Live Polling with Text Messages, Twitter, Computer, & SmartPhones

Here is a link to the site that I found and demonstrated in class tonight:

http://www.polleverywhere.com

Very cool & very easy to setup!

Social Media Final Project

For my final project, I have started three separate, but very closely related, initiatives. I have created a blog web site, Twitter account, and Facebook group to support the E-Business program at MATC. These are all at a very early stage and are not ready for students to view. They will always be a work-in-progress, but I would like to progress a bit more before going public with them.


BLOG WEB SITE
I have created a blog-style web site for the MATC E-Business program (which is actually currently the eCommerce/Web Administration program). I decided to use WordPress as the blogging software, since I can install that on a web server locally and use an actual domain name. I have purchased the domain name: www.MATCeBusiness.com. I plan to use this web site as a means of providing up-to-date information to current and prospective students.

TWITTER
I have created a new Twitter account @MATCeBiz to be used to provide up-to-date information for students in the MATC E-Business program (which is actually currently the eCommerce/Web Administration program). I plan to use a scheduler software package to write my tweats ahead of time for publishing at specific time intervals, to provide regular updates.

FACEBOOK
I have created a Facebook group called MATC E-Business Program to be used to provide up-to-date information for students in the MATC E-Business program (which is actually currently the eCommerce/Web Administration program). This will allow those students to become a member of the group to help establish a sense of community - hopefully bringing them closer together. It will also be used to spread information about program-related events.

PLN on Twitter

So, I have been tasked with setting up a Personal Learning Network on Twitter. Throughout the week, I have added several individuals to the group that I am following and have checked in on a daily basis to see what they have posted. The individuals include a variety of experts in the Web Design industry, and other technology areas. So far, so good. It is sometimes frustrating to separate the meaningful posts from the useless dribble. I have already picked up a few tips and links that I have passed along to students in my classes. I certainly see value it this, however, getting used to devoting time to searching through the tweats in my PLN proves to be somewhat time-consuming.

Scheduled Twitter Posts

I would like to be able to use Twitter to provide daily updates to students in my classes. They would include industry tips, strategies, local jobs, program information, etc. I would like to be able to sit down once per week and come up with a variety of updates and have them scheduled to come out throughout the week. I am looking into using services from http://www.scheduletwitterposts.com or http://twuffer.com/ to make scheduled Twitter posts.

Teach Naked?

I thought that title might get your attention. Here's a link to an interesting article entitled "College technology 'catching up' with students" found in today's USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-10-05-college-technology_N.htm

From the article:

"Jose Bowen, a dean at the Dallas-based Southern Methodist University, recently stripped computers from lecture halls. He challenged staff instead to "teach naked" — without computers in the classroom."

VoiceThread for Student Critique Sessions

After seeing Mark Mankowski's brief demo on VoiceThread (http://voicethread.com) in class last night, I started to think about how I could use that tool in my courses. It didn't take long to come up with an idea. Students in my Web Design classes demonstrate their final projects at the end of every class. We do a critique session in class. I've struggled to replicate that for online classes. I currently have students post links to the web sites in a discussion forum in Blackboard and then their classmates participate in a critique using the discussion board. I think that I could replace (or augment) that with a critique session using VoiceThread where students could leave their audible comments on the projects of their classmates.

Thanks Mark!

MATC Technical Skills Self Assessment For Online Classes

Here is a link to the tool that I mentioned in class tonight which may help some students decide that they are not ready for online courses: http://oncampus.matc.edu/student_support/Technical_Skills_Assessment.htm

Blogs or Wikis in my Classes?

I envision using Blogs in my Web Design courses as a means of increasing communication with students in my courses - outside of Blackboard. I use Blackboard for more formal communication, such as assignments, grades, syllabus, etc. I see the use of a blog as a less formal and more personal communication method that could be used for all of my classes in one place. It could include tips and tricks used in the industry, updates on software, jobs leads, interesting anecdotes, and information about MATC's Web Designer program. I could link to it from Blackboard using announcements or emails sent from Blackboard. I would not use it for personal information. I would most likely setup a blog using a dedicated domain name, such as matcwebdesigner.info, rather than a subdomain at wordpress.com or blogger.com. I could install WordPress or Joomla on a server that I maintain or one used here at MATC in the VICOM department.

CourseCast of the Week

I highly recommend using Course Technology's CourseCast of the Week in your technology-related courses. Ken Baldauf, author and college professor, puts out a weekly podcast with technology news and information geared toward college and career students. They are always up-to-date and relevant. I have students in my Electronic Commerce class subscribe to the weekly podcast. The web site includes transcripts, links to the articles he uses, and resources for instructors. Visit http://coursecasts.course.com/ for more information. Search in iTunes for CourseCast of the Week to subscribe via iTunes.

Jonathan Meersman

Hello World! This is my first post on my blog.