RSS Page Reflection

I have been subscribing to RSS feeds using Google Reader for three years now.
Subscribing to RSS feeds and monitoring the content is something I enjoy. This project has given me the opportunity to spend time finding blogs and RSS feeds that have content based on e-learning, corporate learning and instructional design. In the past, I have not been one to comment on blogs, so this was a first for me. Just to get started, here is the public RSS page of the feeds I have written about in this post.

As an instructional designer the biggest issue for me is making e-learning more social. I want to find ways to have learners interact and communicate with each other after experiencing the content. As I perused my RSS page, I found this post by Harold Jarche. Harold explains the importance of worker and learner autonomy. The members of an organization need to take ownership of the content and then be able to share and communicate about what they have learned. A social learning network allows the learners to communicate and drive innovation within an organization. I commented on Harold’s post, asking about how he saw social learning being implemented in organization. The next day he provided me with links to three other posts he had written about the topic. Here is a screenshot of my comment and Harold’s response:



After a few days of monitoring the feeds I noticed that some aggregate the posts of other e-learning websites. Each day E-Learning Learning, which is a hub of e-learning information, creates collection of articles and posts on a range of topics about e-learning called “The Best of E-Learning Learning”. The topics include technology tips, pedagogical issues, presentations and thoughtful posts about e-learning. This is an excellent resource that I can consult daily for information about the e-learning industry.

The best thing about E-Learning Learning has been the variety of posts on the site. One day I read a good post on using Adobe Captivate (an application I am currently working with), and on another day an excellent article on visual design was posted. The post on visual design happened to be very relevant for me, as my client and I had just recently spoke about how the visual aesthetic of some learning modules could be improved.

One post about mobile learning got me thinking about how people in an organization could use their smartphones to constantly share knowledge. The end of the post provided some information about the author and her work. She is the author of the iPhone app Instructional Design Guru, which I have now downloaded. The app is a massive resource base of instructional design, cognitive psychology, social media and technology terms, just to name a few of the categories in the app.

The feeds I have followed have also given me new ideas about how I can use the tools already available on my computer. One example is a post discussing the use of iBooks Author, the new e-book authoring tool from Apple. The example in the post explained that if you work in a company that has provided its employees with iPads, then instructional designers can create e-books with the authoring tool. The iPad allows the employees to access these resources from any place and at any time. Apple’s iBooks Author allows instructional designers to create e-books that involve any form of media, so the content provided is rich and engaging.

The job market is a frequent topic in the feeds I follow. Soon I will be looking for a job and being able to read about the value of a Master’s degree, having examples of previous work and where to look for jobs is very helpful. Following these feeds will help me prepare for the job application process.

In the e-learning setting I see these resources as being something I consult daily as I create instructional content. I plan to use the RSS feeds and their resources as a way of expanding my skills with course authoring software. If there is something specific I would like to do with a course, but I am not sure how to do it, then I can consult the resource pages of the websites whose RSS feeds I have followed. The feed themselves act as idea and innovation centers. With posts coming from all different learning professionals I have access to cutting edge thinking in the field. The client I am currently working for has asked me to create documentation of the advantages and disadvantages of a piece of e-learning software. One place to check for user experience reviews will be my feeds. Just one example of the information I have gleaned, the piece of software I have selected is one of the most widely used in e-learning.

PC Maintenance and Security Tutorials

1. Displaying hidden file extensions.

The first tutorial I chose to view was “DIsplaying hidden file extesnions”. I have worked in IT and learned the meaning of many file extensions, but I wanted to take this opportunity to clarify some of my understanding. I would like to share why exposing file extensions is important. The tutorial explained how a virus can disguise itself as a document by changing the file extension. Documents end with the file extension “.doc’, while viruses end with “.exe”, which is the extension for applications. By adding “.doc” to a virus file, one can make the file appear as a document when really it is a virus. In order to keep ourselves from mistakenly opening one of these disguised viruses, it is possible to have windows always display file extensions. With the proper settings opening viruses is easily avoided. I was surprised to learn that by simply showing the file extensions a disguised file can be exposed.

2. Explaining what firewalls do and don’t do

The second tutorial I have examined is “Explaining what firewalls do and don’t do”. This is tutorial pointed out the key differences in hardware and software firewalls. The point of interest to share is that a hardware firewall does not protect you from virus installations. After hearing that, computer users will be convinced of the value of a software firewall on top of their hardware firewall. This tutorial surprised with its emphasis on having two lines of firewall defense. It is necessary to have both a hardware and a software firewall.

3. Explaining what intrusion detection software does

This third tutorial is my favorite. Anti-virus software can sometimes miss dangerous entities on your computer because they use a database. If a program installed on your computer is not in the software’s database, then it will not be spotted and your computer will continue to be at risk. Everyone should know this and then be aware of intrusion detection software, which scans the computer for suspicious activity. Intrusion software can tell when files are being altered, the registry of a computer is accessed and when key programs and processes are being stopped. Intrusion detection software also notices drivers that are installed on the computer. I was surprised to learn that intrusion detection software is an important line of defense beyond the anti-virus.

Getting Things Done

I have decided to organize my workflow through my Google Apps. The first thing I took care of was to organize my Gmail inbox. My inbox had grown completely out of control. I spent about an hour moving recent, important emails into folders, creating new ones if needed. I also unsubscribed from every listserv that was clogging my inbox with irrelevant content. Once I had sufficiently organized all of my recent emails (about three months into the past), I archived the other 10,000 emails. I now had a completely clear inbox. The second thing I did was organize my Google Docs. I created folders for current work/class obligations and made ones for upcoming obligations. Every time I start a word processing project, it is done in Google Docs and placed in a relevant folder. The last part of the process was to place assignments, appointments and obligations on my Google Calendar. I entered events and obligations up to two weeks away and then set a reminder to do the same thing at the end of the two weeks. I setup a system to delete or file every email and immediately enter all scheduling obligations when I receive them. If they cannot be immediately organized the email is marked “New” for later action.

This process was at once challenging, overwhelming and finally liberating. The biggest step was organizing my email. I was in the habit of letting emails fall into the vast abyss of my inbox, with the knowledge that every email in it is in need of action I am better able to organize new information and priorities. It is sometimes hard to refrain from reading an email on my phone when it first arrives, but I remind myself that it will only be properly taken care of if I wait to deal with it until the next time I am on my computer.

The implementation of a workflow system has been an excellent start to becoming a more organized student and employee. It helps me to compartmentalize my time and know when work will be completed. My goal is to maintain this system and modify it over time. So yes, I will be maintaining my email, calendar and work document processing system.

MERLOT Peer Review: Audacity workshop

In this post I will be evaluating an instructional resource I discovered on the Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching or MERLOT. I have selected a workshop on Audacity. This is the Audacity workshop. It is a web based, interactive workshop that used HTML and Adobe Captivate to deliver the presentation.

Quality of Content
The workshop resource offers four demonstrations on recording, editing, changing tempo and exporting with Audacity, along with an overview of the user interface. These are the four basic skills needed to use Audacity. The resource also provides suggested uses of the software for instructors. This makes the module a relevant educational resource for instructors who want to use audio in their class content and assignments.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching-Learning Tool
The Audacity workshop could be used for the Explanation, Demonstration and Practice stages of the learning cycle. The “Examples” section provides an Explanation describing how the software can be used by instructors, essentially stating the problem of practice Audacity can be used to solve. The four sections each provide a Demonstration of the software in use. Practice is achieved in the assessments that ask learners to complete four different tasks using Audacity. The Applying stage of the learning process will not take place within this module’s learning experience.

After completing this module students should be able to create and edit a recording in Audacity. The target learners of this module are instructors and students seeking a Language Technology certificate; however, I think this module’s target audience can be expanded to any instructor who wants to use audio recordings to create learning experiences for their students. This resource does allow learners to experience Audacity and improve their skills. Immediately after completing the module instructors can begin creating recordings. They may need to take sometime in deciding where and how to present them to their students. Furthermore, the recording skills are just one part of incorporating Audacity into an instructor’s teaching repertoire. This module is designed for instructors of Foreign Language classes but could be used by teachers of other subjects, for example music or voice classes. Audacity itself can be used by instructors themselves or they can have students create their own recordings. The content of this module extends beyond itself. The teaching goals of this module are easily identified as: Recording, editing and exporting for the first time using Audacity. An instructor can use Audacity to write excellent new learning experiences, and they can have students do more speaking activities than before they began using Audacity.

Ease of Use
This module is easy to navigate. The sidebar includes links to each section of the module and a link to proceed to the next part of the module is at the bottom or completion of each section. The user should find little difficulty in moving through it in a timely manner. The system does not provide direct feedback to the learner, rather the learner must assess his or herself. This tutorial provides some flexibility, as it the learner can return to past sections and navigate at will. It also might be a good resource for beginners as they work on their first projects. This module is straightforward, visually appealing and simple. The presentation is very similar to traditional websites making it easy to navigate and attractive to new students.

Social Networks and Workflow

With regard to my work flow, social networks rival my email. When beginning work, email is always the first thing I check, but I check it with a certain wariness. Social networks, on the other hand, I check with a sense of excitement. Twitter and Facebook are the second and third thing look at when I go on the Internet each day. While an email might hold some important work or a message from a colleague, my social networks are ripe with exciting stories and, often, new online tools for me to investigate.
As an instructional designer, I enjoy seeing what other e-learning professionals are doing on a daily basis. With the number of professionals on Twitter today, I can always find a blog post, article or tweet about a piece of software, a cool new tool, or a thought about how learning is best done over the Internet. Professionally, these networks help me to expand my knowledge without taking a class or committing to another obligation. I use social networks throughout the workday to “refresh” my thinking. After a couple hours of work, it is nice to see that conversations are being had that relate to the work I am doing. It keeps everything feeling relevant.
It it always important to be aware of the line between professional and personal use of social networks. One tempting thing about them is the access we have to friends. At any time during the day, I can send a message to a friend, and this message may be completely off topic from what I am currently doing. I always try to keep personal use to a minimum during the work day. However, it is not uncommon that personal use, or resources shared by close friends over a social network, are also pertinent to my professional work.
Facebook is nearly ubiquitous among my friends, whereas Twitter is not. I encourage all of my peers to use Twitter. It really is a professional space to share and learn, and any profession can benefit from the resources being shared on it at any given time. I see the social network as an integral piece of professional learning, important to almost all professions, and as something that can be consulted at any time, not necessarily needing hourly or daily checks. They allow for self-paced, personal learning... about any topic!

Embedding a Google Calendar

This is the calendar for the "Doing Business In" learning modules. So far, only Week 1 has been updated.

Blogs vs. The Webpage

A traditional web page acts as a store front or billboard for an organization, institution or individual person. The web page is created by someone with an understanding of web design, normally both the technical and design aspects. Generally, the traditional web page is designed to provide visitors with introductory information and other resources that convey a complete picture of the person or organization it represents. A blog is different. It is an excellent example of the impact of the transition from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0. Web 2.0 has made it easy for any person with general computer skills to publish ideas, thoughts and intellectual work to their own website. This kind of website, which is simple to setup and use, is known as a blog. Blogs are unique spaces where authors can publish content or discuss any topic. The blog takes the power of publishing written or visual content from the professional industries and puts it in the hands of an amateur. The blog is a running feed of content that other Internet users can see and interact with. If what the blog's author publishes is of consistent high quality, they might gain a following of interested readers. Their followers may be similarly interested people who communicate with the author through comments. This interaction can drive the development of the blog and the author's expertise. Overtime, a blog focused on a specific topic may gain a massive following similar to that of major, traditional websites, but the blog will always have its organic, grassroots beginnings.