advise me

I’ve never been a fan of social networking…. I’m probably the only person I know who has no Facebook page.  Having said that, I can see value in social networks devoted to special educational topics.  I didn’t really see any group on Ning that might appeal to me professionally at this time (maybe I’ll start one later after I’ve digested all of this) … what’s with the Rajasthan “blog posts”?

On the other hand, I really liked the discussion groups on Classroom 2.0, especially Skype in Education.  You may recall from my previous post in Thing 13: 21st Century Conference, I was fascinated with Video Conferencing It’s Easy, Free and Powerful by Brian Cosby, and I planned to do some more research on using skype in my presentations.  That’s on my “to do list” after I complete this course.  It’ll be fun to have a forum to discuss my research and application in the world of education.

I really enjoy reading the health and fitness section of the New York Times.  I’m always too late to get the free copies provided at school; and, besides, it’s really nice to have favorite articles and recipes to share with my daughters electronically.  My mother’s famous for cutting out newspaper articles and mailing the ones she thinks the various family members would enjoy.  I can only imagine what this 96-year-woman would do with google reader articles! The post office would definitely be more in debt than it is!   Here’s an article I shared earlier with my fitness guru daughter: Exercise: A Pace for Fitness: 100 Steps a Minute 

I think I’ve found a new homepage for my computer!  On my pageflake, I put all the stuff I use each day that clutters my desk: a calculator for gpa’s, a calendar (I always have to look at the phone), a “to do” list, an address book (certainly better than my out-of-date roladex), google search, a couple of my favorite sites stolen from my google reader, and a few that I kept from Jerrie’s – thanks, Jerrie, good choices (the weather, wikipedia, dictionary), and oh yes, a little game of Soduko (it’s at the bottom, so I won’t be tempted! 

While creating a document in Google Docs is certainly an option, many times the document is already created and needs to be updated. This is what I did with the “blub” from the website that I need to change to reflect the new name of one of the administrative units.  In this case, I cut and pasted the “blub” and then added the corrections. This can be shared with my colleagues for approval or additional corrections.  In many cases, however, it’s actually easier to upload the entire document, as I tried with an evaluation form that needs to be updated.

The most useful reasons to use Google Docs is the PowerPoint presentations I send to each of my colleagues who participate in them.  Each of us (there are four envolved) is responsible for updating her part prior to the next presentation.  That includes any curriculum changes, dates, or other pertinent information.  When each is finished, she returns the presentation with corrections to me.  I then edit the final presentation, making sure all the changes and corrections are incorporated.  Do you think I need a better way to make sure I’ve included everyone’s updates each time?  Enter Google Docs!  This will certainly make updating more efficient and probably more accurate.

Here’s my first podcast!

So I’ve finally explored YouTube!  And actually found some videos that were relevant to my professional interests: academic advising.  In this brief video clip Steps to Admission, Counseling, an academic advisor shares why students should visit with an academic advisor and what an academic advisor can do to help guide new students.  In Ann Minnick and Academic Advising, the advisor introduces new students to the advising center and offers a brief preview into her role in first-year advising.  Both of these videos were very brief, easy-to-produce video clips (no fancy photography, music, graphics) that could easily be produced for an effective “first look” at advising at our center. 

What a terrific enhancement to the website for the advising center this could be!  Students could be introduced to the advisors individually and to the advisement center’s role in general. We might even make the “Frequently asked questions” interactive. 

How fun to explore the world of podcasts.  I actually explored several that were “educational” and some that were not.  The “educational” one to which I subscribed on Google Reader was Education Podcast with John Merrow from the PBS podcasts.  I listened to The Engine of Innovation – Education Podcast with John Merrow #134 with interest as he discussed the federal stimulus package with the new Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and how he hopes to impact an education system where 3 out 10 ninth graders fail to graduate.

I am trying to develop a podcast for a class presentation we have each semester.  Part of the class this summer is online, and the instructor prefers delivery via web, instead of the usual in-person powerpoint-and-instructor delivered presentation.  So far, I’ve got the powerpoint! So I have a lot more to do…..

This was a neat site!  Wish I had more time to read for fun.  For now, I can really see using this site for recommending “further reading” for a presentation.  I was able to create a library of academic advising books that would make a wonderful resource for a presentation or for a new advisor: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/rachel220.

It was also easy to see how “popular” each book was.  Some were the old standards, and I would expect more of a following.  But it was interesting to see that 70 selections came up on a search.  Lots of advice for the advisor!

Academic Advising: A Comprehensive Handbook by Virginia N. Gordon to A Developmental Guide to Academic Advising: Student Worldviews and it’s Role with Advising Satisfaction by Ph.D. Coll, Jose E.  Here’s just a sampling of what I found:  Academic Advising resources.

I decided I needed the quicklinks to manage all the health and fitness sites I visit periodically, but would like to check quickly.  So that’s what I found: Prevention, Senior Fitness, Cooking Lite, nuitrition, health….enjoy my links!  Here are some of my favorite health and fitness sites: http://delicious.com/rachel220.  How quick and easy Delicious was to use! 

One big advantage to sharing links in Delicious rather than google reader, is you can share just what you want to share (for example, for a class or presentation) rather than opening up your whole world.  It’s a wonderful follow up for a presentation to give additional readings on the topic. 

I’m definitely seeking some release, so it’s movie time.  Rotten Tomatoes recommends the “Changling,” so that’s my selection for Blockbusters on the way home.  Hmmmm, Angelia Jolie?