Tag Archives: Internet

Ning Social networks in teaching

Posted on by
Reply

Currently there are 3 undergrad classes that I’m aware of that use Ning as an entire learning environment, after a trial use by one class last session.

Ning lets anybody create their own social network and you can have sub-networks or special interest groups inside each network, which usually has a theme. I explored one called “Classroom 2.0”

After navigating thorugh to this network from an “education” themed newtwork i clicked on a network called “Classroom 2.0” and then i clicked on a “visit” link to go there. Once inside (ie on the Classroom 2.0 homepage) it looked remarkably like a WordPress blog. I wondered if it was based on WordPress with some additional code to create a visual clustering and linking between the different sites.

Can anybody comment on what exactly the students like about this particular site/network? How do they use it to stay in touch? Is it particularly easy to link through to find friends’ contributions?

The Classroom 2.0 social network (Ning) homepage      Another part of the homepage, with the special interest group links.

It certainly was easy to set up a new network, see images below you just name and pick a url, theme and colour scheme, and drag and drop the items/features to set the layout.

Setting up a Ning network

And here is what it looked like after i’d set it up. Empty. But ready to roll.

45 seconds later, a new Ning network site.

Commerce eSimulation takes shape

Posted on by
Reply

Just came back from a meeting with Belinda and Ellie re the Forio.com terms of service. Also got some great feedback for a few additions to the Guidelines for working with Externally hosted websites that I’m working on.

The iPad

Posted on by
3

No doubt Many of you have heard of the iPad. In the two weeks leading up to Apples ‘New Mystery Device’ I was incredibly excited. I had predicted that the device would cover the market between the iPhone/Smartphone and Netbook, where there is a considerable gap awaiting someone to jump in with a great idea. Has Apple succeeded if filling the gap? Time will tell. I’m looking forward to seeing some creative things come from some of the other competitors including those companies predominantly in the mobile phones industry looking to expand their product range, and laptop manufactures looking to do the same.

I have had a look at the features and the tech specs. Whilst I was very excited before the release of the product after seeing what it actually is and does, I’m afraid does not live up to the hype! I feel that the iPad is little more than an enlarged iPhone. Clearly I am not alone, see here and here. The internet memes and laughing did not stop at that, many related the iPad with feminine hygiene products (Well Apple, with a name like that what did you expect?).

While the iPad tries to fill the gap between smartphones and netbooks, it is also Apple’s solution for an ebook reader. The only feature of this that I am marginally excited about is iBooks. When I buy devices I like them to do more than a single particular task, for example my phone is not only a phone but also a gaming device, diary, and internet browser. iBooks is the App that manages and allows you to read ebooks on the iPad, this puts the iPad in competition with devices such as the Nook and Kindle. The battery life on Apple devices we know is poor in comparison. With a full colour screen on all the time for simply reading, that is going to chew battery life like nothing else, as opposed to the eInk technology used on the Kindle. I see this as a huge downside to the device. No one likes their battery to die halfway through and international flight for example.

I was also slightly inspired by their marketing video.

As an iPhone user I have most of the iPads features available to me, such as App Store, Mobile Web, email on the go, photos, etc. Which leads me to the conclusion that the iPad is simply and enlarged iPhone. With all of these functions available to me on my iPhone, which is far more portable than this 10 inch device, why on earth would I buy it? Anyone? … Is that crickets I hear?

Granted there is some benefits that have come from this products release. In preparation for the device’s extra needs and extra apps iTunes has ‘cleaned up’ it’s App store.

So what do you think? Has Apple hit the spot, or flopped with the iPad?

iPhone Apps for Researchers

Posted on by
4

‘iPhone apps for researchers’ Found through CoolThings@UOW.

Personally I use Evernote (both iPhone app and web version) not only to keep track of my of class notes but also the completely random things I find (eg recipes a friends show me, random newspaper articles and reminders to look things up). I also quite like the feature of integrating with Twitter, where Tweets can be saved (Ah simple short note reminders). Best of all it’s free!

Microsoft Surface

Posted on by
2

Microsoft has been working on some great new technology that as you can see from the YouTube clip has the potential for easily sharing media between mobile devices.

This is not the only application for the Microsoft Surface. I have seen videos where the surface has been effectively used for things like presentations, ordering off a menu at a restaurant and Role Playing Games.