Every time I read or hear the words Google Wave I can't help but think about a stadium and "the wave" that goes on there. I think
the possibilities are endless for using Google Wave for collaboration but honestly I'm having a little trouble figuring out how to use Google Wave mainly because you have to work with others to actually experience it, which requires others to join the wave and their participation to see how it works. I get the main idea by watching the videos, but I am a hands on person so I need to experience it before I can really have a good understanding of it. Maybe I should buy
the book? I will continue trying it out and if you too would like to collaborate on this learning experience my Google Wave address is Monicalynne570.
Currently the only online collaboration tools I am using is Google Docs at work. I tried implementing it with my daughter's high school choir parent association but so far it hasn't gotten off the ground. I hoped it would help us communicate better than just using email.
I discovered an overwhelming amount of information to read about Google Wave and how to use it but in a condensed version here's what I liked:
- Drag and Drop file uploads
- Wiki-style functionality
- Wave extensions though I can see some hours very quickly disappearing
I think the ability to work together using these types of tools is greatly under used in our world today. We still spend far too much time, resources and energy getting to a meeting to talk about getting something done, when we could be actually discussing and working towards getting something done with these types of tools. But don't be fooled however, if you aren't good at communicating this will not fix the problem only make it visible to more people.
As far as Google Buzz goes I just don't see why anyone would want to know that much about what I am doing really it's not all that interesting. I also don't need to know that much about what others are doing. I keep reading all this about accessing everything; Twitter, Facebook, Picassa, Flickr, etc. from one place but yet I'm continually signing up for new things to get this Wave, Buzz, Gmail, and so on, and yet I still can't access it all through one account. Then there is my work accounts and my personal accounts. Despite trying my best I still have difficulty keeping them separate because I can't remember all the usernames and passwords!
I read Google Mobile apps available for mobile phones including Buzz, Maps, YouTube, Search, and Gmail but at this time I wouldn't use any of them. I don't even know if my cell phone plan includes a internet package or if I pay per use. I have a phone that can access the internet but I've only done it once or twice and frankly it was so slow, it was quicker to call someone who had access to a computer to look up what it was I was looking for. I don't see myself using any mobile apps as ultimately I'd like to do away with my cell phone altogether. My land line is FAR more reliable; it's never dropped a call, it doesn't need charging, I can't lose it, it's mounted on my wall, it can't get stolen really and if it did I could replace it rather inexpensively unlike cell phones, I am not locked into a contract with my phone company. I am either at home or at work 90% of the time and the other 10% of the time I am almost always with someone who has a cell phone so I just don't see why people have been convinced they need one. Remember elementary school when you were taught the difference between needs and wants? Well folks, this is really a want that cell phone companies and our society has made you think is a need.
"When looking at what students are required to read in school in 2010, it might as well be 1960. We need visionary educators who see bold purposes for school and who understand that what students read in school has profound, lifelong effects, both good and bad."
