Final Reflection

I always love blogs, because it is able to keep every detail what we experienced everyday. I have my own blog. It likes a friend of mine that I can always share anything with it.

My first half semester's topic is Webconferencing. I chose this topic because I think webconferencing plays a vital role in the current business world, as well as in Education. As a method of asynchronous communication, it provided a convenient way to learners to learn wherever and whenever they want. With the internet, webconferencing is able to offer online video meeting to all the participators. Also, learners can share their useful files and materials, and do presentation in webconferencing. Webconferencing helps us save a lot of time and money to learn.

My second topic is Geocaching. I love this so much. When I first chose this topic, I had no idea that this activity is able to contribute on education. But after reading and researching, I found that this activity is not only a great outdoor sports, but also a great way that teachers can incorporate with their lessons. Science teacher can make their Geology class more instersting, while PE teacher can make their students participate more on the phyical training. I'd love to try Geocaching someday in Syracuse, because I think Syracuse is a great place for Geocaching.

I learnt a fortune from others blog as well. This assignment makes realize how technology can indeed help improving instruction. Reading from others blog enlarge my knowledge. Now, I know abundant of technologies that I never knew before, such as Noodle tools, whiteboard, social bookmarking, Hybrid learning, etc.

Although this is the last post of IDE611 blog assignment, I think I will restart my personal blog again to keep every detail of my life in Syracuse.

Wish everyone everything goes well!

The Origin of GEOCACHING

Geocaching, first coined by Matt Stum on the "GPS Stash Hunt" mailing list on May 30, 2000, was the joining of two familiar words. The prefix geo, for Earth, was used to describe the global nature of the activity, but also for its use in familiar topics in gps such as geography.
Caching, from the word cache, has two different meanings, which makes it very appropriate for the activity. A french word invented in 1797, the original definition referred to a hiding place someone would use to temporarily store items. The word cache stirs up visions of pioneers, gold miners, and even pirates. Today the word is still even used in the news to describe hidden weapons locations.
The second use of cache has more recently been used in technology. Memory cache is computer storage that is used to quickly retrieve frequently used information. Your web browser, for example, stores images on disk so you don't have to retrieve the same image every time you visit similar pages.
The combination of Earth, hiding, and technology made geocaching an excellent term for the activity. However the "GPS Stash Hunt" was the original and most widely used term until Mike Teague passed the torch to Jeremy Irish in September 2000.

Top 10 Geocaching Safety Reminder

Thanks for Angela brought up a question of the safety of Geocaching. It is truly a severe issue that will directly influence this fun activity. So here I want to provide 10 safety tips of Geocaching.

No.10: Be Bare Aware
Bears can't see very well but their hearing and smell are sensational and they can outrun a horse over a short distance. Talk to people about recent local bear activity. Make some noise as you walk.
No.9: Do what the cops tell you
Geocaching often looks suspicious, especially these days. Hanging around, looking, climbing, crawling can all get you noticed. When you are confronted by the police, be nice and tell them about geocaching. Maybe the cops will help you look. Just don't be hassled.
No.8: Take extra batteries.
No.7: Carry a big stick
It's effective, innocuous and legal. It has a multitude of uses, from poking inside a dark cache to probing the trail in front of you to protection from animals (both four legged and two legged). They can also double as a crutch.
No.6: Bring a first aid kit
Scratches and bug bites are part of the charm of geocaching. It can also be dirty, so take care of any open wound. The kit doesn't need to be massive. Outdoor stores all sell small kits that will fit in a pocket.
No.5: Take your cell phone or walkie-talkies or both
No.4: Don't forget the hat and sunscreen
If you're going to be out in the sun, make sure you protect yourself. Lather on the sunscreen and keep it fresh. Then top it off with a wide brimmed hat and cool UV sunglasses.
No.3: Be tick aware
Ticks are a clear and present danger in the outdoors -- much more so than bears and snakes. They carry Lyme disease and other assorted bugs and they are everywhere. Wear long pants and long sleeve shirts. Tuck your pant lags into your socks or wear gaiters. Lyme disease is treatable but no fun. If you geocache, you're going to get ticks. Stay vigilant and stay healthy.
No.2: Bring lots of water
This one that can sneak up on you too, usually in the form of a "quick cache" which turns into a marathon. So, fill it with ice and top it off with water. You'll have ice water the whole day.
No1: Know when to back off
Geocachers are a pretty tenacious bunch. Part of this activity is recognizing limits. Whether you are wilderness caching or getting a few in the local park, you have to constantly evaluate your situation. Heat, cold, dehydration, darkness, weather, time and distance are just some of the things you have to keep an eye on. It's great to go for that one more cache but remember you have to get back. Don't compromise your safety for a cache. It'll be there tomorrow.

Also, you can read the blog below that talks about Geocaching + Electricity.
Johnnygeo's Geocaching Electrical Safety Blog

Geocaching in Education

Geocaching has been called 21st-century orienteering and the world's largest treasure hunt. But is it also a learning activity that inspires creativity and real-world problem solving? Hiding, locating, and finding geochaches is incredibly popular, but it's not just a weekend pastime-it can also be an educational opportunity for students of all ages. Geocaching can help students explore any subject. For Science, techers could combine Geocaching with their classes so that students are able to learn better about nature. Walking is one of the best exercises for lifetime fitness. So for Physical Education teachers, they could make walking more interesting and exciting through Geocaching.
People love outdoor activities. Thanks for the technologies, we can make classes more interactive.

Highlight GPS!!!

If you want to go Geocaching, the utmost important device is a good GPS!!! But it is not necessary to buy a expensive and elaborate GPS device. All you need is a easy-to-use, accessible, durable one which you can easily enter waypoints.
Nowadays, lots of cell phones supports GPS chips. If you want to use your mobile phone, you should install applications like Geocache Navigator or Groundspeak's Geocaching iPhone Application.
The first video below will introduce some of the vital features for a GPS you need to have.
About the second video, it shows some types of GPS, but mostly, I love the background music~haha
Hope you like it too.

What is usually in the cache?

In its simplest form, a cache always contains a logbook. The logbook contains information from the owner of the cache, notes from visitors and can contain much valuable, rewarding, and entertaining information. In smaller caches, a logsheet may be used.

 Larger caches may contain a logbook and any number of more or less valuable items. These items turn the cache into a true treasure hunt. You never know what the owner or other visitors of the cache may have left there for you to enjoy. Remember, if you take something, it is only fair for you to leave something in return. It is recommended that items in a cache be individually packaged in a clear, zipped plastic bag to protect them from the elements.

Quite often you may also find a trackable item. Groundspeak Trackables come in two types: Groundspeak Travel Bugs, and official Geocoins.

A Groundspeak Travel Bug is a trackable tag that you attach to an item, and which travels from cache to cache with the help of people like you. Each tag is etched with a unique code which the finder can use to log its travels on this website. Every Travel Bug has a goal given by its owner, so if you think you can help it along on its journey feel free to take it with you.

Geocoins are special trackable coins created by other Geocachers to commemorate special events or as a signature item to leave in caches. They function exactly like Travel Bugs and should be moved to another cache unless otherwise specified by their owners. 

People of all ages hide and seek caches, so think carefully before placing an item into a cache. Explosives, ammunition, knives, drugs and alcohol should not be placed in a cache. Respect the local laws. Food items are always a bad idea. Animals have better noses than humans, and in some cases caches have been chewed through and destroyed because of food items in a cache. 

 

Geocashing Starts!!!!

For the second half of this semester, I am going to introduce Geocaching. Although I just start knowing Geocaching, I already love this outdoor sporting activity. Have anyone tried Geocaching before? It originated from US, but now it is popular around the world.
It is an adventure, a treasure hunting, although most of the "treasure" you found maybe not that valuable~haha. It is an experience to explore something unknown.
The vedio below will help you understand better of Geocaching. I'm sure you will like it.

3-D Web Conferencing

Do you love 3-D movies? I love it! But do you know Web Conferencing can be 3-D? I never thinking about that before I started learning it!

The other day, when I was thinking about what topic should I introduce for this week, I asked myself a question. What other form can web conferencing be besides the conventional one. Then I googled, and found the 3D Web Conferencing. In a 3D web conference room, not only can you share your desktop, share files, do the ppt presentation, but also can you create a interactive 3D meeting with a avatar-driven, multi-featured virtual offive space.

This is a company provide certain services. It has 15 days free trial period. If you are interested in it, just try it!
http://www.tixeo.com/Home.php3

Interesing Web Conferencing Advertisement

I found a really interesting video to compare the Web Conferencing with conventional conference! Although it is only an advertisement, we can see that Web Conferencing save us a lot of time, help us keeping our spirit, solve problems efficient, and pretty easy to get dressed before the meeting ^_^

Web Conferencing Resources

This week, I'd like to share some of the useful resources I found online.

• Kolabora.com was created by Robin Good, the CEO and publisher, and remains the true industry insider resource for online collaboration. Good is an independent new media communication expert in the field of online collaboration, web conferencing and live presentation technologies. He tests all of the products on his website and gives unbiased and practical recommendations in all of his reviews.
  
  In addition to Kolabora.com’s product review pages, the site also features a "how to" area that concentrates on web conferencing troubleshooting, safe and secure online sharing, and general web and audio conferencing. Kolabora.com should be a primary resource for professionals stepping into the web conferencing field for the first time, since Robin Good’s reviews and advice helps online collaboration novices steer successfully through a wide array of product choices.
   
• Thinkofit.com is the brainchild of David R. Woolley, who pioneered the web conferencing technology with Lotus Notes. Thinkofit.com offers a guide to web conferencing services and solutions and includes topics such as real-time conferencing, collaborative work environments, and book recommendations.
   
• Webseminarian.com provides a comprehensive guide to web conferencing news, reviews, and opinions. The site also features a section for guest authors to provide an insight into the challenges and success stories of actual web conferencing technology users. If you need practical tips to achieve the most effective web conference, there is a tips section that provides numerous articles. The site also gives users the opportunity to subscribe and receive updates once a month.
   
• Wainhouse Research performs independent market research in the areas of rich media conferencing and communications. It delivers complete web conferencing reports focusing on measuring a company's web conferencing ROI, its IP network hosting options, and the relevance of web conferencing in a company's future. The site also has user surveys, links to providers and trade shows, an events calendar, and job listings.

See the link below for more information.
http://www.web-conferencing-zone.com/

Web Conferencing in Education

Maybe not everyone had a chance to participate in a web conferencing before. I had such experience before. When I was in high school in 2003, a terrible disease, SARS, prevailed China, especially Beijing. During that period, we had to study at home. That is my first time knowing Webconferencing. We had class everyday in the conference room. That truly helped me a lot. Because I was able to keep up learning instead of loosing my goals.

Actually, Web conferencing systems can provide benefits in almost all educational environments. Not only just under the circumstance like me, but also students who cannot make it to class for health, or other reasons could participate in a live class meeting from another location. Distance students can communicate instantly with their classmates or instructors through virtual classrooms or during virtual office hours, alleviating their anxieties and getting answers to their questions when they need them. Experts from around the world can interact with students.

I'd like to share a video on YouTube which is about the future of Webconferenceing in Education. Thanks Cherry~!

How Does Web Conferencing Work?

Web conferencing services involve any kind of interactive meeting that occurs via the web between two or more participants. These participants may be as close as a desk away or across the other side of the world from each other. Web conferences may include one or all of these features: audio, data and/or video conferencing solutions, depending on the needs of the users.

Web conferencing enables several communication components to work together, enhancing the benefits and features being used. Several collaboration tools support the web meeting with:

• Application and file sharing
• Desktop sharing
• Co-browsing the internet
• White boards
• Polling/Surveying
• Text messaging
• PowerPoint presentations
• Private meeting rooms

Your online conference will combine all or some of these features and will bring to life your online meeting as if you are all in a board room together, looking at the same presentation, real-time.

http://webconference.syr.edu/
Use your NetID to login. I've tried it the other day with my friend. It is really cool!

Vedio Introduction of Web Conferencing

History of Web Conferencing

People always confused when talking about Web Conferencing and Vedio Conferencing. In fact, Web Conferencing has great range of  functions than Vedio Conferencing. We can not only see each other in the conference room, but also can we share our documents and applications, access shared desktops, and use presentation features.

So, Let's scan the history of Web Conferencing.

In the 1960’s, the University of Illinois developed a system known as PLATO for their Computer-based Education Research Laboratory (CERL). It was a small, self-contained system supporting a single classroom of terminals connected to one mainframe computer. In 1972, PLATO was moved to a new system of mainframes that eventually supported over one thousand users at a time.

In 1973, Talkomatic was developed by Doug Brown. This was essentially the first “instant messaging” program ever designed, with multiple windows displaying typed notes in real time for several users simultaneously. In 1974, Kim Mast developed Personal Notes, a new feature for PLATO that enabled private mail for users.

In 1975, Control Data Corporation set up its own PLATO system in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the first commercial use of multi-function conferencing system. Within ten years, PLATO was being used in over one hundred sites around the world, some with dedicated lines for full-time use.

In the late 1980’s, however, microcomputers were becoming more reasonably priced and the heyday of mainframe-based systems was over. Eventually the original Control Data systems were shut down because PLATO was no longer cost-effective. Control Data now has a few systems operating under the name CYBIS.

Then, UseNet software was developed with specific protocols to format and transmit messages. It also allowed messages to be passed from one news server to another, replicating around the world rather than being stored in any one location. It has become the standard for news readers on the Internet, with Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer both having built-in news readers for UseNet.

Easynet, founded in 1994, is a broadband networking company based in Europe providing primarily European businesses with Web conferencing capabilities. This infrastructure based provider provides unbundled loop access to companies in some countries as a part of a “leased line” program for conferencing.

Now VoIP
The latest frontier in Web conferencing is the practicality of using IP based voice communications on a regular basis with Web conferencing. While Web conferencing is considered desirable for document exchange, text messaging and whiteboards and many other functions, many people still think VoIP technology has poor quality overall, especially with so many people still using dial-up connections.

What is Web Conferencing

Hi everyone,

Do you know anything about Web Conferencing? I guess lots of people had some of the experiences participating in a web conference. It is a kind of Synchronous Communication depends on internet. Today I'd like to first introduce Web Conferencing for you!

Web conferencing is used to conduct live meetings, training, or presentations via the Internet. In a web conference, each participant sits at his or her own computer and is connected to other participants via the internet. This can be either a downloaded application on each of the attendees' computers or a web-based application where the attendees access the meeting by clicking on a link distributed by e-mail (meeting invitation) to enter the conference.

For interactive online workshops web conferences are complemented by electronic meeting systems (EMS) which provide a range of online facilitation tools such as brainstorming and categorization, a range of voting methods or structured discussions, typically with optional anonymity. Typically, EMS do not provide core web conferencing functionality such as screen sharing or voice conferencing though some EMS can control web conferencing sessions.

In the early years of the Internet, the terms "web conferencing" was often used to describe a group discussion in a message board and therefore not live.

It a great way for enterprises especially for those international. Web Conferencing shorten the distance from people around the world. Therefore, it helps the company to make important international decision in time.