Week 12 - Last Reflection

Hi Everyone,

Time has flown by this semester and it marks the last week of ADED 1P32.  With that being said, this will be my last blog post related to this course.  In this final post, I will talk about my digital footprint, what I have learned, and being a better digital citizen.

Before starting this course, my digital footprint consisted of my LinkedIn page.  My name on Google is associated with a basketball player that has turned into a journalist.  After Googling my name again after this course, I get the same results.  Despite being active and posting in the digital world during the time of this course, I get the same results because the basketball journalist is so popular.  Until I make a name for myself, it will continue to be that way.  Despite not finding a large digital footprint after this course, at least I know everything is positive.

This course has focused on digital citizenship, something that I wasn't really familiar with.  I have always tried to learn from the digital world but stayed away from posting.  The most important takeaway from this course for me is netiquette.  Again, I can't stress enough how things you post directly represents you.  I will continue to  be respectful online and promote others to give positive feedback.  Before the course, I stayed away from posting online because it would become a part of my footprint.  However, there can be many things in your digital footprint that you are unaware of which is why it's important to make intellectual posts and make it positive.

This course has also taught me new tools that I can use to communicate and collaborate with others.  Most of the tools that we learned about I had never even heard of.  Now, I know there is so much available to me online and at my disposal.  Take a look at my PLE after the course below compared to my Week 2 Post!

Overall, I feel like I have learned a lot about the digital world and have a better understanding of tools such as blogs.  I never saw the benefit but now I hope to continue posting in the future!

Thanks for a great course!

-Mark

Week 11 - Webcasting

Hi Everyone,

This week we looked at Webcasting tools.  Webcasting is used to describe the process of sharing your own voice in an audio file shared in a Podcast, Screenshot, or on Youtube.  The tool that I explored most was Podcasts because of the popularity of them in sports.  I like Podcasts because they provide knowledge with individual opinions and a more personal experience.

Retrieved from Google Images

This was the first time that I experimented with creating a Podcast despite having to listened to many over the past few years.  Please check out my first short Podcast on Copyrights in Music: Mark Titus- Music Copyrights.

            

In addition to exploring Podcasts, I tried using creative tools such as Muziboo, Soundcloud, RecordMP3, and Garageband.  The most important aspect of using creative tools is copyrights.  These tools can be used to upload files such as music and share with the digital world.  I tried to explore tools such as Muziboo and RecordMP3, however they have been shutdown due to several lawsuits for copyrights.  Take a look at the explanation and how Muziboo blamed the music industry: Muziboo Blames Music Industry.

Garageband is a great tool for creating Podcasts that convert to MP3 files that can be shared.  I found Garageband very easy to use and it is a great way to share your knowledge through a Podcast.  I have always been more interested in listening to Podcasts but creating might be something I think about moving forward.

As for my PLE, I would include all of these tools including Podcasts, Garageband, and Soundcloud in my Creating category.  All of these tools allow you to create content for learning.  I could also see Podcasts and Soundcloud being included in my Socializing category because people are allowed to comment on your content and that involves interaction.

In my Feedly this week, I found an article involving the Sweet Sixteen matchup of Gonzaga vs. UCLA in NCAA March Madness.  The best part of this article is Kevin Pangos referred to as"Baby Steve Nash" of Gonzaga.  I grew up with Kevin and he lives just down the street from me.  It's a big matchup for them tonight and I'll be watching in our small town of Holland Landing.  Check out the article: "Baby Steve Nash and Gonzaga vs UCLA".

Retrieved from ESPN

Thanks for reading!

-Mark

Week 10 - Slideshow Tools and Copyrights

Hey Everyone,

We learned about a few new things this week including Animoto and other slideshow tools.  These tools allow use to share our knowledge in a creative way.  Before this week, I was only aware of PowerPoint and Prezi as Slideshow tolls and had no idea that there were so many others available.  I still have my favourites like PowerPoint and Prezi but I have a better understanding of whats available in the digital world.

Retrieved from: www.thephotographeracademy.com

In addition this week, we learned about copyrights.  Copyrights are the exclusive legal rights given an originator or assignee to print, perform, publish, film, or record literary material or music and to authorize others to do the same.  The readings that stood out to me this week involved remixing.  Remixing is the process of extending someone else's work.  For example, all artists are remixers because something inspired them to create something new.  The Ted Talk comparing Bob Dylans music to others really got me thinking about copyrights because his songs are so similar to others.  Coming from a music background and family, I notice songs that are similar to others when they are released.  Music copyrights are very complicated and only recently have been challenged including Robin Thicke having to pay the Marvin Gaye family for stealing the same melody.  Check out this research: Similar Songs and Possible Copyright Issues.

Copyrights are also an interesting topic in schools.  The number of teachers and professors that don't source material is astonishing.  If they don't do it, how is that leading by example for students?

As for my presentation that I created on Copyrights this week, I used a tool called Animoto. Animoto is a cloud-based video creation service that produces video from photos, video clips, and music.  I enjoyed using Animoto for the first time because it is a unique way to create a slideshow and brings photos to life. It reminds me of Prezi when I explored it a few weeks earlier. This would be a great tool for presentations at school in a relaxed environment.  For more formal presentations, I would consider using another tool like PowerPoint.  The one issue I had with Animoto was inserting the images into the slideshow.  It only takes certain dimensions and photos come in all shapes and sizes.  It limited what photos I could use because it would crop part of the image.

As for my Feedly this week, I had the opportunity to see my own article!  I covered an article for the Professional Hockey Players' Association on the career of David Leggio.  Remember that goalie that pushed the net off intentionally on a 2-on-none breakaway?  Check out my article: The Underdog Story of David Leggio.

Thanks for reading!

-Mark

Week 9 - Exploring VoiceThread

Hey Everyone,

This week, we were tasked with exploring VoiceThread which allowed us to connect with other students to discuss digital rights and responsibilities.  VoiceThread was new to me and I throughouly enjoyed using it.  It's a great tool for generating discussion on topics or even something as simple as a photo.  VoiceThread adds a personal touch by allowing you to record your voice and it's a nice change from reading text.  I shared this thought with the Twitter world and got a retweet from VoiceThread!

If you haven't had a chance to check out VoiceThread, I reccomend it.  Personally, I gain the most knowledge when interacting and starting a debate.  It allows individuals to learn from one another.  VoiceThread would be a tool that I could use for learning from the opinions and evidence that others provide.  In lectures, I remember knowledge easier from when the professor talks about it rather than the slides.


Before the start of this course, I didn't have a grasp for digital rights or responsibilities.  However, I realized that they have always been around.  For example, we looked at Acceptable Use Policies or AUP's which are an agreement for acceptable behaviour on the web.  These are important for learning in schools because it limits the dangers for children including inappropriate websites or explicit images.  I remember being in elementary school and hating when game sites were blocked but it made me more productive.  At the time, I thought teachers were just being mean but I know they were being a good digital citizen.

Speaking of schools, don't forget to get involved in my blog discussion involving cameras in classrooms.  Take a look: Scenario 13: Cameras in Classrooms.

As for my Feedly this week, let's celebrate St. Patricks day and look at how the Kalamazoo Wings celebrated by playing on green ice.  It has been a tradition for the team since 1982!

Check out the video of the team making it green: Green Ice for St Patty's Day.

Hope you enjoyed my thoughts this week!

-Mark

Week 9 - Technology Use Scenario 13

Hey Everyone,

I'm using this post to generate a dicussion regarding one of the scenarios in the textbook Digital Citizenship in Schools by Mike Ribble (2011).  A major issue in schools has always been the safety of students and teachers.  This situation is interesting because it takes safety to a new level.

Scenario 13

Dr. Brown, principal at Bluebird Elementary School, is concerned with safety in his school, both for his staff and for students. During the summer, Dr. Brown had cameras installed in each of the classrooms. The video from each of these cameras is viewable on the Internet, so that parents can check on their students’ classes during the day. Some parents are concerned that because these cameras are connected to the Internet, other people could also use them to “spy” on their children.

For this scenario, let's assume that the school board would allow Dr. Brown to install the cameras in the classroom.  This takes safety to a whole new level in schools.  I don't understand why the principle would install cameras in the classrooms from a parents and teachers perspective.  Parents have a legitimate concern with the video on the internet and it seems like a "Big Brother" situation.  It seems creepy to have a live stream of video in a classroom.  As a teacher, your responsible for controlling the class and there should be trust between the principle and teachers for them to do their job.  If your concerned about the safety in the school, put the cameras in the hallways and if necessary hire security.

I think Dr. Brown's actions are inappropriate, but what are your thoughts?

-Mark

Week 8 - Exploring Wikis

Hello Everyone,

This week we got to look at Wikis which are another Web 2.0 technology like blogs.  A Wiki is a website that anyone can edit easily using a web browser.  When I think of a wiki, I think of Wikipedia which is a collaborative web-based encyclopedia compiled, edited, and updated by millions of people.

The most interesting part about learning about Wikis this week was the discussion of them in education.  Growing up, we were told never to use Wikipedia for definitions because they were unreliable.  I remember fooling around with some pages on Wikipedia when I was younger so hopefully I can be forgiven for that!  However, Wikis are a great tool for teachers and students that can help build knowledge.  Since Wikis are public, it is an incentive for the individual to do things the right way.  I've never seen the value of using Wikis but after this week, I can see that they are more useful than a blog.  Blogs are used to express opinions and comments allow for responses but Wikis have a more open structure and allow individuals to add to what has been written or change it.  Wikipedia has had a major impact on learning.  It is always looked at as an easy way for students to plagiarize but students used to copy from books before.  Wikis allow for speed and convenience.

Wikis have the ability to support learning by enabling and promoting group collaboration.  For example a student makes a page that has the information that he/she knows.  A classmate can then go to the page and add to the page with more information and add more detail.  Through the video Wikis in Plain English, it describes a way that Wikis could be used when planning a camping trip.  I could see myself using this tool for planning an event and collaborating with other people.  It simplifies the way and allows people to add to a document instead of sending numberous emails without keeping track of what needs to be done.

In addition, this week we looked at mind-mapping tools to show the important things that create digital rights and responsibilities.  As a digital user, it is important to understand the rights and responsibilities that are at play.  The ones that I think are most important are respect, properly citing sources, and reporting cyberbullying.  There are a few other aspects as seen in the mind map that I created.



As for my Feedly this week, I'm continuing with the interesting promotions by minor professional hockey teams.  The Southern Professional Hockey League's Columbus Cottonmouths held a social media night to try to engage fans and sell more tickets.  What made it so unique? The team wore selfie jerseys that had pictures of fans on them.  They took the pictures that fans submitted with the #snakeselfie from Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and put them on the jerseys.  Take a look for yourself!

I think that this is really creative and uses the technology that every fan uses daily allows for more interaction between the team and fans.  For more pictures and the article: Columbus Cottonmouths Selfie Jersey Promotion.

Hope you enjoyed my thoughts on this weeks material!

-Mark

Week 7 - Google Docs

Hi Everyone,

This week we explored the useful tool of Google Docs.  Like most of the tools that we have learned about this semester, it is new to me once again.  After playing around with creating a document and presentaton, it is basically the same as Microsoft Word and Powerpoint.  It is very easy to use because of previous experience with other similar applications.  In the past, I have always sent documents as attachments but Google Docs has changed my way of thinking after watching the Google Docs in Plain English Video that can be found below.

I never saw email attachments as an unorganized way to send documents.  For work, instead of sending a document and waiting until the person edits it and sends it back, they can just edit it and the changes are made for all to see.  Time is wasted managing attachments and edited versions can get lost.  From previous experience, I know that I have sent the wrong edited attachment and had to go back and fix my mistake.  Since there's only one document through Google Docs, there is no confusion about which is the lastest version.  Google Docs would be perfect for sharing documents for school or work.

As for my PLE, Google Docs would be in two categories including Creating and Organizing.  I will be able to create the documents and stay organized by never losing the most updated version.

In addition, this week for our Google Docs presentation we had to use TodaysMeet.  It was a great tool to use to communicate with my partner and split work up for what needed to be done for the presentation.  It's basically a chatroom that allows you to send messages to each other.  It only allows for 140 characters which I found at times to be too short to convey the message that I wanted.

Lastly, an interesting article was in my Feedly about the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.  This years draft includes Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel.  Both players have the ability to change the future of a franchise.  As the standings sit now, the Buffalo Sabres have 20% odds of receiving the first overall pick followed by Edmonton at 13.5%.  But what would be the best for hockey?  This article examines the Most Intriguing Landing Spots for McDavid and Eichel.  As a Toronto Maple Leafs fan it would be nice to see McDavid land in Toronto and help fix the Leafs playoff woes.  But how about if Eichel was then drafted by Buffalo?  It would be a Canadian (McDavid) with a Canadian team Vs. an American (Eichel) with an American team.  It could translate to Canada Vs. America in the eyes of fans rather than just Mcdavid Vs. Eichel.


Thanks for reading!

Mark