10 Essential Social Networking Tools to Save you Time – Webopedia.com
10 Essential Social Networking Tools to Save you Time – Webopedia.com.
25 comments Posted in Uncategorized October 14, 2010
Shape This Blog!
Please take a very quick surveyto give me ideas for how to improve this blog. I used a free, downloadable survey off of “esurveys” to create this questionnaire.
Mastering Peanutbutter in Free Clicks and a Shake
Taking a class on social media tools in my first semester in an instructional design program has been interesting. The focus is on what tools are available, how to use them, and how they help with learning.
So far we’ve set up blogs (this one on WordPress.com), microblogs (Twitter), mapping tools (I used Gliffy), RSS feeds (Google Reader), wikis (PBWorks), iTunes channels, and social bookmarking (Diigo). Before the semester is over, we’ll also set up photo streams (Flickr) and social platforms (Netvibes).
Among each of these tools, I’ve noticed a few common functions.
1. Tools Help You Gather Info
Many of these tools make searching the Internet easier. Typing “peanutbutter” into Google search (circa 1994) is a lot less effective than being more specific and setting up the right tools ahead of time so the best information automatically comes to you. And not only that, you soon see who is as obsessed with peanutbutter as you are and who’s just into peanutbutter fluff. This plays into number three below.
2. Tools Help You Catolog Info
Once you start getting loaded up with amazing facts, many of these same tools enable you to work them into your pre-existing knowledge visually and for keeps. I’m enjoying the flexibility of this blog the most. Once I get the hang of it, I may add post-it note functionality. Keeping track of the various disparate aggregating/sharing tools gets onerous without a unifying tool. There are too many options and it’s not clear which tools will stay popular, flexible, and innovative enough to accommodate the whims of the masses.
3. Tools Help You Share Your Thoughts and Thought Processes
Instead of going to a bar and talking nonstop to anyone who will listen about all the social, economic, political and spirtual facets of peanutbutter, you can easily identify who will actually care and then share your thoughts and thought processes with a click or two. You may miss the beer buzz, but it’s less pathetic. Besides, your knowledge plus their knowledge equals quite a lot of legumes.
1 comment Posted in Social Media Tagged: Social Media September 26, 2010
Fabulous Education Sites
Why not challenge yourself to create educational sites as great as these 2010 Webby Award Nominees:
- We Choose the Moon (The winner)
- San Francisco Symphony’s Keeping Score
- Simple Machines
- Waterlife
- Your Life, Your Money
Add comment Posted in Education Sites Tagged: Education Sites September 22, 2010
Any Cognitive Load Theorists in the House?
I’m thinking about conducting an experiment that measures the attitudes of novice computer users, who are at least 65 years old, before and after they receive basic computer instruction that eventually enables them to do something social on the Internet (like check e-mail).
I will design the online instruction (extremely short e-learning courses) according to best practices in Cognitive Load Theory (CLT), as I understand it. For instance, I will make sure the learners’ working memories are not overtaxed by “extraneous cognitive loading” (i.e. crap they shouldn’t have to think about while they are trying to concentrate).
Because these subjects haven’t used computers before, they won’t have any long-term memory (other than pre-existing beliefs and attitudes) that they can tap into. Therefore, to learn what I’m trying to teach them, they will need to process a lot of new information. The more complex the information, the higher their “intrinsic load” or brainpower to keep up.
Let’s say I randomly divide the learners into two groups. One group takes the e-learning course in pairs and the other group takes the course individually. Do you think the people who worked in pairs will have a better attitude about using computers when the course is over? If so, why?
- Because their working memory will practically double and they will be able to process much more information as a result.
- Because, together, they are more likely to overcome common fears the elderly often have about “breaking computers” and such.
- Some other reason entirely (Please let me know)
- Actually, I don’t think there will be a difference.
- I think the group working alone will have a better attitude.
As an Instructional Design novice, I welcome your feedback. I have no idea if this research topic even makes sense!
1 comment Posted in Cognitive Load Theory ,Experiment Tagged: Cognitive Load Theory, Experiment September 18, 2010
Want to Win a Hat?
Tell me your favorite instructional design resources for all of the following categories by September 30 and I’ll buy you a hat with a logo of your favorite sports team. Why a hat? Ah, who knows. Here are the categories:
- Blogs
- RSS feeds
- Delicious tags
- Twitter leaders (to follow)
- Flickr photo feeds
- Miscellaneous online resource (because I’m now drawing a blank)
Disclaimer: If there are miraculously more than three winners by Sept. 30, I’ll randomly choose three winners anyway. Good luck!
2 comments Posted in Contest Tagged: Contest September 16, 2010
Do You Design E-learning Courses in a Hurry?
A Dozen Handpicked E-Learning Resources » The Rapid eLearning Blog.
This post by instructional design superstar Tom Kuhlmann includes how-to demos of e-learning tips and tricks, PowerPoint templates, “Vegas-inspired flash cards,” and more. All for free!
This blog post is courtesy of my learning about the bookmarklet “Press This!” It saves a lot of time when you’re using WordPress, and it’s fun to say bookmarklet. Bookmarklet, bookmarklet…
1 comment Posted in Rapid E-learning Tagged: Rapid E-learning September 16, 2010
Conquering Social Media
Just as my husband conquered the snow last winter, I will (eventually) conquer all these social media tools. See how he did it.
No trees were harmed in the making of this video. (Well, maybe one was.)
3 comments Posted in Social Media Tagged: Funny, Social Media September 16, 2010
