Web 2.0 Awards

There are so many progressive and helpful sites that win Web 2.0 awards. One site that I thought was interesting was Livemocha.com. It provides its users a way to learn another language at their own pace on your own and with a learning community all around the world. I instantly thought of my friend Steve who is going to Korea to learn the language and culture. Although that will be a priceless experience for him, a site like Livemoch.com provides someone who cannot afford to go overseas, or does not have the time, the chance to learn a language and communicate with people from all around the world.

Google docs

Wow, this is really like having Microsoft Office on the internet. Its even easier to use. I am already a huge fan of google and its programs and applications. Google Docs is Email meets Office. In my professional career I would use this to write day to day documents and share memos. As a physical education instructor and athletic coach, I could use the presentation feature to lead my lesson plans, new game strategies, and scouting reports. I could use the spread sheet feature to organize my student's progress in the classroom and to chart statistical categories in the game of basketball for my players.

RSS

I just signed onto my google reader. I had no idea that it would be so easy to get constant updates from my favorite sites. The training video was right, this saves a lot of time bouncing from site to site. Out of all the new things we have been exposed to in this class, I am most excited about this one (picture is evidence).

Interesting articles about technology and educaiton

I like how Ferdig’s editorial, Examining social software in teacher education, breaks down how the social networking sights can be used in the education process. She mentions how it can create opportunities for collaborative and cooperative learning. Although she acknowledges the negative points of social software on education and that such software is not necessarily new, she thinks that there is much research that needs to be done on the subject in relation to education.

Kajewski’s article, Emerging technologies changing public library service delivery models, explains in depth the various new web technologies and how they can be utilized by the library system. It is interesting how many of these technologies such as podcasts and blogging, are used to promote the library and its resources.

Bolan, Canada, and Cullin’s feature, Web, library, and teen services 2.0, is very similar to Kajewski’s article, but with an emphasis on the teen market. Like both previous mentioned articles it mentions using video games as a teaching tool.

Twitter

I have heard so much about Twitter and the profound impact that it has had on expanding microblogging. When I signed up for Twitter I was surprised how many people that I knew already had a Twitter account and were active users. I appreciate KIN 710 requiring me to open an account. This will be a great quick way to get a variety of updates on from classmates, professors, friends, coworkers, etc. I am excited about this technology.

Flickr

I just signed up for with Flickr to share my photos online. This is the first time I have done something like this. It was relatively easy and I hope to add to it.

If you belong you Flickr, my name is "travispokamoto". You will see 3 pictures I posted from work today. One is me in the Sacramento State Men's Basketball office at the end of the day. Another is the "Sacramento State Athletics" sign, and the last is a picture of a coworker who graduated Fresno Pacific's Master's in Kinesiology program. He has been a great resource for me when he is not busy recruiting.

I hope these photos will help other people learn about me and my professional and personal life.