Topics to Cover?

 

• DevLearn Social Media Tools--Forum on what tools DevLearn is using and how to connect (this would include getting into Twitter a little)
• Using Social Media to prepare for and participate in a conference--connect back to the tools that we've discussed, plus some info on liveblogging, using twitter at conferences, etc. --we could provide some resources, but have people share their own ideas on how to do this.
• Key Learning Points from past 5 weeks--what were critical skills, ideas, etc. that developed over the course? How do you they intend to continue wiht this?

Also, do we want to do a satisfaction survey? Could be good info both for us and for the Guild, along with the Analytics data we have, which is actually really good. Almost 2700 unique visitors, a bounce rate of about 39% and average time on site of 7:22.

 

 

 

From Dave Courmier's blog post on two different types of open knowledge--might be applicable to thinking about how this course operated and what it took.

 

 

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Wrapping it Up

 

 

For the past 5 weeks, we've been working together to explore social media tools and how they can be used for personal professional development and in working with learners. This course was also a preparation for the eLearning Guild's DevLearn conference, which runs in San Jose next week from November 11-14.

 

As we wind down the course this week, we're going to explore how social media can be used to support attendance at a conference. We'll also be looking at the major themes and key learning points that have emerged as a result of our hands-on work with these tools. Now that you've had a chance to learn more about wikis, blogs, social networks, social bookmarking and RSS, what does all of this mean for learning?

 

Social Media and Conferences

 

Attending DevLearn?

DevLearn attendees will have the opportunity to use a number of the social media tools we've been discussing during the Work Literacy course. A full list of the tools and how they'll be used at DevLearn is here. If you'll be attending DevLearn, check out the page and make sure that you're hooked into the social media scene at the conference. Also check out Tony's post on how to be an insanely great professional conference attendee.

 

Twitter

One of the key tools they'll be using at DevLearn is Twitter. This is a "micro-blogging" or "presence technology" tool that allows people to share information with their "followers" in 140 characters or less. For many people, it's the most useful tool in their social media toolkit--check out how many learning professionals have identified Twitter as one of their top tools.  Also take a look at this directory of learning professionals who are on Twitter. Other people aren't so sure--here's someone who deleted his account.  To learn more about Twitter and how it can be used for conferences and learning, explore these links.

 

**My Quick Start Tips for New Twitterers

 

**Video Tutorial on Getting Started with Twitter

 

**Your Guide to Microblogging and Twitter

 

**17 Ways You Can Use Twitter

 

**47 Awesome Twitter Tools You Should be Using

 

**Twitter for Academia

 

**How to Twitter Conferences Like a Rock Star

 

 

 

 

Liveblogging a Conference

"Liveblogging" an event refers to the practice of writing a blog post while an event is occurring. You can liveblog a meeting, a conference keynote, a workshop or just about any other event. Liveblogging can be particularly powerful for getting the most out of a conference, both for you as a conference-goer, as well as for other who may not be able to attend.

 

According to this post, liveblogging an event provides learners with a way to record and learn more from conference sessions. Liveblogging can also demonstrate the power of social media to organizations--imagine having someone liveblog a conference, making this information immediately accessible to those who were not able to attend. And this post in Mashable  points out that liveblogging "allows those that aren’t at the event to participate remotely, and it also helps facilitate a conversation among attendees by giving them access to content they might have missed as well as a place where they can discuss it."

 

 

To learn more about liveblogging, explore these links.

 

http://delicious.com/michelemmartin/liveblogging

 

Liveblogging Lisa Johnson--an example of a liveblog post from Michele