Is Email a form of Social Media #edchat

Yes it is.

Social media are media designed to be disseminated through social interaction, created using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques. Social media supports the human need for social interaction, using Internet- and web-based technologies to transform broadcast media monologues (one to many) into social media dialogues (many to many). It supports the democratization of knowledge and information, transforming people from content consumers into content producers. Businesses also refer to social media as user-generated content (UGC) or consumer-generated media (CGM).

Email does allow multiple recipients. Email is user generated.
Email is a form of Social Media. Email as a standard (SMTP) has been used for years and will continue to be used. It is one of the oldest protocols used on the Internet today. So why do some people forget that Email is a social media tool?
Who broke email’s social appeal? Blame your boss.
The phycological impact of using the same tools at work as at home is measurably negative. We like the ability to separate our work and play and we consider “socializing” a play event. Play is something you do with friends & people with similar interests. Can you say that is true about all of the people you work with?
Do we need to fix email’s social appeal? Not really.. We seem to know it’s place in society, we like where it is. We will keep using it for what it is. Having alternative media platforms such as micro blogging, blogging and other platforms where you control who can send and receive posts is what I would call “Controlled Social Environment”.
PS I hate the term Social Media. Educationalists come up with these ridiculous terms to try to summarize a new tech in as few words possible – get over it.

5 Fantastic Internet / E-Safety resources – #education

Safer Practice with Technologyhttp://www.kenttrustweb.org.uk/UserFiles/CW/File/Advisory_Service_ICT/E-Safety/SaferPracticeWithTechnology-260509.pdf – For adults working in schools, this document covers using technology as a communication tool in professional relationships, protecting adults from minteration of behvaiour and understanding personal and professional boundaries.

North Yorkshire County Council – E-safety Links and Resources – http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1dk37/esafetyApril09/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http://www.yudu.com/item/details/74728/e-safety–April-09-%3Frefid%3D18007 – This site is a selection of recommended sites to use to delivery E-Safety in schools.

Internet Safety @ Next Generation Learning – http://www.nextgenerationlearning.org.uk/At-Home/Internet-safety/ – Here you will find links to lots of resources on internet safety. The content is aimed at both home and school and has resources for parents and children.

E-safety weekhttp://www.esafetyweek.info/ – I love this idea. E-Safety can affect every aspect of our lives so to introduce it across an entire week seems fantastic. This site is made by Oldham and provides a framework for other LA’s to do similar exercises.

Primary School Safe Searchhttp://primaryschoolict.com/ – A google powered safe search engine that gets educational results more accurately. Great for setting as pupils and teachers home page. I like this site because it’s not so much a teaching resource as a learning aid.

E-Ink brings fresh thought to classrooms


E Ink is a new technology that is exciting investors the world over. E Ink is basically a way of displaying 4 shades of grey onto an LCD type display that uses a less power. I am going to be discussing practical uses for this in a school or classroom environment.

Obvious uses are:
  • Replace classroom display boards with relevant material.
  • Replace paintings or signs with suitable notices.
  • Use as a reading device, alternative to a laptop.
My concept..:
It wasn’t that many years ago since I left the classroom… Okay, so it was but I still remember most of what I wasn’t supposed to be learning. My eyes constantly wandered around the walls looking at the presentation that year 11 had done on osmosis whilst trying not to learn..
So I figured..
Why not have displays that update with material that is relevant to what the teacher is trying to teach, that way when I start to wander at least I’m learning something that’s useful.
Something to note:
E Ink will mostly be powered by solar and should be sustainable using standard classroom lighting. E Ink will not be a replacement for a computer or laptop. E Ink is a display technology.
And to sprinkle the frosties
Currently 7″ x 9″ screens are classed as “massive”. Some of the screens are flexible and most do not have any wireless connectivity.
In my ideal world a screen would be 4ft x 3ft, width/height adjustable and include some sort of wireless content delivery system. Oh and it should be solar powered. I want to pay about $200 for this, max.
Oh and as my last request I want to be able to roll it up at the end of the term, just so the cleaners don’t break it!
E Ink in 2005

The flexible potential of E Ink