Weekly Report & Reflection #4

                                                         https://www.diigo.com/item/image/55aq9/5a46

This week I have experimented with Diigo and ventured into the world of the cloud.  Diigo is a next generation social bookmarking service that allows its users to generate modified content to pre-existing webpages giving you the ability to highlight, tag, comment and add sticky notes to any webpage.  This allows you to easily share and collaborate with others in your online personal learning network by posting things to your social media, or quickly and easily connecting them to your blog.  Being able to share webpages is common place amongst groups who are working on research projects, and friends who are just trying to get through classes together.  The ability to share pre-existing webpages after highlighting or adding sticky notes to them is a great practice for students and teachers alike. I personally have shared hundreds of webpages, and sent corresponding emails or texts along with them. The ability to annotate on the webpage itself through highlighting and sticky notes simplifies that process, and allows for greater clarity. Having things saved to the cloud only makes life easier. As someone who has little experience with cloud technology it is very simple and a fantastic way to link everything together nicely. Through Diigo and the cloud all of my bookmarks are saved to a spot where I am capable of accessing them from any one of my computers. My favourite feature of Diigo aside from the toolbar making it easy to highlight and sticky note, is the ease of sharing the information by adding the link to my blog or social media website. 

Through the exploration of bookmarking tools, I have come to realize how beneficial they truly are. The ability to create my own webpage through Diigo allows me to follow only relevant articles, which I can use in my studies and papers.  Thanks to Diigo, I am able to organize articles, which I know are both credible and current. This saves me time and effort and allows me to accomplish more in a shortened period of time.  I can also see how this will help me with group projects and many other school endeavours in the future. Tagging bookmarks with specific titles enables me to quickly connect with different subjects. At first it would appear difficult to label Diigo into my PLE diagram because Diigo could fit into all four of the categories.  Diigo definitely helps gather and organize and an argument could be made that it allows sharing, and connecting as well. 

To date this course has quickly become very humbling.  I was under the assumption that I was technologically advanced but it turns out, I'm not. Having no experience with many of these tools we are beginning to work with (RSS feeds, online cloud based bookmarks, google alerts…) I am pleasantly surprised how beneficial all of this technology can be. 

While spending some time with my new tools (Feedly and Diigo) I came across this article on symbaloo which gives the ability to embed various web 2.0 tools from across the internet. Tools like Google Docs, Flickr, Slideshare, TeacherTube and more. Which is something I have bookmarked to look at later possibly as another great tool. 

 

                                                                                             https://www.diigo.com/item/image/55aq9/5pnb

Weekly Report & Reflection #3 Part 2

RSS feed readers contribute to my work in building knowledge about digital literacy by simplifying the process of gathering information.  An article that I have found that peaked my interest this week is a brief article by Julie Lindsey.  E-Learning Weekly Journeys called Global Education Highlights  briefly summarizes digital literacy by defining it as the gathering of resources, collections, reflections, inquiries, and stories about what it means to learn and teach writing in our increasingly digital and interconnected world. Although a brief blog posting it summed up nicely and got my attention about digital literacy. Thanks to Feedly, I could quickly read this brief article, then move on to the next one from my list of blogs, and articles.

In my PLE diagram from week one I would describe RSS feed readers as an organization tool that aids its users in both time saving, and information gathering.  The tool is beneficial both as a student and now a blogger, as it helps you read various articles, and blogs, aiding in finding a voice for a new blogger such as myself. Staying up to date with current articles efficiently is a crucial characteristic for any student. Writing blogs creates better digital citizens because when ever you post new blogs, you need to ask yourself if it is necessary, beneficial, and productive causing you to become a more responsible digital citizen.

Weekly Report & Reflection #3 Part 1

My Experience with RSS Feeds

       Beginning my experience with RSS feeds was great. I instantly realized how beneficial something like this could be.  I am constantly checking my apps throughout the day so that I can stay as up to date on many different aspects of the news, specifically sports as possible. To have the ability to have all of my feeds which are being update throughout the day in one convenient place is a time saver. After quickly installing Feedly I began to add all of these additional non-productive feeds into my RSS before realizing that was not the point of this activity.  I obviously got a little bit too excited when I learned about this option of having everything well organized.  So after going back and removing all of the sports apps, I went ahead and added all of the scholarly feeds creating a much more beneficial PLE.

       

        An item of interest from my reader was very easy to locate. After adding several blogs to my feed I came across Brock U Student Blog which was instantly my favorite.  One of the first articles that got my attention was The Top 5 Reasons to Tour Brock University.  After locating this

 Permalink , by clicking on the date, the corresponding URL became available. If i managed to add the the previous permalink properly it should open in a new window.

       Locating this permalink, was easy enough to accomplish, simply by clicking on the date it changed the URL to include a date in it. When adding it to my blog I found it interesting that it didn't need to be saved as the URL itself. (http://www.brocku.ca/blogs/futurestudents/2015/01/16/top-5-reasons-to-tour-brock-university/)

                                                               Gillies, K. (CC) 2015.

       After spending a couple of days returning to this new RSS feed that I have created I have gained a better understanding of what the Web 2.0 really is all about. Instead of taking what is given to you by specific newspapers, we have the option to mash several newspapers together with specific areas from specific topics to create the newspaper that we want to receive. My favorite aspects of this is the time saving that it creates, as well as how relevant the information is that I have tailored to myself. Customizing the feed to suit myself is what this platform is all about.  

       

       I have always felt as though I have been ahead of the curve as far as technology is considered, but just realizing this week what the RSS feed is all about, proves to me that I have at times fallen behind.  I have already shared this concept of what an RSS is with a couple of my close friends. Learning about this new technology makes me look forward to what is to come with the rest of this course. 

        Feedly is something that I cannot wait to explore further. My only concern is that I won't use it to its maximum scholarly potential and that it will begin being a time consuming platform.  As most web 2.0 tools are a double edged sword this one I could see as being mostly beneficial.  It will allow me to scan the sports news quickly and without zigzagging from one news feed to the other. As long as I  have the self control to make it a positive learning environment by only allowing positive articles from the right Personal Learning Network. 

Weekly Report & Reflection # 2

                                            Creating a more beneficial PLE

         To begin, a PLE represents a personal learning environment.  This environment is what you make of it. It can help you save time or waste time and it can connect you with people, or leave you feeling isolated. Things such as Facebook, and Twitter can both be incredible marketing tools, or extremely time consuming. They are both capable of allowing you to connect with everyone simultaneously but also create isolation by wasting valuable time.  Our PLE creates our PLN or Personal Learning Network.  When we use the digital tools of our personal learning environment to engage, interact with, and communicate to others, we are using a Personal Learning Network, or PLN (Figg, 2015).

         Personally my goals over the next five years are to get a job in a security field, customs or policing preferably. To do this things such as building a desirable resume and networking are beneficial. To aid in this endeavor I can use my PLE in many ways, I can connect with other like-minded individuals, and read their blogs which are often full of encouraging success stories.  I can connect with friends who have gone before me and obtained these jobs via skype, and Facebook. I can study interview techniques on YouTube and I can stay organized with interview dates and certification dates by using day planners, notifications, reminders and calendars found on my phone.

                                                         Gillies, K. (CC) 2015.

         Ways that I can change the environment around me to better meet my learning needs include reduction of distractions, and addition of positive learning tools. My current PLE has both pros and cons. I often start using my PLE tools in a positive manner such as going on YouTube for tutorials on things but quickly end up watching videos that are not beneficial or useful. I am often distracted by the ‘time-wasting’ pieces of useful tools, which include Instagram and Facebook, which only occurs when I am not using them in a beneficial manner. I know and follow many accounts which are used by the owners of their accounts as a beneficial tool, but I am not one of them, on Bernoff’s ladder, I am a spectator, not a creator(2010). 

        While working on my PLE diagram I have begun to understand that all social tools can be used as positive tools. Social networking is an important tool that many can use to reach like-minded individuals. My word cloud has reminded me of  the many tools I can use to improve my PLE. While creating my word cloud, I was shocked at how many social media tools I am currently using.  I use several a day. I am constantly adding to my arsenal of tools, many of them are extremely beneficial. I also noted that I could use more tools for the organization aspect of my personal learning environment.

                                                            Gillies, K. (CC) 2015.

      Looking back on last weeks work and creating this worlde allowed me to reflect on being a good digital citizen, to always be kind and respectful and to treat others the way I would like to be treated while working in this quickly changing digital environment.

Reference:

Bernoff, Josh (2012, January 9)  Social Technographics: Conversationalists get onto the ladder [Blog Post] Retrieved from http://forrester.typepad.com/groundswell/2010/01/conversationalists-get-onto-the-ladder.html

Figg, Candace (2015, January 16). What is a PLE & why do you need one?  [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaxpCFuPNcQ&feature=youtu.be

Weekly Report & Reflection Blog Post #1

A Positive Digital Footprint

After completing the required reading for week one and improving my computer literacy, I have gained a new understanding of what a digital footprint is.  I have always had a negative connotation attached to this term, but after learning more about this topic I came to realize it is what you make it.  If you have left behind a negative footprint, or have used poor netiquette in the past it will remain available for everyone to see. By understanding the concept of a digital footprint and thinking before posting everyone should be capable of maintaining a positive digital footprint.  A digital footprint is produced with every comment, post, like, or thumbs up. Basically every single link that is clicked on is stored somewhere and becomes a digital footprint. The two rules that I have come away with this week are two of the most basic rules my parents have been teaching me offline, since I was young. 

Two Strategies to maintain a positive digital footprint:

Rule one: Remember the human.  The golden rule of do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.

Seems very basic, and it is.  However it is often forgot.  Most people find it easier to be offensive and rude from behind a keyboard, and wouldn’t dare say some of the things that they face to face that they say online.  We’ve all heard of various twitter wars that have erupted online due to the lack of this golden rule.  A disagreement is one thing, that’s fine and expected for people to have different views on topics, but the courage that many people have while sitting behind a keyboard needs to be considered.  If it is something you normally wouldn’t say to someone you are face to face with then you probably shouldn’t say it, OR if you don’t have anything nice to say, just don’t say anything.

Rule two: T.H.I.N.K.

To create a positive digital footprint it doesn’t take a lot of work, it just takes a little bit more thought. People need to THINK about what they are posting. Is it True, is it Helpful, is it Inspiring, is it Necessary and is it Kind? 

If you can look at something that you plan on posting, or writing and you realize that it does fit with these questions then you should post it. If it goes against any of these qualities then you should not.

 

These two rules are the foundation of good netiquette. Although my parents do not have a strong online presence they have instilled in me what good etiquette is - to be kind, thoughtful, understanding, patient, helpful, and inspiring in my daily life. All things that become second nature to good citizens can easily be transferred to the citizens of the internet.

The relationship between netiquette and a positive digital footprint are the same as etiquette and a positive footprint on mankind. If you remember the human and take a second to T.H.I.N.K. posting online can be beneficial, fun and show a positive side of who you really are.

A Short Introduction

Hi everyone, my name is Kevin Gillies and this is my blog for ADED 1P32. I am a returning student looking to complete my BA in Social Science. I have taken a couple of online ADED courses and have a small amount of experience with blogging, but it still makes me a little bit nervous to write these blogs. Apparently I am somewhat of a private person, and am used to sharing my work with my professors, not with the entire class or the entire internet. This is something that I don’t see as being an issue however, and I’m sure it will only get easier from here on out.  A couple quick things about myself, I enjoy coaching baseball, golfing, fishing, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.  

The purpose of my blog is to allow me to have a better understanding of course material through reflection. The ability to look back and see what I have thought about throughout the course will be advantageous. I’m willing to bet that by the final week of this course when I look back at this post, I will most likely laugh at myself for stating that blogging makes me a little nervous.  I am looking forward to using this blog as a journal, and one of the many tools that I will be learning about while enrolled in ADED 1P32.