Back to blogging…
Yes, I’m back. I started blogging for a class I was teaching entitled “Web 2.0 Revolutions.” Then I just started relying on Facebook for my sharing of info, status updates, and connecting with friends. But I’m blogging again now.
It’s Feburary of 2009, and I have passed the point of being sick of North Dakota winters. But my schedule should be lightening up soon… more daylight means more time to get work done! And blogging….
Free Speech on College Campus Newspapers: Here we go again!
reposted from: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/06/18/newspaper
“INSIDE HIGHER ED: June 18
Criticism and an Offer of Help
Western Oregon University officials, who snooped through the files of a student newspaper in a night-time investigation, could use some training on the First Amendment, according to a journalism advocacy group.
In a letter sent to university officials late last week, the College Media Advisers Board of Directors condemned the university’s response to a student newspaper article published in September. The story revealed that sensitive information about student applicants, including their Social Security numbers and grade point averages, had been left unprotected from public view.
In response to the article, university officials rifled through the newsroom in search of a copy of the computer file containing the sensitive student information. The paper’s adviser also lost her job amid the furor, and a student was disciplined for copying the file and violating university policies designed to protect private information.
The board, which represents student newspaper advisers, denounced the university’s “lack of understanding of basic journalism principles and ethics.” But in detailing its dissatisfaction with the university’s actions, the board also offered help…”
P2P investigations are possibly frame-ups?
Are P2P investigations, such as YouTube or BitTorrent illegal downloading, completely on the up-and-up? According to Paitek, Kohno and Krishnamurthy at Washington: http://dmca.cs.washington.edu/
“Overview
As people increasingly rely on the Internet to deliver downloadable music, movies, and television, content producers are faced with the problem of increasing Internet piracy. To protect their content, copyright holders police the Internet, searching for unauthorized distribution of their work on websites like YouTube or peer-to-peer networks such as BitTorrent. When infringement is (allegedly) discovered, formal complaints are issued to network operators that may result in websites being taken down or home Internet connections being disabled.
Although the implications of being accused of copyright infringement are significant, very little is known about the methods used by enforcement agencies to detect it, particularly in P2P networks. We have conducted the first scientific, experimental study of monitoring and copyright enforcement on P2P networks and have made several discoveries which we find surprising….”
Teaching Ireland
I’ve just returned from the “field experience” with EF Tours of The Emerald Isle. This trip through Ireland and Northern Ireland was the end to the Honors class I taught this Spring entitled “Hon 391: Places You Should Go: Ireland.” I very much enjoyed the trip, but am completely exhausted and know I will need to take a few days to get my jet-lagged motherly bum back into normalcy…
my question for this blog, is “what’s next?” Another destination class? Or a repeat of this amazing experience, with 20 “new-to-the-class” students? Was my inexperience with the topic something that helped foster learning? Or is my new-found quasi-experience going to enhance the class for future participants? How to improve this? Change is inevitable, even as I sit back and absorb the sights and sounds of Ireland….
Teaching Web 2.0
In case you hadn’t heard, this past semester, I had the priviledge of “teaching” an Honors seminar entitled “Web Revolutions.” We covered blogs, wikis, collaboration, on-line communications and culture, as well as business approaches to Web 2.0. It was an interesting experience, and you can read the class blog at:
www.undhon392.wordpress.com
As I wrap up from it, I’m wondering what to take away from this experience? The class had mixed reactions on our informal evaluation day–their official evaluations of the class I won’t see for weeks. Too much time on this–not enough time on that. Use books; don’t use books. Hated I Tunes U Podcasts; loved them. Teach us the code; no, make this class accessible to non-computer inclined students. As I’m reflecting on this, this article gets published: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/05/09/blogs
And I’m wondering what other faculty teach this class (what department do they come from?), and the best way to teach critical thinking in the age of Wikipedia and YouTube. Any relevant suggestions or comments, including links to syllbi, would be most appreciated.
AmeriCoprs Vista Accepting Applications Until May 9th, 2008
Subject: Accepting Applications through May 9, 2008
Cultural Diversity Resources is now accepting applications for an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer position: Community Coordinator, through May 9, 2008 with interviews being scheduled the week of May 12th.
This opportunity is perfect for recent college graduates interested in diversity or global studies.
vista2008flyer
FMI: Donna Wood, Office Manager, Cultural Diversity Resources
303 Roberts St N., Fargo, ND 58102
Wikis for Scholars
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/04/28/wiki
April 28
Making Wikis Work for Scholars
“Even if they won’t admit it, students are using Wikipedia to kick off their research and fill the gaps in their class notes … right now. It might not show up in the bibliography, but the free, open source online resource has long since become the starting point for settling factual disputes, brainstorming paper ideas and even offering suggestions for further reading….If that’s an open secret, then so is this: For all the hand-wringing over whether Wikipedia is a legitimate source for completing college assignments, some professors are quietly incorporating it into their classrooms and even their research. Others, noting features of the Web site that contribute to inaccuracies and shortchange the value of expertise, are building variations on the model that are more amenable to academics and to peer review…”
Your challenge: Get a CLUE!
posted here for the HON 392 Web Revolutions class: Today is “Show and Tell” Day, but it’s my turn again…Today is the “Day of Silence” for support for the GLBTQ community and allies.
With that in mind, and to allow for full participation of all our class members, we are going to try an experiment. MY SHOW N TELL IS THIS EXPERIMENT. From this moment on, there will be silence in the room (*with the exception of any guests, and of course, you don’t have to ask to go to the bathroom; you’re grown-ups now!)
We are testing an experiment: can this group, an established working group, one with previous relationships between its members, collaborate completely on-line (or virtually) to come up with the “answer” to a given problem? There is ONE BEST answer to this project, unlike the “real world” in business, in journalism, or even in medicine or aviation. I do not have a prediction or hypothesis either way, if the class will achieve its goal. But it will be interesting to observe the process, and I will be walking around the building to see your progress. Here are the rules:
1. No face-to-face communication of any kind-talking, passing paper notes, sign language, charades, wipe board, etc.
2. There is one best solution; your goal as a team is to find that solution.
3. Each person is to participate fully, and each person will be given critical information that must be shared to find/derive the best answer. You cannot show anyone the contents of your envelope, although you are free to communicate what the contents are.
4. The game is based on a version of the (once) popular Board Game clue (the original). The group must determine who committed the crime, with what weapon, and where. Also one of your classmates is the victim: who was murdered? Hint if s/he is dead, s/he won’t be able to communicate.
5. You are allowed to leave the room at any point, but there can never be more than four people in any room in this building (or any other) at any time between the start of the game and the end time…
6. THE END TIME. We meet back in this classroom (4B) at exactly 11:35am to debrief and process how the team worked.
7. If you have questions at any point before 11:35am, you may text me at 701-739-XXXX and I will answer text messages only (again, with the exception of the guests-and don’t get them to ask on your behalf). If you do not wish to speak in class after 11:35am, you may text me a message that I can read to the group on your behalf.
Let the game begin! No cheating.
AIM Acronym Website
http://www.aim.com/acronyms.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001024
BTW, IMHO my new favorite is BTDTGTTSAWIO (Been there, done that, got the t-shirt and wore it out) but BYKT.
Roger Ebert: back to publishing
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/870571,ebert040108.article#
One of my heroes, and an active University of Illinois alumni, is returning to film criticism. If you don’t know me well, you don’t know the affection I have for this man and his work. I’m glad to hear he’s recovering from surgery, although his voice isn’t restored enough to return to television:
