This week I need to integrate a large dose of honesty... I love technology, but there are so many wonderful tools, who has the time? The time to thoroughly investigate, integrate, and efficiently use them? As I look at my Mind Map I think of all of the other great tools that I haven't included, like MSOutlook (how did I ever manage anything before?), Jing (the best free tool I've found yet), what about the email groups I belong to (thanks to Magnapubs for keeping me updated on all the latest buzz and research in higher/online/distance education), of course Twitter (pointing me to great resources and news updates) and Zotero (keeping me organized where I work). Also, iGoogle to organize my RSS feeds and SlideShare for updates in my area of interest. I barely have time to post substantive threads to our classroom discussion board, let alone maintain all these relationships. I'd love to use this week to have others share how they manage their numerous relationships.In response to this week's questions, how does this connectivity change how I learn? I'm in a constant state of learning, constantly absorbing, acquiring, and applying new information. I cannot say how this has changed as I grew up in the middle of this technology boom and have incorporated new tools as they've become available and as I've have an interest and time. I love my networks, but how do you effectively use them? How do you avoid getting lost? I've accomplished this by having specific goals when I access these resources. If I can stay focused, I can emerge with the information I need and time left to accomplish my task. When I have a question I access the appropriate tool, but at some point I worry that I won't be able to manage it all and won't know where to go. While searching Google or another search engine may get you started, library resources will serve you better in obtaining scholarly information, but once again it's easy to get lost in the databases without a clear objective. At this time, I use library and above noted networks to glean the information I need, but at some point I worry that it may all become too much to manage. How do you do it?
Resources
delicious.com
diigo.com
facebook.com
jingproject.com
igoogle.com
linkedin.com
lists.asu.edu
magnapubs.com
slideshare.net
sloan-c.org
twitter.com
wave.google.com
zotero.org
Your points are all valid. It is amazing the amount of data that is out there for anyone to absorb. The advancements in technology have given many of us opportunities that in the past did not seem possible. I do not know that I would currently be pursuing a PhD if it were not for Walden and other online Universities.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it is hard to pick one particular technology that assists us in our endeavors. Some of the sites and technologies you use, I have not come across, yet. Matter of fact, thank you for providing the sites that you have. Those that I have not visited to date are going on my list of resources to research for future events.