Comments for An Online Learner

Comment on Web2.0 overload by Carol Daunt Skyring

Carol Daunt Skyring — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 03:15:03 +0000

Aaah – that was many moons ago. We’ve been holding the Learning Technologies conference at Mooloolaba for a number of years now. Hope to see you there again soon: http://www.learningtechnologies.com.au

Comment on Quest Atlantis – a virtual world experience by angelac1

angelac1 — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:59:16 +0000

Hi Paul, I am happy to talk about the possibility of using QA. I have been running classes there myself, and am in world most days – which is one one the reasons I have been so slow responding here – I am sorry.

Comment on Web2.0 overload by angelac1

angelac1 — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:56:20 +0000

Hi Carol, we met many moons ago at a Learning Technologies conference in Noosa.

Yes – there are so many new tools, or new iterations of tools that insanity must surely be the result for anyone who tries to conquer them all!

A favourite question I pose regularly is what is the purpose of the activity – and the answer should provide some guidance in relation to choice.

I feel sorry for anyone taking their first steps into web2.0 though – it must feel like stepping under Niagara Falls!!

Comment on What application is that? by angelac1

angelac1 — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:47:22 +0000

I agree entirely about people being their own browser. That is one of the elements that makes creating guidelines or a how to so limiting or inflexible. I also find that I trust many of my personal network – I trust them to find something that works, and I trust them to put up with me using a tool long after they have moved on.

Comment on What application is that? by Leon Cych

Leon Cych — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:46:09 +0000

Collaboration and augmentation through collaboration could help this. Every person is like a different browser anyway. If it can’t be said simply in text or pics away from 3rd party apps then it’s not threading through with the concept.

Having said that Open ID is a wonderful thing!

Comment on Web2.0 overload by Carol Daunt Skyring

Carol Daunt Skyring — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:48:51 +0000

Aaaah Angela – welcome to the wicked seduction of Web 2.0!!! You can’t keep up with all the new tools – there’s a new one every minute I think. If you want to use them in the classroom, hang around (virtually) with teachers who are using Web 2.0 tools & see what is most discussed & used & go with those. Keep a watching brief on the others – but don’t try to master them all.

As for organising your life, I can’t live without Netvibes – everything in the one place. There are similar eg iGoogle, Pageflakes.

Nice to have you following me on Twitter – I tweet a lot of Web 2.0 tools so you might just go crazy following me!!!!

Comment on Quest Atlantis – a virtual world experience by herky

herky — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:56:48 +0000

wow the looks very cool and you were one of the people who got the riddle corret =] come and check out my blog for more riddles every week

Comment on Quest Atlantis – a virtual world experience by Paul Tan

Paul Tan — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:30:19 +0000

Great to see that you are on QA. Possible to intro me to your mentor? I’m from Singapore and exploring the possibility of using QA in class as well. Tks.

Comment on What application is that? by angelac1

angelac1 — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 04:03:19 +0000

Paul and Teacherman, you both make very good points.

Yes, it is hard to remember how many teachers have very limited access to computers in their classroom environment, and as was shown by research access is an undeniably important factor in uptake of technology.

I also agree about the right tool becoming an indistinguishable part of the teaching / learning process – does this take us back round to the tool should fit the purpose, not the purpose fit the tool?

I think my biggest concern is for those who are at the start of the journey of discovery. To be faced with so many choices, so many minor differences in process, so many blocked in one location and a different group blocked in another – how can someone looking to get started proceed without too big a waste of time?

For me, the obvious answer is my PLN, but it is like the chicken and egg – which comes first ?

Must there be some use of tools to begin developing a PLN?

Comment on What application is that? by Paul Harrington

Paul Harrington — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 20:11:32 +0000

I very much agree with your train of thought, that indeed the tools out there can appear both confusing and overwhelming. Perhaps to take an analogy I would go with the ‘own brands’ from the supermarket i.e. I would restrict yourself at the outset to one tool in a specific area and take the time to try it out, decide if it is up to the job you want it for. This part is crucial it has to work for you and your students. If it doesn’t ….. go try another, you will eventually find the one which suits your situation.
It is I feel very much a case of the tool becoming something which once mastered disappears into the background, as the learning takes over. If a web 2.0 tool keeps screaming and shouting about itself, perhaps by changing regularly then it is actually going to get in the way of the learning. Interfaces are important and I feel very much as in the real world, first impressions count.
Take for example a tool such as Voicethread – my primary kids could see what it was able to do pretty well from the outset, and could use it easily, what became important then was the use they made of it for digital storytelling. Twitter is the same for developing a personal learning network once you get it it becomes second nature to use it.
pj23harry