One Doc, Two Doc, Three Doc, Four...Please NO MORE

Dunn, J. (2012). "Connecting Education and Technology" (online image)
Retrieved from: http://edudemic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/googledocs.jpg

This week we got to explore Google Docs! In short, Google Docs allows you to share, edit and keep track of your files WITHOUT having multiple variations. I would definitely add this to my P.L.E. I think it would fall under scholarly because it would be used for projects. However there are many other purposes and uses for Google Docs. Here are a few that I have whipped up and thought was most relevant to me. Feel free to comment and give me your ideas!

• School: Working on group presentations or classroom facilitation's. It is a great way to gain feedback and work from afar if you are not able to physically meet up. 
• Work: Having to work on a proposal or pitch for a task at work. It allows you to ask a friend or coworker to read over and offer suggestions or proof read it.
• Blog: Hello! You can use Google Docs to publish documents straight to your blogs! And if you are reading this, I know that you are a blogger and that this news would be of interest to you!

Confession: With so many tools being added…it's hard to focus on the tools we have used in the past. The one tool I see myself replacing is Diigo. What would I use instead? Hmmm...I'll take a combination of Week 3 & Week 6 (Feedly with a side of Evernote). Reasoning for this change of heart? Or should I say change of FOOTprint...as in digital footprint. (Sorry I have to have at least one cheesy joke in each posting). I feel I have a stronger grasp on those two and I don't think that Diigo. Just like these tools are limiting the amount of web pages and sources we are looking for I would like to limit some of the tools. BUT sorry moving on! Going to continue on with the positive outlook on these tools, and the positive footprints I can leave behind through using them. 

In terms of collaboration Google Docs is catered to users who are interested in...

• Reducing the versions of a document or file that has been edited, altered and shared numerous times. 
• Getting rid of the middle man- allows you to send an attachment through a LINK with the specific people who you are trying to reach. No more worries of sending it or it getting re-navigated into someone's junk mail. 
•  Cutting back on your digital footprint. Now a days users need to be extra cautious about who they are giving their information to. Google Docs will allow you the comfort of knowing your personal information is going to who you selected- no extra copies. 

Google. (2009) "Dr. Seuss' 105th Birthday". (online image)
Retrieved from: http://www.google.com/logos/2009/drseuss09.gif

Collaborative learning allows students to help one another. It allows students the opportunity to build on their learning and writing skills, by editing and reviewing students' documents with Google Docs. By becoming active learners and embracing their education, students are learning that assignments and writing can be fun. Through my Feedly I came across an article about entertaining kids and how one author in particular struck the creative nerve in kids and got them excited to read and write. Who is this magical man? No other than Dr. Seuss. By getting students involved at a young age and teaching them the wonders and multiple uses the Internet has to offer, they will grow up as informed digital citizens. 

In the wise words of Dr. Seuss...

The more that you read, 

the more things you will know. 

The more that you learn, 

the more places you'll go.

XOXO

Never Have I Ever...Used EVERNOTE

Dear Blogger,

I am prone to organizing my schoolwork, as mentioned previously, I am a neat freak. My desktop is currently crowded with “Folders” where I have my research and rough work for each courses assignments divided and sorted **see image**(brought to you by a tool called “screenshot” provided on all laptops and most mobile devices). However, the Folders keep building and the sight of them is driving me nuts! I want to keep organized but I don’t want to be reminded of all my work every time I sign into my account. Any suggestions?

Sincerely,

Organized and Confused

Borchuk, L. (CC) 2014.

One word: Evernote. Evernote is a web source that captures all forms of information and allows you to store all of your sources in one place. From images, URLs, to academic journals, if you need to organize it Evernote will store and sort it for you. It is the perfect solution and storage application for users who are interested in keeping all of their information in one accessible place. Relating this to our P.L.E. from the second week, I would put Evernote under Scholarly and Social. As stated last week, I am realizing how often the Social and Scholarly worlds collide. You may notice I have a third category, Direct Communication. Can you use Evernote as a form of Direct Communication? YES. For personal purposes, I would mainly use it for Scholarly. BUT like your Digital Footprint, customize your P.L.E. and adjust your P.L.N. for what works for YOU. There is no standardized "digital users" guide to these tools. Find the tools that work for you, and use them accordingly! The Web is there to be utilized and customized. With multiple tools, there are endless possibilities for their uses. Just like every individual, every course and every tool has its individual purpose; don't be afraid to stray away from the 'typical' tool usage! Let the "digital citizen" in you come out. 

Just as you have a separate notebook for every subject in school, you can have an individual online notebook for each assignment. Since it is online you don't have to worry about misplacing or losing the physical notebook. You can SYNC it with your other devices. You will have all necessary materials whether at home, school, or away for a weekend.

Evernote (2014). "Syncing" (devices)
Retrieved from: https://evernote.com/getting_started/img/5.4-sync-diagram.png

Last week we learnt about CURATING. Evernote allows you to store that information, collect reliable sources (scholarly and non-scholarly), as well as contribute personal insights for you to curate and get involved in the “digital community”. 

REAL LIFE EXAMPLE:

Currently we are working on group assignments and my partner and I are responsible for collecting sources surrounding the topic of "Digital Communication". Specifically we are examining proper etiquette and usage of these digital tools. I was following a blog on Feedly, and they provided me with an article regarding using cell phones in public and how sometimes they are NOT appropriate. I was able to "snip" the blog post, and apply it to my Evernote Notebook! Now my partner, though originally wasn't following the blog, is provided with access to the same content.

Want to personalize it even more? WELL I went out and found some specific uses for it where it can help me in the work force! I found the top 5 reasons to incorporate it into the Public Relations field. It is the best way to use Evernote for what I want to do past school! If I can find a use for it outside of the Scholar and Social realm, I'm sure you can too! Put those fingertips and social network "lurking skills" to good use! I have added more "Public Relations" feeds to my Feedly so I can keep informed and involved with the digital age of P.R. 

One last reason to join Evernote?
One word.
Starts with an F. (Remember- this blog is rated PG ladies and gents)
4-letter adverb. 
Meaning: without cost or payment.

Giphy (2014). "Speechless Patrick" (say what)
Retrieved from: http://media1.giphy.com/media/12oTcajW0MUqCA/giphy.gif 

FREE. Yes, music to every student's ears. It is free, and will help with the daunting task of collecting and organizing sources for assignments and tasks to come.

So come on now! Give it a try

Sincerely, 
A Fellow Organ-aholic

xoxo

Can I Get a "Tweet Tweet"

#FlashbackFriday to the time we learnt about a P.L.E. because today, we are learning about a P.L.N. (like O.M.G. right?!). Your P.L.N. is when you use your digital tools from your P.L.E. in order to engage and interact with others. It allows you to steal ideas and become inspired from these ideas. These networking platforms are deliberately framed in order to benefit the goals and needs of its users. Originally these platforms were made for family and friends but with the new Web 2.0 and endless possibilities, the communities involved are endless!

2013. Twitter for business (twitter). Retrieved from: here

This week we got to incorporate one of my favourite social media networks TWITTER, which is seen as a P.L.N. tool (click to find out what other tools fall under this category!). I have been tweeting since the early years of 2006- somewhere between caveman drawings and the invention of the smart phone. When Twitter was first introduced, I used it strictly to satisfy social needs. However, as the years past and Twitter grew in popularity, I began to use it for new purposes- professional and educational purposes. Twitter has enabled constant access to the GLOBAL world. Within this sphere, we are able to build a stream of main ideas that are relevant and useful. It is similar to last week where our online bookmarks sort through the good, the bad and the ugly- Twitter allows you to do that as well. 

@laurebor Twitter Tips to Utilize: 

·Lists: You can organize your followers into lists. This way you can separate you news feed and be able to keep your friends, social profiles, news, business, and school feeds separate!

·#Hashtags: Find relevant information- Use them as a social network search engine. They can often lead you to professionals who are relevant and important in that field of interest. They filter out the information for you and save you time and energy! 

· Suggestions: Twitter provides a list of people who they think will be of interest to you based off of your account.

Borchuk, L. (CC) 2014.

In a previous course I took at Brock, Professional Communication, our professor stressed how useful Twitter is in today's society because there has been a paradigm shift. Emphasis is taken away from the ability to compete, and put towards ones ability to NETWORK. Businesses are realizing the power of networking and promoting their brands through the use of social media. My Feedly feed informed me of the designers who took fashion week by storm, and kept their fans informed. How were the rich and fabulous able to inform their adoring fans? Through embracing their digital tools, and connecting with their audience on the best possible medium- social networks. Join these social networks, and like businesses SELL. Sell yourself to your future employers and the digital world, interact and form opinions with what is happening around you. These networks allow you to express yourself, and can help you gain valuable connections. But it is important to make sure you are displaying confidence and not being conceited over your Twitter. An article on self promotion from my RSS Reader describes how it can often be a single tweet, that crosses that line.  NOTE: sell yourself in a positive and professional manner. If our digital footprints have taught us anything, inappropriate posts can come back to haunt us. Here is another article I was able to find on successful tips for using Twitter!

Still not sold on how the social and academic collide? Let's do a little math equation.

MathKid (2014). "The Math Kid" (math humour).
Retrieved from: http://themathkid.tumblr.com/post/17857316461 

Not to worry- I'm a communication student remember? The variables for this equation will be tools learnt so far, and how they can help BUILD and contribute to the digital realm. One of the main themes of this course is learning how to become an informed legitimate digital citizen, and using this math equation, I am going to exemplify what I have learnt so far, and how the "social" and the "scholarly" might not be so different after all. 

Variable #1: Twitter:  To communicate DIRECTLY with fellow tweeters who are interested in the same areas as me.
Variable #2: Feedly- RSS reader: To explore and share data to the twitter conversation in a effective and educational way- just like a paper if you are going to make a point, make sure you have the facts to back it up!
Equation: Twitter + LinkedIn + Professional Users = an informed and conducive digital user. 

By connecting and contributing to these social media forms, you are learning how to network and gain feedback with other young professionals. And most importantly it allows you to communicate with people from other countries, professions and educational backgrounds! 

Tweet me, Link me if you want to reach me

XOXO

Sharing is Caring: Welcome to the Curation Nation

*In the left corner we have the old fashion librarian and in the right corner we have the new digital age...are you ready to CURATE* 

Borchuk, L. (CC) 2014.

Curator meets the digital age. Curation is no longer a boring outdated strategy used in libraries but has decided to join the rest of the world and diverse itself within the digital realm. One of the most interesting things about this course is learning how the digital sphere has brought everything back to life. “Out with the old, in with the new” nope not necessarily. How about a…fashion makeover? Or an upgrade? The digital realm has not invented new ways of living, but rather modified the old outdated versions. The Internet, and its many tools, have added value to content and made it immediately accessible. Much like curating.

Now what is this magical world otherwise known as curating? Before I get into the technicality of it all, let me provide you with a visual. It is about adding to the conversation, as well as helping others see your point of view. By curation you are able to access to your content no matter where you are, or which device you are using. With there being so much content out there, it is hard to find QUALITY information. Through curating you are able to weed through the bad and pick out the good. Curating can be broken down into three steps:

1. Finding the best content: good at filtering out the good and bad. 

2. Adding Value: educates the reader and ads context to each element.

3. Credit: provides links to additional sources.

Looking at it as a scrapbook, you FIND a document or article you find interesting. Once you find it you ADD value but cutting and pasting your thoughts around the topic. By adding your comments you are giving CREDIT to the author, and providing a new insight. Just like a scrapbook, you end with a masterpiece, a masterpiece of knowledge.

With another tool added to my belt, my P.L.E. continues to grow (if only it would pass the message along to my wallet). However, I would categorize this under both scholarly and social. 

Scholarly: Group assignments. When needing to share articles or websites, instead of having to send a separate document it can all be sent and accessed as one. 

Spark, David. (2011). "Sharing" (animation)
Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/1kut5PS

Social: The latest “gossip” or current events that me and my friends are interested in. 

Recently I was able to share articles, from my RSS reader, BOOKMARK them, comment and share them with my friends! One of the main events happening right now, are the Olympics games. Like everyone else in the country, me and my friends love to chat about the recent winners and events. With my RSS reader and by curating, I am able to keep all of 'my' Olympic events in one area as well as organize all of my thoughts surrounding them. Through Diigo, I was able to curate my "digital life" to connect with fellow Internet users, my friends and family WHILE expanding my contribution within the digital realm.

Now its your turn- embrace the digital age and update that resume of yours: Full Time Student, Part Time Curator. 

XOXO