Webspiration

This week's assignment showed me one of the best resources that we've learned in this class. I never used concept maps because I always felt that they take too much time to create. Once it's on the paper, you can't change it without it taking a lot of time. These websites are just amazing! They are also fun. I like that I was able to bring my personality into my Webspiration concept map because of the images and colors. Instead of making my map about tools, I made my map about a huge decision in my life. I am currently trying to decide which of three graduate schools I want to attend. I've been discussing my options with many people over the past couple of weeks and thought this was a great opportunity to document it all so I wouldn't forget. I shared this with my mom so she was able to see my thoughts about all of it, too. If I learn something new about a school that makes it stand out (or makes it less appealing) I can add that, too, and I won't have to adjust anything.

These tools are a great resource for making decisions, planning events, organizing ideas, etc. I will definitely use this in the future. I can use this in the professional world as an audiologist when trying to come up with a design for something or a business plan for my practice. If I end up working as an educational audiologist, I could make a concept map for teachers. The map would allow them to visualize and understand the changes that they need to make in their classrooms and the outcomes of those changes.

My concept map is an expansion of a spider map. I found a webpage created by the University of Memphis that demonstrates different types of concept maps. I think this is helpful to just see the different types because you can see how it can be applied to different ideas. It can open your mind to different ways to think and express your ideas.

Here is an example:

Here is the article.

Week IX: Social Tools & Cloud Computing

This week's class taught us about GoogleDocs, cloud computing, and social bookmarking. GoogleDocs is a resource that I would like to start using more often. It is similar to a wiki in that different people can view the document just to read it or to alter it, and then save it so others can see it. I think this would be a great tool for a work schedule in a restaurant that changes often. It would also be great for group projects or sign-up sheets. I have wanted to use it in the past, but I get stuck because not all people have a Google account so they would have to make one. Some people are hesitant about doing this.

Cloud computing is something that I had never heard of prior to this week's class. This is a metaphor for the internet and is the purchasing of servers from companies that physically story the hardware to maintain all of the websites that consumers use regularly. Our email, for example, is not something that is stored inside of our computer. We rely on the websites we use and the companies that provide them to support our files and messages. Many of the larger companies do this through cloud computing which allows them to use as much space as they need when they need it. When usage goes down, so does their requirements of servers so they pay less.

GoogleDocs is something that anyone, regardless of their career, can use. I plan on using this in my practice for it will make many things more mainstreamed for my employees and myself. I do not plan on having a website in which I will need to use cloud computing but it is interesting to learn about it and understand how the internet works. I am glad to have learned about this.

I came across "sustainable cloud computing" when I was researching it. I came across an article by Ariel Schwartz from September 30, 2009 called "Can Cloud Computing Ever Truly Be Sustainable?". The article discusses how some companies try and be sustainable at their data centers by balancing their energy use, but the author questions whether or not this could ever be truly attained. I think this brings a good perspective to something that you don't intuitively think about when discussing cloud computing.

Week VIII: The Sound of...Podcasting

This week we learned about podcasting and digital media files. I enjoyed learning about how to use GarageBand on a MAC and free software for PCs like Audacity. We all know the purpose of audio files, whether it is to create a video, listen to music, or get news off of the internet. Podcasts were created to change the audio files from websites into a downloadable form for mp3 players. Although I have not used podcasts before, I feel that it is very beneficial for others. One way that I would find this to be used for entertainment purposes would be radio shows that are not broadcasted in your area. For me, I enjoy listening to Real Radio 104.1 which can be heard in the Orlando area. They do stream their show online and it is available for podcasts. I could not listen to this live for it is early in the morning, but if I put it on my mp3 player, I could listen to it whenever I wanted to.

I plan on using Audacity whenever I need to record something and clip it together in the future. When creating my audio file, I tried to be creative and have a story behind my clip. The guitar that is heard was made for me by a old friend. He created the piece for me about 8 years ago and I've had it in my music folder through several computers since then. I paired it with rain in the background and a ticking clock. The story that my piece portrays is a teenage boy alone in his house in the country. He is sad about the girl he loves being so far away. He is looking out the window of his house after dark and it is raining outside. Just sitting alone, he decides to play his guitar and reminisce about his summer love. I had a great time with this project and have listened to the piece several times since then.

When looking up more about Podcasting, I came across a website called PodcastAlley. This is a pretty cool website because it explains what podcasting is and allows you to subscribe to different podcasts that you enjoy. You can look them up based on genre, comment on them, and upload your own. I think this would be great for people who have a lot of time to listen to things like this such as truckers.

Sound files are going to be useful for websites in the field of audiology. Podcasting, on the other hand, is not the most effective method to communicate with clients for they may not be able to relay a message if your clients are unable to hear it. Visual representations are going to be more effective for my future clients but the sound files that will come with this can be enjoyed by clients with a mild to moderate hearing loss and hearing family members.

Week VII: Digital Storytelling

I thoroughly enjoyed this week's topic of digital storytelling. Digital storytelling is the integration of music, videos/stills, with creativity to tell a story. In class, we watched a video about a love story made from scenes from World of Warcraft. When I think about all of the videos that I watch on YouTube that people take the time to put together, I do not always appreciate the amount of time that it takes. Digital I had the opportunity to use Animoto to create a 30 second video using pictures from my trip to Australia. Through this, I realized that there is power when you put pictures and music that mean something to you together. This week's class as well as our homework and presentation made me think about how much I appreciate the stories that others have to tell. Digital storytelling allows people that don't have programs on their computers to use free applications online and share their memories.

Digital storytelling is something that I can use as an audiologist because I am put instructional pictures together on how to use a hearing aid, change your environment, etc. I think it would be a creative way to educate my clients and is untraditional yet professional. I look forward to using different free applications to share stories of other clients to inspire those that are more resistant.

I perused YouTube to find a video that demonstrates how audiology has a place in digital storytelling. I found a video that uses images and short video clips to explain Central Auditory Processing Disorder. It was posted by nowtohear.com on February 22, 2010.