2nd Podcast

In my first show of my two part series podcast, I explained the positive aspects of teaching in a 3-Dimensional world. Particularly teaching visual esthetic's and design. For my second podcast I explain how to use an instructional design approach while building, and conducting a class in the virtual world. I use Second Life as my stage to work on, and then I build from there. I really like the approach that I took, but I think I need to add additional time for a more thorough description of a few steps. There is a stretch where you hear Second Lifes nature sounds in my background, I already made too many changes to my podcast to erase the noise. So just imagine you're listening in a relaxed outdoor setting :-) Take a listen and tell me what you think.

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HP Touch Screen Computer

I was watching Martha Stewart yesterday and she introduced the new HP Touchscreen computer onher show. This computer allows users to keep it in an area in the kitchen, and use it to keep up with household to-do list. It can be used like sticky post notes, daily scheduling, posting chores, watching videos, and audio recordings. The system is ran by touching the screen to navigate, using a keyboard, or a mouse. Click the link below to see a short description of the product, it's not a available on the market in this area yet. But it can be put on reserve for orders, and it's only around $1,600-$1,800.

HP Touchscreen Computer

Currently It's Emerging Tech

I'm trying to keep up to date with my emerging tech course, I'm finding that it is tough at times. We are discovering and playing with so many "toy's" right now, that it's hard to find that happy medium of keeping up with what's required. I still think we are discovering what technology is more important then others. I am working on my new podcast, as well as doing research for my group project, blogging, twittering, and trying to stay active in SL. The group project thing is a bit more work then I expected, because there is not a lot of research based information out there on Collaborative Learning and Wiki's. It's good that we have a work day this week because I think we all need some time to research and meet on our own right now. I plan on being productive this week, so let's see if I can keep up!

My 1st Podcast

I just finished my first podcast and I'm pretty happy with it. For it to be my first time, I think I did a pretty good job communicating with the listeners. I have a problem with being too picky, and can be a perfectionist at times. So I found myself doing one take about 10 times a piece. Steve said that he did his in about 5 total takes, that amazes me! He does have the gift of thorough communication with him being in the field of ministry, so I can't be too hard on myself! I know that you're suppose to just let it flow but I find that to be difficult, I just think before I talk too often. I wish I could have used my sound effects and sounds a little more effectively, but we get to do a second podcast in a few weeks. I should be more comfortable, and the second time around should be less stressful.

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Scavenger Hunt

I completed my scavenger hunt on Tuesday in Second Life and it was as fun as it was challenging. I nearly completed the hunt before class started and then did a little searching while in class. I reviewed Tiffany's blog on the scavenger hunt and she expressed how difficult it was to find #'s 8 & 9. I found it difficult to find them as well as they were located underwater and in the sky. My effort towards finishing the scavenger hunt then led me to explore new islands and change features on my appearance and before I new it...I was being distracted in class. This is what happens to me in real life with gaming, and it is why I try to stay away from gaming and other addictive technology! I can admit, I do not know when to quit sometimes which is why I try to stay away from my potential addictions. I wonder if this may be a future problem for gamers if trying to work in an online environment? There was a research article that was published this past summer on the addiction of gaming and teens. I'm going to look it up and see if I can blog on it sometime this semester. Anywayz...

My hunt was completed during the week, I'm not quite sure where to post my snapshots though? I sent out a twitter mass message to see if anyone knew but didn't get a response and the files are too big to send through e-mail. So some feedback would be good from any of my classmates in cyberspace! Was it just me, or were the most difficult flags right under our noses?

My Technological Theme Direction

I have been pondering what I am going to do my theme on for a while now. I have a passion for art and design, I've been applying this passion by combining it with the use of technology as of recently. With that explained, I had a talk with Dr. Z. about what direction I should take with my theme and he gave me some inspiration to run with. I want to teach a topic that I have experience and a passion for, but I am not a supporter of teaching graphic and visual elements to an online audience. I say this because I am a visual and I would have a touch time just following a long with a text book that should be read, and assignment layouts that have due dates every other week with no visual support and guidance. I need to interact with my instructor and have examples demonstrated to be effective for me to learn. I could learn graphic elements online, but the knowledge would not be as effective as it would be in a classroom environment for me.
What has inspired me is teaching in a virtual world environment, Second Life is a good example of the capabilities and effective learning that can take place with my topic. Being able to show examples and visual displays in a 3 dimensional setting, or play movies and slide shows are all possibilities. I'm still getting acquainted with SL, so I know I have a lot to learn. But I have a lot of inspirational juices flowing with this subject matter. I look forward to developing it.
I have listed a link below is one that I am reviewing for my podcast. I think it should be beneficial as it addresses how to podcast for education and corporation.
http://www.learningcircuits.org/2005/jun2005/0506_trends

Exploring w/Emerging Tech

We had a fun and active class in Emerging Technologies this past week. I followed through with being active in Second Life and I've been working on my avatar, I've looked a bit crazy at times. There were times when I tried on come pretty funky looking clothes and I also got stuck in a womans figure for a while lol. With some of the avatars that I've seen though, that's not so crazy in SL. I'm just trying to get comfortable with working with the software for now. My professor Dr. Z., had the class get set up with Twitter. It's a short blogging device, I can see how it can come in handy in the world of updating news. I downloaded the icon shortcut to my desktop so that I would not have to log in on the web every time. It worked for a couple days, but now it's telling me that "no tweets are available" and I can't access it at all. I'll try to work these bugs out with in the next few days.