[publication] Can Microblogs and Weblogs change traditional scientific writing?

Die Verwendung von Microblogs und Weblogs in unserer Lehrveranstaltung und die Evaluation haben wir im Rahmen dieser Publikation auf der heurigen E-Learn Conference.
Abstract:

This paper describes a follow-up Web 2.0 approach to a technology enhanced master course for students of Graz University of Technology. The lecture “Social Aspects of Information Technology” has a long tradition for using new didactical scenarios as well as modern e-Learning technologies. After using a blogosphere one year ago, this year microblog channels helped to expand the traditional lecture. Students choose (on a voluntary basis) whether they want to participate in a blogging/microblogging group instead of using conventional methods called Scientific Writer/Scientific Reviewer. This study addresses the question whether this method can change the learning outcome into a more reflective one. Furthermore, peer-reviewing groups judge the quality of essays and blog contributions. In this paper we examine if microblogging can be an appropriate technology for assisting the process.
This publication comes to the conclusion that an amazing potential and a new way to work with information is opened when using microblogging. Students seem to be more engaged, reflective and critical in as much as they presented much more personal statements and opinions than years before.

Referenz: Ebner, M., Maurer, H. (2008) Can Microblogs and Weblogs change traditional scientific writing?, Proceedings of E-Learn 2008, Las Vegas, p. 768-776, 2008

[tool] vodpod

Update: vodpod ist nicht mehr verfügbar, hier gibt es dazu weitere Informationen

Es ist wieder einmal an der Zeit ein Tool vorzustellen, welches im alltäglichen digitalen Leben ein wenig hilft – vodpod.
Frei nach dem Motto “Show the world your favorite videos” handelt es sich um einen Blogdienst der ausschließlich Videos sammelt. Nun das ist an und für sich nicht wirklich etwas Neues oder extrem spannend, auch wenn es nette Features wie Browserbuttons und Widget gibt.
Das eigentlich Interessante aus meiner Sicht ist die Möglichkeit den eigenen Weblog als RSS-Feed dem Dienst zu übergeben. Vodpod parst den XML-Code dann nach Videos durch mit dem Ergebnis, dass alle gebloggten Videos in meinem VofPod abgelegt werden und natürlich mit der Welt geteilt werden können. UND für mich das Wichtigste: Ich habe endlich alle meine gefundenen Videos auf einen Fleck und bin guter Hoffnung, dass ich diese nun leichter finden kann.

Hier also der mLearning VodPod:

[publication] The TUGLL-Plug-ins: Special Needs for a University Wide Blogosphere

The paper we presented at the Triple-I Conference is now online available. Poster is already online.
Abstract:

This paper presents extensions that have been programmed by the Department Social Learning (DSL) at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) for a blogosphere used at TU Graz called TU Graz LearnLand (TUGLL) on base of the open source software ELGG. These extensions are useful upgrades to the system following the demands of the pedagogical straof the TU Graz. A description of the extensions and didactical considerations are discussed.

Reference: Ebner, M., Taraghi, B., Nagler, W. (2008) The TUGLL-Plug-ins: Special Needs for a University Wide Blogosphere Proceedings of I-Know08 and I-Media08, 6th International Conference on Knowledge Management and New Media Technology, edited by Maurer, H. and Tochtermann, K.,Graz, p.453-456, ISSN 0948-695x

[publication] Will e-Learning die?

Will eLearning die?I wrote toegether with Mandy Schiefner an article about the future of e-Learning one year ago – now the article is published as chapter of the book “E-Learning: 21st Century Issues and Challenges“. Here you will find the draft-version.
Abstract:

The World Wide Web is currently changing dramatically. The buzzword Web 2.0 describes how we deal with the Internet. “The user is the content” is one of the famous descriptions. Users create their own (learning) content by blogging, podcasting or producing mashups. Of course the innovations summed up with the word Web 2.0 influence the traditional e-learning world.
In this paper we focus on how learning will change in the future. The combination of traditional research work combined with emerging technologies lead to an assumption of the learning behaviour of tomorrow. Will today’s teaching soon be a matter of the past? How will a lecture looks like by integrating emerging technologies? We conclude that information anytime and anywhere influences the world of digital natives arbitrarily and causes the death of e-Learning in present sense. Using computer and mobile technologies for learning purposes will be as normal as writing a letter with pencil

Reference for citation: Ebner, M. and Schiefner, M. (2008) Will E-Learning die?;in: E-Learning: 21st Century Issues and Challenges, Audrey R. Lipshitz and Steven P. Parsons (Ed.), Nova Publishers, pp. 69-82, 2008, ISBN: 978-1-60456-156-2

[tool] blog4mobile – mache deinen Blog mobilfähig

Eine sehr nette und interessante Anwendung ist blog4mobile, denn durch die Bekanntgabe der BlogURL werden die Feeds eingelesen und so aufbereitet, dass die einzelnen Beiträge auch sehr schön mit einem beliebigen mobilen Gerät angesehen werden können.
Mein Weblog hier verwendet zwar ein spezielles Plugin, welches automatisch einen mobilen Browser erkennt und danach ein spezielles Theme verwendet, wer aber darauf verzichten muss oder will, sollte auf diesen Dienst zurückgreifen.
Hier kann man sehen, wie dieser Blog auf einem mobilen Endgerät aussehen würde bzw. dies ist der Link zum e-Learning Blog @ blog4mobile: https://handyblogger.mobi/eg0000/

[publication] A Blog Sphere for Higher Education

The publication “A Blog Sphere for Higher Education” for ED-Media Conference 2008 is online available.
Abstract:

Blogs are an important part of the rapidly developing Web 2.0 phenomenon that revolutionizes the current World Wide Web. It thus makes sense for universities to investigate whether blogs can support teaching and learning. Our paper describes the installation and deployment of a blog sphere for Graz University of Technology based on the open source software ELGG and extended by us with new features that are essential for teaching and learning. This paper summarizes the first experiences that have been made within one year since launching our TU Graz LearnLand. We describe how the use of weblogs for teaching and learning purposes will need not only further extension but also a new approach to the teaching process.

Reference:

Ebner, M.; Taraghi, B. (2008) A Blog Sphere for Higher Education; Proceeding of the 20th World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications (ED-Media), 2008, p.5618-5625

Here you will find the publication, slides and podcast have been already published.