Until this week's assignment, I had never heard of RSS, or Really Simple Syndication. Setting up my Google Reader went pretty well. In fact, I think I confused myself, because I didn't think it could be so simple! I linked my Google Reader with my blog and Twitter, then I added subscriptions to: several sites of interests (like Netflix and Operation Kid to Kid), my group's organization (World Wildlife Fund), and of course a few RSS feeds. When deciding which ones I wanted to add, I looked at what they were about and how many people had subscribed. Some of the feeds sounded interesting, but only had a few members, which made me think it wasn't too reliable. On the other hand, RSS: CNN had over 13,000,000 members so, in addition to CNN being a well known news site, many other people found it to be reliable as well. All in all, I think Google Reader is pretty useful. As soon as I signed up, all of the blogs from my Blogger automatically came up! Now I can go to my Google Reader and not have to check Blogger too! Also, it's nice having a bunch of information I'm interested in organized in one area. I have information for the class, for my future, and for my entertainment all at one site. As much as I like the idea of Google Reader and RSS, however, I'm still pretty confused with it all. I think I finally managed to get my privacy settings the way I need them to be to find/be found by classmates. (Could someone confirm that?) I found one classmate and my teacher, but that's as far as I've gotten. I've also searched random people's profiles to look at their feeds and it's pretty interesting to see what people share in terms of articles or blogs. After looking at various people's feeds, I checked out my organizations page and I've got to say, they have a ton of well organized information! It's great that they are using this social media site (as well as so many others) to get out so much information to people! It's will also be pretty wonderful in giving information for the Wiki! I didn't realize how helpful RSS would be in the Wiki project.
My overall experience so far in this class has been good. It's great learning how to use all of these tools that I've never really looked into! It's such an odd realization that, although our generation is suppose to be so advanced in terms of technology, I know so little about all of these new social media sites! I think that in order to make everything go smoothly for the remainder of the course, I'm going to ask around more. I was surprised when yesterday I asked one of my friends if they had ever heard of RSS, and they said they use it all the time! They helped me with my settings and everything that I have been trying to figure out all week. Now I feel much more comfortable with it, and I am praying they can help me with upcoming sites if I get confused as well!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Facebook & Twitter
Although Twitter and blogs are both means by which people can discuss whatever their ideas, beliefs, or thoughts may be, I think that Twitter is much different than blogging. While blogs tend to be longer and discuss matters that are important to an individual, tweets seem to be just short thoughts that are whatever happens to be on someone's mind, important or not.
Twitter was much easier to set up than the other social media sites we've used in this course. I had no trouble figuring out how to create an account or how to Tweet. For privacy settings, I simply checked a box called "Tweet Privacy" so that I have to approve who can see what I write on Twitter. Although I don't feel like I've tweeted anything of importance, it's still nice to know that I am in control of who is reading my thoughts. I have yet to play around too much with my Twitter. I haven't really designed it in any special way or attempted to use "lists," "trends," or "replays." Hopefully in time I will become more familiar with these things.
As for Facebook, I already had one set up! Since I have been using Facebook for quite a while, I had no trouble with this part of the assignment. I thought that I would go ahead and make a Facebook group for my classmates, as Bistra suggested to explore in the week 3 powerpoint, since there wasn't much else I could do for this social media site in terms of classwork. As for privacy on Facebook, I'd like to think my page is fairly private. I do not allow those who aren't my friends to see my pictures or information. I also don't allow anybody to see my contact information. Under privacy policy, one of the first things that is stated is that Facebook is dubbed one of the most trusted in terms of Privacy. I believe that it has plenty of settings that allow for people to hide any information they wouldn't want to share. The thing I think that people have to worry about most would be sharing information with things like games or applications. Although there is a warning about what the site will be able to see, people aren't aware of how much information they are giving away.
While looking at my Facebook profile (pictures, status updates, wall posts, etc.), I realized just how unprofessional my page is. The first thing I noticed was that my default photo is a picture of me and my friend tailgating before a country concert (sorry, Mom.) As I moved on to statuses, I didn't find there to be any huge red flags. Most of them were either brief descriptions of what I was doing (for example, "heading to the beach!") or up beat song lyrics about summertime. However, it's not just what you say that employers would look at. I'm not thrilled with some of the language my friends choose to use on my page, or the implications that some of their comments have. In the end, changing my picture would probably be the most important thing to change before searching with a job. I strictly use my Facebook to keep in contact with friends and family, not employers, so the only thing that wouldn't be private would be my picture. Sipping from a koozie in a cowgirl outfit may not be the best first impression.
Overall, I think that Facebook, rather than Twitter, would be a great outlet for my field of research (non-profit organizations.) This is because they can get out more information to people all around the world through one of the most used social media sites. The organization that I was given for the Wiki class project (World Wildlife Fund) does have a Facebook page as well as a Twitter.
Twitter was much easier to set up than the other social media sites we've used in this course. I had no trouble figuring out how to create an account or how to Tweet. For privacy settings, I simply checked a box called "Tweet Privacy" so that I have to approve who can see what I write on Twitter. Although I don't feel like I've tweeted anything of importance, it's still nice to know that I am in control of who is reading my thoughts. I have yet to play around too much with my Twitter. I haven't really designed it in any special way or attempted to use "lists," "trends," or "replays." Hopefully in time I will become more familiar with these things.
As for Facebook, I already had one set up! Since I have been using Facebook for quite a while, I had no trouble with this part of the assignment. I thought that I would go ahead and make a Facebook group for my classmates, as Bistra suggested to explore in the week 3 powerpoint, since there wasn't much else I could do for this social media site in terms of classwork. As for privacy on Facebook, I'd like to think my page is fairly private. I do not allow those who aren't my friends to see my pictures or information. I also don't allow anybody to see my contact information. Under privacy policy, one of the first things that is stated is that Facebook is dubbed one of the most trusted in terms of Privacy. I believe that it has plenty of settings that allow for people to hide any information they wouldn't want to share. The thing I think that people have to worry about most would be sharing information with things like games or applications. Although there is a warning about what the site will be able to see, people aren't aware of how much information they are giving away.
While looking at my Facebook profile (pictures, status updates, wall posts, etc.), I realized just how unprofessional my page is. The first thing I noticed was that my default photo is a picture of me and my friend tailgating before a country concert (sorry, Mom.) As I moved on to statuses, I didn't find there to be any huge red flags. Most of them were either brief descriptions of what I was doing (for example, "heading to the beach!") or up beat song lyrics about summertime. However, it's not just what you say that employers would look at. I'm not thrilled with some of the language my friends choose to use on my page, or the implications that some of their comments have. In the end, changing my picture would probably be the most important thing to change before searching with a job. I strictly use my Facebook to keep in contact with friends and family, not employers, so the only thing that wouldn't be private would be my picture. Sipping from a koozie in a cowgirl outfit may not be the best first impression.
Overall, I think that Facebook, rather than Twitter, would be a great outlet for my field of research (non-profit organizations.) This is because they can get out more information to people all around the world through one of the most used social media sites. The organization that I was given for the Wiki class project (World Wildlife Fund) does have a Facebook page as well as a Twitter.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Wikispaces
This week I had my first experience using wikis. I really appreciate the concept of a wiki. I think that it's ingenious to have a website where classmates can alter their work without having to physically be together or having to e-mail ideas back and forth for a final product. However, for some reason setting up a wiki has not been an easy process for me. Making the actual wiki account was straight forward. Privacy settings and editing were a breeze, because there weren't all that many options given for those who opt for the free version of wiki. Once I got around to actually putting information on my wiki, I got lost. I ended up putting the information I had researched (and a video that I hope works) as a new page, which I'm not sure is exactly what I wanted to do. I still have a lot more to plan out with my partner on this wiki, and hopefully together we can figure out how to manage it!
If you want to check out my wiki, or the beginning of what will be one, go to: http://worldwildlife.wikispaces.com.
If you want to check out my wiki, or the beginning of what will be one, go to: http://worldwildlife.wikispaces.com.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
My first blog!
Hi, my name is Audra Gordon. I am a communications major at the University of New England! With a degree in communications, I hope to develop a career in non-profit. I am specifically interested in working with local children to help aid underprivileged children in third world countries, as in Operation Kid to Kid.
This blog that I've created for my Social Application of Web course at UNE is the first blog I have ever made! I think that blogs can be utilized in non-profit, and in many other fields, by simply promoting awareness. Since the world is rapidly becoming more technologically advanced, using features like Blogger, Twitter, or Wikis can help to give knowledge of an organization or to boost awareness of an issue. The more people that understand what's happening around them, the bigger the opportunity is for them to help! Taking this course will help me to broaden my abilities with the internet and social media, which in turn will help me adapt better in my field of profession.
Setting up my first blog has gone pretty well. I chose to keep my blog public simply because I'm not sure which privacty settings will effect my other classmates or how I can connect with other social media outlets for this class. That has been my biggest problem so far, figuring out how to follow my peers and have them follow me. I chose a layout that looked the most simple and appealing to me. I figured that my classmates will have to be reading these blog posts often for the next few weeks, so the more simplistic and visually appealing the blog is, the better for them. We'll see how my second blog post will go next week!
This blog that I've created for my Social Application of Web course at UNE is the first blog I have ever made! I think that blogs can be utilized in non-profit, and in many other fields, by simply promoting awareness. Since the world is rapidly becoming more technologically advanced, using features like Blogger, Twitter, or Wikis can help to give knowledge of an organization or to boost awareness of an issue. The more people that understand what's happening around them, the bigger the opportunity is for them to help! Taking this course will help me to broaden my abilities with the internet and social media, which in turn will help me adapt better in my field of profession.
Setting up my first blog has gone pretty well. I chose to keep my blog public simply because I'm not sure which privacty settings will effect my other classmates or how I can connect with other social media outlets for this class. That has been my biggest problem so far, figuring out how to follow my peers and have them follow me. I chose a layout that looked the most simple and appealing to me. I figured that my classmates will have to be reading these blog posts often for the next few weeks, so the more simplistic and visually appealing the blog is, the better for them. We'll see how my second blog post will go next week!
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