The Cognition of the Read/Write Web

http://twitter.com/prof_chuck

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It’s like Xmas with fireworks…. We live in very exciting times…. long live the apple!

I don’t know that I will use the movie rental… but at least this gets us started…

must save up for ipod touch and airport extreme with a 1TB hard-drive

It is so much easier to consume and not share… much less create.I guess I could blame my job… but I think it’s me  

I have no idea why… but I am giving the fall commencement address at NGCSU.

It’s really hard to decide what to say so I fell back on what comes naturally. I’ve stolen remixed almost everything in my speech from the Internet (YouTube, websites devoted to commencements, site that collect quotes…etc.) and I’ve remixed them for me and my audience. I’ve tagged many of them on delicious with the tag, commencement.

I also created a website on my University space for this graduating class (and anyone else that needs it). It’s full of classic stuff to entertain and inspire. Check it out here. I hope to put a copy of my speech there too, It’s still in rough shape right now, as a Google document of course.

The speech will mostly be about collaboration, networking, and the future of communication. I’ve borrowed liberally from the educational technology blogs that I aggregate. Thanks! I hope to give everyone credit during the speech. I got a great lead on a futurist article in the Guardian from Derek’s Blog. I am greatly impressed and inspired by Demo Girl… I can’t get enough of what she has to share.

Mad references go out to Barry Vercoe, Maurice Lévy, Biz Stone, Peter Norvig, and the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

• Get a Google Reader Account (if you don’t have one)
• Set Firefox Preferences to add RSS feeds to Google Reader
• Let’s add some different types of feeds:
  • Google news search
  • eBay search (help Santa find you a good deal)
  • find a conference website or journal/find your association
  • add a blog
  • add the NGCSU info page (does anyone read it?)
  • free time to add your stuff and get organized

—————-
Now playing: Neil Young – Dirty Old Man
via FoxyTunes

just for fun… a little classical conditioning film…
http://www.snotr.com/embed/183

This page was create to go a long with a presentation on RSS feeds. You might find some of the links useful as a resource… but it’s better with me there

Feel free to comment with suggestions and changes… prof_chuck

What is RSS?

• wikipedia: link to RSS article, feed
• 7 thing you should know about RSS, PDF from EDUCAUSE
• RSS: A Quick Start Guide for Educators, PDF from Will Richardson
• What is RSS blog? blog, feed

Metaphors for understanding it…

• My computer is a TiVo!
• Customized newspaper
• Head funnel with a fun filter, should we worry about the dangers of ODing?

Examples of using it at the academy…

• student blogs
• student bookmarking
• facebook (it’s a giant aggregator)
• constant searches

——-

Let’s choose an aggregator…

google reader

• how to: lifehacker how to, google’s quicktour, 7 tips from Johnny, google reader blog, Use your kids Wii to read feeds,
• get an account
• see chuck’s public pages, feed

bloglines beta

• how to, demo girl’s screencast, youtube screencast, the about page,
• get an account
• see chuck’s public pages,

Let’s practice getting feeds into our aggregator… (you can always watch how to videos on YouTube )

identifying feeds

Feed icons

Diversity! search Flickr for “RSS icons” under creative commons

searching for feeds

options with FireFox
let’s look at the preferences tab
let’s make it easier

—————-
Now playing: Bruce Springsteen – 10-Long Walk Home
via FoxyTunes

Created by Michael Wesch in collaboration with 200 students at Kansas State University.

If you like this then you need to check out his other stuff… I think it’s even better… The Machine is Us/ing Us

Interesting observation:

Hello,My name is (#$%*($%Q )  #Q(%)#Q(%, I am in your TR Cognition class. I was just wondering what your reasoning for the collaborative testing was. I was grouped with two people that didnt study, and i did so i just dont understand how that is fair. im not trying to complain, just wondering. and one of my partners sleeps in class everyday, so i dont think he could be of any help. just wondering. I dont see how this group test will be reflective of my personal learning abilities. just looking for clarification.Thank You,

The answer has many parts…

First, as a cognitive scientist and memory guy, I know about (and am interested in) your learning the material. You need to place it into your semantic memory so that it stays with you and you can use it / apply it / benefit from it. One sure fire way to do that is to think about the material in a meaningful way (encoding so that it is placed in memory). Explaining why the best answer is right and why the wrong answers and distracters are wrong is one way to do that. If you actually “know” the material, then you should be able to convince / explain it to your collaboration partners. If you can’t explain it, then you probably don’t really know it and it won’t stick with you.

Second, use this as an opportunity to improve your test taking skills. See how others approach the problems. Learn to think about the questions from different angles and world views. Use reasoning skills to get everyone to the best answer.

Third, this is a great opportunity for you to learn about your classmates and perhaps get a chance to view their preparation from my vantage point. Many of you have complained to me about being stuck with peers that are unprepared or unwilling to work together. This is not news to me, but you need to think about it. These folks are working toward the same degree as you… these folks are going to be applying for the same jobs as you… these folks are going to be at jobs before you get there. How do you think they will represent a NGCSU BS degree in Psychology? How will you represent an NGCSU psych degree?

Collaborative testing is a great way for you to master the material, learn about working with others (which you will be doing or the rest of your life), and develop communication skills for a successful life out there… in the big wide world.

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So I’m leading a workshop at the fall faculty retreat today on using facebook. If the wi-fi will work up here in the woods, we’ll be fine. There really does seem to be a shortage of tutorial material for facebook. However, with its dynamic/mashup capabilities & continual improvements I can see how you could spend a lot of time working on a guide that would soon be obsolete. I’m going to list some resources below, feel free to share what you find as comments. I actually find the absurd / joking / humor sites to be the most informative… you should revisit them when you’ve gained some experience.

Tutorials & start-up guides:

• Newbie’s Guide to Facebook
• 7 Things You Should Know About… Facebook II via Educause
• Social Networking: A beginner’s Guide to Facebook
• Facebook Tutorial from Diversity College

Apps:

• Facebook powertools from Mashable

Jokes (that also inform):

• The Unofficial and Smartass Guide to Using Facebook
• Facebook Etiquette (a college humor classic)
• Steve Speaks about Stalking
• and finally the Facebook songs doesn’t say it all, but it says a lot…

Technorati Tags: facebook, NGCSU, Faculty, social network, aggregation