I love trying new things. Technology and what I can create with it, fascinates me. So… in my never ending quest to try just one more thing, I finally tried creating an avatar. I’ve used image clips and webcam images before, but had not created a comic-like image that I can insert into web pages, blogs or wikis. So here is my first creation. I had a hard time choosing between the coffee cup and a laptop computer. The coffee won out this time, but I can go back and create changes anytime. Dopple Me is for me!
Time for Fun
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Ending and Starting
It’s been a long process to get to this ending. Even before I reached the end, I realized it was only starting again. What is it, you might ask? No, not a marathon, or even a good book. It is my digital journey in the MET program at the University of British Columbia. It is the task of completing an electronic portfolio. This e-portfolio was one long process within the MET course offering – it is a collection, reflection and culminating project. I have finished…. only to realize that finishing is only the beginning. This e-portfolio is an ongoing, ever-evolving document that will shape, share and support my digital presence. It will showcase all I have accomplished over many years of study. Ending and starting, revealed in an online website, revealing my inner thoughts and actions in educational technology. As my journey through the MET program is ending, other projects and digital creations are beginning. Here is the link to ‘My Renovations’ – a story about how my personal learning and professional practices have been renovated through this active learning process.
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Tagged e-portfolio, learning, Masters of Education, MET, UBC
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Echoes of ECOO
What is an echo? “An echo (plural echoes) is a reflection of sound, arriving at the listener some time after the direct sound.” (Wikipedia). The direct sounds of the ECOO conference have passed. Now it’s time to listen to those echoes. In the world of educational technology, continued conversations are important. Keeping the focus alive and actively working on new areas of interest is a challenge after the ECOO conference experience is a distant memory. Day to day events take over and the exciting technology introduced or experienced at the conference is put on the ‘to do later’ list.
Today is the day to listen to the ECHO from the ECOO conference. The voice that says ‘remember’ – what John Seely Brown talked about…., what Nora Young shared….., what you picked up and said you would get to right away? Today is the day I will listen to that voice and return to the ECOO site and Lanyard site. Time to take a look at some of the presentation documents provided by presenters that I did not get to see at the conference. There is a wealth of resources to explore. Today, I’ll take some time to continue my ECOO learning.
Having my voice echo to others in educational technology continues to change me. Many voices sharing many thoughts. Twitter has become part of the ongoing echo for me. I’ve never focused on this technology before, but since ECOO, it has become part of my daily routine (Thanks Louise! @Robitaille2011). The echoes come to me (and are sent out from me) automatically now. One twitter link landed me on this blog post that changed my thinking about the place for twitter for teachers. Continuous PD for me!
Finding a link to my ECCO blog post on someone else’s blog is another exciting echo from ECOO. My voice has an echo for others to hear. Here’s one: http://dougpete.wordpress.com/2012/10/28/catching-up-with-ecoo-2012/
Posted in Learning, Talking, Technology, Together
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ECOO …. Oh WoW!
The ECOO conference was two days of intensive tinkering, talking and thinking about educational technology. It was a chance for me to connect and reconnect with passionate educators involved in teaching, learning, tinkering and activating in education. Hearing inspirational speakers like John Seely Brown, Michael Fullan, Nora Young and Jamie Casap provide new ideas to spark.
Sitting with others in sessions, with coffee, during lunch and at the social all felt like joining together at the technology fireside. Bringing ideas together, having time to talk together and focusing on technology all fit into my personal vision of how good learning happens. ECOO was good learning.
Thanks to all who organized, kept the tech running and kept everything comfortable for all who attended! I’ll write further about the inspirational ideas and connections in the coming posts. Stay Tuned!
Interesting Links to begin:
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ECOO – Oh, My!
It has been many years since I have attended the annual conference held by ECOO (Educational Computing Organization of Ontario). Over many years of attending and presenting at this event, I developed an ongoing interest in educational technology. I now have the opportunity to not only attend, but present at the upcoming conference. My excitement is growing. My anxiety over presenting is also growing. I have spent some time creating, crafting and preparing the presentation for Minds ON – Concept Mapping Uncovered. Viewing this suggested video sent to my by the organizing committee was inspiring and insightful. My focus for now is having all the details and technical elements prepared. I’ll work on the ‘performance’ as I work it all out.
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Beware! MOOC spotted!
I have investigated and examined this ‘animal’ from a few sides now. It’s an interesting visualization I have developed about what this ‘creature’ looks like, sounds like and feels like. But unless you get into the environment and experience the animal first hand, it’s just a picture in your head. Today, I stepped into the environment of a MOOC.
For those who’ve never heard of this unique creation, here’s a video to get you familiar with this new and interesting ‘beast’. With my familiarity with online learning through my MET at UBC experiences, I thought this might be in the same classification. At first glance, it’s larger than an elephant and comes at you faster than a cheetah! Not quite the same thing at all! I’ll have to experience more before I categorically state it’s worth spending time with this breed of fast developing herd of learning experiences.
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All about ‘Why’?
Frequently educators are reminded it’s not about how to do their jobs a certain way, but why it’s important to do it a certain way. I was reminded of this from an unusual source. Advertising and business ventures focused on ‘why’ they do what they do, tied to a core value and mission, are the ones who are memorable and make their product or service about the customer, not what the company does to make money. So too, memorable educators make their purpose for teaching about ‘why’ they do what they do, about the children, their students and the learning. That’s what makes the difference. Those who focus on ‘how’ should be asking the right question. This is the video that started my thinking about ‘why’ – it’s so important.
Stories
I am a storyteller. We are all storytellers, even if we don’t know or believe we are. It is an inherently human characteristic to want others to hear our stories. Through current social media technologies, story telling has become front and center in our daily lives. My personal, professional, and inspirational stories can be shared with a larger audience than was ever possible in the history of humankind. Access to the stories of others is a click away on the network of stories created around the world.
Dr. Steven Perry’s personal and inspirational stories have resonated for me, so I share them here:
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Five Flames 4 Learning 