cool technology tools

So I'm always look out for cool collaborative tools - www.join.me seems like a very simple easy to use screen sharing tool. Did I mention its free!

free screen sharing and conference tool

Just for that meetings on the fly

Cheers

Sinead

Team work - you ready?

So part of the social networking tool is working well with your team. The online nature of the class means unlike a live class you will never sit around with a coffee with your fellow classmates in a coffee shop or meat space as real face to face has become called. Doesn't mean that you can't meet people virtually. It means that you need to use collaboration tools such as elluminate the online webcasts, Webex, discussion boards, comments and emails to virtually connect. Even 2nd life, avatars, skype, instant messaging and emails become your coffee chats with your fellow students. 

When you consider the nature of collaboration needed in today's workplace and the tools available such as IM, Jabber, chatter, Webex, Slideshare, Slearslide, Rypple etc you see the expansion of collaboration not only in elearning envirobments but also social software in  enterprise aka work environments. 

From the lecture given by Dr. Ken Haycock we learned that there's different type of teams such as permanent teams, management teams, and temporary teams that are put together to address a specific issue, which also mimics closely what happens in work environments as well as classroom environments. After 20 years in workplace I can attest to successful collaboration being key to successful work environments. His PowerPoint presentation rang very true also to the birth, growth and cycling of team commitments and emotions during project cycles.  He also addresses that most important criteria is group goal and individual accountability. Feedback, coaching, accountability and regular performance reviews hold not only for elearning but also at work. 

Enid Irwin's presentation deals with team dynamics with humor the issues that arise during the natural day to day interactions with teams. Each person wonders if others are doing their part and like any marriage - most important piece is communication.   

Online learning - the challenges

Is online learning right for you?

It's an interesting question and one that I poised to myself many times before I enrolled in the class. The link to the profile mentions some of the personality traits and self assessment you should check internally with yourself before undertake the challenge of studying and enrolling in a 100% online class.

The most difficult challenge for myself will be time management. Not that I am bad at time management but just fitting in all my roles and responsibilities into the average day. I work full-time as a HR manager in a start-up software firm, wonderful exciting role that stretches me daily. It also means it's not a 8-5 role (companies don't do 9-5 anymore - did you notice that? They don't like paying for you to be on lunch!) I'm also married with two small boys under age 4. So my husband drop off the wee boys and I go pick them up after daycare, take them home, dinner, bath-time, bedtime and read them the books and cuddles before bed. Then its time to jump online, pay bills, before crashing into bed as I work eastern time zone so I'm normally at my office at 6am PST. So in between all of this I have to also now work in reading, discussion boards, homework, assignments, content. Am I scared - yes I am, but excited about the new challenges and also very comfortable thankfully with new technologies so online I feel is easier for me than attending traditional in-person classes.

Advantages to online
- I can fit it the classes and work into my availability - even at the oddest hours. So I can jump on at 5am and squeeze in postings and discussions with my fellow learners when I am available, unlike the traditional class.
- I can attend while working full-time and having a family. I see this as the biggest advantage and also one that will change learning as we know it. How many people could attend e-learning if we knock down the barriers to all social economic groups having access to internet? Social and technology projects such as the windup laptops and moving technology and content to the cloud means less barriers to access. It's an exciting time and libraries are at the heart of access for many groups.

greatest library quote ever

“You want weapons? We're in a library! Books! The best weapons in the world! This room's the greatest arsenal we could have - arm yourselves!”—Doctor Who

Disadvantages of Bookstores to Libraries...

XKCD - Library humor

Queen Borg Starts a new adventure

So I dipped my toe in and did open house. Then I waded in and got my ankle wet by taking the first webinars. Now I am going in to the waist and learning more by reading up on my MLIS

Then I took a step and went up to my neck..

What have I signed up for? Oh my library... I need to get my wheels cranking to get my stuff done for the first class now for my new MLIS program

Why a MLIS? Why not!

Its all about the information people and anyone else thinking otherwise is fooling themselves

OK _ back to studying

And being a Mom, and working full time and being a wife, friend, mother, volunteer and now student


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