Christyinsdesign's Favorite Links on conversation from Diigo

Learning in the Webiverse: How Do You Grade a Conversation?

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:51:37 -0000

Principles for assessing online discussions and other conversations (blogs, chat, etc.) by coherence, awareness of audience, and diction. Writing for asynchronous discussion isn't the same as writing an essay, and the author argues that students who simply post essays to the discussion board should receive good grades.

Tags: conversation discussion e-learning highered assessment

Posted by: christyinsdesign

In the Wild « Web2.0 in High School

Wed, 14 May 2008 08:12:02 -0000

Observations from the beginning of a high school project with Ning, Animoto, and Flickr. Most of the insight is around how Ning facilitates conversations between students and lets the teacher join the discussion. Students are engaged with Ning; they are personalizing their spaces and giving each other constructive feedback.

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

The ability for teachers to understand and add value to the comment ‘back channel’ is a key skill for the ‘connected teacher’. Anyone can swap an writing pad for a blog, there is no value in that. The back channel is the conversation, and is the heartbeat of thought.

I can’t think of another way in which teachers can get such immediate access to the ‘thinking’ process that is playing out in front of them.

Tags: web2.0 k-12 education learningcommunity connection

Posted by: christyinsdesign

A List Apart: Articles: Community: From Little Things, Big Things Grow

Tue, 06 May 2008 17:19:24 -0000

One of the founders of Flickr writes about building online community. One of his big points is that if you create too many hard and fast rules, people are less creative and open to conversation. It's better to build community by providing spaces for people to negotiate the guidelines for themselves as much as possible.

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

The sculpture demonstrated a fascinating idea: given fewer rules, people actually behaved in more creative, co-operative, and collaborative (or competitive, as the case may be) ways.

Any time you construct specific rules of engagement, they are instantly open to interpretation and circumvention, and we want our members to negotiate their place with each other, not with The Authority.

Any community—online or off—must start slowly, and be nurtured. You cannot “just add community.” It simply must happen gradually. It must be cared for, and hosted; it takes time and people with great communication skills to set the tone and tend the conversation.

We also tried to create an egalitarian playing field. At a glance, visitors can’t differentiate a professional photographer with an enormous lens from an enthusiast just getting started in photography. There is no indication of “quality” apart from the content itself.

Participate in the community you’re trying to build. Add content, make contact, show yourself as a person and have fun.

Tags: community flickr conversation learnercontrol creativity

Posted by: christyinsdesign

How To Effectively Manage Your Comments on Other People’s Blogs | Mobile Technology in TAFE

Sat, 03 May 2008 23:09:55 -0000

Directions for setting up and using co.mments. Anyone who is having trouble with coComment should check this out as an alternative comment tracker.

Tags: blog conversation tools

Posted by: christyinsdesign

Dave’s Whiteboard » Blog Archive » Think and do?

Sat, 03 May 2008 19:51:26 -0000

Dave Ferguson explains at the end of this post his "three links out" idea. You read a post on one of your regular blogs, then click a link (1). From there, click another link (2). From that place, click a third link (3). This brings you outside your regular circle of reading so you're explosed to new people and ideas. Seems like a good lifelong learning technique.

Tags: blog conversation connection lifelonglearning

Posted by: christyinsdesign

I mean, really, where did we think all of this was going to go?

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 02:08:49 -0000

George Siemens further explores the idea of a world without courses in 3 areas: 1. Content
2. Conversations and Connections
3. Reputation and Accreditations
This would be a real revolution in learning and education, and it's intriguing to imagine the possibilities even if it is (as Siemens admits) very speculative.

Tags: connectivism conversation distributedlearning e-learning reputation

Posted by: christyinsdesign

The Bamboo Project Blog: Six Reasons People Aren't Commenting On Your Blog

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:57:35 -0000

If you're not getting comments on your blog, these might be some of the reasons. If you sound like a press release, infomercial, or know-it-all, people won't join the conversation. Create the right atmosphere, show people how to comment, and make it clear you want conversation, and you might get more comments.

Tags: blog conversation learningcommunity

Posted by: christyinsdesign