used them - particularly blogging and delicious.
The good thing is that there is both potential to use these things at home and also there are definite possibilities to use these tools at work. I am hoping to interest some of my department in using them, so they can share documents, ideas, sites etc in a much more user-friendly way. And wikis would be ideal for both staff and students to have course information. Indeed, the old ways we are doing things seem outdated and frankly useless, and so it is frustrating that more people are not using Web 2.0 already. I shall spread the word!
And I shall have to think of a brilliant idea for a blog.
I certainly intend to keep exploring and learning new things about Web 2.0 and everything out there. I am no longer in the dark! My thanks to the tutor and coursemates...!
See you online... Alice
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
Monday, 9 June 2008
Podcast!!!
I really enjoyed making the podcast (casting the pod?) last week. I now feel thoroughly modern and cool (and yet sound about 90!). I have hopefully uploaded it here so you can all listen...
Think I probably needed to speak up and stop mumbling (my mother always says this...). Initially, the idea of doing it was a bit nerve-racking, but once we got started, it was no different from having a normal conversation... of course! (Although I did get distracted by thinking, "we are making a podcast!" instead of engaging in the interview!) It is so easy to obtain and use the software, that I am amazed that this is something now open to everyone, and for free!!
This could be a great way forward for universities... having read this article about how universities could and should start engaging with Web 2.0, it already suggests ways podcasts could be used. It makes sense to offer these to students as back-ups or (radical!) even alternatives to lectures - and it means that students can listen to podcasts instead of copying some unreliable mate's notes. It would be no trouble for the lecturer to record his lecture. It would also be an ideal format for distance learning, as having various ways of learning would enhance the experience.
Fabulous!
Think I probably needed to speak up and stop mumbling (my mother always says this...). Initially, the idea of doing it was a bit nerve-racking, but once we got started, it was no different from having a normal conversation... of course! (Although I did get distracted by thinking, "we are making a podcast!" instead of engaging in the interview!) It is so easy to obtain and use the software, that I am amazed that this is something now open to everyone, and for free!!
This could be a great way forward for universities... having read this article about how universities could and should start engaging with Web 2.0, it already suggests ways podcasts could be used. It makes sense to offer these to students as back-ups or (radical!) even alternatives to lectures - and it means that students can listen to podcasts instead of copying some unreliable mate's notes. It would be no trouble for the lecturer to record his lecture. It would also be an ideal format for distance learning, as having various ways of learning would enhance the experience.
Fabulous!
Thursday, 5 June 2008
Wikis week 4 task 3
This also includes task 1, about twitter, - i've not used it since last week but I'm not sure i see the point of it, when google chat is just as handy... or texting. Or simply having a bit of peace and quiet! Do people really want to know what i'm having for tea (pasta) or ... ooo... it would be great to discuss sad things like the apprentice (we are all really into it in the office) but then what are you left to say to each other the next day...?
Wikis - have set up a load of sites in googlesites and have started pondering developing one of them. I need more time to find out more about what you can do. But the world is our oyster... any subject, any passion, anytime, anywhere... (ahem, getting carried away).
Sustainability... that question again: it has to be something that you can develop and that will continue to be interesting to you and your audience - something bigger than a blog theme maybe ... put details on for example, how to crochet (that again!) and then have a tie-in blog about your own experiences of not being able to crochet... (I prefer knitting!). Then twitter about it with friends! etc etc.
Letters, postcards, telephones... who needs em.
A wiki for work and education... (much overlap here...) when I first started we were asked to create a "manual" to show how various processes in the office were done. It never got off the ground. A wiki for this would be fabulous as people could easily create and share pages, update them, access them and make it eye-catching and enjoyable. I might suggest it!
For education, I am sure that this would be a more versatile tool to use than WebCT, for course tutors to set up wikis on their modules or research passions, and to add links, blogs, comments, etc ...! The only thing now is to get these things started and not to keep on with the old tired ways...!
My blog entries are too waffley!
Wikis - have set up a load of sites in googlesites and have started pondering developing one of them. I need more time to find out more about what you can do. But the world is our oyster... any subject, any passion, anytime, anywhere... (ahem, getting carried away).
Sustainability... that question again: it has to be something that you can develop and that will continue to be interesting to you and your audience - something bigger than a blog theme maybe ... put details on for example, how to crochet (that again!) and then have a tie-in blog about your own experiences of not being able to crochet... (I prefer knitting!). Then twitter about it with friends! etc etc.
Letters, postcards, telephones... who needs em.
A wiki for work and education... (much overlap here...) when I first started we were asked to create a "manual" to show how various processes in the office were done. It never got off the ground. A wiki for this would be fabulous as people could easily create and share pages, update them, access them and make it eye-catching and enjoyable. I might suggest it!
For education, I am sure that this would be a more versatile tool to use than WebCT, for course tutors to set up wikis on their modules or research passions, and to add links, blogs, comments, etc ...! The only thing now is to get these things started and not to keep on with the old tired ways...!
My blog entries are too waffley!
Tuesday, 3 June 2008
Week 4 task 2 - wikis
Wikis are cool! This is such a big idea that people anywhere can add to and edit webpages together. And it appears to work.
I think that the most successful wikis are those with a pretty large subject area, so that people will refer to them, and possibly feel they can add to them. I had a look at wiktionary - the dictionary version (of course!) I think this is really exciting as it has the potential to remain very up-to-date; more so than books. As language changes, wiktionary could very quickly include new words and changing definitions, as they evolve. Because the editors are the very people who use that language, their definition is authentic. However I did look at the definition for "beautiful" and the English sounded poor to me; perhaps I should look into editing!
Also looked at Lyricwiki . (I chose this cos even 20 years on I still never get the lyrics right to some well known songs.) Again this is a huge area to write on, as there are so many songs! If you like music you may like to browse or add to this. I looked up the Fall and was delighted to see that not all songs are done, so I could theoretically go home and note down the lyrics to Paintwork ("Hey Mark! You're spoiling all the paintwork...!") as not all lyrics are available online or on album covers. This is something ripe for editing as lyrics are open to interpretation - especially the Fall's!!
Another one I looked at was the online novel - this looked odd, and had already been "closed" so no one else could add to it - so this is an example of something that is not sustainable after a certain point. Plus the English student in me baulks at the idea of many people writing one novel. But I suppose it could have been interesting. It certainly got people involved.
So... a successful wiki - a large but coherent topic area - something that interests many people - open ended - something with clear divisions for different pages - ...
I think that the most successful wikis are those with a pretty large subject area, so that people will refer to them, and possibly feel they can add to them. I had a look at wiktionary - the dictionary version (of course!) I think this is really exciting as it has the potential to remain very up-to-date; more so than books. As language changes, wiktionary could very quickly include new words and changing definitions, as they evolve. Because the editors are the very people who use that language, their definition is authentic. However I did look at the definition for "beautiful" and the English sounded poor to me; perhaps I should look into editing!
Also looked at Lyricwiki . (I chose this cos even 20 years on I still never get the lyrics right to some well known songs.) Again this is a huge area to write on, as there are so many songs! If you like music you may like to browse or add to this. I looked up the Fall and was delighted to see that not all songs are done, so I could theoretically go home and note down the lyrics to Paintwork ("Hey Mark! You're spoiling all the paintwork...!") as not all lyrics are available online or on album covers. This is something ripe for editing as lyrics are open to interpretation - especially the Fall's!!
Another one I looked at was the online novel - this looked odd, and had already been "closed" so no one else could add to it - so this is an example of something that is not sustainable after a certain point. Plus the English student in me baulks at the idea of many people writing one novel. But I suppose it could have been interesting. It certainly got people involved.
So... a successful wiki - a large but coherent topic area - something that interests many people - open ended - something with clear divisions for different pages - ...
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