Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Assessment 2 Sustaining an online community

TokBox TokBox is the simplest way for you to video chat with your friends, family and colleagues
“Here at TokBox we're all great believers in the power of face-to-face communication. That's why we created TokBox, the simplest way to video chat with one person or twenty.”
http://www.tokbox.com/view/about
Topic: What are the issues involved with using social networks for professional development in the workplace?
 language used, must maintain professional standards
 Quality and availability of equipment and internet connection
 Video conferencing- bad hair day
 Gives away location of user
 Slow in uploading video messages
Topic: How do Web 2.0 tools (blogs, wikis, podcasts and video lectures) complement such social networks?
 Lots of tools available
 Slow usage rates
Topic: How is a work-related social network developed and sustained?
 Hard to maintain with poor internet connections or with people with inferior equipment or none at all, relying on text messages!

Assessment 2 Sustaining an online community

Key words
Social network-
Any website designed to allow multiple users to publish content themselves. The information may be on any subject and may be for consumption by (potential) friends, mates, employers, employees, etc. The sites typically allow users to create a "profile" describing themselves and to exchange public or private messages and list other users or groups they are connected to in some way. There may be editorial content or the site may be entirely user-driven. Content may include text, images (e.g. (http://flickr.com/)), video (e.g. (http://youtube.com/)) or any other media.
Social networks on the web are a natural extension of mailing lists and bulletin boards. They are related to wikis like (http://wikipedia.org/) but typically do not allow users to modify content once it has been submitted, though usually you can publish comments on others' submissions.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/social+network

Professional development-
Main Entry: professional development
Part of Speech: n
Definition: the advancement of skills or expertise to succeed in a particular profession, esp. through continued education
Example: They got a day off when the teachers had a professional development day.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/professional+development
Web 2.0-
Main Entry: web 2.0
Part of Speech: n
Definition: the second generation of the World Wide Web in which content is user-generated and dynamic, and software is offered that mimics desktop programs
Example: Web 2.0 encourages collaboration and communication between users.
Etymology: 2004
Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Web+2.0

blog
n. A weblog.
intr.v. blogged, blog•ging, blogs
To write entries in, add material to, or maintain a weblog.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Blog

Micro-blog-
Main Entry: microblogging
Part of Speech: n
Definition: short posts to a personal blog, esp. about happenings of the moment
Example: Microblogging is often done from one's cell phone or instant messenger service.
Etymology: 2002
Usage: also microblog, n., v.; microblogger, n.

Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon
Copyright © 2003-2009 Dictionary.com, LLC
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/microblogging

Wiki-

n. pl. wi•kis
A collaborative website whose content can be edited by anyone who has access to it.

[Originally an abbreviation of WikiWikiWeb, software developed by American computer programmer Howard G. Cunningham (born 1949) : Hawaiian wikiwiki, quick + web.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wiki

Mash-up
mash-up
n. An audio recording that is a composite of samples from other recordings, usually from different musical styles.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mash+up

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Assessment 2 Sustaining an online community

Twitter -Share and discover what’s happening right now, anywhere in the world.

http://twitter.com/#search?q=billywilljam

billywilljam: @my_new_startup @jan1985a @vickis2426 What issues involved with using social networks for professional development in workplace? #violetpod

billywilljam: @my_new_startup @jan1985a @vickis2426 Issue for social networks for PD at work, can't access site as it is blocked #violetpod

billywilljam: @vickis2426 How do Web 2.0 tools (blogs, wikis, podcasts and video lectures) complement such social networks?#violetpod

billywilljam: @my_new_startup @jan1985a@vickis2426 the correct tool allows for the required message to be delivered without running out of spac #violetpod

billywilljam: @my_new_startup @jan1985a @vickis2426 How is a work-related social network developed and sustained? #violetpod

billywilljam: @my_new_startup @jan1985a @vickis2426 develop Common goal/need identified, sustain current&relevant topics, positive interactions #violetpod

Assessment 2 Sustaining an online community

Facebook helps you connect and share with the people in your life.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/My-New-Startup/148998134101

Topic: What are the issues involved with using social networks for professional development in the workplace?
'Social networking sites are currently blocked on my workplace's network to increase productivity and reduce distractions'

To ensure content control (a bit like Big Brother) the Dept at my workplace is developing its own social networking site and software to support the sharing of resources. This way the professional development content can be maintained and controlled by policy...

Other issues may involve:
* the level of use of the technology, it could be a drama for people to use the social network if they don't have much experience
*'Netiquette' people SHOUTING, they dont realise the impact of using capitals!
*staying on task.......

Topic: How do Web 2.0 tools (blogs, wikis, podcasts and video lectures) complement such social networks?

Wed 2.0 tools complement social networks as they allow for expression using different types of media. Some people are visual learners, others audio, others need to actually 'do' the activity and some are a mix. The tools available allow the user to get their message across in a format that suits them. They might find that they can reach a bigger audience by using a different tool. These options in tool use give the user multiple ways of finding understanding of content. Instead of reading instructions they can watch an instructional demonstration!!! Sounds good to me!

Topic: How is a work-related social network developed and sustained?

As a person with a short attention span I see the development of a work-related social network and its sustainability depends greatly on the level of activity and content offered. As we have been shown by this subject there is so much information available that if something does not take our interest then we can quickly replace it with something else.

For a 'work-related' 'social' network to be successful:
* the goal of the network needs to be relevant, defined and of upmost importance
*it has to offer something that the 'workers' are not getting from their actual place of work!
*ownership is also important for people to continue to utilise and develop the network.
* the users have got to want to use the network.

Topic 10 Exercise 1

Exercise 1 Social networks case study

1. Who is following who?
a. D is following S, V & B
b. S is following D
c. V is following no-one
d. B is following D, V & S

2. Mapping POD as a matrix of connections
* D S V B
D 0 1 1 1
S 1 0 0 0
V 0 0 0 0
B 1 1 1 0

In the assignment the class was given the option to use another set of data that could be used. It is as follows:

1 follows 3 and 4
2 follows 1, 2 and 3
3 follows no-one
4 follows 2 only

The supplied data does differ to the data found in plotting the “following” of users of another social network (my POD group). In the Violet POD two participants were following everyone in the group. One was only following D and at the time V was not participating. This result is different to that of the data supplied. A point to note that in the supplied data is that not one person is following everyone in the group, compared to the POD group with two of its members following the work of all of its members.

I am of the option that the trend of followers does change. What prompts these changes could include a range of issues such as relevance, content, creativity, language used and adaptability of information. I see these issues as the guidelines for success of a social network, if the application used in the network is not user friendly then it won’t be successful (maybe this is what user V and 3 found). Perhaps the users 4 and S thought that the content, creativity and expression of only one person in their group related to their own needs. B and D may have found all facets that made up the network useful and that is why they followed all of the members.

Topic 9.2

Research and evaluation in Government 2.0

Participatory democracy strives to create opportunities for all members of a political group to make meaningful contributions to decision-making, and seeks to broaden the range of people who have access to such opportunities.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participatory_democracy

Twitter in Government- Australia to follow the UK Governments lead in using Twitter as a Government tool. The theory is that Twitter will help the Government to improving online engagement with citizens, information dissemination, and collaboration across government!
http://www.gov2.com.au/wiki-for-government

Supporter of Government 2.0?
Looks like it is going to happen regardless....after the Gov2.0 conference held in Canberra 19 Oct 2009 the following was at the end of the home page on the Gov2.com.au website.....
You can stil participate now the conference is over
• The Gov 2.0 Twitter wall is still active. Add to the conversation by using the #gov2 Twitter hashtag.
• View photos taken during the Gov 2.0 conference on Flickr.
• You may also want to join our Gov 2.0 Australia Linkedin group.
• We will have videos uploaded shortly...

The Governments use of the Web2.0 tools was bound to happen. Why wouldn’t they utilise the same applications as private business and the community? What a better way to seem ‘in touch’ with the countries people? As for the movement of Government information into the public domain, well we will see the outcomes in the future; it’s a bit like the unforseen repercussions of personal information on Facebook or an oil spill, we will clean it up later.......

Topic 9 Exercise 1

Is social networking a business model?

Definition of Business model

The combination of factors that describe the business, including the market the business will serve, the perceived value delivered to the customer, which determines profitability per unit of sale, and the sustaining factors that allow the company to thrive over the long term
www.milestonegrowth.com/financing/glossary.html

• Manage the information that’s publicly available about you as professional
• Find and be introduced to potential clients, service providers, and subject experts who come recommended
• Create and collaborate on projects, gather data, share files and solve problems
• Be found for business opportunities and find potential partners
• Gain new insights from discussions with likeminded professionals in private group settings
• Discover inside connections that can help you land jobs and close deals
• Post and distribute job listings to find the best talent for your company
http://press.linkedin.com/

In a very broad sense, yes social networking can be loosely related to a business model. In reviewing Linkin.com it has some similar goals to a business model.
 The combination of factors that describe the business- provides a professional network for people to connect with other professionals that they might not normally mix with.
 including the market the business will serve- professionals seeking others to help them achieve their goals
 the perceived value delivered to the customer- to be able to connect with like-minded professionals to help each other achieve
 which determines profitability per unit of sale-advertising?
 sustaining factors that allow the company to thrive over the long term- encouraging more people to join leading to more skills available for connections to be maintained.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Topic 8 Exercise 4

Aggregation, syndication and the social engine.

1. What is RSS
Really Simple Syndication/Rich Site Summary- format used to publish work that is updated often ie blogs. Sometimes referred to as a ‘web feed’ it contains the compacted data and publishing dates allowing for easier syndication.

2. Explain aggregation and syndication and how they have changed the nature of the web.Aggregation is the process where data is collected and similar data is grouped together, this process is completed by using algorithms doing contextual analysis on the data, and some are completed automatically (Google News) others manually (Huffington Post).

Syndication is where the information on a website is made available to other sites; it provides users with a summary of the website's recently added content.

Aggregation and syndication have changed the nature of the web by allowing the for the searching of data to be easier by grouping or connection like data and by dating the information to ensure that the users are always presented with the latest edition on an entry.

3. ‘Swarm’ and ‘stack’ at dig.com, explain.Digg is a website that allows its users to submit stories and links of interest, with other users voting and commenting on them. A swarm happens when a story is submitted and its popularity is rated, it can run for a couple of hours. A stack shows the story’s activity over a period of time.

B.1 Delicious uses a non-hierarchical classification system in which users can tag each of their bookmarks. A combined view of everyone's bookmarks with a given tag is available;
Its collective nature makes it possible to view bookmarks added by similar-minded users.
Use of Delicious is free.
All bookmarks posted to Delicious are publicly viewable by default, although users can mark specific bookmarks as private, and imported bookmarks are private by default. The public aspect is emphasized; the site is not focused on storing private ("not shared") bookmark collections.

C2. Go2Web20.net claims;

 The biggest web2.0 directory.
 It was built to enable people to stay up to date with all the new & hot services that are born daily into the web.
 Services that are no longer working are disabled.
 The first to report the existence of most new applications.

How do you see services such as these as changing the way in which you and your future workgroups operate?
The services provided by Go2Web20 will greatly enhance the usability of the web. It provides a description of new applications, saving the user time as they can get all the information that they require in order to make a decision about which application will best suit their needs at the time. This site will prove to be very handy in the future, I was unaware that it existed and am quiet pleased to have had it pointed out.

D1. Elgg

Elgg,
 started in 2004,
 is an open source social engine which powers a range of social environments - from education to business and sports such as rugby.
 looking to create own social application or want to build and run a site for your organisation, Elgg is a great choice as it provides the building blocks needed.
http://elgg.org/about.php

Topic 8 Exercise 3

Data portability, FOAF and the Semantic Web
Like a chain letter, our data seems to move within and between tools like Facebook and Twitter. Is this a good thing?

I am not sure if this movement of data between tools is a good thing or not. When I originally joined Facebook via a ‘gmail’ account I was (and am still) amazed that Facebook would then ‘find my friends’ through downloading my email addresses from the ‘gmail’ account. Being a little wary of all things new the gmail account was set-up with limited information given. This was done as it had been pointed out that another student had completed other uni subjects and their work is still on the Web attached to his name. As a school teacher I would like to keep some of my identity private out of reach of disgruntled students!!!

I can understand why some people would like this process to go into all facets of the Web, increasing the portability of data. This would make joining networks easier and generally speed everything up with the all the different applications to interact with each other. It could be a way to ‘flush’ out those people that create different personalities for identity protection.....that’s another kettle of fish.

I am still waiting to see the repercussion from the current Generation Z’s ease of sharing information on the net. There is something that just isn’t sitting right; it could be that faint red warning light...... that is blinking at me whenever I use Facebook!!!!

How does the FOAF tag from part of the Semantic Web and web services via social networks?
The Semantic Web provides a common framework that allows data to be shared and reused across application, enterprise, and community boundaries. This process involves the development of common formats to process the data and a common language to enter the data to allow for smooth flow of data throughout the Semantic Web.
http://www.w3.org/2001/sw/

Resource Description Framework (RDF) is used for the above mentioned process. It uses XML (Extensible Markup Language) a simple, very flexible text format to convert the data that is held in different areas to allow for the fluid movement of this data. Connections to points of interest are made by using the personal selections of music, photos and events linked with other directories and catalogues worldwide.

Topic 8 Exercise 2

The avalanche of applications self-interview

1. Am I getting ‘snowed in’ by the avalanche of new tools and services?I did have that feeling a couple of weeks ago but since then I have regrouped and tried to categorised the new tools and services into groups so that I know when and which one to use for the best results!! I have used some of these new tools in the assignments that I am i the process of submitting. It is still a matter of having time to go back and do further research to really nut out how to use them. I would like to use Skype more but still haven’t been back!!
2. In Facebook, where do you draw the line between the workgroups with students and work colleagues and keeping in touch with friends and relatives?I only joined Facebook because of this topic; I had been living in ignorant bliss!!! Initially I found a couple of friends and then they suggested others to find. I accepted my nephew (who is 9yrs old) thinking that all was good. A mate who is also a mother of two young boys politely suggested that I should do something about my nephew as there might be content on my Facebook that would be unsuitable for such a young person. This was my wakeup call to Facebook. I had a colleague that mixed his personal and school life on Facebook, there hasn’t been any negative repercussions yet. I am having trouble with people wanting to be my friend and I don’t want to be theirs! Awful I know but if I considered them quality people when I went to school with them I would have kept in contact. My biggest drama is how to ‘reject’ these people without ‘rejecting them’ so I have some people still waiting to be accepted!!! Opps. I will utilise Facebook for the services that it offers (ease to communicate with others) and will keep it as a personal tool. It is a blocked site at school which makes it hard to integrate into my subjects anyway.
3. Do I separate tools like “horses for courses” and use twitter to keep track of other developers.....?I do separate tools and utilise my favourites. I am still getting used to using some of the new ones and will hopefully get to play with Google Wave (as it seems to be the next big thing). I use conversations with my students and use work related social networking forums to keep my finger on the pulse of what is developing in ICT and the ways that others are implementing it into their classrooms.

4. Comment on the self-interview experience
The self-interview experience is like evaluating your opinions on the topic. It can be manipulated to suit the user in regards to how challenging the questions are, what is an acceptable length and how in depth an answer should be. The user can also dictate the direction of questioning to allow for the task to become off task!!!

Topic 8 Exercise 1

The 30min walkIt’s time to get up, according to Tesha. I struggle out of bed, get dressed, drink some water, put on shoes, hat and walkman (old school mp3!) and head out the door. She is already waiting at the gate. Tesha doesn’t like the harness and gives me that ‘you have got to be kidding me’ look that she does every morning. I open the gate and we are off and racing. The neighbourhood is still quiet even though its 8:30am. After Tesha sniffing over the neighbour’s lawn we walk past the vacant block and keep a wary eye on the magpie sitting at the top of one of the trees. We make it past with no danger so off to see if Max is home. He is usually out the front chasing golf balls ah but not today. There are signs that there has been a celebration at his house last night with bottles finding their way into the park next door. No playing with Max today. We round the corner and Bonnie comes out to greet us, a quick sniff and we are on our way again. Off across the road to the boundary of the local High School were some kids are playing cricket in their whites. The sheep are quiet in the Ag plot as we do a lap around the school and shops. Oh a new dog to bark at, Tesha loves this game so I squirt her with the water pistol to try and deter such behaviour........We make our way to the cemetery and Tesha has a drink from the puddles and contemplates lying down. Round the corner we watch out for the local kids that always want to pat the ‘snow dog’. Further down the road the yappy dogs aren’t out yet so we sneak past, back home for breakfast.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Topic 7 Exercise 2

7.2 New devices, aged care and people with disabilities
The use of wireless technologies allows mobile phones to be linked to other devices that have larger screens, simpler commands, automatic functions, better audio output, cameras and other help facilities.
 Severe hearing loss or speech impairment- use of sign language to communicate over a broadband camera link. When a person who does not know sign language calls, the person can re-direct the call via a video relay service where a human operator acts as an interpreter.

 Home alone with very poor vision, cannot read labels on bottles and packaging. A device is used that sends a scanned image to a help centre. A person at the help centre then reads the information to the person allowing them to maintain a level of independence.

 Loss of central vision and poor memory- monitoring systems can turn off devices that have been left on too long, can emit warning alerts, measure temperatures, watch for movements in a room and activate switches. Privacy is important but where alerts are triggered, cameras can help relatives or care professionals to communicate and respond.
Help systems can activate reminders, control heating and entertainment systems and many other devices that will enable people needing care to live independently and yet feel safe and in touch.

http://www.tiresias.org/cost219ter/making_life_easier/making_life_easier.htm

Topic 7 Exercise 1

7.1 Smart screen interface case study

There are three basic systems that are used to recognize a person's touch:
• Resistive
• Capacitive
• Surface acoustic wave

The Resistive System



The Capacitive System


The Surface Acoustic Wave System



Devices that improve display and interaction over other devices.

Interactive Smartboards Vs Traditional black/white boards
The new interactive smartboards allow the teacher to utilize the technology that is available on any computer in the classroom. The data that is produced is then projected onto a screen that is about the same size as a traditional whiteboard. The Smartboard is made with a white membrane that covers a hard board. When the two touch it is processed by the computer, initiating a command, text or drawing. Any work that has been used can be saved and used again at any time that it is required, unlike the traditional white or black board where once it has been wiped off the data has to be rewritten or drawn manually. With the software Notebook 10 the user can write on the screen using their finger or the pens provided and it can be converted (by the software) into text. This process is a benefit to the students as if the students find the writing hard to read then by converting to text, the font style and size can be manipulated as needed.
Other examples
Mobile phone Vs iphone
Walkman/discman Vs ipod

Review Wk7 - CSU Interact

CSU Interact
This is the second review of Interact. This time I was online early and didn't have any drama's conversing with the other students. The small size of the screen does seem to be a problem especially when the chat gets busy. Others noticed the delay and lag that increased as more people wanted to chat. Some users also commented that Interact kept 'freezing' so they were limited in their input. I did enjoy the time interacting with the others. Vicki (fellow POD member) offered for others to join our group as they didn't have many members left in their POD groups, which was very nice of her.

CSU Interact has a basic, user friendly chat room with few bells or whistles. This system has its benefits for inexperienced chatters as it is relatively difficult to go wrong. It just doesn't cope too well with a lot of users.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Topic 6 Exercise 2

Wiki and Moodle Design

What is it about the design of the wiki and Moodle that you liked or disliked?
Likes- Moodle - The lounge…..
Wiki- the content is governed by the users

Dislikes- Moodle, I feel a little haunted by it…….with the frequency of reviews and the learning of new software, my attention span seems to have shortened. I became frustrated with the process involved in using Moodle. I watched the footage and asked users of the site about the joys of Moodle. What I found was mainly American content and a lot of stuff that just didn’t grab my attention (starting to sound like my students!!!!)
Wiki- the content is governed by the users

What features do wiki and Moodle have in common and what are the differences?
Common features- content is governed by the users

Differences- Moodle is made up of a range of groupware including wiki, forums and blog. The wiki is a single part of Interact……so is Interact a form of Moodle? That would seem to be the case.

The successful design of a wiki or Moodle does rely on the level of usability, sociability and sustainability. If the technology is relatively easy to use, encourages others to join and has an element that the users can not find elsewhere then the technology will be successful. If the technology does not have these three points in a high level then the life of such technology will be limited.

Topic 6 Exercise 3

6.3 Trust and reputation: how is it achieved?

Trust & Reputation

Facebook

CSU Interact

Online trust

Some people trust Facebook with their pictures and personal details, others feel skeptical regarding personal security

Very high as the users need a CSU password to Log-in

Online reputation

The jury is still out….

A very good reputation as it can be the life line for many students at CSU

Usability

Facebook has a high degree of usability

Interact has a high degree of usability

Sociability

Very social, similar 'friends' are shown to others to see if they know them or will except them into their network

Interact is mainly used for professional discussion regarding issues affecting the students.

Sustainability

Face book hasn't imploded yet. It has had very quick growth and continues to grow. Perhaps in time it will be replaced by the next 'new' trend.

Interact will be sustainable as it is relied upon by CSU students to communicate with each other and the lecturer. Very important for students studying by distance education

Pragmatist: Pragmatists see the world in terms of what works best or most efficiently. http://www.summerjoy.com/Glossary.html

Facebook is a very efficient and effective tool for a social network, easy to access

Interact may not be the most efficient tool for a social network, limited by the level of technology used

Conservatism (from Latin: conservare = "save" or "preserve"[1]) refers to various political and social philosophies that support tradition and the status quo. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatism

Younger, tech savvy, long term users may see Face book as the status quo, loving the connectability with millions of other users

Old school students may prefer Interact over Facebook as it has a higher level of online trust

In ordinary usage, skepticism refers to: an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object.

There is concern that some users aren't concerned about the long term implications of personal data being available on the net and what some people might do with it, ie employers checking on future employees

Any skepticism toward Interact may be aimed at the usability and the small size of the 'chat' window!

   


 

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Topic 6 Exercise 1 Designing for usability, sociability and sustainability

People

Purpose

Community Size

Users where the people that where a part of the ATTP, generally the same cohort used the forum for approximately 18 months (the length of the course).

Users might leave if they dropped out of the course, the only new members may have been people doing the course part-time.

Accelerated Teacher Training Program Bed TAS and Bed Sec Maths – Forum provided by CSU for students to communicate with other students in the same subject

The community started out at approximately 120 potential users, some people chose not to interact on the forum. This number dropped down to about 80 by the end of the course

There was a high level of activity on this forum as a lot of people had come from trade backgrounds and where not used to the university environment. We had many questions that others would happily answer. The forum offered the support that the majority of the students required.

Belonging- As the course was only offered as distance education the forum was utilised to keep in contact with students and to give feedback on topics of conversation.

Satisfaction- An interesting note was when my cohort started on the forum some of the old cohort still had access to it. They briefly had the opportunity to come on and offer pieces of advice. At the time I thought this weird as I thought that they would have something better to do with their time. By continuing my studies at CSU I have regained access to this forum. Twice I have had a look to see what is going on but I haven't made a comment. There was a sense of loss for the 06 cohort forum at the end of the course. I do understand now the sense of belonging that those other users felt.

This forum is subject specific. The users are people at various stages of an ITC degree, with ranges in experiences.

ITIC510 Online Communities is a forum provided by CSU for students to communicate with other students in the same subject.

The community is relatively small (although my other subject only has six students) with approximately 28 students.

The level of activity on this forum is quiet low with there being gaps of days between anyone posting on it.

Belonging- The forum is used to co-ordinate meeting times for the cohort and for subject related questions.

Satisfaction- With such a low participation rate this forum does not provide much sense of community. The users have been split up into POD groups which have been encouraged to meet and discuss points of interest using other social groupware software.

   

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Assessment item 1 Building an online community

Building an online community
I have chosen Adam Curry and Ward Cunningham to compare and contrast. These two leaders in the development of online communities have provided the basis of now commonly used wiki sites and podcasts.
Adam ‘Podcast” Curry- was born in1964 and is known for his time as a presenter on MTV (music video channel). During 1987-1994 he was also known for his promotion and development of Podcasting. A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically. They are then identified by a podcatcher that downloads the files when released and stores them on the users computer ready as required.
Ward ‘wiki’ Cunningham- was born in 1949 and is the developer of the first wiki software, WikiWikiWeb, a very simple active online database. A wiki allows for the creation and editing of content determined by the user community, allowing for continual creation and collaboration that constantly changes the site.
Curry’s activities over the last ten years are:
 2004 first to create a successful podcast show- Daily Source Code,
 2005 founded the video sharing site called Mevio, (formerly PodShow), a podcast promotions and advertising company that offers advertisers “brand safe” content on a large scale,
 2005-2007 Adam Curry’s PodShow, featuring his interpretation of “The Best of Podcasting”
 2006 in Second Life, Daily Source Code was promoted and ‘PodShow Island’ was introduced however it was shut down in 2008
 2008 Mevio claiming to have reached 9 million visitors
 Light bulb moments:-
 Curry was one of the first celebrities to create and administer a Web site.
 In 1993 he was experimenting with the Net and registered the domain name MTV.com.
 First to create a successful podcast show- Daily Source Code.

Cunningham’s activities over last ten years are:
 2003 -2005, worked for Microsoft Corporation in the "patterns & practices" group.
 2005 - 2007, the Director of Committer Community Development at the Eclipse Foundation.
 2007 joined AboutUs as its chief technology officer.
 Light bulb moments, a pioneer in both:-
 a design pattern is a general reusable solution to a commonly occurring problem in software design
 Extreme Programming is intended to improve software quality and responsiveness to changing customer requirements, it advocates frequent "releases" in short development cycles
Both Curry and Cunningham are good change managers as the developments that they have made have helped many people. Some schools and universities use wikis to enhance group learning and podcasts are being utilized in education as well.
Notable differences between Curry and Cunningham include their background, age and development. Curry was a presenter on a major music program who developed an interest in developing ‘podcasts’. This is a tool for which he could use as an alternative media form to television, thus continuing his career. Cunningham has come from an educated background with a Bachelor degree in interdisciplinary engineering (electrical engineering and computer science) and a master's degree in computer science, contrasting significantly to Curry. There is fifteen years age difference between the two and wiki’s are a different tool for online communities to podcasts.


Wikepedia, (n.d), Ward Cunningham, retrieved 4th September, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ward_Cunningham

Wikepedia, (n.d), Wiki, retrieved 4th September, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki

Wikepedia, (n.d), Adam Curry, retrieved 4th September, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Curry

Wikepedia, (n.d), Podcast, retrieved 4th September, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Topic 5 Exercise 2

Social architects and online games

1. What is a social architect?

In the broadest sense, the definition of a social architect is a person who translates society's wants and needs into a physical, well-built structure or how to best to engineer a social system that is used for human interaction.

2. Investigate and compare the following online communities and become a member.

Shuffle brain is a game that is used to keep the users reactions sharp. Most age groups would be able to play this game. It allows the user to make their own games (using personal pictures) to increase relevance to the players, keeping it social and educational.
Whyville is a game aimed at students in middle school (12-14 age group). It was developed to increase the interest in math’s and science. It is animated and allows for interaction between users. There are a range of games in Whyville that the players can select. It encourages conversations between players (social skills) and the games are educational on a range of topics.

3.Online community, Objective Rules of Engagement & Unique features

shufflebrain To exercise the visual system of the player. The player is required to find and select the matching part of the picture. Ratings are given at the end of each game. The idea is to keep playing and to improve your rating. There are also other awards for the player to achieve by completing a milestone. These can be for playing, discussing, and creating games. These awards will show on the players profile.

Objective Rules of Engagement
There is a tutorial game to show the player how to play the game.24 seconds per photo in which to accurately select the correct detail required.

Unique features
Need to be a member of Facebook


Whyville Researchers have identified the middle school years as a time when children, especially girls, lose their interest in math and science. Studies suggest that exposure to engaging educational and in particular scientific activities during this critical period can substantially influence future academic and career choices. Whyville is a virtual city, which engages young people in constructive educational activities while promoting socially responsible behavior.

Objective Rules of Engagement
Your job is to properly store the foods that are on the table where they belong. In the Refrigerator, food is separated into Produce, Dairy, and Meat shelves. In the Dry Goods Rack, you need to keep the foods in Alphabetical order. The clock starts ticking when you pick up your first food. If you store all the foods before the clock runs out, you'll get a clam for each food you stored. Tip: If someone is holding that last piece and won't put it down, throw some projectiles at them to make them drop the item.

Unique features
Chat licence required to educate the users to report anyone asking for personal details such as address, email addresses and passwords etc

4. Try to find out who is behind the organization and management of the community. Are they true social architects?

Yes with Shufflebrain, they built a smart game for a social network (Facebook). Amy Jo Kim is an internationally recognized expert in online social architecture and Scott Kim is one of the world’s most prolific and versatile puzzle designers, they had been inspired by the increase in Brain Games, and where passionate about creating games that keep the player sharp and socially connected.

Topic 5 Exercise 1

The many faces of you.....

Do you show multiple identities or are you consistent across all instances?

Yes I have chosen to use multiple identities. This decision has been made as I would like to limit the interaction with any students that I may have taught, are about to teach or are currently teaching. I have stayed with my first email provider and this is where the identity most true to self is used. I communicate mainly with friends through this media. My professional identity is used with my work email, as it is severely filtered (any swearing and it will bounce the email back to the sender). Recently I have joined Facebook and hope to keep the details given out to a minimum however I was taken back once I realised that it wasn't traditional chat (via email) but that others could see the comments. This was pointed out by a mate that is a mum as she had concerns about the future content and my 8yr old nephew being 'my friend'.

What does your "persistent identity" online say about you and what shouldn't it say?
My "persistent identity" gives details that I am female who is currently a teacher who lives in Australia. I try to keep details about who and where I teach vague. I try not to give out personal details unless it is using my private email.

Topic 4 Exercise 3

Social networking tools



Professional Development in the workplace

Ning
LinkedIn-apparently LinkedIn gives the user the keys to controlling their online identity. If the user 'Google's' themselves, LinkedIn profiles rise to the top of search results, letting the control the first impression people get when searching for them online.(A very interesting approach to identity security!!)

Delicious-Delicious is a Social Bookmarking service, which allows the user to save all your bookmarks online, share them with other people, and see what other people are bookmarking. It can show the most popular bookmarks being saved across many areas of interest. In addition, the search and tagging tools help to keep track of your entire bookmark collection and to find new bookmarks from people like you.


Potential platform for learning

Why use bubbl.us?
Because you can:
Create colorful mind maps online (as shown above)
Share and work with friends
Embed your mind map in your blog or website
Email and print your mind map
Save your mind map as an image

Revyu.com is a web site where you can review and rate things. Unlike many other reviewing sites on the web, Revyu.com lets you review and rate absolutely anything you can name.(could use to demonstrate 'evaluation' in Technology Mandatory)

Flickr- photo management

Topic 4 Exercise 2

Hosting good conversations

Three ways for more control in an online community
1. Taking in turns of speaking, use of symbol to show who should be speaking at the time.
2. Clear instructions to ensure understanding by participants on what is considered to be good manners
3. Listening/understanding instructions to ensure the correct use of the site, if you don't understand then ask so as not to irritate others

Three rules for online meetings
1. Follow the Agenda as some users may have limited time and resources (dial up/broadband) in which to achieve the desired effect.
2. Only use CAPITALS when you want to SHOUT, otherwise people may get offended.
3. Listen to instructions/directions- by muting your microphone it will make it easier and clearer for everyone to hear!!

Rules of engagement are important for the positive interaction between users of social software systems. They ensure that all members are heard and that input is welcomed as it is relevant to the group. I may be 'old school' but I believe that using manners is an excellent way to develop positive relations. In regards to document sharing systems I would still follow the rules of engagement that I use in social software systems. This process would allow for a relationship to be developed and hopefully the interaction would be positive. Once this has happened a judgement decision could be made as to the use of 'emoting' or slang.

Topic 4 Exercise 1

Blog Design

*I am still playing around with Blogger and my Blog. I would like to be able to categorise my posts into folders or sub folders instead of relying on 'labels'. So far I have found the 'label' feature is just that, a title of the post. It doesn't group like posts (and therefore content) together.
*Blogger does use YouTube to assist with the establishment of a blog. This feature helps those people that struggle with written instructions to develop their own blog


*Interact
1. Purpose- for people studying to communicate with each other.
2. Groupware technology- the establishment of the community was easy with the benefit of learning how to use this site being in everyone's interest, to pass this subject.
3. Profile is minimal
4. Newcomers are welcomed and given guidance
5. Leaders- highlighted by the use of red text
6. Rules -minimal as the site is for a specific purpose
7. Weekly meetings are advertised and encouragement for all to attend
8. Rituals- interaction is kept professional
9. Subgroups are the POD’s used for discussion of content

Review wk 6 LC_MOO

Yet again technology has proved how temperamental it really can be. I think the lesson that we are continually learning is that no matter how organised the teacher and students can be, things do go a stray.

I set out with a plan of attack. I even thought that I may make the 11am meeting but alas it was not meant to be. This week I did receive the email with the details of the LC_MOO meeting. I also received my account name and password. With this information I logged onto LC_MOO for about 5 minutes before it kicked me off! I was able to download the 'Basic Moo Commands' as it was suggested to have a play before the actual meeting.

LC_MOO seems like......it is user friendly. I have read the LC_MOO log and it seems that people really started to enjoy MOO. The users on the log gave the impression that it didn't take much effort to learn how to negotiate the site. I would have liked to see the fridge that Thomas made. The dialog reads like a story instead of a conversation. This is due to 'Emoting', expressing emotions and actions in text.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Review Week 5 Skype

Skype

I was very very happy to be able to access this weeks activity. Being more organised and not so daunted (by the technology) I started getting ready on Monday, creating an account and downloading the required software. Tuesday night I transferred Skype names into the contacts list ready for Wednesday night. While I was doing this I had some practice calls with others who were on at the same time. Very impressed.

Wednesday night. I think that a lot of people had followed the same plan so there was a lot of text chat prior to the official 8pm kickoff. Tyrone called me up and we had a chat. He was chasing the members of his POD which is Blue and I'm in Violet. Then Ken tried to call and then we got put on hold. This happened a couple of times.

There was a bit of time taken up with people getting used to the technology and how to use it. I did suggest to some of the ladies that we need to use it like it is a CB radio, with the mute so that it is easier to hear what the person is saying. It seemed that Skype may be better utilised by smaller groups. It was also unfortunate that we weren't able to text as the chat was going on, we could do this in other chats.

I did like how our names lit up when we spoke or made a noise. It was very nice to talk to the cohort. If you got really good I can see how it would be possible to have a chat and be texting to others at the same time. Its pretty cool how the computer rings when someone calls.

Overall with more practice by the users I can see Skype being a very useful tool. Quote of the night "drive it like you stole it!!"

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Topic 3 Exercise 2

Mobile computing research

Are online games and social networks worthwhile in education?
Educational value of online mobile games:
• Players may learn because they need to in order to play the game
• Using games to learn can be done subconsciously
* Presenting different points of view, opening minds, helping students to interact with others that they might not normally socialise with.
* They allow the underachievers in a class chance to succeed, compared to traditional teaching methods
• Even some games that might not be considered ‘educational’ can require critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills of the player.

Mobile gaming categories
Overall Top 5 Game Categories (by revenue share)
1. Puzzle/Strategy
2. Action/Adventure
3. Sports/Racing
4. Card/Casino
5. Trivia/Word

Recent statistics

With the new rising ‘Rhythm Game’ genre,the following data regards the hit game for the mobile platform, Guitar Hero III.
How has Guitar Hero III been faring?
- Since December 2007, total purchases of Guitar Hero III have increased each month, making it the most successful game in the ‘Rhythm’ genre
- Guitar Hero III accounts for more than half of Hands-On Mobile’s publisher revenue
Who’s playing Guitar Hero III?
- The game is especially popular with younger gamers, with 75% of purchasers under the age of 25
- 54% of all purchasers were 13-17 years old; by comparison, the age group comprised just 11% of game purchasers across all titles
- Although 60% of all game downloaders are female, Guitar Hero III is popular among both genders, as purchasers are 47% male and 53% female

Comments (on the record) from Eric Puterbaugh, Director of Mobile Media, Nielsen Mobile:

"Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and other rhythm-based games are red-hot right now. The tremendous sales of Guitar Hero III for mobile prove that the popularity of these franchises transcends plastic guitars and living rooms.”
"With 3 additional new songs available for download every month, fans won’t be getting tired of rocking out on their mobile phones anytime soon.”

http://www.nielsenmobile.com/html/press%20releases/MobileGamingStats.html

Topic 3 Exercise 1

The Battle for Wesnoth

Reflect and report on your own experiences
(wait I have to check progress in Wesnoth)(I just upgraded a saw mill and I'm not sure that I really wanted to, I need more cottages for increased population. Lumber seems to be a problem!)

Who would have thought that we would be asked to play a free online game!! I am very glad that Ken suggested that we watch the time...(I'll be back)(Just upgrading a cottage yeh!!)

Again I was skeptical at the beginning of this game but have been pleasantly surprised. It is nice to be challenged mentally (in a fun way), I think that it is what it is all about.

One nice thing about this game is that it gives the beginner 7days or when your town hall reaches level 5, of development time to learn the game and get set up...

The activities are done in 'real time' hence I am waiting to increase my lumber levels as I can't do any more development, dam that saw mill upgrade....

This is the only game that a mate of mine plays. I used to watch him and then I would get bored because I couldn't see the reward for playing Wesnoth, now its a different story. I like it...

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Topic 2 Exercise 4

Online Identity and your state of presence....

Who is the Dick on my site? A very interesting presentation by Dick Hardt. The use of key words, abbreviations and logo's kept the viewers attention. In the presentation Dick told his story of development and the need for identity security. He told a brief history of how identity could be established both in the real world (drivers licence) and online (?). He proposed a system of the user being in control of what sort of information they give out and to whom (also how often).

Phishing- Usually done by the creation of a bogus email (in the same format as an official email from an institution such as a bank) requesting confidential information such as credit card numbers, passwords, or other personal data.
An example is an eBay phishing email including the eBay logo in an attempt to gain credibility. The email warns that a billing error may have been made on the account and urges the eBay member to login and verify the charges.

Pharming- A more effective way of getting identity information as many computers can be attacked innocently by a code being sent in an email that alters the files on the local computer. The computer will then send the user directly to a bogus website regardless if the address that has been entered for the proper site is correct. The user is none the wiser that they are using a fake site.
An example 'Pharming' attack hits 50 banks
Hackers made an extra effort with this one...
By Jeremy Kirk, IDG News Service
Published: 14:46 GMT, 22 February 07
"Once lured to the Web site, an unpatched computer would download a Trojan horse in a file called "iexplorer.exe," which then downloads five additional files from a server in Russia. The Web sites displayed only an error message and recommended that the user shut off their firewall and antivirus software.
If a user with an infected PC then visited any of the targeted banking sites, they were redirected to a mock-up of the bank's Web site that collected their login credentials and transferred them to the Russian server, Gonzalez said. The user was then passed back to the legitimate site where they were already logged in, making the attack invisible."

Privacy Invasion- A type of invasion of privacy occurs when an individual is falsely portrayed in a highly offensive manner. Another type of invasion occurs when private or embarrassing facts are revealed about an individual without relation to a legitimate public concern (tabloid magazines). This is where someone intrudes upon a person in a situation in which that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy (stalking).

Identity Theft- Some examples of different types of identity theft involve
• using another business name (that is not yours) to obtain credit
• posing as another person when caught for a crime
• using someone elses identity to obtain goods and services
• using someone elses information to assume their identity in daily life

Topic 2 Exercise 3

Facebook profile- the details given on this site were kept to a minimum. Just full name and country was given....although I did post a photo....

Second Life profile- Billy Bardeslaw!!! What a gal!! I was only able to select one of the initial avatars for the account sign-up. Didn't get to play or change bodily features!!!!

Will you have a persistent avatar across all your social networks and virtual environments? Why or why not?

I will not be having a persistent avatar across all of my social networks and virtual environments. I am weary of security and am nervous of people (students) finding out personal details. Also my interests are varied and so will be the people that I interact with. Some will get the humour and slang while others may not appreciate these fine qualities thus my avatar will change regarding the situation and the avatars encountered.....

Topic 2 Exercise 2

Virtual worlds and citizenship...

My findings... unfortunately I kept getting an error report stating that my computer doesn't have the minimum requirements to run Second life....it kept crashing. I went as far as I could and then did research on Second life to find out what I had missed out on....

Its a virtual world, although it seems as though reality is encroaching in on it, mainly due to laws from different countries which could make Linden Labs liable (gambling).

People can create an account which will allow the user to develop an 'avatar' and they can travel to different areas of the 'Grid' interacting with whoever they come in contact with.

There have been voiced concerns about some of the attitudes found in Second Life. This is the interesting part as the site is user regulated or rather user non-regulated...content driven by the users, virtual sex seems to be popular. Another interesting note is the push for 'Educational' opportunities...perhaps they are trying to clean up the site/world!!!!!

Topic 2 Exercise 1

A. Are you happy with the ethics?

I had put off joining Facebook for a long time, my reason being, identity security and student harassment! I have not been teaching for very long and already I have witnessed students "googling" their teachers names for pictures, mainly. I view this as an invasion of privacy.

In joining Facebook I was pleasantly surprised at the minimum amount of data required to open an account. I did choose to put in a picture though....(must be getting soft). I also noted in that with the limited details entered it makes it harder to search for 'Friend's as there can be thousands of people with the requested name. As the user gets a choice in whether to 'except' someone as a friend or not, this option should give higher security for personal data and privacy!!!

I am still skeptical on the ethics involved in this site. I think time will tell.

B. Difference between social cognition and visual cognition

Social cognition is the thought processes used to understand other people. The ability to interact with others. To understand social etiquette and how to decipher the codes involved in the movement of information between people in social situations.

Visual cognition is the use of visual imagery to help people to learn a task or to interact with others. By using tasks involving shape perception and mental maps to help make understanding of the data clearer by the learner/user.

Review Wk4 - Interact

Csu's Interact (chosen this week for less technical difficulties)

* Display - Basic, not very pretty or eye catching.
- A box on the left of screen displays the names of the people that are involved in the chat whether contributing or just reading text
- Some participants found it frustrating with the restricted view of the chat, not being able to make the view bigger.
- Limit in colours assigned to users (7) so colours can change, making following a discussion less user friendly

* Speed - Again some participants found that with the size of the group using Interact, the data was being displayed and then would scroll out of view because more people were entering comments, making conversations stunted and disjointed.

* Usability- easy to use and to pick up the skills required to use Interact.
- some had trouble but mainly due to Internet speed and connection
- the users ability to type (speed) impacted on success

Saturday, August 15, 2009

OLR- Topic 1 Exercise 3

Subject: CSU Interact: Computer System Usability Questionnaire
Sender:@det.nsw.edu.au
From: @det.nsw.edu.au (CSUQ)

system=CSU Interact
date=2009-08-15 01:46:12
comment=How now brown cow
q1=6
q2=5
q3=5
q4=4
q5=4
q6=5
q7=6
c7=Constant use helps
q8=6
c8=Trial and error
q9=5
c9=Has a menu for help options
q10=7
c10=Resilience is the key

Review wk3 -gmail chat

  • All good plans go astray. I was in contact with Dylan early so he spelt out the steps of what to do. I was feeling confident this week but this got smashed as I wasn't able to 'chat' as I don't have a camera (new yr9 lap top does so will try to use it instead). Once I got on, the only one I could 'chat' with was Sarah, part of violet POD. It was nice to get a little feed back.....
  • Reminded me of Yahoo, graphics and usability.
  • Needed a gmail account to use (privacy issues)
  • More people participated this week in review, mostly just playing around with the site, there is a feeling of concern that there isn't more direction to the reviews. We will see what the future brings....

Review Wk2 - Etherpad

  • Email address for Ken's invitation was wrong so didnt receive
  • Reviewed dialog, looked like the people could work out how to use the etherpad
  • Thought it was cool how the groups could pick their colours to be be same as the POD group colour
  • With the help of Dylan, I got on to the violet POD to have a bit of a play. I liked the big frame for entering data as it happens in real time whereas the small frame you press enter when you have finished typing so there is a bit of a delay in messages, like texting on a mobile phone.
  • Tried to use it as a way to communicate and find out details for the next weeks activity but no-one was using it, the main ITC510 or violet
  • More practice needed

OLR- Topic 1 Exercise 2

Folksonomy/ FOAF

Folksonomy is

  • about social networks & online communities and these people classifying/categorising their own data
  • the process of organising data (different interests) using tags.
  • can be used to find information

FOAF is

  • an acronym of Friend of a friend
  • the use of a predetermined code (machine readable) on describing oneself, activities and the interactions with others
  • a data base of information on people using an email address,URI or blog as an identifier.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

OLR- Topic 1 Exercise 1

From my reading of this Wikipedia site I would define 'Social Networking' as a way of socialising electronically without having to leave the house. People of similar interests can communicate online at times when it is convenient for them to do so. They can develop a feeling of community, of which can be lacking in their real lives. The users can develop profiles of which they can manipulate to the degree of truth.....as Brad Paisley sings "I grow another foot and drop a bunch of weight every time I log in".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking

An online community can be the result of social networking. Once a group of like minded people start communicating, on a continual basis via the web, they can develop into a network or community based on interest. These interests can be for educational, professional or social purposes. Personally I have, so far, avoided using the online community of Face book. I took this stance for security reasons as the data exchanged would be available to the Web and being a teacher I could see the disadvantage of this happening. The times, they are a changing though...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_communities

Introduction

Hi I am a retrained chef who now teaches at a regional secondary school in NSW. My subjects are Technology Mandatory, Food Technology and Hospitality. My days are always busy as I am a learning advisor as well. Originally from the mid north coast I am looking forward to getting back there.

The purpose of this blog is to provide an area for my assessment tsks in ITC510, to be posted. I like to look upon it as my school text book, keeping all of my work in one place ready for marking by Ken.

The structure will evolve as I learn how to work the blog site.

Monday, August 10, 2009