Marcie's+Musings

Marcie's Musings June 19- Sat next to a woman on the plane from DC with an i Pad. I am jealous. I especially liked the photo quality. Small world she world for Holt International and has spent time in Ethiopia too. She gave me a potential clinical site for future trips with the students. Nothing like good old fashion networking...she gave me her business card. Also liked the "library" of books on her i Pad.

June 20th - Failed attempt at setting up this journal. Need to seek assistance from a higher source. Sent email to Scott. Exploring project ideas through e-books with Elsevier.

Star date 6/21/10 - Was able to "chat" with Scott and figured out how to edit my pages and clarify the difference between blogs, discussion groups and wikis...I think I am getting it. I am glad Scott was able to walk me through it in real time.

June 22 - Trying to set up my new course with e-books. I am wondering if the Elsevier blackboard with 24/7 IT service would be better than the GFU FoxTale site for my course. There are pros and cons to each. Met with Scott at the EDFL orientation today face to face! Schultze would be pleased. :-) Also met some new profs and students. I appreciated the health lunch options.

June 23- I can't believe how long it takes me to read a chapter even when I enjoy the reading! This is good for increasing my student empathy for their assignments.

June 24- My son is planning his 14th birthday and doesn't want any of our adult assistance. He is using his phone of course! June 25- My microwave blew up for no apparent reason and the ice maker on the refrigerator is not working! How did I ever survive without technology?

June 27- Happy Birthday Jack! Got my reading and discussion done as well as my proposal submitted. But, more importantly I made time to celebrate with family.

June 30 - Watched a special documentary with my kids about how making firework shows has changed with the advent of computers. I was kind of amazed at how they still rely a lot on simple timing vs anything else. I guess a spectacular explosion and a good joke are similar in that sense its all in the timing.

July 4 - Thanks to our computerized weather history I learned it was the coldest 7/4 in over one hundred years! I believe it. Didn't stop the kids from swimming - there are somethings even computers can't change. (well yet)

July 6 - Jury duty today for Multnomah county. While those of us waiting were allowed to use our computers once on a trial you cannot search for information or discuss it with others including facebook, my space and email. This most of us knew already but what I didn't realize is the reason why. It is because the verdict must be based on the evidence that was presented at the time and not what you find out later. I liked learning that the law sees the present more important than the past or future. No wonder both sides must present their best evidence, witnesses, expert opinions, etc. It makes sense though if one could keep getting new information then the case would take forever to seattle. It was good to hear the judge say that information found on the internet may or may not be true. No kidding!

July 8 - Requested an upgrade to a Mac as my PC is on its last leg. I could have gotten one last year as third year faculty but didn't want to be stressed with the switch. I guess I better be ready now. I asked if I have a choice between an i pad and a Mac. Not entirely sure of the differences.

July 9- Found out today that Page Burst that is a part of my E book is not ready from the publisher yet! I am so anxious to implement it. July 10- Making preparations for my podcast.

July 11 here is the demo for page burst http://pageburst.elsevier.com/ can't wait for it to be available. I love the feature that allows you to highlight a specific paragraph in the text and send it with a note to one student, a group or to the whole class. This would seems like it would be more efficient then what I am doing now.

July 12 - sent my brother a text - LOL he is younger than me and doesn't text at all...well he can read them. I guess I would be less likely to learn new technology if it weren't for my students. He works with inmates - I haven't heard what they are allowed to access. That seems like a scary thought if prisoners didn't have a lot of restrictions. I will have to ask him about that.

July 14 - Ok getting serious about the lit review and finally found some "scholarly" articles. Turns out t he Office of Learning Technologies at the University of W. is cutting edge with this stuff. I bookmarked this article by Cara Lane, PhD as it was really specific to my proposal: Podcasting at the UW: An Evaluation of Current Use.

July 19 - Summer semester begins. I didn't think it would be so important to identify with a cohort. I started fall of 09 most from that cohort did their first summer session last summer. It is interesting to meet some of the students I have been in online classes with during the year. Really illustrates our reading on the need for balance with online community and face to face interactions. This summers cohort is an exciting bunch. My original plan was to be done in about 7 years. The energy of this cohort is kind of forcing me to accelerate my plans. I have been challenged. Funding is probably the main issue. I really don't want to do into serious debt to get my EdD. I am really in it for the intellectual stimulation.

July 20- Found this great blog: A plethora of Technology. It is about technology and specifically to provide educators with ideas, web links, and even teaching suggestions. I think I will post this on the form so everyone can see it. Good stuff http://plethoratech.blogspot.com/2008/09/suit-doesnt-swim-itself.html?showComment=1220997060000#c4503291778599520629

July 21- Got a MAC today! Here at Fox we get a new computer every three years. I actually waiting til now my 4th year cause I knew I would have to make the change. Fox has switched to MACs only now. It is a challenge. No more right clicking! Oh and my poor PC is like a faithful workhorse who has been sent out to the field to retire. It seems so big, clunky and antiquated. I feel like writing a poem or having a memorial service for him/it.

July 22 - More references for my project. Duke University. (2005, June). iPod First Year Experience Final Evaluation Report. available at http: //cit.duke.edu/pdf/ipod_initiative_04_05.pdf.// //Read, B. (2005, October 28). Lectures on the Go.// The Chronicle of Higher Education,// A39-A42. Lane, C. and G. Yamashiro. (2006, February). Educational Technology at the University of Washington: Report on the 2005 Instructor and Student Surveys. Available on from http://catalyst.washington.edu/projects/edtech_2005report.html. Oxford University Press. (2006). “Podcast” is the Word of the Year. Available from http://www.us.oup.com/us/brochure/NOAD_podcast/.

July 23- Decided making a simple yodio rather then the one to use in class is the better way to go about this. My 11 year old and I practiced calling in our voice recordings via our cell phones. I forgot how much I dislike recording and hearing my voice. Oh well this is all in the name of techno science anyway.

July 24- Too much to do and too little time. I decided that the assignments I have going on are actually all very interesting to me. I will focus on what I am learning and not on time restraints. Made 4 practice yodios and have worked out some bugs. It is really just a matter of doing it. Tomorrow I hope to post the yodio. I am just not sure how to embed it in and where.

July-26- Met with Scott to clarify final posting and to chat about Wiggo that we used in the Leadership class. It seems better then iVocal or whatever that is called. I think because more than one person can talk at a time that would give it more of a real time feel. And with this cohort who loves to interact it might be better.

July 27 - These are fun and interesting cites I found on my bib. From Toy to Tool: Cell phones in Learning http://www.cellphonesinlearning.com/2009/03/creating-digital-storybooks-with.html

http://www.cellphonesinlearning.com/2008/09/future-of-cell-phones-in-schools.html July-28 - Just thinking how much I enjoyed the book. I lost my power cord so not able to post my final until today when I got it back. Viola! C'est fini.

July-29/30 - What a treat to just review others projects. I like the variety. It would have been better to present as a group but with so little time and this being just a 1 credit course it was good to be relieved of that. I do think Wiggio might have been the place to do it. I need to explore it more. Looks like it has a lot of potential. And its free!