Creating a survey in Google Documents

Recently, I was asked to assist in creating a survey that can be used for a project.  The questionnaire was already completed, but I needed to find a way to create an online version that is free, offered several options for question types, compiles the data that is easy to interpret, and can be completed by at least a 100 people.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that google doc offers a way that met all my needs.  Here is how you create a survey/poll in google docs.



In response to Neil's question, the survey in a previous blog and in the tutorial was created for several reasons.  First off, it is a very simple survey that is mostly multiple choice.  I wanted it to be simple so that the user will more likely fill it out.  I am curious about how often people are online vs. watching television.  Originally, I began creating the survey as a practice run for another project I am working on.  Then I modified it to be more meaningful to issues I am interested in.  For instance, are females more likely to watch tv as opposed to using a computer at home.  Plus there has been a lot of talk about people getting rid of their television cable service and viewing their shows online when available.  The survey doesn't offer a clear correlation between tv programming and getting online to watch shows, but I intend on creating a more comprehensive survey to target that specific variable.  For now, I am curious and want to see what sort of results I get and then create a new poll.

Survey

Bringing two platforms together

Introducing Web 2.0 to Artificial Intelligence

How can artificial intelligence and web 2.0 work in conjunction with each other?  Consider for a moment social networking.  Currently, there are over 400 million people interacting through Facebook and they have access to over 160 million interactive objects.  Zabaware has created an AI chat bot, named Ultra Hal, that

"evolves and learns through social interaction with Facebook users."

 Aside from acting as a personal assistant, it can respond in similar ways that the user would and also differentiate between various friends and those that aren’t classified as friends.  This particular application can increase efficiency in task management, remind the user of events, and synthesize information to provide a “daily digest” of activity.  Also, for users with reading disabilities, Hal can assist them by reading aloud, converting text to speech and vice versa without using in conjunction with Facebook.   Some of Hal’s features include:

• Understands English
• Shows emotion
• Evolves
• Speaks out loud
• Defines words
• Keeps appointment book.....

For teachers, depending on the regulations/permissions of the school, they may be interested in using Hal in Second Life (SL).  Psychology students may program their avatar to interact and collect data based on events with real people in SL.  Here is an example of a professor using a chat bot teaching English in Second Life:



There are several examples online where individuals and groups have successfully used chatter bots on their blogs.  The chatter bot learns from the blog and certain information outlined by the blogger.  In essence, a chatter bot can communicate with the viewer so there is communication back and forth.  One such example is the Inf., from Inf.net5.  The inf. is customizable and can be used on various platforms.  Once again it is great for users with disabilities.  However, there are some advantages for educators to use an Inf.  An instructor can design and instruct and Inf. to communicate with their students whenever they are not available.  The Inf. learns from dialogue and also can be programmed to have a specific response to questions.

It is fascinating to learn about this emerging technology and envision all the practical applications for education.  If you have some great ideas about how it can help in education-leave a comment. 

My Inf

Today I created my Inf. I have been doing research on web 2.0 and artificial intelligence (AI). To be more precise, I am interested in how interactions and relationships develop online as well as learning. So I began reading more about all of them and it led me to this....



Some of the questions I began with include:

• What is intelligence
• How do people interact with each other using web 2.0 tools
• What about the future-will these tools still be there
• Then it became, what role will AI have in the future?  So I thought there must be an intermediate stage where AI and web 2.0 must overlap.
• How can AI avatars help in education, handicap individuals, and interaction between people

The report is still in the works because I want to be as thorough and clear as I can be.  Since it is mostly theoretical I think it is important to note what is currently available and how it can be applied along with some minor suggestions on what the future may allow in terms in AI, web 2.0, and trends in technology.

Geo tagging

By contrast, Photosynth *needs* you to move around, and by watching how things move in relationship to each other, discovers where details are in 3D. This gives you a model which can be viewed from any angle (of course the computer can only reconstruct the sides that you point the camera at). Photosynth gives you a 3D model and a position for each photo matched.
~N.L (comment)

 It really is quite amazing to see such technology available.  Unfortunately, I have a mac and photosynth only functions with Windows OS.  Even though I can't contribute it is nice to explore different places as a passive observer.

This would be great for creating virtual museums.  I know they are letting the users generate 3D environments as well as their own environments such as the Notre Dame cathedral.

 

Created 01/15/2009
512 photos

I don't have a flickr account, but I do use Picasa.  As a matter of fact I downloaded their software because I like how they organize my photos based on facial recognition, location, or date.  It's just simple and "familiar."

Here are a few photos that I have geo tagged.  If I take the picture with my cell phone then the data is automatically recorded.  If I use snapshots of video footage I have taken or other methods then I have to go in and choose the location on a map.  Obviously, the cell phone is easier and more precise.



It is too bad that all the photo sharing sites don't use a universal method to be able to "stitch" photo's together if the contributor wants them to. I would be willing to put images out there to be mined and synced with others to create a realistic 3D environment.

My Maps

I just got back from Disney with my daughter.  When I was a kid I was fortunate to be able to go several times a year.  Of course, we lived in Florida then so the logistics and drive time wasn't as long.  The next time I go, this is the trip I will take with my daughter.

There will be a few stops on the way as opposed to driving straight down.  First stop would be Charleston, SC.  After staying the night there we would drive a few hours to Savannah, GA to stretch our legs.  After that it's off to the Magic Kingdom.


I think it goes without say that we would have to spend at least 5 days in Orlando.  It doesn't seem rational to try to rush from one park to the next.  We would take a day at the Magic Kingdom then the following day we would probably relax at the pool and engage in something that isn't so overstimulating like the Magic Kingdom.  Naturally, we would make our way to see the animal park, Seaworld, and water parks.  Ideally, we would stumble upon something amazing that wasn't planned for.  Those tend to be memorable moments.

Gap Analysis

Initially my objectives for my Web 2.0/Social Media course were as follows:

-Identify ways to use web 2.0 tools/resources in an academic environment, professional environment, and for independent projects.
-Develop strategies to use web 2.0 in education.
-Create a range of "products" demonstrating my ability to use various web 2.0 tools.
-Collaborate and create

Now almost 3/4 of the way through the course, the question is..... Have I met my objectives? In a way that is a loaded question. I have met most of my objectives. Yet there are some that I wouldn't feel comfortable saying with 100% conviction that I have met them. And that is okay since there is still a good portion of the course left. We are in the process of identifying and completing projects. So there will be group, team, and individual projects. Within each of those projects there is some flexibility so that I can tailor my project to meet my individual objectives.

One of the unique features about this course is that the students participated in establishing the course objectives. I believe that D.I already had a set of objectives, but he was also allowing us to be active participants in the development of the course. There have been pro's and con's to that approach. I had a few objectives that I contributed, but there were others that came up with objectives that I have adopted.

Collectively I would say that it has been quite an experience so far. Aside from being a student and learning about different web 2.0 tools, I have some real world experience. Those experiences include how to establish, organize, and collaborate on projects with people over the web. I have effectively done this before, but there was something uniquely different involved in this course. First off, there are more people involved. Secondly, there have been several projects and ideas being juggled around at once. Then there has been this challenge to organize all the different sources of communication to understand the flow/exchange of ideas. Since there are several sources to check for updates from classmates and instructor I had to adapt. I couldn't just check one place and know what was going on. Since the idea of the course was to set up accounts and have experience using different web 2.0 and communication tools-we did just that. In turn I have more accounts to check... I feel like I have a better grip and method to handle the miriad of communication between all of us. I don't think it could have been something I could learn just by reading about a specific technique. I had to try several til I found a method that worked for me. It also helps that I have a Droid phone so I can access the web on-the-go.

Riddler

Pass it on.

Web 2.0 Group Activity

I am on a vacation in Orlando with my daughter.  We are having a great time.  We went to the Magic Kingdom yesterday.  Today we relaxed a bit and just went to Downtown Disney and swam at the pool.  Next is Sea World.  

But, the question at hand, what are my thoughts about a group activity. 

This is an example that was provided.  In this video, office mates lip sync to a Backstreet Boys song.  I like the video and think that it would be fun to do, but there are challenges.  Basically, the logistics don't make it possible.  We live in various parts of N.C so we couldn't be in the same place at the same time unless it was in a virtual environment.

This video, is "a compilation of clips submitted by Gmail fans as part of [a] collaborative video project. Selected from over 1,100 clips from fans in more than 65 countries."

 I think we could do something like this.  For whatever it is worth, I have a lot of Lego's and have always wanted to make a stop motion animation.  If there is some flexibility in my contribution then I would either do a stop motion animation or vote for a lip syncing segment like the other video.  As a group of students trying to produce a viral video that we each contribute to would involve something that would be flexible.  Flexible in regards to each other working on their part in their environment of choice, as opposed to us having to be in a specific place at a specific time.  That is one of the premises that made it possible for us to be in the ASU graduate program. 

What to do, what to do...

For several weeks I have been trying to figure out a theme to make a series of videos.  I came up with several ideas and have started sketching up storyboards.  However, I don't connected with any of them.  Here is what I am looking for:

• Educational
• Way to demonstrate my ability to use multimedia
• ~3 minute videos with a theme
• Want it to serve a purpose besides just using in a portfolio for me

Essentially, I would like to develop a series of videos that I could publish on youtube and link to my website or CMSimple site.  My purpose in doing this is because I would like to have a career aligned with the objectives of my graduate program.  So far, I have experienced some challenges in that.  Mainly, not having (x) amount of years experience and/or several examples that meet the requirements for some of the jobs available.  Basically all my experience has come from being a student vs. employee.

Any ideas?  There is more competition in the job market and it would be nice to have a broad range of examples.  Through this program I can demonstrate my ability to use most of them, but nothing in the way of videos.  I feel that I need to have more instructional video production skills.  Everything else I have experience with and can give examples.  Also, I have theoretical knowledge and research based information, but that is hard to elaborate on when the next person applying for the job has actual videos or clients that can provide references.

How to

For those of you that are closet socialites there are easy ways to expand your social network.  Personally, I don't think it is about numbers or associations but rather the quality of people you meet.  I would rather be associated with a small network as long as their is a high value in companionship vs. large network with very little value in companionship.

With that said, recently I got online and joined a local meet up group interested in outdoor activities, which I enjoy.  They are the TRREC of Greenville, NC.  The members all have their "specialties" which isn't to mention their professions.  They (and me) hike, backpack, kayak, scuba, exercise, and are involved in local conservation movements.  Their mission and objective aligns directly with my own so it was a given that I would be attracted to them.  And let me tell you not only did our desire to be outdoors align, but from what I learned they had similar backgrounds as my own.  It makes sense.  So, if you are interested in meeting new people then find an online social network with similar interests.  Odds are they will have similar backgrounds and there will be a connection.

Wikicommons

Now I would like to add my limited experience with couchsurfing.  No, I have not couchsurfed.  No, I haven't hosted couchsurfers.  I would do either one of those if it was in my control.  I am a member, and I just found out my roommate is as well.  He couchsurfed all over Oregon, NC, and a few other places.  He talked about his experiences and they were all wonderful.  What better way to go to a foreign place and almost instantly have someone that opens their doors to you.  Good food, great conversations, and an insider about the area.  Italo, my roommate, is one of those guys you meet and almost instantly feel comfortable with and know that you can trust him.  I can see how he has good feedback.  It just means that there are probably other Italos out there couchsurfing whom I would invite in to my home.

An odd coincidence

I was at a coffee shop the other day just surfing online before my meet-up meeting with TRREC.  My couchsurfing home page was up and I was also looking at other parts of the world I would like to travel to.  As I was on the site a lady sits next to me and her eyes lit up, "Oh your a couchsurfer too?"  I am not yet, but we talked for a good hour about it.  She was probably in her mid 50's and just got back from northern Israel and couchsurfed there for several weeks.  Her and I too talked about the value and mission in couchsurfing.  Her intentions were both to travel and also I think to be immersed in other cultures.  A non-commercialized touristy feel.  I agree, when I travel I want to experience it all.  Their religion, customs, rituals, landmarks, language, and the spots that the locals visit not all the tourists.  Total immersion.  From what I understand that is what couchsurfing offers.  It is a self regulation community across the globe where people host "guests" and show them their community.  Naturally, everyones intentions or experience with couchsurfing is unique.  However, from several people I have heard the same thing.  "Actually, a friend of mine couchsurfed [to such and such a place] and had such a great time."  Now, I want to be that friend that couchsurfed and is telling others about my experience.

Misconceptions (deel twee)

To answer a previous question-yes I have experienced some misconceptions about the natural world by students.  Recently, I found out from several students (as in 70% of them) that carbon dioxide comes from the sun and the oceans.  Hmmm.  We worked through it and established that there were several sources of carbon dioxide and the sun wasn't one of them.  I am still somewhat confused about the source of that misconception.  Often times I think the misconceptions I hear about are from a lack of knowledge vs. genuinely believing something.  For instance, the age of earth.  Sometimes students think it is anywhere from a few million years old to just over 4,000 years old.  There are reasons for both misconceptions.  Personally, I am interested in where their ideas originated.  However, as a public school teacher I don't think the classroom is the place to track there origins down.  As interesting as it is, there is also a high probability that it will lead into something that detracts from an academic environment.  Then of course there are some misconceptions and powerful judgments about the theory of evolution and global warming.



Click here to take a quiz.  See which misconceptions you have.

Misconceptions

As a teacher and fellow human being I understand that people have misconceptions about phenomena in nature. Or preconceived notions about the results from a series of events.

I would surmise that misconceptions are the result of any number of reasons.  Some misconceptions are inherently found in various cultures.  Anthropologists have been writing about this for years.  Perhaps they come from a lack of fundamental knowledge about a subject.  Or, somehow knowledge is passed on from one person to another and it is assumed to be the truth.  Even though misconceptions can potentially lead to even more misconceptions or an embarrassing moment they also offer a teachable moment.  With the right skills, misconceptions can be used to promote inquiry.  Discrepant events might lead a student to come up with an explanation and thus exposing their misconceptions.  Then that is where the prepared teacher can promote inquiry and learning.

New media and emerging technologies can be used as tools to guide a student.  Whether it is a learning module using simulations or a network to communicate with professionals, there is potential beyond my current framework of understanding.  Looking at visual models of events or animations can be more effective than hearing about it in a lecture.  Traditionally the knowledge is transferred on a linear path from those with information to those without information.  Now, the model is different.  Students can essentially manage the learning experience and use multiple sources of information.  Information can be text based, virtual environments and simulations, new media, or networks to name a few.  I believe that as new generations begin their learning experiences they bring with them new expectations on how they want to learn or "be taught." 

Exposing misconceptions and replacing them with what may be considered "the truth" at the time is possible via a conversation or video.  However, how long will that information be stored in the memory before it is replaced by the old misconceptions? 

Current models of cognitive learning suggest that the more input from multiple sources the more likely you are to reinforce that memory.  In other words, just hearing something once doesn't necessarily mean the learner will remember or has learned.  If they can interact with the content, have multiple sources of stimulation, and reinforcement then the neural network has a greater potential to last longer and thus stay in long term memory.  The final result would be extinction of the misconception.  Currently, there are more opportunities to make this happen than there were in the past. 

You mission, if you choose to accept it......  Find meaningful ways to apply instructional technology to enhance learning. 

SL adventures

Thursday night I met up with two other classmates for an informal tour of Second Life.  Our objective was to find some islands that offer simulations and virtual models.  I have a few landmarks, so we tried them out first.  We went to the Imperial College London for Medical Students, the Genome Island, Nuclear Reactor Center, a random island, Chilbo,  Alice in Wonderland Island, and ISTE island. 

At the Imperial College London Zee and I didn’t see anyone nor did we find any simulations.  The buildings were easy to find and there were directions to simulation rooms, reception areas, and other rooms one would find in a common hospital.  After touring around without any luck of experimenting or meeting others we left the island for a simulation of a nuclear reactor.  Once again, the island was empty and we didn’t find a way to manipulate the controls on the reactor.  I believe you have to be registered with them and then have special permissions granted to experiment with the simulation.

As a biology teacher I really enjoy going to Genome Island.  It is in a region that is surrounded by other science related islands and research centers.  On Genome Island there are several educational resources and simulations.  There are “treasure hunts,” areas where you can perform test crosses and see the offspring (as opposed to just a Punnet Square), set up experiments, and manipulate variables to see how it affects a population’s allele frequency.  You can see the results of both the phenotype and genotype as numerical data or observations of the population and their offspring.

Of course, I have to mention Alice in Wonderland. It is entertaining, awkward, and funny all at the same time.



 At 6pm (SL time), Zee, Veronica, and I made it to a SLED event for educators.  It was a great experience and even though it is for beginners I believe that it would be a great place for anyone interested in using SL for education.  They are very supportive at the ISTE educator's island.  I asked someone there, what are the top 5 places I should visit while in SL.  They offered several links to educator's sites, simulation islands, cultural events/places, and other islands that may prove to be interesting.  One thing I noticed is that we communicated via text chat and not voice.  I was wondering if that is considered proper etiquette to text when you first meet somebody?  I didn't get a chance to ask, but I assume it might have something to do with having too many people trying to talk at once.  It would probably be hard to moderate or keep up with several conversations.  Then again, if it was happening in a class or we were all in a physical location together then there are ways to moderate and communicate-so I am not really sure why the text chat as opposed to voice.  I assumed if a person is savvy enough to get on SL then they probably have the proper equipment (such as headset/mic) to use voice chat.....

If you are in SL, my name is Orgon Jishnu.  Look forward to more experiences and finding new and creative ways to use SL in education. 

Embed and Blogging

Sites make it easy to embed content from one site to another. You don't even have to know html in most cases. Take Youtube for instance. They let you pick and choose what you want to display and then offer you the embed script.

Take this video I just uploaded to Youtube.




All I did was start a new post in blogger and then switch tabs from "compose" (which is the default for me) to the "edit html" tab.  Then I opened another browser window and went to Youtube where the video is located.  Then I clicked on "embed", where Youtube offers the code, and copied it.  Then I switched back to my blog and pasted it in the text box where I am currently typing to create this blog.

Other sites like delicious give you the same options.  WYSIWYG and they give you the embed code to copy and paste it where ever you want it to be-whether it's a web page or a blog.  Here is a CMS site I am developing through my course this semester.  I have embedded content from various other sites into my CMSimple site.

If you use Dreamweaver to create web pages you might want to consider getting an extension from DMXzone which offers to embed the code for you.  They offer a pop-up window to search for the video of choice and then they will automatically embed it.  It just gets simpler and simpler.  Joomla offers another option to embed content on your site.  And of course even Facebook offers all sorts of ways to embed on your profile page.




Picasa also makes it easy to share your pictures with others.  Once again, just go to the album you want to share and then look on the far right column.  Just by clicking on "link to this album" you get the embed code to paste into any site you want.  It's the type of simplicity I like.

Delicious

I can't express enough how grateful I am that there is a way to bookmark sites.  Originally, I didn't have a system when I bookmarked a site.  I just added to my favorites or clicked on bookmark.  Then I noticed how cluttered everything looked and if I wanted to find a bookmark it took some time.  So, I created folders for my bookmarks, then after that I started using tags.  Now, I have my bookmarks saved on my browser in a systematic manner.

Recently, I got an account with delicious.  Delicious is an online bookmarking service that allows users to save bookmarks, follow others and see what they bookmark, and create a social environment to show "what is hot" on the web.




What makes this service so appealing is that I travel and frequently use other computers.  Now, all I have to do is log into my account and I will have access to all my bookmarks.  I am slowly starting to go back through the bookmarks I have on my browser and transferring them to delicious.  Another feature that I have enjoyed is just clicking on others bookmarks.  In a way it is like Stumble.  I just click my way around until I find something interesting or relevant. 

Making a video

The goal of my video was to explain what web 2.0 is without using any technical terms.  I decided that I would try to make a correlation between some traditional approaches to communication, collaboration, and socializing then demonstrate how it relates to web 2.0.  I wanted to keep it simple.  For instance, “grandma” can knit a sweater and mail it to her granddaughter.  Or, she can get online and create some dynamic multimedia by collaborating with others.  Then she can send it to her granddaughter’s phone or computer.  Which one will make a lasting impression? 

The relative time between traditional approaches and current practices is something else I wanted to impress upon.  It isn’t so much that traditional approaches don’t have a place in our culture, it just isn’t as efficient (or fun in my opinion).

How did I make the video?  I used my flip HD camera and set it on a desk in my classroom.  After that I marked the white board so that I knew where the edges of my field of view was on the camera.  I didn’t want to just start drawing and writing in a place that wouldn’t be recorded.  The room is artificially lit with several 4’ flourescent lights.  I didn’t do anything special with the lighting.  Basically, I set the camera about 8’ away from me and started shooting.  Not much prep there.  I did sketch out what I wanted to draw so I used a storyboard for that.

The video was then imported to iMovie ’09 where I spent most of my time.  I tried to find a point closest to white on the video and then balanced the colors around that.  It isn’t perfect, but the best I could do.  Most of the video is sped up 800% faster than what it actually took me to draw in real time.  Some scenes-specifically those right before I erase what I have drawn, are sped up just 200%.

The section with the globe turned out a lot better than what I drew on the whiteboard.  For that, I used some special features built into iMovie ’09.  I created a series of clips using their globes in which I chose points and then gave them titles; such as “Oma,” “social network,” and “veterans group.”  I set the speed to about 1 second for each transition from one point on globe to the next.  iMovie ’09 has an amazing interface, so you don’t have to have a lot of production skills or knowledge about movie editing.  What took the longest was choosing which song to use as the background.  At first I narrated the video, but I wasn’t happy with that.  I figured the viewer can use their own mental narration.  We were all probably making different associations while watching the video and my voice would have been distracting.  So I went with music.  I wanted something fast, but not distracting or too much that it would turn some viewers off.  After watching the video several times with different background songs I went with Dave Matthews.

It was very fun to make this video, and I certainly do enjoy video editing.  Initially, it is very challenging for me to decide how I want to present something.  A concept or process presentation can be done several different ways.  But, after I get started I really get into the project.  I will admit, I change things here and there, but it is because I would rather present something as professional as I can.  Unfortunately, I don’t always have the resources to do that.  For this video I wanted certain effects so I had to upgrade my version of iMovie, and I am glad that I did.

Creative Commons

I have often wondered about what is okay to use, edit, and/or redistribute along with how to cite or give credit to the proper parties involved.  So this particular assignment was of great interest to me.  Before I get to far into my dialogue I would like for you to watch this video that D.I passed on to me.

Creative Commons Movie

 

For several reasons I would side with the Free Culture Movement, in favor of allowing creativity and remixing.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I am not suggesting that everything should be free and available for the general population to re-create.  There should be limitations and guidelines, but for the most part I think those details are being worked out.  There are several sites that offer media under the creative commons license.  You can find photographs, music, web design, animations, documents, and artwork that are "free" with some restrictions.  As an individual that likes to be creative I would be honored if someone found something I created and then used it in their project. 

Lets say I created a template for a website.  It took me weeks to get all the details just right.  I could see myself posting it on a server or site that offers it to members for free.  Of course membership would be free, an agreement would be made that the template is free and available for any modifications.  I don't need to be referenced as the creator.  If you like it take it and customize it to your needs.  However, there would also be an agreement that a member couldn't download the template then turn around and post the same template on another site that does make a profit from selling the template.  That would be wrong.  Just like it wouldn't be right for me to use a musicians (cc licensed) work for my own monetary gain just by changing the title of the song.

I would estimate that most users in some form or fashion have used content created by someone else and modified it.  It happens.  In several ways that does restrict creativity.  What happens in the case where some artist creates something unique, yet there are vague parallels to another piece of work?  Are there copyright infringements.  Constantly, I hear about this lawsuit and that lawsuit about copyrights.  Take JK Rowling for instance.  Once something gets into the public domain it becomes challenging to keep it locked up without being remixed.

Is there anything that is completely free?  Sure, I suppose there is, but I have always experienced some sort of agreement that sets restrictions on what is permissible and isn't when using something under the creative commons license.  It isn't always easy to find the agreement or associated rights of the content, but its there.  In most cases when I signed up for a membership with a given site I had to agree to certain terms and conditions.  Then after that initial agreement the following content didn't mention anything about copyright's or creative commons license.

"Imagine a world...."

"Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. That's our commitment"     ~Wikimedia Foundation

Wikispecies was the first place I looked.  It's the biology teacher in me.

It isn't as extensive as other online sources, but what they may lack in content they make up for it in external links.  Also, it was encouraging to see that they have very defined goals.  On the site there is a link highlighting the do's and dont's for wikispecies along with a forum to ask questions and highlight important details about the project.  From my experience, this site has a lot potential because it does call on people to contribute and challenges the old dogma that only professionals are a legitimate source of information.  There are people that have spent their lives studying species or living in close contact with them and yet those individuals chances of sharing the wealth of knowledge may be limited.  Granted the wikispecies project is focused on classification, there is still a place for collaboration and the proliferation of knowledge.  It's also a great place to see images of animals and brush up on a species classification.


After searching through some of the other wikimedia projects I found myself going back to and spending more time on wikinews.

"We are a group of volunteers whose mission is to present reliable, unbiased and relevant news."
~wikinews

Now, I know that it can be hard to write an unbiased report when you work for a specific news syndication.  There are usually special interest groups and target audiences to appeal to, and that is why I can appreciate the goal of wikinews.  This is a place for people all over the world to potentially write about first hand accounts of local events.  Plus, their news is free and created under a creative commons free license.  In other words, the content is free and available to redistribute and/or share without any laws being broken.  I really like the websites interface.  It is easy to understand how to navigate around to find specific news articles and also to just quickly get a digest of world news.  It is impressive how much media they have especially since it is all free.  You should check it out and explore some of the current events and associate images.

iLife '09

I have been using iMovie '08 for the past couple of years and I haven't really enjoyed it.  The previous version of iMovie was a lot better.  For starters, iMovie '08 wouldn't let you adjust or change the speed of the video on playback.  There were a few other things left out that I missed.  So, needless to say I have always wanted to get some of Mac's Pro tools for video editing, like the Final Cut Studio.  But the price tag that comes with it is fairly steep, and I mainly want it to play around on.  Right now I don't make movies professionally.  To solve my problem I ended up upgrading to iLife '09.  I am glad I did.  The options and new features are great.  You can check them out at Apple's website.

Here is my first movie using iMovie '09.  The idea was to explain "web 2.0" to grandma without using any technical terms or other web jargon.






Now it is time for me to mess around with the new tools.

Googled

I have a gmail account and have had a youtube account (even though I haven't posted many movies).  However, I never set up a picasa account until this evening.  When I logged into picasa via my email account I discovered that I already had some albums set up.  Google pulled all my photos from my email and blog then uploaded it to picasa behind the scenes.  I didn't have to do anything.  Simple and sweet.  It makes me wonder what other accounts I have, but never personally set up.  In a way I like it since it makes things simple and easy to share all my multimedia.  Also, it is nice to have this web or network already established so that I can upload and share with others.  On the other hand, wow, is there no end to what google is going to do.  Once you sign up for their services you are all in.

Create, edit, post

It seems like wikipedia shows up first whenever I search for something on google.  They have the most hits.  As a consumer of information from wikipedia I find it very useful.  What I like most is that they have references and external links for more information.  There are two interesting things to note about wikipedia; one is their effort to be a repository of information for the world to be able to access.  The other is how it is designed and editable by others.  As a wiki, it is editable by users.  The real beauty of wikis’ is that they are easy to create, edit, and share with others.  Although, wikipedia isn't as easy to use as other WYSIWYG wiki's.  But, Wikipedia works well and has tutorials that are helpful.  I added two words to wikipedia and it only took a few minutes.  The first word was “Planimal.”  Recently, a sea slug was discovered that could genetically produce chloroplasts in its’ cells.  This particular species has characteristics that are both animal-like and plant-like, which has been coined as a planimal.

 

www.livescience.com

Wikipedia is also great because it can answer questions immediately.  If I ever have a need to get general information about something I can usually find it at Wikipedia and then follow the trail of external links posted at the bottom of each page.  I don’t use wiki’s as a source of information for writing research papers, but it is useful.  I remember teachers and professors always saying to never use wikipedia.  It was taboo to use wiki’s as a source.  I understand why-since it is editable by anyone then it isn’t exactly a primary source of information.  Even though it is peer-reviewed that doesn’t mean it is a reliable source.  On the other hand, it has proven to be true and resourceful for me in the past.  I wouldn’t cite a wiki page as my source, but they usually reference their sources, which gives me the opportunity to read through other sources for first hand legitimate information.

What is really cool is how it incorporates all the other wikis.  There is the wiktionary, wikiversity, wikinews, wikibooks, and a few others that I haven't used.  In general I am a big fan of wikis and soon I will blog about how wiki's can be used in education.

Reflections on this and that

I have been on wikipedia the last few nights looking up things I wanted to know more about and in the process came back to a re-occurring realization.  I am thirsty for knowledge.  The catch is that I get into these information quests which just lead me further down the rabbit’s hole.  I acquire information and learn, but then sometimes I just get a glimpse of a concept and move on without fully digesting what it means.  For instance, all the available web 2.0 tools.  I don’t have unrealistic expectations such that I will be a professional using all of them or even that I will be able to cite all the available resources.  I don’t want to go that far with it, especially since they evolve and other resources are constantly being developed.  I want to have a general picture and experience using a few resources from each category.  There are people that I trust when it comes to suggestions and there are blogs that I read about with tool or approach is most effective to meet a given goal.  So I can choose from experience or others that have been there before me.  My goal is to be proficient in choosing and using the right tool for the right job.  From my experience in this course and others I feel confident in saying that I will have met that goal.  I have designed courses using open source software (moodle), designed art, collaborated with colleagues using several different web 2.0 tools to create documents, webpages, lesson plans, and digital media.  I have uploaded things I created and joined several different social networking sites. 

For me, that is my interpretation of what social networking and web 2.0 is.  Getting involved and trying to find the best resource available to interact, create, edit, and collaborate with others.  In some form or fashion I have done that on several occasions.  Individually, I have learned but the purpose in using each of those tools was for a course in graduate school.  What I really want is to be using these resources on a professional level.  Another goal is to be working in an academic environment applying what I have learned.  So, as far as my experiences in CI5530, I don’t feel cheated or jaded for not using a specific tool.  If I wanted to use something not specifically offered in this course then I would try it out on my own.  I like having some direction offered by my instructor and the flexibility in being involved in the general course design.  I believe that D.I has ideas of what he wants to cover and the applications or tools we are going to use.  Yet, there is also a degree of flexibility to allow for our own interpretation of what “web 2.0” is and how it should be defined or applied. 

The catch to it all is finding a way to balance all my responsibilities.  Which aren’t specifically related to this course alone.  Now, I hope it doesn’t sound like I am talking out of both sides of my mouth.  There is a lot of information and objectives to meet in this course.  It isn’t an overload by itself, since that is what social networking and web 2.0 is-it comes with the territory.  My challenges are access to the web and time management.  Right now I am not directly involved in a technology rich environment.  I have my job teaching biology, and then completely switching gears into instructional technology and new media for graduate school.  There is some overlap, but right now there isn’t much demand or usage, for what I am learning, in the school that I am teaching at.  Also, logging into all the different sites required has made it challenging to follow a linear sequence in how thoughts or “conversations” are shared amongst all of us.  I don’t think I am really reading them in order and it is hard to really comment on them.  There have been times when I was developing a comment and then noticed that another person already said it.

So, the pro’s are exposure and experience using different social networking sites and web 2.0 tools.  The con’s are having to log into several different sites and then piece together everything to understand what is going on.  In regards to CMSimple, it serves its purpose.  If I needed extra features that aren't offered then I can see how its limitations would be an issue.

SL Adventures

Just think, what if there was a way to create a pseudo-life that has all the functional experiences and challenges as real life.  Well, for those of you that don't know, there is a place to do that.  Actually, there are several, but Second Life seems to be the most popular and innovative.  You can create an avatar, log in, and begin the adventure in-world.  Universities have courses in SL (Second Life), businesses have corporate meetings, and people can meet virtually in-world while really being anywhere in the real world.  If you can dream it up, you can create it in SL.  It isn't just a game that people get on to role-play. 

My favorite place to visit is the Science Friday Island in Second Life.  Avatars can listen and communicate with Ira Flatow's guests.  There are simulations.  The other day I went to Paris.  Actually, it was Paris circa 1900.  I was there to meet with some classmates and my instructor.

 

D.I., my instructor, was the first to really introduce me to SL a year ago.  Before meeting him I would infrequently venture into SL without any clear purpose and spent most of my time trying to get a lay of the land.  D.I. showed me more about what SL was and how to be more creative.  SL really is a virtual play land that is unique.  We, you and I, can be creators.  According to D.I, SL's greatest strength is its ability to allow people to communicate and also as a place for simulations.  

Users can communicate by text chat or VoIP.  There are pro's and con's to both communication approaches.  Text can take longer to get a message across, and if the other person isn't a strong typist then it isn't efficient.  However, there isn't really any new equipment you need to text in SL.  Voice chatting is great because it gives the avatars more of an identity.  Hearing the person's voice really builds a sense of communication and connection.  Although, there can be challenges to setting up the mic and/or audio equipment.  Feedback can be bad if it isn't set up properly.

Well, I will leave it at that for now, but if you are ever in SL come find me.  My name is Orgon Jishnu.

Wordle Up

I have used wordle before and enjoyed the functionality and concept.  Just recently I used it to create a list of terms related to biology.  The nice part of wordle is that the text is sized based on the number of times a word shows up.  Simply BRILLIANT.

The layout for these wordles was created using a "randomize" function.  Basically, I typed into a text box and then hit "go."  After hitting "randomize" several times I settled on the layout and colors.  I must admit, I got caught up just hitting randomize for awhile.

 

I liked having a dark background vs. white.  The words are easier to read.  After hitting "randomize" I noticed that it would take me longer to read or take in the "art" when there was a light background.  Also, I didn't like it. 

Wordle is a lot of fun, and the art can be used in just about anything.  In my biology classes, I sometimes start a concept off with a wordle.  The main concept of scientific process will be the largest and then the surrounding words are relative based on the concept.  The students seem to like it and I felt like it was easier to start a conversation this way.

Another thing I liked was that you can randomly view other peoples' wordle.  In most cases I could understand the idea or message the creator wanted to convey.  Even the ones I didn't understand-I felt like they were fun and entertaining to look at.

Wordle began as creative waste of time and now I look to wordle first when I want to create something text based but with better graphics.

Here is a link to my cms site with examples of my wordees.

The Droid and I

I really just wanted to go to the Verizon store to pay my monthly bill, but like a true technophile I wondered over to the display of the Motorola Droid.  The salesman was more than happy to announce that I qualify for a "free" upgrade.  Long story short I am now a proud owner of a Motorola Droid.

 

The features on the Droid are amazing and for me I think that it tops the iPhone.  I am a dedicated and committed Mac user, but this phone is sweet.  Sure, the apps on the Droid are similar to the iPhone but there are differences.  Some of the major differences is that the Droid has a LED flash for the camera, Droid has a keyboard (which makes it slightly bulkier), you can tether the Droid's 3G network with a macbook pro but you can't (legally or "out of the box") with an iPhone, and Verizon is a better network than ATT.

My favorite application so far is the Google Sky app.  It has pin-point precision in identifying every star or constellation that I face.  Another nice one, which isn't new for smartphones is the Google Translator.  I speak English and it translates and repeats it back to me in any language.  The Droid will show it as text and speech.  And of course there is the Google Goggles application.  It analyzes a picture I take and then tries to match it with others online in order to generate search results.  Instead of saying what I want to search for or typing in a search box, I can now just take a picture and get results.  The phone is amazing. 

I really haven't had enough time to mess around or download to many applications, but when I do I will let you know.

Label the Image

After all these years surfing around looking at "images" through google search engines, I never really thought about how images were classified.  Well, there is actually a methodical process to it.  At "Google Image Labeler" people can log in and choose keywords for specific images.  Basically, two random people are selected to view the same image and then they have a few seconds to come up with keywords to describe the image.  Once both people type in the same keyword the image changes to another.  In other words keywords are associated with images by "us" the user in order to produce better search results by "us" the google search user.  It's brilliant.  When you need to take a break I would recommend trying it out.  Surprisingly it is a lot of fun. 

What about crowdsourcing????

 

Wikipedia

At first I felt like crowdsourcing is very resourceful and can be great for problem-solving.  I mean, if you are down to the final stretch and a deadline is near, then why not "put it out there" and get help from others?  I am all about collaboration.  In general, much of our scientific knowledge was developed by collaboration and expanding on the groundwork that was laid out by others.  One scientist may use anothers research to base his own research-then expand it.  It is very similar to crowdsourcing.  I can start something and then collaborate with others.  Perhaps they finish it, or maybe they assist in finishing it.  Either way the job gets done, deadlines met, or the depth of knowledge is expanded.  

Now, there are limitations and downfalls to crowdsourcing.  For instance, other contributors might not have the same vision as the project leader or client.  Sometimes, people could be over dependent on crowdsourcing.  This could potentially lead to a lack of individual creativity.  Or, maybe motivation to start and finish a project is lost since we can now reach out to others and rely on them.

I think the is a place for crowdsourcing.  It is beneficial, but should be used sparingly.  Knowing how to find the balance and institutions to use for crowdsourcing is important.  Just like with labeling images, there should be a systematic approach to acquiring resources (whether it's information, images, data etc. etc.) from others

iPad is rad

I'm a sucker for small portable gadgets that allow me to get online, watch videos, and interact with others.  Since I travel alot, I think that I will be investing in an iPad soon.  Check out Steve Jobs unveiling the iPad

Apple

It is still early in my web 2.0 graduate course, so it is hard to say how I am doing.  Unfortunately, I don't have the free time to get online and dedicate as much time as I would like into this course.  I am able to contribute to class discussions, and submit the required work.  However, I feel like I haven't done enough.  Sometimes when I login to my email (discussions on moodle are forwarded to my email) I discover that there are around 100 emails.  There doesn't seem to be a pattern to when other students get on moodle.  Once I figure that out, maybe I will be able to stay on track with the discussion threads.  As it is now, I get bits and pieces of several discussions so it is fairly disjointed and I have to go back and re-read others comments. 

Tomorrow, that is the day for me to sit behind a computer for several hours and play catch up.

What in the web 2.0 do I do now

I must say, at first I was really excited about blogging. It was new to me and I thought that I would have a lot to blog about. Well... as it turns out I didn't. I suppose I could come up with excuses; there wasn't enough time, I spent too much time on the research and not enough on the publication/blogging, or I just didn't do it. The truth is, I like to read others' blogs more than I like to blog.

The concept of blogging is great. As a reader they are resourceful and easy to access. But as a blogger they take a certain degree of dedication and focus that I have lacked in the past. At first I wanted to blog for my science students. As it turns out they don't have access to the web at home and many of them don't have personal computers. Blogging became a mute subject. Then I thought I would blog about technology. I am interested in it and blogging would almost force me to research and stay in the loop about the latest greatest. I have stayed in touch, but I never made the transition into actually blogging about it. Now, I am hoping that I will have more focus in future blogs.

My intention is to blog about my experience in a graduate course in "Web 2.0 in education." I just began the course and it is moving along fast.