Second Life, Moodle... Yep! Introducing SLOODLE!

Until recently I was feeling like I was getting up to speed with Web 2.0 and the evolving tools for educators. Just when you think you're winning the rat race, along comes a faster rat!

I'm fairly comfortable with some of the basic read/write web tools. Blogging, podcasting, wikis, digital social networking and RSS. It has really come together for me and I was feeling good.

I've started to read about Second Life and virtual environments, virtual assets... and I'm once again out of my element. I'm having a hard time relating or seeing the attraction of virtual environments. I guess since I'm not a gamer, I'm out of touch on this one.

Moodle also has been mystifying for me. There are SO MANY elements to Moodle that I find myself lost in the space. I'm definitely feeling like a digital immigrant with these two tools.

If that isn't challenging enough, lets mash up online teaching with virtual worlds! Mixing Moodle with Second Life... SLOODLE! Check it out.

I work so hard to introduce our staff to what's new. Now I find myself having difficulty wrapping my brain around the newest tools. I'm starting to look for the panic button!!

For what it's worth,
KP

Tags: moodle, elearning, sloodle, second life, paccio

Remembering the Wayback Machine from Internet Archives

Sometimes I forget just how "new" the modern world wide web really is. Here's a fun tool that I had forgotten about. I had a good laugh looking back at some of my early work on the web. I encourage you to do the same. How? Read on...

Many podcasters are using the Internet Archives for free hosting of their mp3 files. Another service of the Internet Archives is the Wayback Machine. This service records a snapshot of the main page of many different sites over time. Unfortunately it only goes back to 1996.

What did your first district, company, or personal web site look like? What information was on it then as compared to today? How was the site updated? Who updated it then and who updates it today? Are the tools different?

I've had some fun with this lately.

As I shared the fun with my wife she reminded me that this is just one more example of why our teens using MySpace, Xanga, Facebook, and other social networking sites should be educated about online safety. It is likely that EVERYTHING you post online is archived somewhere. Google caching is yet another example.

Nevertheless, it is fun to see how the web has evolved. Visit the Wayback Machine for a good gut laugh.

KP

Tags: internet, social networking, online safety, paccio

Google Bombing for a Good Cause

I'm always up for supporting a 'good cause.' While I've never heard the term 'Google Bombing' I'm willing to try pretty much anything once.

This post is in support of the effort to remove martinlutherkingdotorg from the front page of a Google search for Martin Luther King, Jr.

Tom H. writes:

Like my good friend David Warlick, I’m pretty much sick of the whole martinlutherkingdotorg shtick. I’m particularly sick of it because the point seems to be that once you figure out that the people behind it are evil (and, I would add, they are evil), then Q.E.D., it is an unreliable source. While “don’t believe what evil people say about good people” is a nice, tidy rule, figuring out who is good and evil is a difficult trick to anyone living outside Middle Earth.

These links are designed to help bring higher quality resources:

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Cheers,
KP

Google Making a Compelling Case in Education Arena

In recent months it has become very clear what Google is trying to achieve. My gmail account has become something much, much more. Right before my eyes this online world is opening up, all with my gmail account.

I used to use gmail just because it had a ton of storage and I wouldn't have to monitor my attachment sizes and all. Now it has word processing, spreadsheets, (a wiki is coming so I've read), and shared calendaring.

Our English department has set up a google calendar to track their shared mobile computer lab. Now they have several data projectors and they will be sharing that resource as well.

I've created a simple Google calendar and I see some xml and ical integration links. This is becoming BIG in a very short period of time. Now Google is beginning to target educators!
This could be very, very good. I'm still nervous as Google does usually do things without a means for profits. I'm very impressed but still guarded on this one.

Let me see if I can embed a calendar ...

Tags: Google, web2.0, calendar, resource sharing, paccio