This micro-assignment should be the last of the seven that you do for this class. Most, if not all, members of the class have already constructed social networks on one on the popular sites (Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, etc.). Thus, I would like you to address your experience making such a network On your blog, please answer the following questions:
1. Which of the various tools for communication/collaboration do you find the most useful? Why?
I think for me Facebook is the most useful. It is the network I use most often and it is the network in my opinion that is most easy to interact with. Also, I think Facebook is the network that is most easily recognized by my generation and when I think of how my generation will be describe in the future I think Facebook and its social interactions will be one thing that helps define us.
It is also the most useful become it is the most inclusive. All of my friends are on Facebook whereas with a network like Myspace only some of my friends belong to.
2. Which of the various tools for communication/collaboration do you find the least useful? Why?
I think twitter is the least useful. It doesn't really make sense for someone like me, because Facebook already has a status function...also it seems very narcissistic to me. Does anyone really care about my day, thoughts, whereabouts, etc.? Do people really care to be informed about my actions? I know I don't care about most people's status updates.
I think Twitter is more of a marketing tool...I could see it being useful for businesses and image making, but I really don't need to create an image which I'm selling.
3. Have your electronic interactions with your classmates enhanced your learning in this class? Why or why not?
Yes. I think just reading other people's blogs and learning more about the way different people in the class interact with social networks has allowed me to think more critically of the role technology plays in my life.
4. Have your social networks been useful? Are they just one distraction in the constant barrage of modern life?
Both. For a long time, I didn't have Facebook and not having it gave me a sense of individualism, and freed me from the constant voyeuristic need to check other peoples' live and monitor my own. Sometimes I would sit on Facebook and look through peoples' pictures for hours...then I would stop and think, "What am I doing? This is so pointless." It totally distracted me from more interesting and fulfilling endeavours.
However, I started to feel out of the loop, like people were in a special club I didn't belong to. In an attempt to feel like I was more fulfilled not having Facebook made me feel like I was missing out on and no longer connected to my generation. So, in that aspect Facebook is useful.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Ain't no party like a virtual party.
Assignment 6: Attending a virtual event.
I would like you to attend and report on one virtual event.
1. Which event did you attend? How did you go about attending this event?
I attended a Unisfair job information event. I learned about this event during one of our class discussions. It sounded interesting to me so I went to the website and filled out a quick registration form and there I was!
2. What happened? Did anything unexpected happen?
Not much. When I signed on there was only one 'booth' or representative online...so there wasn't a whole lot going on.
3. Was this experience any good? Would recommend it to others? Why or why not?
The experience was interesting but unsuccessful. I would not recommend this to other people. The concept is extremely cool and could potentially be a great resource (especially for someone like me who is soon to graduate college), however I don't think the idea was carried out in a sophisticated way. The graphics of the website were very good, but the interface and layout were very confusing. Also, this website seemed like more of a marketing tool for companies as opposed to a tool for users to find employment. It seemed to me that most of the companies at the job fair were pushing their agendas and social networking...not hiring.
I would like you to attend and report on one virtual event.
1. Which event did you attend? How did you go about attending this event?
I attended a Unisfair job information event. I learned about this event during one of our class discussions. It sounded interesting to me so I went to the website and filled out a quick registration form and there I was!
2. What happened? Did anything unexpected happen?
Not much. When I signed on there was only one 'booth' or representative online...so there wasn't a whole lot going on.
3. Was this experience any good? Would recommend it to others? Why or why not?
The experience was interesting but unsuccessful. I would not recommend this to other people. The concept is extremely cool and could potentially be a great resource (especially for someone like me who is soon to graduate college), however I don't think the idea was carried out in a sophisticated way. The graphics of the website were very good, but the interface and layout were very confusing. Also, this website seemed like more of a marketing tool for companies as opposed to a tool for users to find employment. It seemed to me that most of the companies at the job fair were pushing their agendas and social networking...not hiring.
feed me.
I would just like to let everyone know you can feed the fish in my pond by clicking your cursor on it. It provides hours of mindless entertainment and is an awsome distraction when trying to study for finals.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Virtual Construction Worker
Assignment 5: Building "Something"
This exercise and exercise were both originally conceived of as activities that would take place in Second Life. Second Life has not turned out to be as inspirational as I had hoped. So please find some on-line world or application that allows for unique creations. They could be anything from Second Life outfits to Flickr slide shows to sculptures in A Tale in the Desert. (Note: it would be preferable if your product was not inside a world that the rest of us had to pay to enter.) At some point in the future, I will make a small in-class show of the most interesting objects. If you life the ideas of 3D worlds you may want to look at Active Worlds (see http://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Active_Worlds for details.) Otherwise, I am open to suggestions. If in doubt, ask.
In this case, I'd like you to answer the following questions:
1. Which application did you use to create something?
I used an application called Jib Jab Elf Yourself. It sort of like an ecard, but is animated. You can put pictures of yourself and your friends into a funny video of dancing elfs hip hop.
How could other members of the class go about accessing your stuff?
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/IBOKuIJ0F1La0OiC?cmpid=ey_fb_friend this is the video of my friends and myself.
If you wanted to make your own just click here!
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/?cmpid=om_ey_hp
2. How much time/effort was required in building your creation?
It was extremely easy. The layout of the website was very easy to follow and had concise instructions. All you have to do upload pictures of your friends.
3. Do you like what you have made?
YESSSSSSSSSS!! It is so funny and cute. I posted it on all my friends facebook walls and it made their day.
This exercise and exercise were both originally conceived of as activities that would take place in Second Life. Second Life has not turned out to be as inspirational as I had hoped. So please find some on-line world or application that allows for unique creations. They could be anything from Second Life outfits to Flickr slide shows to sculptures in A Tale in the Desert. (Note: it would be preferable if your product was not inside a world that the rest of us had to pay to enter.) At some point in the future, I will make a small in-class show of the most interesting objects. If you life the ideas of 3D worlds you may want to look at Active Worlds (see http://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Active_Worlds for details.) Otherwise, I am open to suggestions. If in doubt, ask.
In this case, I'd like you to answer the following questions:
1. Which application did you use to create something?
I used an application called Jib Jab Elf Yourself. It sort of like an ecard, but is animated. You can put pictures of yourself and your friends into a funny video of dancing elfs hip hop.
How could other members of the class go about accessing your stuff?
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/IBOKuIJ0F1La0OiC?cmpid=ey_fb_friend this is the video of my friends and myself.
If you wanted to make your own just click here!
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/?cmpid=om_ey_hp
2. How much time/effort was required in building your creation?
It was extremely easy. The layout of the website was very easy to follow and had concise instructions. All you have to do upload pictures of your friends.
3. Do you like what you have made?
YESSSSSSSSSS!! It is so funny and cute. I posted it on all my friends facebook walls and it made their day.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Better late then never...I give you Assignment 4
1. How many of your comments turned out to be the only comments
attached to a particular post?
From my observations I saw that most of the time, my comments were the only comments on a particular post. However, it was interesting to see which posts sparked people's interest. For example, I posted a link to a New York Times article and it generated a lot of feedback.
2. How many di®erent blogs did you comment only? (Remember: 3 is a
minimum number, you are not limited to only three people)
I only commented on 3 people's blogs, however I plan to comment on many more. I feel that if these were blogs in real cyberspace I would have no qualms about voicing my opinion and posting away. However, because these are academically geared and because these are my peers who know me I take my time and try to respond to people's ideas meaningfully and with respect. Because, of this it takes me some time to write insightful posts.
3. Did you tend to respond to people you already from outside the class?
Yes.
4. Do you think this is a useful way to communicate in a class setting.
No, particularly. Most of these blogs seem static. In that I mean that they are neutral towards topics, this cause most of the post to be neutral and the more interesting blog conversations occur when there is discussion and differing opinions. I just don't think that can happen here. Plus, the most memorable communications I've had in any of my class have taken place during class, usually during discussions. There is something about personal interaction in conversation that can't be mimicked in a blog.
5. What are the advantages/disadvantages of this method of communica-
tion?
I think one of the greatest advantages to blogging is that you can communicate in your own time at your own pace. I can't even count the number of times prior to class that I think of something really intelligent that could have added to the discussion, BUT the class is over and the conversation has passed. I think this method of communication would allow for more conscientious participation by letting people mull over subjects then communicate their opinions.
I've listed most of the disadvantages above so I will quickly reiterate them. In this setting the contributions are not anonymous, which I think causes people to be bland in there opinions. I'm not sure whether anonymity would be an advantage or disadvantage of blogs. On the one hand, there is no fear of persecution so people are free to say what they want....On the other hand people are free to say what they want, and it isn't always nice or particularly helpful. The other major disadvantage is that it doesn't equate with face to face interaction.
attached to a particular post?
From my observations I saw that most of the time, my comments were the only comments on a particular post. However, it was interesting to see which posts sparked people's interest. For example, I posted a link to a New York Times article and it generated a lot of feedback.
2. How many di®erent blogs did you comment only? (Remember: 3 is a
minimum number, you are not limited to only three people)
I only commented on 3 people's blogs, however I plan to comment on many more. I feel that if these were blogs in real cyberspace I would have no qualms about voicing my opinion and posting away. However, because these are academically geared and because these are my peers who know me I take my time and try to respond to people's ideas meaningfully and with respect. Because, of this it takes me some time to write insightful posts.
3. Did you tend to respond to people you already from outside the class?
Yes.
4. Do you think this is a useful way to communicate in a class setting.
No, particularly. Most of these blogs seem static. In that I mean that they are neutral towards topics, this cause most of the post to be neutral and the more interesting blog conversations occur when there is discussion and differing opinions. I just don't think that can happen here. Plus, the most memorable communications I've had in any of my class have taken place during class, usually during discussions. There is something about personal interaction in conversation that can't be mimicked in a blog.
5. What are the advantages/disadvantages of this method of communica-
tion?
I think one of the greatest advantages to blogging is that you can communicate in your own time at your own pace. I can't even count the number of times prior to class that I think of something really intelligent that could have added to the discussion, BUT the class is over and the conversation has passed. I think this method of communication would allow for more conscientious participation by letting people mull over subjects then communicate their opinions.
I've listed most of the disadvantages above so I will quickly reiterate them. In this setting the contributions are not anonymous, which I think causes people to be bland in there opinions. I'm not sure whether anonymity would be an advantage or disadvantage of blogs. On the one hand, there is no fear of persecution so people are free to say what they want....On the other hand people are free to say what they want, and it isn't always nice or particularly helpful. The other major disadvantage is that it doesn't equate with face to face interaction.
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