Monday, May 3, 2010

Google docs...

Okay, this is a great tool.... You can have access to your docs without having to store in on your laptop... I think the benefits are self-explanatory...

Teachers can keep all their years of lesson planning in one spot....

Businesses can keep all of their vital contracts and all in one area....

Social activists can keep a tally of all their petitions...

Do I need to go on?

Twitter....

What can I say Twitter? Let me keep simple, and short as possible...

Unless you are a traveler or adventurer roaming the world, or a social activist making a positive change for the world, or even an educator enhancing the lives of our student, I dont think I would be interested in your minute by minute explanation, brief as it may be, of y our daily routine which hasnt really changed for the past 5 years, to be blunt, with due respect of course....

No, I think I have enough problems and issues to deal with, then to know that you are picking up a gallon of milk because you really thought you measured it enough for the morning's cereal, or that you are forced to go out in the cold in your slippers cause your delivery person dosnt know how to throw, or that you are in the mood for sushi....

I am sorry I really dont care.... I dont mean to be mean, and I am usually diplomatic and tactful but certain things I feel should be understood on its own.... Twitter again unless its important and needed, is annoying...

I dont know if I want to be that attached to anyone.... Except of course, my wife.... Yes, I am expecting to get brownie points for that, thank you very much.... :)

But in the end I guess, its 'to each their own'...

Bookmarking

Heres another 'make your life easier' tool that I think I can do without... I am happy with the physical bookmark that I use for my physical books....

I dont think I have much use for this, at least for now.... I am not searching or going through hundreds of regular websites each day, nor do I have the time...

Thank-God, my memory is still strong that I can simply remember the name of the websites, just like the how the cavemen perhaps remembered where they left their hunting tools without the assistance of any technology...

I am sure it may be helpful to some particular profession.... But even from a teachers point of view, even though there many - many great teaching websites out there, that are important and vital and needed at times, I would rather not be overwhelmed or even confused at the influx of info out there... I will take what I like, adjust it, modify it as i like, and move on with my life...

YouTube...

Okay here is a technology that has, whether we like it or not, become a part of not only our society but our lives as well, directly or indirectly...

Be it to arouse the memories of yesterday, when we search for our favorite tv ads. Or to watch our fav characters that we grew watching... Or just to be a part of the moment during the birth of that .special one...

Visual is a powerful tool that gets the creative juices of our mind flowing...

An educator can only teach so much in one hour or even a few hours a day... An educators own knowledge and experience may be limited.... An educator may be limited to one area....

What is a student of sociology to do? How does a teacher of sociology make the lesson more 'hands-on', if you will? I really dont think it gets simpler than youtube aside from live video chatting...

To obtain a better understanding or gather more details, one can turn to YT for a bunch of lectures and seminars on the topic or even video footage of actual excavation sites..... The possibilities is endless.... Projects are immense to peak the interest....

Podcasts

Podcasts.... Yet another technology to simplify things. This refers back to my other blog where I 'shared my concern' about new gadgets and what or how we did things in the 'good old days of yesteryear s'...

Personally, I know its a great tool. It does definitely simplify things where you have a world of knowledge at your fingertips. I personally know a few who use it regularly, and swore by it. And I am sure it is a great and valuable tool in the classroom as well.... Notes, lectures, projects -- the list is endless...

The problem I have is using tech for the sake of it.... I mean there is already enough as it is.... Time is already limited not to mention the attention span of kids. Do we really want to add to their list of making an effort to engage in another medium for the sake of knowledge? We are just at the tip of the iceberg as they say. Where do we draw the line? How do we know enough is enough? What a semester of classes, how much time or space do we really have to add this or that, or do away with this or that? Does the added technology really enhance the learning experience or just take away the learning time?

In business, it is often said lets cut to the chase.... Yesterday, we told our kids look, 2 multiplied by 2 is 4. Learn it, use it and apply it. Thats it. End of story. Today, we have to first take out our technology, literally plug it in, not to mention the kids themselves, and then we move on to the actual learning...

I am just playing the devils advocate, but sometimes I do wonder, is it really worth it all? Or are we loosing the essence of it all, the teaching and learning, while adapting all these new high gadgets and what not.....

Wiki

This I think is a great tool personally.... I am in Project Management as well non-profit Projects, and it comes in real handy with both areas.

With the PM, for instance, we have one basic doc online. From there, each appropriate team or individual, be it the engineers, accountants, IT, etc, edits as needed. There is no confusion or overlap as everything is in essence done in 'real time'. There are no excuses or ton of emails from everyone. Its really simplified.

With the NP, when we are designing and implementing a Seminar or Conference, as you may know its a hassle and at times chaotic, to create and update the Agenda, as each speakers schedule or title keeps changing. Here in this situation, via Wiki, the planning to a certain extent is done effortlessly. It does indeed make things easier...

Even when it comes to teaching, and theres a group of us teaching the same class to a diff group of students, we can make modifications or suggestions to one common syllabus that we just refer to on our time....

A virtual assistant indeed!

Photos and Images...

I will be honest with you.... As surprising as it may be, and as taken aback as you may be, I really couldnt wait to get to this section... Yes, thats correct, hard to believe, but I am intrigued and fascinated with the world of pictures, and cameras, and all the tech that goes with it. Yup... :)

I think the few pics that I have been able to upload should be on behalf of my interest. Would like to upload and post more, but thats only possible if my wife's list of errands cease :). And hopefully, shes not reading this, otherwise, there goes my home cooked meal as well... :)

After many years of playing with the camera, and trying to keep on top of things and updated, I am still amazed with this. How a 'simple' technology can capture any moment, to reflect upon and reminisce years later.... The blushing bride, the graduate full of pride, the innocence of a baby...

And now, to add to that, its not about going to your closet and taking out the shoebox. With the digital technology, literally thousands and thousands of your personal photos online at your fingertips. In other words, we can travel half way across the world, and still have access to our memories displaying it for all to see...

I have tried many of the tools and options suggested in this session. Learned something new, got refresher.... Overall, a great session as it had to do with my own personal interest.... Look forward to playing with it even more....