Wasting away some time I came across this incredible video. It's from earlier in the year, so my apologies if you have seen it. If you haven't watch the first little bit so you can see it is definately done in MS Paint and then if you want, fast forward to the end to see the final result. It's about 4 min long, but quite amazing.
Monday, 31 December 2007
I'm a PS3 Widow
My friends said I was foolish. They said I was nuts. I was crazy. They asked if I knew the consequences. I of course ignored them. I wanted to spoil. I wanted to be the best. I wanted give something wonderful.
And now......
Now I'm a PS3 Widow. I haven't seen my fiance since Christmas morning. I've been demoted to the portable dvd player. I'm watching old tv show dvd sets. I haven't been out the door.
Where was my mind??????
And now......
Now I'm a PS3 Widow. I haven't seen my fiance since Christmas morning. I've been demoted to the portable dvd player. I'm watching old tv show dvd sets. I haven't been out the door.
Where was my mind??????
Friday, 14 December 2007
Looking for input on a new job title
I'm looking for any suggestions for a new job title. Perhaps there is something standard out "there" that would be appropriate and make sense to others outside of my organization. Currently my title is Education Assistant and I work in the Organization Development department. We generally look after corporate education, training and development needs. This includes everything from computer training, team building, management training/development, to assisting in the creation of corporate behaviour standards.
I refer to my position as lackey. I tend to do many of the background activies that makes the department look good during their training. I offer one-on-on computer training sessions for various programs. I offer some training on temperament theory and administer corporate wide core curriculum training. However, starting NOW I'm also adding to my plate the tasks of ruuning, administering, controlling (insert thunder, lightening, evil laughter here), monitoring, training, etc the LMS that just came to life (more evil laughter).
So now I'm stuck wanting to find a new job title. One that demands respect (ha, yes that's a bit of a dream). One that perhaps puts me into a new corporate income bracket (that's actually slightly more of a possibility). Any suggestions anyone can put forth regarding this and help me out with my corporate domination....I mean furthering my career, would be greatly appreciated.
I refer to my position as lackey. I tend to do many of the background activies that makes the department look good during their training. I offer one-on-on computer training sessions for various programs. I offer some training on temperament theory and administer corporate wide core curriculum training. However, starting NOW I'm also adding to my plate the tasks of ruuning, administering, controlling (insert thunder, lightening, evil laughter here), monitoring, training, etc the LMS that just came to life (more evil laughter).
So now I'm stuck wanting to find a new job title. One that demands respect (ha, yes that's a bit of a dream). One that perhaps puts me into a new corporate income bracket (that's actually slightly more of a possibility). Any suggestions anyone can put forth regarding this and help me out with my corporate domination....I mean furthering my career, would be greatly appreciated.
Thursday, 13 December 2007
2008 eLearning Guild Annual Gathering Announced
Okay, call me excited. I received a wonderful email last night in my inbox....
"Annual Gathering 2008 Registration Now Open! "
So immediately I start wondering..."hmmmm, is my boss actually going to approve me attending in April? Just how to I get her to understand this is a good idea (again)?" So I started this morning printing off everything I could, registration costs, flight, hotel, agendas, etc. I took all my papers into her office and said guess what I just got in the mail?
Well, much to my surprise she was almost more excited then me. So now I need to thank the Guild for putting this info out right near my birthday and Christmas time. I think this time of year puts bosses in the more giving and sharing mood.
So I'll see you there!!!!!
Love you Mickey Mouse!
"Annual Gathering 2008 Registration Now Open! "
So immediately I start wondering..."hmmmm, is my boss actually going to approve me attending in April? Just how to I get her to understand this is a good idea (again)?" So I started this morning printing off everything I could, registration costs, flight, hotel, agendas, etc. I took all my papers into her office and said guess what I just got in the mail?
Well, much to my surprise she was almost more excited then me. So now I need to thank the Guild for putting this info out right near my birthday and Christmas time. I think this time of year puts bosses in the more giving and sharing mood.
So I'll see you there!!!!!
Love you Mickey Mouse!
School wasn't a complete waste....
Good news Mom. All that money spent on my education (that's still continuing to this day) hasn't gone to a complete waste. Changing jobs a billions times, being a jack-of-all-trades master of none, has allowed me to succed with my blog obtaining a readability level of Postgrad College. Yippee!!!
Tuesday, 11 December 2007
LMS Training Finally Here
Well Yeee Haaa!!! I'm finally getting my training as administrator for our new LMS. I've been collaborating, or to put it more accurately, giving my two cents in on the new intranet that is 80% ready to go. We've got our layout all set up with minor fixes to change. The content needs to be inputted or transferred from our old site. We are surprising still scheduled for a January launch.
And now.....the LMS. Now that we have an intranet look and feel, the LMS design has be created so that the two compliment one another. I finally get some training on how to use the system and design courses. If all goes according to plan, it too will be up and running January. I'm a little less optimistic about that, but if it's before March I'll be ecstatic.
I'm even going to be thrilled if it purely is a management system for a while with no elearning. I need some sort of concrete package to track all our training and in a hospital you can image that there are lots of different programs going on all the time.
I shall keep you posted as events unravel around this new adventure.
And now.....the LMS. Now that we have an intranet look and feel, the LMS design has be created so that the two compliment one another. I finally get some training on how to use the system and design courses. If all goes according to plan, it too will be up and running January. I'm a little less optimistic about that, but if it's before March I'll be ecstatic.
I'm even going to be thrilled if it purely is a management system for a while with no elearning. I need some sort of concrete package to track all our training and in a hospital you can image that there are lots of different programs going on all the time.
I shall keep you posted as events unravel around this new adventure.
Saturday, 8 December 2007
What is Proper Etiquette for Conversing with Another Blogger?
An interesting thought came up last night as I yet again was contacting Tony Karrer for advice and "how to's". What is the proper way to ask a question of another blogger? Many times you might see an element they have added to their page and wonder, "Just how did they do that?". Other times you may know they are an expert in a certain field and want some advice on how to proceed with your own project.
I have thought it best that if the blogger offers their email address within their profile, or better yet directly on their blog that is the "international symbol" for FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME (with questions/comments of course). However, maybe it is better to use the comment fields that people set up at the end of their posts. I however, have not used this method when my question is of no relation to the post. I figured it would be cluttering up the bloggers post and more so taking away from the intent of the post.
A bit of the challenge though is that, my question may be of interest to many others. So how does anyone else answer it or read the answer to the question if it is only ever hidden behind the scenes in email.
Tony and I agree that neither of us mind getting emails, but also were not sure what others may think either about the whole subject. So, I've added a couple of polling questions to my blog. Hopefully you'll take a moment to answer. Perhaps we will agree as bloggers-united that if you see an email address as contact information that it is indeed the "international symbol" for "I WELCOME YOU TO CONTACT ME".
I have thought it best that if the blogger offers their email address within their profile, or better yet directly on their blog that is the "international symbol" for FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME (with questions/comments of course). However, maybe it is better to use the comment fields that people set up at the end of their posts. I however, have not used this method when my question is of no relation to the post. I figured it would be cluttering up the bloggers post and more so taking away from the intent of the post.
A bit of the challenge though is that, my question may be of interest to many others. So how does anyone else answer it or read the answer to the question if it is only ever hidden behind the scenes in email.
Tony and I agree that neither of us mind getting emails, but also were not sure what others may think either about the whole subject. So, I've added a couple of polling questions to my blog. Hopefully you'll take a moment to answer. Perhaps we will agree as bloggers-united that if you see an email address as contact information that it is indeed the "international symbol" for "I WELCOME YOU TO CONTACT ME".
Friday, 7 December 2007
Opening you Mind, Eyes and Ears with Facebook and YouTube
One of the applications I do like through Facebook is the FunWall. My friend Peter seems to find and share some of the best videos on YouTube. Certainly ones that are guaranteed to make me laugh out loud or stop everything I'm doing to look and listen intently to what is showing on my screen.
What I love is that Facebook as a tool is a great way to share those interesting videos that just spark something in your imagination. YouTube is a great tool for posting, sharing and searching out more of those moments that make you go....Cooool!
Peter sent me this one other day of the a cappella group Straight No Chaser and I just loved it. Especially for the holidays. What it did though was trigger that "I need to find out more" itch. Once again in a matter of a few minutes I've found the group's website, more video clips, where to buy a cd, and more and more.
I hope the clip inspires you to dig and explore a little further to see, listen and observe things you wouldn't always stop and give your attention.
check these out too 1, 2, 3, and for a little fun 4 (the funniest)
What I love is that Facebook as a tool is a great way to share those interesting videos that just spark something in your imagination. YouTube is a great tool for posting, sharing and searching out more of those moments that make you go....Cooool!
Peter sent me this one other day of the a cappella group Straight No Chaser and I just loved it. Especially for the holidays. What it did though was trigger that "I need to find out more" itch. Once again in a matter of a few minutes I've found the group's website, more video clips, where to buy a cd, and more and more.
I hope the clip inspires you to dig and explore a little further to see, listen and observe things you wouldn't always stop and give your attention.
check these out too 1, 2, 3, and for a little fun 4 (the funniest)
Thursday, 6 December 2007
Blearning - yes it's new, it's exciting, it's cheap, it's free
Well my blogging buddy Brent commented on a post of mine today regarding the DevLearn 2007 DemoFest winners. One type of topic I like blog on is webinars and web meetings or more specifically taking notes during them and posting the info onto my blog site.
I do this for 3 reasons, one is that I can share the info I learn and gather with others, secondly I can take notes and keep them for my own reference later on (and being in a blog they are searchable). Third, I have found that it has become a great way for me to really concentrate more fully on a webinar. Often, and I've seen this polled a bunch of times during webinars, that most participants are doing several tasks at once while listening to a webinar. From answering emails, to filling reports, to having meetings with others as people walk in the room. Blogging for me as I listen/participate in the webinar forces me to pay more careful attention so that I can better "report" what it is I hear, learn and see.
Brent commented that he has looked at a couple of just such postings of my and jokingly referred to it as perhaps a new modality for learning. "B"learning. Now, I'm going to give him full credit on the term, but if it somehow turns into the "B" standing for Brent-Learning then I may just have to re-term it T-Learning....and I like the hyphen...looks meaner (i.e. T-Rex).
I do this for 3 reasons, one is that I can share the info I learn and gather with others, secondly I can take notes and keep them for my own reference later on (and being in a blog they are searchable). Third, I have found that it has become a great way for me to really concentrate more fully on a webinar. Often, and I've seen this polled a bunch of times during webinars, that most participants are doing several tasks at once while listening to a webinar. From answering emails, to filling reports, to having meetings with others as people walk in the room. Blogging for me as I listen/participate in the webinar forces me to pay more careful attention so that I can better "report" what it is I hear, learn and see.
Brent commented that he has looked at a couple of just such postings of my and jokingly referred to it as perhaps a new modality for learning. "B"learning. Now, I'm going to give him full credit on the term, but if it somehow turns into the "B" standing for Brent-Learning then I may just have to re-term it T-Learning....and I like the hyphen...looks meaner (i.e. T-Rex).
DemoFest 2007 Winners from DevLearn 2007 (eLearning Guild)
DemoFest Winners 2007
Based on demonstrations run during the DevlLearn 2007 in San Jose, CA Nov. 2007.
Winners
Seal Works - Ariel
Can Do It, LLC, 3-D Instructions
Sun Microsystems
OnPoint Digital, Sales Quenchers - mLearning
KPMG - Expense Reimbursement Training
Oxygen Education - Emag machine
Nick Floro - Ariel - A Reader's Interactive Exploration of Literature
Team of 6 people, 6 months to create
Budget of $80,000.
Goal: gain resources to better understand literature content
Objectives: creating a cdrom, or webserver could deliver content along with book.
Audience: college students
Created from scratch not existing technology or solution.
Used 5D's of project management
Discovery
Define project
Design
Develop
Delivery
Created a flowchart for each author flowing through the content of the book.
Each would have some activity associated with them.
Tools used:
Html, flash
Created wire frames on how to interact with the content.
27 authors
Wanted interactivity (on web, or cdrom)
Each author had their own logo and a font based on their particular work.
Banner, Content in middle. Left side user choices to pick a particular piece of author work, picture, or audio related to author.
Glossary based on material, but could be pulled from and turn into a pop up within each author window content.
Project management tools used.
Basecamphq.com (recommended by Nick and participants within the online too.)
Program had a poem creating tool such like fridge magnets.
Nick@sealworks.com
http://tinyurl.com/3y8pyx
John D'Amours - 3D Instructions, An EPSS Prototype (Can Do It LLC)
Mission: Deliver low-cost 3d Assembly instructions and lead consumers to expect this quality level for all do-it-yourself tasks (eg. Ikea products, not just using paper instructions)
Tools:
Deep Exploration (5.1 beta)
Right Hemisphere (alpha and beta version)
Items are displayed on screen in 3D, user can shift screen perspective to see each angle of item being put together.
Sorry I don't have more notes than this....I had to leave the demonstration early to go to another webinar. Recordings of the presentation will be found on The eLearning Guild website.
9:15pm...later this evening....I just saw that Cammy Bean posted information on a few of the other presenters at this webinar. (thanks Cammy)
Based on demonstrations run during the DevlLearn 2007 in San Jose, CA Nov. 2007.
Winners
Seal Works - Ariel
Can Do It, LLC, 3-D Instructions
Sun Microsystems
OnPoint Digital, Sales Quenchers - mLearning
KPMG - Expense Reimbursement Training
Oxygen Education - Emag machine
Nick Floro - Ariel - A Reader's Interactive Exploration of Literature
Team of 6 people, 6 months to create
Budget of $80,000.
Goal: gain resources to better understand literature content
Objectives: creating a cdrom, or webserver could deliver content along with book.
Audience: college students
Created from scratch not existing technology or solution.
Used 5D's of project management
Discovery
Define project
Design
Develop
Delivery
Created a flowchart for each author flowing through the content of the book.
Each would have some activity associated with them.
Tools used:
Html, flash
Created wire frames on how to interact with the content.
27 authors
Wanted interactivity (on web, or cdrom)
Each author had their own logo and a font based on their particular work.
Banner, Content in middle. Left side user choices to pick a particular piece of author work, picture, or audio related to author.
Glossary based on material, but could be pulled from and turn into a pop up within each author window content.
Project management tools used.
Basecamphq.com (recommended by Nick and participants within the online too.)
Program had a poem creating tool such like fridge magnets.
Nick@sealworks.com
http://tinyurl.com/3y8pyx
John D'Amours - 3D Instructions, An EPSS Prototype (Can Do It LLC)
Mission: Deliver low-cost 3d Assembly instructions and lead consumers to expect this quality level for all do-it-yourself tasks (eg. Ikea products, not just using paper instructions)
Tools:
Deep Exploration (5.1 beta)
Right Hemisphere (alpha and beta version)
Items are displayed on screen in 3D, user can shift screen perspective to see each angle of item being put together.
Sorry I don't have more notes than this....I had to leave the demonstration early to go to another webinar. Recordings of the presentation will be found on The eLearning Guild website.
9:15pm...later this evening....I just saw that Cammy Bean posted information on a few of the other presenters at this webinar. (thanks Cammy)
Wednesday, 5 December 2007
So Just What is a Blog?
Another great production from the Common Craft Show. Blogs in Plain English is well done and follows similar formats to other pieces done by the group. I especially liked about 3/4 of the way though when they explain why people use them, or what's more important is how you use them. I like how blog communities are explained because it is one of the greatest advantages I have found and experienced since starting my own.
Thursday, 29 November 2007
Tools & Technologies for Mobile Learning - eLearning Guild Online Forum
Tools and Technologies for Mobile Learning by David Metcalf, University of Central Florida (notes from the eLearning Guild's online forum)
What is mlearning?
- laptop, micro pc
- cell phone
- tablet pc
- player
- PDA/handheld
- Ebook reader
- game device
Wiki - seeking lesson in small, manageable formats that can undertake when it suits them.
No consistent answer as it is still developing, growing, being explored.
Polls of participants
experience with m-learning projects - most haven't started
delivery are you using - most using podcasting
devices you are targeting -most were using ipods, blaceberries, smartphones/pda, cell phones,
Why consider it?
2 billion handsets by end of 2006
40M multimedia phones in US, 279 digital tv phones in US by 2010
More than 100 billion handsets with touch screens
3.25 billion mobile phones use
First Building Blocks
Learning
Second Building Block - performance support
- on the job
- task specific
- support at time of need
- coaching, mentoring
- paper based job aides
Need a consistent base of knowledge base
- repository of knowledge
- sharing of best practices & lessons learned
- connect with experts
A learner knows what they need to know - they just need to find the information.
Example - sports theme learning, sent through phone. Lesson is about a math course. Questions scored as a game. More points, they can win ring tones, prizes, sporting even tickets. (MySportsPulse). Using Moving Knowledge.
Example (Tyco)
Using vXML - book on tape style learning. For customer service management instructions.
One could also use a specialized device. ( Ie: PocketPC Symbol). Videos can be downloaded directly to the device. Best to use closeup shots. Can record messages.
Development Tools
Flash Lite
Zirada, lectora publisher
Camtasia Studio
iQuiz Maker
iWriter
quiz building for the ipbo
mobipocket ebook reader
interactive video technologies
emantras mobls
podquiz maker
kallisto
classinhand
quizzler pro
zirada mobile publisher
hot lava software
mobile and devises developer center
mobile chalkboard
talkshoe
tourcaster
pocket podcast
podtrip podcasting new
Captivate
Studymate
MobiGlam
mscape
tribal CTA
Profcast.com
Look for more on www.mlearnopedia.com (free site to look at).
Free tools:
Mob5
MobiSiteGalore
Winksite
Check what you have http://mr.dev.mobi/
Test/Quiz:
FlashcardExchange
GotestGo
iQuiz maker
Mobiode (surveys)
Studycell.com
Misc:
Apresto podcast
emantras' mobls
Giunti
Instancy
Liquid Talk
Communication:
CampusReact
clearTXT
Gabcast
Mobilesphere
Mogopop
MovingKnowledge
Podlines
Rave Wireless
Technical Areas to Consider:
types of devices
wireless connections
does your corp have standard devices
content providers
Wireless service providers
Platform options can make things difficult since there are many types. (blackberry, Palm, pocketpc, smartphones with WAP, JWME, tablets, handtops)
Overall this was a fairly good presentation. I was one of several in the session having trouble with audio and video files during the presentation. Another issue for myself it felt very business oriented. Not entirely, but that is a strong focus I find often of the mobile teaching. They speak of on the job tools, training as you need it, performance support. However, it generally seems related to sales. There is a huge world out there that needs more training then customer service. I'm in the health care industry and at a facility that has a great deal of RN students....how great for them to have a bedside "companion" with them to reference a wound for proper treatment, medication references for dosages (these greatly exist in the mobile world I realize). I'm not sure where we are going with this as an organization yet, but this session wasn't quite what I was thinking of, although there we a ton of useful sites, tools, and info for me to go explore. Great job again by the Guild.
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
Finding new Web tools by looking and digger a little deeper
I have a follow up presentation to do this Friday to see how the Training and Organization Development Network (Greater Toronto Area) is enjoying and utilizing the online community I set up for them. Long story short, in the spring the group met and was discussing that they were getting tired of keeping track of the billion emails flying around filled with questions, replies, and attachments. I suggested setting up an online community. Got it up and running in the summer and now that it is fall we are revisiting the idea to see if it has worked as we (I) had hoped.
What's this got to do with my post heading....well....my first presentation I included a couple of those great Common Craft in plain English videos. A better way then I could ever attempt at explaining some of the web tools out there to use. I wanted to come back at this presentation time and show another cool video that explains and showcases more of what is happening in the digital world. So I remembered Prof. Micheal Wesch 's video "The Machine is Us/ing Us". If you haven't seen it yet, take a look it's a wonderful piece. From an interview with the professor:
"As I tried to illustrate in the video, this means that a change in one area (such as the way we communicate) can have a profound effect on everything else, including family, love, and our sense of being itself. Second, everything is connected throughout all time, and so as anthropologists we take a very broad view of human history, looking thousands or even millions of years into the past and into the future as well. And finally, all people on the planet are connected. This has always been true environmentally because we share the same planet. Today it is even more true with increasing economic and media globalization."
Through looking at his site I came across Creative Commons (which I have seen before but never really looked into).
Creative Commons provides free tools that let authors, scientists, artists, and educators easily mark their creative work with the freedoms they want it to carry. You can use CC to change your copyright terms from "All Rights Reserved" to "Some Rights Reserved."
Watching Prof. Wesch's video I saw him using/referencing an interesting site that I could see had lots of little window panes with rss feeds in, blogs, news items extra. Really liking the look of it I wanted to know what it was being used. Pause the video, rewind the video, step-by-step the video....I was just about to do a screen capture and send the image to a friend to ask if they knew what it was and....I see on the web address line...netvibes. Type that into my browser and there you go....that's it. Another neat little tool to try out and see if I like using it as a reader.
I feel like Columbo (sorry for the 70's reference, but I still like him) discovering, exploring, finding clues, solving puzzles. There's something I always find really satisfying when I discover something new (at least new to me) on the web. I wonder how many more feel that way?
What's this got to do with my post heading....well....my first presentation I included a couple of those great Common Craft in plain English videos. A better way then I could ever attempt at explaining some of the web tools out there to use. I wanted to come back at this presentation time and show another cool video that explains and showcases more of what is happening in the digital world. So I remembered Prof. Micheal Wesch 's video "The Machine is Us/ing Us". If you haven't seen it yet, take a look it's a wonderful piece. From an interview with the professor:
"As I tried to illustrate in the video, this means that a change in one area (such as the way we communicate) can have a profound effect on everything else, including family, love, and our sense of being itself. Second, everything is connected throughout all time, and so as anthropologists we take a very broad view of human history, looking thousands or even millions of years into the past and into the future as well. And finally, all people on the planet are connected. This has always been true environmentally because we share the same planet. Today it is even more true with increasing economic and media globalization."
Through looking at his site I came across Creative Commons (which I have seen before but never really looked into).
Creative Commons provides free tools that let authors, scientists, artists, and educators easily mark their creative work with the freedoms they want it to carry. You can use CC to change your copyright terms from "All Rights Reserved" to "Some Rights Reserved."
Watching Prof. Wesch's video I saw him using/referencing an interesting site that I could see had lots of little window panes with rss feeds in, blogs, news items extra. Really liking the look of it I wanted to know what it was being used. Pause the video, rewind the video, step-by-step the video....I was just about to do a screen capture and send the image to a friend to ask if they knew what it was and....I see on the web address line...netvibes. Type that into my browser and there you go....that's it. Another neat little tool to try out and see if I like using it as a reader.
I feel like Columbo (sorry for the 70's reference, but I still like him) discovering, exploring, finding clues, solving puzzles. There's something I always find really satisfying when I discover something new (at least new to me) on the web. I wonder how many more feel that way?
Monday, 26 November 2007
The Price to Buy 12 Days of Christmas
From article out of the Toronto Star, Dan Nephin (Associated Press).
Shopping list
Prices of items in the Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas," according to PNC Wealth Management:
1 Partridge, $15 (last year: same)
1 Pear Tree, $150 (last year: $130)
2 Turtle Doves, $40 (last year: same)
3 French Hens, $45 (last year: same)
4 Calling Birds (canaries), $600 (last year: $480)
5 Gold Rings, $395 (last year: $325)
6 Geese a-Laying, $360 (last year: $300)
7 Swans a-Swimming, $4,200 (last year: same)
8 Maids a-Milking, $47 (last year: $41)
9 Ladies Dancing (per performance), $4,759 (last year: same)
10 Lords a-Leaping (per performance), $4,285 (last year: $4,160)
11 Pipers Piping (per performance), $2,213 (last year: $2,124)
12 Drummers Drumming (per performance), $2,398 (last year: $2,301)
My sister was quite surprised that 10 Lords a-Leaping was cheaper then 9 Ladies Dancing....oh no...I hope I'm not getting 10 Lords a-Leaping for Christmas....where would I put them?
Shopping list
Prices of items in the Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas," according to PNC Wealth Management:
1 Partridge, $15 (last year: same)
1 Pear Tree, $150 (last year: $130)
2 Turtle Doves, $40 (last year: same)
3 French Hens, $45 (last year: same)
4 Calling Birds (canaries), $600 (last year: $480)
5 Gold Rings, $395 (last year: $325)
6 Geese a-Laying, $360 (last year: $300)
7 Swans a-Swimming, $4,200 (last year: same)
8 Maids a-Milking, $47 (last year: $41)
9 Ladies Dancing (per performance), $4,759 (last year: same)
10 Lords a-Leaping (per performance), $4,285 (last year: $4,160)
11 Pipers Piping (per performance), $2,213 (last year: $2,124)
12 Drummers Drumming (per performance), $2,398 (last year: $2,301)
My sister was quite surprised that 10 Lords a-Leaping was cheaper then 9 Ladies Dancing....oh no...I hope I'm not getting 10 Lords a-Leaping for Christmas....where would I put them?
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
Yes Virgina, There Are Other Search Engines
A co-worker of mine (the one that went to India, who I'm still trying to convince to blog) is working on a course that discovers various ways to do literature searches for research among other things. Every so often she comes across a great "new" little tool that she gets really excited about and shares with me. Now I'm excited too.
Have you visited KartOO?
It's a visual search engine in that once you put in your search topic you get up a picture representation of the most relevant pages.
Here's an image of when I searched my own blog.
Have you visited KartOO?
It's a visual search engine in that once you put in your search topic you get up a picture representation of the most relevant pages.
Here's an image of when I searched my own blog.
Th largest icon on the visual map is a small capture of my homepage, and the large bluish blob that lies in the background has labels on it letting you know the basic site topic/category (ie: blog, guide, photos, deals, tours, etc).
The upper left has a list as well of the major key words found on the pages that are showing. If you roll over a website page icon then you will see a brief description of the site as well.
It's actually a fun way to search and to "see" what might comes up.
Mobile Survey - Online Demo
This is not a commerical...I'm just sharing. I thought I would sit in on the Zoomerang Webinar: Capture "in the moment" feedback with mobile surveys. I've enjoyed using Zoomerang in the past for deploying surveys, and thought it's at least worth a look to see what they are offering in mobile ideas. If nothing else, online webinars are a great way to see what is out there and new to use.
If you are intersted here is the link they have sent me to register for this free seminar:
Reserve your spot today.
If you are intersted here is the link they have sent me to register for this free seminar:
Reserve your spot today.
Friday, 9 November 2007
Who knew that Costco and Zombies go together?!?
Okay, I'm a little late on this one....
Common Craft posted this one at the end of October that I just had to look at and killed my self laughing. Great way to leave the office on a Friday.
Zombies in Plain English
Common Craft posted this one at the end of October that I just had to look at and killed my self laughing. Great way to leave the office on a Friday.
Zombies in Plain English
Online Conference Starts Next Week (Corporate Learning: Trends and Innovations)
I'm quite excited to be participating as a learner at the upcoming Corporate Learning: Trends and Innovations Online conference which begins next Thursday. There is a terrific line up of speakers presenting a wide range of topics over the course of 4 days.
What's great is like a face-to-face conference you can pick and choose which sessions you wish to attend that are of interest to you. Best yet, you can stay home in your pajamas and learn. (hee hee). Seriously, there are 15 or so presenters to learn from. There are over 800 people registered to participate globally. It's all free. Did I say that loud enough FREE!!! How can you not stop in and listen.
I was sent an email today from the organizer George Siemens that linked participants and speakers to a wonderful site that was new for me; Attendr. What a neat representation of attendees, where they are from, who they know and connecting them to who the would like to meet.
What's great is like a face-to-face conference you can pick and choose which sessions you wish to attend that are of interest to you. Best yet, you can stay home in your pajamas and learn. (hee hee). Seriously, there are 15 or so presenters to learn from. There are over 800 people registered to participate globally. It's all free. Did I say that loud enough FREE!!! How can you not stop in and listen.
I was sent an email today from the organizer George Siemens that linked participants and speakers to a wonderful site that was new for me; Attendr. What a neat representation of attendees, where they are from, who they know and connecting them to who the would like to meet.
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
Elearning Blueprints Needs Beta Testers
Cathy Moore is looking for some beta testers to try out a new elearing design tool she has been working on.
Elearning Blueprints are online tools that walk you through the process of designing and writing lively elearning content. Beta testers will get access to:The premise seems like a great idea and I hope Cathy gets all the feedback necessary to get the project up and running.
- Design and write clear, engaging elearning materials on any subject
- Immediately apply the ideas to your current project
- Use research-based best practices that will make your elearning more
powerful- Find and share creative ideas
- Streamline your elearning development
eLearning Guild Gives More to Members
The eLearning Guild is upgrading it's membership perks. Associate members can now access 237+ archived issues of Learning Solutions eMagazine and Guild Research 360° Reports will now be available to all Guild Member, Member Plus, and Premium Members.
Thanks to Brent Schlenker's update on this today. You can see much more info from his blog or directly from the eLearning Guild site.
Just in time for my LMS launch.
Thanks to Brent Schlenker's update on this today. You can see much more info from his blog or directly from the eLearning Guild site.
Just in time for my LMS launch.
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
PC Magazine - Top 100
PC Magazine's latest edition has three great lists to peruse through and try out. They have their picks for:
- Top 100 Undiscovered Sites - "top new or under-the-radar sites of 2007"
- Top 100 Classic Sites - "these sites are best-of-breed in their respective categories"
- Favourite 100 Blogs
Now I just need some time to look through them all.
Friday, 26 October 2007
Flickr Related Tag Browser
Here's one more I found and thought was quite neat. [Link] This site allows you to enter any search term and it will give you a matrix of 36 photos related to that tag. You can click any of the photos to see it enlarged beside the matrix. You can also scroll through the thousands and thousands of other photos with that tag.
The interesting part that gets you to keep exploring here is as you move your mouse away from the photo matrix you are presented with about 40 unique tags related to the original. For example if I start with CAT, I am presented with 1.3 million+ photos. As I move my mouse out other tags that I can now choose from are Baby, Meow, Kitty, Dog, Sleep, Nature, etc. I picked nature and am now sent to 2 Million+ photos to look over with a whole new series of tags to explore.
Truly an interesting way to view photos that have been posted, but also a great demonstration of the power of tags and relationships.
The interesting part that gets you to keep exploring here is as you move your mouse away from the photo matrix you are presented with about 40 unique tags related to the original. For example if I start with CAT, I am presented with 1.3 million+ photos. As I move my mouse out other tags that I can now choose from are Baby, Meow, Kitty, Dog, Sleep, Nature, etc. I picked nature and am now sent to 2 Million+ photos to look over with a whole new series of tags to explore.
Truly an interesting way to view photos that have been posted, but also a great demonstration of the power of tags and relationships.
Want to try something really different & uncomfortable?
Okay this may sound like I'm losing my mind, but give it a try first. Stumbling around the internet I found a site called Don't Click It by the Institute for Interactive Research. Basically it is a series of different experiments, games, exercises in trying to use your mouse only as a rollover tool. NO MORE CLICKING the mouse buttons. As this is apparently a waste of our valuable time as computer users. One now simply moves the mouse over the menu we want to expand or circle over a button we want to activate.
The premise sounds quite interesting, but give it a try first. Play around on the site for 5 minutes and you will instantly see how "weird" it feels not to click any thing. Try out several things and see if you get the "warning screen". I did, but only once.
The premise sounds quite interesting, but give it a try first. Play around on the site for 5 minutes and you will instantly see how "weird" it feels not to click any thing. Try out several things and see if you get the "warning screen". I did, but only once.
Thursday, 25 October 2007
Stumble Upon - Discover New Sites
A colleague I work with sent me an interesting link today. As part of a course she must learn the latest and greatest ways to search the web for content. She found out that 80% of the web is not located through traditional search engines.
Wow....do you know what that means is out there?
Well if it's true, I just googled (I love that's a verb now) the word "the" and got 5,130,000,000 hits. If that is only 20% of what is out there then there are potentially 25,650,000,000 sites that are really in cyberspace. Okay maybe not exactly, but I'm sure the premise is real. Not everyone knows how to set their site up properly to be found by search engines, so it makes sense that many are hiding.
The site my friend referred me to is called Stumble Upon.
When you set up your account you are given the option of choosing which types of sites you would like to see from about 500 different topics. Some examples of categories are alcoholic drinks, internet tools, astronomy, crafts, physics, iraq, online games, open source, and web development.
A toolbar is installed in your browser that when you click it you are sent to a webpage based on one of the topics you have chosen. The pages are ranked by users (3,727,921) and are delivered to you based on the preferences you have chosen.
It's a neat little tool if you are looking around for some different content you've never seen before, if you love to just websurf, and/or you just want to learn what's out there.
Obviously it isn't too new if there are 3.5 million+ users. However, content on the web is always expanding and changing and it's seems like a good way to see what's out there and have your say on ranking a few of the sites.
Not only can you "stumble" through websites but also photos, news articles, videos, and a specific topic. I could lose a lot of time playing with this one.
Some neat ones I stumbled onto (for now....):
3000 Hits Today and Still Going
I had my 3000th reader today. That's really cool. I thank you all very much, especially since I have fallen back a little on my posting frequency. The LMS project and other work (not nearly as fun) has taken more of a front seat.
I'm still completely engaged in blogging, reading and learning from one another and try to promote this to my colleagues as often as possible.
I have a follow-up education session at the end of November to see how the T&OD Network (GTA) is liking the online community that I set up for them. Instead of emails flying all over the place we now have one central place (hosted on Yahoo! Groups) to house share files, policies, job postings, speaker reviews, and questions posted to each other. A wonderful feature (true of many web applications) is it's all searchable. I'm hoping that they group votes to continue as currently we have about 75 users on the site. That's about half the group so I need to sell it to the rest of the members.
I'm sharing the same idea with the PPNO next week as well. They too are looking for a central idea to store their posted questions to members and responses. As well as house files, newsletters, calendars, etc. Online communities are great for this purpose.
Thanks again to all my readers and please continue check back frequently, subscribe to the feed, and comment often. I promise to do the same in return and together our knowledge will continue to grow.
I'm still completely engaged in blogging, reading and learning from one another and try to promote this to my colleagues as often as possible.
I have a follow-up education session at the end of November to see how the T&OD Network (GTA) is liking the online community that I set up for them. Instead of emails flying all over the place we now have one central place (hosted on Yahoo! Groups) to house share files, policies, job postings, speaker reviews, and questions posted to each other. A wonderful feature (true of many web applications) is it's all searchable. I'm hoping that they group votes to continue as currently we have about 75 users on the site. That's about half the group so I need to sell it to the rest of the members.
I'm sharing the same idea with the PPNO next week as well. They too are looking for a central idea to store their posted questions to members and responses. As well as house files, newsletters, calendars, etc. Online communities are great for this purpose.
Thanks again to all my readers and please continue check back frequently, subscribe to the feed, and comment often. I promise to do the same in return and together our knowledge will continue to grow.
Monday, 22 October 2007
Are you coming to "Corporate Learning: Trends and Innovations"?
Well I can only schmooze up to the boss so much without her realizing that I am trying to scheme something out of her and I have been denied to attend the eLearning Guild DevLearn 2007. Disheartening? A little, however I've been able to find lots of great online conferences and learning workshops through the Guild's monthly Online Forums (highly recommend), some through Elluminate and now this great excitement....Corporate Learning: Trends and Innovations.
There are some great speakers participating in this entirely online conference.
7.1 Tony Karrer
7.2 David Snowden
7.3 Jay Cross
7.4 Rebecca Stromeyer
7.5 Richard Straub
7.6 Clark Quinn
7.7 Steve Mahaley
7.8 Gaurav Rastogi and Jai Ganesh
7.9 Keith Resseau
7.10 Donald H. Taylor
7.11 Janet Clarey
7.12 David Wilson
7.13 Rae Tanner
7.14 Bill Bruck
7.15 George Siemens
The conference runs November 15th to the 20th and is free, but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
If you haven't taken a look yet at all the conference has to offer, wander over to the conference wiki that has been set up. Even it is a great example of what you can create with a wiki.
There are some great speakers participating in this entirely online conference.
7.1 Tony Karrer
7.2 David Snowden
7.3 Jay Cross
7.4 Rebecca Stromeyer
7.5 Richard Straub
7.6 Clark Quinn
7.7 Steve Mahaley
7.8 Gaurav Rastogi and Jai Ganesh
7.9 Keith Resseau
7.10 Donald H. Taylor
7.11 Janet Clarey
7.12 David Wilson
7.13 Rae Tanner
7.14 Bill Bruck
7.15 George Siemens
The conference runs November 15th to the 20th and is free, but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
If you haven't taken a look yet at all the conference has to offer, wander over to the conference wiki that has been set up. Even it is a great example of what you can create with a wiki.
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
A little off topic - Blog Action Day Stats
As I said a little earlier I've been a little off topic lately and more behind in posting then I would like, but the CBT training is almost over and the LMS/Intranet/CMS meetings are progressing more smoothly.
I was happy though to see a thank you email in my inbox today from the Blog Action Day Team. They posted on thier site some stats from this year's effort.
- 20,603 Blog Participated
- 23,327 Blog Posts (Google Blog Search)
- 14,631,038 RSS Readers
"Impact on the Blogosphere: The graph below shows the frequency of terms appearing in the blogosphere courtesy of BlogTrends. Additionally "Blog Action Day" was the top Technorati search term AND tag for the day."
Monday, 15 October 2007
Blog Action Day - What if we do nothing about global warming???
Today is Blog Action Day. Today 15,000 blogs are focusing in on the environment today. Some are writing, some are donating their earnings. All for the same cause though. We will be hitting potentially 12 million readers today.
So what do I write about. I've been thinking about that for a few days now. I found something I truly want to share and it is this guy's video labelled "The Most Terrifying Thing You'll Ever See". From his description he is a "burnt out high school teacher" with a great message that everyone should wonder about "What will happen to the world should we disregard even the slightest chance that global warming is indeed happening?"
Look up more videos by this gentleman and you find a fun trailer for his sequel "How it all ends". This production is broken into many smaller segments all around global warming and us as a global village taking action NOW and the consequences of not doing so. He presents the argument in a clear and easy manner that even a high school student would understand and more over stay compelled to listen to the entire piece.
I'm sorry that I can't give him credit other than this as I haven't found his true name yet. Thanks to him for opening my eyes a bit more....a lot more.
One more thing you can do today....
Take the time today to see some more blogs focusing in on the environment.
So what do I write about. I've been thinking about that for a few days now. I found something I truly want to share and it is this guy's video labelled "The Most Terrifying Thing You'll Ever See". From his description he is a "burnt out high school teacher" with a great message that everyone should wonder about "What will happen to the world should we disregard even the slightest chance that global warming is indeed happening?"
Look up more videos by this gentleman and you find a fun trailer for his sequel "How it all ends". This production is broken into many smaller segments all around global warming and us as a global village taking action NOW and the consequences of not doing so. He presents the argument in a clear and easy manner that even a high school student would understand and more over stay compelled to listen to the entire piece.
I'm sorry that I can't give him credit other than this as I haven't found his true name yet. Thanks to him for opening my eyes a bit more....a lot more.
One more thing you can do today....
Take the time today to see some more blogs focusing in on the environment.
Selling Web 2.0 (again)
I haven't been posting as much as I would truly like. I've been so swamped with work, including trying to prepare our selves to get the LMS up and running. I have however been introducing a few more people to the fabulous use of blogs and wikis.
I have one friend that loves to write poems and has been using the Facebook feature of Notes to capture them. I suggested that if she wanted something a little more private then she could open a blog and use it as a private journal. She also writes collaboratively with another friend. The two of them take turns write a paragraph of a story and see where it goes and ends up. For this I suggested and set up a wiki for them to try out. This way they can go in and read each other's work, make edits and suggestions. They can also create a new page for each story or for each theme of stories and can keep it private or share it as well.
My final sell this weekend was using a blog for a newsletter instead of a paper based item. Currently they create a newsletter in Publisher and then email it out. They only send electronically and do not print it to paper. Sounds like a job for something webish. I took their articles from their last newsletter. Created a new post for each article starting with the last one first. This would allow a reader once they open the blog to read the first intended article as the most recent post of the blog. The last article of the paper copy would appear as the last post as well. The first post they open was titled "In this Issue", with the month and volume/issue number. Then a listing of the post headings as links to each article.
My arguments for them using this system were:
I have one friend that loves to write poems and has been using the Facebook feature of Notes to capture them. I suggested that if she wanted something a little more private then she could open a blog and use it as a private journal. She also writes collaboratively with another friend. The two of them take turns write a paragraph of a story and see where it goes and ends up. For this I suggested and set up a wiki for them to try out. This way they can go in and read each other's work, make edits and suggestions. They can also create a new page for each story or for each theme of stories and can keep it private or share it as well.
My final sell this weekend was using a blog for a newsletter instead of a paper based item. Currently they create a newsletter in Publisher and then email it out. They only send electronically and do not print it to paper. Sounds like a job for something webish. I took their articles from their last newsletter. Created a new post for each article starting with the last one first. This would allow a reader once they open the blog to read the first intended article as the most recent post of the blog. The last article of the paper copy would appear as the last post as well. The first post they open was titled "In this Issue", with the month and volume/issue number. Then a listing of the post headings as links to each article.
My arguments for them using this system were:
- articles can be tagged for reference and searching (ie: volume 6, issue 3, meeting, agenda)
- articles are all searchable by any word
- articles are all archived individually and monthly
- links on the main web page can be added to the newsletter blog and back to the web page
- because of the flexibility of posting, special articles could be added at times other than regular newsletter issuing dates
- members can subscribe to updates, rss feeds
- the blog can have stats tracked regarding usage.
I'm still waiting for responses on all 3 "new ideas" that I've put out for my colleagues. Now just waiting to see if I sold it all properly.
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
6 Days and Counting -Blog Action Day 2007
Just a reminder to my blogging friends and readers that Blog Action Day 2007 is fast approaching. Take a few minutes to think about what you can write about, share, and maybe even change the world.
Thursday, 4 October 2007
Is your HR tracking software prepared to take on your new LMS?
The on going LMS saga....
TIP 5: If your HR system is not already tracking reporting structure throughout your organization, you may want to start working on that now.
TIP 6: The more information you can use to identify your employees the better to track and report them.
We are still going through the motions of getting our new LMS and our current systems to function together so that 1) we have a comprehensive data base of employees that needs to only be adjusted in one location (HR), and 2) so that managers can track the learning/training progress of employees that report to them.
Currently if we run off a report of our employees we can only break them down into which funding centre pays which group of employees or who looks after their weekly pay. This is not necessarily the manager that they report to; aka. the person responsible for their mandatory learning requirements. This has come up several times in the past and now that we need several new systems, besides the LMS, to talk to the HR system Human Resources is now forced to some how start added new fields to the employee database and use existing fields to better sort reporting structure. This is a daunting task with 2500 employees, but imagine if you are a company with thousands more.
So today's tips are to make sure that your employee database is filled with as much information as possible. It will and can only come in handy later as more and more systems are automated and upgraded.
TIP 5: If your HR system is not already tracking reporting structure throughout your organization, you may want to start working on that now.
TIP 6: The more information you can use to identify your employees the better to track and report them.
We are still going through the motions of getting our new LMS and our current systems to function together so that 1) we have a comprehensive data base of employees that needs to only be adjusted in one location (HR), and 2) so that managers can track the learning/training progress of employees that report to them.
Currently if we run off a report of our employees we can only break them down into which funding centre pays which group of employees or who looks after their weekly pay. This is not necessarily the manager that they report to; aka. the person responsible for their mandatory learning requirements. This has come up several times in the past and now that we need several new systems, besides the LMS, to talk to the HR system Human Resources is now forced to some how start added new fields to the employee database and use existing fields to better sort reporting structure. This is a daunting task with 2500 employees, but imagine if you are a company with thousands more.
So today's tips are to make sure that your employee database is filled with as much information as possible. It will and can only come in handy later as more and more systems are automated and upgraded.
Speaking of Virtual Frogs
Follow up to my posting about see through frogs....
Here is a link to a site that will give you a free cd-rom digital frog disection. Or if you want to take it further there are several links here for even more animals.
(yes, I too am finding this a little creepy, but better then the smells I remember from my biology classes)
Here is a link to a site that will give you a free cd-rom digital frog disection. Or if you want to take it further there are several links here for even more animals.
(yes, I too am finding this a little creepy, but better then the smells I remember from my biology classes)
Tuesday, 2 October 2007
Creating a Navigational Model with Mindomo - LMS Project continues
The LMS we are working on (if you can call it that) is one part of three. The other two parts are the policy and procedure component, and the intranet which will house it all.
I've been working the last couple of days on the lovely task of trying to create our navigational model. The main links that users will use to navigate around the intranet and then some of the lower tiers (or clicks).
We are suppose to produce something that looks like:
The blue rectangles would be our tier 1 navigation (the main headings) and the pink rectangles are the tier 2 navigation (sub headings). More tiers can fall under these, but the rule is to try to only have users make 3 clicks to get to any topic. An example: Tier 1 - Directories, Tier 2 - Staff Directory, Tier 3 - Voice Mail.
I've been working the last couple of days on the lovely task of trying to create our navigational model. The main links that users will use to navigate around the intranet and then some of the lower tiers (or clicks).
We are suppose to produce something that looks like:
The blue rectangles would be our tier 1 navigation (the main headings) and the pink rectangles are the tier 2 navigation (sub headings). More tiers can fall under these, but the rule is to try to only have users make 3 clicks to get to any topic. An example: Tier 1 - Directories, Tier 2 - Staff Directory, Tier 3 - Voice Mail. We have a simplified intranet now composed of Word docs, Publisher pages, pdfs and web links. I wanted to first map what we have to try and decide what tiers we want included in our new intranet. Excel wouldn't let me move items around as easily as I wanted to and PowerPoint has a limited screen size so I thought I would try a web application mind mapping tool. I then started with Mindmeister (a suggestion from Brent Schlenker) - which I do like, but not quite right for this exercise. Then I moved to Bubbl.us (a suggestion from Angela White) - I really like the look and feel of this one, but again just not quite the set up I was looking for this project. Then I came across Mindomo and this is just what I needed.
It's a nice mind mapping tool that allows similar functions as the others, but I seemed to be able to manipulate around the branches of my chart a little easier. I'm able to colour code items, link some together, bound others and expand and expand and expand.
Here's a screen shot of a piece of our current intranet (left zoomed way out, right just a small piece):
The green lines are relations ships, the green/orange squares are items I've highlighted and the red line box are bound items.
My next step is to translate this back to the simple square model above.
Sunday, 30 September 2007
If you don't want to do it virtually...how about see through
I've always wondered with technology the way it is, why are students still dissecting animals for biology classes. Why not use a computer program that's been around for 15+ years and just do it virtually? No more sad little screams of "YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT TO THE FROG?!?!"Well Japanese scientists have come up with another way that maybe teachers will latch onto instead. How about a see through frog? No need to cut Kermit open when you can now instead watch all his organs, veins, and eggs (Kermit's sister) develop over the span of its life.
Photograph by Ho New/Reuters
Friday, 28 September 2007
Microsoft Surface Makes Guest Appearance on CSI Miami
Well to my delight the new season of fall shows has begun. Thank goodness for satellite so that I can watch one show, pvr another and then catch another one during a different timezone showing.
Last night I was catching up on all the new episodes of CSIs; Miami, New York, Las Vegas, NCSI. During CSI Miami I was quite excited to see that they were now using right in the middle of their lab a Microsoft Surface. A parole officer had been killed by one of his parolees. So how better to find a list of call his charges but to look through his Blackberry. How better to get the data off the Blackberry then to place it down onto a Microsoft Surface. If you've looked at the Microsoft promo spots on their site then you would recognize the telltale ripple marks that immediately appeared when the mobile was set down instantly linking the two (pic). Then, like some magical ballet, the character Calleigh begins to wave her hands over the Surface and sorts all the bad guys instantly into lists of bad to evil, and one MO from another.
Now I wonder if it was a one shot product placement or if the Surface will have a recurring role.
Last night I was catching up on all the new episodes of CSIs; Miami, New York, Las Vegas, NCSI. During CSI Miami I was quite excited to see that they were now using right in the middle of their lab a Microsoft Surface. A parole officer had been killed by one of his parolees. So how better to find a list of call his charges but to look through his Blackberry. How better to get the data off the Blackberry then to place it down onto a Microsoft Surface. If you've looked at the Microsoft promo spots on their site then you would recognize the telltale ripple marks that immediately appeared when the mobile was set down instantly linking the two (pic). Then, like some magical ballet, the character Calleigh begins to wave her hands over the Surface and sorts all the bad guys instantly into lists of bad to evil, and one MO from another.
Now I wonder if it was a one shot product placement or if the Surface will have a recurring role.
Thursday, 27 September 2007
Developing an e-Learning Strategy and Architecture - Lance Dublin (Elluminate Webinar)
Developing an e-Learning Strategy and Architecture - Lance Dublin
This was my first Elluminate webinar and it was quite neat to see a different format then I have seen before. One tool I haven't used before was a whiteboard that participants can add too and slides can be altered as the presenter speaks. All participants can use a mic if wanted.
Webinar points:
Yesterday's communication - same time , same place (ie: meetings, phone calls)
Today's Communication - any time, any place (ie: chants, blogs, wikis, virtual offices)
Strategy - the way we get there:
eLearning Pathway might have been as.....(9 elements)
discover, envision, understand, analyze, define, enlist, plan, implement, learn
Doesn't really happen this way. Much more like putting several pieces of an elearning architecture together. It is more like including the above 9 elements, but not in a particular order.
Discover - what is the purpose of your organization, type of environment, how your place works
Envision - create a vision, something to draw and motivate people
Understand - identify gaps you may have in getting to where you want to go with your learning
Analyze - learn about all the types of learning options that you may have
Define -
Enlist - emplementing, business case (next webinar)
Plan and Implement - (next webinar)
Architecture - the place you want to get
Ad Hoc Model:
do you have info - documents, websites, etc.
do you have training - paper based, instructor lead, videos, etc
do you have elearning - we had a course and now we deliver over the internet
Foundations for Learning (Bloom) (Rube Goldberg):
Need for Knowledge - job aids, remembering info
Comprehension - job aid and on the job training
Application - self-paced training, and OJT
Analysis - instructor led and OJT
Synthesis - developing training for others
Now we need to find/develop the right learning product for the right learner and the right situation.
Ensuring Performance:
we could give a person more support, tools, information, learning
Fastest way to improve their performance
Most participants chose the answer as TOOLS.
The slowest way to get there is Learning.
A great way is support - bringing the info when they need it.
Process Perspective:
Performance can be helped/enhanced by taking data/info through requirements, using tools like job aids, webinars, etc, creating some applications, that the user can then take to better their performance.
Content Perspective:
Sometimes organizations want to push content/courses. (formal)
Sometimes staff need to find info and pull it from searches, OJT, mentors, chats, collaboration.
Sometimes it needs to be embedded into the work, performance support systems, expert systems, workflow learning
Time/Place Perspective:
Physical ----
same time same place - classes, ojt
same time, any place - webinars
Virtual----
any time, same place - job aids
any time, any place - elearning
Question is...how do you blend them successfully all together? This is the world we are moving into.
Examples:
Strategy--Technology
Learning from collocation--face-to-face (learning labs, mentoring, role playing)
Learn from collaboration--collaborative (e-labs, virtual classrooms)
learn from interaction--multimedia
learn from information--internet
Moving from Aware, to conceptual, to functional, to competent, to expert using...
basic information, structured information, applied learning, action learning
This was my first Elluminate webinar and it was quite neat to see a different format then I have seen before. One tool I haven't used before was a whiteboard that participants can add too and slides can be altered as the presenter speaks. All participants can use a mic if wanted.
Webinar points:
Yesterday's communication - same time , same place (ie: meetings, phone calls)
Today's Communication - any time, any place (ie: chants, blogs, wikis, virtual offices)
Strategy - the way we get there:
eLearning Pathway might have been as.....(9 elements)
discover, envision, understand, analyze, define, enlist, plan, implement, learn
Doesn't really happen this way. Much more like putting several pieces of an elearning architecture together. It is more like including the above 9 elements, but not in a particular order.
Discover - what is the purpose of your organization, type of environment, how your place works
Envision - create a vision, something to draw and motivate people
Understand - identify gaps you may have in getting to where you want to go with your learning
Analyze - learn about all the types of learning options that you may have
Define -
Enlist - emplementing, business case (next webinar)
Plan and Implement - (next webinar)
Architecture - the place you want to get
Ad Hoc Model:
do you have info - documents, websites, etc.
do you have training - paper based, instructor lead, videos, etc
do you have elearning - we had a course and now we deliver over the internet
Foundations for Learning (Bloom) (Rube Goldberg):
Need for Knowledge - job aids, remembering info
Comprehension - job aid and on the job training
Application - self-paced training, and OJT
Analysis - instructor led and OJT
Synthesis - developing training for others
Now we need to find/develop the right learning product for the right learner and the right situation.
Ensuring Performance:
we could give a person more support, tools, information, learning
Fastest way to improve their performance
Most participants chose the answer as TOOLS.
The slowest way to get there is Learning.
A great way is support - bringing the info when they need it.
Process Perspective:
Performance can be helped/enhanced by taking data/info through requirements, using tools like job aids, webinars, etc, creating some applications, that the user can then take to better their performance.
Content Perspective:
Sometimes organizations want to push content/courses. (formal)
Sometimes staff need to find info and pull it from searches, OJT, mentors, chats, collaboration.
Sometimes it needs to be embedded into the work, performance support systems, expert systems, workflow learning
Time/Place Perspective:
Physical ----
same time same place - classes, ojt
same time, any place - webinars
Virtual----
any time, same place - job aids
any time, any place - elearning
Question is...how do you blend them successfully all together? This is the world we are moving into.
Examples:
Strategy--Technology
Learning from collocation--face-to-face (learning labs, mentoring, role playing)
Learn from collaboration--collaborative (e-labs, virtual classrooms)
learn from interaction--multimedia
learn from information--internet
Moving from Aware, to conceptual, to functional, to competent, to expert using...
basic information, structured information, applied learning, action learning
Monday, 24 September 2007
LMS Project....A Little More Progress
Well, where to start. Nothing has been happening since our last meeting in August, or so we thought. The LMS vendor has been working on there part but not quite according to the time lines we had initially set out upon. After a brief meeting today we set up weekly phone conferences between our LMS provider and the 3 project leaders (and some of their support members) here at work.
TIP 1-3 See (LMS - I don't want to be Little Miss Should've and Tony Karrer's LMS Gotchas)
TIP 4 - make sure you set up these meetings right from the beginning. Don't assume they are going to happen. This is the first way to ensure the LMS vendor is doing what they promised and that your team is doing what is expected of them to move the project forward.
We are now going to attempt to move a little more quickly then initially planned out. What does this mean? We are having several meetings (by phone) over the next few days to hammer out details of server preparation, staff database transfers and some remote training. We are going 0 to 60 without trying to go too fast. We are also aborting the idea of setting up the intranet first, then the CMS and then the LMS. We have decided to push at least the intranet and LMS forward at the same time. Amazingly enough though they (the vendor) is still convinced they can stick to the November go live date even with the several weeks of silence we've just gone through.
TIP 1-3 See (LMS - I don't want to be Little Miss Should've and Tony Karrer's LMS Gotchas)
TIP 4 - make sure you set up these meetings right from the beginning. Don't assume they are going to happen. This is the first way to ensure the LMS vendor is doing what they promised and that your team is doing what is expected of them to move the project forward.
We are now going to attempt to move a little more quickly then initially planned out. What does this mean? We are having several meetings (by phone) over the next few days to hammer out details of server preparation, staff database transfers and some remote training. We are going 0 to 60 without trying to go too fast. We are also aborting the idea of setting up the intranet first, then the CMS and then the LMS. We have decided to push at least the intranet and LMS forward at the same time. Amazingly enough though they (the vendor) is still convinced they can stick to the November go live date even with the several weeks of silence we've just gone through.
Meeting Werner Berger
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Werner Berger as we were talking with him to come and speak to our organization.
"Werner is the oldest North American to have stood atop the summit of Everest, and we believe him to be the fourth oldest person in the world to have accomplished that feat. Werner is the oldest North American to have completed the 'Seven Summits'."
Some of the key ideas and thoughts that came from him out of that meeting I wanted to capture and decided I would place them here.
"Werner is the oldest North American to have stood atop the summit of Everest, and we believe him to be the fourth oldest person in the world to have accomplished that feat. Werner is the oldest North American to have completed the 'Seven Summits'."
Some of the key ideas and thoughts that came from him out of that meeting I wanted to capture and decided I would place them here.
- The Mountain doesn't care what I do, it is I that must rise above and not be a victim of circumstance
- Visions/Mission - you need a desired outcome, that is time sensitive and tangible, then decided what steps you will need to get there and just do those
- Vision yourself there and then visusualize how you got to that point
- Be clear on what you want
- Open and honest communication always needed
- Need the ablitity to challenge that which is causing trouble, permission to speak up without being penalized
- reframing your mindset not to see the problem, but the solution and the steps that you took to get to the solution
Friday, 21 September 2007
Showing The Value in Web 2.0 Tools to Create Buy-in
I listened in on Clark Quinn's presentation for the eLearning Guild yesterday and two comments hit me hard:
I have already successfully had the management team to try out a wiki as a tool for capturing answers to questions instead of sending out a survey and having to compile the data manually. I also have the team fully immersed in using online survey tools such as Zoomerang and Survey Monkey.
Today I decided to share the idea of mind mapping or brain storming online using the same type of principals as a wiki. Users can each go into the map and add their thoughts at their convenience. I suggested that when an occasion occurred for such a tool to let me know and I would help get one established for the team to use. The comment was put to me by my co-worker, "I really need to see the value of it to know if I'd want to use it."
Then, amazingly ten minutes later an occasion has come up to try it out. We teach a course several times a year where three of us each teach a different topic for a full day. We have decided that because there are key messages we are trying to spread through out the organization, we should make sure that we are each touching on these messages during our training sessions. Since finding meeting time together right now would prove very difficult we are going to use a mind mapping web tool to plan out what messages/themes we currently each deliver and then how we can tie them together to match the organizational plan.
My co-worker immediately said, "That's a great idea....I see value in that." Now after she uses the tool once she will be able to see how it could be applied to other situations. I just had to discover the perfect stepping off point in which to start and grab hold of her attention and willingness to discover something new.
"You're not about training/learning, you're about empowering performance."I draw from these thoughts that I can't just be the only one using these web applications. I need my colleagues to start playing with them and learning how to use the tools. I need to be more of an advocate for how the tools could assist their productivity and promote more often.
"You're not about computers or web, you're about all technology."
I have already successfully had the management team to try out a wiki as a tool for capturing answers to questions instead of sending out a survey and having to compile the data manually. I also have the team fully immersed in using online survey tools such as Zoomerang and Survey Monkey.
Today I decided to share the idea of mind mapping or brain storming online using the same type of principals as a wiki. Users can each go into the map and add their thoughts at their convenience. I suggested that when an occasion occurred for such a tool to let me know and I would help get one established for the team to use. The comment was put to me by my co-worker, "I really need to see the value of it to know if I'd want to use it."
Then, amazingly ten minutes later an occasion has come up to try it out. We teach a course several times a year where three of us each teach a different topic for a full day. We have decided that because there are key messages we are trying to spread through out the organization, we should make sure that we are each touching on these messages during our training sessions. Since finding meeting time together right now would prove very difficult we are going to use a mind mapping web tool to plan out what messages/themes we currently each deliver and then how we can tie them together to match the organizational plan.
My co-worker immediately said, "That's a great idea....I see value in that." Now after she uses the tool once she will be able to see how it could be applied to other situations. I just had to discover the perfect stepping off point in which to start and grab hold of her attention and willingness to discover something new.
Thursday, 20 September 2007
E-Learning by Design, Not by Default (eLearning Guild Online Forum)
E-Learning by Design, Not by Default: An Overview for Setting your e-Learning Strategy - Clark Quinn, Ph.D. Quinnovation (blog)
Today the eLearning Guild began hosting another set of online forums. The opening session was by Clark Quinn of Quinnovation. I enjoy making notes in this "live blogging" manner so that I can refer back to them and I can share them a bit as a review of the presentations.
Clark's presentation was a great start to September's series of online forums. It was an extremely informative session for all levels of users of elearning design and development. He was wonderful at making sure all attendees' questions were addressed. I look forward to catching any presentations he may give in the future.
"We can no longer just learn everything we need at the beginning and hope that it will carry us through the rest of our career lives."
Problems group was facing with elearning:
multilinquistists
distance
resources
time
money
changing regulations
more simulations
competing with small organizations
internationalization
workers coming in with less skills then desired
retiring expertise
motivating learners
growing number of students
access for all learners
Is eLearning a solution or a distraction?
easy to try, but never the be all and end all of every thing
What do participants think eLearning is?
self paced, online
blogs, wikis, rss, courses, websites,
integration of technology into the learning/training process
web based
delivered over the internet/intranet
split between any learning over an electronic means and specifically training/course based
Elearning Myths
is a panacea
will go away soon
is about the technology
is about content
will replace training
is difficult and/or expensive (not with web 2.0 applications)
cheaper (no, used to sell it, but not cheaper - goal is to execute better for the same money)
only for the new generation (no)
if you build it, they will come
if you build it, they will learn (must lead to meaningful change and learning that works, is applied)
"It's not about learning it's about doing. Doing things better and more effectively."
Empowering the organization through information systems.
Trying to achieve:
Integration. Innovation. Execution. Efficiency. Effectiveness. Performance Support. Community.
Strategy:
Step 0:
Tech - hosted or web based conferences
Benefits - broad reach, low downtime, single investment into system
Costs - you tend to get low quality, increased maintenance
Step 1: Improved Instructional Design
Tech - LMS - for tracking, are we getting the ROI we expect (LMS tend to have all the money put into system and non left for content)
Benefits - getting learning that will motivate and involve learners
Costs - improve capabilities, gets over used, is very novice based
Step 2: Performance focus
Tech - portals of resources (policies, procedures, other info)
Benefits - better performance, supports more then novices
Costs - redundant development, hard to search/use (many different ways to search for info by all users)
Step 3: eCommunity
Tech - blogs, wikis, discussion boards, yellow pages
Benefits- supports top performers, captures hidden knowledge (experts can talk, share new knowledge, brainstorm, one level of education supports another)
Costs - needs support, hard to catalyze
Step 4: Greater integration
Tech - CMS (material from others), xml/dita (semantics and tags added to info)
Benefits - decrease overlap, efficiency, silos eliminated between user groups
Costs - organization tends to become coordinated
Step 5: Broader Distribution can be supported by step 4 - making learning mobile
Tech - devices (mobile, cell phones, pdas, etc), media tools
Benefits - trading bandwidth for convenience, listen while driving, learn while waiting, don't need large amounts of paper to take learning with you, Context sensitive - ie: fedex scanning a pkg before handing over,
Cost - redundancy can occur (low bandwidth, higher bandwidth), conversion costs for media
"if you're not measuring it, why use it" don't assume it's perfect from the beginning
Step 6: Performance Ecosystems - Suites of resources so that everyone can work to their best, single place to go for what you need
Tech - competency, content (description), roles (who you are and what you can have access to, or tasks you might handle)
Benefits - unified approach to everyone's efforts
Costs - linking systems throughout and organization as well as the organization
Words people were wondering definitions for:
web 2.0
SMS
ERP
LMS - learning management systems
CMS - content management systems
ILT - Instructor Based Training
WBT - Web based training
CBT - Classroom based training
Participants were 53% at level 0 and 30% level 1, a couple at level 2, 3 and 5
Essential eLearning Elements
-organizational implementation
-some project management to focus, keep scope, find resources, keep schedule
-enlightened Instructional Design
-performance focus (think of supporting full performance not just course content)
-flexibility (adapt to users, new technology)
-technology savvy (know what it is good for, get what you need but don't go overboard)
-good partners/advice (find people who can support your efforts)
Learning
1) present....apply...practice...reflect...present...appy...practice...reflect
2) reference framework...examples...space practice...job aids...communicaiton...reference framework...examples...space practice...job aid....communication
-spacing practice out will promote retention and understanding of material
-reference examples can become job aids that learners can take to the real application
-included self reflection tests for learners to decided if they are ready to move on
"You're not about training/learning, you're abut empowering performance."
"You're not about computers or web, you're about all technology."
Next steps:
-identify your needs as an ID and organization
-assess your readiness
-recruit needed capability
-scan for opportunities
-choose your priorities
-plan your implementation
-execute
Today the eLearning Guild began hosting another set of online forums. The opening session was by Clark Quinn of Quinnovation. I enjoy making notes in this "live blogging" manner so that I can refer back to them and I can share them a bit as a review of the presentations.
Clark's presentation was a great start to September's series of online forums. It was an extremely informative session for all levels of users of elearning design and development. He was wonderful at making sure all attendees' questions were addressed. I look forward to catching any presentations he may give in the future.
"We can no longer just learn everything we need at the beginning and hope that it will carry us through the rest of our career lives."
Problems group was facing with elearning:
multilinquistists
distance
resources
time
money
changing regulations
more simulations
competing with small organizations
internationalization
workers coming in with less skills then desired
retiring expertise
motivating learners
growing number of students
access for all learners
Is eLearning a solution or a distraction?
easy to try, but never the be all and end all of every thing
What do participants think eLearning is?
self paced, online
blogs, wikis, rss, courses, websites,
integration of technology into the learning/training process
web based
delivered over the internet/intranet
split between any learning over an electronic means and specifically training/course based
Elearning Myths
is a panacea
will go away soon
is about the technology
is about content
will replace training
is difficult and/or expensive (not with web 2.0 applications)
cheaper (no, used to sell it, but not cheaper - goal is to execute better for the same money)
only for the new generation (no)
if you build it, they will come
if you build it, they will learn (must lead to meaningful change and learning that works, is applied)
"It's not about learning it's about doing. Doing things better and more effectively."
Empowering the organization through information systems.
Trying to achieve:
Integration. Innovation. Execution. Efficiency. Effectiveness. Performance Support. Community.
Strategy:
Step 0:
Tech - hosted or web based conferences
Benefits - broad reach, low downtime, single investment into system
Costs - you tend to get low quality, increased maintenance
Step 1: Improved Instructional Design
Tech - LMS - for tracking, are we getting the ROI we expect (LMS tend to have all the money put into system and non left for content)
Benefits - getting learning that will motivate and involve learners
Costs - improve capabilities, gets over used, is very novice based
Step 2: Performance focus
Tech - portals of resources (policies, procedures, other info)
Benefits - better performance, supports more then novices
Costs - redundant development, hard to search/use (many different ways to search for info by all users)
Step 3: eCommunity
Tech - blogs, wikis, discussion boards, yellow pages
Benefits- supports top performers, captures hidden knowledge (experts can talk, share new knowledge, brainstorm, one level of education supports another)
Costs - needs support, hard to catalyze
Step 4: Greater integration
Tech - CMS (material from others), xml/dita (semantics and tags added to info)
Benefits - decrease overlap, efficiency, silos eliminated between user groups
Costs - organization tends to become coordinated
Step 5: Broader Distribution can be supported by step 4 - making learning mobile
Tech - devices (mobile, cell phones, pdas, etc), media tools
Benefits - trading bandwidth for convenience, listen while driving, learn while waiting, don't need large amounts of paper to take learning with you, Context sensitive - ie: fedex scanning a pkg before handing over,
Cost - redundancy can occur (low bandwidth, higher bandwidth), conversion costs for media
"if you're not measuring it, why use it" don't assume it's perfect from the beginning
Step 6: Performance Ecosystems - Suites of resources so that everyone can work to their best, single place to go for what you need
Tech - competency, content (description), roles (who you are and what you can have access to, or tasks you might handle)
Benefits - unified approach to everyone's efforts
Costs - linking systems throughout and organization as well as the organization
Words people were wondering definitions for:
web 2.0
SMS
ERP
LMS - learning management systems
CMS - content management systems
ILT - Instructor Based Training
WBT - Web based training
CBT - Classroom based training
Participants were 53% at level 0 and 30% level 1, a couple at level 2, 3 and 5
Essential eLearning Elements
-organizational implementation
-some project management to focus, keep scope, find resources, keep schedule
-enlightened Instructional Design
-performance focus (think of supporting full performance not just course content)
-flexibility (adapt to users, new technology)
-technology savvy (know what it is good for, get what you need but don't go overboard)
-good partners/advice (find people who can support your efforts)
Learning
1) present....apply...practice...reflect...present...appy...practice...reflect
2) reference framework...examples...space practice...job aids...communicaiton...reference framework...examples...space practice...job aid....communication
-spacing practice out will promote retention and understanding of material
-reference examples can become job aids that learners can take to the real application
-included self reflection tests for learners to decided if they are ready to move on
"You're not about training/learning, you're abut empowering performance."
"You're not about computers or web, you're about all technology."
Next steps:
-identify your needs as an ID and organization
-assess your readiness
-recruit needed capability
-scan for opportunities
-choose your priorities
-plan your implementation
-execute
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
Learning in an Instant
The thing I love about the internet is how quickly I can learn about virtually anything. Elearning doesn't have to be a full on college course. It doesn't have to take weeks to occur. It doesn't have to be towards a certificate or degree. I wonder about something, anything and moments later....I read, listen, observe and know.
Here's a quick example of my random elearning for today...
I get rss feeds from a variety of sources and one of the first I looked at today was about sand dunes and why they sing or making booming noises (Discovery). Cool seems interesting. Two minutes later I've read it quick article about them, the new theory behind the sounds and now I'm hooked with new questions. What does it sound like? What does it look like? Is it like an avalanche? Two minutes later I'm now watching videos and listening to audio clips. If I wanted there were lots of more links to explore the topic about. All from one sentence sent to me through my rss reader.
In 4 minutes I've learned about singing sand dunes. Asolutely amazing.
Here's a quick example of my random elearning for today...
I get rss feeds from a variety of sources and one of the first I looked at today was about sand dunes and why they sing or making booming noises (Discovery). Cool seems interesting. Two minutes later I've read it quick article about them, the new theory behind the sounds and now I'm hooked with new questions. What does it sound like? What does it look like? Is it like an avalanche? Two minutes later I'm now watching videos and listening to audio clips. If I wanted there were lots of more links to explore the topic about. All from one sentence sent to me through my rss reader.
In 4 minutes I've learned about singing sand dunes. Asolutely amazing.
Time Zone Converting - Knowing When to Login
With the blogosphere being so large and sitting in on webinars all over the world I often have trouble remember what the time difference is for me compared to the host sites.
There are several tools that are available out on the web to choose from and here are a few that are my favourite for ease of use.
http://www.timezoneconverter.com/
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
http://www.worldtimeserver.com/
There are several tools that are available out on the web to choose from and here are a few that are my favourite for ease of use.
http://www.timezoneconverter.com/
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
http://www.worldtimeserver.com/
Loud, Ear Ringing, Rocking Time - Not elearning related
Okay this has nothing to do with elearning at the moment, but maybe I can tie it back to technology at least. Last night I saw Aerosmith put on one heck of an amazing, rocking, ear ringing, guitar blazing performance.The 5th last show of thier 2007 World Tour was phenomenal. I saw them last year as well shortly after Steven Tyler had throat surgery and was amazed at how well he was able to still sing and reach his signature high notes. Last night however, it was like watching them again back in high school. He hit every note he should (at least to my inexpert ears) and never stopped moving all night. In fact, the entire band - Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton (who looked great), Joey Kramer, Brad Whitford - all had a ton of energy last night that swept away the whole audience. Thanks guys for a great show!!!
Okay the technology bit....no...I don't actually have one. I was going to post pictures from my cell phone, but it doesn't take great pictures. Ah ha, I now have a case to get a new pocket size camera.
Tuesday, 18 September 2007
A Follow-up to Finding Volunteering Opportunities Online
After a recent post about Volunteer Match I had contacted them to see if they have a similar website for Canadian based volunteers and organizations. Apparently I did not look quite far enough through the site. They do indeed and in fact they have opportunities all around the world.
Under the Search feature of the site one can search out opportunities by keyword, skills, country, preferred partners and American Corps. I mistakenly thought the link would lead to a search of the site, not opportunities. My apologies.
They did let me know that they are currently working on a plan for the UK and Canada as it would be easiest to establish in locations where English is already a primary language.
Under the Search feature of the site one can search out opportunities by keyword, skills, country, preferred partners and American Corps. I mistakenly thought the link would lead to a search of the site, not opportunities. My apologies.
They did let me know that they are currently working on a plan for the UK and Canada as it would be easiest to establish in locations where English is already a primary language.
Friday, 14 September 2007
Pangea Day - May 10, 2008
This is an incredible world community event that you and I can play a role in or just observe. Pangea Day is set for May 10, 2008. This will be a day were sites around the world including London, New York, Cairo and more will be linked together through web conferencing. Visionary films, speakers and music will be shared globally to everyone. What is wonderful here is it will be broadcast live as well through television, internet, and cellphones.
This event will be much like Live Earth which occured earlier this year in July, but will take place over 4 hours connecting each other through visual messages.
There is an incredibly moving trailer on the home page of Pangea Day and footage from the TED 2006 prize winner and the inspiration behind this Jehane Noujaim.
This event will be much like Live Earth which occured earlier this year in July, but will take place over 4 hours connecting each other through visual messages.
There is an incredibly moving trailer on the home page of Pangea Day and footage from the TED 2006 prize winner and the inspiration behind this Jehane Noujaim.
Speaking of Ebooks....
I went on a small tangent yesterday about an ereader and today I found yet another ebook site. ManyBooks.net claims to have 18000 free ebooks for download to pdas, ipods and ereaders.
Many of the books on this site I have seen on other free ebook sites (Project Gutenberg - who have by the way really improved their site), but there is a nice feature here where you can see the top downloaded books and reviews from readers as well.
Many of the books on this site I have seen on other free ebook sites (Project Gutenberg - who have by the way really improved their site), but there is a nice feature here where you can see the top downloaded books and reviews from readers as well.
Looking For a Great Volunteering Opportunity?
I came across this site today VolunterMatch.com. It's a website network for volunteering, matching nonprofit organizations looking for volunteers with members of the public looking to donate their skills, time and effort.
As a volunteer you can view opportunities by area of interest (animal, health care, children, environment, etc) or skill that you can offer to these organizations.
I only wish this was expanded through North America.
As a volunteer you can view opportunities by area of interest (animal, health care, children, environment, etc) or skill that you can offer to these organizations.
I only wish this was expanded through North America.
VolunteerMatch is connecting good people with good causes.
Referrals: 3,144,487 Opportunities: 45,948 Organizations: 53,244
Thanks to my readers and 2000 visitors.
I started keeping track of visits to my blog June 21 of this year. Well early this morning I had my 2,000th visitor. I know that this includes many of the same readers that come back time and time again to read my posts and respond to some of my questions.
I just wanted to take a moment here to thank you all.
HAPPY FRIDAY!
I just wanted to take a moment here to thank you all.
HAPPY FRIDAY!
Thursday, 13 September 2007
Photo of the Day, National Geographic
My home page popped this image up as the photo of the day. I just saw it now and thought it was beautiful. 
Now I know what a sea nettle looks like...there...I've learned something new today.
Now I know what a sea nettle looks like...there...I've learned something new today.
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