BP2_iGoogle Screen Shots

While trying to build my own "personal learning environment", I will be utilizing my existing iGoogle page and adding necessary "tabs" to organize my life thoughout the EMDT journey.  Below you will see my Home tab where I keep up-to-date on various personal sites.  In addition to some relevant links for my coursework, I am also utilizing this screen to display some RSS feeds that do not necessarily have articles but act more as a listing service.

The ETC tab shows some preliminary "gadgets" that I plan to use during the Emergent Technologies in a Collaborative Culture course.  This will be a work in progress as I determine what else may be relevant to this course.

Below the ETC tab, you will find a tab labeled FSO.  This tab will be the repository of anything that is related to Full Sail Online.

Lastly, you will find a tab that is labeled Action Research. This is where I intend to organize my Action Research project that is of a year long graduation requirement.  

As you can see, the possibilities are endless when creating your own personal learning environment (PLE).  The overall goal of using a PLE is to increase efficiency and also allow you to choose which way you prefer to have your content laid out.  I would encourage everyone to start by using iGoogle to create a PLE and add some personal and work related gadgets.

BP1_Google Reader

As I trudge my way through the Educational Media Technology and Design course at Full Sail University, I am being exposed to so many new technologies that I hope to put in my IT toolbox and use at a later time.

One such tool that I hope to utilize more is the Google Reader.  The Google Reader is very convenient as it allows you to stay up to date with your favorite websites.  Many sites now offer RSS (real simple syndication) feeds where you can "subscribe" to a website and have the information actually fed to your reader.  Because Google Reader is web-based, you have these feeds from any computer that is connected to the internet and you do not have to install any software.

In addition to the plethora of blogs that I am currently following, I have several other feeds "feeding" my reader.

One of the feeds that I subscribe to is eWeek.  This is a magazine that I get in print but am often too busy to read (and sometimes it just gets mixed in the shuffle of other "things" on my desk).  This feed keeps me current with what is happening in the technology world.  Mostly, I read to find out more about business acquisitions and such.

CNET's News.com feed keeps me current on software updates and usually showcases editors picks which have already undergone testing and reviews.  This feed gives me a quick glance to see if there is something that work in my arsenal of tech tools.

The Basset Blog offers insight on new and emerging discoveries in education as it pertains to independent schools.  While Pat Bassett only puts out a few articles a year, it is nice to be able to quickly see if one has been released by looking in the reader.

Videomaker Presents is a feed that I just subscribed to because there is just so many valuable articles there, that I just needed a way to keep them organized and at my fingertips.  I have been a VideoMaker print subscriber for over five years but I may just let my subscription lapse after this find.

The last feed I want to mention is one of my favorites.  Cranky Geeks is hosted by long-time admiration John C. Dvorak.  Unfortunately, John has decided to call it quits and the last feed was pushed out in mid-September 2010.  I will miss his "real" life take on technology and hope that he will start up another show or blog soon.

The nice thing about using Google Reader is that it can be accessed from my phone.  To me, this is the one piece of technology that is always with me and by having access to all of this information is like having a personal library at my fingertips.