Web 2.0 Tool Adventure

At the end of the week, write a blog post about your experience this week exploring Youtube Twitter, and learning Web 2.0 tools in general.

YouTube is probably one of my favorite Web 2.0 tools due to it being so user friendly and it having so much information. I visit the site at least once a day to explore a variety of videos, for personal or work use. The site provides tons of information for a learner. Whether an individual wants to learn how to change a tire or apply a full-coverage foundation; YouTube offers instructional videos from users like them at the click of a button. I have used the site many times in the past when advising my students on schools that are not familiar with or even to help them understand an assignment in a subject that I am not my strongest in #KahnAcademyRocks (special shoutout to math and science teachers) 

Since it is my favorite tool, I selected it for my group assignment. Please view my demonstration video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moxHTzG3dqU

In the end, I think it is a tool that will be around for many years and keep its popularity with the kiddos, unlike sites like Facebook and Myspace, due to its uniqueness it what it has to over. #TeamYouTube  

Then there's Twitter...(insert tiny violin) Twitter has to be one of my least favorite tools simply because it is so easy to get lost in it. Don't get me wrong, the simplicity of the site is genius and it reaches our kiddos brilliantly BUT I am a fan of 140+ characters and actually knowing who I am talking to. There's the Twitter handle but then a user can have a completely different name. Sighs...I do feel socially obligated to continue to give it a try but I must admit it is not one of my most often used social media tools such as Facebook but then there's Periscope.. #TechnologyRulesTheWorld 

Twitter Adventure

I have had a Twitter account since June of 2012 and I have only made 1,227 tweets. I tend to forget to post to my account but I do enjoy logging in every now and then in order to see what's trending. I am more of a Facebook fan when it comes to social media since that does not limit one on character counts and doesn't involve subtweets and such. Sometimes I don't even know how to see who said what and who they said it to. I suppose that could change if I actually used the app more. We shall see. Maybe this course will help. #etec527

I do find that I use it most when I am out of town at conferences or workshops in order to promote my organization. (#TRIOworks) I also use it to keep "connected" with my favorite celebrities and my latest obsession in the world of makeup. I do find it is the best way to connect to our students when it comes to social media. Snapchat is slowly but surely taking over and who know what will be next to hit the airwaves?!?

Follow me @sophietoo

Vanity Search

What does your digital footprint look like? This is an opportunity to explore your digital presence. The more you are involved in online communications, the greater your digital footprint can become. It is important that you do this before you start to set up additional accounts for this class and interact in these spaces. You will have a chance to explore how your digital footprint changes over time as you interact in new spaces. This is important for you to understand as you will need to be able to help students understand the importance of being aware of their own digital footprints. This is a simple thing to do. Simply go to Google and enter your name in quotes. Then explore the results. Make sure you look at the returns for web pages, photos and videos. Take notes on what you find and reflect on what it means for the way you use the web and how you are represented. You will then write a post in your blog (Instructions for Blog are below) that addresses what you learned in your first vanity search.
Interesting! I have often Googled myself for other reasons such as boredom or maybe vanity (that one time when I watched the show Catfish) AND when I was proving a point to my students to show them how easily things get "stuck" on the internet. Anyhow, I am fine with my results and was not surprised by anything listed.  I found past and current blogs, my FB information and pictures from that site, local news article, a couple of Prezis that I made AND information about me.  I even found information on certain charities that I have participated in. The most shocking thing I found was my current position at UNT and MY SALARY along with start date and my position title. (I know that is public information, but GEEZ) In the end, I think that I use the web cautiously and that I am represented very well. 

7.3 Your Personal Restrospective

The purpose of this post is to serve as a reflection of our course. During these past six weeks, I have experienced a spectrum of emotions and below is just a preview of my journey. 

What was the build that you are most proud of and why?

I was most proud of my second build since I was able to successfully complete the assignment and was instantly rewarded with success. 

Go back to your first week and read each week’s submission with an eye for personal growth. Where were you when you started and where did you end up?

Comparing the first week to now is like hitting a wall. I do believe I lost momentum through the term of the course due to constant failure in the projects. 

What did you learn that you didn’t know before?

This list alone could be another blog post but I will now bore you with extensive details. I had never, NEVER even heard of an Arduino board or what specifically makers space was. I now have a better understanding of what the board is and the purpose of makers space is. 

How did you actually come to learn this new knowledge?

All the new knowledge came from information in the course and me reaching out to fellow engineer peeps of mine to see what their experiences where with working with the board. 

What did you learn about yourself?

This question is the question of the hour! I learned that I do not do well with failure, especially the kind that I can't control. I am not saying that I have never experienced failure but

never to this level. In the past, I have been able to fail and then analyze the situation and try again and succeed. For me, this course came with a different level of frustration and at times just a simple 

Look at your words for each week and see how they might read if one of your students turned in that submission. What were you telling yourself about yourself?

If my students read my submissions they would surely see a different side of Ms. Sophie. I am constantly pushing them to do better than they did before and they would surely tell me about myself and to not give up so easily. Upon reviewing my videos, I can surely hear my frustrations through the assignments and it allowed. 

Where did you say your challenges where?

I found the only challenge in the course that I had was during the projects, especially the coding. I had difficulties from the beginning since my board did not arrive on time an when it finally did it was without a book, which I found out later was a MUST have for success in the course. I enjoyed the other assignments, especially the review of the blogs and watching the success of my peers. 

Did these challenges change over the time of the class?

The challenges for me remained the same throughout the course. 

As you entered the world of the maker, what do you see as your next adventure in the world of making? Is it to expand your abilities to work with microprocessor and move from prototype to the production of something fun and useful? Is it to see what you can learn about the world of 3D design and printing? Is it to see what aspects of making can be used with the younger children? It is to see what you need to do to bring your vision of a maker space to life in the real world? It can be anything.

I do not have future plans for the world of making, but I am thankful to be able to be a more well-rounded person since the start of the course. 

What are your next steps?

My next steps are to use the valuable tools I learned from this course to better myself for challenges I face in the future. I also plan to tell my story of defeat to my seniors during the Spring semester.  

Week 3: Challenge Build Three

In this challenge, we are supposed to obtain this magical light where three different lights display in a a single bulb. Since I have received a guidebook, I am at least only two time stressed out than my original level of 5. I was ready to complete this assignment and see my board light up like a Christmas tree---NEGATIVE!

I followed the guideline and was so very sure that I was going to be victorious and after about four hours on and off (even had the hubby to double check) I am unsuccessful. I even had him to go to the nearest RadioShack to purchase a new bulb but they did not have any in stock. #sadness

I am extremely excited to watch fellow classmates to see where I possibly went wrong. Maybe it was the light BUT I will follow-up and give it another go tomorrow. #GoTeam

I decided to not give up and watched the Jeremy Blum tutorial. Let's just say that left me even more confused...A real-life world product that uses this circuit is the a video game console. 

Directions

Circuit and Board 

Circuit 2 Challenge: Potentiometer

This challenge was not as frustrating as the last one due to having a guide (thanks Nichole). Unfortunately, neither kit I have included the potentiometer and I was unable to control the light BUT I was able to circuit the board and get a steady blinking light as my fellow classmates did. Eureka! 

I have not ran the code with the board but I am happy that I am "making". I wouldn't consider this to be a failure but it is not a complete success. I am excited that I was able to complete the circuit and the light blinks. Kuddos to me!

"When you try your best, but you don't succeed you get what you want but not what you need" -Unknown

Completed Circuit Board

Code provided from classmate; hasn't been tested on board 

Adding a Real World option to the project 

Challenge 1: We have light!

I will admit this course has been the most stressful one in my ETEC career. I have had shipping difficulties and STILL have not received my Arduino board that I ordered early this month. Dr. B referred me to RadioShack and of course they not longer sale them BUT Micro Center in North Dallas came to rescue. I was able to purchase what I will call an off-brand version. The version is Inland and seems to look the same but did not come with a book--frustration moment #1. Since I have been on the hunt for the board, I have asked people that actually have worked with it before what it actually the "point" of it and several people have told me that simple machines such as microwaves and coffee makers. It seems simple, to people who understand these things, you tell it to do an action and it does it. I just wish operating the board was as easy as it is to pop my popcorn in the microwave. Le sigh!

Picture of my "off brand" board

I decided not to give up just yet and reached out to YouTube for help. Luckily, there are tons of makers on the the "video Google" site. After watching tons of videos and reading about the board and still not getting the darn light to blink, my inner light of hope soon started dimming. (If you read my initial intro post for the course, you will learn that I am no maker). 

I decided to take a break and eat a cupcake and get back to it. As I was reading, listening, and taking notes--BAM the LED light started blinking. YES! YES! YES! This was very exciting and rewarding, I finally did it. Stress level is now back high for challenge two BUT in the meantime see below for that gorgeous light!

Electronic Diagram 

Picture of text coding 

We have action! FINALLY!