I have thought that internet and emails and other web applications are for introvert people. While working with introvert engineers at Samsung, I was surprised how good they are utilizing technology. It feels like the introvert engineers build another world for themselves. If having felt uncomfortable in the world where verbal communication skills are highly appreciated, they no more have disadvantage over extravert, verbal and action-oriented people in web 2.0 world. It also seems also like somewhat power-free zone. In the conventional work environment, people who are in the higher position had more chance to talk and the people without power did not have an opportunity no matter how important opinion they could raise. This gives us a hegemony shift.
Although being so impressed about the application and how this application helps us practice Dewey philosophy, I am still concerned. The first issue is a virus infection. I feel this application is safer than using emails but after a virus detected while downloading Delicious program, I cannot stop worrying about this.
Second, all the application seems to be very useful for class activities and look so for works in office as well, especially in the era of globalization. We might need lesser time to wake up in the night to talk to people in the opposite side if the globe and pay for international calls. But I am worried about security. In cooperate learning, action leaning where people deal with real-life problem is popular. Like PBL, the learning subject and contents possibly contain something confidential.
Third, how can these new application appeal to old adults? Students in my program, adult learning and leadership, one day complain about people using iPod in the bus. A student said that she was so bothered by the noises from everybody’s iPod but her in the bus on her way back home in the night. The students were mostly in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. I also do not know how to download music. Due to this fact, I feel marginalized and victimized. I follow this class. But how can I introduce these applications to older students? Can using these applications be threatening?
My target students are executives in major corporations. They are who really need this kind of application since they are busy and hard to get together with other executives. But without clarifying above issues, it will not be possible to use these for their cooperative learning. Many executives cannot type.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Web 20.0 log
Web 2.0 log – Webspiration and Wiki
It must be almost scary for me to handle Websperation in two ways.
First, I am never good at technology. In fact, I had so hard time to figure out my blog’s URL. I set up my blog during the break in ambition to share how I live in New York with my family members. In fact, I was inspired by Picasa and made a blog through Picasa simply to add some memos on my favorite pictures. So I loged in my blog only through Picasa. I learned how to post and how to view. Besides those activity, everything was daunting – how to get to there again and how to invite others to view the pages and the likes. In addition, I even did and still do not know what I did not know. However, I need to do it.
Webspiration – it looked way more complex than blogspot.
Second, I have never work in such way – using diagrams. I am a professional writer. I just write and write. Of course, I draw such things when I work for corporation. Yet, the purpose of it was to help my listener understand, not for me. When I was inquired to draw diagrams for brainstorming in a research class, it did not feel quite right to me. Webspiration is new for me in terms of technology and learning style. Some visual learners could benefit out of it for sure. Me? Well…
However, this semester I am preparing for a cert exam and see the potential usage of this application. My problem was how can I organize and revisit what I have learned for two and a half years? While chatting with my colleague who is also taking Cert this month, she suggested me to draw diagrams. Although we divide subjects into 5-6 for convenience, they are actually not totally separate. To study more effectively and promote our understanding of my field as a whole, I thought it might be beneficial. At that time I was still thinking that two or more people stick to a large paper on the wall and draw circles and arrows with markers. My skeptism headed up here. “OK, we can work together. But how can I bring it home to rehearse? Should we copy it into smaller paper to make a copy (possibly take a picture?) and each of us brings the copy home?” So we gave up study together. But ding! If had known webpiration earlier, I could have thought differently. Webspiration seems to be a perfect application for me and my colleague. This is also actually live. So we can work together at the same time. In the past, people can work with verbally and literally but not in this way in distance. Without exchanging files through email or posting it, work could be done.
While participating in the exploration for this class, I found it easier to deal with than I had thought. It was no more than Powerpoint at the beginning. It might need more skills to deal with it more.
I used to live and write in countryside. For idea meetings with editors, I had to make a trip to the city but I think this application could save time and money to travel. Well but, it might end up keeping me in the isolated countryside forever.
As for the Wiki, it is so interesting to work on a document all together and the participants are informed by email. It is look much easier to me than Webspiration simply because it suits my learning style better. I think it will be super useful when I work with my editors. Once I pass my original writing, I just have an opportunity to work on it once or twice. If all the stakeholders have an access continuously, we might produce better products. I also want to use this one with my husband. I often help him in editing his article in English. We do not have to exchange files and sometimes have to wait until the other one become available. I can start editing from the beginning when my husband working the later part. However, I am wondering if we can trace who made what change and when. I will play with it and learn it more.
This semester will be very interesting journey to the world of technology!
It must be almost scary for me to handle Websperation in two ways.
First, I am never good at technology. In fact, I had so hard time to figure out my blog’s URL. I set up my blog during the break in ambition to share how I live in New York with my family members. In fact, I was inspired by Picasa and made a blog through Picasa simply to add some memos on my favorite pictures. So I loged in my blog only through Picasa. I learned how to post and how to view. Besides those activity, everything was daunting – how to get to there again and how to invite others to view the pages and the likes. In addition, I even did and still do not know what I did not know. However, I need to do it.
Webspiration – it looked way more complex than blogspot.
Second, I have never work in such way – using diagrams. I am a professional writer. I just write and write. Of course, I draw such things when I work for corporation. Yet, the purpose of it was to help my listener understand, not for me. When I was inquired to draw diagrams for brainstorming in a research class, it did not feel quite right to me. Webspiration is new for me in terms of technology and learning style. Some visual learners could benefit out of it for sure. Me? Well…
However, this semester I am preparing for a cert exam and see the potential usage of this application. My problem was how can I organize and revisit what I have learned for two and a half years? While chatting with my colleague who is also taking Cert this month, she suggested me to draw diagrams. Although we divide subjects into 5-6 for convenience, they are actually not totally separate. To study more effectively and promote our understanding of my field as a whole, I thought it might be beneficial. At that time I was still thinking that two or more people stick to a large paper on the wall and draw circles and arrows with markers. My skeptism headed up here. “OK, we can work together. But how can I bring it home to rehearse? Should we copy it into smaller paper to make a copy (possibly take a picture?) and each of us brings the copy home?” So we gave up study together. But ding! If had known webpiration earlier, I could have thought differently. Webspiration seems to be a perfect application for me and my colleague. This is also actually live. So we can work together at the same time. In the past, people can work with verbally and literally but not in this way in distance. Without exchanging files through email or posting it, work could be done.
While participating in the exploration for this class, I found it easier to deal with than I had thought. It was no more than Powerpoint at the beginning. It might need more skills to deal with it more.
I used to live and write in countryside. For idea meetings with editors, I had to make a trip to the city but I think this application could save time and money to travel. Well but, it might end up keeping me in the isolated countryside forever.
As for the Wiki, it is so interesting to work on a document all together and the participants are informed by email. It is look much easier to me than Webspiration simply because it suits my learning style better. I think it will be super useful when I work with my editors. Once I pass my original writing, I just have an opportunity to work on it once or twice. If all the stakeholders have an access continuously, we might produce better products. I also want to use this one with my husband. I often help him in editing his article in English. We do not have to exchange files and sometimes have to wait until the other one become available. I can start editing from the beginning when my husband working the later part. However, I am wondering if we can trace who made what change and when. I will play with it and learn it more.
This semester will be very interesting journey to the world of technology!
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