Using Dabbleboard for Class Interaction/Assessment

Today I have two English comp classes that will be using Dabbleboard to brainstorm ideas for criteria they use to evaluate information. I've incorporated this feature into the LibGuide for the class. A worksheet is also available for evaluating the information resources they find.

New Collaborative Web 2.0 Tools

The October issue of Campus Technology came today (yes, I get the print edition.) The article entitled "12 Cool-laborative Web 2.0 Tools" caught my eye. I scanned the list for anything I could find new to me and or interesting. JoinMe quickly got my attention, it's a web-based screen sharing application. I've been waiting for something like this!! I can't wait to try it out. We could definitely use this with our Virtual Reference service. Nothing to download, simply give the user or users you wish to screen share a code number and you are there.

It doesn't get cooler than this--or does it? There is also a web-based file conversion site called Zamzar.com Great article, CT!!! Thanks!!

SWOT Analysis of Mobile Learning

From the Upside Learning Blog

Strength: Development platforms for mobile are easy-to-use and do not involve most of the complications associated with desktop or system software
Weakness: Myriad number of operating platforms, device types and variations in supported technologies make it difficult (and at times impractical) to create a unified solution which works well across the board.
Opportunity: One of the best ways to offer quick, real-time on-demand performance support. More than pushing training on to a mobile device, designing mobile performance support solutions would be the greatest opportunity.
Threat: Lack of standards for learning on mobile, and even general use of technology on mobiles.

Overstream for Creating Closed Captioning

Just discovered Overstream, a web app for creating captions for videos. It works with YouTube and Google video editors. Here's the first video I captioned with it. The timing is a bit off, but it was pretty easy to do...

More Fun with Android Apps

Just found out about a very cool app called Quick Cite.Just download it from Android Market ($1.02) and use it to scan bar codes on books. It will create citations in APA, MLA,Chicago, or IEEE. AWESOME!!

QR Codes

In an engineering economics class, I created a QR code that I included on the library assignment worksheet. At the beginning of the class, after I introduced myself and told the class what we would be learning, I asked if anyone knew what the square mark at the top of the worksheet was. Almost immediately several students said "a barcode!" I asked if anyone had scanned it and they had. The code led them to the LibGuide for the class assignment. This made a great icebreaker for the class and an effective way to link the worksheet to the LibGuide.

Poll Everywhere

After spending many hours preparing a Harry Potter-themed Poll Everywhere game for Career Day, the event was canceled due to a snow storm. Hopefully the Harry Potter phenomenon will live on until next March, when we can actually use it.

Using VoiceThread for Library Instruction

I created a VoiceThread for students in an Advertising class to comment on how they would use various library resources for the multimedia mix marketing campaign. See the library assignment page of this LibGuide for more info.

QR Codes

Showed an Advertising class how to use QR Codes to link their print ads with Webpages by creating a code that linked them to the LibGuide for the course.

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

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...

Cataloging Futures: More cataloging fun

Cataloging Futures: More cataloging fun
I would call this a "Back to the Future Model"...SQUIRREL!!

YouTube - vGov Overview Video

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

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."

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.

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.

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.