technology

Facebook goes back to school

This Chronicle article discusses a plug-in to Facebook (currently being piloted at Abilene Christian)that interweaves course information to Facebook. While FERPA is a concern, it's becoming increasingly apparent that if we want students to understand, we have to teach them in a way they can learn. They want a portal to their world, not numerous websites they have to visit. Furthermore, they expect push technology - after all, many don't even check their email regularly anymore.

Video Slideshare Tutorial

I was doing some prep work for our summer institute and found this great video Slideshare tutorial.

Another Angle on Social Networking

This morning's Chronicle dispatch points to a new social networking site about social networking projects, including those emerging from university environments such as Stanford.

The push technology will make it easier to keep an eye on. We'll see a year from now (and probably just six months will do it) what type of impact the site does or doesn't have. It's great being able to get to this type of information but there is also the goal of maintaining a balance of being overloaded by same information.

Second Life Makes Tax Time Less Taxing

The Kansas City Star has taken note of the work H&R Block and the University of Kansas Medical Center is doing in Second Life.

Gaming for Life

This Forbes article notes:

It's a classic innovation--a novel way to use a tool created for an entirely different purpose, namely to have a good time. That's still the reason why most players come to "Second Life," but English-language instructors who spend time with students there say they're combining fun and learning--and getting excellent results.

Smallpox or Facebook?

From Slate Magazine: Smallpox or Facebook?

Text Generation Gap: U R 2 Old (JK)

This New York Times article assesses what many of us see on a daily basis - students so tuned into their gadgets that they don't interact as well with their immediate physical world, including while they are driving. Sadly, this means that a sometimes awkward stage in developing interpersonal skills in the physical world is pushed aside and many simply lack the understanding of knowing how their actions impact others around them, primarily in a negative way.

Interest in Facebook expands

I haven't been on my Facebook account lately. In fact, I'd been doing more with Linked In than any other social networking assignment. One of our grant teachers "friended" me on Facebook. I had previously joined because of recent graduates who had friended me and it was a good way to keep in touch with them - esp. given that we are expected to by accrediting agencies for the university when we don't really have an effective way to control that access.

I checked around at a "friend's" site who is a bit older than my other students who I work with at an outside agency. She is using her network to get in touch with friends old and new to share the news of her engagement. And, without Facebook, I doubt I would have known until after the fact. It will be fun to share her excitement ten states away. She's an engaging young woman who is definitely going places. I know her through work but not well enough to be invited to the wedding but this is still a way to be involved.

While I as there, I explored a bit more and joined some of the organizations linked to my university, my state, and my interest - poodles. I still don't have my picture up - just our state flower instead.

It's becoming clearer why students like these type of sites better than email and even better than blogs - they are multimedia interaction and lay the groundwork for connecting for weekend get-togethers - not only planning them but reminiscing about them later - sharing the experience over and over again.

I guess I should check my My Space account but apparently Facebook is winning in this category.

Twitter in Education

Ryan has an interesting exploration of Twitter and its educational applications.

a new world on the web

KJ Hax points to an article with this important observation/assertion:

“The World Wide Web will soon be absorbed into the World Wide Sim: an immersive, 3-D visual environment that combines elements of social virtual worlds such as Second Life and mapping applications such as Google Earth. What happens when the virtual and real worlds collide?”