Module 2/LA2: Assessment criteria for websites

For module 2 , LA2, we need to compare our website to at least two others.
We need to find criteria for this.

Two suggestions were given:

Effectiveness of Communication
Use of Graphics

This is what I found on another website regarding website assessment criteria:
Content relevance
Content accessibility
Content selection
Content validity
Content interchange
Site transparency/credibility
Links
Quality assurance
Safeguards


I put those in bold that I consider useful for LA 2. Any takers?? Any comments?

Module 2/LA1: Relative Merits of three online tools

Okay, the second part of the written assignment is to consider the relative merits of at least three online tools.

Now, I asked about the term relative merits in the chat discussion yesterday, and we came to the conclusion that this means to consider the advantages and disadvantages.
So, this has been sorted out. Good to understand the task before you start it!

The three online tools I would like to consider are:

Online Forums

Instant Messenger

Google Video


I am very familiar with the first two, but quite new to Google Video. I have used it before, but not thought about its merits and actual purpose (other than providing me with entertainment).

OT: Where is my mind?

I feel terrible today, for absolutely no reason. But being a fairly emotional learner, I cannot get any work done, even though I especially cancelled a trip to the Olympic Stadium this morning to get my written assignment done. However, I have not touched it and just looking at it makes me more miserable.

I have to leave for work in 25 min, so I guess the written work has to wait, unless I'm taking my computer to work. Which may be a good idea.

I want my enthusiasm back from yesterday!!!!!

Module 2/ LA 1: Reading Notes and Thoughts

Main differentiation of online communication tools:

1) Asynchronous Communication: Different time, different place
2) Synchronous Communication: Same time

1) Asynchronous Communication:

- Online Forums (such as: IAMX Forum)
- Guestbooks
- Websites (such as MySpace, Guardian)
- Blogs (such as this one)
- E-Mail (such as: GMail/GoogleMail
- First Class Ultraversity Discussion Forums

Pros
- everyone can be reached and reply at a time suitable for them
- time to consider answers --> RICH contextual exchange
(messages, comments tend to be longer and have more content)
- no time restrictions
- no scheduled events
- building relationships over time

Cons
- it may take a while to receive desired answer/comment/feedback
- no 'direct' contact
- it can take a long time to reach a decision with a group of people
- hard to finish/close a topic


2) Synchronous Communication:
- Online Chat (such as: Java Chat Rooms or IRC Channel Chat Rooms)
- Instant Messenger (such as AIM, MSN, Skype)
- Whiteboards
- First Class Server (Ultraversity) IM

Pros
- immediate feedback/comments/answers
- 'warm' conversation
- quick decisions can be made
- relationship building
- easy to exchange information and comments

Cons
- hard to arrange chats with a group of people
- some people may have trouble following the conversation
- slow typers may not be able to have much input
- 'techno-phobes' may be put off


CONCLUSION
The right combination of asynchronous and synchronous tools is necessary for good communication online.

Module 2, LA 2 Resume

I have created my resume on First Class. I looked at a few different level resumes beforehand, which inspired me to make it the way it is now.
In fact, a Junior Mac Creator inspired me to make something different.

It was easy for me to create a picture (.jpg) in Adobe Photoshop. I have done this before. I selected a background color and then added text. Additionally, I added puppy footprints to make it more unique.
I like it.

Really tired after a busy day at work, so going to keep this short. Making the resume made me feel accomplished.

Module 2/ LA 1: Online Tools

For LA 1 in Module 2, Introduction to Online Communication and Technology, I need to make a list of online tools I have used before and describe them. This is my attempt to do so.
Please feel free to comment on them!


E-Mail:
Web-based e-mail, e.g. Gmail: Web-based email allows you to check your email from any device, anywhere in the world, by going to the website and entering your account name and password. It does not require any other setup. It is convenient for people who do not have their own notebook and need to rely on different computers, e.g. in Internet Cafes, all the time.

POP e-mail with a mail application, e.g. Mail or Outlook Express: With POP3 services, you can download your emails onto your computer and view them without an internet connection as well. Some web-based services allow you to download the emails as well (such as Gmail/GoogleMail). You require your username and password, as well as the server settings for the email service. A very convenient way to handle emails, esp. if you only access it from one computer (e.g. your desktop computer or notebook.

Internal E-mail: A part of First Class is the email service. It only allows internal emails to be sent back and forth between people who have access to that particular First Class server.


E-Mail Newsletters:
I receive email newsletters that I have subscribed to. Most of the services I subscribed to provide me with up-to-date news of a website.
I also send out a newsletter for a website I help to maintain. When there are news for the band the website is about, such as new releases and tour dates, I prepare a newsletter with a short introduction about the news and a link to the website.
Then it is sent out to those people, who subscribed to the service.

Mailing Lists:
Yahoo Groups is the main provider of mailing list services I can think of. A few years ago, I created a few mailing lists on there, in order to discuss bands.
Nowadays, online forums and message boards have mainly taken over, in my opinion.

Online Conferencing/Online Forums:
This is probably the most important communication tool on the internet at the moment.
I use many different internet forums, covering all different topics, such as news forums, student forums, teacher and education forums, music forums, and the First Class Server Cohort 6 and all other Ultraversity Online Forums. (Although I need to use the First Class client for it).
Some of those forums are for communication, but all in all, it is always a huge exchange of information.

Chat:
I normally use chats to communicate with more than one person at the same time. It is very useful to discuss a topic, but also to receive feedback and comments quickly. A good example are the Online Chats in Cohort 6 that have taken place.

Instant Messaging:
I use for IM applications: AOL Instant Messager (AIM), Microsoft Messenger (MSN), Skype and First Class IM.
AIM: I use the ichat client that is part of iLife on a Mac system. This is the application I primarily use to talk to friends and family. It has the added bonus of voice chat and camera conferencing.
MSN: I use MSN for conversations with other researcher at Ultraversity, as well as other members of a forum I visit a lot. The Mac version of MSN is limited, so no voice chats or camera chats are possible.
Skype: The application for internet telephony. I use this a lot to talk to friends around the world. I can call their computers by adding their username to my Skype, but I can also call normal phones by purchasing credit. This is very useful when traveling. In fact, the first contact I had with Ultraversity was initiated by Skype (An Ultraversity LF called my mobile phone with Skype). I also have talked to my LF on Skype (instant messaging and phone call).
First Class IM: When I am using the FC application, I check who is online and if I want to talk to anyone. In fact, the C6 chats have been through the IM system as well. I can see all Ultraversity members that are currently online and invite them to talk to me.

Instant Messaging, as a synchronous online communication tool, is the best way to stay in touch with people. Questions can be answered almost immediately. Comments and feedback are in real-time. A good way to exchange information and build relationships.



These are the majority of Online Tools I have used.

New Design

In an attempt to make this learning journal more suitable for me, my work and people who view it, I have decided to tag all posts according to their content.

I tried to work with the integrated iWeb blog, but it doesn't let people comment, so I am switching back to this blog from now on.

Module 1 of the degree is now completed and I have submitted it! On to Module 2.

I have also created a website for Cohort 6: Cohort 6 website!!!

0010: The day to create my Module website

I have started work on my complete module one work. I’m excited that I got this far and can’t wait to see the end result. So, back to work for me!

- Jessica

0009

Today I should be finishing LA 3 and 4. Instead, I have been looking at books.

0008

I have not been doing anything for Ultraversity the past week, because of my exams at Humboldt University this week. The first one was yesterday and it was okay. I was studying so hard for the literary theory part, but I couldn't answer the questions at all. I didn't attend that semester after all. I hope I still scored a point or two. But wow, I learn all about poems, and prose and theories about literature, and we get three rather stupid questions. Ah well...
The literary history part was easy enough. I was hoping for a modern American drama essay question and a Whitman/Dickinson one and .... TA DA! Those were two of the six questions.
I think I did well in those questions and even answered a third on (we only had to choose two) in order to hopefully score another extra point to make up for the rotten theory part.

But, no time to slack, I need to study for cultural theory and history now!

0007: Things I want to remember

One element we try to develop with researchers is an ability to look at a situation from a range of perspectives. A good manager for example can understand how different employees will view change and can therefore factor that into his / her approach. As employees we tend to see things only from our own point of view. Try to put a situation in the centre of a circle and then stand in different positions around the circle to see it from a different perspective. A = my take on it, B = My bosses take on it, C = the customer / pupils view on it, D = the supplier / parents view on it.

What we are trying to achieve in this module is for you to consider your role, strengths and weaknesses as you see it but also from other perspectives too. As an identical twin I am used to looking at my sister and seeing myself...very disconcerting at first because you really see all the negatives as well as the positives! Certain things may well shock you at first..but seeing yourself through someone else's eyes can bring huge strength, just don't take anything personally. See it as an opportunity to move forward because you understand yourself far better than you thought you did.

-------

When looking at a day in your working life you are probably not doing anything you don't normally do.

"When you look back on any given day you don’t just think about what happened you think about its impact, about how you felt. You distill the new experience through past experience!

– you wonder why X said Y and if it was hurtful, informative, a smoke screen etc.? You wonder if you should have done something differently and why. You wonder if what you did/said was effective and did X really understand what you were trying to say/do? You might even consider what you learned from a particular incident.

Thus we want you to not only record but also to reflect - seeking learning."

REFLECTION [in capitals for emphasis] plays an important part in this degree. You may be busy pulling together aspects of a busy day....but STOP...THINK....REFLECT...on those roles and responsibilities.

What impacts on you...who influences you...who do you influence...why is that system used?

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0006

Oh, there are two more things:

1) The feedback I got for my ILP was good. I am glad that Sarah agreed to it, and now it is time to see if I can put it all into place. If not, re-negotiating is at hand.

2) Have a look at my LA1. A Day In My Working Life (by Jessica Kelleher)

0005

Time to catch up here for once. I need to get into a routine of posting here every day or something, but I have been so busy sorting many things out.

My exams are coming up next week and I am seriously freaking out about them. I have so much more work to do and am trying to catch up with everything today. This is scary, because I know I should have done this months ago. I was seriously lazy and took on too much work.

Last week was a spectacular week. I was working all week on holiday courses and they went very well. Tuesday was a holiday (Reunification Day) and I managed to get my first Learning Activity pretty much done. I have been too busy to add the last two bits to it, but I consider it done. And I will get started on LA 2 at the end of next week.

I found the creation of my ILP harder than that of LA1. That is probably because I have had to think about what I want to do for it before I did it. So, having a plan, like the ILP, makes the tasks a lot easier.

I would like to reflect more and write more, but it is time to go to the bakery, get some rolls for breakfast and then revise, revise, revise!

Have a good weekend, everyone!

0004

My ILP has been submitted, and now the fear has started to set in that I could have done better. Of course, I can alter it again and again. I will wait until Sarah gets back to me.

Today is going to be a long day at work and I have also just found out that I will be working every Wednesday in October. This has caused a big problem for me, taking into consideration the amount of students I have taken on privately and the exams. But I had originally said that I could come in those days and help out, so now I have to make a new schedule for all of October. The money does come in handy though, because we want to go to London in November for two days to see IAMX (a band I really like) and a lot of friends. So, fingers crossed it all works out.

0003

I have finished, proof-read, double-checked and submitted my ILP. Not that it really needed all that attention, but I'm a perfectionist (in theory).
I feel so glad it is done, and now, looking back at it, it was a good start to the course. I really did take my time with it; I didn't start it right away, but took several steps:

- read it several times
- made notes and 'first-things-that-come-to-mind' lists
- considered it
- talked about it
and then wrote the whole thing up.

I'm pleased with it and we shall see how my LF sees it. I can't wait to get started!
But now it is time to get dressed, do my hair and get to work. I shall study some more for my exams on the train!

0002

The course has been going for a bit over a week now and I have gotten used to the website, First Class and finally talked to Sarah, my Learning Facilitator yesterday.

A few things still need to be done this week:

- I need to finish the ILP:

I'm having a hard time with it, because I don't really know what it required of me at this stage. I have finished filling in the How I Will Approach This bit, but only in noted. I have no clue if we should just submit it in notes-style (considering Sarah said yesterday that it is mainly for myself and I will find myself changing it and developing it during the Learning Activities), or in full sentences.
Also, I know myself and I always struggle with a concrete plan. I like to leave my options open, but I also need to realize that I can obviously change my ILP regardless of what I submitted.

- I need to send in my Tuition Fee Grant form:

Today I will send it to ARU/Ultralab and then I need to send it on to Student Finance Direct asap. The deadline is Dec. 1st.
I also think that my student account with ARU won't work until they have seen and stamped my form. I hope SFD EU Team is quick to process my application.

- I need to study for my regular exams. Enough said on that in here.

- I need to get a better at time management:

I have realized that I work a little bit too much. I need to learn how to use my time correctly. Over the next few weeks I will mainly focus on my Humboldt University exams, but at least right after those exams I want to designate my days to only one thing. Say, Mondays and Fridays I work at Lernwerk. The mornings can be used for general work and some revision. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays I teach privately. I only want to use the mornings for Ultraversity work when I don't have to go to normal university, which is on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The weekends are reserved for at least one whole day off (which can be spread over two days, I assume).

0001

Yesterday I completed my registration with the Ultraversity and I'm now fully enrolled on the BA(Hons) Learning, Technology and Research degree.
I created this blog exclusively for the degree. This will be my opportunity to reflect on my learning, note down ideas and simply let of some steam.

The first thing I had to do was log into the researchers' area and look at the to-do list. So far, this one is easy enough; including the introduction to Firefox and the instruction to download it. Luckily, I'm very aware of the advantages of Firefox and, even though I'm using Safari for my regular net use, I'm happy to use the application.

Secondly, we had to download an application called First Class. After running into inital problems, like not being able to log in, I got it up and running. I love the idea of an interface like this. Not only does it provide you with your own ultraversity mailbox, it's also a great place to meet the people on your own cohert (this is the group of students who start the degree at the same time as you- your fellow researchers) and the entire Ultraversity.
I still need to look into it even more, but so far, First Class is great. I mean, who wouldn't like to travel that way? ;)

--> Reflection: The problem incurred while trying to log in, was solved by (my non-existent) patience. It appears you need to get an e-mail from the Learning Facilitator (or, your personal tutor) before you can log in.
I decided to wait a while after getting the annoying error message that my username and/or password is wrong- and it helped. When I got home from work, my LF Sarah had emailed me and I could log in without any problems.
--> Anything else I learned from this? Apart from learning a new programme/application: Not really. I'm fairly good with my computer and knew what I was doing (downloading, setting up the server).

My next steps are going to be:

- Talking to my LF Sarah on the phone. Maybe today, maybe on Monday. I emailed her times I will be available.

- Working on my Individual Learning Plan (ILP). I have had a good look at it already, now it is time to 'add my flavour'.