Week 4 thoughts.

This week I explored many of the Web 2.0 tools that have been shared by you my classmates. I have learned that there are many great tools and pretty much one that fits most any need. Some many ways for us to collaborate and share thoughts, articles, videos and even voice notes. I think that early education must be so much more exciting now than when I was in school. Things have changes a lot since the rickety film and slide projectors.

I think my favorite thing I found during the week, besides my Shark Bite clock is the information about QR. If you haven’t checked out Alyn’s QR comments, you really should. When I saw his comments and his sample audio version it made me think of how great it would have been, or would be to use in Parks and Rec. If the park is somewhere with cell phone reception. How cool would it be to be at a historical monument or nature center and be able to scan the square and hear or see more information? Maybe parks are already using these, I don’t know. Has anyone seen them in this use?

"its a small world"

Today while I was exploring one of my communities, (the one about healthy eating) I found a thread about unofficial meetups. This made me think about how many different ways communities interact and take the initiative to reach beyond the web and develop more personal relationships when they are able. Or also just how the communities can bring people together from around the world.
Thinking about the saying "it's a small world". Is it a small world?  There are people who live just a few miles or maybe a little more that if the web based community did not exist they wouldn't know each other.  So my thought is that it is a really big world, but the web communities make it smaller by enabling people to gather around common interest.

Fun Widgets

Today I explored different widgets or gadgets, I am not sure if they are the same. I looked into gadgets in topics that I am interested in. I found many neat gadgets to add to a blog that can educate people on different topics. Some just provide help in increasing awareness such as the Carbon Footprint Calculator, or helpful tips from the “Its easy to be Green” widget and just some to be fun such as the interactive aquarium. I found all of these widgets at http://www.widgetbox.com/widgets/  What I likes the most was that I was able to search by my topic and then select gadgets that would help people learn about the topic, (environment) or just add a little attraction to my blog.  Hope you enjoy them.  

Week 4 Prompt

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

The issue of authorship, copyright and open access probably have a positive impact on my desire to engage in produsage. Though I don’t see myself as ever having a significant role, these things make it easier.  

Though when able I will contribute to sites. It won’t be about getting credit, but more for the simple ability to help. I think this is true even in my work environment. I think I have always worked with others who openly share knowledge. I think this mentality is what has contributed to the few examples of online communities that exist in the CG.

As far as use, I think copyright and the lack of open access can affect my use of a sites information, or at least question  the authors purpose. When looking for a community to follow I actually checked out quite a few. One of the blogs and forums that I looked at I was really disappointed while reading some of the responses from the author.  Now I realize that everyone has to make a living, but for many of the questions posted by individuals the authors response was “see chapter # in my book”, I guess I saw this as way for her to promote her book. I realize that if she post it all on line there would be no need to buy the book, but I believe there should be some balance. There were multiple responses like this.  Maybe she shouldn’t have a discussion forum if she isn’t going to answer questions. I did not use this community but I believe it speaks to open access and copyright.

I believe that open access and copyright options such as creative commons really opens up the world to an individual. It is up to each individual but for me I would be very open to sharing and there are many benefits and things that make life simpler. You no longer have to recreate the wheel, but instead make it better.

Week 3 Final Thoughts – I have to say that everyone else in the class makes the use of all of these Web 2.0 tools so easy. Many of your blogs are very visually pleasing and easy to navigate. Some are even more on the creative side. I spent some time this week working in another blog I set up to explore some of the different gadgets. A few worked pretty simple but then there were a few that were not as simple. As far as other tools I explored this week including Google Sites, it looks easy and wasn’t too bad until I tried to put a timeline from another site on it. Just as with my blog quite a few times I just ended up with a box that said “gadget”.  I hope to continue to work on using these tools and incorporating them. I must admit, that I don’t think I could do this if I had to actually mess with the code.

So even though I had a few difficulties in getting things to work, overall I have to say that all of the tools are very easy. For those that were not, on a few of them I was able to search for “how to” videos on the web. There are a lot of tutorials. I think this really shows how easy it is to create and produce on the web. However, for me this week, yet again this I was more of a user. But I learned a few new tricks. Cant wait to use them.

Wikis and Blogs would be great

What uses might a collaborative wiki or blog have in your chosen (current or desired) work environment? How would they support learning and/or performance? What would be the design and implementation challenges if management tried to do this? What would be the design and implementation challenges of a user-initiated effort?

For this weeks question I think I already shared a great example of a use of a collaborative wiki within the Coast Guard, specifically for Marine Inspectors. A CWO took it upon himself to create a Wiki in order to help centralize some of the information related to getting qualified as a vessel inspector in the Coast Guard. I believe it has been going for just a little over a year now, this centralized source of information seems like it would be very helpful for a new inspector to get a grasp on all of the regulations, guidance and policy that needs to be known in order to complete inspections. The wiki created is a start at a knowledge management system for marine inspectors. A wiki and/or a blog for marine inspectors connects inspectors of varying levels of experience. There is already a pretty good network and most folks call out to others they know or the marine inspector school for assistance when needed. A blog would enable a marine inspector to reach out to everyone so enabling them to reach a wider knowledge pool.

As I stated in my blog in week one, the biggest challenge with Wikis and Blogs is getting them to function in side the CG computer network, and getting support or some part of the program to take ownership of them. The wiki is the simplest, because just like other wikis if someone puts misinformation on it, it is quickly changed to correct information. The wiki tends to take care of its self. Though for either a blog or a wiki I feel it would be wise to have someone to over see them to ensure they contain good information. For this wiki and any other tool that would be used by a user-initiated effort the challenge is time. I say this because the initiator would most likely be creating these tools in their off time.

I believe that the adoption of these tools would be very beneficial to the CG we are losing many great inspectors to retirement, and there are fewer US Flagged vessels for newbie inspectors to gain experience and I think there is a gap that a wiki and a blog could really help minimize by better connecting the CG Marine Inspector community.

Use of Web 2.0 in schools???

Over the past two weeks I have looked at many Web 2.0 tools. As I look at them, I see how in this class we are using them, and I have read several articles on how they have been used mostly in higher education. I think there are many great examples of how these technologies are used to create more collaborative learning environments. 

Earlier this week I was in DC for a CG meeting, one of the evenings while enjoying the hotels evening wine event I found myself talking to several high school principals. They were staying at the same hotel for an education related meeting.  I asked them about their experiences with Web 2.0 technologies. The interesting thing I heard was that they are not able to use many of them in the class room because the school districts have restricted the websites. Even though these tools could provide a great benefit to education, for the two educators I was talking to from (Los Angeles, and Kentucky) they have problems with responsible use. They have had restrictions put on their access because of cyber bullying or other in appropriate use such as staged fights that are videoed and then placed on the web. When cyber bullying occurs on Facebook or other tools the parents blame the school they said, especially if it happened during school hours.  So, for protection of the school they don’t allow the use. The schools are set up with wifi, but students don’t have access.

The two principals I was talking to both came from low income schools, but I wonder how much of the responsible use factor is keeping these great tools away from students in an academic setting. I am hoping some of the educators in our class will have some input.  Also, since kids know how to use these tools and have access to them, by not using them for academics are the schools not teaching them the good that can come from the tools.

Web 2.0 ---- Web 3.0 my thoughts

This past week I read a lot of blogs, looked at articles posted, followed Twitter. One of the things, which was just a small comment on one classmates blog was a short discussion on Web 2.0 and 3.0. So, my question is where does Web 2.0 end and Web 3.0 start or be launched. If everything we are doing on the Internet now is Web 2.0, I wondered what would be next. I found this article or interivw which seemed to help clear it up a bit.http://socialmediatoday.com/brightfire/510323/tech-expert-prediction-web-30-boom-2014 I understand that is less of a change and more of evolution or mutation. I think it could be a bit of a mutation, because there will probably many changes or tools made, some will make it, and others won't. Those that survive then will become the launching point for what is then next. Kind of a Darwin and the Survival of the fittest. One of first things that caught my interest in the article was its discussion of a navigation system, I had not thought about it as interaction and that it was also sending out information. Last weeks discussion board had a post about free riders, an aspect of the Web 3.0 that would seem to eliminate free riders in that users generate content without conscious engagement and use the information at the same time. I think it can be really beneficial to be able to collect information in this type of way. However, I see a challenge to this being privacy concerns. Which poses my question, what information should be protected? Is my location or history of websites I have visited private information? There is probably an answer to this, and I have my own opinion, but since I have not been that involved in the Internet, and not paid much attention to all of this before. Overall as I learn more about Web 2.0 tools and see there ease of use, I really think it is pretty neat.

Produsage

How might the concept of produsage be applied in your life (personal and/or professional) as it stands today? Are you already a produser? If yes, what do you do? If no, why not?

Produsage in my life a year ago was pretty much nonexistent. Would not even have known what the word was or about Diigo, Blogs, or Wiki (new Wikis existed, didn't know where they came from).  I had a FaceBook account, but didn’t know the password. However, my like changed last summer as I took my first two online courses. Since then I think I contributed, some sort of forced use but consist of either contributing to a class discussion board, or sharing links and articles. However, sometime over the year I have gotten more into it. Though I still really only contribute in class, if that counts, otherwise I am not really produser yet.  I hope that once I get back to the CG that will change. I hope to contribute to the Marine Inspector Wiki I shared last week, or even see how we can get other Web 2.0 technologies into our workplace.  For work I think it is challenging due to our system requirements, though not impossible.

In my personal like I haven’t been a produser, merely a lurker or free rider as discussed in the class discussion board.  I don’t know if that will change much in the future but it might.  If it doesn’t change it is mostly related to my personality and being uncomfortable sharing personal experiences.  Though, even that has changed a bit this week. This week I needed information and was so overwhelmed by the information on the web, I searched through a couple of blogs and found one to ask some questions of the community.  I think the community I asked is very friendly and wants to share the knowledge they have, even though I don’t have much knowledge on the topic to offer.  Who know's sometime in the future, I might be able to share my experiences to help someone else out. 

Its everywhere

This week so far has been a crash course for me into using Web 2.0 on mobile devices.  I had to drive to St. Louis this week unexpectedly. As I was driving the 14 hour drive, I had my dog with me so I had to make several stops to let her walk around a bit.  I found several Shell gas stations that advertised on the Highway sign that they had Wifi. This was great, I was able to go to one place to get gas, read some blogs and tweets. I tried to join Alyn’s Voicethread, but my battery was too low on my Ipad to download the app at the time.  I thought about the fact that the places I stopped at along the way have changed from places with clean restrooms (which is still important) but now I was looking for places with wifi. I was able to follow along a bit, and keep up with reading everyone’s blogs.

Having my IPad had really been helpful these last few days. The only catch still is flash. I know there is an app (Photon) that lets you view flash but it isn’t great and depending on the connection can be somewhat slow. 

I am really beginning to understand the greatness of Web 2.0 and mobile devices. I am able to engage in the class while on the road. This week I have used free wifi at the place I had my oil changed, Shell gas stations, Panera, a hospital and a hotel. I know even McDonalds has it, I guess to go along with all their new coffee drinks to compete with coffee shops.  I think it is interesting how all these businesses are offering wifi, I know for me this week it has been the deciding point.  It is really cool how easy it is to stay connected.  Fabrizio made a comment last week about how he thinks his computer is broken if there is no wifi, or something similar.  Well after this week of travel, I think there are fewer and fewer places where there is not wifi. 

Before this week I never would have thought I would be somewhere in the middle of Alabama at a Shell gas station walking my dog and reading blogs.

Week 1 Prompt

Web 2.0 Experiences

I feel I have had some introduction to Web 2.0 from previous classes and from my own experiences. Mostly I would say I am a follower or even less as just an observer. I am not sure that I would be considered a follower because I haven’t really engaged in any of the Web 2.0 tools. Even Facebook. I mostly just view what others post. Occasionally I post something but it is an effort for me to do so. Compared to my FB friends, they have seemed to make posting a daily activity. Some I feel maybe post too much, I wonder what else they do. I used Diigo in a class, I found it useful for finding out current information that others had posted. However, I haven’t really spent much time using it since the class ended.

I am looking forward to using more of the different Web 2.0 technologies and hopefully will gain some level of comfort using them and learn how they can be used effectively in a learning environment and use them in the CG. Unfortunately, many of these tools are not available for use in the CG due to the security restrictions on our network but I do hope that will change. There are some tools that are being used sort a unofficially outside the CG network.  One example is a Wiki that has been developed by a member that is focused on information about Marine Inspections (MI). This wiki is not supported or funded by the CG but it is a very helpful tool and many Marine Inspectors use it as a reference. The member, on his own initiative pretty much maintains the Wiki. He controls access with the assistance of a few others so you have to be a member of the CG to gain access. 

 Hopefully at some point these sites will be compatible with our computer security restrictions and be supported. If not, sites like the MI wiki may go away. It would be great to have a Diigo group or similar type of community page which would include both members of the CG and the industry we regulate to share new regulations, policies and vessel related technology news.

New Twitter Name

Well, thanks to Fabrizio's suggestion I tried to change my Twitter user name. I was successful. It was very easy to do. Now my account name is shorter and easier to remember. @FranMSmith Hopefully, this will make it easier to find me. Now all I have to do is figure out how to actually tweet. Then maybe I will see what it is all about.

Twitter

I guess I have now joined the many people on Twitter. I have avoided this because I don't understand what all of the excitement is about. I guess I will find out. My twitter account is @FranSmi52506433 I have to say that this is definitely one account I have to write down, with a last name of Smith my account name has a long sequence of random numbers that I will probably never remember.

First Blog

Hello, and welcome to my first blog.  I have to say that I am excited to learning more about Web 2.0 in a more hands on way.  I think I have heard of most of the technology/tools that we will be discussing. I honestly have not spent much time actually working with them or interacting with the tools or other people through blogs, Twitter, or Wikis.  Even on Facebook I am more of a lurker, only reading my friends post and rarely posting anything myself.

I know that currently my blog page is light on content but please check back because I will be adding to it as I find things of interest.  So as I explore I look forward to any comments you may have to share.

In creating this blog I have already begun expanding my knowledge.  I first started off with WordPress because I learned about it in another class. Once I saw the class blog was from Blogspot I tried it.  Both are free, but in my opinion Blogspot is easier and I didn't have to set up a new account, it links to my Gmail. So - no new password, Yay