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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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