Week 6 - Participation

General

• Spent a lot of time reviewing my classmates' produsage assignments. I was very impressed! I commented on several.
• Checked out the additional sites listed on the discussion board.

Discussion board

• Replied to Michael's post on "Education and Web 2.0".
• Replied to John's post on "Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks"
• Posted original post to "Your Next Steps"
• Replied to Jennifer's post on "Education and Web 2.0"

Blog

• Week 6 post
• Digital Natives vs. Digital Immigrants
• Replied to John's reponse to my "Digital Natives" post.
• Posted a summary post to outline my reflections.
• Week 6 participation post

To summarize...

I have really enjoyed this class and the experiences it gave me. I have to say, I would have never checked out some of the web 2.0 applications (such as CiteULike, etc) had it not been for this class. Some of them I liked and I can see myself continuing to use. Others, such as SecondLife, I can't see myself using again.

The produsage assignment was very cool and I actually had a lot of fun with it! I think my group definitely has the potential to continue being used long after this course has ended - and I think it will be very beneficial to its users. I also really enjoyed looking at other classmates' produsage assignments - what a creative class we have! It was neat to see so many different ideas and so many experience levels. I was impressed!

Moving forward, I think I will be more aware of web 2.0 applications and my participation in them. I feel like I can speak about many web 2.0 applications both in personal and professional settings. I had never heard of produsage before this course...and to think I have actually been a produser all along! :)

Digital Immigrants vs. Digital Natives

Our blackboard discussion on "teaching an old dog new tricks" inspired me to research digital immigrants a bit more. I came across a pretty cool article that describes both digital natives and digital immigrants...and discusses how to bridge the gap between the two.

The author references Marc Prensky, who provides what I think is a good description of the two. He describes digital natives as people who are used to receiving information really fast and who multi-task. He also gives a digital immigrant as one who would, for example, print a digital document to edit it rather than doing so online.

http://depd.wisc.edu/html/TSarticles/Digital%20Natives.htm

Week 6

Reflect on what you have learned in the class and how you will use it professionally as both a lifelong learner and an instructional systems professional (or whatever field you're in).

At the start of this course, I did not have a solid definition for Web 2.0. Now, not only do I know what Web 2.0 is, but I feel comfortable explaining it to others and providing examples. This class exposed me to Web 2.0 applications I never would have explored otherwise (i.e. Twitter) and provided me with an understanding of just how beneficial these applications can be.

I found the readings and discussion on collaborative knowledge and authorship to be particularly interesting. I also learned about produsage - its definition, as well as the fact that I was already participating in it! I especially enjoyed the produsage assignment - it was so neat to be able to create a useful application and actually see it in action.

I can already tell I will use these skills as a lifelong learner. Personally, as I get married and hopefully start a family, I am looking forward to blogging about my experiences and sharing advice with peers. Professionally, I can see how I will use the skills I have gained to implement Web 2.0 applications at my workplace...specifically within my department. One of my career goals is to be a part of the learning and development team - so this will be very useful!

Week 5 - Participation

General

• Spent a lot of time developing produsage site and working on paper.
• Explored Second Life.
• Week 5 readings.

Discussion Board

• Posted original post to "Social Networks".
• Replied to Rejoice's post to my post on "Social Networks".
• Responded to Regina's post on "Social Networks".
• Responded to Louis' post on "Social Networks".
• Responded to Jennifer's post on "Harnessing leisure activities...".
• Respoded to Regina's post on "Harnessing leisure activities..."

Blog

• Social Networking Rules post with article link.
• Replied to Allyson's and Mike's responses to my Social Networking post.
• Week 5 post
• Second Life post with article link
• Week 5 participation post

Second Life Chugs Along...

I experimented with Second Life a few semesters ago for a course. I enjoyed designing my avatar, but then, it was just...well...weird. I think the concept is awesome, don't get me wrong. It was so neat to think that a middle school class could be learning about a museum in another country, and actually take a tour of that museum without ever leaving their desks. I also like that it creates a convenient way for users to meet and communicate. It also provides a more personal experience than, say, Blackboard.

I recently checked out Second Life again and I just could not get fully on board with the site. I am not sure if this is just because I need to use it more, or if it something that does not mesh with my learning style. Because I was still feeling a little "awkward" with Second Life, I checked around for some articles that might help to familiarize me with the site. I found this site to be interesting, as it explains the history of the site and its ups and downs with popularity.

http://www.mediapost.com/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=132912&nid=117095

Week 5

How do issues such as authorship, copyright, and open access impact your desire, ability and willingness to engage in produsage, both personally and professionally?

I don't think that authorship, copyright, and open access would decrease my desire to engage in produsage on a personal level. I feel like I contribute as much as I receive...so the benefit is there for all parties involved. For example, sometimes I will post a question on Facebook and await contributions from my Facebook friends. Other times, I look for questions/comments my group of friends will post and I contribute answers or advice.

Professionally, I am not sure how I would feel about contributing something for "free". However, I think it would depend on the situation. I can see how users may not be for an open access environment if they are contributing on a "free lance" basis. However, if they are contributing as part of a paid job, the pay and the recognition at the job may act as the benefit.