Weekly Report & Reflection #3

Report

Do you know the saying “you learn something new everyday”? I guess that statement is true. This week, I have learned all about RSS feed readers and how they can be useful to my educational process. The RSS video (click HERE to watch) in the Building Background section explains the benefits of RSS feed readers. RSS feed readers are a form of technology that allow me to select appropriate resources for myself, keep track of my recently used websites, and bring new and relevant information to me from these sites all in one place. Unlike the old method of using bookmarks, RSS feeds are more convenient by not requiring you to check all separate websites for updated information relevant to your interests.

I also learned how to use the Feedly RSS feed reader with the help of another video found in the resource section called “How to use Feedly” (click HERE to watch). This video explained in a step-by-step process how to sign up for Feedly, and the different ways of using and navigating the website. These two videos can be extremely informational and useful tools to help students get accustomed to using these kinds of research tools.

https://feedly.com/images/signup-feedly-logo.png

Reflection

Throughout this third session of the course, I learned about what an RSS Feed Reader is and how to use the Feedly RSS feed reader (click HERE to go to Feedly). On my Feedly reader, I was able to organize the websites that I visit daily and get notifications when new information is updated on a particular website.  The websites that I select to show up on my Feedly reader contribute to my digital footprint. It is important for me to select positive sources in order to build a positive digital footprint. 

An article of interest that I found on my Feedly reader is titled “Badgers Taking Notes” by Brock student blogger, Iain (click HERE to read blog).  This article discussed whether handwritten notes or computer notes are better for learning.  Some benefits of handwritten notes are that you are forced to write only what you think is important and to pick out the main points from the lecture.  It also avoids the possiblility of some distractions, unlike being on a laptop and being able to surf the web (social media). On the other hand, one benefit of taking notes on the computer is that our generation has grown up around technology and feels more comfortable operating with it. In addition, people can add different types of media to their notes, depending on their individual learning style. One app which allows students to copy and paste multimedia information into lecture notes is Evernote. For example, visual learners can add videos and images to their notes, while audio learners can add voice clips.

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2015/08/notetaking-1920x1080.jpg

Personally, I prefer both types of note-taking, depending on if my professor puts lecture notes online for the students’ convenience. If the notes are available online, I prefer to handwrite any side notes and to focus more on what he is teaching. If notes are not available online, typing notes can be a lot quicker, result in less spelling mistakes and be more organized.

RSS feed readers can be an extremely useful tool for researching information for essays and papers. In my Personal Learning Environment, as discussed in Week 2, RSS feeds can be classified as a research tool or an organize tool. RSS feed readers filter resources based off my interests, provide up-to-date information, and allow me search for particular resources, making research quicker and easier. It also allows me to categorize my resources, keeping my information organized and up-to-date.

Cheers,

Robert DeMelo

My Experience with RSS Feeds

As part of our Week #3 assignments, I learned about a new tool called RSS feeds. RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication,” and is a form of technology used to keep track of your frequently used personal websites. Prior to the creation of RSS feeds, people would bookmark their websites, which is more work and less convenient. Unlike bookmarks, RSS feeds provide you with a way of getting up to date information on topics of interest, all in one place. It can save time by providing you with relevant information quicker.

After exploring an RSS feed called “Feedly”, I subscribed to a list of resources that interested me, such as sports, news, education, and movies. One article that stood out to me was  “In Madrid, Hope Has a New Name: Zidane”, by The New York Times (click HERE to read article). This article explains that Zinedine Zidane has become the new hope of Real Madrid’s miserable season, by becoming the club’s new manager. Zidane was appointed Real Madrid’s new boss after they parted ways with ex-manager Rafael Beneitez. Under Beneitez, Madrid was in third place of the La Liga standings. By Real Madrid’s standards that is simply not good enough. Considering the fact that they are one of the richest football clubs in the world, Madrid should be a title contender. They have world-class players on their roster, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth bale, Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo. The club’s president, Florentino Pérez, as well as their fans, hope that their new manager can bring a spark to this football club, and trophies to follow.

http://www.realmadrid.com/en

This news article appeared interesting to me because Real Madrid is my favourite football team, which turns out to also have my favourite player on the squad-Cristiano Ronaldo. I have been a Madrid fan for over 10 years, which gives obvious reasoning as to why this article is interesting to me. This article was brought to my attention thanks to the RSS Feedly reader, along with many other articles specific to my personal interests.

Cheers,

Robert DeMelo

My Personal Learning Environment (Week #2)

Report

In this session, we learned about Word Clouds and Personal Learning Environments (PLE). The website Digital Study Skills (click HERE) defines a PLE as “a digital toolbox which covers activities such as Generating, Organising and Sharing Content Online.” This is a way to help manage your learning through the use of digital tools. Creating my own PLE helped me learn that I need to be more organized, as I did not have many tools in the Organize category. On the other hand, I had many tools in the Connect category, mainly social media and email. Interacting online allows me to interact with people that have similar interests, brand myself on the web, and form future connections through online networking.

DeMelo, R. (CC) 2016.

Word Clouds are another online tool that can be used as a visual representation. Word clouds are images that convert text into visuals, while highlighting the important words. This can be a different way of presenting information, allowing readers to capture key points more easily. Based on the creation of my Word Cloud, positive technology and digital footprint were some of the main words used in my previous week’s Report & Reflection. This indicates that using technology in a positive manner is important to creating a positive digital footprint.

DeMelo, R. (CC) 2016.

Reflection

Creating a Personal Learning Environment is an effective way of assisting learning in order to be more successful in life. In 5-10 years from now, I envision myself working a full-time job in the sports industry. More specifically, I aspire to be a Head Coach of a professional sports team or fill a position in the Marketing Department of the organization.  I also hope to be married and to have a family with children, preferably living in my hometown of Hamilton, or somewhere in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). Currently, I am a full time student at Brock University in my second year of study in the Sport Management program. I am an active member of the Brock school community, participating in extra-curricular sports, clubs, and Varsity soccer. I also work a part-time job throughout the school year with the Brock Recreation Services. Even though I enjoy these activities and they keep me busy throughout the school year, this is not how I envision the rest of my life. In the future, I hope to graduate, find full-time employment, but still continue to participate in sports.

In order to get where I want to be in 10 years, I have to gain more life experience and life skills.  For employment purposes, I will need coaching experience, my coaching license, and a good knowledge of the sport. These learning requirements relate to the Connect category of my PLE, as interacting with people allows me to make connections in order to gain these experiences/ skills.  I will also need to understand how the sports organization operates, which can be achieved through the resources in the Research category.  Collaboration tools are also necessary for me to gain the proper life experiences and to become more mature.  In order to learn these skills, it is important to be in the proper environment. This includes surrounding myself with positive influences and people with similar life goals and interests. Breaking bad habits and forming positive ones are also extremely important to assist me in learning and to achieve my objectives. Some of my bad habits that I need to break include procrastination, laziness, staying up late, and sleeping in. Some good habits that I need to form include good study habits, setting proper priorities, establishing good sleeping patterns, and being more punctual. By learning the appropriate skills, being in the proper environment, and creating the right habits, I will be more prepared to achieve these goals and be successful in life.

Cheers,

Robert DeMelo

Building a Positive Digital Footprint (Week 1)

Report

Throughout this first Session of the course, I was introduced to the fundamentals of technology and my impact on the digital world. After watching the Digital Dossier video (watch here), I was surprised about how big my digital footprint actually is. I learned that my digital footprint was created before I was even born. For example, information related to my birth and baby pictures sent to family and friends both contributed to building my digital footprint before I even knew what technology was. As I grow older and become more involved in the digital world, I continue to contribute to the development of my digital footprint.

I also learned about the The 9 Elements of Digital Citizenship, as referenced in Digital Citizenship in Schools by Mike Ribble. In my opinion, the first element, Digital Access, is the most important element of them all. Digital Access is defined as being involved in society via technology. Unfortunately, not everyone has equal access to technology, for example, based on socioeconomic status, disabilities, and physical location. However, it is important to provide additional opportunities to provide everyone digital access, allowing fast and efficient communication.

http://www.fractuslearning.com/2014/09/09/digital-citizenship-poster/ 

Technology was created for opportunity and convenience, not harm or distraction. Ribble states that “technology use is a privilege, not a right, and users must follow the "rules of the road" to retain that privilege”. His Digital Driver’s Exam is a useful tool that tests your knowledge of proper use of technology in a classroom, or “the rules of the road”. Following the completion of the exam, I personally believe that I have a good knowledge of the rules of the internet and of being an effective digital citizen, however two areas needing improvement were Digital Communication and Digital Commerce. As always, I want to improve and develop my skills related to my digital footprint for career purposes.

Reflection

http://brandconnexion.weebly.com/
blog/leave-a-positive-digital-footprint

A digital footprint is part of every day life, even if you do not frequently surf the web or use social media. Since I am a daily social media user, I have significantly expanded my personal digital footprint. However, by attending university, I am also encouraged to sign up and use online school resources, which increases my print even further. As I continue to use a variety of online resources throughout my life, I hope to create a positive footprint for myself. Building a good footprint for myself can be done by monitoring my Internet usage and not posting inappropriate content. Having good “Netiquette” is also important to maintaining a positive digital footprint. Netiquette is “the do's and don'ts of online communication” (http://www.albion.com/netiquette/). This includes being respectful online and following the “rules of the road” of the Internet. By establishing a positive footprint, I am creating a positive image of myself, which could benefit me in the future, for example in the job search.

Throughout this Session, I have learned a variety of lessons relating to digital learning and digital citizenship. I have learned the do’s and don’t’s of being online in today’s society, such as being respectful of other people’s time, bandwidth, and privacy, and creating a positive image for myself online. Using the Internet and creating online posts can have an affect on how people see me as a person and can also decide my fate in the business world. I continue to look forward to learning more about being a good digital citizen and creating a positive digital footprint.

Cheers,

Robert DeMelo

Introducing Myself

Hello fellow ADED 1P32 classmates and instructor.

My name is Robert DeMelo and I am currently in my second year of study in Sport Management at Brock University. I previously transferred to Brock from Mohawk College, located in Hamilton, about 2 years ago. I was born and raised in Hamilton until I moved to St. Catharines for university in September of 2014. Following graduation, I hope to find a job in the sports industry in a position such as Discipline Coordinator or Head Coach in either hockey or soccer.

As a member of the Brock community, I enjoy being involved in various activities. I am currently a member of the Brock Men's Varsity Soccer team, and also volunteer in multiple different organizations. This year I joined a club at Brock called "Playmakers Foundation." Playmakers is a non-profit organization that organizes local sports tournaments to raise money for various initiatives. As a club, we raise money to buy athletic equipment for underprivileged kids around the world. In our most recent basketball tournament, hosted in December, we raised $12,000 for children in Jordan and Guatemala. Our next tournament will be volleyball on February 5th, 2016, with the money raised going towards a local initiative. In addition, last year I volunteered for the Impact program, run through Brock University Athletics along with the District School Board of Niagara and the Niagara Regional Police Service. The Impact program is a mentorship program that pairs Brock varsity athletes with at-risk children from local schools in order to guide them along the right path. 

Prior to attending university, I went to a fairly large high school in Hamilton called St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School. I went there for 5 years, my last year being a victory lap. During my years in high school, I participated on the Varsity men's hockey and soccer teams. I acted as a leader on both teams, being an assistant-captain for hockey and captain for soccer. In my grade 12 year, my soccer team was crowned city champs and qualified for OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletics Associations), where we made it to the quarter-finals. 

During my spare time, I normally like to work out, watch television, and play video games. I enjoy watching a variety of shows, such as Ballers, Suits, and Marvel’s Agents of Shields, my favourite being Suits. I also enjoy watching sports, mainly hockey and soccer. My favourite NHL team is the Montreal Canadiens, and my favourite soccer team is Real Madrid. When I am not watching TV, I also enjoy playing FIFA, NHL or NBA on my Xbox One console.

Throughout the next couple of months, I will keeping a blog to help keep track of my progress in this course. It will allow me to self-reflect and to learn more about myself as an adult learner by making connections between what I have learned and past and future experience. My weekly blogs will explain a variety of topics relating to adult education and the digital world. As technology is becoming more commonly used in today's society, I am hoping to become more proficient in the use of technology throughout this course in order to help me succeed both academically and professionally.

Cheers,

Robert DeMelo