I am learning a lot throughout my Masters degree coursework and hope that if you do stumble across these postings, that you may learn something you didn't know about before!
Alright, here is the educational portion of this post....
Apps, Professional Networking, Wikis and LinkedIn
Educational apps are definitely a tool that will continue to be developed and used increasingly over time. When you search the iTunes App store, a variety of interesting apps show up. There is everything from apps for young children to help them learn colors as well as study tools for college students. The applications that are available as teaching tools are also in abundance.
It’s hard to grasp the full breath and use of all the available apps in just a week of time, especially as new apps are added every day. I am thankful for various sites and blogs that break down the best of and top 100 of these apps; otherwise I would feel completely overwhelmed! In the future I believe these apps will continue to grow and become more user friendly as well as more multi-use. For example an app that helps you make recordings of lectures that can be posted online will also be able to be used as a testing and or study aid tool. When it comes to technology in education the limits are truly endless and will reach as far as the educators imaginations!
I really enjoyed the prezi presentation on 60 apps in 60 Minutes (https://prezi.com/swceiv2g3bbt/60-educational-apps-in-60-minutes/ ) This presentation was filled with so much information I literally went back and forth through the parts that interested me twice!
- I did not know about the app QuickEdit app for editing documents. This would be very helpful for me as I often have to walk around with my laptop while on campus. This would allow me to access my documents from the iPad that my school has provided for me and make edits on the go.
- The app Evernote is something that I really want to try as I am constantly thinking of things I need to do when I get back to my ATR or office while out at practices and games. This way I could make a ‘note to self’ from the field and it would be synced back at my desk so when I sat down to do paperwork I wouldn’t have to remember to look up the note I made in my phone. I think this would be very helpful to me and look forward to implementing it.
- Dropbox and GoogleDrive are two apps that I already use and find it to be immensely helpful. I can save my school assignments to my dropbox and access them at home or at work (if I have an extra few minutes to look at or add to a paper I’m writing!). GoogleDrive has be extremely helpful at Sage where I am constantly sharing ‘living’ documents that change regularly. I love that I can make changes and everyone I share the document with can see the changes without me having to email them an updated copy! It has also been very helpful when collaborating with other people on documents such as our school-wide Return to Learn, Concussion policy.
- Genius Scan and JotNot are two apps that I need to look into as well. I am in the process of beginning a roll-out of an Electronic Medical Records (EMR) program at the school. We are in the beginning phases but there are several forms that our families will have to print and then scan and upload. This may be a VERY USEFUL app for individuals who want to do this but don’t have a scanner at home!
- When I look up Anatomy apps for demonstration and teaching purposes there is a plethora available! I am going to spend some time looking into them as it will be very helpful in the Athletic Training Room. These apps are also a bit expensive but I think they will be very helpful. I have several models of body parts and pictures/charts on the walls of the ATR but they don’t always show the specific muscles or tendons I’m trying to show my student athletes. If anyone has a good suggestion on a great anatomy app please let me know!
Using PWP to Improve Profile
One suggestion that was listed in the class Wiki document on what should be in a PWP was posting a link to social media pages. I had not previously considered doing this, but I am now strongly thinking about doing just that. I work very hard to maintain a very professional presence in my social media postings so I do think that they would be a positive reflection of myself as a professional. This may also show that I have the skills and ability to be a contributing member to the entire community.
Facebook vs LinkedIn
I view Facebook and LinkedIn as two very different social media domains. Facebook for me is a bit more personal as I am ‘friends’ only with people I know well from my childhood, through college, and into early adulthood. LinkedIn is a part of my professional life and I only connect with individuals I have worked with or know through professional networking. I believe it is appropriate to keep the two aspects of my life separate. It can be a difficult balance but I do know that it is important to have a professional only social media profile. When I applied for a position several years ago I saw that within days of receiving my application and resume, the person hiring the position viewed my LinkedIn profile. I take precautions to keep my personal life private by only being friends with people I truly know on Facebook and putting security settings on my account as well.
Wikis in Education
I have recently been exposed to the use of Google Docs and file sharing through the use of a Goolge Drive in the workplace. This type of shared document is the only type of wiki I have ever used before. I feel silly to admit but I did not even know that this type of file sharing was used or available. Now that I have been using this type of technology I think it is amazing and a great option for efficient and collaborative team work even if you are not working in the same office or in my case at the same time of day. Most recently, my school asked the school Learning Specialist, and myself, to draft a school policy in the event of a concussion injury to a student. This policy is known as our Return to Learn Concussion Policy. This document was drafted and edited by several people before it was adopted as a school policy and published in the Student Handbook. All communication and edits regarding this policy were done without ever meeting in person, which is quite amazing.
Professional Networking Strategies - Using Technology or Not
Business and networking are changing with technology; there is no doubt about that. I think the question here is whether professional networking in-person is still as applicable and important as having a solid online profile. I believe that an online presence is extremely important but being able to act professional and be a good employee/colleague is just as important.
Having a good online presence is a good start. In the busy multi-tasking world we live in anyone who knows a persons name, can look up information about him or her and search their job history in a matter of seconds. These are permanent and public details of a person’s life. If someone’s social media profiles are also easily accessible then, based on the visible information, a lot of information can be assumed about that person. Although a lot can be assumed from an online profile or portfolio, there is still something to be said about an individuals ability to do well meeting or conversing with others in person.
I have found that the professional relationships I have fostered through in-person networking have helped me and been more important than relationships I have only associated with through other contacts. To be honest, if I have not met or worked with an individual I don’t feel as if they will greatly contribute to my ‘network’. I could be completely wrong in this thinking, and I may change my mind in the future. For now I am planning on keeping my professional online network to include only people I know or have worked with. I think I would definitely include some of my classmates from this program in my network as I feel we have begun to get to know one another throughout our courses.