So, today I was feeling a little down because our Web 2.0 adventure had ended. I was also a little relieved to have a trickle of information to manage versus the fire hose. But, then I was reminded that my adventure will continue.
NPR’s Science Friday discussed bees and their vanishing colonies. The show is about 24 minutes long, and around the 7 minute mark, they discuss different websites that are being used to track bee populations and raise awareness about colony collapse. These are great examples of produsages created in the real world.
One is The Great Sunflower Project where people around the nation are asked to sit by a flower for 30 minutes, record the bees they see and then upload it on the site. Another is a feral bee project where visitors use Google maps to pinpoint feral bee hives - mashup!
I found myself getting more excited than usual. Thanks to this course I had a better understanding of what goes into projects like these, the benefits and the limits. I also know more about the background and history of the Web 2.0 movement from Shirky and Bruns. The fact that these sites are working to protect the "hives" and prevent "collapse" was pretty ironic as well.
Now we have come to the end of our time together. While we will not be learning about Web 2.0 in a structured, formal learning setting, I am confident that we will continue to experience Web 2.0 all around us.
About Me
- Eirin
- I am 34 years old. I live in Tallahassee, Florida, my hometown. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and stay busy working full time while going to graduate school.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Produsage Pride
One of my favorite activities in this class was creating the produsage projects. When I first read the syllabus, I thought that the assignment had to have a typo because I had never heard the word before. I searched on Google to get a fuzzy understanding, but was still unsure at the beginning.
The actual creating of the produsage was challenging and actually fun. I had an idea, a goal in mind and I chose a “tool” or a Web 2.0 technology to accomplish the goal. As I worked, I got stuck a couple of times wanting to do something and not knowing how. It was a great accomplishment when I figured it out through the help sites, playing with options and asking classmates and friends for help.
My second produsage is a social network (I built a social network?!?) on Ning called Step-Up. This came from a committee that we started at my school last school year. We wanted to focus on sustainability and encourage our school community to be more environmentally aware and make sustainable choices. We had great ideas for events and projects, but our time and energy was limited. We didn’t have an easy way to get other people involved and disseminate information.
The goal of this network is to do just that: get people involved and informed. The projects will give ideas for sustainable change and provide a community of support. We are preparing for an Eco Expo in the spring. Students and families will share the results of the various projects and celebrate success.
My next step is to make a plan with the existing committee members on how we can use this network. Will we start with families or will we introduce it in our classrooms? Will we invite key people that will then help market the site? How else will we manage the network to increase participation and effectiveness?
Please check out Step-Up. It will be open until school starts then go private when the students begin using it.
The actual creating of the produsage was challenging and actually fun. I had an idea, a goal in mind and I chose a “tool” or a Web 2.0 technology to accomplish the goal. As I worked, I got stuck a couple of times wanting to do something and not knowing how. It was a great accomplishment when I figured it out through the help sites, playing with options and asking classmates and friends for help.
My second produsage is a social network (I built a social network?!?) on Ning called Step-Up. This came from a committee that we started at my school last school year. We wanted to focus on sustainability and encourage our school community to be more environmentally aware and make sustainable choices. We had great ideas for events and projects, but our time and energy was limited. We didn’t have an easy way to get other people involved and disseminate information.
The goal of this network is to do just that: get people involved and informed. The projects will give ideas for sustainable change and provide a community of support. We are preparing for an Eco Expo in the spring. Students and families will share the results of the various projects and celebrate success.
My next step is to make a plan with the existing committee members on how we can use this network. Will we start with families or will we introduce it in our classrooms? Will we invite key people that will then help market the site? How else will we manage the network to increase participation and effectiveness?
Please check out Step-Up. It will be open until school starts then go private when the students begin using it.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Reflecting on my learning
Before evaluating my learning in this course, I reviewed by course goals which were conveniently posted on my blog (see below). I wanted to learn how to manage the deluge of information, experience Web 2.0 technologies and authentically apply them, learn “jargon” and complete projects that would transfer to other settings.
I think that my greatest challenge still remains being able to quickly parse all the information in the Web 2.0 world. Being able to read and respond to discussion boards, blogs, wikis and produsages as well as seek out other resources was overwhelming. The amount of information available is infinite and I found my time being sucked away with every mouse click.
I have a different attitude about trying something new, especially in technology. I will keep an open mind and look for valid applications. I will explore on my own and feel comfortable asking questions when I need more support.
Integrating Web 2.0 in my personal and professional life is the next step. While I was able to produse successful projects, I have not yet learned enough about the specific Web 2.0 technologies to teach others, but now I know how. Since completing this course I am more aware of the emotions a learner may experience. At times, I was frustrated, overwhelmed and had a lot of doubt about these new fangled technologies. I think this will make me an understanding and supportive instructional designer because I will be able to empathize with my learners.
I am now tuned into Web 2.0 in the headlines and around me. I am not only looking for new resources and new technologies, I am also looking for ways to use the tools I have experienced.
I think that my greatest challenge still remains being able to quickly parse all the information in the Web 2.0 world. Being able to read and respond to discussion boards, blogs, wikis and produsages as well as seek out other resources was overwhelming. The amount of information available is infinite and I found my time being sucked away with every mouse click.
I have a different attitude about trying something new, especially in technology. I will keep an open mind and look for valid applications. I will explore on my own and feel comfortable asking questions when I need more support.
Integrating Web 2.0 in my personal and professional life is the next step. While I was able to produse successful projects, I have not yet learned enough about the specific Web 2.0 technologies to teach others, but now I know how. Since completing this course I am more aware of the emotions a learner may experience. At times, I was frustrated, overwhelmed and had a lot of doubt about these new fangled technologies. I think this will make me an understanding and supportive instructional designer because I will be able to empathize with my learners.
I am now tuned into Web 2.0 in the headlines and around me. I am not only looking for new resources and new technologies, I am also looking for ways to use the tools I have experienced.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
The impact of authorship, copyright and open access
When we first posted our Produsage #1, I had some initial control issues when other users began to change the content. Fortunately I worked through them and was able to appreciate and value the input from others.
It made me realize that there is a certain communal attitude that is necessary when produsing and the need for “credit” or content control has no place in the hetetarchical community of produsing.
For the most part these issues don’t impact my engagement in produsage, because I have less to lose and more to gain. If I had an idea that was profitable, I think I would choose a more effective avenue to share it, or just be ready to “play the game.” Chris Anderson, author of the new book Free, discusses his “game plan” on his blog. He offered online versions of his book for a limited time and despite between 200,000 and 300,000 free downloads, his book is tied for #11 on the NY Times Bestseller list.
This week we also followed the Joel vs. The Music Industry showdown. It proved what everyone already knew: that the music industry wants to make money, not music and definitely not friends. How could Joel paying them thousands of dollars solve the problem of illegal downloading and copyright infringement? This type of file sharing was happening long before the Internet made it so easy and widespread. Didn’t we all make and receive mixed tapes in middle school?
Instead of spending time and money tracking down the offenders, I think it’s a better idea to figure out an efficient way to monitor and enforce copyright. Even better it would be great to develop an entirely different economic system that fairly pays authors, musicians and other creators.
It made me realize that there is a certain communal attitude that is necessary when produsing and the need for “credit” or content control has no place in the hetetarchical community of produsing.
For the most part these issues don’t impact my engagement in produsage, because I have less to lose and more to gain. If I had an idea that was profitable, I think I would choose a more effective avenue to share it, or just be ready to “play the game.” Chris Anderson, author of the new book Free, discusses his “game plan” on his blog. He offered online versions of his book for a limited time and despite between 200,000 and 300,000 free downloads, his book is tied for #11 on the NY Times Bestseller list.
This week we also followed the Joel vs. The Music Industry showdown. It proved what everyone already knew: that the music industry wants to make money, not music and definitely not friends. How could Joel paying them thousands of dollars solve the problem of illegal downloading and copyright infringement? This type of file sharing was happening long before the Internet made it so easy and widespread. Didn’t we all make and receive mixed tapes in middle school?
Instead of spending time and money tracking down the offenders, I think it’s a better idea to figure out an efficient way to monitor and enforce copyright. Even better it would be great to develop an entirely different economic system that fairly pays authors, musicians and other creators.
Do you believe in love at first sight?
When it comes to Web 2.0, I do not believe in love at first sight. I now realize that I need time to explore and I also need some encouragement from my peers.
My initial reactions to Technorati were negative, as were my initial reactions to Twitter and Second Life. As I spend more time talking to classmates and using the technology, I begin to see positive aspects and valid applications. As instructional designers we will be faced with this same initial skepticism. I am happy to be on the journey now so that I can better assist clients as they see and use Web 2.0 technologies for the first time.
So, I will keep an open mind about Technorati. I now see a valid use in searching blogs for new and changing information. Yvonne shared her experience with searching Technorati for information about “user centered design” and listed interesting blogs that discuss this topic. This enhances the “static” information found in articles and journals that are available online.
I want to keep exploring and experiencing different technologies. This will help me be an informed consumer/ produser and eventually I will be able to support others as they look for new technologies to enhance and improve their work.
My initial reactions to Technorati were negative, as were my initial reactions to Twitter and Second Life. As I spend more time talking to classmates and using the technology, I begin to see positive aspects and valid applications. As instructional designers we will be faced with this same initial skepticism. I am happy to be on the journey now so that I can better assist clients as they see and use Web 2.0 technologies for the first time.
So, I will keep an open mind about Technorati. I now see a valid use in searching blogs for new and changing information. Yvonne shared her experience with searching Technorati for information about “user centered design” and listed interesting blogs that discuss this topic. This enhances the “static” information found in articles and journals that are available online.
I want to keep exploring and experiencing different technologies. This will help me be an informed consumer/ produser and eventually I will be able to support others as they look for new technologies to enhance and improve their work.
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