ConverStations

Getting My Wave Suit On

I haven't used Google Wave yet, but here's the movie (it's a long one):

I watched this shorter, but a bit techie, Live Collaborative editing video first. Here's my quick take (though I've only had a sniff of Wave, not even yet a taste):

• Transformative, real-time collaboration. That's what Google is teaching the computers to do (note to my educamatorpologist pals: if Google is banking on and teaching "transformative" "collaboration" with it's valuable assets, shouldn't we do likewise?
• Channels for the noise. So many channels of communication. We need a Tivo-type social media channel guide to surf with. Could it be the Wave?
• Power in Collective Smarts: Google Wave provides a framework for collaboration, and the collective and collaborative genius called the community (that's us) can build and improve upon that.

I'm looking forward to more.

That's My Take. What's Yours? Comment Here.

Do You Have an Index Page on the Web?

I really dig what Rob Jensen has done in creating his own "index" page:

Anyone else doing something like this?

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Cover-It LIVE - Angela Maiers at Omaha Public Schools

We're trying a new tool (for me), using Cover-It Live for Angela Maiers' presentation to Omaha Public Schools Principals.  We'll add the slideshow a bit later.  We're also publishing this on Angela's site:

That's My Take. What's Yours? Comment Here.

Lunch n Learn with SlideShare Widgets

I post quite a few of my favorite slideshows shared on Slideshare. I'll periodically go through the featured presentations and favorite a few that resonate.

I've just added a widget on my sidebar so you can see when I've added a new favorite, but I also noticed Slideshare offers a presentation package so you can show either your presentations or your favorites. Here are my favorites:

| Get your Presentation Pack

Anyone know of something I can use similarly for favorite videos? VodPod or ffwd maybe?

That's My Take. What's Yours? Comment Here.

My Online Magazine Rack: MyAlltop.com

I've been watching and using Alltop.com in some fashion since it's release, I really didn't become a huge fan until just recently with the release of MyAlltop.com

I've just begun putting my feeds together at http://my.alltop.com/mikesansone

I'm hoping that I can soon organize them in a different way and maybe even grab the OPML or RSS for my individual section. this procedural how-to get started post on MyAlltop (Update: Manage button top right, sort any way I want.  Nice!).

Oh, and if you're looking for ConverStations - you'll find us in either Alltop's Social Media or Blogging sections

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Using a Wiki in Your Classroom or Training

When Angela Maiers and I put a wiki into play at a school or business, we most often suggest PBWiki as the tool to use. 

We've put PBWiki to work in several areas:

• Professional Development
• Document Repository
• Reading and Writing Projects and Assessment Tool
• Collaborative Project Management
• Distance Learning

I've included a couple of videos on the "why" and "how" to use PBWiki.

How Do You Use PBWiki?

PBWiki - Helping Educators Educate

PBWiki Tutorial

If you're interested in setting up a wiki for your classroom (or all you classrooms), let me know. Together, we'll put something together.

That's My Take. What's Yours? Comment Here.

Times, They are Changing. So are the Tools -- Free

It's been an amazingly busy week. But that's fine with me.

I didn't see the episode of 24 on television this week. Of course, the same will hold true next week.  I've cancelled my cable.  I now watch what I want, when I want on services like Hulu. Free

I wasn't able to watch any of the selections on Sunday. But I caught up with my morning issue of the most in-depth daily sports news emailed to me - the Sporting News Today. Free

Every once in awhile, I get a song stuck in my brain. I can listen to that song anytime, anywhere with Blip.fm. Free.

This morning, two colleagues had a meeting scheduled. I saw one was running late and offered to help by calling him. He let me know that he took care of it by sending a Twitter message to his appointment pal.  Free.

Geogrpahy no longer matters.

This past weekend, I met Peter Pappas at the ASCD conference. I've never seen anyone work a room like Peter. Funny thing though, neither of us were in Florida at the conference. There were so many others I met virtually at the conference.  In fact, I was able to see every keynote session, including one with Sir Ken Robinson triggering some alarms with his message. I did all of this...yep....Free.

I'm about to launch a complete social media course for business and educational leaders. My students will be able to see me model the use of tools, we'll see PowerPoint presentations, surf the web, and use a whiteboard. I'll be using DimDim. Free.

When I do one-on-one coaching, I watch my students take "the wheel" and guide them. We use CrossLoop. so I can watch what they do. Free.

Sometimes, folks who don't get it (either in understanding or practice) ask me how these companies make money. I'm sure it's either for freemium reasons or to gain a critical mass of community (a very real currency on the web).

Of course, I do have to pay for my internet connection -- and I use a Sprint EVDO card for all of it (I noticed Jack Bauer did in 24 this week, too).  Anytime, Anywhere.

The times (and tools) are changing.  And I'm loving the change. 

Photo on Flickr by antwerpenR via compfight (Free)

That's My Take. What's Yours? Comment Here.

Using HootSuite's Hootlet to Save Time and Spread Wealth

I've been a big fan of HootSuite (formerly BrightKit) for some time, and for the busy people I coach, I always equip them with this tool. Now, I'm following up with the suggestion of using the Hootlet bookmarklet that always sits on your browser to help you save time.

By using the Hootlet, you can immediately schedule a tweet while viewing the web page you're viewing, shorten the URL, and even track the clickthroughs.

Just go to the HootSuite site, look in the bottom right corner of the page, and you will find the picture of an owl that you can simply drag to your browser toolbar (you can also do it with the image you see here).

They've provided a quick Hootlet instructional video you can follow.

The only thing I suggest in using the Hootlet is sharing resources you find in your feed reader, and possibly some ReTweets of stellar posts from those you follow on Twitter. You can do this using the Skim, Scan, Save, and Share practice I've offered earlier.

Because the Hootlet immediately truncates the URL (similar to tinyurl), you can also do this for immediate tweets.

Either way, HootSuite's Hootlet is a time-saver!

That's My Take. What's Yours? Comment Here.

Sixth Sense: One Reason Every Student Will have a Cell Phone soon.

This is an amazing showcase of a tool I hope will soon be available. The possibilities of use (learning, traveling, shopping, real-time research) are endless really.

Watch the TED video on the Sixth Sense (I so want one!):

Yet another reason we must:

• Teach Digitally Literacy in classrooms and boardrooms
• Learn to use Google as a "find" engine rather than a "search" engine
• Be smarter infosumers, learning how to separate signal from noise
• Allow mobile devices in our schools
• Stop blocking Internet sites at school and work

My mind is racing, but what are some of the ways you'd immediately start using this kind of device? 

That's My Take. What's Yours? Comment Here.

On the Outside of Engagement, It's Noise

Toying around with StripGenerator

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