Technology Glitches

The only thing totally dependable about technology is that there will be glitches! I couldn't respond to my own discussion board in Blackboard. Well, after a wonderful technician helped me, turns out it was Skype that was blocking it. Who would have thought? Glad he was there to help.

Personal Learning Networks

These are a plethora of ways to create a digital personal learning network. So many tools, so little time. Just enjoying the first session of the DigiFoot 12 class. I would consider myself a lurker or novice in many ways. I check what others post without posting too much myself. Maybe I need to get going--how about you?

Learning is so easy and convenient with the Internet. Just signing up for a free, online class on digital footprints. Wow--the learning possibilities are just endless. This is not something I really have time to add to my schedule, but the opportunity is too good to pass up. So here I go. If you want to join, go to: http://www.student20.com/group/digifoot12

Along with teaching the Online Teacher Training course for SEMVA, I am also teaching a Social Media class for Saint Mary's University in Winona--also online. My experience in the past few days has made me so much more appreciative of what SEMVA offers its students, parents, and teachers. There have been several technology glitches in getting my course shell open and available to the students. I would go in and make it available, come back a few hours later, and it would be unavailable. Students were trying to access the course and couldn't. Of course, last evening was when I was struggling to get this all to work. No one was at St. Mary's to answer my questions and give me the support I needed. SEMVA offers 24/7 technical support and an actual phone number to call to talk to a real person. Hallelujah! Students can always connect qwith someone to get help with whatever problem they are currently having. I had to call the main number and get transferred several times to find the right person. I have sent emails that have not been responded to--caught in cyberspace. SEMVA offers a great service to our clientele.

Technology - what a topic to try to get you mind around these days. Just when you get comfortable with a tool, a newer and better one comes out. Amazing how fast it can be developed. Educators have no way of keeping up with what is out there. No way! This from the June, 2012 issue of Reader's Digerst, p. 112: Social media Explained Twitter: I'm eating a #donut Facebook: I like donuts Foursquare: This is where I eat donuts Instagram: Here's a vintage photo of my donut YouTube: Here I am eating a donut Linkedin: My skills include donut eating Pinterest: Here's a donut recipe Last FM: Now listening to "donuts" G+: I'm a Google employee who eats donuts How did we communicate before social media?