Reflection #7 - Google Docs

Hello Again!

You know what time of the week this is! I am back to write on another technological tool and discuss what I liked or disliked about it! For this week, Google Docs was the assigned tool, which I was immediately pleased with.

Spanning.  (CC)  2016.

Now I should probably explain why I was so happy with the chosen resource. The truth is, I first discovered Google Docs and Slides last year when I had a group project with four other people. If you have ever been in a group consisting of five members, you know that it is often very hard to be able to meet with all members of your group due to everyone having different schedules. However, one of my group mates introduced us all to Google Docs and Google Slides and my life was forever changed as a student.

This tool is so great for collaboration because it allows for people to work simultaneously or independently on projects, where anyone is able to edit anyone else's work. This is great for a student in a group, who has a tight schedule, as they could input all of their data into the document and help edit when they have time. This also allows for people to see everyone else's progress in the group, which could lead to less stress (or more stress if your group members are not doing their work). I have found that Google Docs is great for group essays, which I have done recently. I especially encourage using Google Docs because each group member can post what sources they will be working with to ensure that no one is using the same source twice.

I also have used Google Docs academically for note taking during class, as there are many functions that allow me to organize my notes. I especially like the various highlighter colours and fonts that can be used. I also found that because Google Docs automatically saves what you are typing, I do not have to worry about losing the information that I have typed. I also think the ability to easily insert pictures is another awesome tool because you do not need to have the picture saved, but can simply use the URL.

Since discovering Google Docs, I have also used it when completing statistics assignments because of the quick save feature and the table insertion. As Word also allows people to insert tables, I found that Google Docs is much more easy to navigate and that adding tables is faster. I have also used Google Docs at work in the summer, as I had to keep a daily journal of the amount of people that I called with notes and found that it was extremely efficient in a Google document.

In regards to my PLE, I had already included Google Docs under my two categories of Education and Communication. I will keep it in this position as it is a tool that benefits both of these areas. As I was already aware of Google Docs and Slides, I did not think it made that much of a difference on my digital literacy. However, as I did play around with more of the functions, I did become more knowledgeable, thus improving my digital literacy!

Blogspot. (CC) 2016.

To end my post for this week, I wanted to share an app that I found from my Feedly. Hack College reviews the app ColorNote, which is an app that is synched up to your phone and Google account, that helps you to stay organized. It helps to keep you aware of checklists using colour coordination, that I think could be incredibily helpful for a student! If you are interested, you should check out their review!



As always, until next time!
Nicole

Reflection #6 - Evernote

Hello Again!

I was off for a week enjoying some time to myself, but I am now back and ready to blog! This week, my class had to focus on the tool Evernote and use this site to help us get ready for one of our upcoming assignments. While working with Evernote, I found that I had many mixed reviews about the site personally. I do not know if I have mentioned this prior, but I am not a tech savvy person, although I can easily maneuver the web tools that I am accustomed to (after a VERY long trial period). So my first experience with Evernote happened to be today, which I found to be an infuriating struggle. I did find that the actual set-up process was quite easy to figure out, which I enjoyed, yet I found the clipart attachment was bothersome to download as it took some time. That being said, I found that the clipart tool was extremely handy, as it is easily accessible. Another pro was that the tool allows you to clip anything you want back to Evernote, including images, videos and various text. I also really liked how it gives you the option on whether you want to only take a portion of the text, everything or just include the link. Another benefit I found was that it is extremely organized. Evernote allows you to create your own different types of notebooks, so when you are clipping from a website, you can put that information into whatever notebook that you want to. Due to its ability to easily organize, I can understand how this would be a great tool to compile sites and information for a project. Although I did initially dislike Evernote because it was like nothing I have ever navigated before, I did find that once I knew what was going on, I could easily figure it out.

http://mergy.org/wp-content/uploads/evernote.png

In a sense, Evernote reminded me of an RSS Feed that you are personally creating, that you can later look at everything that you have assigned. Due to the share feature on Evernote, you could also share your notebooks with partners if need be. However, a downside of Evernote is that you are the only person who is able to edit your notes, so if you did have a partner, they would be privy to your information, but ultimately powerless. If I am honestly speaking (or writing), I could see the benefit of using Evernote in a group, but would prefer to use Google Docs myself because of the ability to edit others work.

I will definitely be adding Evernote to my PLE despite the mixed reviews that I have given the tool throughout the entire blog. I do see how someone could thrive using this tool and I could put it under Education, as I would personally not use it for any other reason.

http://alumni.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/image/mosquitoZIKA.jpg

Another topic I would like to discuss with you all today is something I found via Feedly! The article is called Canadian Mosquito Tests For Zika Virus Transmission Begins. Within the article, you discover that Brock University is testing for the Zika Virus in Canada to discover if our mosquitoes can carry the virus, which is extremely important to us as Canadians. Without my Feedly, I may not have noticed this article and would not have even thought about the potential that our mosquitoes could start infecting us too.

Until next time!
Nicole

Weekly Report & Reflection #5

This week, I found our topic to be especially exciting because we had to work with Twitter!

http://cdn.dexmedia.com/media/twitter-hashtag.jpg

Twitter is a social media that I have brought up in my blogs before this week, so I was excited that I would be expanding my PLE with an educational twitter account. As I have mentioned previously, I really enjoy Twitter because it allows you to filter using hashtags and follow people or accounts that interest you. It is very similar to my Feedly in that way, as I could also decide to put notifications on certain accounts in case I do not want to miss any of their tweets. 

As I mentioned before, I had a Twitter account prior to this class, which I used mostly for entertainment purposes. If you look back at my week 2 for my PLE, I had connected Twitter to two of my main categories of Communication and Connection via Social Media. However, with the inclusion of my educational account, Twitter may also fit below Education. As I do not think I will be able to connect Twitter to three different components in my PLE, I will distinguish between my main and educational account as they serve two different purposes.

https://mobilescience10.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/twitter-for-education.jpg

Before this class, I had never though of Twitter as an educational tool because that is never how I used it in the past. On my main account, I use Twitter to interact with my friends and tell jokes about my life and the people around me. It had never occurred to me that Twitter could have an educational side, which I realize now, was not correct to assume. Looking at the features on Twitter, I could see how it is a great educational platform and how it has been used like that in the past for movements such as #BlackLivesMatter. By implementing a maximum 140 characters count, it allows for people to be concise and get to the point of the issue at hand. It also allows for you to constantly be updated about issues surrounding you, where you can easily check your phone.

As always, I have "mastered" one more media site, allowing me to become more tech savvy and add to my PLE. I cannot wait for next week!

Until next time!