Comments for The Edublogger http://theedublogger.edublogs.org Tips, tricks, ideas and help with using web 2.0 technologies and edublogs Sat, 17 May 2008 09:18:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 Comment on Are You Making Your Life Easier By Using A Personalized Start Page? by gkat http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/are-you-making-your-life-easier-by-using-a-personalized-start-page/#comment-716 gkat Fri, 16 May 2008 12:03:29 +0000 http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/are-you-making-your-life-easier-by-using-a-personalized-start-page/#comment-716 Hi Sue, personalised start pages are fun to use and a good way to introduce web2 tools to new users. Pageflakes and netvibes are quite similar and I noticed that when I tried out netvibes and igoogle the pages load more quickly than they do in Pageflakes. As Ann mentioned, I also have different tabs to organise different flakes but mine are on pageflakes as netvibes is blocked in our school. The interface is such that I can easily keep an eye on new posts and comments on the class and (new) student blogs. Very handy. Grace Kat http://www.pageflakes.com/3gkat2008/22683077 Hi Sue, personalised start pages are fun to use and a good way to introduce web2 tools to new users.

Pageflakes and netvibes are quite similar and I noticed that when I tried out netvibes and igoogle the pages load more quickly than they do in Pageflakes.

As Ann mentioned, I also have different tabs to organise different flakes but mine are on pageflakes as netvibes is blocked in our school.

The interface is such that I can easily keep an eye on new posts and comments on the class and (new) student blogs. Very handy.

Grace Kat http://www.pageflakes.com/3gkat2008/22683077

]]> Comment on Are You Making Your Life Easier By Using A Personalized Start Page? by Sue Waters http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/are-you-making-your-life-easier-by-using-a-personalized-start-page/#comment-715 Sue Waters Fri, 16 May 2008 11:55:47 +0000 http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/are-you-making-your-life-easier-by-using-a-personalized-start-page/#comment-715 @Odysen Support - Unfortunately your web page isn't loading for me to check out so will have to look later. There was a slight problem with the link to your blog so I've edited it. @Michele There is definitely an aspect of what we are used to and comfortable with. Lots of people have changed from del.icio.us to Diigo but I'm okay with del.icio.us. Is your Social Media 101 NetVibes page public? And if so can you share the link so we can see how you have used it? @Awyatt I also tried to use iGoogle with my students unfortunately there seems to be an issue on our student network which interfers with how gmail works. Which one are you using for organising your personal information - iGoogle or protopage? I assume you are adding different information to the different start pages. @Alix Definitely feeling a bit jealous of you listening to David Warlick :( . I remember getting into a discussion with him on his blog about literacy and digital literacies skills -- he is not in favour of the term digital literacies and from memory says it should be just part of all literacies we teach. Thanks for telling you have been blogging about iGoogle I've gone across and checked your posts plus links. I've bookmarked them to refer to when I write my next post. I use my iGoogle page for my personal learning but due to issues at work haven't used it as well as I would like with students. It was good to read how others are using it with their students. @Readerdiane Can you tell me a bit more about how you are using the iGoogle page with your students? Also love to hear how you go using Google Documents collaboratively with your students. @Ann (Your Librarian) Sorry I have to laugh. When we had our last Challenge, the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog, Michele Martin and I got into a bit of a NetVibes vs Google Reader competition (war). So its good to know in the Comment Challenge we now have NetVibes vs iGoogle. I went across and checked your blog before I realised you had left the link. I think in our last Challenge Alex Miller even created a screencast of NetVibes? I should have thought to add it to this post. Perhaps Michele this time we should create a vote to see how popular each one is? @Odysen Support - Unfortunately your web page isn’t loading for me to check out so will have to look later. There was a slight problem with the link to your blog so I’ve edited it.

@Michele There is definitely an aspect of what we are used to and comfortable with. Lots of people have changed from del.icio.us to Diigo but I’m okay with del.icio.us. Is your Social Media 101 NetVibes page public? And if so can you share the link so we can see how you have used it?

@Awyatt I also tried to use iGoogle with my students unfortunately there seems to be an issue on our student network which interfers with how gmail works. Which one are you using for organising your personal information - iGoogle or protopage? I assume you are adding different information to the different start pages.

@Alix Definitely feeling a bit jealous of you listening to David Warlick :( . I remember getting into a discussion with him on his blog about literacy and digital literacies skills — he is not in favour of the term digital literacies and from memory says it should be just part of all literacies we teach. Thanks for telling you have been blogging about iGoogle I’ve gone across and checked your posts plus links. I’ve bookmarked them to refer to when I write my next post. I use my iGoogle page for my personal learning but due to issues at work haven’t used it as well as I would like with students. It was good to read how others are using it with their students.

@Readerdiane Can you tell me a bit more about how you are using the iGoogle page with your students? Also love to hear how you go using Google Documents collaboratively with your students.

@Ann (Your Librarian) Sorry I have to laugh. When we had our last Challenge, the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog, Michele Martin and I got into a bit of a NetVibes vs Google Reader competition (war). So its good to know in the Comment Challenge we now have NetVibes vs iGoogle. I went across and checked your blog before I realised you had left the link. I think in our last Challenge Alex Miller even created a screencast of NetVibes? I should have thought to add it to this post.

Perhaps Michele this time we should create a vote to see how popular each one is?

]]> Comment on Changing Your Display Name and Setting up your Comment Avatar by whi0010 http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/02/09/changing-your-display-name-and-setting-up-your-comment-avatar/#comment-714 whi0010 Fri, 16 May 2008 04:56:18 +0000 http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/02/09/changing-your-display-name-and-setting-up-your-comment-avatar/#comment-714 o.k o.k

]]> Comment on Are You Making Your Life Easier By Using A Personalized Start Page? by Your Librarian http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/are-you-making-your-life-easier-by-using-a-personalized-start-page/#comment-713 Your Librarian Fri, 16 May 2008 03:39:26 +0000 http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/are-you-making-your-life-easier-by-using-a-personalized-start-page/#comment-713 I adore my Netvibes! Love, love, love it. And now it's starting to catch on to the students here at ASB. They see my start-up page when I run a workshop with them or work on my computer with them, and they want it too. I've recently posted a little ad on my blog for netvibes: http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/12/how-can-i-get-a-netvibes-page/ I especially like how you can personalize the page but also organize your start-up page with tabbed pages. One tab is for my application widgets, another for my rss'd blogs, another for favorite links...It's a great tool and one for all to start using! Ann I adore my Netvibes! Love, love, love it. And now it’s starting to catch on to the students here at ASB. They see my start-up page when I run a workshop with them or work on my computer with them, and they want it too. I’ve recently posted a little ad on my blog for netvibes: http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/12/how-can-i-get-a-netvibes-page/

I especially like how you can personalize the page but also organize your start-up page with tabbed pages. One tab is for my application widgets, another for my rss’d blogs, another for favorite links…It’s a great tool and one for all to start using!

Ann

]]> Comment on Are You Making Your Life Easier By Using A Personalized Start Page? by readerdiane http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/are-you-making-your-life-easier-by-using-a-personalized-start-page/#comment-712 readerdiane Thu, 15 May 2008 20:58:15 +0000 http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/are-you-making-your-life-easier-by-using-a-personalized-start-page/#comment-712 Personally I like Bloglines as my reader but I have set up an iGoogle page. I had my teachers set up an iGoogle page and will do the same with my 7th graders. We are just starting with Google documents this week. I want to spend time on the collaborative part first. Personally I like Bloglines as my reader but I have set up an iGoogle page. I had my teachers set up an iGoogle page and will do the same with my 7th graders. We are just starting with Google documents this week. I want to spend time on the collaborative part first.

]]> Comment on Are You Making Your Life Easier By Using A Personalized Start Page? by Alix E. Peshette http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/are-you-making-your-life-easier-by-using-a-personalized-start-page/#comment-711 Alix E. Peshette Thu, 15 May 2008 16:56:30 +0000 http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/are-you-making-your-life-easier-by-using-a-personalized-start-page/#comment-711 I'm glad you are blogging on the idea of personalized start pages. I too have been blogging and presenting on this topic lately. There is a confluence of several powerful ideas lately which are personal learning environments (PLE), professional learning communities (PLC), self-directed learning, and personalized start pages. I see a major shift in the concept of professional development; away from the three-hour workshop and towards the self-directed "What do I want to know?" The experts are no longer standing at the front of staff development seminars; the experts are now bloggers who are farther down the road then we are and eager to share their insights. I just spent a morning yesterday listening to David Warlick speak about teaching media literacy and not just technology skills. Knowing how to pull important media to us is what personalized start pages are all about. It's customized staff development on demand. -Alix E. Peshette I’m glad you are blogging on the idea of personalized start pages. I too have been blogging and presenting on this topic lately. There is a confluence of several powerful ideas lately which are personal learning environments (PLE), professional learning communities (PLC), self-directed learning, and personalized start pages. I see a major shift in the concept of professional development; away from the three-hour workshop and towards the self-directed “What do I want to know?” The experts are no longer standing at the front of staff development seminars; the experts are now bloggers who are farther down the road then we are and eager to share their insights.

I just spent a morning yesterday listening to David Warlick speak about teaching media literacy and not just technology skills. Knowing how to pull important media to us is what personalized start pages are all about. It’s customized staff development on demand.

-Alix E. Peshette

]]> Comment on Are You Making Your Life Easier By Using A Personalized Start Page? by awyatt http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/are-you-making-your-life-easier-by-using-a-personalized-start-page/#comment-710 awyatt Thu, 15 May 2008 15:42:43 +0000 http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/are-you-making-your-life-easier-by-using-a-personalized-start-page/#comment-710 I use both protopage and igoogle. And each one links to the other! Each service has different widgets and tools, so I can't decide between them. I began introducing igoogle to my students a year ago (mostly because of the entire suite of google apps being available with a single login) and they seem to like it. I use both protopage and igoogle. And each one links to the other! Each service has different widgets and tools, so I can’t decide between them. I began introducing igoogle to my students a year ago (mostly because of the entire suite of google apps being available with a single login) and they seem to like it.

]]> Comment on Are You Making Your Life Easier By Using A Personalized Start Page? by Michele Martin http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/are-you-making-your-life-easier-by-using-a-personalized-start-page/#comment-709 Michele Martin Thu, 15 May 2008 14:00:21 +0000 http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/are-you-making-your-life-easier-by-using-a-personalized-start-page/#comment-709 I know I said I'd switched to i-Google and Google Reader, Sue, but I ended up back with my Netvibes. I could never get used to the Google Reader interface and I also have liked the ability to create some public pages to share as part of trainings. For example, I did a recent training on "Social Media 101 for PR professionals" and set up a netvibes page for them with all PR-related feeds and widgets. They loved it! Regardless of which one people use, though, I think a personalized portal is really critical to getting a handle on the flow of information. Otherwise, it's just craziness! I know I said I’d switched to i-Google and Google Reader, Sue, but I ended up back with my Netvibes. I could never get used to the Google Reader interface and I also have liked the ability to create some public pages to share as part of trainings. For example, I did a recent training on “Social Media 101 for PR professionals” and set up a netvibes page for them with all PR-related feeds and widgets. They loved it!

Regardless of which one people use, though, I think a personalized portal is really critical to getting a handle on the flow of information. Otherwise, it’s just craziness!

]]> Comment on Are You Making Your Life Easier By Using A Personalized Start Page? by odysensupport http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/are-you-making-your-life-easier-by-using-a-personalized-start-page/#comment-707 odysensupport Thu, 15 May 2008 10:48:55 +0000 http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/05/15/are-you-making-your-life-easier-by-using-a-personalized-start-page/#comment-707 Don't forget <a href="http://www.odysen.com/" rel="nofollow">Odysen</a>. Odysen has similar to above with the widgets and multiple pages including multiple page options such as private, shared, and public, but also includes these other noteworthy advantages: Free-formatting widgets. Why restrict your widget to three columns when you can make them to whatever size you feel is the most appropriate for the content, key for maps, nine day weather forecast, large news feeds, all widgets and their content are unique, match the formatting to the content. Integrated news feeds. To save space, integrate as many feeds as you want into one widget, it's your page, don't waste space. Share Todo lists with specific members or groups, bringing the shared capability down to the widget level. This allows you to have a Todo list on one of your private pages, but at the same time to share it with others. Lots more info and page examples on the blog at <a href="http://odysen.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Odysen Blog</a>. Don’t forget Odysen.

Odysen has similar to above with the widgets and multiple pages including multiple page options such as private, shared, and public, but also includes these other noteworthy advantages:

Free-formatting widgets. Why restrict your widget to three columns when you can make them to whatever size you feel is the most appropriate for the content, key for maps, nine day weather forecast, large news feeds, all widgets and their content are unique, match the formatting to the content.

Integrated news feeds. To save space, integrate as many feeds as you want into one widget, it’s your page, don’t waste space.

Share Todo lists with specific members or groups, bringing the shared capability down to the widget level. This allows you to have a Todo list on one of your private pages, but at the same time to share it with others.

Lots more info and page examples on the blog at Odysen Blog.

]]> Comment on Using Your Twitter Network For Help & Providing Their Recommendations by Are You Making Your Life Easier By Using A Personalized Start Page? | The Edublogger http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/04/05/using-your-twitter-network-for-help-providing-their-recommendations/#comment-706 Are You Making Your Life Easier By Using A Personalized Start Page? | The Edublogger Thu, 15 May 2008 09:08:43 +0000 http://theedublogger.edublogs.org/2008/04/05/using-your-twitter-network-for-help-providing-their-recommendations/#comment-706 [...] Several in my twitter network choose their start page in their top 3 indispensable Web 2.0 tools – Sue Hickton, John . Curry, Awyatt included iGoogle; Graham Wegner listed Pageflakes and Mike Romard likes NetVibes. [...] […] Several in my twitter network choose their start page in their top 3 indispensable Web 2.0 tools – Sue Hickton, John . Curry, Awyatt included iGoogle; Graham Wegner listed Pageflakes and Mike Romard likes NetVibes. […]

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