Weekly Post and Reflection #12

Hello Everyone!

It is hard to believe that this is the last week of my second year of university! This semester has truly flown by and a short few weeks I will be back home in London working full time and spending my spare time on the baseball field umpiring, a summer passion of mine! But before this happens it is time to close this semester and year down by finishing final essays, writing final exams, saying bye to all the great friends that have been made over the year AND write this final post... so lets do it!


My Digital Footprint 

Before this course I had never given much thought to what my digital footprint entailed and the impact the footprint could have on my life. In fact, the only thought I had given my Digital Footprint was what my tweet, Facebook posts, and Instagram posts reaching future employers and the impact the messages had on my image. However, this course, and the Google Search activity this week,  has demonstrated that my digital footprint is much more then just my posts. As I noticed when searching my name on google every account that I have singed up for in the past 12 weeks for this course, was accessible through the simple google search of my name. Furthermore, many pictures that have been posted through my social media feeds or any pictures posted on this blog were discovered through my search. So the turing question is "Do I have a Positive Digital Footprint"? In my opinion, I have a positive digital footprint and this class should be given credit for this rating. The reason I say the is because before this course the extent of my digital footprint was the three social media accounts that I use, which was Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram which all do very little to contributing to the digital world. However, through the activities that were completed in this course and the updating of my blog each week, I was able to establish a digital footprint that includes many thoughts, opinions, and views on many topics which contributes positively to the digital world.


Digital Citizenship 

As this course progressed I believe that the education provided in this course impacted my digital citizenship in a extremely positive way. This course encouraged both thinking and reflecting about what it takes to be a good digital citizen, as well as write blog posts and reflections regarding how good digital citizenship is achieved through the use of different types of social media. From writing and publishing these types of thoughts, my posts not only guided me in how to become a better global citizen but it also provided the internet with more literature and thoughts that are available to people regarding this very important topic. From these contributions, I believe that this course helped myself achieve a deeper and stronger digital citizenship in more then one way.


Farewell 

In conclusion, I want to thank everyone who continues to follow my journey in ADED 1P32 by following my blog posts each week. Looking at the final product of my blog, I can say that it is a pretty neat tool and I am truly happy with the finished product. This course has been very beneficial as it has provided the opportunity to learn about very valuable online tools that will come in useful during both my academic and professional career. While not my traditional classes in the terms of SPMA, this course was very beneficial to my development as a life long learner and truly achieved the Brooke Moto of "Both side of the brain".


Again thanks for following the journey in ADED 1P32!

Regards,

Brandon

Weekly Post and Reflection #11

Hello Everyone! 

It is that time of the semester where final papers and assignments are pilled up on the desk and as a sports fan the only thing that gets done is watching who is advancing to the final four! However, in between watching sports I was able to start working on a paper in my Organizational Behaviour class which is based around the proper use of social media within sport organizations. I found it interesting that my partner and I choose this topic considering so much this course was based around the important of being a good digital citizen. Form knowledge built in this course, I believe this is going to be a fun and interesting paper to write and I look forward to completing in the upcoming week! However turing our attention to this week, we were tasked with exploring the media tool of podcasts and using online programs such as SoundCloud to complete the project. 

SoundCloud and PodCasts  

"A podcast is a media file which is distributed over the internet using syndication feeds, for playback on portable media players and personal computers" (http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/Podcasting). Personally, I use podcasts as way to keep myself informed on what is going on in the sports I follow, which is hockey and baseball. Some of these podcasts are radio shows that occur during the day which means I am unable to listen or watch them due to other commitments such as school or work. An example of a sports podcast that I listen to is Tim and Sid which is aired on Tv at 5:00-7:00, however due to my busy schedule that time does not usually work for me. By having the podcast as an alternative I am able to enjoy my favourite sports show daily when it works for me, which is benefit that I really enjoy and capitalize on with podcasts!

Picture found at: http://int-nhl.sportsnet.ca/events/tim-and-sid/

 

Even though I have prior knowledge and experience with Podcasts, I was not aware of how they are regularly used for educational purposes and how easy they are to put together. With my exploration of SoundCloud, I was able to easily complete my 1 minute audio podcast with very little trouble even through the saving and downloading stages. By completing the podcast for this weeks activity it has expanded my digital literacy to the point where I feel this tool could be incorporated in future educational activities such as online projects or presentations. Furthermore, as mentioned on my PODCAST page, I believe that this could be a valuable tool in a workplace setting, such as group meetings or presentations. Due to these thoughts, I will be placing the tool SoundCloud under both the educational and professional categories on my personal learning environment.


Feedly Update 

This week I found on article on CNN regarding the recent visit by the U.S President Barack Obama to Cuba, which was the first visit by an American president since 1959. This historical trip included Obama and Castro (leader of Cuba) holding a press conference and discussing how the two countries are going to try and get the countries on better terms. The trip also included a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays from the MLB and the Cuban National Team. This was also another event that made history as it was the first time the MLB was in Cuba since 1999.

I found this historic trip interesting because in a time where there is a lot of hatred and war happening in the wake of the Terrorist attacks, we see two countries who have not been able to get along for decades trying to figure out there differences. I personally believe that this is something that world needs and although something that could be viewed as a minor thing when compared to all the bad going on in the world right now, it is an act that shows even decade long issues could potentially be solved!

Thanks for continuing to follow the journey! Stay tuned next week for my last post!

Brandon

Works Cited 

http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/Podcasting

Weekly Report and Reflection Post #10

Hello everyone!

It is hard to believe how fast the end of this semester is coming and that we have already reached the end of week 10 in ADED 1P32! Week 10 was a fast and exciting week with the introduction and exploration of Animoto!

Animoto

Animoto is an online-based video creation service that creates video slideshows out of music, videos, pictures and words. The uploaded backgrounds, themes, and music to the program make it very easy to start customizing a slideshow to fit the purpose of the project. Another great feature that makes it easy to begin putting together a presentation, is the way the themes, backgrounds, and music is categorized under certain topics such as “Educational Slideshows”. When creating my slideshow, which can be viewed on my Animoto page, I found that I was able to get started quickly due to the music and themes being categorized under the educational group. Since I knew the point of my slideshow and things were organized in the categories, I was able to quickly decide what style fit my presentation the best and I was on my way to creating an awesome slideshow! 

Found at: http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/24/animoto-enterprise/

By exploring Animoto I was able to expand my knowledge in terms of realizing the different options I have available to use, when I need to create slideshows.  Before this week if I was tasked with creating a slideshow presentation or any video presentation, I would use Microsoft PowerPoint or IMovie to finish the project. However, after exploring Animoto and seeing how easy it is to use, the next time I am tasked with a creating a slideshow or any type of little move for a presentation Animoto will be my choice of program!  Therefore, when analyzing how Animoto will fit in my Personal Learning Environment diagram, Animoto will go under the “Educational” category as I see this being a very valuable tool in my educational journey. 

Learning about Digital Citizenship

While exploring and learning the program Animoto, I was tasked with the project of creating a slideshow about Copyrights. This activity during week 10 helped expand my knowledge around Digital Citizenship, as I was able to learn extensively on the topic of Copyrights. As stated in my slideshow, a copyright is a legal protection of an individual’s creative work.  By doing research and learning about what copyright is, it allows me to be a better digital citizen as I now I know what to look for and how to properly use photos or videos that are copyrighted. This knowledge will ensure that I don’t mistakenly distribute a photo that is copyrighted which could damage/hurt both the owner and myself.

Feedly Update

Picture found at: http://www.wired.com/2015/08/twitter-will-lose-fight-become-1-800-number-web/

This article is not directly linked to this week’s discussion around Copyrights or Animoto, however, it is linked to past concepts in this course especially related to Twitter. With the passing of Twitter’s 10^th birthday CNN decided to look at “Political Twitters most embarrassing deleted tweets”.  This article discussed how politicians have taken to twitter over the past decade to “chirp” or “putdown” other politicians but then shortly after tweeting would delete in hopes that people would not see it. However, like we learned in week five when we learned about twitter even when you think a tweet is deleted, there are ways people can see that tweet.  This article is a sobering reminder that global citizenship is very important and that when ever something is posted it should be done with the right intentions and without putting people down.

Thanks for reading and following along in the AED 1P32 jounrey!

Brandon

Weekly Report & Reflection Post #9

Hello Everyone! 

Wow... week nine in ADED 1P32 was busy as we explored a new digital communication tool in the form of VoiceThread, continued our learning in digital rights and responsibilities by working through different scenarios and we completed our Google Docs section of the course with our Google Docs presentation!


Exploration of VoiceThread  

During my time on VoiceThread  I found it very interesting how people are able to connect and share ideas about topics so easily.  In the activity that we took part in, each slide was very open for people opinions on some controversial topics that needed answering. With that in mind, I got thinking about how useful this tool could be when searching for information on a research topic for a class. Or even better, if you are undecided on a side to pick on a certain topic, the comments on VoiceThread would most definitely provide a view at both sides and allow you to form a opinion of your own with a plethora of information.  

Furthermore, while exploring VoiceThread it occurred to me that this would be a great tool to use in a small classroom setting. As an undergraduate student, it is a normal occurrence that I have the task of running a small class (15-20 people) for 40 minutes as part of a course requirement. With this mind, I started thinking about the benefits of using it during one of my seamer presentations. With these seminar presentations one the biggest challenges is motivating people to get involved within the presentation and making the presentation last the whole 40 minutes. By using VoiceThread, it is my belief that it will encourage people to contribute answers as it does not put anyone on the spot, rather they can write the opinion or answer without having to "put themselves out there". Therefore, using this tool could extremely enhance my presentations by getting more input from my fellow peers which would generate more discussion and increase the duration of the presentation.

In concluding my discussion on VoiceThread, I would categorize this tool as part of my "educational" category in my Personal Learning Environment. Although a valuable tool in the context of an educational purpose, I do not see the need or benefit in using the tool in any other aspect of my life and therefore it would be strictly under the "educational" category.

Feedly Update 

This week I found an article published by CNN News titled "Siri, I was raped; Study compares smartphone responses in crises". This article talked about how in a digital world where smartphones can give you an immediate answer to typically questions such as "Where is the closest restaurant?" or "Where is the closest hospital?, however when someone asks where to get help for things such as rape siri has no answer. I believe that this is something that should be looked at by smartphone producers because as the article stated "smartphones...can facilitate getting the person in need the right help at the right time"(CNN News.)

Picture demonstrating the response Siri gave when someones tries to get help around the subject of rape.
Picture found at: http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/14/health/smartphone-responses-rape-violence/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

This article links to the learning of proper use of technology in the digital world as this article highlights an example of someone who is trying to use it in an appropriate manner. In today's society where people are scared to ask for help with personal issues such as rape and mental health disorders it is something that smartphone producers should work to ensure that using technology to receive help is something that is achievable.


I hope everyone enjoyed all the blog posts and work that was put into week 9!
Make sure to keep following my journey either on the blog or through my twitter @B_Esler17

Take care bloggers,

Brandon

Technology Use Scenario #10

Hello Everyone, 

As a part of week nine's activity's I am going to critically analyze the following scenario:

"Kevin has just purchased the latest video game, Too Fast 22. He and his friends enjoy playing games on their gaming systems. His best friend Vince also likes to play video games, but doesn't have the money to buy the latest games. Kevin decides to be a good friend and install a copy of his game on Vince's system. Does sharing games, music, or movies hurt anyone?"  

In this scenario, Kevin is using technology inappropriately as he is illegally copying a game to his friends console so that his friend Vince, is able to play the game without having to buy it. By definition this would be considered "stealing" as Vince owns a game and is able to play it without legally buying the rights to it, and Kevin distributed the game without having the "approval" from the game publisher to do such a thing. It can be argued that these actions are inappropriate when comparing them to arguably similar actions such as downloading music, which is also consider illegal. "Making unauthorized copies of copyrighted music recording is against the law and may subject your civil and criminal liability"(Pigeons, 2013). Copying a game on to a console or downloading your new favourite Justin Bieber song is illegal because it is not your game or song to download and distribute freely. It can be proven that these actions hurt people involved such as the producers of the games because by Kevin giving Vince the game the company was just "ripped off" of a $70-$100 purchase if Vince were to buy the game. Therefore, when thinking about how Kevin's actions are actually hurting other people, it is evident that copying a game is just a illegal as downloading a song.

In this case, the first possible way this situation should have been handled was Kevin just lending his copy of the game to his friend Vince to play. This way Vince would be able to experience the game without engaging in the illegal activity that both boys condoned. Furthermore, the obvious solution which I feel I should point out, is that Vince should just take the time to save up for the game. It is important to keep an ethical mind when using technology and remember that even though you are not walking out of a store setting the alarm bells off,  copying the game to the console, or downloading that new "fire" beat,  is behaviour of the same nature and the alarm bells should be going off in your head!!!!


Taking a wider look at the situation, it is important to keep in my mind that when your on the internet "digital information can seem to be as free as air" (Pigeons, 2013). Due to this it is crucial that you do not take advantage of that and download or copy that data, as it is illegal and if caught carries the same types of penalties as walking out of a store with a stolen PS4!

Thanks for reading and I look forward to engaging in conversation on this topic!

Brandon




Works Cited

 Pigeons. (2013). 10 Things You Should Know About Illegally Downloading Music. Retrieved March 14, 2016, from http://pigeonsandplanes.com/2013/04/10-things-you-should-know-about-illegally-downloading-music/s/can-you-go-to-jail-for-illegally-downloading-music/ 

Weekly Post and Reflection #8

Hello again everyone!

Another week of ADED 1P32 is behind us and this week’s time was spent exploring the online tool wiki and reflecting on the rights and responsibilities of a digital citizen. A lot like last week, the tool introduced this week, wiki, was a tool that I had already discovered in my lifetime as a digital citizen. Like the blog post by Marshall Brain Stated, Wiki are one of the sites that always pop up on Google searches and like he also pointed out, they are so popular they are one of the top 100 sites in the world (How Wikis Work, Marshall Brian)! Wiki’s are pages full of information that I commonly use when I quickly want to find something out for both personal interests and educational purposes. Like stated on Donald Clark’s blog that we read during for this weeks content “wiki is not the finish line it is the start” (Clark, 2012). To describe my use of wiki I believe this quote is very true, as I always use wiki to give myself a better understanding of topic that I am about to write an essay or do a project on before I go to educational resources for more information. The ease, convenience and abundance of information that wiki’s provide is why it is a great starting place to understand and gather information on a certain topic. 

When comparing wiki to other tools that we have discovered in this class such blogs, Google docs, and Evernote, my opening comments would be that I believe Wiki is a different type of collaborative platform then the other ones. Wiki is a collaborative platform however it based on real information and facts, which is usually backed up by references that are cited throughout the page. Where, in comparison too Google docs, blogs, and Evernote these platforms are more for personal opinions, views and a place that these opinions and views can be built on collaboratively.  In summary, although all the platforms that have been introduced in the last few weeks are collaborative learning tools, I believe that wiki is more of an informational collaborative platform, and the other ones are opinion/ personal based collaborative programs.

Also during this weeks session we explored the rights and responsibilities of a global citizen, which included in developing a personal mind map of the ones that we believe are the most important. Out of the top five listed on the map, it is my belief that the responsibility to respectful at all times, the right to privacy and the right to freedom of speech are three most important rights and responsibilities.  

Esler C.C 2016

In conclusion, this weeks discussion about Wiki and the digital rights and responsibilities of digital citizens can viewed upon as two things that are closely related. The reason i state this is because Wiki is viewed upon by many a place that fosters plagiarism and can condone the misuse of digital rights and responsibilities. Therefore, I believe that in order for Wiki to remain for its intended purpose and work for everyones advantage, it is important that we learn these rights and repsonsbilites and help maintain a healthy online environment. 

Thanks for joining me on my adventure through week 8, I look forward to the upcoming week in ADED 1P32! 

Brandon  

Works Cited 

 Brain, M. (n.d.). How Wikis Work. Retrieved March 8, 2016, from http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/wiki.htm 

Clark, D. (2012, December 4). Wikis – wickedly clever, underused learning tool. Retrieved March 8, 2016, from http://donaldclarkplanb.blogspot.ca/2012/12/wikis-wickedly-clever-underused.html  

Weekly Reflection Post # 7

Weekly Report and Reflection #7

Hello everybody,

For the first time since starting this course in January, I was familiar with the online tool that was introduced during the lesson, which was Google Docs. Google Docs has been a online tool that I have used since the beginning of high school. Furthermore, since starting university last year, I have found that Google doc’s has become a tool that I use on a frequent basis. The reasons that I use Google docs so frequently throughout my educational career is the convenience and collaborative ability that the online tool provides.

Picture found at: http://www.edgalaxy.com/journal/2013/4/12/20-google-docs-secrets-for-busy-teachers-and-students

In an educational setting each semester you are almost guaranteed to have one group project. This always entails a presentation, a written document, a survey, or some other form of documentation that all members of the group need to be able to access. To complicate things more, as students we have to work around each other’s busy schedules which more times than not, do not allow us to work on it together. With the collaborative system Google docs provides, it allows us as a group to work on a project on our own time and see what other people have done. Also my being able to all work on the exact same document, Google docs allows us to save time by not having to send all the information to someone for one person to be stuck putting it together. 

An example from this current semester where Google docs helped me achieve success in the classroom was during my Tourism Management seminar presentation. As per class requirement I need to work with a partner and provide a 40-minute presentation to the class. My partner and I utilized Google docs by using the tool to create a slideshow for the presentation. The tool allowed us to both work on an equal amount of the slideshow when it worked well for our schedule and it allowed us to finish the project on time and receive a successful mark. 

In addition to creating power points and collaborative word documents, my exploration during this week’s session allowed me to realize the other functions Google docs offers such as surveys, budgets, and spreadsheets. When thinking in terms of my future and how Google doc’s could help me outside of the educational realm, I believe that these new functions that I discovered are key to my life long use of Google docs. The reason I believe this is because, as it is my goal to work in or lead a sport organization on some level during my career it will be important to create budgets and surveys that more then just myself can access. Even if it is myself running a local referee organization or coaching a minor hockey team, these tools where collaborative access will be necessary and Google docs will be my choice of program. 

Adding Google Docs to PLE and Updates with Feedly

In terms of adding Google Docs to my PLE, I would argue that it would fit under all three categories of social, educational and professional. As discussed in my detailed analysis above, collaboration is necessary in all parts of our life. An example of personal use for Google docs is being able to create a grocery list and everyone in the house be able to update it so that the person that goes shopping knows what is needed. I believe that Google docs, is a tool that is necessary in all aspects of my life and is why it will be placed under all three categories on my PLE. 

While going through my Feedly this week I was looking for news that could be related to the subjects benefiting from using a collaborative information system such as Google Docs. The news story I found that I believe could benefit from a system like this is the star tennis player Sharapova failing her drug test because she “did not know that the drug had been added to the list”. My thoughts in contrast with my learning on Google Docs this week is that, if WADA used a collaborative system like Google Docs where all access had athletes to view it, would this prevent athletes from running into this “mistake” in the future. 

Tennis Star Maria Sharapova talking about the "accidental" failed performance enhancing drug test she failed last week.
Should professional sports consider using collaborative word programs in order to inform athletes on prohibited drugs?
Picture Found at: http://www.aol.com/article/2016/03/08/maria-sharapova-starts-to-count-cost-of-failed-drug-test-likely/21324519/

Thanks for reading this week, make sure to follow along as we continue on this second half of the ADED 1P32 journey!