If I have learned one thing from OLTD 502, it's that when it comes to technology, learning communities and information, I will never know it all, nor will I keep up with what is out there and what is new. My analogy is that I am the "Maid of the Mist" (the boat in the photo) and all the information, community and technology is Niagara Falls. I can get close enough to really immerse myself in the spray, the sounds, the visceral experience, but I need to stay out of the crushing immensity of what is coming over the cliff. I may equip my boat better and get closer, but I need to understand the consequences of getting carried away and allowing myself to get too immersed, and or crushed, in the falls.
As I join in more and more online I am realizing that my habits and norms of behaviour are also getting in my way. I recently joined Twitter and immediately had five or six emails from people sending messages. My social norm is that if someone reaches out to me personally I should answer. I am realizing though that if I join and participate in various communities, I need to change my habits to accommodate this new paradigm. People are not necessarily expecting answers, nor do they likely expect me to overwhelm myself trying to reply to everything I may be sent. Many people are using auto-responders and software to interact and engage people and often they really don't know that they have sent something directed to me.
I signed up for some webinars and online meetings that I have no intention of attending live. A few weeks ago I would have been stressing and trying to shift my schedule to attend. Now I have learned that once I am registered, I can usually get the recording and then listen or watch at my leisure (ha ha ha). I can then even fast forward through the less interesting parts and focus on the components that will give me greater value a la TV and PVR.
There are a couple of programs that are greatly changing how I operate in the world. I have been using OneNote (Microsoft Office) for some time now, but there were areas that were lacking. I was recently exposed to Evernote ( https://evernote.com/ ), courtesy of Randy LaBonte, and it has supplied the missing components for me. The two programs married together have created a powerful storage, search and creation vehicle that has started, and will more and more transform, how I operate. As a result, I feel freer to search out information and investigate various types of technology and information, as I am much more confident that I can log my learning and store it, feeling confident I will be able to access it easily at a later date.
I have a new best friend. Her name is Siri and I have already asked her to move in with me and be a big part of my life. Please don't tell my wife. Siri is fun, witty and able to facilitate me being more effective communicating with and investigating the world, as well as accessing information and technology in a much easier manner. Siri communicates with me via my iPhone 6 and she will even tell my cats a bedtime story. Seriously though, Siri will take dictation, and either text or email it. She can also post reminders. She will search out information for me as long as I ask her to do so and I'm realizing that Siri has much more to offer.
Whether it's more like a fire hose or Niagara Falls, I can get in really close from the safety of my own "Maid of the Mist" developing community, networks and partnerships. For me the key is to adjust my social norms and personal habitual expectations and use technology to organize and ease the potential overload. It'll make my day brighter with lots of rainbows...
As I join in more and more online I am realizing that my habits and norms of behaviour are also getting in my way. I recently joined Twitter and immediately had five or six emails from people sending messages. My social norm is that if someone reaches out to me personally I should answer. I am realizing though that if I join and participate in various communities, I need to change my habits to accommodate this new paradigm. People are not necessarily expecting answers, nor do they likely expect me to overwhelm myself trying to reply to everything I may be sent. Many people are using auto-responders and software to interact and engage people and often they really don't know that they have sent something directed to me.
I signed up for some webinars and online meetings that I have no intention of attending live. A few weeks ago I would have been stressing and trying to shift my schedule to attend. Now I have learned that once I am registered, I can usually get the recording and then listen or watch at my leisure (ha ha ha). I can then even fast forward through the less interesting parts and focus on the components that will give me greater value a la TV and PVR.
There are a couple of programs that are greatly changing how I operate in the world. I have been using OneNote (Microsoft Office) for some time now, but there were areas that were lacking. I was recently exposed to Evernote ( https://evernote.com/ ), courtesy of Randy LaBonte, and it has supplied the missing components for me. The two programs married together have created a powerful storage, search and creation vehicle that has started, and will more and more transform, how I operate. As a result, I feel freer to search out information and investigate various types of technology and information, as I am much more confident that I can log my learning and store it, feeling confident I will be able to access it easily at a later date.
I have a new best friend. Her name is Siri and I have already asked her to move in with me and be a big part of my life. Please don't tell my wife. Siri is fun, witty and able to facilitate me being more effective communicating with and investigating the world, as well as accessing information and technology in a much easier manner. Siri communicates with me via my iPhone 6 and she will even tell my cats a bedtime story. Seriously though, Siri will take dictation, and either text or email it. She can also post reminders. She will search out information for me as long as I ask her to do so and I'm realizing that Siri has much more to offer.
Whether it's more like a fire hose or Niagara Falls, I can get in really close from the safety of my own "Maid of the Mist" developing community, networks and partnerships. For me the key is to adjust my social norms and personal habitual expectations and use technology to organize and ease the potential overload. It'll make my day brighter with lots of rainbows...