How Academics Face the World: A Study of 5829 Homepage Pictures
http://wwffm.org/2012/07/21/how-academics-face-the-world-a-study-of-5829-homepage-pictures/
I like seeing off the wall research topics like this one. Makes me feel good about any idea I might ever have. I couldn't bring myself to read the entire paper, but the gist is that photos of academics on their faculty websites show either the left or right cheek and this correlates to their discipline. The authors explain that the left cheek forward shows more emotion so science faculty are not as inclined to display that side. The idea here is that science faculty are lacking emotive qualities and humanities faculty are more sensitive. This alone is comical stereotyping, but stereotypes exist for a reason I suppose.
What I am still wondering about though are all the other confounding factors. What about handed-ness? Were all the subjects right handed? And what about the photographer who took these pictures? Perhaps it is his/her tendency that is being observed here. Or maybe the web designer chose these images from a group and it is her bias we see. Maybe it matters which side of the page the image is on.
Or maybe they are right after all. My image on my faculty page shows an old avatar from Second Life. I guess I should update that - I think I will take my image with left cheek forward, but then flip it horizontally in Photoshop.
7.21.2012
7.14.2012
BbWorld Reflection - conversation at Mobile Learn booth #bbw12
After the keynote from Michael and Ray, I wanted to talk to the Mobile crew about the updates and how/when these might make their way into the Angel mobile interface. So, here is how that went down.
Me: So, I'm excited to see the Push and Testing features coming to the mobile learn app. Can you tell me if these updates will be available in the Angel version?
Mobile Guy: Oh, well, I'm actually in marketing so I don't know really. I know they are working on the Angel mobile piece.
Me: Um, okay...
Mobile Guy: I can give you a t-shirt though.
Me: That'll work.
Mobile Guy: Here you go. Thanks for stopping by.
Me: So, I'm excited to see the Push and Testing features coming to the mobile learn app. Can you tell me if these updates will be available in the Angel version?
Mobile Guy: Oh, well, I'm actually in marketing so I don't know really. I know they are working on the Angel mobile piece.
Me: Um, okay...
Mobile Guy: I can give you a t-shirt though.
Me: That'll work.
Mobile Guy: Here you go. Thanks for stopping by.
7.13.2012
BbWorld Reflection - Teacher Training #bbw12
I attended several sessions on teacher training. One of which was a free for all type sharing of success stories. Plenty to be shared, but little data to back up the ideas (or maybe stories are just easier to share than data). This lack of data compelled me to attend the session titled Teacher Training-Worth the Effort Practices. There was data here, but not entirely transferable to Kirkwood. Still, all sessions were interesting and generated ideas.
WE NEED MORE DATA! Institutions are largely doing the same kinds of workshops and no one seem to know which efforts are really paying off. As an example, one participant suggested that we need to rebrand teacher training since professors do not respond to this word "training." Training is what kids do at McDonalds, she explained. She could be right, but I'd like to see the data that shows increased attendance and/or improved results from sessions renamed "workshops" or "PD."
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL! Professional development efforts are a strange beast, not just at Kirkwood, but I think this is a part of the larger culture. The approach assumes teachers are inherently good learners. And some are, perhaps most are (Anyone know the average GPA of their faculty?), but usually even the good learners' skills are very focused in particular areas. And these areas naturally drive their interest in PD - informing and misinforming their PD decisions. I am no different. I want to learn more about what I am interested in and not so much about what I need to do my job better. Most of the time we are not aware of our needs, but are acutely aware of interests.
DELIVERED ON THEIR TERMS - delivery often happens in a way that produces dependency, rather than inquiry. Is attending PD sessions just part of the job? I don't see this job mentality too much, but it's there, and it's especially present when LMS training is apart from what is interesting/useful. Many schools shared success stories of embedding their training into department visits which, I'm guessing, would allow for some of this focus (of course, it would also limit the amount of cross-pollination of ideas that I personally believe in - without data of course.)
WE NEED MORE DATA! Institutions are largely doing the same kinds of workshops and no one seem to know which efforts are really paying off. As an example, one participant suggested that we need to rebrand teacher training since professors do not respond to this word "training." Training is what kids do at McDonalds, she explained. She could be right, but I'd like to see the data that shows increased attendance and/or improved results from sessions renamed "workshops" or "PD."
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL! Professional development efforts are a strange beast, not just at Kirkwood, but I think this is a part of the larger culture. The approach assumes teachers are inherently good learners. And some are, perhaps most are (Anyone know the average GPA of their faculty?), but usually even the good learners' skills are very focused in particular areas. And these areas naturally drive their interest in PD - informing and misinforming their PD decisions. I am no different. I want to learn more about what I am interested in and not so much about what I need to do my job better. Most of the time we are not aware of our needs, but are acutely aware of interests.
DELIVERED ON THEIR TERMS - delivery often happens in a way that produces dependency, rather than inquiry. Is attending PD sessions just part of the job? I don't see this job mentality too much, but it's there, and it's especially present when LMS training is apart from what is interesting/useful. Many schools shared success stories of embedding their training into department visits which, I'm guessing, would allow for some of this focus (of course, it would also limit the amount of cross-pollination of ideas that I personally believe in - without data of course.)
Bb World - Big Announcements #bbw12
The big announcements from Bb World 2012:
xpLor - a free external repository for standard compliant content, tagged and shared between ALL LMS products. Angel has it's LOR, but this is akin to a global LOR. Very interesting--a great way to promote sharing and more open educational resources. Other "xp" products to come (forums, calendar).
Mobile Learn license structure - cost to be passed to the student. Institutions can choose to partner/subsidize the app cost. A huge improvement from the tight bonds of a Sprint agreement.
Mobile improvements - (not necessarily for Angel version yet) Push notifications & Assessments! The assessment part I find funny, because I can't tell you how many Bb sales guys balked at my amazement tests were not in the app. They would explain it away in a condescending, mocking tone saying, "there are always a few fringe people who want to do everything on mobile, but most don't want testing." So, to all those sales guys, I hate to say it, but I told you so.
Publisher agreements - this is an interesting space, but as Angel users we don't seem to have it as easy. And that's really on the publishers to figure out or ignore. McGraw Hill have made some attempts - still not functioning at our college, but the thought counts.
I'll be processing some of the session information and post on that in the days to follow. Check my twitter feed (@fredandcharlie) to see some of the session notes I shared. BbWorld 2012 might be closed, but our minds are still open.
xpLor - a free external repository for standard compliant content, tagged and shared between ALL LMS products. Angel has it's LOR, but this is akin to a global LOR. Very interesting--a great way to promote sharing and more open educational resources. Other "xp" products to come (forums, calendar).
Mobile Learn license structure - cost to be passed to the student. Institutions can choose to partner/subsidize the app cost. A huge improvement from the tight bonds of a Sprint agreement.
Mobile improvements - (not necessarily for Angel version yet) Push notifications & Assessments! The assessment part I find funny, because I can't tell you how many Bb sales guys balked at my amazement tests were not in the app. They would explain it away in a condescending, mocking tone saying, "there are always a few fringe people who want to do everything on mobile, but most don't want testing." So, to all those sales guys, I hate to say it, but I told you so.
Publisher agreements - this is an interesting space, but as Angel users we don't seem to have it as easy. And that's really on the publishers to figure out or ignore. McGraw Hill have made some attempts - still not functioning at our college, but the thought counts.
I'll be processing some of the session information and post on that in the days to follow. Check my twitter feed (@fredandcharlie) to see some of the session notes I shared. BbWorld 2012 might be closed, but our minds are still open.
7.11.2012
A Somber Party #bbw12
The Angel team presented in their slightly apologetic tone on the present state of the platform and Bb's well articulated position. It's not unlike visiting a hospital and hearing your options from the physicians. There is a palpable sadness. Choices must be made. Not right away, but eventually... And In the meantime, here is what we can do to treat your symptoms.
And later in the afternoon, we gathered once more to toast the platform that brought us together. A platform many had a voice in shaping. To toast the people that will inevitably continue to shape the land of eLearning--still an incredibly vibrant place to be.
And later in the afternoon, we gathered once more to toast the platform that brought us together. A platform many had a voice in shaping. To toast the people that will inevitably continue to shape the land of eLearning--still an incredibly vibrant place to be.
7.10.2012
Overwhelmed - #bbw12
New Orleans is itself overwhelming. I only managed to arrive in time to checkin and run to the welcome reception and tour the show floor. From the food to the beverages to the size of the displays to the theater productions. I'm overwhelmed. I admit it doesn't take much, but this is really a big production.
A couple of thoughts on the way in... I was impressed by the shuttle driver's welcome speech. He was going through his standard speech, but it was spoken with such confidence, such conviction. And he ended it with a question like, "Sound good to everyone?" And when no one responded, he repeated the question so as to connect with the passengers. Connections, need to make connections.
A couple of thoughts on the way in... I was impressed by the shuttle driver's welcome speech. He was going through his standard speech, but it was spoken with such confidence, such conviction. And he ended it with a question like, "Sound good to everyone?" And when no one responded, he repeated the question so as to connect with the passengers. Connections, need to make connections.
Selecting Sessions - #bbw12
I struggle with the selection of conference sessions. It shouldn't be so difficult, but the sessions and inspiration or knowledge drawn from these morsels of research and experience make or break a conference. The problem I encounter, as I flip through the myriad of potential themes, is that I am inevitably drawn to sessions on topics I am interested in. Which means I know something about them. I have and share some experiences (likely) with the presenters. Which means, there is a higher probability that the session will be a reinforcement of ideas I already have. And there is a potential, albeit a slim one, that I have more experience and research on the topic than the presenter. So these sessions are a gamble.
On the complete other side of the spectrum are sessions on topics I know nothing about -- there is a whole theme dedicated to Bb Analytics engine -- and while we are proud Angel users, the concept of mining the LMS for data and early intervention intrigues me. But then this is a product we do not have at Kirkwood, so it might also be a gamble.
And then there are sessions that are geared toward IT professionals, which I am not (surprise!), and others geared toward administrators just beginning their journey into online programs and courses. I can skip these I think (sorry presenters).
The sessions I have chosen seem to fall into a couple of categories: support, training, engagement, mobile, and feedback. If you are presenting in one of these topics, I'm looking forward to it. Need to head to the airport in about 30 minutes. Safe travels!
On the complete other side of the spectrum are sessions on topics I know nothing about -- there is a whole theme dedicated to Bb Analytics engine -- and while we are proud Angel users, the concept of mining the LMS for data and early intervention intrigues me. But then this is a product we do not have at Kirkwood, so it might also be a gamble.
And then there are sessions that are geared toward IT professionals, which I am not (surprise!), and others geared toward administrators just beginning their journey into online programs and courses. I can skip these I think (sorry presenters).
The sessions I have chosen seem to fall into a couple of categories: support, training, engagement, mobile, and feedback. If you are presenting in one of these topics, I'm looking forward to it. Need to head to the airport in about 30 minutes. Safe travels!
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