On your marks, get set...go!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55084317@N08/6909744081

 #edcmooc. I sat down at 6.15am this morning to just have a quick look at the edcmooc, one hour later I'm thinking crikey I better get ready for work. Its so easy to drown in the sea of information, to feel that you have to be the first person to watch all the videos and write a literary masterpiece everytime. I'm thankful for reminding myself that this isn't a race, I want to enjoy this online experience. So with a big deep breath I focus my thoughts on what will be my strategy for this course. I've read several blog entries that give top tips of how to get through a MOOC, my favourite tip which I think is essential is to choose your social networks and stick with them. So for me that is going to be Google+, blog and the discussion forums on edcmooc.

Week 1 is about Looking to the past  , in particular at the themes of Utopia and Dystopia. I'll write more about this later once I've had a chance to watch the videos and core reading.

Twas the night before....

Trying to get everything else around me "organised" so I will have time tomorrow after work to start this MOOC with the best intentions. Hopefully by the end of the first week I'll know exactly what is expected of me so I can plan my study time.

I'm liking Google+ so I'll probably continue using that throughout the course to stay connected to my fellow learners. Trying to read a wide selection of blogs when I can and using ScoopIT to collate information that might be useful at a later stage.

Watched Ary's Sliderocket presentation  which summed up our pre-course EdcMOOC experience so far and how quickly people can make connections through digital technology. When we make these connections and begin to feel part of a community the world somehow feels smaller but in the best possible way.

Good luck everyone!

PADLS

Very quick post, so quick I should have used Twitter:-) Will be offline for a few days need to finish some Digital Literacy slides for a couple of classes (Forensic students) and get my mid-year Pathways form completed.

Most importantly right now I need to go get the dishes done and make pancakes for my kids.

Tweet Tweet oh!

Of all the online accounts I've created recently for the EDCMooc course I'm finding I use Twitter the least. I'm still at the stage of thinking what's all the fuss about. Used correctly it's perhaps a useful tool as highlighted in Mark Scrimshire's Slideshare presentation but is it more than just gossip? Admittedly there is good gossip and bad gossip and my yoga training most certainly makes me steer away from the bad and the completely pointless gossip favoured by "celebrities".

What Is It About Twitter? from Mark Scrimshire

An interesting article from the Guardian.
How Twitter will revolutionise academic research and teaching

In true twitter style @mumtech2012 is cooking dinner for @neverhurryamurray and running a bath for @cameronimacaroni!

Pre-Course Classroom

There has been a tremendous amount of pre-course activity which sometimes has been difficult to keep track of so I wanted to have the link to the classroom Chris Swift et al created on my blog for quick reference. A great idea, loved the level of organisation:-)


Pre-EDCMooc Course Classroom

Fact and Fiction Online

Watched with interest Mark Nolan's TED How to Separate Fact and Fiction Online , found it very interesting what he had to say about the tools that are available now to track down the source literally anywhere in the world. Sometimes you have to take stock of the technology we now have in the world, it truly is amazing. To think when I was growing up having a remote control that saved you getting up from the sofa was THE gadget to have. Of course it also brought the saying "who's hidden the remote" into our vocabulary.

I was interested in the the twitter tool that Mark showed so I searched for the person he mentioned, here is the link for those who are interested;  Andre Pannison homepage and the tool mentioned in Mark's talk Truthy

Coursera Tips

Thanks to Laura Cushing for this informative posting
http://blog.coursera.org/post/39052417343/getting-the-most-out-of-your-coursera-experience

I do wonder at this stage just how I'll manage to fit the necessary studying in for this course alongside work, family and other commitments. I've combined all three before so I'm sure it'll be fine.

Came across this  on slideshare, good selection of tools for different purposes. Enjoy!

 

Reflection on My Digital Pedagogy from S. Hendy

Circles, Hashtags, Communities ....

Phew,

I think I now have all the relevant accounts, added my accounts to the various documents on Facebook. Still getting my head round circles in Google+, not convinced I'm hashtagging but I seem to have managed how to get onto various communities.

I need to remember this feeling so that when I come to use these tools in the future in a class environment I remember what it was like to come from a "clueless" place. I also need to keep track of all these accounts I have both personal and professional.

Thankfully I know in time this will become second nature.

About Me

Hi everyone,

Where does a non-blogger start when asked to introduce herself?

Work
I've worked in IT for the past 16yrs, in various roles from helpdesk, pc support, server admin, training and for the past year and a bit as a Learning Technology Officer (someone in HR must have been in the army!). I've finally found a role that challenges me and makes the most of my creative streak. Prior to IT I had an Arts degree background so there was a time when IT was completely alien, oh how times have changed. I do love my gadgets and smart/useful software that makes life easier (e.g evernotes).

I'm particularly interested in digital storytelling, digital literacy, mobile learning amongst other areas.

Life
With two boys 10yrs and 7yrs, husband and rescue greyhound life is pretty busy. My day seems to start at 6am and doesn't finish until close to midnight but I get what needs done without getting too grumpy. We like to travel when we can albeit round the school holidays, love exploring new places.

Play
When I do drag myself away from my laptop I love to visit museums and historic buildings with the family. Dog walking features quite high on the list as its great to get out in the fresh Scottish air. From time to time I paint some pictures and encourage my boys to paint too.

Better late than never

Hi everyone,

Finally getting round creating all the relevant accounts for the course. I'm not a blogger but I do like to read other people's blogs. Will write more when time permits.

By the way I'm based in Fife, Scotland.

Alison