Week 3 Blog: Make your Mark

Make Your Mark

Perception.  The one word that world revolves around.  You may be the most hardworking individual, but if your Facebook has nothing but drunken photos... You're going to be perceived as the party animal, and not the working type. Now, who wants that?

      Time to learn about creating a positive digital footprint. So, pretty much absolutely anything you put on the internet, concerning a PLN (personal learning network), stays online forever.  It is important to make sure you are portraying yourself in a respectful and appropriate manner depending what you are trying to get a career in.  In this generation, young adults are so used to using social networking sites as their diaries, and are making a HUGE mistake in doing so.  It is about how you use the sites you are signed up.  Be aware of who you are sharing with and what you post.  Even check your tagged pictures! As I have recently learned in class, many employers are googling their applicants before even checking their applications and calling them in for an interview.  So, take a minute and Google your name. What pops up? If you were trying to hire yourself, would you?

      Now being on the subject of digital footprints, or an online identity.  There comes many positive and negative consequences of keeping up with any type of profile.  Whether this is Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.  This week in class, we were split up into three groups and had to discuss the pros and cons for each of these sites.  My group had the famous picture sharing website; Instagram. We found many good things at first.  How to publicize certain companies, creating an image for yourself, easy to control privacy settings, and it is a nice way to stay in touch with friends and family.  As for the not so good things... being tagged in the wrong photos, bullying is prevalent, false accounts being created, knowing locations of people, and getting profiled.  So we come back to that one word again; perception.  How do you want to be perceived?

      Lastly, with maintaining a profile on multiple sites or just keeping sites organized in general, Chapter 1 of Untangling the Web by Steve Dembo and Adam Bellow is just the right resource.  Throughout this chapter, there were three exceedling good sites to keep track of your sites; almost like bookmarks.  The first one that was mentioned is Symbaloo.  This is such an easy to use and welcoming website! It is set up with a 10 x 6 grid, that makes it more simple. All you have to do is click on a blank box, create a title, pick a design, and click submit! Then you can share them with peers! 

      Next site is diigo, another social bookmarking site. The cool thing about this site, is that it was one of the popular ones from the start.  I think what really peeked the interest with most users was the ability to highlight, comment, and add notes to specific information being bookmarked. While making your own library, you can also search other libraries to collaborate ideas or help with your own research.  Another beneficial factor is that you are able to create lists and it will put the bookmarks in chronological order as well.

      Lastly, there is eduClipper.  This website is generally geared towards students and teacher, but anyone can use it.  Teachers are able to set the controls on what their students can access on this site.  One aspect of this site, is that the eduClipboard can be shared with other users, groups, or even posted on other popular networks.  This allows peers to give feedback, so they can research together and learn from each other. 

Week 2: Getting Your Feet Wet

Getting Your Feet Wet

Admit it, almost everyone tests the water before jumping in.  However, no one wants to take a dip, unless they know how to swim.

  

Starting a Personal Learning Network (PLN) can be extremely extensive.  This week in class, we were instructed to read chapter 6, in our book, Connected Educator by Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach and Lani Ritter Hall.  Basically, a PLN becomes a significant part of your online identity, a source of collective intelligence, and a foundation to make connections off of.  One of the essential concepts in maintaining a efficient PLN is time and effort.  What you put in it, is what you'll get in return!  Another important factor that this chapter included was the idea of creating communities and building connections.  A strong community is based on a tip-top designer for learning and actively engaging.  The value is in understanding how to tap into and lift knowledge from others, and experiencing what other members know.

Community members have four key roles and responsibilities:
1. Linking: educators might be interested in joining, but only visit occasionally
2. Lurking: reluctant to share thoughts, willing to listen, but watches from the sidelines
3. Learning: participate in conversations and help shape what is being learned
4. Leading: educator committing time and energy to community

"The real power of the social web is revealed when you have a plan and a purpose for how you'll build your network, reap its benefits, and then apply the knowledge you gain," (Beach, Hall 92)

So, as a product of Professor Calderwood's effective community, our class was able to participate in a google hangout with a few of the members last week.  This was a new experience to me, but definitely an eye-opener!  Our online conversation, based on Google apps and extensions, included very knowledgable individuals; Melissa Murphy, Kate Baker, and Dave Malone. 

This google hangout was without a doubt a life saver for me.  I've owned a google chrome laptop for over a year now, and have been pretty much lost on how to use it until thursday of last week.  There were a few programs that really stood out to me, and that are incredibly useful. 

Shopping anyone?

Kate had mentioned plenty of helpful hints for docs and slides, but making a table of contents right on your google docs was my favorite.  I personally take extensive notes for my classes and google docs will automatically create a table of contents so it is easier to access different sections! One of the apps Dave showed us shortcuts for Google, almost like a bookmark. Genius! So websites you are on most often, you can just bookmark them, instead of wasting time trying to find everything separately. Melissa had mentioned a copious amount of apps/extensions for google that would make life easier for anyone.  One of the first ones, was split screen.  With this, your able to have two tabs open at the same time in one window! Perfect for taking notes in one screen and reading an article in another. The second one that stood out to me was Adblock Plus.  Do you ever get so distracted from all the ads popping up, that you can't concentrate on what you're actually trying to read? Adblock plus is the extension for you. Lastly, do we have any Pinterest lovers?  I, myself, am a little obsessed with this social networking, idea forming, website.  Kate showed us how easy it is to "pin" from any site we are on!

All of these extensions and applications can be downloaded from the Google Chrome Store as long as you have Google Chrome on your computer. 

Week 1 Blog: New Kid on the Block

New Kid on the Block

Let's face it, no one likes being the new kid.  Walking into an unfamiliar place; palms sweaty, heart beating out of your chest, and not knowing if you'll be accepted, is a whole mess of emotions that we feel when starting something fresh.

I personally, have been on the social networking block for more than 10 years of my life; however, using it for personal life and not so much professional.  Also, did not know how to use the Twitter account I did have.  Embarrassing enough, I've spent hours on Instagram, Facebook, and even Pinterest.  My purposes for those social networks is to stay in touch with people I've met at college, the military, or distant family members. 

My first week of class, "Exploring your Digital Toolbox" has really opened my eyes to the latest line of communication.  Twitter is a website that I thought was used to follow celebrities and keep up with sports.  Little did I know, it could reveal windows of opportunity that I did not realize could be available to me.  All I have to do is make it happen.  This website provided me with the nuts and bolts of creating a rapport with who I follow and how to present myself.

First, get a picture! Nobody likes an egg!  Second, follow people that have similar interests to you. Third, become active.  Retweet and mention people. Fourth, create lists.  Finally, set goals and have patience.

The most significant aspect of Twitter that I am finding is being active and consistent; putting yourself out there for the world to see.   After watching a very informative video, there are three essential actions to put forth when working a Personal Learning Network (PLN), and that is to:

1. Engage

2. Educate

3. Report

Hopefully, this will help anyone who is just trying to get a feel for Twitter and creating a PLN!  Goodluck out there ladies and gentlemen! 

Blog Test

Exciting news for Apple!  The iWatch is releasing features that it will include.