Blog #3

    In chapter 5 tools to assist in connected learning are introduced, enabling you to be more connected and involved with your community. They go into tools to assist in documenting and saving information, connecting and collaborating, networking, and extending learning in the classroom. Documenting and saving information is something that can be helped by Diigo. Diigo allows you to bookmark, tag, highlight, annotate, and share webpages and notes with others. This also you the ability to create a group where websites and notes can be shared as well. Taking this and connecting it to my field I can fully see myself and others using this to find resources in relation to fixing computers and even coding if someone finds an interesting site that would help others.

    Blogs were mentioned to assist in connecting and collaborating, with a blog being like an online notebook that changes and allows people to input their thoughts for the authors consideration. Blogs are very versatile and can be about whatever you want, they have blogs that are meant for education and some that are meant for children. Anything that you want to share can be shared on a blog. Google Reader allows you to read and subscribe to blogs, with your subscriptions all being in one spot instead of having to look for them on their respective sites. Podcasts are another form of learning giving people the ability to share their thoughts similarly to a blog but in audio form instead. I listen to podcasts on my way to work and learn about a plethora of computer related things such as, cybersecurity, coding, and sometimes computer parts.

    Tools for social networking were mentioned as well, Ning being one of those tools where you create widgets for other websites that would help you in your field. Instead of them all being separate in their own sites, they’re all in one space and more compact. This could be super useful for me because having twenty different tabs open is not at all beneficial to my computer or what I’m working on, I could save more time by having it all in one place. This chapter also talked about managing your online reputation, you can do this by making sure your digital footprint is devoid of anything inappropriate and filled with insightful content. You can do this by building a webpage, building up your linkedin account, and continually being professional online.