Screen recording is a very powerful tool, with many uses. A few uses that come to mind are technical support, to supplement training, and technical documentation. I have not used screen recorders myself, but I have received technical support from people who did. In the position I previously held I did work that was unique within the company. This meant that if I ran into a problem with software I had no technical support or person to turn to within the company. So what I had to do was find resources outside the company to help me with technical issues. The resource I subscribed to provided a forum you could post questions and problems to. On one occasion I needed help doing a particular sequence of commands, the person answering my question used a screen recorder to illustrate the multi-step sequence of commands needed to do the task. Responding with text would have been, probably more confusing, plus it would have been a very long explanation. Demonstrating the task using a screen recording took only minutes, and was very informative.
Supplement Training
Something I think would be very beneficial is to have an organized set of screen captured demonstrations that could be used as reference to training. If you have ever worked for a company that has undergone a complete ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system conversion, you’ll understand were I’m coming from. One of the biggest hurdles people run into while undergoing a system conversion is documentation and training. This is a situation I’ve gone through twice with companies I’ve worked for. For example, let’s say you have a medium size company and need to train 250 personnel. You’ll need to set up a training center complete with networked computers, and let’s say you only have room for twenty stations. Too make a long story short, you have to complete training well in advance of the old system shutting off, and the new system turning on. The amount of time that passes in this process is sometimes months, more than enough time for people to forget what they learned. To combat this problem one solution could be to have an easy look up system that provided screen captured demonstrations of what to do. In my opinion this would stream line documentation, and ease technical support.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
YouTube & the Possibilities of Science
In my opinion video is one of the most engaging mediums available on the web. Powerful because the combination of movement and sound has the ability to hold our attention and capture our imagination. On YouTube I have noticed that there seems to be no end to the amount of information available on nearly every subject. For example the subject of E-Learning has more than 4,000 videos available. Most of which were probably created fairly recently.
How Far we’ve come
If you think about it, the technology we have available today would blow the minds of people 100 years ago. The ability to fly would be a hard concept to gasp, but can you imagine telling someone back then that people would not only fly but break the sound barrier. Even though it’s been many years since the sound barrier was broken, the spectacle of what it looks like seems right out of Sci-fi movie.
Very Far Out
As I started doing some searches on YouTube, I thought just how far out can I go? What about, parallel universes, or time travel? There weren’t just a few videos, there are thousands. From where we stand today those really seem like science fiction. But some scientist would say that “what can’t be disproved, might be possible”, at least men like Albert Einstein thought so. In fact during the 1940’s there were actual experiments conducted, one of the most well known the Philadelphia Experiment.
One of the other cool things about YouTube as you do your searches it brings up related information. For example when I searched for time travel a link to the first time machine was made available. And as I typed the search in the search box the program does a near search that displays other possibilities based on what you’ve typed. For example if you type the word “Quantum” in the search term box quantum physics shows up in the near search.
How would you explain Quantum Physics?
I found the results of the quantum physics search fascinating simply because of the different ways these videos try to explain subject matter that involves extremely difficult concepts to understand. There were videos that try to use humor, there was one that used cartoon characters, and then of course there are the experts in the field videos. What would be interesting is to take a subject matter like “Quantum Physics”, and create 3 or 4 different video approaches. You would of course need to start with people who don’t know anything about quantum physics. Divide you students into 3 or 4 groups then test to see which video was the most effective. I think it would be possible to teach a subject like this using video in a way that will get through to the student without them even realizing it. Video has the power to stir interest in a powerful and relatively short amount of time.
How Far we’ve come
If you think about it, the technology we have available today would blow the minds of people 100 years ago. The ability to fly would be a hard concept to gasp, but can you imagine telling someone back then that people would not only fly but break the sound barrier. Even though it’s been many years since the sound barrier was broken, the spectacle of what it looks like seems right out of Sci-fi movie.
Very Far Out
As I started doing some searches on YouTube, I thought just how far out can I go? What about, parallel universes, or time travel? There weren’t just a few videos, there are thousands. From where we stand today those really seem like science fiction. But some scientist would say that “what can’t be disproved, might be possible”, at least men like Albert Einstein thought so. In fact during the 1940’s there were actual experiments conducted, one of the most well known the Philadelphia Experiment.
One of the other cool things about YouTube as you do your searches it brings up related information. For example when I searched for time travel a link to the first time machine was made available. And as I typed the search in the search box the program does a near search that displays other possibilities based on what you’ve typed. For example if you type the word “Quantum” in the search term box quantum physics shows up in the near search.
How would you explain Quantum Physics?
I found the results of the quantum physics search fascinating simply because of the different ways these videos try to explain subject matter that involves extremely difficult concepts to understand. There were videos that try to use humor, there was one that used cartoon characters, and then of course there are the experts in the field videos. What would be interesting is to take a subject matter like “Quantum Physics”, and create 3 or 4 different video approaches. You would of course need to start with people who don’t know anything about quantum physics. Divide you students into 3 or 4 groups then test to see which video was the most effective. I think it would be possible to teach a subject like this using video in a way that will get through to the student without them even realizing it. Video has the power to stir interest in a powerful and relatively short amount of time.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Classroom Podcasting Idea
Like I’ve said in previous posts, I’m not and educator by trade, but I consider myself a lifelong learner. So my approach to the ideas of how podcasting might be used in a class comes from the perspective of a student. I’m sure that all of us at some point in time have taken a class we weren’t exactly thrilled about being in. For me that class was literature, not because I wasn’t interested in the subject matter, but because I had such a hard time understanding much of the material we were reading. Some of the poetry we read for the class was very old, very long, and I thought very hard to understand. As a result I found myself nodding off during every attempt to read the material.
What does that have to do with podcasting?
Who remembers CliffNotes? If I were teaching a class that involved subject material that is difficult to gasp, I would look for ways to keep my students engaged in the material and at the same time entice them to learn. In a number of my college classes we studied Shakespeare, had it not been for CliffNotes I don’t think I would have gotten very much out of it. What the CliffNotes books did for Shakespeare was take something very foreign and explain what’s going on in plain modern English.
Podcasting, are we there yet?
What if you used a podcast to explain and entice your students through a tough reading assignment similar to the way CliffNote books help to explain difficult material? The difference being with a podcast you would have complete control. When I think back to that literature class I took years ago, and those old poems, it would have been so great to have a something that explained things a little along the way. Or even hints about what the authors’ intentions were. If it was a really long reading assignment, you could have a podcast that talks too particular sections. The podcasts could even be used to set a frame of mind prior to reading a section, or ask a question that the reader might seek to answer within the reading.
Wiki and Blog Podcasts
In a class that uses a wiki or blog to interact with students, a podcast could be used by the instructor to answer questions, or explain assignment similar to way our Wiki_Blog_Moodles class is conducted. During the course of a unit students could be encouraged to ask questions about the material via the wiki or blog, at some point in time the instructor could then put together a podcast that answers all questions asked in one shot.
Schools using Podcasting
As I was writing this post I wondered if many schools were using this technology, after doing a few searches it turns out that the numbers are growing. Recently Indiana University announced that it would launch 60 podcast projects across many of its Indiana campuses this fall. There are also many free resources available to educators with sites like Blogging for teachers made easy. In an article entitled Podcasting for Teachers step by step instructions are given for setting up a podcast. And in another article entitled, Ideas for Podcasting in the Classroom, not only are ideas given but an RSS feed is available on the subject. It seems to me that podcasting technology is being embraced by the education community.
What does that have to do with podcasting?
Who remembers CliffNotes? If I were teaching a class that involved subject material that is difficult to gasp, I would look for ways to keep my students engaged in the material and at the same time entice them to learn. In a number of my college classes we studied Shakespeare, had it not been for CliffNotes I don’t think I would have gotten very much out of it. What the CliffNotes books did for Shakespeare was take something very foreign and explain what’s going on in plain modern English.
Podcasting, are we there yet?
What if you used a podcast to explain and entice your students through a tough reading assignment similar to the way CliffNote books help to explain difficult material? The difference being with a podcast you would have complete control. When I think back to that literature class I took years ago, and those old poems, it would have been so great to have a something that explained things a little along the way. Or even hints about what the authors’ intentions were. If it was a really long reading assignment, you could have a podcast that talks too particular sections. The podcasts could even be used to set a frame of mind prior to reading a section, or ask a question that the reader might seek to answer within the reading.
Wiki and Blog Podcasts
In a class that uses a wiki or blog to interact with students, a podcast could be used by the instructor to answer questions, or explain assignment similar to way our Wiki_Blog_Moodles class is conducted. During the course of a unit students could be encouraged to ask questions about the material via the wiki or blog, at some point in time the instructor could then put together a podcast that answers all questions asked in one shot.
Schools using Podcasting
As I was writing this post I wondered if many schools were using this technology, after doing a few searches it turns out that the numbers are growing. Recently Indiana University announced that it would launch 60 podcast projects across many of its Indiana campuses this fall. There are also many free resources available to educators with sites like Blogging for teachers made easy. In an article entitled Podcasting for Teachers step by step instructions are given for setting up a podcast. And in another article entitled, Ideas for Podcasting in the Classroom, not only are ideas given but an RSS feed is available on the subject. It seems to me that podcasting technology is being embraced by the education community.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Schools and Social Networking
A Parent's Perspective
I view social networking not as the latest kid’s fad, but as a new communication direction that is here to stay. But how does this new trend fit into the school systems of today? I don’t pretend to have experience as a teacher working within a school system, but I do have experience working with a school system as a parent. In addition I have experience working with adults and technology within a corporate bureaucracy. Trust me, working with adults over the age of 40 and new technology can be a challenge. Even more a challenge, is working with new technology and upper management within a large corporate bureaucracy.
Social Networking then and now
I have two teenagers at home; my daughter is a sophomore in college, and my son is a junior in high school. My children have grown up never knowing a world without computers. Having had computer in our house since the time they were toddlers, (remember BBS’s, Telnet, or CompuServe?), and having access to computers in school since the time they were in kinder garden, working within that framework is as natural to them as putting on a pair of shoes. Being the age they are, they have also been exposed to the social networking and how it has evolved since the beginning. However, this technology also has a very bad dark side to it. Kids can unknowingly give out personal information, or post things online that can’t be erased later. Not to mention the damage rumors and gossip can cause. Plus, in terms of internet access within the school its self; it is a huge distraction that can take away from the time kids have to learn. As a result social networking sites are blocked in all the schools in our area.
Parent Teacher Blogs
I don’t particularly disagree with the blocking of social networking sites within the schools. However, I do feel that parent teacher blogs, or even school corporation blogs could be very beneficial. In the high school my kids attended there was a system for reporting grades called Edline. But the problem with this system, besides not all teachers using it or keeping it up to date, is that its only one way communication. As a parent, how many times have you asked your kids; what did you do at school today? Or, do you have any homework tonight? Or even attempted to help your kid on a subject, you either know nothing about, or you haven’t looked at in over 25 years. Only to be told by the kid, “They didn’t tell us how to do this”. Parent teacher blogs could be very useful, and allow parents to interact with teachers. From a tax payer’s point of view, a school corporation blog would allow parents to interact with local policy makers on how decisions are being made and money spent.
Time - Cost of Blogging
One of the other big problems with initiating class based blogs, or blogs in general is that it takes time and dedication to keep them going and interact with them. From the perspective of one who has tried to initiate programs that involve people voluntarily dedicating additional time, it’s a real hard sell. It’s also been my experience that most bureaucracy move very slow to adopt technology that takes dedicated resources, despite the advantages. That being said, I sure if you looked hard enough you’ll find schools and other organizations that thrive on this technology, but it’s wide spread usage to its full potential may have some time to go yet.
I view social networking not as the latest kid’s fad, but as a new communication direction that is here to stay. But how does this new trend fit into the school systems of today? I don’t pretend to have experience as a teacher working within a school system, but I do have experience working with a school system as a parent. In addition I have experience working with adults and technology within a corporate bureaucracy. Trust me, working with adults over the age of 40 and new technology can be a challenge. Even more a challenge, is working with new technology and upper management within a large corporate bureaucracy.
Social Networking then and now
I have two teenagers at home; my daughter is a sophomore in college, and my son is a junior in high school. My children have grown up never knowing a world without computers. Having had computer in our house since the time they were toddlers, (remember BBS’s, Telnet, or CompuServe?), and having access to computers in school since the time they were in kinder garden, working within that framework is as natural to them as putting on a pair of shoes. Being the age they are, they have also been exposed to the social networking and how it has evolved since the beginning. However, this technology also has a very bad dark side to it. Kids can unknowingly give out personal information, or post things online that can’t be erased later. Not to mention the damage rumors and gossip can cause. Plus, in terms of internet access within the school its self; it is a huge distraction that can take away from the time kids have to learn. As a result social networking sites are blocked in all the schools in our area.
Parent Teacher Blogs
I don’t particularly disagree with the blocking of social networking sites within the schools. However, I do feel that parent teacher blogs, or even school corporation blogs could be very beneficial. In the high school my kids attended there was a system for reporting grades called Edline. But the problem with this system, besides not all teachers using it or keeping it up to date, is that its only one way communication. As a parent, how many times have you asked your kids; what did you do at school today? Or, do you have any homework tonight? Or even attempted to help your kid on a subject, you either know nothing about, or you haven’t looked at in over 25 years. Only to be told by the kid, “They didn’t tell us how to do this”. Parent teacher blogs could be very useful, and allow parents to interact with teachers. From a tax payer’s point of view, a school corporation blog would allow parents to interact with local policy makers on how decisions are being made and money spent.
Time - Cost of Blogging
One of the other big problems with initiating class based blogs, or blogs in general is that it takes time and dedication to keep them going and interact with them. From the perspective of one who has tried to initiate programs that involve people voluntarily dedicating additional time, it’s a real hard sell. It’s also been my experience that most bureaucracy move very slow to adopt technology that takes dedicated resources, despite the advantages. That being said, I sure if you looked hard enough you’ll find schools and other organizations that thrive on this technology, but it’s wide spread usage to its full potential may have some time to go yet.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
My Thoughts on Blogging
With hope, and optimism I plunge forward into the new world of blogging. This is my very first personal blog but I have believed for some time that this technology could be a very useful in many ways. My initial impression of the technology and what I believe it's main intended use is for education, or to inform similar to a newspaper. But with one very important advantage, it allows the user to interact with the author of the article. Well just how useful is user feed back?
Entice Interaction
Notice the question at the end of the last section, according to flashnet on flashtesti, injecting your blog post with questions will entice interaction, (see the section on Blog commenting). That interaction it seems tends to be the goal of most successful blogs. Flashnet also points out that controversial postings can prove very successful in cultivating res ponces. I believe this to be very true; while I was in college I took many classes in which the professor would intentionally use a controversial topic to entice students to interact. The most masterful of all was my philosophy professor, who had a knack for taking a seemingly simple subject and building the class interaction to almost a fevered pitch. This technique in the case of my philosophy class was very successful, til this day I still remember some of those discussions.
Fear of Blogging
I suppose how controversial you want to get depends on the aim of the site, but I can see how this could be used. One thing I have notices when it comes to implementing company, or organizational type blogs is that many fear the technology. A company I worked for was afraid of negative comments that blog article might bring. As a result of that fear a blog site was never launched. But what management say as drawback, or liability, I saw as an opportunity.
Negative Comments
If you have customers that harbor negative thoughts about your company, service, or product you offer, how great would it be to have insight into those opinions. In an article in the Society of Leisure Enthusiast, it suggests that negative comments provide the opportunity to fix problems, and dispense unreasonable claims. This is not only good PR for a company, but it gives your company the change to let their customer service department shine. By putting your self out there and giving your customers a voice your really putting your money where your mouth is there by earning the respect of the people who keep you in business.
Boldly Go
The web can be a scary place and there certainly are hazards, but in my opinion what organizations and people should do is learn to deal with those hazards not hide from them. The positives to using this technology out weighs the negative. It all about perspective.
Entice Interaction
Notice the question at the end of the last section, according to flashnet on flashtesti, injecting your blog post with questions will entice interaction, (see the section on Blog commenting). That interaction it seems tends to be the goal of most successful blogs. Flashnet also points out that controversial postings can prove very successful in cultivating res ponces. I believe this to be very true; while I was in college I took many classes in which the professor would intentionally use a controversial topic to entice students to interact. The most masterful of all was my philosophy professor, who had a knack for taking a seemingly simple subject and building the class interaction to almost a fevered pitch. This technique in the case of my philosophy class was very successful, til this day I still remember some of those discussions.
Fear of Blogging
I suppose how controversial you want to get depends on the aim of the site, but I can see how this could be used. One thing I have notices when it comes to implementing company, or organizational type blogs is that many fear the technology. A company I worked for was afraid of negative comments that blog article might bring. As a result of that fear a blog site was never launched. But what management say as drawback, or liability, I saw as an opportunity.
Negative Comments
If you have customers that harbor negative thoughts about your company, service, or product you offer, how great would it be to have insight into those opinions. In an article in the Society of Leisure Enthusiast, it suggests that negative comments provide the opportunity to fix problems, and dispense unreasonable claims. This is not only good PR for a company, but it gives your company the change to let their customer service department shine. By putting your self out there and giving your customers a voice your really putting your money where your mouth is there by earning the respect of the people who keep you in business.
Boldly Go
The web can be a scary place and there certainly are hazards, but in my opinion what organizations and people should do is learn to deal with those hazards not hide from them. The positives to using this technology out weighs the negative. It all about perspective.
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