Weekly Report & Reflection blog post #12

THE END…….
It’s hard to believe how fast this course has flown by, and that this is officially my last blog post for ADED 1P32. In today’s weekly activity, I was asked to Google myself, and what I found was pretty surprising. It amazed me to see many links that had my information on it such as my blog posts, Twitter, and Pinterest accounts. I was also surprised at how much of a footprint I left behind in just a matter of a few months! I am truly grateful to have been part of this amazing learning experience and for the ability to leave a positive mark based on my (weekly) understanding of digital citizenship.

What have you learned about building a positive digital footprint? Are there connections that you have made between having a positive digital footprint and living and learning online as a digital citizen?

I have learned many things about building a positive digital footprint. One being that it is very easy to build, once you have gained access to the internet or any digital device, is where it all starts. Therefore, we need to be aware of our digital rights and responsibilities and make sure that we act in accordance to. This course has drilled the fact that the internet is a powerful tool that is made available to any and everyone and that can sometimes be a good thing whilst on the other hand, be dangerous. However, when you apply the rules of digital citizenship, such as being respectful to others in the “digital space” you begin to build positivity, a connection that provides individuals a better understanding of living and learning online.

What have you learned about digital citizenship that could be used to promote quality online interactions with others?

I have learned that digital citizenship is about setting a good example for others to follow. I believe that our citizenship is given to us when we experience nothing but positivity between ourselves and the interactions we hold with other digital users. Due to the fact that we do not know who is watching us online or tracking our every move, as a digital citizen, you want to remain a good example and only that. The information you choose to share with others could possibly harm you or benefit you, therefore, to promote quality online interactions we must be careful. Also, use digital netiquette and be responsible! These promote a safe working network for processes such as blogging, e-mailing, sharing video/images, etc. Proper grammar and punctuation are also benefits to quality interactions online.

As a digital citizen, what will you do to promote appropriate behaviors in others? Are you finding valuable websites that support your idea of appropriate use of the Internet?

As a digital citizen, there are a number of ways to promote good behaviour. To help others, I plan to be the example at all times. I will use and inform of the many web tools I learned in this course such as Diigo, Feedly, mind mapping tools, to help them in their academic learning and everyday online use. These tools are a great way to demonstrate digital netiquette and will be very helpful in the long run.

Weekly Report & Reflection blog post #11

SoundCloud Logo [AyOH - Music]. (2016).
Retrieved from http://ayohmusic.com/?page_id=543

Week 11 focused on using webcasting tools and how they influence our knowledge of digital citizenship. We also learned how webcasting tools develop our knowledge of creative expression and the importance of adding Creative Commons licenses to our work. Exploring tools such as Soundcloud, Record MP3, Jing, etc. and using them to create podcasts, I noticed that it is not a file to stream only audio, but are also documents, video files, and audio files. I chose to use Soundcloud; Soundcloud is a good webcasting tool to use because you have the option to upload an already recorded audio file or record one on the spot. It’s really fast and does not take up to much of your time, like I explained in my reflection for my podcast, with SoundCloud it only took me 2 minutes to finish everything and when I would mess up I simply clicked the reset button and was able to finish just like that!

Although Soundcloud is quick and easy to use, I do not see it as an advantage or better yet an asset to my academics. This is only because I do not see how a tool that is mainly used for music or even podcasts would help me build my academic learning. However, in terms of discussing topics such as daily news and insights, podcasts are definitely beneficial as listeners can hear the similar or contrasting views from professionals. Other than that, there is no other benefit in the use of podcasts towards my learning.

To continue, whether podcasts are beneficial or not, this class has exposed me to many online tools to use to make my digital learning not only easier but fun as well. Too much knowledge is never a bad thing, being able to take this course has allowed me to learn the many different tools that all work to serve their own specific purpose is what I find that to be extremely beneficial! Whether I am working collaboratively on the internet or sharing any type of enlightenment or just trying to be more organized, these tools are most definitely advantageous for me.

This week’s activities, as a whole, strengthen my digital literacy and provided me with new digitally available tools for broadcasting and sharing. However, the difference between these tools and other communication tools is the ability to be creative with each of them in a different way. For example, with podcasts you choose how the production goes, with Animoto you can have different themes, background music, colors, etc such tools are all so versatile and is not the normal basic academic

SoundCloud [Global Listener]. (2014). 

Retrieved from http://www.global-listener.com/sites/

downloading/soundcloud/

structure most students are used to doing.

My Feedly recommendation for this week is titled Comparing College Students to Toddlers from none other than my favorite blog site, College Blender. I chose this article because as the term is nearing its end, a lot of us have our last papers or assignments to write and submit. Therefore, I thought this blog post from College Blender would help ease off the somewhat stress and enjoy this article. Although some points they list I disagree with, it is still pretty funny to see what people think of college students. Enjoy!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Weekly Report & Reflection blog post #10

Porter, M. (2013, October 03). How to Find Creative Commons Video Assets [Digital image]. Retrieved March 17, 2016, from http://mashable.com/2013/10/03/video-assets-creative-commons/#fdz3oczEh8qd

Week 10 focused on exploring tools associated with, what I now know as, creative commons. According to the website, "creative commons is a non-profit organization that devotes itself to expanding the range of creative works available for others that allow them to build upon their work legally and share" (Boyle, 2001). To continue, these creative commons were used to create slideshows that demonstrate our understanding of copyright as digital citizens. The tool grants public access to resources that do not contain copyright laws. As stated, the tool grants access to the public, therefore, the free resource is available for anyone to use on account of due credit given.


As I find most digital tools, in my exploration of slideshow tools, I found it to be very easy to use. The slideshow tool I chose to explore was Animoto. It is a great tool for my educational activities because it is a very fun and interactive approach to learning and presenting topics to others. It is a great way to gain useful information that will most certainly benefit us students in our everyday work. I especially like the fact that with Animoto, it is not strict. The ability to be creative with specific information will definitely help me to remember it more and enjoy learning.


In all honesty, being able to see the different uses for images and media in a digital society, I see that it kind of creates a layer of a challenge to our digital responsibilities. One thing that is really stressed in school, from secondary school especially is that after copying or pasting a photo or any type of work created by another person must be given credit where credit is due. The use of media and images without any reference is considered stealing, therefore, we must practice referencing our work properly to avoid situations such as plagiarism. However, in the case of plagiarism, students must take their time and carefully reference their work, be sure that images and media chosen for whatever reason is chosen appropriately and finally, make sure to be very specific and clear about the information being shared to  viewers/ readers.


Although this tool is a good way to be creative, I would not add it to my PLE because it is not collaborative and users are limited to 40 and 50 characters and words which is hard to minimize when you have a lot more to explain on a topic. However, the tool still is fairly cool.


This week I read an article titled Collaboration, Tools, and Add-Ons. Oh My. Using G-Docs to Improve Student Writing by Lisa Nielson. The article demonstrates how collaboration tools such as Google Docs are good tools for students in their writing. For me, writing, grammar, etc. Are very important and Google Docs, I believe, is a good tool to help with that. It is also important that as students we take it serious in our independent learning. I already use Google Docs and it really does help me with my writing, whether it be spelling mistakes, referencing, using voice text, etc. Google Docs is there to help.

Schallhorn, K. (2014, August 19). Professors plagiarize definition of plagiarism [Digital image]. Retrieved March 17, 2016, from http://campusreform.org/?ID=5841

Weekly Report & Reflection blog post #9

Digital Citizenship [Digital image]. (n.d.).
Retrieved from http://scharmbergwilmu.weebly.com/

This week focused on the application of digital responsibility whilst using collaborative tools to build our knowledge around this topic. Additionally, I explored with a new digital tool called, VoiceThread. VoiceThread is an online tool that grants individuals/ users the ability to participate in discussions by commenting their opinions on slides created by students from all over. Before this class, I knew nothing about this tool and most likely would not have been aware of it if it were not required of us to do so. VoiceThread is a good tool because I was able to gain a deeper understanding of digital rights and responsibilities and it was very intriguing to see other students’ views/ opinions on the topic.

After using VoiceThread, I found that it is an exceedingly healthy way to construct a communication medium for collaborative discussions. Having the options to features such as type, audio, or video recording allows users to submit their opinions any way they’d like. These features form a significant method for learning in view of the fact that users can read what other users are thinking. In so doing, it greatly develops the reader’s recognition of the topic and will make it easier to further their learning. VoiceThread will most especially be advantageous when working in groups. Moreover, I plan on showing this tool to my other classmates as I feel it will be helpful for them in regards to their learning. This tool can also be used as a means to encourage participation in students by interaction with other students just as we do in our seminars.

Moving on, VoiceThread assists in the enhancement of my knowledge by giving me the opportunity to read others thoughts and information. In my exploration of VoiceThread, I noticed how when reading multiple posts made by students, it is in a sense expanding the knowledge of the readers on the subject. At times, it is a challenge to understand or accept another users perspective if you do not agree with it. I did also find that there were a lot of opposing views as to what classified as a digital right and responsibility, however, this is what makes learning fun. The multiple opposing perspectives made me look at the information in a different manner and it brought somewhat of a clear side of thinking that way. This type of information gives readers, such as myself, more options to learn rather than sticking to one way of thinking.

My Feedly reading this week goes with this week's activities. Using VoiceThread to Build Student Engagement. As you can probably tell by the title although it is pretty dated, it discusses the many benefits to using VoiceThread. Author John, Orlando lists the following reasons:

• Student driven discussion
• A growing lecture
• Improved social presence
• Better understanding of nuance
• Student projects

He also says that most of the time students don’t stop the instructor in the middle of a lecture so by the time a lecture is done they have already forgotten their question. Or if you’re like me, you’re too nervous to ask in front of the class so you wait and when you wait for too long the question has left your mind. So, this article is a really good one that shows and explains the many ways to use VoiceThread and how it may help you.

VOICETHREAD [Logo]. (2016). Retrieved from http://ruonlinecon.rutgers.edu/sponsors

Technology Use: Scenario #7

Scenario: Mrs. Peters enjoys working with technology. She has been working with computers for several years now and has her own website to allow friends to keep up with what her family is doing. Every year she posts her family’s holiday photo on the website. A friend who lives overseas contacts her and says that she saw her family’s photo being used as an advertisement. Neither Mrs. Peters nor her husband know anything about it. How do you protect your identity?

In this scenario, Mrs. Peters is in no way using technology inappropriately. She is simply updating her friends on the things that have been going on in her life being that she does not see them on a regular basis.

The only thing inappropriate about this scenario is the fact that a marketing company has taken Mrs. Peters’ photos off of her website without her permission or, as stated in the scenario, has let her or her husband know that her pictures were used for their advertisement. According to Accenture.com, “As people share their personal data with their service providers, digital trust becomes extremely critical, especially for communications, media and technology companies.” This example falls into element 6 of digital citizenship; digital trust. The issue of digital law is the common mistake that everyone makes, which is keeping themselves knowledgeable of the intellectual property rights and copyright protection and the violations that can, at times, be very severe.

However, in the company’s defence, Mrs. Peters did not copyright her photos and the scenario says nothing about her having any sort of protection over her photos. The internet has made it so easy for people to post, locate, and download, and although this is a strength of modern technology, it is sometimes not good, such as Mrs. Peters’ situation.

For someone that spends majority of her time on the internet and works with computers, Mrs. Peters’ must educate herself on issues such as this otherwise it will continue. To avoid future problems, Mrs. Peters must:

• Protect her information against theft or unauthorized use
• Control who gains legal access to information/ photos, and what they can do with them
• Offer reciprocal benefits. This means that the company’s action to taking the images was necessary and Mrs. Peters should collect whatever what she deserves from her photos
• Take responsibility for misuse and ensure corrective action

Following these steps will surely have Mrs. Peters established in digital trust (law).

References

Key Points to Digital Trust - Accenture. (2016). Retrieved March 11, 2016, from       https://www.accenture.com/ca-en/insight-accenture-four-keys-digital-trust.aspx

Weekly Report & Reflection blog post #8

Image - http://uwstoutinnovations.wikispaces.com/file/view/wiki.gif/81914965/484x335/wiki.gif

Session number eight focused on exploring wikis and creating diagrams related to digital rights and responsibilities using brainstorming web tools with the option of  Bubbl.us or Popplet. Through my exploration, I learned that a wiki is a website that allows for collaborative editing or modifications of its content and structure amongst users, essentially, wikis are anything individuals and groups would like for it to be. These tools fit into the collaborative section of my PLE and aid in my learning because it supports my PLE by allowing me to learn not just on my own but with others, to learn to work together, and to help each other by practicing the number one rule for collaborative work, communication. I think next to Google Docs, wikis are the next best because it is a website that promotes meaningful topic connections, it seeks to involve all visitors in the ongoing process of creation by making its page(s) easy to use and understand.

Additionally, as stated from the K12 Learning 2.0 discovery activity, wikis encourage shared knowledge construction and growth over time, as they are often built and edited by many users at once. I can use a wiki for publishing, organizing, and sharing virtually any kind of information - professional, creative or academic. Implemented effectively, wikis can enable students to take responsibility for learning outcomes, plan and make decisions, work together, publish to an audience beyond the classroom and, perhaps most importantly, teach others.

Image - http://internet.savannah.chatham.k12.ga.us/district/ddi/media/Digital%20Citizenship/PublishingImages/digital-rights.gif

Furthermore, following the exploration of wikis, week 8 continued with using wikis to identify issues of digital rights and responsibilities. Through this activity, what I learned about becoming a digital citizen and the rights and responsibilities of living in a digital society, was that both appropriate and acceptable use of the internet is something that applies to students and teachers. We as active users must evaluate the resources we use the internet for and use them appropriately. Educators should also model appropriate use for students and monitor the activities that take place whilst students learn online. I also learned that most schools have Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) - "a document stipulating constraints and practices that a user must agree to for access to a corporate network or the Internet."
This weeks session on digital rights and responsibilities outlines the safe practices, expectations and etiquette for using digital media/ technology within personal and academic environments.

This week on my Feedly reader I came across an article on the InnovativeEducator blog site titled Technology: Powerful Weapon or Greatest Foe? since this weeks focus was on becoming digital citizens and using technology appropriately, I thought this blog post was suitable for this weeks topic. In the article, author Lisa Nielson aims to educate teachers on technology and it's ability to be beneficial for students but also harmful if not directing/ promoting safe and appropriate use. Additionally, Nielson includes another blog of hers that outlines the 10 best ways to improve online learning. Check it out and become positive digital citizens!

Weekly Report & Reflection blog post #7

Link - http://www.gdocsdrive.com/image/index/gdocsdrive.png

Week #7 concentrated on collaborating with class members via chat. The idea was for us to understand how to work together and communicate being we cannot see each other face-to-face. This week was a lot more hands on while some of us were being introduced to Google Docs, I was already familiar with it. I like Google Docs, but I wouldn't say more than Microsoft Word. However, Google Docs is a very convenient yet free web-based application that allows you to create a document, spreadsheet, presentation, notes and so much more! The best thing about it is that, with access to an internet connected device, Google Docs can be used. if you couldn't tell by the name, this online application is offered and associated by Google.

Along with its ability to be accessed anywhere, Google Docs lends itself to collaborative projects where groups can work together in real-time even from different geographic locations! In my experience using Google Docs collaboratively, I noticed that we can see what each other is doing, make adjustments and comment. I also noticed that because the documents are stored online and the option to save it onto a computer, there is no worry about having lost work. Authors are also given the option to share publicly or privately which another good thing about it. Additionally, I should have said this first, but when I was first introduced to Google Docs, the first thing I realised was how easy it was (and still is) to use. My ability to navigate and explore the application was like second nature to me. After this week, I am reminded of how much I really like using Google Docs.

This tool will be useful for my educational activities as a way to collaborate and save time. usually, when I can't make a class I get the notes from my friend by taking a picture, however, now that I am reminded of this tool, we can connect on GoogleDocs and the notes will be there for me and vice versa. It is an efficient yet functional tool that will help be manage my learning content and activities. With groups, we can add our contributions on our own time to make collaborative goals flow easily. This is useful because Google Docs allows us to keep track of any changes made to the document/presentation; it is an exceptional tool that excels in output and productivity.

Recently, I was searching collaboration articles on google and came across this new site that I subscribed to on my Feedly titled The Creative Blog, the article, The 20 Best Tools for Collaboration, discusses the different online applications that help groups to communicate and collaborate easily. For example, the article describes a tool called ConceptBoard. This tool mimics a whiteboard where group members can craft concepts, manage projects, and provide feedback. These tools, are essentially useful for collaborative learning and I will definitely add them to my PLE. Please take the time to look at this article, the lists provided are fantastic and in-depth!