WIki thoughts
I am still trying to wrap my mind around the term wiki. Portals and wiki's seem similar in that they host documents. Both have the capacity to allow others to edit documents and return them to the site. the Wiki that I have had the most experience with is the 4-H Wiki that contains leader training documents. Last week I used this site in preparation for meetings at the end of the month. This site is used statewide by EEs.
was a bit anxious to start
I was a bit anxious to start this series. Throughout the last few weeks, I had heard others sharing their thoughts on the training. They were using words like twitters! Finally my schedule allowed me to take the evening and find out for myself what it was all about. Thanks.
* What were your favorite discoveries or exercises? learning new terms and practice exercises
* How has this program assisted or affected your everyday work? It will help as I try to cut down
on travel between meetings and continue to search for a better way to reach audiences
that are open to new technology. I would like to do more with volunteers, but need to
access their access and desire for learning technology. The DTV trainings have been
received with hestitance, so this use of technology may as well.
* Were there any unexpected outcomes or take-aways that surprised you?
I like blogging. I learned that my son knows most of this and uses it frequently.
It will be the way to communicate with youth in the future.
* What could we do differently to improve this program?
It was great. I loved doing it. I just need time to practice and utilize it.
* If another enrichment course of this nature were offered in the future, would you try to participate? YES
conferencing is great
I so enjoy web conferencing. It has been a wonderful technology to learn new concepts in the past few years. One day I took a class on it, within a week I used it for a conference meeting. It took awhile for participants to get use to but they liked it. A favorite piece was placing documents on the screen and making comment. Great tool.
Technology instant chats
Wow this was different, especially Twitter. A few years ago I attended an Extension specialized area and we used out computers to sign up for Java. Reading through these educational technology pieces I don't see Java but see other forms of communicatoins. I noted before that this is only as good as the people that are willing to use it. Such that is no one else is on the system ~ it is soon forgotten and not used. Thanks to all that use these technologies
Consider any potential that social networking has for your work, your program, or the organization. Discuss on this week's blog entry.
My experience with social networking started several years ago. I had a my space page developed my sons. They had a great time and listed some fun facts (most untrue), for instance MY favorite bands are heavy metal. My favorite things are not cleaning and taking care of the home. It was good fun. Rarely do I know use myspace.
This summer I started a facebook page in preparation for a church youth mission trip. the youth used the sites to communicate before and after the trips. When it came time to pull together a powerpoint for the youth mission church services, I found facebook very useful. I learned how to effectively cut and paste photo's from many facebook pages to the powerpoint. It took hours but turned out wonderful will a great combination of all youth and their experiences in either Arkansas or Mexico. Great fun
Hoping to react to all ...
From the assignment, it appears this session is short, and we don't have to comment on the blog. Could that be? This technology is cool
Variety
I was able to view several different tools. Many I had never heard of. Thanks for the experience. Through the process my son showed me how he uses googledocs. He has his resume, cover letters, etc. on this site. Anywhere, any time he can have access to these resources.
On the picn site I was able upload and crop two photos. That was fun. unfortunately they took longer to upload that I would have wished, and I am behind schedule now. Other sites were viewed... the google writing site looks like a useful tool too.
My son John has completed podcasts. He can Do some for you! Call him. Here is a sample of one ~
http://gamernode.com/features/6709-gtaiv-fireside-chat-with-kyle-and-eddie/index.html
He has a 2 year degree from the Institute of Production and Recording, Mpls. Degree is a music engineer.... knows a lot about mixing and music
One of the photo sites were lame. Looked at them with my 21 year old son.
Learning new technology takes not only time but patience.
In my extended entry is a statement shared at a Food Marketing to youth meeting today. Thank Sara Croymans for emailing it in a timely fashion.
This is a test of how extended entries work
The information given in this publication is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the University of Minnesota Extension is implied.
This is my first blog entry. Welcome friends :)