I know that Facebook may seem like old news, but I have been discussing ways to incorporate 2.0 into the classroom, so I decided to blog about it anyways. For those of you more hesitant users, Mashable has a great Facebook Guidebook.

One underused way for librarians to use Facebook with students:

Facebook Literature Circles (FLC) are book discussion groups that take place on Facebook. I would suggest doing this with a smaller group of students such as an after-school book club, as opposed to a large group, in order to ensure a focused discussion. The plus of using Facebook, is that in many cases, students already have FB accounts, eliminating the whole “creating an account” part of the process.

How-to in 5 easy steps:

1. If you haven’t done so already, create a Facebook account to be used for your library (i.e. Middle School Library). You shouldn’t use your personal account for the obvious reasons that you will be interacting with students.

2. Create a Facebook page specifically for this discussion group (i.e. Book Club). Make sure that you are the “Admin” so that you are able to monitor content as necessary. Make sure to click the “closed” group option, so that only members can view content and participate in discussion. Invite your students to join the group.

3. Together, with the group of students, fill our the “Info” section. This can be a good activity to get the group involved right off the bat. Ask questions such as, “What is our book club’s purpose?” Student answers should provide sufficient information to fill out the “Info” section.

4. Choose a book and meet twice a month, say the first and third week, rather than each week, to discuss it. Meeting 2 times per month instead of 3-4 gives students adequate time for reading the book. This may also provide more students with the opportunity to join the club as there is less of an after-school time commitment.

5. For each book, post some discussion topics/questions on the discussion board (i.e. Thoughts on Chapter #1) Be sure to actively participate in discussion. Close each monthly discussion with a question such as, would you recommend this book to your peers? Why, or why not?

[?] I wonder what would happen if a book club gave students the option to participate solely on Facebook, or to come to the twice-a-month meetings. Would any students still come to the meetings? At the high school where I did my fieldwork, students loved coming to the book club meetings.  The before-school meetings provided them with an opportunity to informally discuss literature and to just simply hang with their friends. I would be interested to see what would happen given they had the option. On a different note, strictly online book clubs have the potential to draw a completely different, and possibly massive crowed. I’ll be the first to admit that if my high school librarian had offered a Facebook book club, I would have been all for it. I was not, however, in the after-school book club. Was there an after-school book club?…

For months, tech followers and Google lovers alike have been anticipating the launch of Google Wave. It is expected to completely revolutionize the way people communicate on the internet, once it hits the general public. It has been about a month since Google Wave rolled out its invitations to the first 100,000 users, and the hype is still building as those original users gain the ability to invite others to the club. There are threads, forums, and websites entirely devoted to obtaining that precious invite. But for what? What’s the big deal? For that matter, what does Google Wave even do? If you use the internet chances are you have used a Google product at least once. Whether you think Google provides great useful products, for often little or no cost to the user, or you believe Google has a sinister plot to obtain all your personal information, you cannot deny that Google as a company is taking to world by storm. The development of the Wave is just another example of Google’s ability to see a need and fill it with an innovative, cost effective solution.

What is Google Wave?

Google Wave is an attempt to make electronic collaboration more efficient. It strives to end the relentless copies of information that are created when people try to use email as an electronic collaboration tool. It places all information in one conversation where everyone involved can edit, comment, or add to that conversation at any point.

Definition of Terms

Wave: refers to a Wave client such as Google Wave. Much in the same way Email describes all Email regardless of whether the user uses Windows Live, Google Mail, Yahoo Mail etc.

wave: refers to a threaded conversation that has one or more users. In short in entirety of one full conversation is a wave.

Wavelet: Refers to each individual conversation within the larger context. Think of this like a sub-conversation.

Blip: Each individual contribution to the conversation. A new blip in created whenever a new person contributes at a new time.

Strengths

Google Wave really does accomplish what it strives to. It is a powerful collaboration tool. It allows people to connect and really be a part of a conversation as opposed to a passive bystander to a slew of emails that only contain a sentence or so of new information. It keeps all information in place and allows users to edit that information into a natural flow right in the wave thus making it easier to see the bigger picture of a conversation instead of little pieces.

One of Google Wave’s main strengths thus far is the ability to toss any kind of media or file into the conversation either to illustrate a point, as source material or simply as a catch all for reference material for a specific project. Users can insert a video or specific information and its there forever for others to comment on or assess at will, instead of downloading attachments and then worrying about losing those files. Another strength is the way in which Google Wave allows users to interact with the conversation. Many times people collaborate and plan projects on their own and ten must let others in on their planning. With Google Wave it is possible to add a user to a conversation at any point. That user can then replay the conversation from start to finish, giving them the ability to not only see the information, but also the process which produced that information.

Weaknesses

A major weakness in the execution of Google Wave is definitely the differences in terminology it introduces. Google Wave presents itself initially to a user in a form that resembles Email so closely that it makes transitioning into using the specific features difficult at times. Those who have not used the product often have trouble deciding what Google Wave really is. In reality it functions like Email that has had an instant messenger built right in. While this is what makes it useful it is also the reason why users who rely heavily on instant messenger clients can ignore it for small scale project planning.

There is definitely a learning curve. To learn Google Wave you’ve got to use it. Many internet gurus have tried to fill this gap by creating forums, Twitter accounts, even waves about just how to use Google Wave. Gina Trapani and Adam Pash, Editor and Chief and Editor, of Lifehacker.com have even written the book The Complete Guide to Google Wave which is available to buy in PDF form or free to access at http://completewaveguide.com/. While resources are available the inability to conceptualize the technology will turn many users off unless they have a specific use for it. As it stands now, despite its power, Google Wave is fairly easy to ignore. A user can effectively use services like, ironically, Google Documents, an online office suite that allows users to share their word processing, spreadsheet and presentation documents as well as allow others to edit them, to collaborate in the same manner without the added difficulty of learning all new jargon.

Ease of Use

The new terminology Google Wave presents may be enough of a challenge to average computer users that they will continue to use their established means of online collaboration. As far as the actual service itself, it functions enough like email that if people see the need for it they’ll be able to figure out how to use the client in a couple sessions using it.

User Interface

Google uses a very similar User Interface setup as programs like Microsoft Outlook and its own web Email client Gmail.

Cost

It’s really hard to be free.

The response within the tech circles has been overwhelming for Google. Everyone is trying to obtain an invite, thus creating a traffic jam as Google tries to develop the service to a point where it can handle more and more users. People are really excited about the project and other companies are seizing the opportunity to jump on the bandwagon. Mozilla recently released information on Project Raindrop which has a similar goal of highlighting important web information and eliminating some of the unnecessary clutter electronic communication naturally creates. For now though, it seems that if given the opportunity everyday users would benefit more from sticking with their current strategies. In the Web 2.0 world, it can be difficult to manage all the different online identities that an individual person creates due to the sheer volume of new social media products out there that target specific interest groups, and for now having a username@googlewave.com just seems like another online identity a user has to manage.

Video announcement: by Steve Ballmer (CEO Microsoft Corp)  http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/infrastructure/VideoGallery.aspx

Broadcast your story online with Microsoft PowerPoint 2010.  Here’s another extract from Microsoft’s “Getting Started” articles.

Don’t just present. Broadcast. Leading a PowerPoint 2010 presentation remotely is easy with Broadcast Slide Show:     1. On the Slide Show tab, in the Start Slide Show group, click Broadcast Slide Show.       2. In the Broadcast Slide Show dialog box, click Start Broadcast. 3. Send the provided URL to attendees by clicking Send in E-mail or by copying and pasting the link. 4. Click Start Slide Show to begin your broadcast.

Access and edit documents virtually anywhere with Microsoft Office Web Apps.

It takes just a few clicks to store and share your slide show online:

1. Click on the File tab in the upper left-hand corner to open Microsoft Office Backstage™ view. 2. Click Share. 3. Click Save to SkyDrive. 4. If you don’t yet have a Windows Live account, click the Sign Up link. Otherwise, click Sign In and sign in to your Windows Live account.

Once you’ve saved to the SkyDrive, you will be able to edit these documents using Office Web Apps

By Beth J. Bates, New Media Special Correspondent

If you are one of the coveted few who received Google Wave invitations and you still don’t get it – you’re not alone. I recently received my invitation and gleefully logged in, ready to roll. Once I logged in I thought… huh? On first glance, Google Wave looks like a new type of email client. But it’s much more.

Google Wave provides a collaborative environment where teams can collaborate on documents in real-time. More important, they can collaborate on the same version of the document without the worry of multiple versions floating around via email.

Google Wave is most effective when you have several connections that can contribute to your wave. So, if you are part of the small beta group of testers, you may not have other connections to collaborate on your wave.

Confused yet?

In a nutshell, Google Wave is a real-time collaborative tool that:

• In most instances, enables you to see what someone else is typing in real-time.
• Enables developers to build apps and widgets, so its functionality is pretty extensible.
• Can be embedded on any blog or website.
• Allows files to be shared via drag and drop.

While we all muddle through this new tool, we need to understand that Wave wasn’t meant to be understood instantly. Expect to take some time to familiarize yourself with the tool, its use and others that you might connect with.

The good news? There are many professionals paving the way to help us better understand Google Wave:

• Google Wave (Not) For Dummies
• The Complete Guide to Google Wave
• Trying to Understand Google Wave

Is Google Wave going to transform your business? Not in the short term. But it’s a tool with enough potential that it could change the way groups collaborate in the future. For this reason, it’s worth investigating sooner than later.

Beth J. Bates consults with Hinge on social media tool selection and strategy and helps its clients find effective ways to leverage these new mediums to meet business goals.

Virtual worlds are starting to break real ground on the educational / e-learning scene but some of the costs associated with 2nd Life have made it a little prohibitive – OpenSim is the answer with FREE virtual world capability.

There are a few things that I love about the concept of OpenSim – Firstly, it’s free which is always great when you’ve got concerns about price or financial controllers breathing down your neck about expenses.  Secondly, you can exercise a lot more control (for free) by creating your own, self-served simulated world on your hosted server or even run it on a single machine.

A lot of educators have been scared off by the price of starting up on 2nd Life, as well as the risks involved.  Of course, there are costs associated with setting up your own simulation environment (ICT staff, training, customisation if you require purpose built objects and places) – but you don’t have to pay for an island or intangible realestate.

Check out the OpenSim website to learn more!

But how do I use it in my classroom? Here are just a couple of ideas…

• Create educational scenarios (and act them out with virtual avatars)
• Use for vocational training (VET) to simulate the real world – eg gyms, hospitals, hotels, court rooms…
• Use it as an online collaborative space for delivery and discussion
• Pair a simulated scenario with camtasia for a truly unique assessment experience

How do I get started?

You will most likely need to chat with the techies for this one, but if you’re brave or savvy the OpenSim website provides a number of links to YouTube tutes that will get you started.

Got more ideas?  Used virtual environments for education before?
Post your comments!

One of my favourite things is available via the web!  Inspiration mind mapping software (makers of Kidspiration for those who are familiar with the k-12 product) has released a beta version of Inspiration for the web – Webspiration

Fans of the PC/MAC install version will love this new cloud software.  With the capability to collaboratively mind map ideas, processes and charts, this tool provides an invaluable tool for educators and businesses. Mind mapping provides a brainstorming approach to organising concepts, ideas and information into related groupings, generally around a key central idea.

Being from a business background, I love the potential for this tool in online collaborative process re-engineering.

But how do I use it in my classroom? Here are just a couple of ideas…

• Incorporate it into assessments centred around process review and improvement to collaborate, discuss and work on a live version of your document
• Use it online to brainstorm, create ideas, flows, structure assessments
• Use it to collaborate and map out key issues by research and literature reviews

How do I get started?

• Create an account
• link out from your LMS or web page and provide the details to your students so that they can share the experience

Got more ideas?  Post your comments!

Summary in my own terms : Google Wave is an online collaboration media. Actually, its like a conference chat application, the only difference is that “chats” are now called “waves” and can also have videos,docs,pics,gadgets, etc.. and of course, google wave has the most interactive web-based platform I’ve ever seen.  You can have real time multimedia conferencing using wave, where others will see/hear exactly the same thing as you. Well to be frank, I don’t find something very new in google wave, because other applications do exists for the same purpose (though not web-based, and some are not even free like Cisco’s). Anyways, wave is still under development and I only hope more features are added to it with time.

By the way, I have 8 invites of Wave, anyone wants ???

I have recently become a ‘flickr pro’ member and started using groups more meaningfully. It is a social networking site that taps into my unconscious, I feel. Frequently I am surprised to see my own connotations that spring up when presented with a new image uploaded by one of my contacts.

I love the daily flickr newsletter and those previews, the mix of them, 5 in a line maximum per contact, every day a visual treat. They trigger unknown associations in me. I click on the one that makes me most curious when I don’t have much time to explore all of them.

You never know, sometimes it’s light and shadows, details in the background, personal tags that add another layer of meaning, a comment by another viewer that is moving. It’s so intense the dynamic, like being pulled into a narrative that resembles a film. A few images tell a story but the story differs from what the person saw who took the shot which also differs from the real story. Interpretation of the interpretation.

Today, TooSix uploaded a simple neonsign saying Kreuzberg – the part in Berlin where I spent nearly 7 years – it made me do what expected least: a German poem-style memory unfolded, I typed without really thinking. I hadn’t been aware this was still living inside me. So fresh. Nothing’s ever lost. Nice. Grateful for the inspiration, thanks TooSix.

Gute alte Zeiten. Sehnsucht. Ratten. Strassenkehrer. Doner Kebap. Best in town. Politische Debatten nach 2 morgens. Ach.
Ein Neon Schild. Nicht mehr. Nicht weniger.

ESADE is all based on team work as we all know. However ESADE makes sure that the team work is not perfectly smooth and forms teams of 6-8 team members instead of the efficient 3-5. ESADE also ensures that the cultural and professional backgrounds are very diverse to make things even more tricky. This is done on purpose in my opinion but it has been extremely beneficial for our learning experience to be confronted with all those difficulties, different opinions, backgrounds, etc..

Another issue with team work is finding the time to meet and having the right tools to collaborate. Google docs and calendar, Yugma, Skype, Msn, etc. have been extremely useful but how about a tool that allows brainstorming for? I am still looking for the program or application that combines all the common online collaboration tools.

AND Google has done it again!!!

Check out the latest product of Google, called “Google Wave“. It is difficult to describe because it seems a little bit like a revolution on the web. It is an open source email service, wiki, blog, chat, collaboration tool, photosharing, IM, etc. in one! You don’t believe me? Have a look at this stunning piece of tool that is currently still in beta but will have an amazing future, of which I am sure! Check it out here.

I am curious what the feelings will be in 2 weeks when the first euphoria has settled but as of now it looks great! Create your own waves!

I got an invite to Google Wave some time back and at the moment about half of my 11 contacts in Wave have engaged in some online collaboration. This was predominantly in 1:1 conversation, so very similar to emailing at this point.

One major exception, though. A wave that started on 6th November, includes in this hour 125 -invited- users (basically by friend’s snow-balling), and discusses the simple question whether Wave will become a success. So, it’s Yes, No or Maybe. Nearly 80 messages and comments have been generated and to me it’s been an excellent way to explore the limited options a little further. Wave Preview is restricted with respect to add- ins and gadgets. Here is a list of Google Wave extensions and Google Wave Robots that we are supposed to be able to use sometime soon (when exactly is still unclear).

Some users within this Wave declared they were getting impatient, this was the main argument people made who thought Wave is not going to be a success. However, this specific wave is managed (so people stay on the topic) and contains some gadgets. New comments are highlighted, in order to trace back when a wave was started and what was said by whom there is a playback menu, which also allows to toggle between frames and lists a full list of participants of a wave.

So far I find it very interesting to see how much speculation there is and how much misconception – this extends to those users who haven’t engaged in the managed wave. It seems the lack of communication provided by Google within Wave feeds into pessimism and the lack of time or curiosity to explore options and play equally nurtures the failure some see on the horizon. Those who are not familiar with editing wikis and collaborating in semi-private online spaces argue they want more privacy and control, others claims it’s boring and some said they would only log in to see whether someone had said something to them (which, I admit, made me instantly think about their real life relationships…).

Wave raises interesting questions as to power and control, censorship and regulation – on the micro-level of the individual user. Some seem to be very comfortable talking to anyone who has posted something worth commenting on. Others remain observers – at least they are still listed as such. Users can unfollow any wave, just like in Twitter. There is an option that allows users to tag a wave, so it’s collective tagging which is fun – and can help looking at discussions from a different angle, depending on the users’ expertise and professional background. Now there is also an option to up-and download a wave or copy it to another wave. The latter option made me wonder whether all comments are recognised by users as not copyrighted. Basically, Wave operates as password-protected area but I doubt every user holds the same authorship ethos – attribution may become an issue.

Wave is fast and operates well in Google Chrome but it seems to cause problems in other browsers. So far it has delivered it key promise: to provide the main features of Twitter, Facebook and Wikis, with a few more options and gadgets, this could become my favourite tool of discussion, in particular in combination with Google Docs.