Two Blog Rule

As we round out another exciting quarter of ETECness and my first experience in required blogging, I'm now faced with a dilemma- what to do with "All The Great Names..." once this course is over?

I could continue to use it as a chronicle of the Thesis experience for all the world to see... I could personalize it and begin to rant on about more personal matters... I could egotistically market my band and podcast to an already attentive audience... I could give it up entirely and concentrate on the FOUR other blogs I am now posting to regularly. Decisions Decisions...

One of the reasons I had to be dragged in kicking and screaming into the blog-scene is because I knew I would get sucked in to posting personal observations I find interesting but for the most part irrelevant. I knew I would get used commenting on OPBs (other people's blogs)... NOW LOOK! In addition to ATGNAT, my personal interest in hands-on research on the "blog phenomenon" now has my claws posting on LiveJournal, MySpace, Tripod, a second Blogger account, and I've even successfully begun my first podcast!

I've accepted blogging into my life. However, I strongly support a two-blogs-per-person rule.

"Shingara Singh" and ATGNAT will continue to exist for awhile... *wink*

Comments Welcome. [ss]

ETEC 699/692 Presentations - Recap

I went to the ETEC 699/692 Presentations thing this past Friday. If you were there, you probably saw me in the back taking notes. In addition to it being roughly four hours of non-stop presentations, another thing I didn't anticipate was the wide variety of projects and field work experiences.

There were a couple "i made a website for..." projects- but each website was different. Some developed using traditional WYWYSIG apps, some using blogs in interesting ways, and (if i understood it correctly) one guy who wrote his own CMS from the ground up!?

There was a presentation on building a computer lab from the ground up as well as a "here's what i do with the lab they gave me". There was even extremely relevant stuff for folks dealing with "adult learners"! (like me!)

I pity and applaud the poor Consultants providing their expertise for the satellite course and the non-profit. And then, then there was The Video! (bold, italicized, capital V!). Very unique, extremely entertaining, and somehow, even still met the content requirements. Nicely Done! (If you missed it, you must ask about it!)

Something else I found personally interesting was the different methods in which people present. Let me rephrase that: The different methods in which people who are both skilled and comfortable with technology develop and present content based on established guidelines and a known audience. About 95% of the presenters used PowerPoint, but as far as design, content, and delivery, each PowerPoint presentation was unique in its own way. The exposure to 15 or so presentations certainly, and surprisingly will help ME out- considering my Thesis/Project is focused on this very topic!

On an insightful note, the responses to the questions of "what did you learn/what would you do differently?" provided a wealth of tips for those of us not complete with our projects or fieldwork. I kind of feel like I'm cheating because when it's my turn I will certainly be prepared!

Not everyone has a Friday night to kill. I'm certainly glad I showed up despite the lack of pizza.

A toast to the presenters and Dr. N and Dr. B!

[ss]

The Summer of ETEC 699

I was up on TRACS/WEBREG the other day, and again today, and I noticed an ominous stat, which I've chosen to repost here...

Course:	ETEC 699 -- MASTERS DEGREE PROJECT
Call Number:	30521
Section:	01
Status:	OPEN
Session:	1
Type:	SUP
Units:	4.00
Location:	UH-043
Site:
Time:	0500PM-0850PM TR
Instructor:	NEWBERRY B
Max Seats:	23
Requests:	0
Enrolled:	0
Demand:
Drops:	0
Available:	23

Like me, I am aware that there are folks who can't get into the course due to weird CSUSB bureaucracy, but I also know it's already "Late Registration" for Session One, and the Dr. N. mentioned if not enough folks sign up they'll drop it.

Yeah, I just thought to mention that ;)