lisupport

Learning blogging

2006-07-09T20:30:00.000-07:00

The Learning Blogging Team:

James
Judy
Sergio
Brian
Elizabeth

Plus various food items

bs&t photo

2006-07-09T20:25:00.000-07:00

This is Shari, Ros, Selena and Pauline at Lisupport learning experience.

We are workplace trainers at the CIT Southside Campus in the Small Business Virtual Office.

Our web CT link is https://online@cit.act.edu.au

Ginny & Greg

2006-07-09T20:24:00.000-07:00

Ginny and Greg at the workshop on mobile learning.

LISupport : SMS Messaging

2006-07-07T02:53:00.000-07:00

SMS Messaging

The use of SMS messaging in education is an effective way of engaging students in a range of learning experiences. The multiple and diverse use of this foundational technology is only limited to the imagination of an educator.

Many studies of the use of this technology in education have revealed the range of ways in which SMS messaging can be used with students creatively, positively and effectively.

Bulk SMS messaging can be used to;

motivate students
engage students in live activities
'swarm' students to an event
remind students of key events, retain students and motivate students using a range of creative scenarios

SMS Solutions

SMS messaging is offered by telecommunication providers as a web based portal ( webSMS) or as a PC-to-web solution which includes address books, scheduling, calenders and a range of networked solutions. A range of providers are available including;

SMS Databasing

Many mobile devices allow more than one message to be sent at a time to one or many people. These messages can also be pre-timed, calenderised and databased for educational purposes. An example of this PDA compatible solution is Mobile Quiz which is a self contained quiz program on your mobile phone. Players can participate in each quiz, using the SMS communication protocol, supported by all major brands of phones.

SMS Security

Many online web profiles now use SMS messaging or web-to-phone confirmation services to ensure the security of information. Many educational organisations now offer students confirmation of information using SMS messaging ie. results, timetabled information.

Activity

1. You will be prompted by the workshop facilitator to provide your mobile phone number for the purposes of this activity. A range of 3 messages will be forwarded to this number.

2. Answer the SMS text message carefully constructing your answer. Return your answer using the send function on your mobile phone.

3. Carefully compose your thoughts on how this application may apply in your educational organisation. In group discussion provide your ideas on how this application might be realised and what strategies you would need to achieve this goal.

* When undertaking this activity with students ensure that you step through the standard mobile ettiquette, response rate expectation and other necessary information to ensure privacy, confidentiality of answers if needed.

LISupport: Tagging

2006-07-07T02:47:00.000-07:00

The use of tagging allows groups of people to bookmark things of interest by assigning a tag or name to these discoveries. This process is often referred to as social bookmarking.

A number of social bookmarking tagging sites allow these discoveries to become networked. Some alternatives to del.icio.us include BlinkList, Clipmarks, ConnectBeam, Diigo, Furl, Listal, LookLater, ma.gnolia, Netvouz, Simpy, Spurl, Yahoo! My Web 2.0 and zurpy.

The LISupport del.icio.us tag site shows a history of these discoveries that have been assigned or tagged by the user.

In this instance, the del.icio.us service has been selected for use with the LISupport team.

Activity - Del.icio.us

1. Login to del.icio.us using the login details that you have been supplied.

2. In an additional internet browser window use a popular search engine such as Google.com, to locate websites of interest that could be included as part of the LISupport team research.

3. Copy the URL of the website.

4. Open the LISupport del.icio.us window and click on 'post'.

5. Paste your website URL into the URL field.

6. Give the website a title and a basic descriptor.

7. Select an existing tag ( click on it and it will appear in the tags field) OR create one of your own that others could use also.

8. Save your completed description / selection.

9. Go to the LISupport blog and refresh the internet browser window. Your tag should appear in the list provided under 'del.icio.us tags'.

10. Repeat this process with at least five websites of choice and tag each of these sites using this method.

* Note: Tagging - your tags become key foundational names for your web explorations. Many people liken tagging to that of saving their favourite websites as 'favourites' in browser windows such as Internet Explorer and 'bookmarks' in browsers such as Firefox.

LISupport Network Day : Podcasting

2006-07-06T23:14:00.000-07:00

Podcasting provides other online users with access to your audio recordings in differing formats or in a subscription format for download to portable media players.

There are many online podcasting website providers who offer free tools and storage. The Casting The Net project and the TalkingVTE blog are examples of how this facility can be used in conjunction with other online tools.

We have selected two differing podcasting tools - Odeo (online) and Audacity ( offline) which will enable others to access your recordings in this activity. These are both free audio recording softwares which are easy to use and integrate with your blog as an added feature. If we get stuck in the process of either recording or loading to the Odeo platform then we will register a new account with Podomatic.

You can access these recordings by selecting the links located in the LISupport blog.

Activity - Odeo

Need - headphones, microphone, internet connection

1. Login to the Odeo site using the username and password details supplied.
2. Select the 'record new audio' function
* Odeo requires Flash to be enabled in order for the online record function to work.
3. Record your audio using your microphone. Compose a short recording ( 2 mins. max. ) - your audience is the world so compose carefully - detailing ;

who you are
what you do
where you are from
where you have other online information ( provide links)

4. Save your recording.

* Make sure you fill in all the details for your recording as requested via the Odeo commands.

5. Visit the LISupport Odeo channel and listen to your recording.

Odeo Extension

1. Dial the Odeo Phone number supplied.
2. Record a short message.
3. Visit the LISupport Odeo Channel and download your recording.

* Note : Editing : You will need to be logged in to edit / delete your recordings.

* Note : Uploading from your PC - Login to Odeo using the Odeo login details supplied and read the instructions.

Activity - Audacity

1. Open the Audacity program on your computer.
2. You will need to make a number of adjustments to the recording levels and so on so here is some basic introductory hints;

Create a new track using the 'Project > New Audio Track ' function
Make all finer adjustments using 'Edit > Preferences' function.
Make a test recording and then try and export it ......this will enable the lame mp3 encoder.......you will have to install this otherwise.

3. Record your audio using your microphone. Compose a short recording ( 2 mins. max. ) - your audience is the world so compose carefully - detailing ;

who you are
what you do
where you are from
where you have other online information ( provide links)

4. Save your recording. Upload your recording in MP3 format using the upload function in Odeo.

* Make sure you fill in all the details for your recording as requested via the Odeo commands.

5. Visit the LISupport Odeo channel and listen to your recording.

LISupport : Mobile Blogging

2006-07-06T22:32:00.000-07:00

Mobile blogging allows people to connect their mobile devices such as a camera enabled mobile phones to the internet. A mobile blog can be a handy way of recording, describing visually or documenting a learning journey. .....a commanding presence in a creative learning journey.

Mobile blogging or moblogging is a little trickier than blogging so....... give it a little time and ensure that you follow all instructions carefully.

For the purposes of connecting these images in a community of photo-blogging we have selected moblog.co.uk - a free online photoblogging ( other media also) web site where you can upload images and short videos from your mobile phone. Flickr and Bubbleshare are also more advanced web services that also offer premium services, networked community and sharing / tagging facilities.

These images can be linked to from other online environments. The LISupport moblog can be seen by clicking on the links in the main sidebar within this blog.

Activity - Mobile Blogging From Your Phone

1. Assign a new contact to your mobile phone - ie. LISupport

2. Enter the email address that you have been supplied to this LISupport contact.

3. Save.

4. Take a photo. ( Your camera should be saving images in the JPEG format )

5. Send your image via MMS or email using your LISupport contact details.

6. Go to http://www.moblog.co.uk/blog/lisupport to view your image ( * you may need to refresh your internet browser )

7. Login to the LISupport moblog using the login details that you have been supplied.

8. Edit your image title and description using the edit function.

9. Add the lisupport2006 tag.

10. Preview.

11. Save and then view you image with all your details now added.

* Note - Comments : This activity provides a group of people with the ability to blog content on the move, together , contributing to the one blog space. To comment on other peoples blogs / images users will need to have their own login details.

* Note - Advanced : An advanced setting allows many people to contribute the moblog using one email address however they will still need to have their own login details to make comment to that moblog.

Activity - Mobile Blogging From Your Computer

1. Select an image that you wish to send to your moblog. This image must be in JPEG format and less than 300 kbs.

2. Open up your email editor ( online or Outlook ) and compose a new email message.

3. Attach the image to your new email message . The title of your email and the content of your email will become the title and content of your moblog post.

4. Send your email to the LISupport address that you have been supplied.

5. Visit the LISupport moblog . You may need to refresh your browser.

* Note - Editing Content : To add tags and to make changes to your image / details will require you to login using the login details that you have been supplied.

* Note - Comments : This activity provides a group of people with the ability to blog content on the move, together , contributing to the one blog space. To comment on other peoples blogs / images users will need to have their own login details.

* Note - Advanced : An advanced setting allows many people to contribute the moblog using one email address however they will still need to have their own login details to make comment to that moblog.

LISupport: Blogging

2006-07-06T21:53:00.000-07:00

Blogger is an online free web space which can be used to journal thoughts, link to resources or other sites and grow knowledge. Other weblog services include Wordpress, Edublogs and ELGG

A blog can also be used ( such as this blog) as a portal to other connected learning spaces and places.

Here is an introductory way for a group of learners to begin understanding this process........ together - discovering each other in the one blogging location.

Activity 1

1. Log into your blog using the details that you have been supplied with .

2. Upload a picture of yourself or another image that represents you using the Blogger image upload function. Ensure that this image is left-justified and medium sized......this will allow your text to wrap around the image. Leigh Blackall provides a great screencast on the 'how-to' add your image to blogger via Youtube.

3. Compose a short post - your audience is the world so compose carefully - detailing ;

who you are
what you do
where you are from
where you have other online information ( provide links)

4. Check the spelling and grammar in your post and then publish.

5. Log out.

6. Refresh your browser, re-visit your blog and view this in published mode. Make changes by logging back in.

* Note - you will only be able to make comments on other blog's using your own Blogger identity ( username:password ).

This activity engages people in a blogging activity, contributing as part of a group. The concept is then taken a step further as participants create their own individual blogs.