Saturday, September 25, 2010

What I've Learned About Twitter

As one of the assignments for Online Course Design, I and my classmates are required to use Twitter. This week the Tweme (theme) is synchronous learning or simple augmented reality.

I've been doing some research on synchronous learning tools and found two excellent articles written by Stefan Hrastinski. I decided to see if he has a Twitter presence. Indeed he does, except he tweets in his native language: Swedish. While looking at Twitter tools, I discovered a built-in translator: key combo ALT+enter+O

It works! Now I can read his tweets!!

Another thing--did you know there is a service that ranks Twitter users' reputations? Take a look at Trst.me

Monday, September 13, 2010

What Google Doesn't Do

Lately I've been trying a new approach to library instruction for the ENL111 classes:
What are the advantages of using library resources over using Google?

I focus on four things:

1. Finding scholarly articles
2. Browsing subject/topics for research ideas
3. Ordering free full text through interlibrary loan service
4. Formatting citations in APA/MLA

I break the group of 20 or so students into groups of about 4 each and assign the groups different databases and instruct them to find these features in their assigned database. They then report their findings to the entire group from their computer using the NetOp feature installed on all the computers in the classroom. Most students hate getting up in front of the group and this enables them to do it from their own desktop. While they are presenting, I may point out other features such as this database will read articles to you...This one includes lots of instructional graphics...etc.

This is completed within our 50 minute time frame. I have yet to figure out how to assess its success...

Saturday, June 05, 2010

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

YouTube - vGov Overview Video

YouTube - vGov Overview Video
The government is going virtual! I wonder how many other governments have done this?

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

iPad’s Lack of Multitasking: it’s not a bug, it’s a feature

iPad’s Lack of Multitasking: it’s not a bug, it’s a feature
Yes, I know...another post on multitasking...it's one of my obsessions. I thought this was an interesting way to look at the iPad "feature."

Monday, May 31, 2010

Individual Knowledge in the Internet Age (EDUCAUSE Review) | EDUCAUSE

Individual Knowledge in the Internet Age (EDUCAUSE Review) | EDUCAUSE
Is Google our hive mind? Does it make memorization unnecessary? Does it make us stupid? If we don't learn things because we can look them up easily, how does that affect our learning?

The Search World Is Flat | Monday Note

The Search World Is Flat | Monday Note
If we depend solely on Google as our search engine--what are we missing?

How (and Why) to Stop Multitasking - Peter Bregman - Harvard Business Review

How (and Why) to Stop Multitasking - Peter Bregman - Harvard Business Review
The author stops multitasking for a week and reports his findings.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Students Use Wikipedia Early and Often - Wired Campus - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Students Use Wikipedia Early and Often - Wired Campus - The Chronicle of Higher Education

It's there in the top of the Google results, so students find that it's quick or should I say "wiki" and easy. I stress in library sessions that Wikipedia is like an encyclopedia--you use it for background information on your topic--not as a major resource. There are some esoteric topics that are covered by Wikipedia that could serve as an exception to this rule.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

From Spotify to Bookify: how playlists could revolutionize the books market | Books | guardian.co.uk

From Spotify to Bookify: how playlists could revolutionize the books market | Books | guardian.co.uk

This is a new (for me) take on how e-books could change the publishing world: making out-of-print titles more easily available and distributed. Yet another example of the "Long Tail."

New York Times Ready to Charge Online Readers -- Daily Intel

New York Times Ready to Charge Online Readers -- Daily Intel

I've been feeling guilty about getting this great resource for free for years. Hopefully it won't be out of my price range.