“Best Reads of the Week” Roundup – Vol 1

Welcome to the inaugural post in the “Best Reads of the Week” category.  These are in no particular order and under no particular categories except I found them useful and interesting. Enjoy!

Lisa

• Editorial Calendars and Professional Blogging – Found at Problogger

Bloggers, because the calendar would introduce an element of consistency into their blogging, and would encourage them to think about the bigger picture. You don’t have to be locked into the calendar “ if a topical news item breaks, then you have a duty to cover it if it’s important to your readers.

Readers would also benefit, because posts would appear more regularly, and by using themes they know what type of content to expect on any given day.

• All But Dissertation Survival Guide – Found at ABD Survival

We will focus on ways to overcome the inevitable obstacles you’ll face along the dissertation marathon including the twin devils of all dissertations: writer’s block and procrastination. We’ll have periodic interviews with highly productive scholars uncovering the tips and secrets they wish they’d known at the beginning of their own careers. And we’ll never forget the special challenges of the isolated, off-campus, working ABD. Our goal is to speed you on your way towards your doctorate and, in the process, to enhance the skills you’ll need for a lifetime of academic productivity.

• 140 University – “It’s amazing what you can learn in 140 characters.” – Found at Centre for Learning and Performance Technologies

By “learning” we mean formal teaching and learning, personal learning, group and organisational learning (in education and in the workplace).

Here we will be reviewing a number of ways to use Twitter, Facebook and other similar services for learning. See the left-hand navigation bar for those we have added so far and are in the process of adding.

• Mapping Web 2.0 Benefits to Known Best Practices in Distance Education – Found at DE Oracle @ UMUC

Recent research has confirmed and identified benefits to the use of Web 2.0 technologies within the online classroom. Such benefits can be mapped to known best practices from the distance education literature to help enhance and optimize their potential positive effects within the online classroom. This article outlines the suspected and documented benefits of Web 2.0 technologies and links them to known  best practices in distance education.

• Collaborative Learning:Group Work and Study Teams – Found at Trainingworld.com

Various names have been given to this form of teaching, and there are some distinctions among these: cooperative learning, collaborative learning, collective learning, learning communities, peer teaching, peer learning, reciprocal learning, team learning, study circles, study groups, and work groups. But all in all, there are three general types of group work: informal learning groups, formal learning groups, and study teams.

 

Blogging More by using Editorial Calendars

I have quite a few blogs I like to read, and even more blog articles that clutter my “to do” list. The one thing that the blogs I follow have in common is the writer posts often. There is something about writing regularly that makes a person a better writer. Instinctively, I know this. What’s more, my English undergraduate degree confirms it. I should be writing more – it helps me think.  So, just like I made New Year’s resolutions about my health, I guess I need to do the same with my blog. I just need to dig in and do it.  Make time for it.  Revel in it.

Recently I was pointed to this article discussing “Editorial Calendars”.  I think this is exactly what I need to help jumpstart my blogging.  To that end, I am proposing that I will write a minimum of two posts a week.  In the first half of the week, will be articles dealing with my Open PhD pursuits.  These posts could range from reviews of Open Courseware, Open Texts, or triumphs and travails.  The later half of the week will alternate between “how to” articles on facilitating courses online and a “Best Reads of the Week” roundup.

Topic suggestions are always welcome!

I look forward to your feedback in the weeks to come.

Lisa