Social Media Intros and Updates

From LiteracyTentWiki

Subject: [PD 4715] Social Media Intros and Updates
From: Jackie A. Taylor
Date: Tue Jul 6 15:20:32 EDT 2010

Dear All,

Next week's kickoff discussion of Using Social Media in Teaching and Professional Development will be held here on the PD List. This is a very exciting time!

Over the course of one month, the discussion will take place in various venues, drawing upon the talents of co-facilitator Nell Eckersley and our guests: Melinda Holt, Susan Gaer, Marian Thacher, Steve Quann, and Richard Sebastian (thank you!). The schedule and relevant information is below. Please pass it on.

Also last month, the Association of Adult Literacy Professional Developers (AALPD) and the Adult Literacy and Technology Network (ALTN), conducted a survey to hear about the social media tools you use and would like to learn. Over 200 of us completed the survey, and the results are now online:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=XdrWlYSioLOTZqBPmDNRgVqAGMyPPW7YkOBMbcyILfM_3d

(cut/paste URL into browser if the link breaks)

Small groups are being established based on survey results:

http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/tech-pd-smgroups

We'll add small groups upon request.

In preparation for next week, please 'reply all' to this email and introduce yourself, your role, and what you are looking forward to discussing. Your feedback this week will help our guests to best prepare.

Looking forward,

Jackie

--

Jackie Taylor
PD List Facilitator
jackie at jataylor.net

Subject: [PD 4716] Re: Social Media Intros and Updates
From: Bethany Lezanic-Smith
Date: Tue Jul 6 15:37:46 EDT 2010

My name is Bethany Lezanic-Smith. I have a M.Ed in business and workforce development and a K-12 BCIT teaching certification. Currently, I work for the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit as a distance learning associate. I teach adult basic education classes and deliver and design all types of online instruction. I'm most interested in learning about various free online tools that I could use with my distance students. In addition, many of my co-workers work remotely. It would be helpful to learn about tools we could use to collaborate and bridge some of the communication gaps that we encounter from not seeing each other in a traditional work environment.


Bethany Lezanic-Smith

Distance Learning Associate
TIU 11 Community Education Services
Lewistown, PA 17044

Subject: [PD 4717] Re: Social Media Intros and Updates
From: Bonnie Odiorne
Date: Wed Jul 7 09:40:18 EDT 2010

I direct the Writing Center at Post University and provide service to day division as well as online and on site accelerated degree students, graduate and undergraduate. I want to use social media to reach sudents about writing center services, integrate classroom activities (or online courses) when teaching with social media, if applicable, (English and French) and otherwise, more for day division f2f, help students to interact in ways that are meaningful to them. The survey monkey list of various sites, blogs et al. was more an education in what I didn't know was out there rather than an inventory of what I did know.... A personal reason would be to find a more accessible medium than a website to reach potential interested people in spiritual direction and labyrinth facilitation.

Looking forward,

Bonnie

Bonnie Odiorne, PhD Director, Writing Center Adjunct Professor of English, French, First Year Transitions, Day Division and ADP
Post University, Waterbury, CT
Labyrinth Facilitator, Spiritual Director

Subject: [PD 4719] Re: Social Media Intros and Updates
From: Jill Carlson
Date: Wed Jul 7 10:53:14 EDT 2010

Hello-

I teach Adult Basic Education in Northern Minnesota. I know this discussion is for professional development but I also want to use this information in my classroom.

I use Facebook now with my students and is it a good way to encourage them to come and to create a more casual atmosphere in my classroom. It is fun to have a student say something about my facebook and then another student will ask if they can be my friend. Social relationships are very important to my students and I am glad to have something like this platform. Our agency has a no facebook policy, but if we have legitimate reasons for using social networking, we can get permission to use it. I would like to learn more about the different uses and possibly integrate them into my classroom. I consider myself to be up on all the current trends, but after taking the survey, I realized I could use some information on the new and upcoming ways to use the Internet for the benefit of my students.

Jill Carlson

Subject: [PD 4720] Re: ProfessionalDevelopment Digest, Vol 58, Issue 2
From: Amy.Peritsky at greece.k12.ny.us
Date: Wed Jul 7 11:27:38 EDT 2010

Good morning,
I am the Director of Community Education for a suburban school district outside of Rochester, NY. We are responsible for GED exam preparation, ESOL classes, family literacy, and citizenship exam preparation and enroll about 800 adult literacy students per year. I have been using personal computers for many years and use email regularly, but am not a social media user...... yet. I am intrigued by the instructional possibilities and interested in learning about the different media.
Regards,
Amy

Amy Peritsky
Director of Bridges and Community Education
Greece Central School District
North Greece, NY

Subject: [PD 4722] Facebook vs Twitter
From: Thompson, Duren J
Date: Wed Jul 7 11:43:55 EDT 2010

Hello, my name is Duren Thompson and I am Project Coordinator for the Center for Literacy Studies which is housed at the University of Tennessee. My current work is currently focused on designing and facilitating online professional development courses for adult educators nationwide, but I am always involved in as researching uses of technology (distance, blended, and face-to-face) for support of literacy learners AND education professionals. Something of a Jill-of-all-trades, I am also interested in professional development systems in general, methods for supporting adult learners with learning disabilities, cooperative learning, multiple intelligences, generational research, and, most recently, applications of EFF in the classroom. Lastly, I have been integrally involved in the design and use of the Tennessee adult education accountability systems, including assessment.

Whew! So - regarding social media, I feel I am a reluctant immigrant into this world, having in the past 2 years just joined FaceBook, LinkedIn, and Twitter; begun using a blog reader, wikis, Sharepoint, Google docs & Alerts, and Tweetdeck; and I am trying to maintain five different Wordpress Blogs (only one professionally). I have, however, been using Yahoo groups (and its two predecessors), as well as Saba Centra (an alternative to WebEx or DimDim) for years. Part of my role here at the Center is to "be knowledgeable" with emerging technologies, and so I have been actively trying to "get to know" the social media world.

The small groups activity (resulting from the survey) has assisted me to focus my next 'personal PD steps' on learning to use YouTube, Flickr, and Google Docs to share content I've created (I've previously only been a passive viewer of these technologies). I'm also interested in how best to integrate all these technologies into an effective system for marketing and/or learning.

See you online!

Duren Thompson
Center for Literacy Studies - Celebrating 20 years of support for life-long learning!
University of Tennessee
www.cls.utk.edu

Subject: [PD 4721] Re: Social Media Intros and Updates
From: Cunill, Lynn
Date: Wed Jul 7 11:45:53 EDT 2010

Thank you for this opportunity. My name is Lynn Cunill and I work with Leon County Schools Adult & Community Education in Tallahassee, Florida. We have a Florida Department of Education grant to provide professional development to adult education practitioners in 15 counties in north Florida. One of the topics requested by our council is using social media in adult education. We offered a well-attended training on this last school year and plan to offer more opportunities this year. I am personally interested in using social media to offer collegial conversations, networking and professional interfacing for adult educators who are limited in interaction because they are at a satellite site or in a rural area. The participants in our spring social media workshop were very interested in using it for instruction, student retention and marketing for student recruitment.

Lynn Cunill

Subject: [PD 4723] Use of Social Media
From: Dilling, Sandy
Date: Wed Jul 7 11:51:52 EDT 2010

I'm the administrator for a large (2000+ students) high school diploma/GED adult school. I have introduced to staff the use of social media by creating a Yahoo page for us to share information and ideas. The site holds files and links to online resources for classroom use and training. Although enthusiastic at the presentations, instructors are slow to adapt new technologies/methods. I am still optimistic and am trying to post more and more relevant information that will make them want to visit the site and incorporate the information into lessons!

I had better luck using Survey Monkey, an online survey and data collection tool. I used it for a staff preferences survey, and again little response. What made instructors pay attention was when I put the student course evaluations online. Students fully participated in the survey and instructors liked having the results tallied and available instantly.

Maybe the lesson here is to make the tool/technology relevant.

Sandra Dilling

Adult Education Administrator
Independence Adult Center
625 Educational Park Drive
San Jose, CA 95133

Subject: [PD 4725] Use of Social Media - Intro
From: Halona Agouda
Date: Wed Jul 7 13:28:43 EDT 2010

I am full-time Advisor at Prince George's Community College as well as a part-time GED Instructor at Montgomery College in Maryland. I have worked in adult education and workforce development for 11 years in the US and West Africa. I write my own professional blog discussing adult education issues that I find interesting. My latest post is on the effective use of Twitter hashtags for adult educators<http://halonaagouda.com/2010/07/04/twitter-for-adult-educators-dont-be-afraid/>. The post is a demonstration of how I use Twitter for my own professional development on my own time. I am hoping to learn from others who have found creative ways to do the same.

Halona Y. Agouda, M.Ed.

Subject: [PD 4726] Re: ProfessionalDevelopment Digest, Vol 58, Issue 3
From: McGilloway, Susan S.
Date: Wed Jul 7 16:52:07 EDT 2010

Hello, Everyone.

My name is Sue McGilloway. I am a student support services specialist in the adult literacy center of a community college in the Baltimore, MD area. Also, I coordinate the volunteer tutor program. One of my responsibilities for student services is to be available to students in classes for career advising. Many of our students do not have computers, but do have cell phones with internet access so I am interested in exploring some uses of social media to encourage and support a mindset that the GED is only the beginning of their education journey as well as career exploration and post secondary education interests.


Susan McGilloway | SSS Specialist/VIP Coordinator | The Community College of Baltimore County

Subject: [PD 4727] Re: Social Media Intros and Updates
From: mmingle at comcast.net
Date: Thu Jul 8 10:03:55 EDT 2010

Hello . . . my name is Mary Mingle and I am a coordinator for one of PA's ABLE Professional Development Centers (covering central and northeastern PA). My primary focus is designing and delivering professional development and coordinating PDC activities, I am very interested in using social media tools to connect with adult education and literacy practitioners. Our service area is large and rural, with significant distances between the programs we serve -- which is why I'm interested in using these tools for teaching and learning.

Mary Mingle

Central Northeast Professional Development Center
CIU#10 Development Center for Adults
Central Northeast PDC
Lock Haven, PA

Subject: [PD 4729] using social media to teach worldwide
From: Paul Rogers
Date: Thu Jul 8 12:12:43 EDT 2010

I am the creator/developer of a free ESL website and the use of social media is an integral part of my work. I would say that in the past year or so there has been an increase in English learners use of cell phones, computers, etc., and more and more are connecting to the web.
Many of my studnets use the web phone to talk with their family members on a regular basis. And in doing so, share information. This opens up the dynamics of using the WebCam for classes. For example, my ESL website is free and my students are encouraging their family members to study English on it. YouTube provides some interesting lessons, also for free. In addition there are other low cost or free websites, such as LingQ.
Lyrics to popular songs are free along with the music, providing a matrix for ..grammar lessons and idioms. It is all very exciting and I am convinced that online learning will replace 'live" classroom instruction. For one thing, it is very economical. As I am typing I am also teaching English to about 1000 adult learners!
Paul Rogers
Adult Biliteracy: wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Main_Page
PUMAROSA.COM

Subject: [PD 4738] Re: Social Media Intros and Updates
From: jalsails at aol.com
Subject: Fri Jul 9 10:59:21 EDT 2010

Greetings,

I serve as the State Evaluator for Missouri and Kentucky Even Start Family Literacy programs. I left the role of tenured university faculty (literacy education and research) to pursue evaluation consulting across many literacy areas including; early education, K-12 reading programs, family literacy and parental involvement. Given the severe reduction of funding for general literacy program operation across the board, finding ways to provide high quality pd without travel costs is critical. At the same time, we know that ongoing, embedded PD is far more effective than one shot drop offs. I'm working with multi-media productions with an eye toward cultural convergence theory.

Anticipating a most interesting discussion.

Jeri Levesque, Ed.D.
Owner and Principal Evaluator
Center of Effort LLC

Subject: [PD 4739] Re: Social Media Intros and Updates From: Tracey Hosselkus Date: Fri Jul 9 11:16:54 EDT 2010

I am the Education Director for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe in Port Angeles, WA. We have a very small GED prep program that serves Native students within the service area of the Tribe. I am interested in utilizing Social Media to reach out and connect with current and future students.

Tracey Hosselkus

Subject: [PD 4740] Re: Social Media Intros and Updates
From: Kathy Olesen-Tracey
Date: Fri Jul 9 11:41:56 EDT 2010

Hi all,

Working on a distance learning curriculum for adult learners - I certainly attempt to embrace the many technology based tools that can enhance instruction and provide adult education professionals with the ability to build relationships and connections to others in the field. Yet, there is so much information coming at us - how do we manage the flow. With tools like linkedin, facebook, twitter, and myspace, it seems like the boundaries between personal space and professional experiences are merging. Additionally, how do we - as practitioners - use these tools effectively so that our peers and students are not feeling overwhelmed?

I am looking forward to our discussion.

Sincerely ,

Kathy Tracey

Subject: [PD 4744] introduction from Holly [Social Media in Teaching and PD]
From: Holly Dilatush
Date: Fri Jul 9 13:20:45 EDT 2010

Hello everyone,

I'm glad to see this topic for our upcoming discussion and break-out groups experiment!

I taught abroad in 2004, and that motivated me to start my first blog, and to use that blog to communicate with several people at one time.

During my time abroad, I first learned about TESOL's <<http://tesol.org>> annual EVO sessions (electronic village online, 2010 info: http://evosessions.pbworks.com/Call_for_Participation2010), and soon thereafter, the NIFL listservs. These communities have been a huge part of my active professional networking ever since.
Completing the TESOL Principles and Practices of Online Teaching Certificate (<<http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/seccss.asp?cid=664&did=2635>>) also introduced me to a circle of active entrepreneurs and explorers of social media.

A few years ago, I served as coordinator for a pilot distance learning project for adult ESOL in Virginia. This developed into a hybrid/blended course using the Crossroads Cafe video series and accompanying workbooks. While teaching in Korea, I explored the use of Moodles with several classes, also in a hybrid/blended manner.

Then came more blogging, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Diigo, Voxopop, PageFlakes, LinkedIn, Plurk, WiZiQ, and umpteen Web 2.0 tools, LearningWithComputers group (<< http://groups.yahoo.com/group/learningwithcomputers/>>), and more and more and more.

Currently, I'm working as a consultant and instructor for EnglishCafe.com [<<http://englishcafe.com>>], using Skype and sometimes DimDim for synchronous and asynchronous teaching/learning opportunities.

My three keywords for the year last year (<< http://www.chrisbrogan.com/your-3-goals-for-2009/>>) were "delight, demonstrate, and disentangle" For this year, I've reduced the three to one word: *balance*.

By far and away, my strongest struggle is with balance -- of time, priorities, energy, exercise, and on and on.

I love using technology tools, believe the interaction component to be vital to meaningful use of social media. I see and extol the value in/of email, texting, voice-mailing, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flickr (and other photo sharing sites), YouTube (and other video sharing sites), EnglishCafe (and other interactive language learning sites), synchronous and asynchronous classes/lessons, [and on and on and on] for teaching and for professional development. But how to manage it all? Where to "let go"? Where/When to "not even try this year"? How to reduce the time spent maintaining these valuable connections?

When I add the "how to introduce / lure other colleagues into this fun?" question, then life really becomes a blur of trying to keep pace!

The POST (people/objectives/strategy/technology) concept is a helpful acronym. I agree that it's all too often too easy to get started with the 'T" (I'm learning, but that T can be mighty tempting!). Actually, I strive to start with O (objectives), but my objectives inevitably include P (people), and I do like the personal, tangible feel that thinking People first gives.

Google Docs is something I've not explored much, and so have selected it as the subgroup to sign up for.

iPhones is something else I have no experience with, but am increasingly intrigued with [I suspect this may be my next large technology purchase]. Apparently, an iPhone replaces the need for a digital camera, a FlipMino HD video camera, a GPS, and a variety of other equipment. Many people are chattering away with the forecast that in a few years' time, handheld devices will be our computers [I cannot imagine giving up my extra-large screen].

So much is happening! There are SO many things to talk about! And people I meet and interact with, as teacher, as colleague, as friend, are on so many different places along the learning and comfort continuum.

access, progress, success -- and then we start all over again!

Thank you for the opportunity, I look forward to the coming weeks,
Holly -- Holly (Dilatush) Charlottesville, VA USA
holly at dilatush.com

http://EnglishCafe.com ~ an engaging, enlightening, supportive, and fun community!

"Live with intention. Share inside-out smiles, inspire hope, seek awe and nurture in nature."
http://www.diigo.com/user/blogblossoms/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/blogblossoms/
Twitter ID = hollydilatush

Subject: [PD 4746] Re: Social Media Intros and Updates
From: We All Can Read
Date: Fri Jul 9 14:01:34 EDT 2010

I am the author and publisher of an online Orton-Gillingham reading/ phonics program called We All Can Read. Our program is designed so that adult literacy students can work independently through our online lessons without access of any kind to an instructor. And our model does work; however, I have long noted the value of having a shared community among adults who struggle with literacy issues. Most adults have shame issues regarding this subject, and they also tend to blame themselves. So it can be healing and empowering for adults with poor reading skills to learn they are not alone and they are not to blame.

Some of our online students on their own have found volunteer literacy tutors to work with them. We are trying to expand on this service and make it possible for as many students who would like to be able to connect with a volunteer tutor online. We would like to create a mechanism so that students who would like to find a tutor to work with them could request that service online and also to create a mechanism so that someone who would like to tutor from home would have a way to volunteer and connect with a student who has expressed a desire to have a tutor.

Surely there are individuals who are isolated in their homes or retirement communities who would welcome the opportunity to help someone else if they could do it from their homes.

I very much look forward to hearing ideas as to how to create a student/tutor literacy community online. Thank you.

Jim Williams
Web Address: weallcanread.com
E-Mail Address: jw at weallcanread.com

Subject: [PD 4754] a student/tutor literacy community online
From: Paul Rogers
Date: Fri Jul 9 15:00:20 EDT 2010

Jim,
Your point about creating an online literacy community is, hopefully, what these discussions will lead to. If we all share our resources and ideas, well anything is possible. We All Can Read is remarkable. For children there is an online phonics progam called STARFALL.COM. A clearninghouse of information and resources would be very helpful.

Paul Rogers
Adult Biliteracy: wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Main_Page
PUMAROSA.COM

Subject: [PD 4749] Re: Social Media Intros and Updates
From: Brock, Gwen G.
Date: Fri Jul 9 16:05:24 EDT 2010

I work in correctional education for the Florida Department of Corrections. I'm interested in this topic, but I'm not sure how/if we'll be able to use it in the work environment. Inmates are strictly prohibited from accessing the internet and other such technology. Our teachers' access is not limited so perhaps we can use it for professional development. To date, we've not had much success with teachers participating in distance learning opportunities. Hopefully, the social function of this media will promote its use.

Personally, my experience with social media is limited to FaceBook. I am not familiar with the other programs listed. I hope to learn more about the various applications and their uses through this discussion.

Gwen Brock

Region I Correctional Programs Administrator

Florida Department of Corrections

Subject: [PD 4753] Paul Rogers introduction
From: Paul Rogers
Date: Sat Jul 10 11:53:40 EDT 2010

In my previous posts I forgot to introduce myself:

I am the creator of a free ESL website for adult Spanish speakers (i.e. I wrote the texts and am the voice for the lessons).

I am also the topic leader for Adult Biliteracy on David Rosen's ALE Wiki (see below).
I have been teaching in the homes of my students for more than one year, and I also publicize the website and program by distributing flyers at popular swap meets.

Now more and more people are purchasing computers and are online. Some of my students use WebCams and online phones to talk to their families in Mexico . Soon I intend to start lessons/classes with a Web Cam and will probably put them up on YouTube as well.

I actually do not know much at all about social media, and feel a little behind the times. And as I mentioned in another post, I want to focus on what is immediately applicable with respect to providing ESL instruction to adults.

So in the meantime, I am studying the glossary and would also like to request that from time to time definitions are provided for people like me.

I am absolutely convinced that online or distance learning will replace “live” teachers for the most part, and I am personally very interested in being part of these new developments.

Paul Rogers

Adult Biliteracy: wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Main_Page


PUMAROSA.COM

Paul Rogers
Adult Biliteracy: wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Main_Page
PUMAROSA.COM

Subject: [PD 4755] Re: Social Media Intros and Updates
From: Patricia Warren
Date: Sun Jul 11 10:16:52 EDT 2010

Hello!

I am a community college ABS instructional coordinator and Online GED instructor/supervisor and an interested in helping our instructors use social media as an instructional tool. I am also interested in researching the impact that using social media may have in online and classroom student retention.

I look forward to the discussion.

Pat

Patricia Warren
Adult Basic Skills Instructor/Instructional Coordinator
Piedmont Community College
Yanceyville, NC

Subject: [PD 4756] Re: Social Media Intros and Updates
From: Barbara Sabaj
Date: Sun Jul 11 17:57:29 EDT 2010

I am Barb Sabaj. I teach GED-i Online and use programs like Wimba, TappedIn for delivery of professional development. I also am looking for retention for both adult learners and for professional development participants. I have used Twitter, Facebook , discussion boards and chat rooms with adult learners and have had little success. Looking forward to sharing strategies and ideas.

Barbara Sabaj

District 214 Community Education
Technology/Transitions Coordinator

Subject: [PD 4758] social media intro
From: Michele Brannon-Hamilton
Date: Sun Jul 11 22:56:12 EDT 2010

Hi Everyone,

I'm a Learning Skills Advisor and an online adult literacy instructor in Canada. Also, I'm working on my Master of Educational Technology Degree from the University of British Columbia.

I'm a great fan of social media and I've used social, collaborative, mobile, gaming, open source and other tools while studying about them. I joined this discussion because I have focused my studies on incorporating educational technology into an adult literacy classroom.

I look forward to chatting with everyone.

Michele Brannon-Hamilton

Subject: [PD 4760] Re: Social Media Intros and Updates
From: Erison Huruba
Date: Mon Jul 12 02:00:34 EDT 2010

I am a Director in charge of Adult and Non-Formal Education in the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture in Zimbabwe. Our current focus is to re-invigorate access to education for all, particularly adults. We are currently putting in a place a governance structure and resuscitating teaching models. Social media is definitely one of the tools to use, although access to technology may not be as widespread as it is in your part of the world. I find all the discussions on adult education veru helpful. In this country, we use volunteers who have acquired skills that can be of assistance tothose who are after acquirirng basic literacy skills. We also aim to develop functional literacy to the level of assisting adult learners to improve their standard of life.

The discussions are quite helpful as here and there we get ideas that will apply to our situation. Please keep up the discussions in various topics.

E. Huruba

Subject: [PD 4761] Adult Education
From: Erison Huruba
Date: Mon Jul 12 02:47:40 EDT 2010

I am Erison Huruba Director of Non-Formal Education in the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture in Zimbabwe. A literate community will definitely contribute to the quality of formal education, However, we still have to struggle against low priority that is given to Adult Education. We are working to build advocacy and appropriate governance structures.

I hope to benfit from the on-line discussions

Erison Huruba

Subject: [PD 4762] Re: Social Media Intros and Updates
From: Davis, Jennifer
Date: Mon Jul 12 07:59:08 EDT 2010

I am the Professional Development Specialist for the Southwest ABLE Resource Center in Ohio. We are one of four regional centers. Ohio is going into its second year on a technology initiative for practitioners. As part of our technology PD offerings, we work to raise the skills of our staff so they can in turn help their students. We have a wide range of needs across the state ~ from the techno-phobs to the techno-junkies. Meeting the various needs is a challenge. We are also working to convert many of our traditional trainings to Moodle. As a html newbie, this has been a learning curve for me!

Jenny Davis

Subject: [PD 4776] Re: Social Media Intros and Updates
From: Melinda Hefner
Date: Mon Jul 12 13:23:17 EDT 2010

I'm the director of literacy support services in the Basic Skills Department at my college. Included among my responsibilities is technology, developing, and teaching online courses to Adult High School Diploma students. I just finished a Master's program in Instructional Technology: New Media and Global Education and am extremely interested in the authentic integration of technology into instruction but have found it slow going among my peers for a variety of reasons.

During some recent professional development activities for community college and public school educators, I found a disconcerting attitude and lack of understanding about social media and its use as an instructional tool so I'm particularly interested in how to educate, breakdown barriers, facilitate use of technology, etc. for instructors and staff.

Melinda

Melinda M. Hefner
Director, Literacy Support Services

Basic Skills Department
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
Hudson, North Carolina

Subject: [PD 4779] Re: Intros and Updates
From: Dawn Snyder
Date: Mon Jul 12 14:24:55 EDT 2010

My name is Dawn Snyder and I am a co-coordinator for a professional development center in the central/northeast region of PA. I work with Mary Mingle who is also on this discussion list. As Mary mentioned, our region is very large and I believe that technology can help us deliver effective professional development to all within our region, saving on travel costs for everyone in this very tight economy. I also believe that many of the adult education students do themselves a disservice by fearing, and therefore not learning technology. If we are able to learn new technologies and use them in the classroom, I truly believe that it will open many doors for our students as well as ourselves as educators.

Dawn

Dawn M. Snyder
Central Northeast Professional Development Center

CIU # 10 Development Center for Adults
Central Northeast PDC
Lock Haven, PA

Subject: [PD 4786] Introduction - Social Media discussion list
From: Carolyn Cothran
Date: Mon Jul 12 17:22:54 EDT 2010

Hello All,

Sorry to arrive late. My internet access was down. I am a retired elementary librarian, recently retired Literacy Program Coordinator, current Literacy Volunteer tutor, staff, and sometime tutor trainer.

We have recently been experimenting with a blog and a Facebook page as a resource for sharing info with tutors. Our tutors are encouraged to use online training opportunities through VALRC-the Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center, and Verizon's Thinkfinity.

Though it doesn't fall quite into the social media category, I have used a simple tool that might also be helpful in sharing professional development online. As part of an online graduate course through the Univ. of Northern Iowa I collaborated with an online partner from North Dakota to build a webquest on the Lewis and Clark expedition designed for upper elementary students. Filamentality, http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/ provides an excellent, simple to use tool. "Filamentality is a fill-in-the-blank tool that guides you through picking a topic, searching the Internet, gathering good Internet links, and turning them into online learning activities. Support is built-in along the way through Mentality Tips. In the end, you'll create a web-based activity you can share with others even if you don't know anything about HTML or serving web pages.

I hope you have some excellent ideas to share.

Carolyn

Carolyn Cothran
"Reading is Knowledge. Knowledge is Power."
Volunteer
Literacy Volunteers-Campbell County Public Library
Rustburg, VA

Subject: [PD 4780] social media and technology
From: LHarlow
Date: Mon Jul 12 15:04:52 EDT 2010

Hi,

My name is Laura Harlow and I am presently studying Adult Literacy at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. I have been captivated by computers since the 80's, especially since PCs and the internet became so widespread.

My interest in this discussion group is to learn new online tools for teaching literacy (adults and children). I am also an avid proponent of online communities of learning and practice. Each of the resource links provided earlier just completely "blew me away". I saw tools that could completely change the delivery of education for everyone, especially the group we call Exceptional or LD.

I just finished an online graduate class where the class was extremely effective in coming together as a community of learning. It was an incredible experience. Not only did we teach each other and help each other learn but we shared as individuals. The process evolved into a very holistic experience for each of us. If I ever doubted that any form of social media could not only enhance education but also lives, I lost all doubts this semester.

This discussion group is going to be a great experience.

Laura Harlow

Subject: [PD 4789] Re: Social Media Intros and Updates
From: Alpha Computer Live
Date: Mon Jul 12 19:47:58 EDT 2010

Hi Melinda,

Your observations are interesting. I do see the disconnect with social media. But I do see it being embraced more and more these days. Soon it will be catch up time for many.

I love the level of cooperation and learning that can come from social media. This is here to stay.

Regards,

Jeff Brown

Subject: [PD 4852] Introduction
From: Green, Catherine
Date: Thu Jul 15 11:15:50 EDT 2010

Greetings, everyone!

I'm glad to participate in this discussion. I work on the California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project (for more information, visit the CALPRO Web site<http://www.calpro-online.org/>), a state Leadership Project of the California Dept. of Education, Adult Education Office.

I run CALPRO's online program of professional development for adult education instructors and administrators. My background is in teaching English to speakers of other languages, where I've focused primarily on teacher education and professional development (PD) since 1984, and for the past 12 years, using the Internet to deliver PD.

CALPRO's online program includes a range of PD options, such as asynchronous, facilitated and self-directed online courses (via Moodle), synchronous online workshops (via Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro), as well as electronic Communities of Practice, or e-CoPs (via Ning and pbworks).

Within our Ning site for adult educators of multilevel ESL classes, we also feature a weekly blog by subject-area experts, and supporting the e-CoP is our Virtual Workroom for Multilevel ESL Instructors<http://www.calpro-online.org/VirtualWorkroom/default.asp>. Open to one and all, the Virtual Workroom is housed on the CALPRO Web site and provides a wealth of research-based PD resources, including a new series of audio podcasts that address five central challenges of multilevel instruction.

I'm very interested in hearing from others who have experience in using various Web 2.0 tools, and social networking in particular, to provide PD to adult educators. I am pleased to see that Susan Gaer, Melinda Holt, and Marian Thacher, are among the featured speakers in this NIFL national electronic discussion. All three have informed my work at CALPRO, and I'm glad that others around the country will likewise be able to tap into their expertise!


Catherine Green
Research Analyst, CALPRO
American Institutes for Research
Sacramento, CA

Subject: [PD 4891] Social Media Intros and Updates
From: Shrestha, Pamela
Date: Fri Jul 16 13:39:00 EDT 2010

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the emails on the topic. Would this technology be at all useful for adults who have a variety of disabilities? I would like to know what anyone has experimented with.

Pamela L. Shrestha
Educational Consultant-Adult Education
Division of Career and Adult Education
Florida Department of Education

Subject: [PD 4920] 3 questions: how? login? & free?
From: Mev Miller
Date: Wed Jul 21 11:02:17 EDT 2010

THANKS everyone for your marvelous posts. I couldn't focus until this week and spent all of yesterday reading from the beginning (yes - took all day!). What a wealth and treasure!

So - here are some of my questions -- and I've added my "intro" at the bottom.

1) HOW to choose -- it seems the only suggestion I've heard so far is "play around" and "personal preference" -- but I think it's more complicated than that. I understand that certain tools (blogs, wikis, photosharing, video) might have certain functions for certain types of teaching/learning objectives. But within certain tools, how does one know what's "under the hood"? & therefore what to choose? For example, I might know I need a 4-door sedan. I might prefer Audi but can only afford Ford but I might choose something else if it's midway between and has a better mechanical record.

Can people say WHY they chose to use certain tools specifically? What was the criteria that really made the difference? E.g. why Blogspot rather than Wordpress? Why Wikispaces rather than PBWorks? Some criteria might be whether I can take off the advertising & at what price. Whether or not I MUST have an account with Google (or something else) to have access. How intuitive or transparent or immediately useable is the program/app without having to spend a day taking the tutorial or reading the handbook? Will it work on multiple platforms (e.g., PC & Mac)? What are other criteria people have noticed or developed? The c4lpt top 100 tools provides only rudimentary info ( http://c4lpt.co.uk/recommended/)

2) One of the things slowing me down is that it seems for each app I must create an account, and have a login & password. If I'm asking students/teachers to use a certain tool (and in my case, perhaps asking them to use possibly upwards to 8-10 different tools) what does it mean for them -- and for all of us -- to manage this? Do I REALLY want to have that many accounts? "They" say that one should never use the same password. - mix them up - use different logins, etc. HOW can I possibly keep this all straight? It's OK if I ask Firefox (my browser of choice) to remember my passwords -- but this only works if I'm on my own computer. When I go somewhere else, I'm doomed! More importantly, though, if I'm creating a website for my organization & I want to use a blog for this and a wiki for that and a Wiggio for something else and share some photos and ask folks to visit us on Facebook and follow our tweets and get people on my mailing list etc etc etc -- how many accounts can I reasonably ask people to join if they want to interact with us in a meaningful way? (seriously - I know I have chosen NOt to join somethings just because I can't bear to have another login!) Has anyone discovered a good solution for this? Has anyone found a good streaming technique?

Maybe using the "google suite" of options MIGHT solve this -- but I have personally found Google Docs or even yahoo groups to really be unmanageable for most.


3) Is Free really free? - (actually - this is more rhetorical rather than needing response ;) -- to whom - e.g. "free" tele/video/web-conferenceing? For example, Skype is free but, from what I can tell, the caller/facilitator has to add all the individuals to the call (therefore know who all is coming). As far as I can tell, an individual can't log-in by themselves to join a group call or something already in progress. Other sites are "free" BUT they cost the individual callers (in cell minutes or in charges on a regular land line). It seems this causes some real accessibility concerns for folks with limited budgets. WE LEARN uses Ready Talk - it's toll free to our volunteers working on projects AND they can call in on their own time, even when already in progress BUT it does cost WE LEARN cents per caller per minute.

AND what about all the "visual noise" caused by advertising one needs to "keep" IF you still want to use an app for free?

I'm sure I have a ton of other questions - but these are the most pressing at the moment

Mev Miller
WE LEARN

www.litwomen.org/welearn
welearn at litwomen.org


My Introduction
I am the Director & Founder of WE LEARN (Women Expanding Literacy Education Action Resource Network) <a href>http://www.litwomen.org/welearn</a>

This year (for calendar 2010) I have received a Fellowship from the Rhode Island Foundation for research and development for the "next best thing" for our organization. To that end, I am currently doing extensive/intensive research on ALL the various interactive options. I will be working with our Board to develop a Connect-(Net)Working Plan to integrate the creative and interactive benefits of web-based (social networking & Web 2.0) and communications technologies to support and advance WE LEARN’s learning/teaching communities. These efforts will bring greater connectivity across the country (and internationally) for our constituents, and build stronger foundation for expanding our current projects.

For the past 3 years, we have had a volunteer establish section on the Women & Literacy part of the ALEWiki as a way to share happenings at our annual gathering (see <a href> http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Women_and_Literacy </a>). We have also used blogging as a way to share "real-time" conversations from the conference as well (for 2010, see http://welearnconference2010.blogspot.com/ ). Volunteers have worked to establish these sites and to do the actual blogging/uploading of materials. Other than viewing both the WE LEARN blog & wiki, I've had little time to actively participate with them.

So, I'm investigating all the ways the many social networking tools can be used effectively for WE LEARN -- not only for our conference - but for some other areas of our website and projects - especially to develop writing for Women's Perspectives and to add book reviews to our resource list. I've been encouraged to consider re-designing our complete website using blog software. Due to our complex needs, I'm NOT convinced this will work. However, I could see ways to integrate some blog spaces into various sections of the work we do & our website. I think a wikispace [or something like Ning or Wiggio] could help us with gathering curriculum resources or research on women & literacy or possibly for doing work internally among our project groups. I can see a lot of potential uses for social networking and various web 2.0 tools & communication technologies -- not only for creating reflective communities among our constituents (multiple audiences -- teachers AND students AND community members) -- but also for our own internal productivity. AND then there's all the non-profit management pieces as well (developing mailing list, collecting donations, registering people for events). You can see why I'm in a bit of a tangle!

Mev Miller

Retrieved from "http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Social_Media_Intros_and_Updates"