Collaboration Tools

This is sort of carry-over from the discussion boards... about various collaboration tools and ways that groups might most effectively be able to work together online.  I like the Blackboard tools just fine; I've never had any trouble with them.  I don't love google docs; I find that the lack of formatting and editing abilities within the document just lead to more work.  And have you ever gone in to see that somebody took apart everything you did yesterday...?!  That can get sensitive quickly...

Recently I have started using a very simple screen sharing tool for a few projects:  https://www.join.me/

This tool allows primarily for screen sharing and audio or text-based conferencing.  What I like about it is the simplicity.  Users only have to go to the website and enter the nine-digit code that the meeting originator provides them.  No software installation is necessary.  Then the meeting originator shares their screen, and participants join via phone over internet or text in an on-screen window.  Since I am sharing my screen, I can pull up documents, ask questions of the people that need to contribute to that document, and make changes immediately.  It seems as though not being able to share controls could be a drawback, but sometimes I find too many cooks in the kitchen slow things down.  Everybody can see the document and offer feedback while the person who is screen sharing makes the changes.  Less painful (in my opinion) than learning Monday morning that the lone missing group member finally showed up Sunday night and rearranged everything in the google doc... yikes!

Technology in The Classroom - Infuse Learning & Edmodo

In search of some additional examples of the use of Edmodo in education, I tried searching videos for a change!  Found loads, of course, but this one was really good:

Technology in The Classroom - Infuse Learning & Edmodo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz0hNJjFy-M

This video allowed me to better visualize Infuse Learning as it is implemented in a classroom to benefit both the instructor and the students.  I really like all of the screen detail that they worked into the video; it seems as though this system would be very simple to use.  It does focus on elementary students, but I certainly think college students would be willing to make use of it.  The video also mentions Edmodo, and the user contributions that can be shared among the class; I like the social media aspect of that site and I think it would keep increased numbers of students engaged.

Growing Up Puppy - Scout's Journey

Over at the discussion boards, I mentioned service learning projects that I use in conjunction with some of my courses.  One is Small Animal Breeds & Behavior, where students learn to identify common companion animal breeds, and study behavior development and problems.  This video is from Southeastern Guide Dogs, one community organization where students might choose to do service hours.  Would you believe that your volunteer work can be as easy as puppy hugging?!  Or dog walking?  Because these dogs are born with a purpose, they must go through critical development periods in very specific ways, so puppy hugging comes with rules about letting puppies play tug of war or growl at each other or play bite.  Dog walking comes with rules too!  Walkers aren't allowed to correct or offer commands to the dogs; this might interfere with their real training, so you get quite a workout walking the pups...



I chose this video to share because it shows some of the techniques that look plain enough on the outside (puppies on non-level surfaces, novel textures and colors, puppies going everywhere with the puppy raiser, etc.), but that veterinary technology students are learning the meaning behind.  Everything is done with the intent to produce a perfect service dog in the end! 

Losing Library Jobs?!

Today I found the article linked below about the reinvention of libraries, and specifically how competitors occupy niches in the 'reading ecosystem'.  The article's main thrust is the competition that start-ups bring to libraries, and how traditional systems should be learning from and networking with these new organizations in an effort to remain relevant. 

http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/09/future-of-libraries/start-ups-take-library-jobs-reinventing-libraries/#_

I think the article is interesting for a couple of reasons; one, it's neat to find additional tools and resources to investigate, and two, we look at these resources and see so much more than a library.  At least, we purport to, right?  None of us ever show off our pages, boards, stories, or postings and say 'look how great this is, it's just like a library!'... interesting.  All of a sudden I find myself wondering what I am missing at the brick and mortar library.

Mixing Modalities?

As I tried to find ways to utilize Flickr for educational purposes, I came across this SlideShare:

http://www.slideshare.net/shaunna/educational-uses-of-flickr

How interesting, using a tool we looked at recently to figure out a tool we are now looking at!

This slideshow helped me quite a bit; I had not thought of a 'virtual field trip' or using flickr for research, but the examples here are really neat!

Analytics

In the 'overlap' theme that Dr. Dennen touched on in her blog last week... I am doing both the Web 2.0 and the Analytics course this summer too!  This week, since I found some challenge in locating education or discipline specific resources in our new technologies, I decided to look for analytics instead!  I found this interesting article linking analytics with online course discussion facilitation and intervention:
http://www.sfu.ca/~afw3/research/e-listening/resources/WiseEtAl-LAK2013-OnlineDiscussionAnalytics.pdf

One of the biggest things that I look to immediately take out of these courses is an ability to better encourage or develop the involvement of my students in online classes.  I love that this article uses analytics to help me see what techniques might do that in the format that I will be using (come fall, I will teach some Bb online only sections, instead of hybrids, yikes!).  We have explored more fancy and technical tools, certainly... but as I figure out which of those I will develop some comfort level with, I like the thought of improving my utilization of the tools already in place!

Learning Spaces

While again exploring Scoop.it!, I came across the following article (scoop? story? sheesh…) under ‘Using Technology to Transform Learning’:

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Education/Tricia-Kellehers-Blog/Digital-learning-transforming-the-relationship-between-the-learner-and-their-learning-spaces-20140610162045.htm 

I found this article very interesting because it strikes me as a way or at least a documentation of changes that we might see in traditional face-to-face classrooms secondary to the addition of technologic support or tools.  Many times we relegate classes to strictly ‘F2F’ or ‘online’, but in fact students are going to be most successful if the learning environment conforms to them whenever possible.  So I think that being an IDer or instructor who can help create a flexible learning environment that can work face-to-face or from a distance could greatly assist my future endeavors.  

Tried and True Resources with New Perspective

As we discussed mashups this week, I thought of the Global Alliance for Rabies Control website that is updated annually for World Rabies Day. It's interesting to me to look back at resources that I have previously utilized and see them in a new light; in this case I am realizing just how flexible and beneficial this site is, in part due to how much of a mashup it is!  This resource provides such a great variety of educational tools for individuals, practices, and instructors that I typically have veterinary technology students and clubs review the information and share their favorite findings with other classes. Below is one of my favorite videos to catch the interest of students; it is disturbing and intriguing but certainly gets them talking about the topic!  Please be warned, it is graphic, depicting the normal progression of rabies in a human patient.








Another very interesting site for rabies education is the CDC's official rabies webpage:



http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html


In addition to offering numerous types of resources (scientific journal articles, national data factsheets, worldwide data, disease incidence, transmission, prevention, etc.), this site keeps an up-to-date prophylaxis recommendation for human immunization and a current list of products available for these protocols:

Storify Usage

As I explored Storify this week, I had a hard time seeing just how it might be supportive in an educational setting.  So I tried looking for examples of its usage or implementation, not strictly in a higher education setting, but in any learning effort.  One resource I located was interesting because it touched upon Storify's ability to help encourage students to critically evaluate the sources they choose to use.  This could be for two reasons; their work will be viewed by others instead of only the instructor, and most students are encouraged to investigate the validity of online resources.
http://www.kyledavidgroup.com/storify-and-higher-education/

The next resource I found very helpful is a blog post from an 'Irish feminist researcher in transatlantic dialogue with the Americas'!  This entry is very helpful because it provides examples of Storify work and exactly what she used it for with regards to educational settings. She also references other tools that we have discussed this semester, including the Storfication of tweets and the differences between Storify and Pinterest.
http://americasstudies.com/index.php/storify-research/

LinkedIn for Education

I was not previously familiar with LinkedIn as an educational tool, but I found some beneficial spots there while we explored it this week!  Perhaps more helpful to my students than to me, but at any rate… I can certainly use it for them.

I pretty easily found the education channel and many resources for college students, and found a really neat article written by the President of Sarah Lawrence College.  It focuses on the College’s identification of six abilities that students should develop in order to become leaders in today’s marketplace.  An assessment platform has also been developed in order for the College and faculty to track student progress as it relates to student achievement of the abilities.  I found this interesting because I teach a class in professional development and ethics, and a number of the critical abilities mentioned would be relevant topics to discuss in that course. 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesleadershipforum/2014/06/05/the-six-critical-abilities-students-need-for-success-after-college/

The Smoothest Swimming Technique In The World? Jono Van Hazel

One of my observation communities has had very interesting things to learn this week!  They tend to share and discuss technical guides to specific training methods and regimens; this week I found great swimming information.  Many times the conversation starts with an article or video from a triathlon magazine or a particular trainer; as more people contribute, other books or resources will be brought in as well. 



A recent discussion started with an article from triathlete magazine about swim cadence:

http://triathlete-europe.competitor.com/2014/06/05/improve-your-swim-cadence#vhJAgi5Gkx0AJUp9.01



Quickly, participants in the discussion brought their own Garmin data, book references, the YouTube video above, training techniques, training equipment reviews, and more!  Below is a graph from one book reference that a community member shared.  Bottom line, I need to go swim... :)  Did you see that guy's head in the video?  It never moves!!  Smoooooth.

Slideshare Exploration...

I tried to locate some appropriate resources or documents on slideshare, but my luck has not been too good as yet.  I have a hard time finding slideshares that are from reputable sources and containing really great information.  It seems difficult to figure out who posted things… I always want to know where things come from! 

I found an interesting overview of the history of veterinary technology, but the information stopped at about 2003, and the photos included in the slideshow were of very poor quality.  So it seemed to have accurate details, just not enough of them, and not a real eye-catching presentation. 

http://www.slideshare.net/windleh/history-of-veterinary-technicians

Then I found a slideshow about salaries in veterinary technology… this one is awful.  Grammar, terminology, and information on the slides are simply incorrect.  And it seems to be just pushing viewers to a website to read about veterinary technician salaries, but since it couldn’t properly describe the veterinary technician… I am a bit suspicious! 

http://www.slideshare.net/VeterinaryTechx/veterinary-tech-salary

But then I found this one… working dogs have long been a special interest of mine, so of course I had to look this one over!  In practice I volunteered with educational programs to help human partners of working K9s learn how to administer first aid and stabilize to their dogs following injury.  Currently, I have students participate in service learning projects where they volunteer with service animals (therapy/ PTSD/ assistance).  In recent years, the veterinary emergency and critical care discipline has learned a plethora of information from veterinarians who work in the various ongoing theatres throughout the Middle East.  The particular areas of trauma and first response in veterinary medicine have grown by leaps and bounds over the past five years.  I dare you to try and make it all the way through without a tear J

http://www.slideshare.net/maditabalnco/afghanistan-dogs-of-war