Friday, July 11, 2014

Week 11 - Report & Reflection

Webcasting tools were something that I was not that interested in. With this course, I did not realize that webcasting tools would be something I would encounter. However, in this week the main tool were webcasting tools that we had to explore. In this case it would be my first time encountering webcasting tools. Webcasting tools can be considered as an audio file, video file, documents, or a combination. In my case, I do not think that webcasting tools would be useful in my educational activities. However, in anytime that it is necessary for me to use webcasting tools I would have the knowledge to do so from this course that has taught me some knowledge on webcasting tools. With the creative tools such as Muziboo, SoundCloud, RecordMP3, Garageband, Jong, and Screenr it does contribute some knowledge to me since it as something that I had not discovered much. Furthermore, it would not be something that I would use often because it is not something I am most interested in creating webcasts or podcasts. These creative knowledge expression tools are different from other collaborative/communication tools or the collective knowledge building tools that I have explored because it seems to be more for own hobby or interest. I could add this to my PLE, however, I do not think I would because it would be something that is less useful to me in terms of my work. 

Friday, July 4, 2014

Week 10 - Report & Reflection

Retrieved from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Prezi_logo_transparent_2012.png


















This week's digital tool is about slideshow tools. During exploration, I realized that a lot of the slideshow tools I have yet to encounter or used. The one that is most frequently used and heard of is Prezi. To me, Prezi is a more fancy slideshow tool in comparison to Powerpoint. Prezi seems to be quite popular amongst High School and University students when creating slideshows. Rather than using Powerpoint, Prezi provides more variety and variations of transitions to slides. 
Retrieved from http://www.missaudreysclass.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Animoto-Logo-300x300.png

















In this week, I decided to discover more about Animoto out of all the other tools that were introduced. Animoto is an easy to use and access slideshow tool. Simply choose the images and music and it creates a video. I find that it would be useful in the future whencreating a video. However, with professional presentations in University, I would consider Prezi as my alternative. These creative knowledge expression tools are different from other collaborative/communication tools or the collective knowledge building tools that I have explored as it gives more variation to slideshow tools. When I think of slideshows, it is usually pictures and windows movie maker. However with these tools it creates more interesting and appealing videos when creating these slideshows. Moreover, it allows me to use it in the future when I need to create a video rather than using windows movie maker or Adobe Premiere Pro. Although, the tools this week would be less frequently used by myself, I would still add this to my PLE. The reason for this is because with creating more skills and knowledge, a variation of tools can be used to create a more interesting and appealing presentation. In this case, I would add these slideshow tools to the categories of creating content and organizing content. I would mainly ad this to the category of creating content because it allows me to create various slideshows with what I have simply with music and visuals. To conclude, this week's digital tool was quite appealing as it introduced me to a more slideshow tools rather than just knowing about Prezi.

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Week 9 - Report & Reflection


To start off, VoiceThread and PollDaddy are both new tools that were introduced to me this week. Both tools are useful to me in a way that it is easy to collaborate with each other in various topics. With VoiceThread multiple people can contribute and express their opinions. In this case, this will contribute to my learning based on the different opinions that are expressed. Moreover, with different opinions that are expressed, they are able to contribute to my learning by increasing my knowledge on different opinions. Besides this, different opinions contribute to a different point of view that one has. In this case, sometimes there can be different points of view that one may not think of or be aware of. With VoiceThread it can be contributed to my learning because of the different points of view that one has. Furthermore, there can be some things that can be found interesting by myself after one has expressed their opinion.

Besides opinions, I find that with VoiceThread there can be an option of speaking and recording audio. This is similar to other smartphone apps such as Whatsapp and WeChat. Both of these can record audio which can minimize time of typing and instead record. Besides minimizing time, it can also be useful for recording audio when one hand is occupied. Moreover, with typing there could be a misunderstanding about how one can interpret the message. In this case, with audio expressing and listening to the message minimizes this issue. Furthermore, this can contribute to digital citizen by becoming a responsible citizen such as the way one interprets the message. All in all, VoiceThread is helpful in contributing to my learning, as well as becoming a responsible and respectful digital citizen.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Week 8 - Report & Reflection

This week, the main focus of the tool is called 'wikis'. Wikis were something that I found out in the past school year. Wikis were used in Sakai for editing and saving information within various users. Besides in Sakai, Wikipedia was something that I constantly encountered within various Google searches. Wikipedia is able for access to the world wide web and is able to have the same function as the wiki on Sakai. Wiki is a little different from other tools that we have been introduced to in the past weeks. Tools such as blogs, Google Docs, and Evernote are only able to be edited by specific users. However, with blogs, it is able to access to the world wide web, however, they are not able to edit it. If I were to choose wikis or other tools that have been introduced in the past, I would prefer other tools. Wikis are able to be edited and save information by anyone. Moreover, with blogs, Google Docs, and Evernote, it is only to be edited by various users. All the tools that have been mentioned all are able for access to users. Effective ways to use wikis to support learning include having users to share information and edit such as what Sakai is currently able to do.
Retrieved from http://temp.bsrstars.se/project/mobile-vikings/httpwww-dreamstime-com-image5902146-3/

As the course progresses, I have learnt that there are many things to consider about becoming a digital citizen and the rights and responsibilities of living in a digital society. One of the issues is respect. Cyber bullying has been something that I was taught for many years. As a digital citizen, respect is important because the other person cannot physically see the person. Besides respect, privacy is also another issue that a lot of people consider. As more social media are present, privacy issues are more concerning to the users. As well, with Facebook becoming a popular social media network for all ages, privacy concerns are also an issue to new users. Lastly, communication is also another issue to consider about becoming a digital citizen and the rights and responsibilities of living in a digital society. The way one reads a certain phrase in comparison to the person that typed it may be different. As well, since this is to the world wide web, many people are able to access it. In this case, ensuring that the phrase is not misleading is necessary.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Week 7 - Report & Reflection

Retrieved from http://www.lc.unja.ac.id/index.php?lang=id

During the collaborative experience in using Google Docs I have found out that there are pros and cons to using it. During the school year I have had multiple group projects in each course and I found out that it is hard to find a time where everyone can get together. Reasons for this can include different time tables and having a job. However, with Google Docs I am able to share the presentations with the group members without having to physically meeting with the group members. As well, with everyone living in different areas it is hard to physically meet in person. Furthermore, like other technology there could be failures involved such as deleting the presentation. With classroom learning, this could be adapted to lesson planning. Google Docs can be used to prepare presentations for the classroom activity. Besides this, learning how to collaborate as a group can be a skill that can be taught in classroom learning. This can be used to provide more efficiency in group presentations.
Retrieved from http://www.edudemic.com/50-little-known-ways-google-docs-can-help-in-education/

With this collaborative tool, I can add it to all sections of my PLE. First of all, it can be added to communicating in the collaborating and socializing section. Secondly, it can be added into the practicing digital responsibility and literacy such as communicating respectfully, content management, and using technology properly. Besides the two discussed, it can also be included in synthesizing and creating. With synthesizing and creating, it can be used to create various documents that are supported by the Google Docs. Lastly, it can be included into the organizing content category. Having all the content that is necessary for the collaborative assignment keeps the group members informed and organized about the assignment. Therefore, this collaborative tool can be categorized into all sections of my PLE.

I do not think I will remove the tools that were previously explored in my PLE. This is because I feel having the knowledge for various tools allows more variety and more skill developments. The experience of working collaboratively in an online course is different from other collaborative assignments I have done. This is quite a new experience for me because I am using various tools from the beginning to the end of the assignment. However, after this has been completed I would have gained a new skill of knowing various ways to collaborate with various members virtually. As I am learning about becoming a responsible digital citizen and gaining digital literacy, I am learning that there are many new discoveries and learning is endless.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Week 6 - Report & Reflection

Before this week started I have already used Evernote before. Evernote was an easy app for me to use because it syncs from my tablet and computer. When typing notes up during lecture I use my tablet, then when I get home I can access it easily. Evernote is a useful tool not only during lectures, but also when taking notes anywhere it can be easily access. It can be downloaded through play store with android devices or on the apple app store. Besides taking notes with Evernote there are more that the app is helpful and useful to users. This being said, Evernote is used for keeping all notes in one place, save anything that is seen to attract the user with photo or audio, save a webpage, collect research and information into one single area, share notes with others, and keep any other information into one area. As this states, Evernote is used for various reasons and is user friendly.
Retrieved from http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2012/11/ask-lh-what-makes-evernote-so-popular/

Being a student, Evernote is quite handy in various ways and is useful in my education activities. For example, when doing group projects rather than using other sites, Evernote can be used to share information with each other. As well, when researching and collecting data having everything in a single place allows more efficiency and organization. For example, instead of flipping through tab after tab on my web browser, one area such as Evernote allows me to see everything. Having valid and reliable online bookmarks contributes efficiency to my work and building knowlege. In the past posts I have stated that absorbing the correct information in my mind helps with leading to a correct way to papers and research. Besides this, having valid and reliable online bookmarks help with future researches. With research, having one or two different articles stating the same information is usually correct, however finding another or two more articles can be difficult. Therefore, bookmarking valid and reliable online bookmarks reduces the time necessary to find backup information.

In my PLE that I have set up in week 2 I would add Evernote to one of the many categories as it can help with my future assignments and own interests. I think that Evernote is similar to twitter that was discussed in the previous week because it fits in the same categories. First of all, it can be added to communicating in the social media content section. Secondly, it can be added into the practicing digital responsibility and literacy such as communicating respectfully, content management, and using technology properly. Besides the two discussed, it can also be included in synthesizing and creating. Lastly, it can be included into the organizing content category. Thus, Evernote could be included in all categories of my PLE that I have created in week 2.

As week six marks the halfway mark of this course. I have learnt that becoming a digital citizen and gaining digital literacy we are more involved in digital literacy than we thought. For example, I did not know that Evernote would be one of the many tools that we would explore. As well, being a digital citizen, knowing and being aware of what is out in the digital and world wide web helps enhance efficiency and productivity in completing a task.


Friday, May 30, 2014

Week 5 - Report & Reflection

My Feedly Reader is able to connect to my learning with one or more items. On a daily basis, I try to check my Feedly Reader for updated news and blogs that I am interested in. Besides this, in this course I had followed a few other classmates blog. With reading with they had on the blog, I have gathered another point of view from the same questions that I have answered in that certain week. Furthermore, I am also able to learn more from what the blog writes. This also helps me gain a better understanding of the blogger. In the future, the Feedly Reader will continue to connect to one more items to my learning in scholarly articles or other articles that I have to read in order to complete my assignments.

In week five, the main focus was on Twitter within the social media network. Personally, I have used twitter for a few years now. I mostly use twitter to tweet random tweets and follow people on twitter. Currently, my tweets are a bit over four thousand five hundred tweets. I am overwhelmed by the amount of tweets I have tweeted. However, this is the amount that I have in total as of right now. Twitter is not something new to me, but I have recently started to link various social media networks to my twitter account. With this said, posts from instagram, wordpress, or tumblr is linked to my twitter. Moreover, with twitter, it is useful to my educational activities because it allows instant notifications from people I follow.

Twitter can be simply added to my PLE through various categories. First of all, it can be added to communicating in the social media content section. Secondly, it can be added into the practicing digital responsibility and literacy such as communicating respectfully, content management, and using technology properly. Besides the two discussed, it can also be included in synthesizing and creating. This can be implemented by the tweets that are created by users. Therefore, I will add Twitter into my PLE diagram that I have started in week 2.

Week five is nearly halfway through the course. With this course I have learnt that becoming a digital citizen has a lot to learn than just its appearance. For example, pinterest was one that I have started the account but did not really discover much about it. With this course, I learnt more about pinterest. Besides this, in this course I have learnt that there can be various tools that can be used to implemented in one's learning. An example of this is the Feedly Reader. Feedly Reader was first introduced to me in this course and I have learnt that it is useful in multiple ways. All in all, the world wide web is constantly changing and there are lots more to learn about being a digital citizen and gaining digital literacy.

Retrieved from http://betabeat.com/2014/05/silicon-valley-fact-check-how-pied-pipers-logo-measures-up/

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Week 4 - Report & Reflection

This week's discovery activity is about curation tools. Curation tools may be used to organize and create various digital activities to enhance efficiency. In this session, there were multiple curation tools that were introduced to me, however, there are many others that are in the world wide web. In this session I have discovered the curation tool called Scoop.it. This tool helps with creating an online magazine on a topic, then it goes to various social media networks. This is convenient to various people that like to keep up to date with various social media platforms. Examples of these include Youtube artists that post everything to all their social media platforms to keep their subscribers updated.
Retrieved from http://www.curata.com/blog/content-curation-tools-the-ultimate-list/
When discovering about the bookmarking tools and the use of tagging it helps keep everything organized and in one place. This is also one of the categories of my PLE which is to organize content. In using these skills that I have developed in this week's session I am able to organize my content. This will also become useful to my educational activities as I implement these skills into various areas. Besides education activities it also helps with my work activities. In general, being organized is helpful to me in enhancing efficiency in various tasks.
Valid and reliable online bookmarks contribute to my work and building knowledge. When reading and gathering information for assignments, valid and reliable resources are necessary. Therefore, in order to ensure that it is reliable and correct multiple resources need to be read and evaluate its credibility. Having false resources in my work may result to the whole work leading to a wrong path. This being said, one false resource may result to multiple false points in my work.
In this course I learnt multiple skills and techniques about becoming a digital citizen and gaining digital literacy. For example, a tool that was introduced to me in the last session was the RSS feed reader. It compiles all reading resources into one area and not having to type each url and read through each one. This allows more efficiency when doing reading for assignments or interests. With the Google Feed Reader, I am able to connect it to my learning not only to this course, but also to future courses. Overall, I think that the RSS feed reader and the curation tools help enhance productivity with organizing content into one area.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Week 3 - Report & Reflection

In this session, the main focus was RSS feed readers. The item of interest on my feed reader is The Danger of all-Nighters. Without a doubt, I have pulled multiple all-nighters even with knowing the consequences. Procrastination is one thing that creates pulling an all-nighters. Besides procrastination, time management is another reason. Moreover, caffeine is paired with all-nighters for me. With this said, numerous cups of caffeine is consumed with all-nighters. With this post, it states the symptoms of all-nighters and suggestions. Personally, in order to minimize my all-nighters each year, I can take action of some of the suggestions that the blog post has recommended. With RSS feed readers it contributes to my work in building knowledge about digital literacy, responsibility, and citizenship by having everything in one area. This saves time instead of going through each website. With RSS feed readers it can be adapted in future assignments and presentations when gathering information. Besides education, it can be used as an area where I can read about all the posts that I am most interested in. The RSS feed reader is a multi-usage tool. It can be categorized in my PLE diagram in all four my categories. These categories are organizing content, practicing digital literacy and responsibility, synthesizing and creating, and collaborating and socializing.

Hui, R (CC) 2014.

My Experience with RSS Feeds

First of all, this is my first time encountering RSS feed. Before session three, I have not encountered or touched RSS feed before. Therefore, this is an interesting session for me to learn about in the digital context. Before this, I usually tracked my interests from various social media networks. This includes instagram, facebook, twitter, pinterest, and blog posts. However, RSS feed made it less complex by compiling various types into one area rather than going to different social media websites.
For this post, the permalink is titled 'A Trip And a Half'. This post took place in Dover Street Market London. I chose this post amongst the other posts because I found the visuals in this blog post unique. As well, the designs were unique. Personally, it had a modern but unique twist to the overall designs and setting of the atmosphere. The first image I saw with the knitted column was what made me want to scroll down to look at more pictures of the area.
Overall, RSS feed would be something that is helpful to me in future projects and assignments and could be a part of my PLE.

 Retrieved from http://textbookstop.wordpress.com/2011/05/23/how-rss-feeds-work/.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Week 2 - Report & Reflection

A personal learning environment has its importance as a learner. The abbreviation that is used for personal learning environment is PLE. Dr. Alan Cann has dedicated a post about PLE. He defined a PLE as a system that helps learners take control of and manage their own learning (Cann, 2010). Besides this the PLE is considered as a support for learners to set their own learning goals, manage their learning, manage both content and process, and communicate with others in the process of learning (Cann, 2010). In other words it gives one about how one learns. Below is a image of my PLE that I have created. 
Hui, R (CC) 2014.
In five to ten years time into my future, I envision myself working in the tourism industry. Possibly working in Hong Kong or Asia in an airline industry or becoming a tour guide. Currently, I am also working as a travel agent at a travel agency in Toronto. In order to get to my envision in five to ten years I would need to increase my knowledge and skills. I have recently started my job at the tourism industry therefore I would have a lot to learn. First of all, in order to be certified to be working in an Ontario registered tourism agency, the staff must have a TICO certification. Pursuing this further, gaining a TICO certification is necessary. Besides this, gaining more knowledge about how to handle various situations with customer interactions is something that is necessary. At the moment, I think that my learning environment is acceptable. Everyone respects one another and helps each other when necessary. Besides this, we help each other with new and updated information and other things that is needed to update one another. Habits can be good and bad. However, at the moment I think one of my bad habit is that I can misread things when I start to panic. Furthermore, to reduce this bad habit, I should double check things and not to panic. 

Using the word cloud tool, I realized that certain words that were emphasized were used a lot in the post. Below is an illustration of the word cloud tool that I have created using the previous post that I have posted on the blog. Besides this, I realized that this tool is a different variation to illustrate words. Thus, this resource can be used for future references; such as the final assignment at the end of this course. 
Hui, R. (CC) 2014.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Week 1 - Report & Reflection

Reflection

Retrieved from http://muzicmunchies.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/digital_footprint-ukn5g3.jpg

To start off, one may ask what is a digital footprint. A digital footprint can be defined as how one expresses or represents themselves online. With technology advancing so quickly in the present, more companies and institutions move towards becoming more advanced in technology. For example, more employers seek potential and current employees' digital presence (Ainslie, 2009). Similiarily like first impressions, the digital footprints should also give a positive image to the reader. There are multiple ways to maintain a positive digital footprint. In the textbook it outlined the nine elements of which relates to norms and responsible behaviour with technology use (Ribble, 2011). These nine elements are: digital access, digital commerce, digital communication, digital literacy, digital etiquette, digital law, digital rights and responsibility, digital health and wellness, and digital security (self-protection) (Ribble, 2011). These nine elements will help maintain a positive image to the reader, as well as representing one as a digital citizen. The relationship between netiquette and a positive digital footprint is relevant. With this said, the netiquette provides a positive impression of oneself to the reader. Bad impressions of netiquette to a reader can be using curses within a sentence. Bad netiquette can occur because they are unable to say thing in person. An example of this can be cyber bullying. Due to the fact that people can hurt others feelings virtually rather than in person gives them more courage to say more things. Furthermore, this is also considered as a form of disrespectful to the other person. There are ten rules to consider when being on the net. These are illustrated as 'The Core Rules of Netiquette'. These ten rules should be used as a guide to provided a positive netiquette. As technology progresses the knowledge that a digital citizen knows may need to be advanced as well. In other words, as knowledge of a digital citizen increases, their digital footprints should be the same as well in order to be a responsible digital citizen. Personally, I have learnt that digital learning is something that advances quickly. The skills and knowledge goes at a fast pace and there is a lot to learn from in becoming a digital citizen. Knowing this, learning everything about technology may not be possible for most of digital citizens, however, knowing the basis is a start in being a digital citizen. 

Report
After completing the Digital Driver's License exam in the textbook, I achieved eighteen out of twenty correct. This being said, the areas of my digital citizenship that will become my focus over the next few weeks is digital access (full electronic participation in society) and digital commerce (the buying and selling of goods online). Both of these topics, I have got one incorrect answer out of two. Therefore, this would be my main focus for the next few weeks. However, the other topics will also be a focus for me to gain more knowledge in these areas. digital footprints are a good way to express oneself. As well, the ten netiquette techniques that were previously stated can provide a positive image to the reader. I have a linkedin account and having positive netiquette provides the reader to understand more about me and maintain a good impression. In conclusion, the digital driver's license that has various categories of the digital footprint, digital citizenship and positive netiquette are all related. 

Ainslie, D. J. (2009). Yes, you should have a digital footprint. . . and keep track of it
Digital Citizenship in Schools, 2nd Edition By Mike Ribble 2011 ISBN 9781564843012 Publisher: International Society for Technology in Education.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Introduction

My name is Ranee. I have lived in Jamaica for approximately eight years. My family moved here in Canada from the Jamaica approximately nine years ago. During my transition between Jamaica to Canada, people were usually shocked by my background. Moreover I always wanted to travel to different countries and experience their cultures. I will be in my final year in September studying in Tourism and Environment at Brock University. One of my biggest dreams is to be able to go backpacking to various countries.

 The present generation is very dependent to the information that is being provided by various media. These forms of media may include social media, blog pages, and online classes being provided in various institutions. Besides these forms of media, news media has also gained a huge popularity in the amount of visits it has daily. Various news media provides the most recent news, weather, and traffic updates. Besides these, technology such as smart phones and tablets have also been a part of consumers life. It is able to do almost anything, any time of the day. Personally, I use it to communicate with my family in Hong Kong and Jamaica, schedule reminders and write down notes, check e-mails and social media such as Facebook. Besides this, I use it for basic needs as well. In comparison to the past, the present generation is able to be more advanced without necessarily having physical interactions. As part of the present generation, I also use various media to gain knowledge, convenience, and contact people. Social networks have been helpful to me by keeping in contact with friends and families in various countries of the world. I am able to catch up with friends and family through social networking sites such as Facebook and Skype.

Courses such as ADED 1P32 is a course for me to gain knowledge in social media networks. I took this course especially because I wanted to understand and become familiar with various social media sites. This being said, although I have encountered or signed up for a social media site, I rarely use it. For example, pinterest was a site that I had an account for but rarely used. In this course, my first task was to create a pinboard. This allowed me to understand more about the course. Since my fields of study are focused in travel and tourism, I would like to explore how various new media influence the decisions to travel and how it has helped them be satisfied with their vacations.

In this blog, it will consist of various informations being posted. The contents that is being taught in ADED 1P32 will also be posted on a weekly basis. This would also include a reflection activity provided by ADED 1P32. All in all, gaining interaction within the social media networks is one of my main objective in enrolling into ADED 1P32.