Blogger
I knew people had blogs, but never dreamed it was so very easy to create and maintain one. I have to admit that I have not yet wrapped my head around posting so much of my personal philosophy, yet lately I have considered using my blog to advocate for children.
The charter school on our campus is experiencing unbelievable chaos. On Tuesday evening, four cars of police were called to the school to protect the principal. This principal is facing unprecedented opposition from parents and teachers, while at the same time attempting to renew the school's charter. It is a war of wills that fails to consider the element at the heart of the debate, the children.
My blog could be a vehicle for the children's interest. I am an advocate at heart for causes of fairness and equity and my blog is mine, uncensored and honest!
Twitter
Took some getting use to, but it is addicting. I wasn't using it in the beginning because I initially created my Tweet Deck in Internet Explorer and it was not working properly. It took me weeks to realize that the correct Tweet Deck was the one I created in Google Chrome. Once I did, it was ON! I like it. Sometimes I don't tweet but I check it just because. I am flattered when people I don't know re-tweet something I sent out. There was a lot of interest in the document I sent about Black Sororities (of which I am a member) and Fraternities that clearly states we no longer pledge or haze members. Those activities are done with underground pledge lines of which the local graduate chapters and national organization's are unaware. Zeta Phi Beta's national president (my sorority) just sent an email that they are now listing the individual names and chapter schools where hazing and pledging have occurred. The national website will also list the disciplinary actions taken against those members. Hey, I'll tweet that soon.
Twitter is a one-stop shop for vast communities of topics. If you can think of it, it probably exists on Twitter. My kids use Facebook but I've been talking about Twitter so much lately that they have a peaked interest, particularly since I mentioned the HBCU's community. They all attended HBCU's. So I guess I am converting new African American users.
Diigo
Very recently I've bookmarked websites and people of interest to my dissertation topic. As I reread some of my articles, I will use the features to help me track themes of relevant ideas that previously had me searching through mounds to papers to relocate. That, as many of you may know, is time consuming and frustrating. This tool allows me the ability to organize my work and access it with ease. It may eventually be my best friend in my dissertation journey. I am the typical absent-minded Aquarius.
Tweet Deck
Love it. Once I found my setup in Google Chrome (with help from my friend Abigail) it was easy to add communities of interest to me. Now, I still am not able to appreciate the Chats because of the limited responses and more likely because I just haven't found a chat or topic that really interests me. But don't give up on me Jeff. I'm sure there is something of value out there for me.I appreciate how easily it allows you to organize your communities of interest at your fingertips.
YouTube
I enjoy YouTube and have frequently viewed it prior to this class. I have young adults at home who share interesting videos with me. It has enormous benefit to me because I can many times view lectures or comments recorded by seminal authors in my field of interest. One can reach out and touch training videos, or motivational speakers almost anything you need in real time. I remember using an APA formatting video on YouTube when the manual was confusing.
i-Google
Set it up but haven't had any real use for it.
G-mail Account
Previously had a G-mail account. Excellent tool to post document and share for class, especially when face to face meetings are not convenient. We prepared and edited an entire class presentation once. It was fabulous.
Thanks for the memories
