Month: October 2011

Jeffrey’s Twitter Updates for 2011-10-20

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Jeffrey’s Twitter Updates for 2011-10-19

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Managing Technology in Higher Education: A Discussion Undiscussed #change11

This week’s #change11 MOOC features Tony Bates, who started the session off with a rare Sunday synchronous session on the topic of Managing technology to transform teaching, based on his book Managing Technology in Higher Education: Strategies for Transforming Teaching and Learning. I enjoyed the live session of this, even though I missed the first half of it due to login issues with the required Java environment that was not included in my copy of Mac Lion.

While I did not feel I have much to talk about in this area (quite interesting, but somehow I need more prompts), I visited Tony’s website for the book (as he suggested in his week’s intro) and then I saw it–he invited us to discuss the topic on his book’s built-in forum. The site is rather flashy, nicely built and designed (publishers do nice work to help promote and publicize books, as well as savvy authors who want to get their message out), and sure enough, there were loads of discussion questions, 34 of them to be precise. What I found most interesting is that, at the time of this post here, there were only 2 replies. Yes, that’s it–2.

Thinking about all the time and energy it took to install and design and organize the forum, as well as the resources spent on identifying those 34 questions, done 4-7 months ago(once again, at the time of this post), there were only 2 replies.

34 questions, 4-7 months old, and 2 replies.

I won’t even begin counting the nested Scenarios in the Forums (on the bottom of the same page).

The question I have, is why? Why so little discussion on something seemingly so valuable? Even after talking about this on the live #change11 session (with thousands of people registered and others informally participating), with the promotion the authors are surely doing, and even with those finding this through other means, why so little discussion?

I find the topic interesting. The authors are engaging. What I have read about the text is lively, valuable, and forward-thinking. I have had some relationship with higher education for years. I like technology in HE. I even like to read and discuss all of this, so I know I am not alone.

The question is still why? Do people not want to talk about this? Perhaps they think it may not affect change? Perhaps people are overworked and it is a time issue? Perhaps people are reacting to it in their own way (as I am with this blog post)?

I am not sure, but I think that it may be useful to consider this, as the implications for a world ever more in need of getting the changes needed to this higher education behemoth right is beyond compare with many social issues. With so much to discuss and explore and develop, why so little discussion about it (at least here)?

Jeffrey’s Twitter Updates for 2011-10-18

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Jeffrey’s Twitter Updates for 2011-10-17

  • @allonsdanser Yes, diversity of thought is so engaging, partly as there is so much that I know so little about that I would love to learn! in reply to allonsdanser #
  • @mark_mcguire Alas, I think #eLearning itself is not the answer for the academics' WIIFMs. If only it were all that simple! #change11 in reply to mark_mcguire #
  • @JimmySW At least she hasn't made you re-whitewash it! in reply to JimmySW #
  • Finally decided to go for a little bike ride, only my 2nd of the year. Started too late, as it is getting dark. Well, some exercise is good. #
  • The first of the #nlc2012 Hot Seats is now over. Peter Goodyear was fantastic, and the participation and discussions were strong. Kudos, all #
  • Finishing the review of a slide deck. Then on to a Word file revision, and then a break. #
  • Today's #change11 MOOC session with Tony Bates was excellent, and @Downes did a stand-up job facilitating! #
  • Finally getting on . . . #change11 #
  • @siavogel Wow, you are lucky! On my end, it just downloaded. Now the install . . . in reply to siavogel #
  • Goodness, the Java runtime environment is a large file download. #
  • @siavogel Do you have Lion, and have you already done this download previously? in reply to siavogel #
  • @dalitl I have used both Blackboard and Elluminate on my Mac, though just read online that Lion does not hav… (cont) http://t.co/FSuck5G1 in reply to dalitl #
  • Who would have known that upgrading to Lion wipes out Java? Note for others hoping to attend a live #change11 session. #
  • @mapetite I never used Spaces and Expose, though I do miss the 4 fingers down to show all open windows. in reply to mapetite #
  • I will join the live #change11 session if I can ever get this Java running on my Mac. So far, Lion does not like Java. #
  • @sarahthesheepu Yes, now let's hope I can transition all that into productivity (or at least deep reflection!). in reply to sarahthesheepu #
  • Yes, my iPhone 4S and iPad now can sync wirelessly with my Mac. Only need to plug in to charge or move over new email account specs #
  • Mac with Lion, iPhone 4S, iPad with iOS 5, and iCloud over wifi = wireless sync of 8 email accounts + calendar + more across devices. #
  • I just installed Mac #Lion and see there are more new tweaks than I expected. Overall, I like it. #
  • I just saw a notification that there is a live #change11 call TODAY – SUNDAY – at 3:00 EDT with Tony Bates for Week 6 #phdchat #
  • @VigdisSJensen Yes, I never did have a real relationship of the work-to-time ratio! in reply to VigdisSJensen #
  • On top of my organizing my transcription work and developing a short-term writing plan, I will upgrade to #Lion and get my iPh@ne 4S working #
  • @kiwicito WHat has precluded your work recently? in reply to kiwicito #
  • @kiwicito Today is a day to start the checking process for the transcripts already done, and also to develop a writing plan #phdchat in reply to kiwicito #
  • @ai1sa and you don't think the rest of us do, too? 😉 in reply to ai1sa #
  • Just received an interesting email from BN (Borders) – As a reminder, on September 30, 2011 Barnes & Noble acq… (cont) http://t.co/EdvRk6IE #
  • @trentmkays Yes, A(wo)men. in reply to trentmkays #
  • @trentmkays Postmodern plagiarism? Oh, you mean material co-construction and dissemination? 😉 in reply to trentmkays #
  • @kiwicito I can relate completely. All that begins to change tomorrow #phdchat in reply to kiwicito #
  • @debbiefuco @allonsdanser @salma_patel So you seem to see SM as a distractor, as separate from thinking, rather than a key enabler? #phdchat in reply to debbiefuco #
  • @JimmySW Nothing like making your work permanent. What happens once you develop it, use the other side? #phdchat in reply to JimmySW #
  • @aeratcliffe Yes, and along these lines, I think Apple has unnecessarily confused MobileMe and iCloud, especially moving from one to another in reply to aeratcliffe #
  • @aeratcliffe Got it. I do think iCloud will catch on and become more than just a little useful for people. in reply to aeratcliffe #
  • Actor-network theory has been the academic issue that has dominated my thinking this week. Thanks @ai1sa for pushing it in #nlc2012 #phdchat #
  • @aeratcliffe Thanks! Tell me, did you create a new icloud account, or did you somehow sync it with your MobileMe account? This baffles me. in reply to aeratcliffe #
  • OK, I need to get the email specs from my computer to my new iPh@ne 4S, so tomorrow I will upgrade to #Lion #phdchat #change11 #

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