Blog #7

Ahhhh! Skype. Over the last 6 months we have had the opportunity to observe and have "conversations" with our youngest granddaughter. She lives with her mom in Washington state. We have only been with her once, but having skype we have been able to see her in "action!" She seems to recognize us.

Having been able to use this communication has been great. For older children and adults I see this as much more beneficial than for little children who don't understand why they see someone, but they can't touch them. It is frustrating for them. It also can be discouraging, because as a grandparent, I can only watch, but not hold nor love that beautiful granddaughter of mine.

As far as learning in the classroom - I think this would be great for distant learning. We are in an era where learning and training from different parts of the world are possible. The reception has a bit to be desired, but technology is improving each day. I give this technology a thumbs up!!!

Blog #6

The purpose of “fair use” is to preserve a balance of free expression. The legality of this doctrine has been refined several times since it was first introduced in 1790. Currently, the Copyright Act of 1976 states in regards to education (teaching):

“...the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords..., for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.

In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include —

(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;
(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.”

However, these four factors have caused some difficulty for educators. With that in mind, I will need to do further research as to what exactly are my rights.

WEBsite - Addendum

My website is complete. With lots of directions, I have been able to EMBED and SURVEY, as well as INSERT information in all the right places!

I invite you to explore the website - and please give me some feedback!

Just click on here - "Its All About the FACS" for a look at my creation!!!

Blog #5

Most of my experience of making a video is to trying to keep the cam recorder from shaking! Especially if what I am recording is funny - and then there is no hope of a steady body or hand!

But today, we have many more devices to make video recordings. My daughter bought a Flip camera - very cool - and the picture is very sharp. I think I will borrow it to do my instructional video for "Youtube."

I have some ideas marinating in my brain about this project. But haven't decided if I will present it as an instruction or record it as a student following the instructions.

WEBsite

Today, I learned how to create pages for my website. My website is in the making and not complete yet. I have some fun things planned, such as my "Random FACS," and "The FACS of Life" pages.

You can check it out here.

Blog #4

Last year I was part of a series of Social Networking lectures. Incredible as to the depth and width of today's cyber social system. If you have a message to share and you send it to ten friends, and they send it to ten friends each, and they send it to ten friends each - over 1000 "friends" have seen your message! The critical factor in this is - do you have something important to say?

As a result of my social networking experience I joined the 1000's in being a part of that social network craze. My Twitter account has over 20 followers and I follow a number of people. But I find that because I do not have internet access on my cell phone, I do not use, or view it often. And then there are those that just twitter too much - and they have nothing to say!

I redid my profile on my LinkedIn account, and actively link in to other individuals I know. I hope someday to use my "connections" to land an incredible job - or something like that!

Facebook keeps me linked in with my children, new friends and even old friends. That has been a fun site to reconnect with others.

But this past week I become a part of a Delicious new social bookmarking site. I am excited to start using this from home, so I can transfer all my "bookmarks" on the internet that I frequent often. This is good, because I am on numerous computers a day - that are not my own - and now I can access all those fun places I life to frequent. It is almost like the local bar - to get my internet fix!!!