Jim Roberts's Posts - Classroom 2.02024-03-29T06:19:39ZJim Robertshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JimRobertshttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1950446491?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://www.classroom20.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=056nhy07k7eax&xn_auth=noEducation and Mobile Marketingtag:www.classroom20.com,2012-02-17:649749:BlogPost:8078532012-02-17T05:01:07.000ZJim Robertshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JimRoberts
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></br> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-71HI_LCwFoE/Tz2dwooz2_I/AAAAAAAAAHc/4LIHd2cuavA/s1600/MobileMarketing.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-71HI_LCwFoE/Tz2dwooz2_I/AAAAAAAAAHc/4LIHd2cuavA/s320/MobileMarketing.jpg" width="320"></img></a></div>
<br></br> Why is a mobile marketing strategy good for educational institutions? Because communicating through a single channel alone is often ineffective and <br></br>
response rates can be alarmingly low. By orchestrating new media…
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<br/> Why is a mobile marketing strategy good for educational institutions? Because communicating through a single channel alone is often ineffective and <br/>
response rates can be alarmingly low. By orchestrating new media like <br/>
Mobile Text, Email, IM, Voice, and Social Media, you can dramatically <br/>
increase enrollment, brand awareness, and return on investment. Why, you ask? Because:<br/>
<br/>
<p>1) There are 7 billion people on the planet. 5.1 billion of them own a cell phone<br/></p>
<p>2) It takes 90 minutes for the average person to respond to an email, if<br/> they ever read it at all. It takes 90 seconds for the average person to<br/>
respond to a text message.<br/>
</p>
<p>3) 91% of all U.S. citizens have their mobile device within reach 24/7<br/></p>
<p>4) 8 trillion text messages were sent in 2011.<br/></p>
<p>5) In 2011, over 85 percent of new handsets were be able to access the mobile Web. In US it is already had surpassed that.<br/></p>
<p>6) Text messaging has surpassed voice calls<br/></p>
<p>7) Text based marketing gets a 4% to 15% redemption rate<br/> <br/>
Digital communication has diversified and so has audience preference, <br/>
making it nearly impossible to reach your entire target group with just <br/>
one channel. Generation X relies more <br/>
on instant messaging. Young adults prefer text to email. And now nearly <br/>
half the world can't function without social media. The only way to <br/>
reach 100% today is to incorporate all channels of communication. <br/>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br/>
<br/>
<b>There are tons of communication strategies out there: Face-to-Face, Print, Email, Web, Telephone,<br/>
Blogs, Chat, Radio, TV, Facebook and even Twitter. But how do teenagers prefer to communicate?<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
SMS/MMS Texting.</b> It’s simple. It’s immediate. It’s affordable. It gets their attention.<br/>
</p>
<dl>
<dt>Targeted texting is:</dt>
<dd><br/><ul>
<li><b>Helpful</b> – text students to announce events, <br/> confirm visits, track down missing documents, and remind students of <br/>
application and deposit deadlines</li>
<li><b>Simple</b> – immediately reach a specific group of students in under 60 seconds</li>
<li><b>Cost-effective</b> – texting is far less expensive than direct mail and much more effective than e-mail</li>
<li><b>Preferred</b> – 97% percent of students use text messages as their primary form of communication</li>
</ul>
</dd>
</dl>
<p> Mobile marketing is inexpensive. Campaigns are painless and easy to setup and most of all , you are reaching your target audience. By sending texts, video, audio, mobile e-cards and other techniques, you can definitely create that "touchy-feely" engagement with your prospects and in crease your enrollment numbers. Most off all, it works on almost every phone, no matter how old it might be.</p>Mobile Applications Versus Mobile Web Sites In Educationtag:www.classroom20.com,2011-08-28:649749:BlogPost:7282062011-08-28T05:00:00.000ZJim Robertshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JimRoberts
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The future of mobile development is a strong one. The question these days is..."Is it better to build a mobile website or a mobile app"? Will new and developing browser technologies like…
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The future of mobile development is a strong one. The question these days is..."Is it better to build a mobile website or a mobile app"? Will new and developing browser technologies like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Introducing-HTML5-Voices-That-Matter/dp/0321687299?ie=UTF8&tag=whsthweth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">HTML5</a> <img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=whsthweth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0321687299" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" border="0" height="1" width="1"/>make the mobile Web preferable to apps? In my opinion, there is no debate at all. The mobile Web is not going to die and app stores are not going anywhere. <br/>
<br/>
As mobile usage increases worldwide, both sides of the equation will grow with it and become valuable aspects of product road maps. There is an expression that goes something like "a high tide raises all ships".<br/>
<br/>
Apps often fulfill a "quick action, I need something" role for students while browsers fulfill a "I need to look something up and read" role. It makes sense. When you consume content via a smartphone or a tablet, you are probably in an app that takes advantage of the deeper integrations of the device like accelerometers, ingrained video capabilities, cameras and location-based services. The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Mobile-Web-Maximiliano-Firtman/dp/0596807783?ie=UTF8&tag=whsthweth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">mobile Web</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=whsthweth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0596807783" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" border="0" height="1" width="1"/> is used more often for research and looking things up on the fly while out and about. The distinction between the two are blurring.<br/>
<br/>
Each has advantages and in my opinion apps have one clear advantage. In general, a well-made app can provide a far better user experience than even the best mobile websites are capable of right now. But that being said , you need to remember that making just a native app is usually harder than making an equivalent cross-platform web app. You often have to build each app for each platform to reach a wider audience. In North America, the most important smartphone platforms right now are iOS, Android, and BlackBerry. How many mobile users are on each? Here are the ratios in the U.S., as a percentage of all mobile phone users, for the last quarter of 2010:<br/>
<br/>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/OtterBox-Impact-Case-iPhone-Black/dp/B001KV2LK0?ie=UTF8&tag=whsthweth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">iPhone</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=whsthweth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001KV2LK0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" border="0" height="1" width="1"/>: 6.75%<br/>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Android-Developers-Cookbook-Building-Applications/dp/0321741234?ie=UTF8&tag=whsthweth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Android</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=whsthweth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0321741234" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" border="0" height="1" width="1"/>: 7.75%<br/>
BlackBerry: 8.53%<br/>
TOTAL: 23.0%<br/>
<br/>
In other words, if you decide to only make an iPhone app, fewer than 7% of all mobile phone users will be able to use it. If the app’s primary purpose is marketing, you’ll need to decide whether this reach is big enough to be worth it.<br/>
<br/>
As far as the advantage of Web apps over native mobile apps, it is cross-platform compatibility. They run in the standards-compliant browsers that are available on Android, Apple, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/BlackBerry-8520-Unlocked-Bluetooth-Wi-Fi-International/dp/B002KQLUVU?ie=UTF8&tag=whsthweth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">BlackBerry</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=whsthweth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002KQLUVU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" border="0" height="1" width="1"/>, and Windows mobile devices, so (in theory at least) they have to be built only once. The disadvantages, as I stated earlier, are that they lack access to such features of a device, they can't use some of user-interface elements that are native to each platform, and they can't be downloaded from Apple's App Store or the Android Market.<br/>
<br/>
There are clear arguments for both applications and mobile sites. While some companies believe that mobile development priorities should be focused on either a mobile site or an application, the reality is that students are using both channels, so an integrated approach is the optimal solution...a hybrid solution.<br/>
<br/>
You also need to consider time, budget and resources to develop each solution.<br />
<br/>
You can also check us out at <a href="http://happydeveloper.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Happy Developer</a><br/>Website Images Are Key For Educational Brandingtag:www.classroom20.com,2011-04-15:649749:BlogPost:6248532011-04-15T02:45:53.000ZJim Robertshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JimRoberts
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Whether you like to admit or not, a poor marketing campaign and website often fail because of poor photography. It may be hard for web designers and developers to come to terms with but images can inspire,…
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Whether you like to admit or not, a poor marketing campaign and website often fail because of poor photography. It may be hard for web designers and developers to come to terms with but images can inspire, invigorate, intrigue, and communicate so much more and faster than words can. Face it, guys, it’s a visual world, more so every day.<br/>
<br/>
Good images have to be attention grabbers. They must grab and hold on. They need to communicate a compelling brand and message. Images must tell a story about your institution. Most of the time, real life isn’t that interesting. Great images show reality how you wish it were.<br/>
<br/>
When creating images for your website, just do not grab them where-ever you can. To create a better vision for you school and create a brand reality you need to scout, plan, set, and art direct the setting, the lighting, the subject, and the details to create attention-grabbing images to tell your brand story. <br/>
<br/>
Here are our top tips for creating great campaign images:<br/>
<br/>
* Always use “brand images” for publication covers, ads, web landing pages, and major section or page headers in important print/electronic materials.<br/>
* Brand images should reflect a consistent and differentiating style, tone, and treatment that conveys your brand position and personality. The brand images should be strategically developed through careful scouting of locations, planned shot sheets, wardrobe, and props, lighting, and painstakingly selective choice of subjects.<br/>
* Imagery has to tell the brand story visually. But more than that, it should set a mood and generate strong emotional response from the viewer – surprise, delight, unease, intrigue, insight, amazement, joy, amusement, whatever. Go for emotion!<br/>
* Never ask your subjects to do something they're not capable of. After all, they're not professional models! Your photographer will need exceptional communication skills to put subjects at ease and to "draw out" the personality of each subject.<br/>
* Primary brand images need to be backed up by “supporting images” that tell the rest of the story by displaying your campus, showing activities, capturing events, and so on. Solid, professional photojournalism techniques work for these support images.Understand Targeted Texting and Its Affect On Enrollment Outcomestag:www.classroom20.com,2011-03-11:649749:BlogPost:6105782011-03-11T02:00:00.000ZJim Robertshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JimRoberts
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Mongoose Research is a leading edge company out of Buffalo New York that uses targeted texting campaigns to help colleges and universities with recruitment. According to their website: "<i>Text is the new…</i>
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Mongoose Research is a leading edge company out of Buffalo New York that uses targeted texting campaigns to help colleges and universities with recruitment. According to their website: "<i>Text is the new e-mail. iPhones are the new status symbol. Facebook is the new pizza parlor. So, you can either change how you talk with your audiences, or you can lose their attention."</i><br/>
<br/>
While their focus is more recruitment based, I do like their mindset when it comes to the use of technology in education. "<i>You can either change how you talk with your audiences, or you can lose their attention"</i><br/>
<br/>
The average teen now sends or receives 2,899 text messages per month compared to just 191 calls. That’s an average of nearly 100 text messages each day. Moreover, texting has increased 566% in just two years.<br/>
More than half of all U.S. teen mobile subscribers (66%) say they actually prefer text messaging to calling. Thirty-four percent say it’s the reason they got their phone.<br/>
<br/>
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<br/>
The vast majority of prospective students utilize text messaging on a daily basis. Studies have shown that 97% of text messages are read (compare that to any other medium). The mobile phone provides unmistakable immediacy. Texting does not rely on users going online, checking email, or sifting through the US Mail. Targeted texting reaches prospective students wherever they are at any time.<br/>
<br/>
The mobile phone provides unmistakable immediacy. Texting does not rely on users going online, checking email, or sifting through the US Mail. Targeted texting reaches prospective students wherever they are at any time.<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
Mongoose helps colleges and universities communicate with prospective students using the mobile phones that prospective students carry with them every day. The Mongoose Mobile™ Platform makes it easy for prospective students to receive personal text updates throughout the entire recruitment process.<br/>
<br/>
Mongoose's solutions were developed by <a href="http://mongooseresearch.com/about.htm">David Marshall</a>, winner of numerous Admissions Marketing Awards, noted author of multiple articles for higher education publications, and co-founder of the company that pioneered e-recruiting.<br/>
<br/>
If you would like to know how Mongoose Research does what it does and get information on their approach start by looking at their white paper called <a href="http://mongooseresearch.com/whitepaper/Incorporating%20Texting%20into%20Your%20Communication%20Mix.pdf">"Incorporating Texting Into Your Communications Mix"</a>.<br/>
<br/>
You can also check us out at <a href="http://happydeveloper.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Happy Developer</a><br/>Protect Yourself From Dishonest Software Development Houses.tag:www.classroom20.com,2011-02-20:649749:BlogPost:6047902011-02-20T15:53:23.000ZJim Robertshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JimRoberts
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Trying to find the right person or development firm for your project, can be an exhausting task at times. You know how to run your own business but you are not the expert in building a website or wrapping a marketing campaign…
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Trying to find the right person or development firm for your project, can be an exhausting task at times. You know how to run your own business but you are not the expert in building a website or wrapping a marketing campaign around it. You just know you need it. You know nothing about SEO or branding or how it even helps. You may have heard the industry buzz words but when investing your money into a new venture, you need more than that. You need a firm that you can trust. You need to find the right person.<br/>
<br/>
There are a lot of free lance websites out there where you can find someone to build your website, your marketing campaign or create a design...Elance.com and Rent-A-Coder are but two of the top ones. However, how do you know that you can trust anyone? With sites likes these you can only enter your request, its requirements and wait for the bids to come in. But that's not the problem. The problem is that you really do not know who you are dealing with it. You cannot attest to their professionalism, skill level or honesty. I have seen many discontented people rant in forums and express their feeling of being taken by some offshore development house who never had any intention of "pleasing their customer". So what can you do to protect yourself? Short of hiring an assessment firm....like a consumer reports...you can ask a few probing questions and try to find out a few things.<br/>
<br/>
<ul>
<li><b>Do they offer support</b> - Any honest firm with care about their customer. They will be there when needed and they will stand by their work.</li>
<li><b>How fast do they respond</b> - Professional firms will have policies in place to make sure that questions from their customers get answered as quickly as possible.</li>
<li><b>Will they refer you to previous clients</b> - If they do good work they will be proud of it and should be willing to refer you to previous customers to get a reference or they should even have an online portfolio that they can refer you to.</li>
<li><strong>Good communication skills</strong> – With this I don’t mean excellent native speaking and writing skills that can be compared to classical writers and poets. I’m talking about being able to explain to you their proposal, updating you with progress reports, and explaining to you why this can’t be done or why they think something would make a great feature to the project. Communication is vital to the success of a freelancer and truth be told, a lot of clients do appreciate being updated and informed.</li>
<li><b>Is there documentation professional</b> - From proposals, to specifications, statements of work, to software documentation and even use cases and invoices, make sure they all exists as part of the firms process and is professional.</li>
<li><b>Are they honest</b> - There should be no hidden charges or fees or any functionality developed without your written authorization.</li>
</ul>
These are just a few things that you should look into. My point is to do you due diligence and find out everything that you can about any potential developers who are about to do work for you.<br/>
<br/>
I have heard through the grapevine that there are a group of organizations in the industry who are thinking about collaborating to build a consumer reports like entity that will serve as a central hub for people to be able to run a background check on a firm and get as much info on that firm as possible. They will be an expert, independent, technical organization whose mission would be to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves when making hiring decisions. We will see what happens as the weeks go by as it relates to this I guessBeginning Google Analytics: Interpreting and Acting on Your Datatag:www.classroom20.com,2011-02-11:649749:BlogPost:5937732011-02-11T00:00:54.000ZJim Robertshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JimRoberts
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When starting a web site, it is a good idea to get a measurable data on how well your site is doing. One way to do that is with a tool that most of you may have heard of but might not understand. It is called…
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When starting a web site, it is a good idea to get a measurable data on how well your site is doing. One way to do that is with a tool that most of you may have heard of but might not understand. It is called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Web-Metrics-Google-Analytics/dp/0470562315?ie=UTF8&tag=whsthweth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Google Analytics</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=whsthweth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0470562315" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" border="0" height="1"/>.<br/>
<br/>
Google Analytics is the enterprise-class web analytic s solution that gives you rich insights into your website traffic and marketing effectiveness. Powerful, flexible and easy-to-use features now let you see and analyze your traffic data in an entirely new way. With <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Web-Metrics-Google-Analytics/dp/0470562315?ie=UTF8&tag=whsthweth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Google Analytics</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=whsthweth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0470562315" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" border="0" height="1"/>, you're more prepared to write better-targeted ads, strengthen your marketing initiatives and create higher converting websites. The tool is just about for everyone.<br/>
<br/>
<b>For Executives</b>:<br/>
<ul>
<li>Which marketing initiatives are most effective?</li>
<li>What are accurate traffic patterns/trends on my websites?</li>
<li>Which customer and customer segments are most valuable?</li>
</ul>
<b>For Marketing Professionals</b>: <br/>
<ul>
<li>Where are my visitors coming from and what do they do on my site?</li>
<li>How can my website convert more visitors into customers?</li>
<li>Which keywords resonate with prospects and lead to conversions?</li>
<li>Which online ad or creative is the most effective?</li>
</ul>
<b>For Content & Web Developers</b>: <br/>
<ul>
<li>Why do so many people leave my site without doing what I want?</li>
<li>Are there website design elements that are turning visitors away?</li>
<li>What site content are people most interested in? </li>
</ul>
Any website that I have been connected with uses <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Google-Analytics-Justin-Cutroni/dp/0596158009?ie=UTF8&tag=whsthweth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Google Analytics</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=whsthweth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0596158009" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" border="0" height="1"/>. Google Analytics shows you how visitors found your site and how they interact with it. With this information, you can improve your return on investment, increase conversions, and make more money on the web.<br/>
<br/>
You'll be able to compare the behavior and profitability of visitors who were referred from each of your ads, keywords, search engines, and emails, and gain valuable insight into how to improve your site's content and design. However large or small your site, and however you drive traffic to it -- whether it's unpaid search, partner sites, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Google-AdWords-Dummies-Howie-Jacobson/dp/0470455772?ie=UTF8&tag=whsthweth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">AdWords</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=whsthweth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0470455772" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" border="0" height="1"/>, or other cost-per-click programs -- Google Analytics tracks it, from click to conversion.<br/>
<br/>
For <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Google-AdWords-Brad-Geddes/dp/0470500239?ie=UTF8&tag=whsthweth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">AdWords</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=whsthweth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0470500239" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" border="0" height="1"/> users in particular, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Web-Analytics-2-0-Accountability-Centricity/dp/0470529393?ie=UTF8&tag=whsthweth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Google Analytics</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=whsthweth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0470529393" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" border="0" height="1"/> will provide you with the actionable information that you can use to increase your ROI by tracking cost data for all of your campaigns and combining that data with conversion information on a page-by-page basis. Google Analytics automatically imports AdWords cost data so that you can track the effectiveness of your AdWords campaigns, and automatically tags your AdWords destination URLs to track keyword and campaign conversion rates with no effort on your part! <br/>
All of this information is presented in intuitive, thorough, visual reports. Google Analytics won't affect the performance or the appearance of your website, and there are no extra files to host on your website.<br/>
<br/>
If you want more information check out the video below.<br/>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object height="266" width="320" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"></param><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Hdsb_uH2yPU&fs=1&source=uds"></param><embed wmode="opaque" height="266" width="320" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Hdsb_uH2yPU&fs=1&source=uds" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param></object>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More articles to be found the <a href="http://happydeveloper.blogspot.com/2011/02/beginning-google-analytics-interpreting.html" target="_blank">Happy Developer</a></div>Using Blogs to Integrate Technology in the Classroomtag:www.classroom20.com,2011-02-09:649749:BlogPost:5917762011-02-09T23:22:11.000ZJim Robertshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JimRoberts
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0dfdRxeP5M0/TVMf2xyEqII/AAAAAAAAAC4/ZaxeoEexgPk/s1600/blogging.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0dfdRxeP5M0/TVMf2xyEqII/AAAAAAAAAC4/ZaxeoEexgPk/s320/blogging.jpg" width="320"></img></a></div>
For those of you living in a cave, let me first give you a pretty good description of a…
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0dfdRxeP5M0/TVMf2xyEqII/AAAAAAAAAC4/ZaxeoEexgPk/s1600/blogging.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0dfdRxeP5M0/TVMf2xyEqII/AAAAAAAAAC4/ZaxeoEexgPk/s320/blogging.jpg" width="320" border="0" height="240"/></a></div>
For those of you living in a cave, let me first give you a pretty good description of a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blogging-Classroom-Tracie-Heskett/dp/142062167X?ie=UTF8&tag=whsthweth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">blog</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=whsthweth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=142062167X" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" border="0" height="1"/> from the <a href="http://happydeveloper.blogspot.com/2011/02/using-blogs-to-integrate-technology-in.html" target="_blank">Happy Developer blog</a>:<br/>
<br/>
"<i>A blog is a user-generated website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order. Blogs often provide commentary or news on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual although some focus on photographs (photoblog), sketchblog, videos (vlog), or audio (podcasting), and are part of a wider network of social media."</i><br/>
<br/>
While I am a software engineer and not a teacher, I do know there some teachers and school districts who are pretty apprehensive about bringing <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teacher-Created-Resources-Blogging-Classroom/dp/B002IXMFCI?ie=UTF8&tag=whsthweth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">blogging</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=whsthweth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002IXMFCI" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" border="0" height="1"/> into the classroom. This is the same for higher education institutions.<br/>
<br/>
However, there are schools doing it with success. Take Colorado Christian University who have instituted <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Classroom-Blogging-Teachers-Guide-Blogosphere/dp/1411629035?ie=UTF8&tag=whsthweth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">blogging</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=whsthweth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1411629035" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" border="0" height="1"/> at their school. You can see them at <a href="http://www.ccu.edu/blogs/">http://www.ccu.edu/blogs/</a> or another cool thing to check out is 21Classes Cooperative Learning at <a href="http://www.21classes.com/">http://www.21classes.com/</a> . I discovered these folks not too long ago. According to their website:<br/>
<br/>
<i>"21Classes is a product provided by 21Publish Inc. 21Publish provides products for the multi-user blogging and publishing needs of classrooms, businesses, communities, clubs, schools & universities, and non-profit organizations. A unique, 2-layer system makes it easy to customize and manage a multi-user blog system with an unlimited number of members.</i><br/>
<br/>
<i>The 21Publish web-based service is designed to be simple and effective, yet an abundance of features gives users the means to customize their blog communities according to their needs in terms of community features, design, user functions, and privacy. The service provides a centralized hub from which to build, manage, and deploy both small and large networks of blogs. As an on-demand solution, you can easily scale the service according to your needs — 21Publish can grow with you from just a few blogs to many thousands of blogs.</i><br/>
<br/>
<i>21Publish was founded in 2004 and maintains operations in the United States and Europe serving customers like Amnesty International, McGraw-Hill, British publisher Emap, and thousands of small- & medium-sized communities"</i><br/>
<br/>
Another good read is an article by David Parry from the University of Albany at <a href="http://blogsforlearning.msu.edu/articles/view.php?id=6">http://blogsforlearning.msu.edu/articles/view.php?id=6</a>. In his article, he discusses both the resistance to using Web 2.0 techniques in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Classroom-Blogging-Teachers-Guide-Blogosphere/dp/1411629035?ie=UTF8&tag=whsthweth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">institutions</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=whsthweth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1411629035" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" border="0" height="1"/> of learning as well as the lack of knowledge that these concerns are rooted and firmly founded in. According to Davids abstract:<br/>
<br/>
<i>"Although in the past fews years there has been a marked growth in the number of higher education classrooms that utilize an on-line writing component, adapting the teaching of writing to digital spaces has met with resistance on the part of both students and professors. While there are many hurdles to address in navigating technological changes in writing practices, I would like to suggest that part of the problem has been a lack of understanding about the ways that information is disseminated and archived in these spaces. We need to begin by framing the approach in a new way to contextualize writing better, and, more importantly, to make classroom blogging (and even more broadly writing in digital spaces) more productive for the students and professors. In particular, I want to show how the technology of RSS is crucial both from a theoretical and a practical standpoint to any digital writing, but especially to any blogging classroom."</i><br/>
<br/>
In his article David discusses both his pedagogical philosophy as it relates to learning as well as industry information distribution techniques such as RSS (Really Simple Syndication). David give a really good metaphor in his attempt to explain RSS.<br/>
<br/>
<i>"For those who are not familiar with RSS, allow me a brief explanation. Although there are more in depth resources available to explain RSS (see references at the end of this article), I am going to offer a short explanation to aim at the concept behind what RSS does. When I am asked by people, regardless of their level of network literacy, what RSS is, I try to explain it by analogy to a newspaper. Imagine that you could have a newspaper delivered to your house that had only the content you wanted. That is, let's say you want the sports section from Chicago Tribune, the education section from the New York Times, the editorial page from the Guardian, and international headline news from the BBC. Now lets say this newspaper would be compiled for you and presented to you whenever you requested, and, what is more, would only give you the information that has changed since last you asked. But, even better what if you could also add into this “newspaper” your best friend's blog on cooking, a travel blog from Asia, updates from the Chronicle of Higher Ed . . .or pretty much any website you want. This allows you to monitor all of the content that you select from the web without having to visit all of the sites. What RSS does is “syndicate” all of the content you want, and send you everything you have asked for. (RSS stands for either “Rich Site Summary,“ or ”Really Simple Syndication.“) Any site you have seen with the following <img alt="Feed Icon" src="http://blogsforlearning.msu.edu/img/feed.png"/> <img alt="XML Icon" src="http://blogsforlearning.msu.edu/img/XML.gif"/> <img alt="RSS Icon" src="http://blogsforlearning.msu.edu/img/RSS.gif"/> is offering these summaries, or syndication; all you have to do is subscribe. I am not going to go into the details of how you get the subscriptions, or what programs you need to do this (you can even do this all on-line so you do not need a separate program), but you can check the end of this article for a few resources that will help you set up the syndication. There are a lot of resources out there to handle these feeds, and each has advantages and disadvantages, so it is worth some time and effort to try out many of these to find out which works for your particular educational situation."</i><br/>
<br/>
Check out Davids <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Classroom-Blogging-Teachers-Guide-Blogosphere/dp/1411629035?ie=UTF8&tag=whsthweth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">article</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=whsthweth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1411629035" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" border="0" height="1"/> as well as the other references. Tell me what you think at the <a href="http://happydeveloper.blogspot.com/2011/02/using-blogs-to-integrate-technology-in.html" target="_blank">The Happy Developer</a>Why Your Schools Social Media Strategy Is Falling Behind.tag:www.classroom20.com,2011-02-02:649749:BlogPost:5889212011-02-02T17:46:04.000ZJim Robertshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JimRoberts
<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974060553?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974060553?profile=original" width="325"></img></a> Recently, a colleague of mine made me aware of this great white paper on schools and their social media strategy. It was very interesting and I thought I would share an excerpt with you.<br></br> <br></br> "Two years ago, many administrators in higher education scoffed when they heard words like “tweet” and “poke.” Walk into an admissions office today, though, and you’ll no longer hear…
<a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974060553?profile=original"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974060553?profile=original" width="325"/></a>Recently, a colleague of mine made me aware of this great white paper on schools and their social media strategy. It was very interesting and I thought I would share an excerpt with you.<br/> <br/> "Two years ago, many administrators in higher education scoffed when they heard words like “tweet” and “poke.” Walk into an admissions office today, though, and you’ll no longer hear anyone laughing about social media. Consider the following statistics:<br/> <br/><ol>
<li>Facebook has more than 500 million active users. Half of those users log on to Facebook in any given day, spending a combined 700 billion minutes per month on the site.</li>
<li>Twitter is quickly gaining ground with 175 million registered users<br/> and 95 million tweets per day.</li>
<li>Every day, users upload nearly four years’ worth of video to You-Tube. Two billion videos are being watched every day, and over half of all American adults use the Internet to watch and download video.</li>
</ol>
<br/> Today, most colleges and universities already know that they need to be involved in social media. What they need to know is how to use it effectively. Years after every school rushed out to set up an account on the most popular social media channels, those accounts are still providing little to no real value. A typical university may have a thriving 20,000-student population on campus, but only 1,000 followers on Twitter and nothing but spam posts on their Facebook wall.<br/> <br/> You’ve heard the hype, you know the statistics, but you still can’t seem to make social media work for your school. Fortunately, the world of higher education is filled with schools that have figured it out and are seeing exciting results. Over the next few months, Fathom SEO will present a four-part white paper series highlighting these schools. This first paper will look at overarching social media philosophies, while future work will focus specifically on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. All white papers in this series are based on interviews with thought leaders and social media practitioners at colleges and universities around the country. "<br/> <br/> To read the actual white paper in its entirety, check out: <a href="http://happydeveloper.blogspot.com/2011/02/why-your-schools-social-media-strategy.html" target="_blank">Happy Developer</a><br/>The Value Of Cloud Computingtag:www.classroom20.com,2011-02-01:649749:BlogPost:5886092011-02-01T04:40:31.000ZJim Robertshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JimRoberts
Why is cloud computing the newest buzz term? What value does it bring to organizations? "It's become the phrase du jour. The problem is that (as with Web 2.0) everyone seems to have a different definition.<br></br> <br></br> The "cloud" is obviously a metaphor for the internet but when you add in the term "computing" the whole phrase gets muddy. However, when you think of the needs of an organizations IT structure it starts to become clearer. The concept of cloud computing is a way to increase…
Why is cloud computing the newest buzz term? What value does it bring to organizations? "It's become the phrase du jour. The problem is that (as with Web 2.0) everyone seems to have a different definition.<br/> <br/> The "cloud" is obviously a metaphor for the internet but when you add in the term "computing" the whole phrase gets muddy. However, when you think of the needs of an organizations IT structure it starts to become clearer. The concept of cloud computing is a way to increase capacity or add capabilities on the fly without investing in new infrastructure, training new personnel, or licensing new software. Cloud computing encompasses any subscription-based or pay-per-use service that, in real time over the Internet, extends IT's existing capabilities. Cloud computing is location-independent computing, whereby shared servers provide resources, software, and data to computers and other devices on demand.<br/> <br/> Cloud computing describes a new supplement, consumption, and delivery model for IT services based on the Internet, and it typically involves over-the-Internet provision of dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gartner_1-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing#cite_note-gartner-1"><span> </span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-really_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing#cite_note-really-2"></a></sup> It is a by product and consequence of the ease-of-access to remote computing sites provided by the Internet.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"></sup> This frequently takes the form of web-based tools or applications that users can access and use through a web browser as if it were a program installed locally on their own computer.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-simple_4-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing#cite_note-simple-4"></a></sup> <br/> <br/> Most cloud computing infrastructures consist of services delivered through common centers and built on servers. Clouds often appear as single points of access for consumers' computing needs. Commercial offerings are generally expected to meet quality of service (QoS) requirements of customers, and typically include service level agreements (SLAs).<br/> <br/> There's a good chance you've already used some form of cloud computing. If you have an e-mail account with a Web-based e-mail service like Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail or Gmail, then you've had some experience with cloud computing. Instead of running an e-mail program on your computer, you log in to a Web e-mail account remotely. The software and storage for your account doesn't exist on your computer -- it's on the service's computer cloud.<br/> <br/> The applications of cloud computing are practically limitless. With the right middle-ware, a cloud computing system could execute all the programs a normal computer could run. Potentially, everything from generic word processing software to customized computer programs designed for a specific company could work on a cloud computing system.<br/> <br/> Why would anyone want to rely on another computer system to run programs and store data? Here are just a few reasons:<br/> <br/>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li>Clients would be able to access their applications and data from anywhere at any time. They could access the cloud computing system using any computer linked to the Internet. Data wouldn't be confined to a hard drive on one user's computer or even a corporation's internal network.</li>
<li>It could bring hardware costs down. Cloud computing systems would reduce the need for advanced hardware on the client side. You wouldn't need to buy the fastest computer with the most memory, because the cloud system would take care of those needs for you. Instead, you could buy an inexpensive computer terminal. The terminal could include a monitor, input devices like a keyboard and mouse and just enough processing power to run the middleware necessary to connect to the cloud system. You wouldn't need a large hard drive because you'd store all your information on a remote computer.</li>
<li>Corporations that rely on computers have to make sure they have the right software in place to achieve goals. Cloud computing systems give these organizations company-wide access to computer applications. The companies don't have to buy a set of software or software licenses for every employee. Instead, the company could pay a metered fee to a cloud computing company.</li>
<li>Servers and digital storage devices take up space. Some companies rent physical space to store servers and databases because they don't have it available on site. Cloud computing gives these companies the option of storing data on someone else's hardware, removing the need for physical space on the front end.</li>
<li>Corporations might save money on IT support. Streamlined hardware would, in theory, have fewer problems than a network of <strong>heterogeneous</strong> machines and operating systems.</li>
<li>If the cloud computing system's back end is a grid computing system, then the client could take advantage of the entire network's processing power. Often, scientists and researchers work with calculations so complex that it would take years for individual computers to complete them. On a grid computing system, the client could send the calculation to the cloud for processing. The cloud system would tap into the processing power of all available computers on the back end, significantly speeding up the calculation.</li>
</ul>
<p>As you can see cloud computing is here to stay even with the current debate on security and intellectual property. There are so many tangible benefits to it . In a future post, I will discuss how we as software engineers can benefit from this.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://happydeveloper.blogspot.com/2011/01/value-of-cloud-computing.html" target="_blank">The Value Of Cloud Computing</a></p>Web 2.0 And Blogging In The Classroomtag:www.classroom20.com,2011-01-03:649749:BlogPost:5792242011-01-03T18:46:52.000ZJim Robertshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JimRoberts
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974060587?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974060587?profile=original" width="283"></img></a> The use of web2.0 techniques by institutions of learning and their teachers are ever on the rise. Today's students and prospective students were raised in a digital world and expect the use of technology through
outlets like Facebook and Twitter to be employed by the schools that<br />
they attend. Blogging is only getting bigger and stronger. In fact check<br />
out these statistics…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974060587?profile=original"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974060587?profile=original" width="283"/></a>The use of web2.0 techniques by institutions of learning and their teachers are ever on the rise. Today's students and prospective students
were raised in a digital world and expect the use of technology through<br />
outlets like Facebook and Twitter to be employed by the schools that<br />
they attend. Blogging is only getting bigger and stronger. In fact check<br />
out these statistics from from 2009 through the State of The<br />
Blogoshpere by Technorati via the Search Journal.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>* More than 133,000,000 blogs have been indexed by Technorati since 2002</p>
<p>* 77% of Internet users read blogs according to Universal McCannBlog</p>
<p>* Two-thirds of Bloggers are male (c%u2019mon ladies, start Blogging!)</p>
<p>* More than half are married and more than half are parents</p>
<p>* 60% are 18-44 * 75% have college degrees and 40% have graduate degrees</p>
<p>* One in four has an annual household income of $100K</p>
<p>* Around half of Bloggers are working on at least their second blog</p>
<p>* 68% have been blogging for two years or more</p>
<p>* 86% have been blogging for at least a year</p>
<p>* 70% of all respondents say that personal satisfaction is a way they measure the success of their blog</p>
<p>* 72% say they blog in order to share their expertise.</p>
<p>* 61% say they blog in order to supplement their income.</p>
<p>* 53% of professional Bloggers are interested in attracting new clients from blogging.</p>
<p>* 72% of those who are self-employed and blogging are interested in attracting new clients.</p>
<p>* 57% say that their future plans include blogging even more (including 74% of 18-24 year olds).</p>
<p>* Part-Timers, Pros, and Self-Employed Bloggers are blogging as much as
or more than ever (73%, 76% and 80%, respectively), while Hobbyists are<br />
blogging somewhat less.</p>
<p>* 15% of Bloggers spend 10 or more hours each week blogging.</p>
<p>* One in five Bloggers report updating on a daily basis.</p>
<p>* The most common rate of updating is 2-3 times per week.</p>
<p>* The majority of blogs use tags (85%).</p>
<p>* 82% of respondents say that they post photos to their blog, making images the most popular form of multimedia.</p>
<p>* Bloggers participate in an average of 5 activities to drive traffic to their blogs.</p>
<p>* 72% of respondents are classified as Hobbyists, meaning that they report no income related to blogging</p>
<p> * 56% say that their blog has helped their company establish a positioning as a thought leader within the industry.</p>
<p>* 58% say that they are better-known in their industry because of their blog</p>
<p> </p>
<p>These statistics paint a clear picture. Blogging is popular.Blogs provide a
communication space that teachers can utilize with students whenever<br />
there is a curriculum need to develop writing, share ideas and reflect<br />
on work being undertaken in the classroom.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>From an education perspective the availability and ease of use of blogging
software makes creating blogs a viable classroom activity and a means<br />
for teachers to communicate with other teachers.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> For more information check out the websites</p>
<p> </p>
<p> <a href="http://classroom.blogging.com./">http://classroom.blogging.com.</a></p>
<p> <a href="http://supportblogging.com/links+to+school+bloggers">http://supportblogging.com/links+to+school+bloggers</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Full article at <a href="http://happydeveloper.blogspot.com/2011/01/web-20-and-blogging-in-classroom.html" target="_blank">The Happy Developer</a>.</p>It Takes A Village To Raise A Software Producttag:www.classroom20.com,2010-12-28:649749:BlogPost:5785132010-12-28T05:00:00.000ZJim Robertshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JimRoberts
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974060592?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974060592?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="250"></img></a> One thing that experience has taught me is that it takes a village to raise a software product. What I mean by that is a developer and all of their team members including management have to be focused on<br></br> quality...quality of product, quality of training, quality of process<br></br>
and quality of work life. They all have to share the same passion and<br></br>
excitement. They…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974060592?profile=original"><img width="250" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974060592?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="250"/></a>One thing that experience has taught me is that it takes a village to raise a software product. What I mean by that is a developer and all of their team members including management have to be focused on<br/>
quality...quality of product, quality of training, quality of process<br/>
and quality of work life. They all have to share the same passion and<br/>
excitement. They all have to be on the same page.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>No man is an island and neither is a developer or their team mates and managers. We all have to have each others back. If one team mate is<br/>
struggling then the others have to be eager to help out and share the<br/>
load. We need to be advocates for each others success. We all have to<br/>
take ownership in our professional development, each others development and the projects we work on.</p>
<p>All too often, we get caught up in skill sets and technology when the most important thing is pride, a giving nature, a sense of collaborative spirit and fun. We never use the applications and/or systems we build after they go live.<br/>
We build them for our clients. So why do we get all "geeky" and forget about our purpose. As developers, we are in the "helping" business. We are in the position to help people and make their lives easier. If we want to create great software then the approach we take has to be one of philanthropy. We need to understand our clients and by understanding them, create something that they like using and not just tolerate until the next version comes out.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So how do we get there? How do we create teams likes this? It starts with us. We need to desire and want our friends and colleagues to be successful. They have to be advocates for our success as well. This means leaving your ego and<br/>
selfishness at the door. This means creating a desire to help out...to be a mentor, even when that is not your immediate role. If you have an internal need to say , "What is in it for me?", then look at this way. If you have someone else's best interest at heart, then most likely they will have yours. It is to your advantage to be someone who cares about quality of product, quality of process and quality of work life.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have seen first hand enterprise wide .NET applications, built by teams of developers, that fell short of this mark. The applications were buggy. The usability was horrible and its over all ease of use was absent. It was way over-engineered. And yet the team that built this application were extremely intelligent. They were very knowledgeable in<br/>
all things .NET and C#. They had years of industry knowledge.However, they lacked the ability to understand the wants and needs of the user and their team mates They didn't have that "thing" that makes them want to reach and find out how the actual user of the software would like it to function or how their team mates were enjoying the<br/>
project development process. In fact, they did not care. There was no internal feeling inside these folks that motivated them to make the end user happy. It was their technical prowess they thought would drive them to the promise land of success.</p>
<p>In the end, it is those character traits that understanding, caring and empathetic people possess that I think, if a developer has more of, will make the software product better. So learn those soft skills. Get good at them.<br/>
Train yourself to be a better listener. Train yourself to put the end user's needs before your own. Help and mentor your team mates. Take time out to help them. Remember, you are building the software for the client. Reach out to them and try to solve their problem. Make them part of the process. After all, you should be developing your software<br/>
for their needs and not your own. You should be trying to help them and make their lives easier and remember that it takes a village to raise a software product.</p>Evolution Of The Web And Technology In Educationtag:www.classroom20.com,2010-12-19:649749:BlogPost:5777272010-12-19T19:35:30.000ZJim Robertshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JimRoberts
<p>The Full Article From : <a href="http://happydeveloper.blogspot.com/2010/12/evolution-of-web-and-technology-in.html" target="_self">The Happy Developer</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The first incarnation of the web was composed of static websites that linked to each other and search engines to help you find sites of interest. Web 2.0 brought a social element to the web, with users sharing, commenting, and interacting through sites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Flickr. The future web, the "semantic…</p>
<p>The Full Article From : <a href="http://happydeveloper.blogspot.com/2010/12/evolution-of-web-and-technology-in.html" target="_self">The Happy Developer</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The first incarnation of the web was composed of static websites that linked to each other and search engines to help you find sites of interest. Web 2.0 brought a social element to the web, with users sharing, commenting, and interacting through sites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Flickr. The future web, the "semantic web," or Web 3.0, will embed meaning within digital information so that any given page can be understood by computers, smart phones and appliances as well as people.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The question is how does education use the web to create new channels of learning. As a software developer that worked in the higher education space, I think technology and the students who use it will drive how institutions respond to it. Web 2.0 is a normal thing for today's students. They do not fear it nor do they look at it with trepidation. It is simply how they do life. In other words, the future of learning will be determined by students. The future of learning is really a fascinating topic.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Even Bill Gates at the <a href="http://techonomy.com/" target="_blank">Techonomy</a> conference gave a prediction for education in the next five years. Where will education be? Digital learning. Yes, there will still be schools, universities and college classrooms but “<i>Five years from now on the web for free you’ll be able to find the best lectures in the world…It will be better than any single university”.</i> Gates pointed out that where students learn is often discounted – or not counted at all. Online lectures may not count for students even though they learned more depth and breadth than sitting in a single lecture. So where does digital learning play into the field of education? Everywhere from textbooks and tests to labs and lectures.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>According to Gates, our text books are three times longer than the equivalents in Asia. And yet they’re beating us in many ways with education. The problem is that these things are built by committee, and more things are simply added on top of what’s already in there. Gates said that technology is the only way to bring education back under control and expand it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I think in 2011 and moving forward, institutions have to be innovative. I think they have to invent what teaching looks like in the future With all the tools that Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 afford us, learning will no longer just be an authoritative figure standing in a classroom lecturing. Learning will be more participatory. The look of the classroom will and can be different when all the students can be in many different physical locations.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As software developers in the higher education space, we need to be in the fore front of this innovation. There are companies already using "new" technology to help higher education. One good example of this is <a href="http://mongooseresearch.com/">Mongoose Research</a>. Mongoose Research is a leading edge company out of Buffalo New York that uses targeted texting campaigns to help colleges and universities with recruitment. According to their website: "<i>Text is the new e-mail. iPhones are the new status symbol. Facebook is the new pizza parlor. So, you can either change how you talk with your audiences, or you can lose their attention."</i></p>
<p> </p>
<p>While their focus is more recruitment based, I do like their mindset when it comes to the use of technology in education. "<i>You can either change how you talk with your audiences, or you can lose their attention"</i></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Get on board schools . Its that simple.</p>
<p>The Full Article From : <a href="http://happydeveloper.blogspot.com/2010/12/evolution-of-web-and-technology-in.html" target="_self">The Happy Developer</a></p>Own Your Professioal Developmenttag:www.classroom20.com,2010-12-16:649749:BlogPost:5774202010-12-16T17:53:12.000ZJim Robertshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JimRoberts
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974060399?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974060399?profile=original" width="450"></img></a> To get proficient at anything you need to always be learning. You can never get complacent. Software development is no different. Recently, I felt the urge to continue my knowledge of web services and Windows Communication Foundation. Web services is such a big thing these days and has been for awhile with the continued excitement over Service Oriented Architecture…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974060399?profile=original"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1974060399?profile=original" width="450"/></a>To get proficient at anything you need to always be learning. You can never get complacent. Software development is no different. Recently, I felt the urge to continue my knowledge of web services and Windows Communication Foundation. Web services is such a big thing these days and has been for awhile with the continued excitement over Service Oriented Architecture (SOA).<br/> <br/> A friend lent me a book authored by Scott Klein entitled "<i>Professional WCF Programming - .NET Programming with the Windows Communication Foundation</i>", published by Wrox. While I realize the book is dated 2007, and was published when version 3.0 of the .NET framework was out, my point is to stay passionate about learning. Grab anything you can that can help you learn. While reading this book, which incidentally is a fantastic read, my journey took me to YouTube where I was introduced to Peter Thorsteinson and 4 great introduction video's for the programmer who wants to begin his introduction to Windows Communication Foundation. That journey , in turn, made a sharp left and before you know it, I have been looking at ASP.NET MVC. <br/> <br/> So my point is to always stay hungry. Cultivate a mindset of learning in yourself. Surround yourself with people who are smart and are just as much a learning junkie as you are. Take classes at your local college. Join a user group or industry organization. Subscribe to a trade magazine. In today's economic environment, companies have limited budgets for training. You need to take ownership of your own professional development.<br/> <br/> A lot of times, you will be in a position where you have to complete a project but know very little about the technology that is required. It is up to you figure it out. This can mean spending time googling the subject, buying a book or even seeking out a mentor in an attempt to gain some knowledge. The point is to be seen as the industry expert and actually have the skills to back it up. Do not let yourself become obsolete. Be a professional student.<br/> <br/> Nurture a passion for learning about your profession. When you see yourself as a professional student, you’ll find that everything you do has some learning value – even if it isn’t always inspiring.<br/> To be a professional student:</p>
<ul>
<li><i>Seize ownership for your professional development</i>. Stop waiting for your talent to be recognized and your potential “developed” by someone else. From here on out it’s just you and your network of trusted friends, family, and professional mentors. Don’t have a lot of support at home or at work?</li>
<li><i>Experiment.</i> Play with different technologies at home...practice and learn and share it with peers or mentors whose opinions you respect. Remember, no one learns in a vacuum.</li>
<li><i>Read, practice – repeat for infinity</i>. If you’re a reader, invest in a subscription to software development trade magazine. Not only does a steady stream of new information challenge your views about the world and technology, it also helps you identify specific areas of focus for your future career.</li>
</ul>
<p>From <a href="http://happydeveloper.blogspot.com/" target="_self">TheHappyDeveloper</a></p>Software Development In Higher Educationtag:www.classroom20.com,2010-12-13:649749:BlogPost:5768632010-12-13T18:00:24.000ZJim Robertshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JimRoberts
<p>Higher education is a lot like any other industry in the sense that colleges want to bring "customers" in to their institution. They want to create brand awareness. They want to separate themselves from their competition. They want to show prospective students why their institution is the one they should choose.<br></br> <br></br> In the past, the higher education "industry" was known as lagging behind other industries as far as the use of leading edge technology but no more. Today, colleges are…</p>
<p>Higher education is a lot like any other industry in the sense that colleges want to bring "customers" in to their institution. They want to create brand awareness. They want to separate themselves from their competition. They want to show prospective students why their institution is the one they should choose.<br/> <br/> In the past, the higher education "industry" was known as lagging behind other industries as far as the use of leading edge technology but no more. Today, colleges are looking toward the future and Web 2.0. More specifically, they are looking at social media. They are looking at social media marketing solutions that are tailored to help their specific institution exceed recruitment goals, increase donations and engage their physical communities through a robust, interactive experience online. They are looking into:<br/> <br/> 1) Creating a Virtual Community. They want to bring the many facets of their physical community together through an intuitive online network representing staff, students, prospective students, recruiters and community members. Connect instantly, facilitate relationships, coordinate events and effectively share information through this centralized online portal.<br/> <br/> 2) Encourage Recruitment. They want to provide state-of-the-art tools for recruiters to reach out to prospective students, track conversions and follow up with helpful information. Allow prospects to have a window into the real community by connecting and interacting with current students, staff and alums to complement their in-person experience.<br/> <br/> 3) Increase Endowments. They want to create a sophisticated forum for graduates to connect with their alma mater, provide recruitment opportunities for companies looking for prospective job candidates, and encourage ongoing relationships with the educational institution, increasing endowments and the percentage of employed graduates.<br/> <br/> 4) Leverage the Power of Social Media. They want to tap into highly trafficked social network tools and APIs to encourage regular use of the community as well as post information back to popular sites, such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, for increased viral exposure, effectively growing multiple communities through a single action.<br/> <br/> 5) Strengthen the Brand. They want to create a highly-trafficked community, seamlessly integrated with the major social networking sites, thereby strengthening the brand of their institution. By reaching students, prospective, alumnae and corporate contacts will not only facilitate connections and communications, but will shine a progressive light on the school and its physical community.<br/> <br/> 6) Stand Apart. While many higher education institutions are taking advantage of social media and social networking to engage and enhance their communities, many are not. In this digital age, it is imperative for colleges and universities to stay technologically on par with their student body and create tools that students, staff and alums will soon come to expect as the industry standard.<br/> <br/> So how can we as software developers help higher education achieve their goals? Well, if higher education is the market space you like developing in then it is imperative you stay current on the newest technologies. Education is a very competitive space with colleges and universities vying for any qualified student. Prospective students are very tech savvy and to effectivly help your client or in this case, the college, you need to always come up with new and creative ways to reach these prospective students and in a style they are used to. This could be through social media techniques, mobile apps or any other create manner.<br/> <br/> As a developer that worked in the higher education space, I can assure you that education is like any other industry in the fact that to be successful, you need to understand their concerns. If you look at the list above, you can see how those goals could be applied to any business. They are measurable.</p>
<p></p>
<p>You can find this article at : <a href="http://happydeveloper.blogspot.com/2010/12/software-development-in-higher.html" target="_blank">Software Development In Higher Education</a></p>