Blog of Brad: Comments

Comment on "I think I might finally understand digital storytelling and education"

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:41:37 -0500

Hi Brad,

I mentioned this one to a few others around campus, but here is a great way to pull digital projects, blogs, etc. into a timeline: http://www.dipity.com/

Nikki

- Nikki Massaro Kauffman

Comment on "I think I might finally understand digital storytelling and education"

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:35:55 -0500

Digital storytelling has, for some time, been both a source of inspiration and frustration for me when it comes to education. On the one hand, I agree 100% with Brad that it represents what education should be. A means by which to build a deeper connection with a subject matter, in a way that means something to the learner. In a way that will stay with them long after they've forgotten factoids or reading assignments. To build on that, I think it gives you an opportunity to build your niche in a topic, something that is beyond important in the 1 instructor to 500 students scenario that is becoming all too common.

But that inevitably leads me to my frustration. Assessment. Earlier this week I was fortunate enough to meet with a business faculty member who is incredibly forward thinking. He has conceptualized and implemented some fantastic ideas to improve what was an extremely dry course. But at the end of the day, there is only so far he can go because he teaches 1,000 students with just a handful of TAs to help him. And so his ability to assess is limited by the hours in the day, and thus the ability of something to be automated via Angel or a scan tron sheet. True, not every class in higher education is this way, but they are not getting any smaller either.

How do we teach instructors in every field to accept these new forms of academic expression and make it practical for them to do so? This is our next challenge in moving through the digital story of education. I can't help but think the community is part of the answer...

Great post Brad

- CHRIS STUBBS

Comment on "I think I might finally understand digital storytelling and education"

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:27:53 -0500

Interesting post, Brad. For the ethics & technology class I was a part of last semester, 7-10 minute video projects were the final assignment. Each group had to choose a technology, collect background research, go out and locate experts for interviews, develop a narrative, and make an argument with their final submissions. We held a debriefing the last day of class to see what the students thought about how the class had gone. Their 2 big statements on the video projects:

1. They are a pain to do; take a lot of time and effort, much more than anticipated.
2. Keep them; they are better than "another term paper." We learned more and it felt more personal to us.

We found these responses very interesting, and it's likely that the students' opinions were influenced by the type of content covered in the course. Nonetheless, it's not often that you hear people ask to be given the more difficult assignment.

As to your point about media creation, the bar for entry is certainly much lower today than it has been, even in the recent past. We scheduled one 45 minute tutorial session for the students with the Digital Commons folks, and that was the extent of the human help; the rest was simply provision of tools.

- Gary Chinn

Comment on "I think I might finally understand digital storytelling and education"

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:24:28 -0500

It does make sense and it appears as though you have forged a deeper connection to the work we do here at ETS -- all this talk of Digital Expression around here the last couple of years is making more sense. We build the platforms that support faculty in their work ... and I can say we've taken some risks to get out in front of the coming wave of digital needs.

I am interested in hearing more from you and I loved the linked example above. Sounds like there were some new doors opened for you at NMC.

- COLE W. CAMPLESE

Comment on "Syndicating content with embed codes"

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 02:51:29 -0500

Thanks for sharing!

One might be surprised to learn that almost all YouTube videos can be easily embedded into almost any site with a few clicks.

There is also a world of possibilities that exist regarding the embedding of RSS feeds into web pages as html or javascript, with popular services like Feedburner now offering third-party services that covert feeds into embeddable content for any web page.

- Peter Egan

Comment on "Syndicating content with embed codes"

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:56:37 -0500

Its so simple and yet so obvious! Brilliant.

On a practical level, we were just talking about effectively republishing content for the EGC yesterday and this could most certainly help.

From a much broader perspective, I think Cole hit it dead on. This could mean a big change in the way we think about content sharing, but I have a feeling it will take people a little while to come around to (or even understand) the idea and its benefits.

- CHRIS STUBBS

Comment on "Digital versus Physical"

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:31:22 -0500

Whoops - meant to add the above comment to your post on MT embed code.

- Brian

Comment on "Digital versus Physical"

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:30:16 -0500

How cool! Do I need to be logged in or something to use it? When I click the embed link I get redirected to a page that says "block"...

- Brian

Comment on "Syndicating content with embed codes"

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:35:37 -0500

The headline embed code in my sidebar is the exact same thing from this post.

This doesn't require any other service. Just built in to the blog.

- Brad Kozlek

Comment on "Syndicating content with embed codes"

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:23:04 -0500

Sweet! So how does this differ from the feed2js solution we were so hoped up on last year? We are all going to have to embrace a serious open ethos to make this work ... I love to see it!

- COLE W. CAMPLESE

Comment on "Steak Knives"

Sat, 31 May 2008 10:07:49 -0500

Eloquent, Brad; both you and Veen. It's a great analogy.

Fortunately with blogs, we don't have the dead laying about with steak knives in their sternum. The lack of that horrible reminder, though, seems to make it easy for those who would do evil if they could do it in secrecy to exhibit somewhat less bloody but still painful, disruptive behavior.

Blogs require diligence and maintenance and it's perhaps a mistake to sell it as a big loving family? Our culture hasn't changed because a number of privileged individuals have found an, um... nice restaurant?

- DAVID R STONG

Comment on "Changes"

Fri, 23 May 2008 16:37:28 -0500

Congrats, Brad. May you all have many happy years.

- Jim Leous

Comment on "Changes"

Fri, 23 May 2008 13:55:29 -0500

Congratulations, Brad! I know we have talked about this several times, but I just want to say again how great I think what you're doing is and how good at it I think you will be.

- DERICK JASON BURNS

Comment on "Eternal Sonata"

Fri, 09 May 2008 16:28:12 -0500

I hear you. That is why I have high hopes for wii, even if those hopes haven't really been realized yet. I don't know about depth, but there are highly innovative games out there. It seems to me that games that have "depth" in terms of deep story or meaning seem to not be innovative in terms of gameplay. On the other hand, really innovative gameplay seems to grow from games that don't really have any depth.

There are games out there that provide unique experience, try to make you think, and/or are pieces of art. I'll have to try to come up with a good list and make a new blog post.

As for finding the cycles: I don't do sports, so perhaps this fills that gap. We'll see what happens when I get a foster son next week.

- Brad Kozlek

Comment on "Eternal Sonata"

Thu, 08 May 2008 21:38:10 -0500

I wonder about how I could find the cycles to stay engaged with something like this. I am on the verge of buying my second xbox system -- kills me to say that. If I do take the plunge, I want to know I am going to open myself up to games that make sense to me. Not sure if that makes sense, but I am not interested in the new version of Madden or the latest first person shooter. I need and crave more depth. Any help for me there?

- COLE W. CAMPLESE

Comment on "An ecard for you"

Mon, 05 May 2008 08:54:59 -0500

I can't argue with that, John.

- Brad Kozlek

Comment on "An ecard for you"

Fri, 02 May 2008 19:35:22 -0500

Hi Brad

The eCard is a nice thought. It was indeed an interesting story.

I would like to advance the idea and create a new version of the card by simply removing the phrase 'Middle Eastern'. Wouldn't that be better? Then it would apply to all prisons, including those here in Australia.

Cheers,

John

- John Larkin

Comment on "TLT Symposium aftermath"

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:14:46 -0500

Funny how difficult it is to get it all down into written words. I had so much in my mind about the day's events and not enough mental energy to divide and conquer; it took me 2 hours for a single post. I know there's a lot more to come, but perhaps I need some distance to better frame my thoughts. Nonetheless, I think you folks did a fabulous job, and I am so thrilled I went. It was truly an experience.

- rb smail

Comment on "Hello from the TLT talk on blogging at PSU"

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:07:33 -0500

Hi Brad and all!

- KIMBERLY WINCK

Comment on "Public tagging of blog entries"

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:44:31 -0500

In addition to flicker, two sites that I use on a daily basis use user generated tags: facebook and slashdot. I know I encounter more, however, at this time I can't think of any. (I apologize for a late response, however, I just happened to stumble across your blog.)

- Richard J. Marshall