F.R. "Fritz" Nordengren (beta)

Convergence at the end of a term

Fritz — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:19:25 +0000

It’s interesting how ideas can find a convergence from related, but separate contexts. Today, and over the next few days,

an academic term ends at Walden,
I lead a discussion on educational technology strategy for our Masters of Public Health and Health Care Administration programs,
and my writing partner and co producer at “Dispatches from the Graduate Classroom”, Dr. Ann York, and I return a text book chapter to our editors.

At the end of the term at Walden, our mentor, Dr, Roberta McKnight, has posted a series of questions about self-directed learning. The group of PhD students who share Dr. McKnight as a mentor discussion formal and informal academic questions as we each work independently on our research writing.

Walden’s approach is unique, and doctoral students spend time working independently on Knowledge Area Modules (KAM)….an opportunity to make a very self directed in depth study of topics as they relate to social change.

I have been a self directed learner much of my adult life, but I recognize that it is new and even uncomfortable for some. The ideas of being a self directed learner have impacts both on our strategy for future graduate education, and what Ann and I discuss in our monthly podcasts. This idea of self directed learning intrigues me.

My first KAM looks at individualism and collectivism. If you have read Bowling Alone, Putnam suggests we’re less involved socially than in years past. More of us bowl, but fewer of us join leagues. As society modernizes (think Web 2.0) are we promoting individualism? or Collectivism? Is our social network really as big and influential as the number of friends on our MySpace or Facebook pages? Or are we really more alone?

How does that impact they way we will reach out to learners in the future? Are they more self directed?

Tomorrow I share my thoughts with our faculty during our strategic planning sessions.

Say that three times fast

Fritz — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:46:37 +0000

Twitter Tools Twitter Tools Twitter Tools

It’s not rocket science, but I’ve been working with Twitter to see how or if it fits into my work flow as a tool, or is just a micro blog for the status update side of life. I have twitter access from twitter as well as my iPod Touch and I installed Twitter tools on my blog here. Twitter tools produced weekly summaries of my “tweets” as well as allowed me to post from the site.

That is, until this week when Twitter Tools started posting multiple digests

You get the idea. I’ve disabled it for now. And found this Twitter Tools support thread at Wordpress. Updated: Twitter Tools at Wordpress

it is interesting to watch how other users use their Twitter accounts. For some, it’s a personal “this is what I’m doing right now.” For others, it’s a cb radio call out to friends and followers. The third kind of user I’m folloing uses it to track ideas and urls — a text version of what you might do with JOTT

The week in review

Fritz — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:59:59 +0000

drinking coffee, watcing the snowflakes, sitting down to write #
Reading twitter tweets of the folks I follow…. Very diverse. But I’m starting to see patterns. #
Grading graduate papers from Change Leadership #
Tried twitterank and managed to NOT have it autopost. #
Revising draft of paper proposal…tomorrow is last day in office for the week #

Jumpstarting personal writing

Fritz — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:19:33 +0000

I’m knee deep these days in writing: a text book is due later this winter, and my Walden studies have me producing an average of a page a day for the next 270 days or so. My co-author and partner on a number of research projects and I are also editing and writing papers and a book chapter. It’s easy to neglect my other writing venues.

By referral from Mark Wagner’s Ed Tech Life blog I found “30 days to being a better blogger” at Teach 42.

So I’m taking the challenge (with a late start) and building and re-building this blog.

The week in review

Fritz — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:59:59 +0000

is ready for the weekend #
reviewing program outcomes report #
Wondering why CNN is showing holograms???? Can the magic 8 ball be far behind? #
Remembering ‘dangling chads’… A bygone era #
Ceiling boards : 6 up, 70 on floor to go up…set phasers to ‘nail’ #

The week in review

Fritz — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:59:59 +0000

Computer free day…left charger on campus #
Falling back… It’s 2am twice tonight #
Day two… sharp learners…watching them stretch their thinking, #
countdown…. we start in 29 minutes #
Prepping for tonight’s seminar #
learning more about cluster flies than I ever wanted to know #
Sharing Skype with friends #
Has gas… LP for the stove #
Done insulating. 27 the forecast low tonight #

Fireplace video

Fritz — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:40:22 +0000

Here it is in blazing glory.

The week in review

Fritz — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 04:59:59 +0000

Putting together an Ikea Norden Gateleg table #
finished small cabin ceiling .. on to stove….someone got a wall saw? We need a hole in the wall…. #
Listening to the rain on the roof………..still #
Sportin’ a new pair of Lucchese’s #
Unboxing new heat stove…low tonight forecast as 34• #
Enjoying a 4 letter word… Home #

Experimental add ons

Fritz — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:56:42 +0000

I’m playing with some social networking tools and add ons to Word press. If you see some widgets come and go, that’s why. There is ongoing research about student preferences in communication tools. More and more of my tech user contacts are moving to new platforms (Facebook and or Twitter) as a primary contact.

The week in review

Fritz — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:59:59 +0000

Done early and rolling to Two Mile #
Last day…last session… Then a 6 hour drive #
Listening to Robyn Wright #
Mac book battery is tired! #
Day 2…the points are doubled but so too is the danger…. #
Testing twitter to facebook status #
Sitting in library seminar at residency. #
Leaving for St Charles in the morning #