Category: social software

social softwareLeave a comment

Social media distraction

wenmothd

I came across this interesting infographic under the heading "Social media will distract you at work", claiming social media is costing American companies $650 billion per year (although would be interested to know how they estimate that) in lost productivity because of the way it distracts workers. The reason this caught my eye was in light of feedback we had from students we were interviewing at a secondary school last week where there is the perennial debate about whether or not to allow Facebook to be accessed by students in the school. The school currently allows Facebook to be viewed, … Continue reading Social media distraction

Blogs, research and papers, social software3 Comments

How Blogs, Social Media, and Video Games Improve Education

wenmothd

I've just been reading this interesting publication from the Brookings institution titled How Blogs, Social Media, and Video Games Improve Education. At the beginning of the report there is a quote from Alan Daly, at the University of California at San Diego, who predicts that "Education innovation will shift away from experts and capacity building to focus on networks… We have to start thinking about the expertise that resides in the system, and we have to be connected in order to make use of it. [Education] is moving away from large-scale prescriptive approaches to more individualized, tailored, differentiated approaches.” This is … Continue reading How Blogs, Social Media, and Video Games Improve Education

social software, Web2.03 Comments

The End of Isolation

wenmothd

As an early adopter of the social networking site Twitter, it has become my most frequently used source of new ideas, inspiration, links to resources and research etc. – in essence, it's a key part of my professional learning network (PLN). This was an unexpected outcome for me, as to be honest, when I first signed up it was more out of novelty value than with any expectation that it might become what it is today – and I honestly expected it might last for a few weeks in my consiousness then fade like a number of other social networking … Continue reading The End of Isolation

Education Futures, social software, Web2.01 Comment

A biker’s tale

wenmothd

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzE-IMaegzQ?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0&w=460&h=300%5D As someone who regularly bikes to work (around 40 minutes each way, each day) I was interested when the link to the video embedded above appeared in my twitter feed this morning. Makes me thankful that I live in a city where cycling is reasonably well catered for with a growing number of cycle-ways, and, thankfully, no silly law that makes it illegal to ride where there isn't one. The video caused me to reflect on one of the meetings I was a part of yesterday in Auckland, where we were discussing the concept of disintermediation, which, in … Continue reading A biker’s tale

Education Futures, social software, Web2.04 Comments

Communicating in a crisis

wenmothd

The earthquake in Christchurch has provided an opportunity to reflect on a wide range of ideas and issues about the things we think are important, and how best we might prepare ourselves for the eventuality of a crisis situation. I remember as a student at school being required to undergo ‘earthquake drills’ and ‘fire drills’ on a regular basis, never really thinking we’d some day have to go through one for real. It’s only during a time of crisis that the importance of some of this preparation comes into focus. One of the things that has impressed itself on me … Continue reading Communicating in a crisis

emerging technologies, professional development, social software, Web2.0Leave a comment

Best of the web 2010

wenmothd

Best of the web 2010http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=bestoftheweb2010-101015075457-phpapp02&stripped_title=best-of-the-web-2010&userName=rbyrnetech View more presentations from Richard Byrne. Just when I think you’re on top of what’s out there and available on the web I come across a presentation like the one above that reveals a whole heap of online applications and tools that do cool stuff that I’ve not come across before. Richard Byrne’s Best of the web 2010 (or 64 tools in 60 minutes) provides a quick overview of 64 online tools that are free to use. They include tools for online video editing, audio editing, storytelling, search, image handling, mind-mapping, online learning and much … Continue reading Best of the web 2010

cybersafety, networks and learning, social softwareLeave a comment

Social networking: challenges and opportunities in schools

wenmothd

http://www.ky3.com/v/?i=69915082 Interesting report from KY3 News in Springfield, Missouri on the challenges and opportunities of working with social networking in schools. Emphasis appears to be on the communications capacity of these networks, and the assuption that because they’re common place in students lives now that schools need to be exploring how they can appropriate them within the role they have. Some interesting quotes from a couple of the people interviewed.. “I’m preaching the gospel of using social media as another public relations tool,” said social media expert Evelyn McCormack. “We are on Facebook and Twitter to get that transparency,” said Josey … Continue reading Social networking: challenges and opportunities in schools

Diary entry, social software, Web2.01 Comment

UK diary – wiki workshop

wenmothd

I spent a useful day yesterday at Brunel University taking part in a Wiki Workshop organised by the Knowledge, Information, Data and Metadata Management (KIDMM) subgroup of the British Computer Society. It was an eclectic group of people comprising people, ranging from those involved in local government and community groups to knowledge management consultants and university staff. Their focus was on the use of wikis in helping them achieve their various organisational goals and needs. The thing that stood out for me was the dichotomy between those who were approaching the use of wikis as a knowledge management tool, to … Continue reading UK diary – wiki workshop

Curriculum, pedagogy, Personalisation, social software, Web2.04 Comments

Using ICTs to support the key competency development

wenmothd

ICT and the Key Competencieshttp://static.slideshare.net/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=competenciesict-090323153852-phpapp02&stripped_title=ict-and-the-key-competencies View more presentations from dwenmoth. I was in Reporoa last week speaking to staff from five different secondary schools involved in an EHSAS contract about the ways ICTs can be used to support the development of key competencies as described in the New Zealand Curriculum. I’ve included my presentation above and embedded in the “Presentations” tab on my blog. The ideas I shared are very practical, and draw heavily on web2.0 tools and other online applications that can be easily accessed by students from home or wherever they have access to the internet – so … Continue reading Using ICTs to support the key competency development

Advanced Networks, conference entry, Curriculum, educational gaming, eLearning, emerging technologies, environmental, Multi literacies, networks and learning, News & current events, OLEs, VLEs, LMSs, Open Source - Open Content, pedagogy, Personalisation, professional development, research and papers, social software, virtual learning, Virtualisation, cloud computing, Web2.05 Comments

Ten Trends at Learning@School09

wenmothd

The Learning@School conference is rollicking along in Rotorua at the moment, with keynote speaker on day one, Andy Hargreaves, setting the scene with challenges to us all about the need to take account of the whole context and culture of our school when considering change and development. Pam Hook had the audience spell-bond also with her “Hooked on Thinking” ideas and strategies. Unfortunately for me I am missing the conference, and have had to rely on my Twitter feeds, text messages and the odd call to keep me posted. Having made it to the opening of the conference I’ve had … Continue reading Ten Trends at Learning@School09