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New Tools for Learning

 

Objective:

Whole new classes of software (Blogs, Wikis, RSS, Del.ici.ous, Podcasts, and more) are emerging that are transforming the way people use and live with computers. These new software types have potential use in the classroom, in online learning, and in how faculty and students interact with each other. This page will note these new types of software and discuss how they maybe used in teaching to benefit (or hinder!) faculty as they seek new ways to enhance student learning.

 

Social Software

Social software is defined as software that "enables people to rendezvous, connect or collaborate through computer-mediated communication and to form online communities....Common to most definitions is the observation that some types of software seem to facilitate 'bottom-up' community development, in which membership is voluntary, reputations are earned by winning the trust of other members, and the community's mission and governance are defined by the community's members themselves." 

One of the fears frequently expressed during the early stages of personal computing was that it would isolate individuals into their own virtual world.  People began to address that concern using software to reduce isolation and build new communities in the online environment.  The internet greatly facilitated that development with a host of new software types that dramatically transform the landscape for an individual in an online world.  This social software has potential usefulness in education.

 

Some types of social software include news groups and forums, both of which have been around for decades.  What follows are more examples of new forms of social software that may be useful for teaching.

Mobs and Crowds

Quotations

 

Anyone taken as an individual is tolerably sensible and reasonable—as a member of a crowd, he at once becomes a blockhead.

~Bernard Baruch

 

Madness is the exception in individuals but the rule in groups.

~Friedrich Nietzsche

 

The mass never comes up to the standard of its best member, but on the contrary degrades itself to a level with the lowest.

~Henry David Thoreau

 

I do not believe in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.

~Thomas Carlyle

 

[U]nder the right circumstances, groups are remarkably intelligent, and are often smarter than the smartest people in them….Even if most of the people within a group are not especially well-informed or rational, it can still reach a collectively wise decision.

~James Surowiecki, The Wisdom of Crowds

 

Nobody has the time to check the source of every [computer] program he runs. You’re not going to do that. But with free software there’s a large community, and there are people in that community who are checking things. And you get the benefit of their checking….

~Richard M. Stallman, Free Software, Free Society

 

The explanation for "free software" is simple--a person who has grasped the idea of "free speech, not free beer" will not get it wrong again.

~Richard M. Stallman, Free Software, Free Society

 

Whether we embrace anarchy or fear it, we should try to understand it. Anarchy matters. Peer-to-peer systems, like other distributed systems, are like punk rock: They empower fans and citizens, create new communities and close the gap between creators and consumers. They democratize elements of cultural production and demand a new set of theories….

Anarchy is radical democracy. It has its limits as a governing tool; it also has its dangers. “Smart mobs” are still mobs. In a mob, anyone who steps out of line or runs at a different pace can get trampled.

~Siva Vaidhyanathan, The Anarchist in the Library

 

Another Factor

 

Another impetus for this new software is the growing realization that large groups, crowds, can have a wisdom that is greater than the individual. Why do a few amateur traders in Iowa City outperform the Gallup polls in predicting election results? Why is it that you stop at a convenience store at two in the morning you can find milk? Why is it that the stock market outperforms any one individual investor over a period of a decade or more? Why, every so often, does the stock market stop working? Why does science get better? Why can Google scan and search billions of pages and give you the exact piece of information you are looking for? Each of these happens because the collective knowledge that is brought to the decision is greater than the sum of its parts.

 

Certainly there are factors that contribute to making this happen such as free exchange of knowledge, effective communication, and the motivation to improve. Social computing provides a way of gathering and organizing the information while enabling the communication.  Social computing then not only is about enabling the social interactions that are important in human life but it is also a way of organizing large groups of volunteers to accomplish tasks that normally could not be done -- create highly complicate software.

 

Sources

 

Nexus: Small Worlds and the Groundbreaking Theory of Networks by Mark Buchanan
Linked: How Everything Is Connected to Everything Else and What It Means by Albert-Laszlo Barabasi
Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms by William Richardson
Free Software, Free Society by Richard M. Stallman
Sync: The Emerging Science of Spontaneous Order by Steven Strogatz
The Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki
The Anarchist in the Library by Siva Vaidhyanathan
Small Worlds: The Dynamics of Networks between Order and Randomness by Duncan J. Watts
Six Degrees: The Science of a Connected Age by Duncan J. Watts

Delicious

Delicious is a way of storing your favorite links and gives you much more freedom to organize and arrange them in ways that are useful to yourself.  Your favorite links are no longer stored on your local computer but are available from any computer on the internet.  Since you get to add tags and descriptions, you are able to provide a more detailed listing of those links that are important to you.

Delicious is an example of folksonomy. This is defined and explained as "a group of people cooperating spontaneously to organize information into categories. In contrast to formal classification methods, this phenomenon typically only arises in non-hierarchical communities, such as public websites. Instead of using a centralized form of classification, users are encouraged to assign freely chosen keywords, typically referred to as "tags", to pieces of information or data, a process known as "tagging". Examples of web services that use tagging include those designed to allow users to publish and share photographs, personal libraries, bookmarks, social software and most blog software, permitting authors to assign tags to each entry."

 

It does not stop there, however.  These links are also then shared with others automatically so that your list becomes a means for others to see related links that they may find useful just as you can browse their links to find other items related.  Not only are links shared but the tags and descriptions. Keep links, then, becomes a social activity with like-minded individuals.  You explore other people's links as they explore yours.  They've found them and tagged them so you can benefit from their work as they benefit from your tags and links.

 

Visit my delicious web site at http://del.icio.us/gary.eicc/.   Create your own -- it is a great way to keep you web links handy. 

 

What are the educational possibilities of this?

Blogging

A blog is a website in which items are posted on a regular basis and displayed in reverse chronological order. Like other media, blogs often focus on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news. Some blogs function as online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. Since its appearance in 1995, blogging has emerged as a popular means of communication, affecting public opinion and mass media around the world. [From Wikipedia]
 

A blog has certain attributes that distinguish it from a standard web page. It allows for easy creation of new pages: new data are entered into a simple form (usually with the title, the category, and the body of the article) and then submitted. Automated templates take care of adding the article to the home page, creating the new full article page (Permalink), and adding the article to the appropriate date- or category-based archive. It allows for easy filtering of content for various presentations: by date, category, author, or other attributes. It allows the administrator to invite and add other authors, whose permission and access are easily managed.[From Wikipedia]

 

Some great locations to find what blogs are available:

RSS

RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication". Web feeds provide web content or summaries of web content together with links to the full versions of the content, and other metadata. RSS in particular, delivers this information as an XML file called an RSS feed, webfeed, RSS stream, or RSS channel. In addition to facilitating syndication, web feeds allow a website's frequent readers to track updates on the site using an aggregator.  Look for these symbols: ,

, .

 

Basically RSS works like a magazine subscription.  You subscribe to an RSS feed and then it is sent to you automatically so that you stay current with that web site.  Blogs, wikis, delicious, and other software types use these as a means to keep people current.

 

For a list of places to obtain RSS feeds, go here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_news_aggregators

 

Here are some examples of RSS feeds to give you a sense of what they are like:

Podcasts

Podcasting is the distribution of audio or video files, such as radio programs or music videos, over the internet using either RSS or Atom syndication for listening on mobile devices and personal computers. A podcast is a web feed of audio or video files placed on the Internet for anyone to download or subscribe to, and also the content of that feed. Podcasters' websites also may offer direct download of their files, but the subscription feed of automatically delivered new content is what distinguishes a podcast from a simple download or real-time streaming. Usually, the podcast features one type of "show" with new episodes either sporadically or at planned intervals such as daily, weekly, etc. Besides that there are podcast networks that feature multiple shows on the same feed. Podcasting's essence is about creating content (audio or video) for an audience that wants to listen when they want, where they want, and how they want.[Wikipedia]

 

Where to go to find podcasts?  Check out these sites:

  • http://www.podcastingnews.com/
  • http://www.digitalpodcast.com/browse-directories-35-1.html    Directory of directories
  • http://www.castwiki.com/index.php/Directories    Another directory of podcasts.
  • http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/windows For creating the actual MP3 files themselves, I'd recommend Audacity. It's a free program that is used to create and edit sound files -- I've find it really useful. You will probably have to download this at home as this web site is blocked by the EICC filters.
  • http://softwaregarden.com/products/listgarden/     This provides a way of creating the necessary XML file for the RSS feed for aggregation. All this means, is that you are creating a file that creates an automated "subscription" to your podcast web site so that you and students receive automatic notices of new podcasts that are included on your site.
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting   This is a good article that covers the basic of what it is and why you might wish to do it -- from Wikipedia.
  • http://superuser.com.au/documents/podcast_on_windows/book1.html   This articles provides basic instructions on how to do podcasting.
  • http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_directory.php    An example of podcasting from NPR -- National Public Radio
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/downloadtrial/ (Another example of podcasting this time from the BBC.)
  • http://www.thehollandreport.com/podcasts/index.html    Steve Holland's podcasts.  Steve is just getting started with podcasting and has -- with some struggling -- been able to get these podcasts and vodcasts (video podcast) running.  Great work, Steve!
  • http://epnweb.org/index.php    The Educational Podcast Network (EPN) provides a large number of podcasts in mathematics, social studies, languages, science, and others for students and teachers from early childhood through higher education. This is a good place to go to see the possibilities of podcasting.(Thanks to Steve Holland for suggesting this site.)
  • http://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts    Apple Computer iTunes – site for downloading music, video, and podcasts. Information available on how to podcast. Here one can find podcasts featuring many topics, including those that discuss podcasting. You will have to search in the search engine for podcasts.  Currently this is blocked by EICC. (Thanks to Steve Holland for suggesting this site.)
  • http://www.podcastforteachers.org/elibrary    Fordham University Educational Technology Center - News and updates about podcasting and how to do it. (Thanks to Steve Holland for suggesting this site.)
  • http://janethillipod.blogspot.com    Janet Hill’s iPod Palooza  - Repository for iPod and podcasting information. This is Mac-oriented. However, there are good examples and discussions here. (Thanks to Steve Holland for suggesting this site.)
  • http://itunes.stanford.edu/   iTunesU – Colleges are creating centers for information about the institution and sites for courses. This can be password protected. (Thanks to Steve Holland for suggesting this site.)
  • http://www.podcast411.com   Podcast 411 – Information and tutorials on podcasting. (Thanks to Steve Holland for suggesting this site.)
  • http://potionfactory.com    Podcast Maker software – software available to automate the production of a podcast. This is Mac based. It costs about $30 and has a 30-day free trial. Currently this is blocked by EICC. (Thanks to Steve Holland for suggesting this site.)
  • http://www.podsafeaudio.com/   Podsafe – a site for using music in podcasts that is free of royalty payment. (Thanks to Steve Holland for suggesting this site.)
  • http://www.profcast.com    Profcast – this technology allows instructors to capture and synch video and audio materials. (Thanks to Steve Holland for suggesting this site.)

For more information on using podcasting and iPods in education see p. 38 of the March 2006 issue of Campus Technology.

Wikis

The term Wiki also sometimes refers to the collaborative software itself (wiki engine) that facilitates the operation of such a website (see wiki software).
 

In essence, wiki is a simplification of the process of creating HTML web pages combined with a system that records each individual change that occurs over time, so that at any time, a page can be reverted to any of its previous states. A wiki system may also provide various tools that easily allow the user community to monitor the constantly changing state of the wiki and discuss the issues that emerge in trying to achieve a general consensus about wiki content. Wiki content can also be misleading as users may add incorrect information to the Wiki page.
 

Some wikis will allow completely unrestricted access so that people are able to contribute to the site without necessarily having to undergo a process of 'registration', as had usually been required by various other types of interactive websites such as Internet forums or chat sites.[Wikipedia]

 

Online Communities

All the above software packages are used in various ways to create entire communities where people share interests, ideas, music, files, and more.  They add their photos, their blogs, they chat with each other, they create web sites,  and more.  Numerous web sites allow these communities to form and go their own way. These sites tend to be youth-oriented and focused on their concerns but others are catering to a much wider audience.  Since this are by definition, social, some parts of some of these sites focus on dating and mature themes.

 

Here are some examples of such online communities:

  • http://www1.myspace.com/index.cfm (Scroll down to the bottom and click on "Start Here" to learn more or to set up your MySpace.  Note that your create your own profile and then share with others.  You can create your own groups, chats, blogs, and much more.)
  • http://www.bibliophil.org/default.php (Here's a community where you keep track of your books in your library and use those as a means of finding others with similar interests to your own.  Wikipedia explains "Users can share their collections and recommendations are generated based on the ratings using statistical computation and network theory." In short, you build a network of other users who share your interests in books, music, movies, etc.)
  • http://www.friendster.com/ (This is one of the early online communities that provide numerous ways to connect with others and publish information about yourself.  The profile you create is used for analysis to find others for you to "network" with. )
  • http://www.hi5.com/default.html (This site is similar to friendster.com though each has their unique features.)
  • http://www.ikarma.com/ (This site is different in that it focuses business networking and on your own reputation and how you are evaluated by others. They describe themselves as "a trusted third-party service for collecting, managing and promoting your reputation among your customers and contacts. By providing a central source for contacts to leave feedback about you and your services, iKarma helps you preserve a lasting record of your good reputation - giving future customers confidence and peace of mind when doing business with you.")
  • http://www.facebook.com/ (This site focuses on building groups, social groups, based upon schools and what you do in schools. This site works on the basis of a "friend of a friend" but with certain limits or "walls" that you establish.  Your profile is limited to your group of friends and so this is not as "wide open" as some of the other social networking communities previously listed.  Currently facebook.com has about 2500 schools included.)

 

Online Movie and Photo Tools

Increasingly expensive tools for editing movies and photos are becoming available for free via your web browser. Some of these tools (JumpCut for example) are a part of a social community because you are allowed to edit and change other people's files and share those with the community. Most of these tools also have a system of "groups" where people with similar interests can work or share files together.

  • http://www.jumpcut.com/ Jumpcut is 'beta' software that allows you to upload a video file and edit it. You can also edit other people's video and join groups. The initial upload of the video takes some times but the response after that is fairly quick. Editing video is not as easy as it might seem and it takes time to learn. While this interface is easy to use, to create a good video clip will take some practice and effort on your part.
  • http://pixoh.com/ Pixoh, another 'beta', provides basic online photo editing that can handle large image files. One key advantage is that it does not alter your original file. So make as many changes as you want -- you can always go back to the original. Once you upload the picture, it is stored for 24 hours and then deleted. You can access your photo via a unique web address that is given to you. This site has no social features at this point.
  • http://www.pxn8.com/ PXN8 is another online photo editing package that has some additional features that you may find useful. This site has no social features at this point.
  • http://www.youtube.com/ This is a huge site with vast numbers of videos from anyone who wishes to share their video.  It contains everything from the serious to the vacuous.  People are allowed to freely upload their own videos.  Yes, some of the content is adult, and some of it may violate copyright, but NBC just started using this as a means to advertise its programming.  It is a means of communication and people are using it.  This site is currently blocked by EICC.

 

Gaming and Education

One of the "hot" topics where education and technology meet is the use of games to enhance the educational experience of students. This has been a part of education for quite awhile -- remember "Oregon Trail" and "Amazon"? With the incredible advances in gaming technology and the increasing ability to simulation complex environments, the use of games (from the simple to the complex) in education is growing. Here are some links that will help you to get started on this topic:

  • http://innovateonline.info/index.php  This link takes you to Innovate, an online peer-reviewed journal that "focuses on the creative use of information technology (IT) to enhance educational processes in academic, commercial, and governmental settings." This particular article focuses on gaming but there are numerous other articles of interest as well. (Thanks to Steve Holland for passing this page on to me.)
  • http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=185302681 Gaming is becoming serious business for business and industry and this article gives a good overview of some of the significant developments in using games in business (and military) training.

Social Mapping Software

  • http://www.flagr.com/  Suppose you are have a series of places you like to visit.  Here you have a map that you can easily "bookmark" and keep track of those places.   You flag the location and you can add  pictures, descriptive commentary, and tags.  If all those flags are public, then people will get a sense of who you are and you will begin to connect with other people with similar interests.  Flagr provides a means to do this.  You can share these flags with your friends but the flags are also available for anyone to share.  Flags can be added using your computer but also by using mobile phones.
  • http://socialight.com/ This does much the same as Flagr though you can add sound as well as notes to your bookmarked locations.  Again, this can be done from your phone.  "Socialight lets you put virtual 'sticky' notes called StickyShadows™ anywhere in the real world. Share pictures, notes and more using your cell phone."
  • http://www.platial.com/  This site call's itself the "People's Atlas" and is similar to Socialight and Flagr.

Additional Links and References

  • http://speakingofhistory.blogspot.com/ This is an 8th grade history class that uses blogs and iPods and some other of the new learning tools. There is a lot going on here and a lot to explore.
  • William Richardson's book Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms has an intriguing title.  I will try to get a copy via interlibrary loan and see what it has to offer.
  • http://www.podcast411.com/f12.html Podcast411 provides a good overview of what a podcast is for those new to the concept.  This web site also has a lot of information and details about how to do them and various examples of what people have done with them.  (Thanks to Steve Holland for passing this page along to me.)
Gary's address:
Kahl Education Center - EICC

326 West 3rd Street

Davenport, Iowa 52801-1219

Phone:  563-336-5263
Help Desk: 563-336-3456
Email:  golson@eicc.edu

Send mail to Gary Olson with questions about this web site.

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