How DS106 Changed My Life

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Giulia

Having exhausted everyone in my physical proximity, I was sitting around this weekend just hoping someone would ask me about DS106.

#ds106 folk help me out. @jimgroom & I need short video clips telling me what made #ds106 special, powerful, fun, different etc. Anyone?

November 19, 2011 9:20 pm via TweetDeck ReplyRetweetFavorite

@twoodwar

Tom Woodward

Oh, Tom, I’m so glad you asked:

This is the second animation that I’ve tried using this method. The first one was last week for Dave Cormier’s #change11 session on Rhizomatic Learning.

I find it interesting that Rhizomatic Learning has 300 views and two “likes” whereas this DS106 video has only had 30 views and already has 5 “likes” and 3 comments. I realize we shouldn’t conflate mouse clicks with engagement but this is a good example of how I feel the DS106 community is so encouraging and enthusiastic.

What I meant to mention in the video was the essential role of commenting. My first post was just two drawings, no text. The comments caused me to revisit the post and write out context and process. Luckily, Tim and Alan have already touched upon this in their videos.

And maybe you will too? There’s always time to tell the world about how much you love DS106!

Technical notes:

[Yes, I used an iPad but please be aware: I partially despise the things.]

I used the Taptrix Brushes app to do the drawing, which records your brush strokes as you draw. I have been mostly using AutoDesk SketchBook Pro for most of the work in my Visual Practice. I use a pogo stylus. The hardest part is erasing and redrawing because it does not do frame-by-frame animation, just records everything you do.

I do NOT enjoy the process of drawing, exporting “Actions” via email. [EMAIL?It's 2011, why am I EMAILING!?]
Then I have to extract the .zip file into a .brushes file, open the file on the desktop Brushes App (free download). Then export to MOV. Then Import into iMovie. Alas, this is Life With an iPad, where moving content is notoriously painful.

I feel like I help sell these infernal devices every time I do a drawing on one, so I must tell you: it is not all rosy. It takes patience and tenacity.

I used PhotoBooth to record the video and just watched the animation as I read. (This is why I missed the key important bit about comments) Finally I brought the whole thing into iMovie. I confess I also despise iMovie 8 and up so I’m still using iMovie HD (v. 6?). I had to export the thing about 4 times before I got the settings correct. YouTube wants wide screen but Brushes exports 800×600.

Overall I’m pleased. I wouldn’t mind (hint, hint) if someone took the drawing part and did their own audio since I find my volume is low. [REMIX!]
I tried to get the smooth voice of @scottlo to do it, but alas he’s too busy dissecting his teaching.

cc licensed ( BY NC SD ) flickr photo shared by giulia.forsythe

DS106Radio

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Giulia

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS!!!

Now is the time for the #ds106radio community to show their love!!

DS106Radio is what happens when you mix

a tweeting bava
one tinkerer AND
a whole lot of enthusiastic music-loving story tellers

Can you dig it?

This web radio changed my life, Srsly- I even went to Vancouver to riff about how awesome it is.

It’s technically not “radio” since it all runs off the Internet on an unlimited bandwidth server. But we play music, we DJ, we tell stories, we share, love, laugh, reflect and learn. It’s a blast!

With PBX-VOIP and potentially 1-800 landline support, there will be some new costs to all this cutting edge freeform experimentation.

The cost is not astronomical but it’s also not free.

On Monday October 3, 2011 we are going to be broadcasting on DS106Radio calling on you, dear friends. Please listen and

SHOW US HOW MUCH YOU LOVE DS106RADIO!!!

The Digital Scholar, Manga Version

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Giulia

This week the Change11 Mooc is faciliated by Martin Weller and we are looking at The Digital Scholar.

His most recent post he tells us that his new book is finally available in open access.

And goes on to tell us that open access means:

open as in arms
open as in doors
open as in ended

Regarding open-ended: ”If anyone wants to take the HTML version and create an Egyptian hieroglyphics version delivered via 1988 version of HyperCard – well, they can”

That made me laugh out loud.

Then I see that in the comments he chides that he is looking forward to the Manga version of his book.

Well, Martin, I’m all too happy to oblige. I present to you, page 1 of The Digital Scholar, Manga Version:

Mobile Learning

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Giulia

What does this set up in terms of ‘have’ and ‘have-not’?

On one hand, North America is a continent full of people who ‘have’ too much. Far too much. Shouldn’t we pay more for things? We have SO MUCH!

The problem, I think, is that our over-abundance over-shadows that there are millions of people in North America just scraping by; marginalized groups we tend to overlook.

What can we learn from Zoraini Wati Abas and Open University Malaysia?

Canadian Universities would be under huge scrutiny if they ever paid for the text plans for students to allow for SMS communication.

But what about those marginalized groups? Northern communities, new immigrants, Aboriginal groups, homeless, the working poor are all groups who slip through the cracks. Some of them live in third world conditions but they have to live with first world expenses.

There is such a diversity of need within the student population. How do we implement something that is fair and balanced?

Student loans are helpful but after the six-month grace period interest starts accruing. My Ontario Student Loan paid for my tuition, textbooks, rent, and day care. I’m still paying it off and at this rate it will take about 15 more years (at least). I am loathe to calculate the total cost of my education. What if I had to use my student loan to pay for exorbitant cell phone rates too? Because my class required it?

As Ontario aims to reach a 70% post-secondary attainment rate, we need to be looking at these non-traditional learners and ask ourselves where they are in terms of mobile learning.

Do they have cell phones? Are they old cell phones like my ancient mocked phone? How would they feel in a class where everyone else had a smart phone? Would they be at a clear disadvantage? Can they afford to send texts, surf the web, interact with their phones as we would hope?

In what circumstances are education providers expecting these learners to choose between groceries and a mobile device?

I wish I had more answers but I guess change comes from asking questions. And I have a lot of those.

I just finished High School

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Giulia

Well, 20 years ago. But still. I really remember high school like it was yesterday; I am often surprised when I realize I am NOT 16 years old anymore. (How’d THAT happen???)

My Photo Album

Inspired by Michael Branson Smith, Cheryl Colan, Lou McGill and Alan Levine, I have been sucked into the black hole that is reminiscing about high school.

I don’t have lot of photos of me because I was usually behind the camera. I loved my Pentax K-1000 SLR and I would spend hours taking pictures of anything and anyone who would let me.

I often reflect on the things I learnt during high school but this will be the first time I’ve ever put them into writing.

I guess there are three main take-aways.

Own your shadow, but don’t forget to cite
I was lucky enough to spend my summer as a lifeguard. Shift rotations meant I had a lot of free time to read. I befriended two brothers who also worked the pool and we had an informal book club. They suggested I read Robertson Davies, Fifth Business. I was delighted to find rich allusions to Carl Jung‘s collective unconscious and parallels to Jungian archetypes. Once back at school I took two English classes simultaneously. I was so enraptured with Davies that I decided to do The Deptford Trilogy for both classes for my Independent Research Projects. The problem was that both my papers were not sufficiently different from each other and I soon learned that you cannot steal quotes from yourself. I plagiarized myself and I was charged with plagiarism. In high school. Thus began my lifelong interest in academic integrity. I watch with interest when academics use and reuse their own papers. Do they always cite themselves?

Leading from behind

When I was 16, our school board arranged for all student council executives across the Niagara Region to go to a remote northern Muskoka campground and spend 4 days reflecting on leadership. (Sound familiar, unplugg’rs?)

Me, Doing improv at Leadership Camp. I was funny. Really.

Leadership Camp was a bit anticlimactic, however, because upon return I had a debrief with our vice principal, Mr. M. He solemnly informed me that he noticed I wasn’t actually a very strong leader. He noticed I wasn’t very opinionated and I tended to hold back and let others lead. I tried to explain that I felt that some groups needed leaders from behind. That in a group of 60 kids all vying to be The Best Leader, it seemed almost anti-leadership and unproductive to compete. I felt the best thing would be to identify gaps and help move things along. From behind. Leading from behind. He kind of shook his head in disagreement but I stand behind that idea. And to think he thought I wasn’t opinionated…

Making Art is Never a Waste of Time
This I learned in high school but it took me many years to crystalize as a Truth for me.

I was never happier than in art class. My teacher would play Enya and I’m certain if I’ve ever reached a zen like state of bliss or nirvana this would be it, with a paintbrush in hand, music in my ears. Alas, I believed that art was a hobby not a profession, so I didn’t ever pursue it as a “career goal”.

This was complicated by the fact that I also discovered how much I loved physics. Using mini cars, ramps and ticker tape to turn x, y, z variables of calculus into manipulatable objects before my eyes was really fun. It was difficult at first but over time, after solving equation after equation I remember the exact moment where the anxiety of confusion subsided into epiphanies and confidence. I often relate vectors to real life situations, like swimming in lakes with currents.

Years later, when I learned Adobe Illustrator I could appreciate that beziers handles were the slope of a curve. Beyond the math required for computing much of my science background has informed my love of art and vice versa.

Learning goes beyond a mastering a set of skills required for a job. It is an enthralling and creative endeavour that does not need to be bound to purpose. Although learning objectives are useful for teachers, learners do not always need to have articulated outcomes. Loving to learn for the sake of exploration and discovery is enough. The connections will happen and the results can be innovative and magical. Science and art are not as distinct as some want us to believe. Allowing yourself the time and space for art is essential to learning anything. We are all artists, to be sure.

So, go make some art, damnit!

Filtering for Bags of Gold

Posted on September 17, 2011 by Giulia

Last night I stayed up incredibly late. Combed over the Change MOOC threads. Analyzed my opinion about comments on the main site vs my blog. Signed up to help with the eBook project. Listened to DS106Radio. Y’know a usual Friday night.

Around 5am I drifted off to sleep as I think I hear It’s…Later…Than…You…Think was playing. I don’t remember any of the episode.

[Screenshot from: Deb Roy, MIT Media Lab Ted Talk March 11, 1011]

But I had the oddest dream

I was sitting with all the listeners from across Canada (BC, ON) and the world (NZ, USA, UK, AU, JA)

and

even though we were geographically far apart
we could still see each other
because
we were sitting on this large patch of sandy earth
plugged into our devices
I was on my laptop
others had mobiles
a few people sat at large desktop PCs

then suddenly
the ground moved upwards
and we weren’t on the ground at all
but rather a giant sieve box

like the kind that maybe you’d use during the gold rush
to filter out the gold from dirt
or what they use for compost
to filter between nourishing earth and waste
and the box lifted the listeners and their devices away from the earth
and the sand fell through the sieve
and all that remained were the listeners
having a conversation
and the words shapeshifted into
these incredible hybrid beasts

they were
beautiful and slightly grotesque mashed up beasts
straight from mythology
Miyazaki’s Totoro inspired,
or something from Spirited Away
impossibly combined
hirsuit insect dinosaurs
grasshopper legged yeti

and all the listeners sat physically in this filtered sandbox
were
elevated,
but trapped
with giant brick walls around us
we were in a box
though we didn’t notice
because we were
having fascinating conversations
but people from the outside the giant walls
below our huge sieve box
in the rest of the world
had no idea what was going on
and it was impossible to describe the beasts of the conversations properly
and the outsiders couldn’t see the beasts
so they were just mythical

soon enough,
interestingly,
outside the box
the beasts rose in popularity
out of context
not as pieces of conversation
rather, instead, as products on shelves
children had them as beloved stuff toys
stickers
colouring books
there were handcrafted interpretations for sale on etsy

at first we enjoyed the popularity of our beasts
we had shared the wonder of our experience
and they were so flippin cool
of course they should take many forms
beyond a conversation

I wanted to collect all of the beasts
to put on my shelf

but

there was also this acute sadness
a loneliness
a feeling of incompleteness

that we were unable to describe the feeling
of sharing
of being
and learning together
of the ideas
that sprang forward
without commodifying it
or objectifying it

Hello Worlds. Colliding.

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Giulia

TypingGhostInTheShell

So…I’m going to try and participate in two MOOCs this term.

The #Change11 MOOC introduces “participants to the major contributions being made to the field of instructional technology by researchers today. Each week, a new professor or researcher will introduce his or her central contribution to the field.”

By contrast, #DS106 is crazy, freeform, tickles my imagination, gets my creativity flowing and apparently will take me to the (centre of the Internet.)

Are they polar opposites? One is so fun and the other seems so serious.

The important thing [to me] is that they both have their heart in the right place. I mean, at least neither of these MOOCS involve being a ‘Beta’ For a Commercial Launch

I’d really like to try to bring the fun and passion I have for #DS106 to #Change11. I really hope I can keep the discourse high AND pump out a killer animated GIF at the same time.

DISCLAIMER:
I might just slack off. I’m really good at twittering the night away, listening to DS106radio; I have a new dog to walk, and books to read for Book Club.