Wiki Thoughts: Taking the Next Steps

At the risk of looking like someone who bounces from thing to thing I thought I’d share just a few thoughts on what a wiki service might be all about at a University … I think one of the fundamental issues around wiki spaces is that people want to feel ownership. In other words, they want to “own” their space. In most higher education models, we (the IT people) bring a wiki online and say to people, “it is there, go ahead and add pages.” That is met with less enthusiasm as one would expect at first blush. I think the overall ownership piece plays a part, don’t you?

If you think about the model, it is a lot like simply installing a version of WordPress and telling people to start blogging. Sure they can blog, but their content is mixed in with the rest of the people blogging on that one space. In my opinion, the answer is to create a service that allows people a very easy way to create a wiki space that is their own.

With the Blogs at Penn State project we are letting people start with a centrally hosted blog publishing platform that they visit … but when it is time to publish their content shows up in their personal webspace. That gives people a little more ownership in the whole process. If you look at what a service like PB WIki provides you can see the right model. I think others agree given I just read that PBWiki Raised $2m to grow its service.

So I am right back to square one with the whole build/buy/partner question that seems to be around every turn these days. Here’s a question for those of who have implemented a wiki service at your Universities … do you have one big wiki that people just add to, or do you provide a true wiki service where any user can create a separate instance that is their own?

Unscientific Data of the Day: Twitter InstaPoll

This cannot be considered for anything other than what it is — a quick broadcast style poll asking people if they use Twitter more than IM since the Twitter craze has started. Major issue with the method here — I sent the question via Twitter. Hmm, I wonder if that could have impacted the data. At any rate the results are below. I can say that I see a lot less people on my IM list when I am logged in … not less in general, just a heck of a lot less from my PSU circle — which BTW has grown by leaps and bounds since I started using Twitter. Twitter has opened my community up to a whole bunch of people around PSU. At any rate here are the results of my 30 minute Twitter InstaPoll … please let me know what you think — and please, no need to bash the method, I know it is flawed and tells us nothing. But it is interesting to me!

Twitter Use

MacBook Reactions

So I have now been using a black MacBook for about five days and I am really enjoying it. The comments made by a whole bunch of people reveal that this is a personal choice that can only be slightly influenced by your peers. Before I get into my initial reactions I just have to say how funny it is that I try to post good stuff about teaching and learning with technology, but the posts that get the most traction are the ones about Apple Hardware and other product style reviews. I think I may have to switch this blog over to an Apple Fanboy site.

Ok, now on to my MacBook thoughts … I am noticing a few things now about the MacBook that I thought I would share as a follow up to the previous post:

  • I am missing the lighted keyboard … I hate to say it but I look at the keyboard quite a bit when I type. I type fast, but I never really did practice the way Mrs. Hawk (my 9th grade typing teacher) would have liked. With that said, I am digging the MacBook’s keyboard design.
  • The sound is lame … the built in speakers suck. Completely underpowered compared to the MBP. I don’t use the speakers on my laptop much, but I do when I am on the road in hotels. I love music so when I travel my laptop turns into my in room entertainment system. Maybe I just need to forget how good the MBP speakers sounded and get on with life.
  • I am not missing the larger display … the native resolution of 1280 x 800 on the MacBook is treating me just fine. I can always go back to a virtual desktop setup, but Expose continues to be my favorite choice for rapid switching.
  • I love the glossy screen … I know you can get that on the MBP, but I didn’t have it and really like it. We shall see how it holds up on a plane with an open window shade, but so far so good.
  • Video seems a little slow … but I guess that is to be expected. I am only noticing it now as I have hooked up to a 23″ Apple Display … it just feels that way, but it may be in my head. It does do a great job of driving the display however.
  • It gets dirty … and I mean it gets dirty fast. I have no idea how to care for the glossy screen, but I find myself wiping fingerprints off the case a lot.
  • Sexy … yep, I said it. This thing is sexy. People check it out … funny, MBP’s are everywhere on campus and this thing just turns heads. Not that I am into that sort of thing!
  • It is fast … with 2 GB of RAM it is very speedy. I have to say it feels faster than my MBP (which was a first generation Intel MBP) except for when I launch Word. Thankfully (a) I don’t launch it as much as I used to and (b) a native Intel version has been announced.
  • The size … the form factor simply kicks ass. The size and weight are amazing. It has sharp edges around the wrist rests that I will need to get used to, but it is a joy to hold, sit on your lap, and use. I am liking that … it reminds me of why I loved the old 12″ PowerBook.

Later today I am getting my USB Broadband Modem and will be testing it. That will be the make or break on this thing for me … I will post my reactions either tonight or tomorrow on that one. So there it is for today — my mind may change tomorrow, but so far I am really liking the MacBook over the MacBook Pro. Any other thoughts for me?

MacBook Shootout. What to Do?

Let me start by saying that this post is about making a decision … I don’t want it to be viewed as anything but me thinking out loud about a couple of really solid products. With that said, let me get rolling with it. For those who know me I don’t think it is a secret that I am an Apple guy — that may actually be a little bit of an understatement. I try to get my hands on most of Apple’s stuff for a ton of reasons, but design is at the top of the list. I love the way they make things, package things, market things, and execute in the marketplace. It honestly started way back in 1984 when the family got an original 128K Mac on my 12th birthday. It was mesmerizing … the whole thing was just amazing to me. I used that machine for 6 years until it literally blew up when I was a senior in high school. From there I got a Mac SE to take off to college. Things got a bit out of control over the next several years … here’s a sample of the Macs I’ve had in my possession over the years, an LC III, Performa 600 CD, PM 7200, Blue and White G3, G3 All in One, Newton 2100, SnowBall iMac, DP G4s, DP G5s, PowerBooks, iBooks, Intel iMac, MBP, and more … let’s not even get into the iPods. I will say that after the Blue and White most of my machines have been either a work or consulting machine, so its not like I’ve been buying everything that Apple brings out — really!

Prior to coming to ETS I was an avid 12″ PowerBook user. I loved it … everything about it. The size and industrial design still makes me smile when I see one. When I got to ETS I switched over to the 15″ PowerBook and since have been using a 15″ MacBook Pro. I love the MBP, but have found myself looking very longingly at the black MacBook recently. I am getting set to start on a ridiculus amount of travel over the next month and the smaller size and increased battery life of the MB is starting to really appeal to me. So after all that bullshit in the first paragraph, this is what I am wondering about … MBP v MB? I have spent the weekend with a MB testing it out and here’s what I am coming up so far:

The MBP gives me:

  • Lighted Keyboard … I am surprised by how much this helps. I find myself missing that b/c I do quite a bit of email late at night in the dark.
  • Bigger Display … Putting them side by side, the 15″ seems a lot bigger, but I’m not sure I absolutely need the extra real estate, but there are times when it is really nice to have.
  • Card Slot … Honestly this has been the MB deal breaker until now b/c I not only use, but need, my card slot to use my Verizon Wireless V640. More and more places offer free wifi, but when you rely on tools like email and Google Docs as much as I do I need a live connection.
  • Pro Looks … I hate to say it but the MBP looks more grown up. I am finding as I am aging that may not be as desirable as I once thought.

The MB gives me:

  • Killer Keyboard Design … I have to say I am digging on the raised keyboard design. It actually reminds me of the keyboard that shipped with my LC III — my favorite of all the keyboards I’ve ever used. I do miss the backlighting, but I have a little flexible USB light that I used to use with my 12″ that will work on a plane or in a pinch.
  • Size … The thing feels like a notebook — not a computer, but a real notebook. I can see myself just grabbing it to take into meetings much more than I do with my MBP. With the MBP I always put it in a bag and take all the stuff with me for some reason. Also, on a plane, this thing will be killer … being able to actually use it in coach is a big motivator here. I am a big guy and the MBP poses problems, especially if the person in front of me needs to recline.
  • Battery Life … I used it yesterday morning from about 7:30 AM until noon without hooking it to an AC power source. I even had the thing cranked to best performance. The MBP cannot even come close to that. Again on a cross country flight I might actually be able to make it without frantically searching for a power outlet during a layover.
  • Wireless … Yeah they are both wireless, but the MB seems to get a much stronger signal here in my house. Not sure why, but it is snappier when browsing, downloading, and uploading. Maybe it is just in my head, but it is noticeable.
  • Lack of a Card Slot … I know I said I need this, but one of my colleagues pointed me to the Verizon Wireless USB720 Modem. Essentially it is the same as the card only USB based. Sure it sticks out farther, but who cares. I once got stuck on the runway for a couple of hours and was happily surfing, emailing, and connected with the broadband … not once did I care if the thing would stick out.

Update: OK, here is one thng that is bothering me a little bit — the case design of the MB. It isn’t terrible, but this one is a little sharp around the edges. Where my wrists hit the wrist rest areas it is sharp edge. Are others dealing with that or is it just the one I am using?

Performance seems to be close to the same … I am a little dismayed by the lack of dedicated video memory on the MB, but if I am going to need something to do some real work on I use my 24″ iMac anyway. At work I hook the MBP up to an external display and I know the MB can drive it — it isn’t a 30″ display, so no worries there. So at the end of the day I still can’t decide, but I am leaning towards the MB. Anyone out there have a MB and want to share some thoughts with me?

Hidden Gems on PSU Podcasting

As I was browsing through the Podcasts at Penn State analytics data for the week I noticed a huge jump in the number of visits (about 2,000 additional for the week). When I jumped over to the specific page that was getting all the hits I was surprised to see the “Honey Bees in Crisis” podcast being done by Carla Zimbal-Saul and her students. Really well done and pulling in some major attention and traffic. It is well worth a visit!

I am heading to Apple with Carla and some of her colleagues from the PSU College of Education very soon to talk to them about some of the great work that is being done in our College of Ed. Things like this show just how well they are at integrating technology in appropriate ways to support teaching and learning. I’d love to get Carla to do a guest post on the project … I wonder if she would consider that?

ETS Talk 17 is Available

I feel like all I do at the end of every week is post news of the latest ETS Talk all over my available websites. I post it to the Podcasts at Penn State site, PSU on iTunes U, the ETS Blog, and here at my personal blog. I think this week I’ll even post it over at my PSU Blog (that is running on the new PSU Blog Platform we talk about in the episode) as well just to keep the content flowing. It begs the question of where is the best place to link this stuff? I get good stats from Apple on what is being downloaded out of iTunes U but it is increasingly difficult to know where people are getting the ETS Talk Podcast from. At the end of the day I may have too many places sitting out there on the Internets.

At any rate, the ETS Talk Gang welcomes Jeff Swain this week to talk about building online communities. Jeff manages the ANGEL Community Hub for us here at ETS and has done a wonderful job getting it off the ground and growing it. For some reason we end up calling Jeff and the podcast, “the total package” … not really sure why. We also get a chance to listen to and respond to a phone message by Chris Long about blogging in the classroom. At the end of the show we spend a little time talking about how long the University should maintain content for students and what we should be thinking about to help preserve online content over the long haul.

Direct Link to Podcast | iTunes U

Dropping the Ball

Earlier this month I was really thinking about what it would look like if I posted every single day … yeah, that didn’t happen. This post has no real substance what so ever other than to say that I am thinking about some stuff. Nothing that is going to change the world in any sense, but I am throwing some things around in my head. This week I have learned more about what iTunes U has in store and I am thinking about how I can share those thoughts in a meaningful and responsible way. With that said, I’d love to talk about the Blogs at PSU project, but timing isn’t quite right. It’ll be time soon.

That’s really it for today … fluff to cover for the fact that real stuff is happening that I can’t really talk about. Drives me crazy, but progress often does.

Presentation for Open Minds at Penn State

I have presented about web 2.0 dozens of times in the last couple of years … I am close to the point where I am tired of the whole thing, but as I discovered during my most recent talk now is the time to stay the course with the message. Last week I gave a talk during the Open Minds series sponsored by Penn State Outreach … they asked that I come in and talk about what is going on in new web spaces and relate it to education. I agreed and decided to do an extended version of my Web 2.0 in the Higher Education Enterprise talk. One thing I learned, two hours is a long time to talk.

I originally expected it to be an hour with about 20 people, but it turned out to be a two hour session with 50 folks there. The audience was more mixed than what I am used to — there were a couple of instructional designers and faculty, but for the most part the audience was made up of administrators and program managers from the various Outreach groups. I would say about a third were up to speed with most of the stuff we discussed, but it was great to see people really getting some of the more interesting tools — del.icio.us was a big hit, as were blogs, wikis, Google Docs, and believe it or not, Twitter. By the end we had come a long way towards building a shared understanding of these new tools and the types of opportunities can be created by using them.

At any rate, I thought I ought to at least write down the fact I did it and point you over to my PSU Blog (published from the PSU Blogger tool set) where the slides are available as a PDF or a Flash Presentation. Special thanks to D’Arcy b/c I stole a picture of a bus from one of his talks for my intro wiki slide. I also ripped, mixed, and stole a great slide from him about web publishing. I think all that stuff was creative commons, no? No matter what, I had a great time and like always I should have recorded it.