http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/ en-us Copyright 2009 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:15:09 -0600 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:17:06 -0600 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss News anfd Media... http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/10/news_media_mass.html http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/10/news_media_mass.html Social Networking Technologies Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:15:09 -0600 http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/10/5_funny_ameriqu_1.html http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/10/5_funny_ameriqu_1.html The Chase to Deliver Video on a Blog Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:22:32 -0600 Dr. Trent Batson writes Not Your Parents' 'Course Content Delivery' in today's edition of Campus Technology. Dr. Batson makes a great case for re-examining what most colleges and universities do in the way of online coursework. From my personal perspective: Online courses (and online components of courses) evolved as a delivery system over several generations, moving from mail (snail mail) correspondence schools, to audio cassette lectures, to courses on video, etc. - and to more sophisticated package systems that allow multiple interactions with a student working in an online environment. The earliest models fit very nicely into a traditional, assembly line system system where an individual progressed at a pre-determined pace with a structured start and end point. Unfortunately, the assembly line model for both K-12 and higher-ed are showing cracks around the edges as a system needing a serious overhaul. The following quote provides a great summary of Dr. Batson's direction for a new era of digital interaction:... http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/09/course_content.html http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/09/course_content.html Social Networking Technologies Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:08:53 -0600 It should be no surprise that I am an advocate for appropriate use of technology in learning communities. Over the last several years (with the explosion of easy-to-start-up social networking tools) I have witnessed a change in attitude within the teaching profession to embrace more of these gadgets. Resistance to embrace technology seems to have shifted from fear to more tangible factors like physical resources, training, and time constraints. This TeacherTube Top 100 Most Viewed Video emphasizes that technology is not the enemy, but ignorance (or completely shunning technology) remains a problem and a detriment to students. Vicki Davis, author-in-chief of The Cool Cat Teacher Blog created this video. I recommend her blog and entrepreneurial spirit to anyone interested in instructional technology. My favorite quote from the end of this video, "...technology is our friend. Ignorance is our enemy. Instead we should fear more the releasing of millions of ignorant students into the shark infested waters of the Internet. They are but guppies in an ocean full of sharks.... http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/09/students_guppie.html http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/09/students_guppie.html Defining Technology Gap(s) Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:18:02 -0600 Belmont vs Western Kentucky - Volleyball... http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/09/coveritlive_vol.html http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/09/coveritlive_vol.html Social Networking Technologies Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:00:09 -0600 This morning I received an email letting me know that Chasing the Dragon's Tale is included on the list of 100 Best Blogs and Websites for Innovative Academics. I am flattered (even at #82) and note numerous other education blogs that I hold in esteem. Thanks to the folks at Accredited Online Universities for including me on their list. Disclaimer: This post does not imply an endorsement of Accredited Online Universities or the various underlying linked institutions.... http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/09/making_the_list.html http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/09/making_the_list.html Development of the "Tale" Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:16:33 -0600 The video asks, are you a teacher or an educator? First of all, presenting this in video form gets my attention...someone did a significant amount of work to produce a thought-provoking piece and I sincerely appreciate that effort. I am more than a little concerned that the video implies tha teaching and educating are somehow exclusive categories of a process and that perhaps, one is good and the other is bad. Entering a profession that involves the interaction between a student and a subject requires a level of commitment and inspiration that I would define as a calling...and I am reticent to judge anyone who is so called. In my years (and years) in the classroom, I have witnessed some of the the best and some of the worst examples of learning environments that involve this profession. I have experienced great teachers and value what I gained from them. I have experienced great educators and value what I gained from them as well. Granted, I consider the best of this profession to be great teachers and great educators. What I believe is missing in this formula is great students.... http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/09/teacher_or_educ.html http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/09/teacher_or_educ.html The Chase to Deliver Video on a Blog Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:08:40 -0600 I attended Lanier Senior High School for Boys in Macon, GA and was a junior the year that the main building was destroyed in an arson fire. There are lot of great memories of that dysfunctional place that are a real part of me: band, required ROTC, one incredible Foreign Relations teacher, amazing half-time shows, the first SugarBear band, ranger days, band, the first black student, band, great friends, band, and the first girls taking AP classes (there IS a pattern in that list, I am certain of that). There are sad memories as well..the firing of a math teacher when he was outed, the racial bigotry that lingered, and playing Taps one last time as the demolition of the old building commenced. One of my classmates sent me a link to a Macon Telegraph video yesterday. The last of Lanier Senior High School's buildings (now Macon Central ), the old gym and JROTC area, are being demolished. Symbolically, I am fine with the demolition of a facility that was part of Macon's sordid, segregationist past. There is part of me that would have preferred that instead of erasing this old symbol, named for the boy poet of the confederacy... http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/07/erasing_the_pas.html http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/07/erasing_the_pas.html About the Author Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:00:00 -0600 I am pondering a conversation with a doctor/friend (unnamed) about the business of medical professional practice...she wants desparately to deliver good health care to her patients, but unfortunately doesn't work for her patients. She works for several insurance companies. It is true:She can prescribe a medication that she feels best suited to address an illness and have that decision over-ridden by an insurance company, 'That drug is too expensive, we won't cover that at the same level we cover a (supposedly) generic equivalent'...the patient is forced to trust the company rather than the doctor..and/or pay moreShe runs a risk/threat of higher premiums every time she makes a decision involving surgery...even minor surgery. Every patient pays more, indirectly, for those premiums.She pays a full time staff of two whose sole job is to deal with the paperwork and headaches generated by the insurance companies...none of that expense improves the quality of delivvered medical services...and the patient pays for that staff.She has patients who have to wait until a new premium cycle begins to re-visit her because of restrictions in insurance coverage...time that can result in worsening conditions, and the patient pays in poorer healthIf a patient wants to pay cash for... http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/06/if_i_am_sick_i.html http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/06/if_i_am_sick_i.html About the Author Tue, 09 Jun 2009 05:07:33 -0600 There is an interesting subculture among social media and online networking sites that warrants exploration. If you are a member of sites like Twitter, LinkedIn, Ecademy, or Facebook you probably have encountered some of the characters in the subculture. Until a better descriptor evolves, I will call the group "The Collectors". Disclaimer Before I describe the characteristics of this subculture, I want to be clear that there are individuals who are seriously engaged with a large number of friends/followers/constituents and 'fans' because of celebrity/organization status, their contributions to 'interesting-ness' within their online communities, or their proven professional status as an expert. I do not consider the majority of these individuals collectors. The Rationale Behind Connecting/Collecting Collectors seem to be obsessed with acquiring the most friends/followers or network connections (depending upon the terminology within a particular online site). I know many of these individuals from several years of participation and research within online communities. Their rationale for connecting (their term) varies but tends to follow one of several patterns:The individual with the most connections is somehow the best person you should connect to (quantity trumps quality)The perception that an individual's ranking (by quantity of connections) equates to brand value within the... http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/04/social_media_an.html http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/04/social_media_an.html Social Networking Technologies Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:06:12 -0600 http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/03/coverage_of_the.html http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/03/coverage_of_the.html The Chase to Deliver Video on a Blog Thu, 05 Mar 2009 06:45:00 -0600 We are convinced that Facebook isn't finished with its efforts to revise the Terms of Service...and the "From Facebook to Twitter: Rules, Rights and Realities of Social Networks" panel discussion Monday, March 2, 2009 at 7:00PM will probably raise more questions than can be answered in an hour...but we would like to make sure that you know this event is open to the public. Belmont students will be there (full disclosure: many just need convocation credit). Login to your facebook.com account and let us know if you will be there. It might just keep you from standing rather than sitting comfortably in the Maddox Grand Atrium at the Curb Event Center. Even if you cannot make the event, Belmont Media Studies students are polling and making plans to broadcast the event using Mogulus and CoverItLive. I will make sure that details for access get posted here. Belmont's own Multimediai Maven, Dr. Sybril Bennett, will moderate the panel of attorneys, social media advocates, and higher-ed leaders. Garage parking is free at Belmont and the garage is attached to the Curb Event Center (See Campus Map).... http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/02/social_media_pa.html http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/02/social_media_pa.html Social Networking Technologies Fri, 27 Feb 2009 07:00:00 -0600 http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/02/alumni_art_exhi.html http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/02/alumni_art_exhi.html The Chase to Deliver Video on a Blog Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:36:53 -0600 It had to happen sooner or later. One of my fan club (of four) asked when I would start blogging again. I have no excuse. There is much going on and I need to jump in an play with the social media tools that we are experimenting with in the classroom. I am a bit weary of the gloom-and-doom coming from the print industry although I sympathize with so many great people who have been displaced by this century's declines. This is an exciting time for entrepreneurial journalism. Delivery systems are evolving every day now and there are opportunities for critical thinkers to meet and match market demands with relatively low start-up costs. New business models are bound to evolve around changing patterns of users and advertisers...those conversations are happening already. We are at an odd time when it comes to generational expectations for the delivery of news and information. I hear more and more often that experienced, print journalists are re-learning to play and experiment with new media. I encourage that mix of maturity and child-like curiosity from both older and younger generations...and I have to admit some disbelief that resistance to 'play' may be greater among the young.... http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/02/shamed_back_int.html http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/02/shamed_back_int.html Conquering the Technology Gap Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:06:11 -0600 ...but shame on both Tennessee political parties. Here are the facts: 50 Tennessee House Republicans* voted for a Republican candidate to become Speaker of the House. 49 Tennessee House Democrats voted for a Republican candidate to become Speaker of the House. Not surprising from the above two facts, a Tennessee Republican was elected Speaker of the House and thus gaining control of both legislative bodies since Civil War Reconstruction (we might revisit that period in Republican legislation success later).. But Something Went Awry In the eyes of House Republicans, something went wrong. Rep. Kent Williams (R*) voted for himself instead of the 'nominee of the Republican caucus', Jason Mumford (R), thus electing a man who chose to vote for himself rather than in lockstep with his party. In fairness, one might note that Representative Mumford voted for himself (not that there was any personal ambition involved), following the rest of the Republican caucus Representatives.... http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/01/i_know_i_knowit.html http://forum.belmont.edu/dragonstale/archives/2009/01/i_know_i_knowit.html About the Author Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:00:00 -0600