One of the tools that I was introduced was the networking site Diigo. I was able to find interesting groups to follow here and limited my focus to groups on technical tools for facilitation and Project Management groups. However, the concept of tagging is unclear to me. How do they would and how effectively can these be used?
The tags here seem to compare to tweets in twitter. While these are lot more professional than microblogging with Facebook, I am unclear how the tages are getting added in tweets. When do people retweet?
I also would like to explore how one can actually create a log of text messaging. For instance, if I were to text you or IM you through other tools, how is it possible to get a transaction log of the exchange of information.
Finally, one more thing that I need to follow and understand clearly is creating a wiki for collaborative management. I have used extensively GoogleDocs for document sharing but need to explore creating wikis instead of blogs to maximize its use.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
An assessment tool
As a facilitator, one should not only consider assessment tools for simple evaluation of the learning materials but also as a mechanism for evaluating the effectiveness of the facilitation and the tools used in the facilitation. Similarly, as a project manager one can gather feedback from the team members anonymously what is working and what could be modified. Instead of waiting till the project closure stage where lessons learned could be conducted to streamline processes further for future projects, a project manager can unleash surveys interim during the execution and control stages to gain invaluable input to take correction action.
While there are a numnber of tools available, such as Zoomerang, SurveyMonkey, Quia, and ProProfs, I would like to focus on HostedSurvey that I used during my doctoral dissertation. This survey tool used a intuitive user-interface making it easy to create secured surveys. It used a thin client architecture without using any cookies or Active X controls and subsequently cliaming that this survey tools will not promote transfer of virus or cause a computer crash. Secured by HostedSurvey's firewall comprised of the leading industry standards like Cisco PIX, Checkpoint, and NetScreen securing participant's data and aided by encrypted data transfer, the privacy requirements were adequately met by strict dissertation requirements. The tool also promoted where the adminstrator of the survey can send email solicitations specifically to targeted individuals as well as promote anonymous feedback gathering. What was very interesting is that the survey tool also allowed creatinng multiple surveys where they can be linked using simple redirection. This is definitely a tool worth considering for survey administration.
While there are a numnber of tools available, such as Zoomerang, SurveyMonkey, Quia, and ProProfs, I would like to focus on HostedSurvey that I used during my doctoral dissertation. This survey tool used a intuitive user-interface making it easy to create secured surveys. It used a thin client architecture without using any cookies or Active X controls and subsequently cliaming that this survey tools will not promote transfer of virus or cause a computer crash. Secured by HostedSurvey's firewall comprised of the leading industry standards like Cisco PIX, Checkpoint, and NetScreen securing participant's data and aided by encrypted data transfer, the privacy requirements were adequately met by strict dissertation requirements. The tool also promoted where the adminstrator of the survey can send email solicitations specifically to targeted individuals as well as promote anonymous feedback gathering. What was very interesting is that the survey tool also allowed creatinng multiple surveys where they can be linked using simple redirection. This is definitely a tool worth considering for survey administration.
Content I produced
As part of an online class where I was teaching Web Programming, students were wondering how to combine branching logic and package them into functions. The order of how they were listed came up at the same time. So, I put together a simple demonstration of interactive script programming to demonstrate this. .
Using JavaScripts
Using JavaScripts
Readymade Content
As a facilitator teaching IT, business, and management concepts, I find every class very engaging and interesting. I always think of how ready made content can be used to promote learning in a most effective and efficient way. The YouTube and TeacherTube are excellent resources where enlightening content are available. For instance, check out the History of Internet below.
If one thinks YouTube is not applicable for professional setting, think again. I once used to describe to the management the principles of agile project management framework, Scrum, using the YouTube readymade content.
Similarly, I used YouTube to describe the benefits of using AxoSoft's OnTime 2010 as a vehicle for task and work flow management within the project management framework for process maintenance. You can check out the ready made content at
If one thinks YouTube is not applicable for professional setting, think again. I once used to describe to the management the principles of agile project management framework, Scrum, using the YouTube readymade content.
Similarly, I used YouTube to describe the benefits of using AxoSoft's OnTime 2010 as a vehicle for task and work flow management within the project management framework for process maintenance. You can check out the ready made content at
Synchronous Communication
Synchronous tools are more effective in today's business and academic landscape as the members of the team or class spread widely across multiple timezones. I once worked in a project where I had team members from Japan to the USA (traveling Eastwards)! I had facilitated online classes where members were in Germany and sometimes traveling in the Pacific Ocean. The use of synchronous communication tools is great for quick facilitation of information and gaining consensus.
Some of the tools that people constantly use are the Windows Messenger, AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, and Google Talk among many other Instant Messaging (IM) communication. Recently I came across Meebo. While this may be yet another IM tool, what makes it different is that it can be used to integrate all the other IMs. So, one need not have all the IMs installed but just Meebo!
Another tool that can be very effectively use is Skype. One can easily share the screen or an application through Skype delivering a powerful presentation. I used Skype recently to deliver a presentation on Project Leadership in a Symposium at the University of Riverside.. Alternatives to Skype could be the GoTo Meeting or WebEx in a professional setting and Elluminate in an academic setting. Using GoTo meeting, it is easy to share documents where collaborative editing can take place to avoid transfering documents by email or FTP/HTTP transfer.
While we discuss Synchronous communication, the discussion cannot end without one knowing some teleconference services. In the environment where conferencing facilities are soaring, project managers and facilitators can easily acquire accounts with Free Conference and No Cost Conference. Although I have not used myself the toll-free and international dial options, these are also good options to explore to facilitate team meetings. In a classroom setting, this service has come handy where members of a class can be brought together in a conference call that is available 24x7 to resolve issues very quickly. The benefits to the professional setting are numerous.
Finally, one should consider a Voice over IP (VoIP) service where voicemails can be automatically converted into audio files that can be transferred to emails increasing the speed with which a facilitator or project manager can reach out to address concerns. I believe Vonage tops in the market but there are other options.
Some of the tools that people constantly use are the Windows Messenger, AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, and Google Talk among many other Instant Messaging (IM) communication. Recently I came across Meebo. While this may be yet another IM tool, what makes it different is that it can be used to integrate all the other IMs. So, one need not have all the IMs installed but just Meebo!
Another tool that can be very effectively use is Skype. One can easily share the screen or an application through Skype delivering a powerful presentation. I used Skype recently to deliver a presentation on Project Leadership in a Symposium at the University of Riverside.. Alternatives to Skype could be the GoTo Meeting or WebEx in a professional setting and Elluminate in an academic setting. Using GoTo meeting, it is easy to share documents where collaborative editing can take place to avoid transfering documents by email or FTP/HTTP transfer.
While we discuss Synchronous communication, the discussion cannot end without one knowing some teleconference services. In the environment where conferencing facilities are soaring, project managers and facilitators can easily acquire accounts with Free Conference and No Cost Conference. Although I have not used myself the toll-free and international dial options, these are also good options to explore to facilitate team meetings. In a classroom setting, this service has come handy where members of a class can be brought together in a conference call that is available 24x7 to resolve issues very quickly. The benefits to the professional setting are numerous.
Finally, one should consider a Voice over IP (VoIP) service where voicemails can be automatically converted into audio files that can be transferred to emails increasing the speed with which a facilitator or project manager can reach out to address concerns. I believe Vonage tops in the market but there are other options.
Asynchronous Communication Tools
In today's business or academic environment, the concept of virtual team is inexorably noticed. The business trends like outsourcing, application service provider (ASP), or managed service provider MSP) is made possible today because of computer supported collaborative worktools (CSCW). In this environment characterized by anytime-anywhere communication needs, the project manager should be a facilitator of communication moving information across the stakeholders and team members. This can be very effectively achieved by using various tools such as the following:
Microsoft SharePoint. This is a complete project management information system (PMIS) that contains a number of webparts, such as the calendar, announcement, team management, lists, issue logs, version management for document maintenance, web server/hosting, and many elements that a project manager can use to manage and lead expectations. An interesting reader is directed to Microsoft SharePoint site for further details.
Alternatively, one can use the the freely availab Apache to setup a webserver locally and host communication. Any facilitator with simple of knowledge of HTML and using freely available integrated environments like EvrSoft 1st Page or the open source web development NvU to build on the HTML themselves.
If the webserver setup and development is challenging, then the facilitator or project manager can use blogs and wiki pages. While blogs are intended for one-way communication from the project manager or facilitator of broadcast communication, the wikis can be promoted for team collaboration.
I setup this blog using blogger but other tools can be found at Education blogs or WordPress.
One can find free wikis at Wikispace or PB Wiki or Bluwiki.
Microsoft SharePoint. This is a complete project management information system (PMIS) that contains a number of webparts, such as the calendar, announcement, team management, lists, issue logs, version management for document maintenance, web server/hosting, and many elements that a project manager can use to manage and lead expectations. An interesting reader is directed to Microsoft SharePoint site for further details.
Alternatively, one can use the the freely availab Apache to setup a webserver locally and host communication. Any facilitator with simple of knowledge of HTML and using freely available integrated environments like EvrSoft 1st Page or the open source web development NvU to build on the HTML themselves.
If the webserver setup and development is challenging, then the facilitator or project manager can use blogs and wiki pages. While blogs are intended for one-way communication from the project manager or facilitator of broadcast communication, the wikis can be promoted for team collaboration.
I setup this blog using blogger but other tools can be found at Education blogs or WordPress.
One can find free wikis at Wikispace or PB Wiki or Bluwiki.
Social Media Tools
Facilitators and Project Managers share a common goal - catering to the members of a team towards accomplishing a specific goal in the project.
The facitliators in a classroom setting or project managers in the team environment can use twitter to share quick and easy updates so that learners can follow the tweet messages. Here is an example of twitter usage.
Alternatively, the social media, such as Facebook that allows microblogging where quick status updates can be broadcast, can be used to provide updates. So, tweeter can be used as a quick communication vehicle much better than a heavily loaded email message.
There is an application that I came across in Facebook called Toodooz that seems to allow simple project management made easy with Facebook. This is an important asset to consider for one to get used to project management foundations. Please check out Toodooz.
Another common
The facitliators in a classroom setting or project managers in the team environment can use twitter to share quick and easy updates so that learners can follow the tweet messages. Here is an example of twitter usage.
Alternatively, the social media, such as Facebook that allows microblogging where quick status updates can be broadcast, can be used to provide updates. So, tweeter can be used as a quick communication vehicle much better than a heavily loaded email message.
There is an application that I came across in Facebook called Toodooz that seems to allow simple project management made easy with Facebook. This is an important asset to consider for one to get used to project management foundations. Please check out Toodooz.
Another common
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