Briefly reflect on lessons learnt from this tutorial :

a. How has Twitter (micro-blogging) enhanced your learning of EIR? Compare this with your blogging experience using Blogspot.

Due to Twitter's 140 character limit, one is forced to be concise in explanation and ensure that everything one intends to convey is condensed but still comprehensible. It is a good exercise in brevity, that is sometimes necessary, especially when time is of the essence.

I believe Twitter is a lot easier to use as a communication tool, but obviously cannot succeed as a log for documentation because of its character limit. How it is unique from blogger and other social media can be found in its social communication aspect. It has a lot of emphasis on responding and interacting (hashtagging, Re-Tweeting, etc), that takes place in a hassle-free and fast way.

This is especially so with the use of a program like TweetDeck.

b. How can you use Twitter and Blogspot for research purposes?

Blogs have long been used for research purposes, documenting someone's life work or a specific research project. Tim Davies, an independent researcher on numerous subjects, uses his blog to document and discuss his work.

Twitter can also be used in the same way, but in a more concise and up-to-the-minute manner. For example, when working on social networking sites' effects on youth behaviour, one can document it in the following way:

Tweet 1: Starting research on SNS now. Anyone can contribute?

Tweet 2: Found research conducted in 2005 at the inception of Facebook about its early stages.

a. Which criteria did you use to evaluate Stomp.com? Why did you choose this criteria? What lessons have you learnt from this activity?

Authority. From this criteria, I have learned that STOMP has little authority and limited coverage. It provides coverage on happenings, however, most of the time the citizen journalists do not approach parties involved to find out what really is happening. Often, the "journalists" speculate based on a sighting, and commenters continue to speculate. The truth hardly comes to light. Thus, STOMP, more often than not, doesn't provide an authority on topics that it covers because its content involves a lot of speculation.

b. How do you feel about sharing your views via Wiki?

I feel that views shouldn't be shared on a wiki page per se, because a wiki page should be backed up by factual research. If something is written with a leaning agenda, than something else should be written to counter-argue the former. Both should be backed up by factual research.

a. Do you think it is more effective to search the invisible web (databases) than using search engines, meta-search or subject directories? Why?

The concept of an individual web database is extremely useful because its use in addition to the use of search engines, meta-search engines and subject directories enables you to broaden your research, as it retrieves resources that its counterparts don't. However, because they are generally extremely specific results, it is difficult to pinpoint your desired outcome when using them.

b. Will you use the invisible web (databases) for research in your own respective Diplomas? Why?

Yes, because it enables me to broaden the scope of my findings.

c. What have you learnt from your wiki experience during this practical?

The use of a wiki page is extremely useful to conducting research, because it features user-contributed content that requires the use of citations and bibliographies. Parallels can be drawn between wiki pages and conducting research in a team, because the more people working on a wiki page, the greater the yield of findings.

a. Were you impressed by google’s search functions/features? Why?

Google provided me with an extensive collection of results that revealed many resources that serve various purposes. First 10 results were generally relevant, with an overall result size of 36, 900. First 10 results were current, all updated within the span of the last 3 years.

Google Scholar provided me with refined search purposes, centred on academic resources. Scholar also allows you refine searches according to articles and patents, date of publication on the web and whether citations are present. All results on the first page were relevant, with some featuring in-depth information and branches of keywords searched. For example, one result featured a study looking at effects of social technology on real life social involvement.

b. How do you feel about participation in discussion forum? Is it helpful for your research? Do you feel anxious about talking to others you do not know?

I feel participation in discussion forums enable me to interact with people with varying perspectives. On forums in general, interaction with people from other countries enable me to discover perspectives from individuals with different understandings of society locally and globally. A difference in socio-cultural predispositions enable a good variation in discussion perspectives.

c. Why must you do citation and bibliography?

To ensure that all contributions and findings are credible and can be checked at any time by anyone reading my findings.

With $500, I would first purchase a Playstation 3.

The PlayStation 3 (officially abbreviated as PS3) is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment, and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series.

A major feature that distinguishes the PlayStation 3 from its predecessors is its unified online gaming service, the PlayStation Network, which contrasts with Sony's former policy of relying on video game developers for online play. Other major features of the console include its robust multimedia capabilities, connectivity with the PlayStation Portable, and its use of a high-definition optical disc format, Blu-ray Disc, as its primary storage medium.

The Xbox 360 aside, the Playstation 3 currently stands as the most advanced consumer-level gaming console on the market.

The APC 40 is a MIDI controller that is used in conjunction with an electronic music production and performance software Ableton Live.

"Ableton Live software is a powerful, flexible environment for creating, performing, and producing music. This unique software demands an equally unique control instrument. Combining the APC40 with Ableton Live transforms the user experience from constructing tracks on a computer to fluid, musical creation and performance.

The APC40 is the link between human and computer that perfectly balances analytical parameter control with creative expression. Whether you are an electronic music artist and Live is your canvass, a DJ using Live to mix or remix tracks, or a more traditional musician using Live on stage or in the studio, you will find the APC40 to the intuitive, powerful instrument that directly links your inspiration with Ableton Live."

- http://www.akaipro.com/apc40

HAWAII

I used www.gohawaii.com as it is the official website of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. While not all information is revealed through an official tourism website like the one above, I chose it because of its authority and coverage.

The most important criteria, I feel, is coverage because as someone looking to travel to a country, the website providing information should cover everything that is essential for someone like me to know. The website provides me with hotel reservation inf.ormation, places of interests, information on beaches, transportations, dining, as well as local culture

The website also provides links to other resources on Hawaii.

Hawaii is my choice destination as it has pristine beaches, tropical weather and is an all-around beautiful destination.

1. How do you feel about posting your views on the topic posted on OLE Online Discussion Forum? Can you express your views freely?

As with every aspect of life, there are social limits. So correspondingly, I do not feel views can be expressed freely on a polytechnic discussion forum. However, I do feel that most students may find discussion with their peers to bring out very relatable topics and gripes, and this platform also enables tutors and lecturers to help and be engaged with their students.


2. How does this online discussion experience compared with traditional face-to-face in-class discussions?

Because teachers and students alike don't face the requirement of responding immediately, it is possible for them to think through issues thoroughly before answering. Similarly, students can put thought into formulating their methods of putting forth a question or phrasing an opinion or viewpoint in a manner that is detailed.

3. Do you find this online activity meaningful? Why?

Yes, it is indeed meaningful, because just as it has its downsides (non-immediate, impersonal), any way of improving and facilitating communication is meaningful, as it can lead to an improvement in productivity or an overall increase in the quality of discussion. This sort of improvement is prudent especially if it can facilitate a change in perspective in the method of communication.