Ask me a question

I installed a widget called Askablogr. So ask me a question. Look for the widget on the right side of my blog.

My initial reaction is that this widget can help engage readers. Here is how it works.

1. Click on the widget and ask me a question.

2. You have to create an account on the Askablogr site. That may seem like a negative point. However, the members of Askablogr have access to the questions and answers and can mark inappropriate questions. Essentially, askabloger site is a self regulating community.

3. The questions and my answers reside on the Askablogr site, The questions can be posted as a blog article on my page if I give Askablogr access to my blog. I have not done that which is the reason that my first question sits on the Askablogr site: Reader questions: Where did I find out about Askablogr and what role will Askablogr play?

If you want to see an example of a question appearing as a blog post, look at the post, Reader Question: Are there new opportunities in social networking?, on Andrew Chen's blog.

Also, the answer can be sent to the person asking the question via email (there's a checkbox set as a default to send email).

Since there are no feeds coming from the Askablogr site, I have no way to aggregate the questions and answers, I asked Chris DeVore about having future plans for feeds from Askablogr. His answer indicates that incorporating feeds is planned.

Instead of posting each question and answer as a post, I might choose particular questions to post and aggregate the others on my site.

I like the concept of readers asking questions (not just ones associated with posts). But, I have to be convinced over time if this is the right method to do that. How would a comment section not associated with any given post work?

For now, ask me a question through the Askablogr widget. Let's see how this works in practice.

del.icio.us Tags: Askablogr,blogging

Strength of relationships is based on trust

Lynette Spicer asked us to share stories of civility. Here is one. Though, sometimes, I don't know how to separate behaviors that indicate civility, courtesy, character, and leadership.

I do know how to recognize people who are understand basic principles of character and integrity. The ones who impress me the most are the young people. They encourage us by showing us that they understand basic principles of living life and working in the real world--sometimes better than those who are more experienced and older.

Brett Pohlman, a senior of Auburn University's public relations program, in his post, A Rocky Road, shows he understands that working with people, particularly in the public relations arena, is based on trust and relationships.

As PR professionals it is our duty to be upfront with our clients and to do the best job that we possibly can… ethically. Unethical PR will not help us or our clients in the long run.

Ethical PR is based around trust and relationships. Neither of those can be valid if a PR professional lies to its publics.

Some may think that Brett is being naive. However, it is clear he understands that public relations is about the relations which are about trust.

I bet that Brett also understands that the strength of all relationships is built on trust.

del.icio.us Tags: trust,leadership,relationships,public relations,media

Reading is not dead--just changing

Reading reading online and with technological devices has changed the way we read. Howard Gardner explains how literacy has changed through time (not dying, but is different) in The End of Literacy? Don't Stop Reading in the Washington Post.

The most compelling statement is at the end of the article.

But whatever our digital future brings, we need to overcome the perils of dualistic thinking, the notion that what lies ahead is either a utopia or a dystopia. If we're going to make sense of what's happening with literacy in our culture, we need to be able to triangulate: to bear in mind our needs and desires, the media as they once were and currently are, and the media as they're continually transforming. 

I found the article link on The Web Difference, a blog for a Harvard Law class (2008).

 

del.icio.us Tags: reading,education,learning,writing

 

Social media and building experience among public relation college students

Robert French is a public relations instructor in the Department of Communication and Journalism at Auburn University. He has used social media in his public relations classes for awhile now. This semester, he and Karen Russell, an associate professor of Advertising and Public Relations at University of Georgia, are creating a community of public relations college students by using Twitter and other social media. These two instructors have also engaged public relations professionals to interact with the students.

As an outsider to the process and to the public relations arena, I am thrilled to watch the learning and the interaction between the students and PR folks. These students are using blogs, video blogs, wikis, and Twitter.

Karen's interview with Robert shows how using social media in the classroom develops learning by doing. Auburn PR student blogs and Twitter id can be found on the Loveliest Village blog.

The students are quickly "getting" Twitter. PR student Brett Pohlman blogs about his initial excitement with using Twitter. He also provides some links that are helpful to understanding Twitter. Here are some other Twitter perceptions and references that they may find helpful.

• Advantages of Twitter
• Twitter is My Village
• Why is Twitter Exploding? Because it's A Conversation Ecosystem
• The Big Juicy Twitter Guide
• Can Twitter Be Used For Business?

I look forward to lurking at their process and I hope to learn as well.

Questions and answers about blogging

Q&A
Originally uploaded by aafromaa

A week ago, an Extension colleague was interested in how blogging fits into Cooperative Extension and asked a few questions about our blogging. Jim Langcuster and I answered her questions from our individual perspectives.

Jim started blogging Extension Daily several years ago and he was the first one to write a Wikipedia page for a state Extension service. I started blogging a year ago and am using various social media tools, including Flickr, YouTube, Slideshare, del.icio.us (social bookmarking), and Twitter.

This post includes the questions, answers, and some examples so others can see how Cooperative Extension professionals are using blogging. In my opinion, Extension has not even created the "drop" in the bucket. Typical Extension subject matter professionals have tremendous of knowledge to share, and I hope this post helps them understand blogging can work for them.

1. How do you have time to write an entry a day?

Jim L. Well, in all honesty, it's hard sometimes. Finding subject matter often is very difficult. I pour over the online dailies regularly --- in particular, the New York Times --- and, fortunately, have a very good working relationship with agents and specialists. Otherwise, I simply would not be able to do it regularly.

Incidentally, congratulations to you for seeing the value of blogs.

Anne A. I don't post every day. I do generally write something daily, but it takes me awhile to post some of my blog articles. While Extension Daily covers a lot of diversity and Jim blogs everyday and sometimes more than once a day, I have averaged posting 1 time every two weeks. So far this year, I am posting 2 to 3 times a week.

I write notes throughout the general workday and my in-depth writing occurs mostly at night and a few free moments on weekends. Although I do sometimes blog during the workday, most of my writing is done at night. Sometimes I get ideas about presentation and approaches when I jog (that is part of being alone and having a chance to "think").

When I talk to agents about blogging, I encourage them to submit blog articles with material they have already created for their newsletters, newspapers, and answers to emails. As Jim says, writing and synthesizing the content is the hardest part. If agents are already writing articles for their newsletters, then they could easily adapt these articles into blog posts. I think a better option is to learn to blog and develop the newsletters from the blog posts.

I see Extension educators blogging in niches. Niche blogs will get "reads" from people who are truly interested in those areas, not necessarily thousands and thousands.

2. What is your position?

Jim L. Yes, a news and public affairs specialist -- technically a communications and marketing specialists based on a new university reclassification, though I prefer the first.

Anne A. My title is Associate Director, IT. I started blogging in January 2007 as a way to understand how blogging fits into the Extension educational efforts.

3. Where do you get your information? Do you find the stories yourself?

Jim L. Yes, as I said, I find the stories myself, though, of course, I work with the agents, though mostly specialists, for quotes. It's time consuming, and I do this on top of several other job tasks.

Incidentally, I take much of what I write --- two thirds or so -- and provide it to the agents in column form, which, of course, involves significant rewriting. We've had a tremendous increase in our newspaper coverage as a result, so I'm convinced the effort has been worth it.

Also, I sometimes take the very best material and pitch it to media outlets directly -- and, in the case of truly singular stories, I write them into op-eds bearing the by-line of the person I've interviewed.

These have been featured in Sunday op-eds in some of the state's major dailies, most notably the Birmingham News.

Anne A. I write my thoughts as they happen (in meetings, right after discussions, emails, phone calls, and instant messages). I don't post articles right away, rather; I develop the notes and find supporting material before posting blog articles.

Agents are usually in middle of most of these discussions or their work is the object of the discussions, so yes, I get ideas for my blog posts from agents. I often think how Extension professionals can apply the information as I write my articles. Most of my articles are usually written for specific Extension educators (although I don't always say so).

Also, I keep up with lots opinions and knowledge on social media from a variety of sources:

• blogs of Extension IT professionals.
• blogs about social media in business, non profits, and marketing.
• blogs and news stories about technology and leadership.
• blogs on elearning, learning and education, I am particularly drawn to university educators who blog about elearning and learning.
• blogs from Extension agents.
• Twitter messages from marketing bloggers, technology bloggers, education bloggers, nonrpofit bloggers, Extension agents, and even, a retired musician.
• del.icio.us network of Extension IT and communications specialists.
• general news stories.
• people in general.
• books I am reading.
• links sent to me via emails.

I read a lot, try to listen, and absorb lots of opinions and information from a variety of sources. By the way, the only way I can read from this many different sources is to use a news reader (i.e., Google Reader).

4. Do you have any advice for agents who are considering doing a blog? Time seems to be the biggest obstacle.

Jim L. Yes, believe me, time is the biggest obstacle -- not just to write the stuff but to conceptualize it in a form that fits the whole Extension matrix. Frankly, I see a huge potential here for agents. In fact, I've begun speaking about old and new media -- old being conventional media, new being blogs, vlogs and podcasting.

I suppose the frustration is that that while we have a big administrative buy-in to the value of blogs, our specialists and agents are still rather wary of them, partly because of the time, partly because blogging strikes them as, well, terra incognita -- something a bit too new and too daunting to grasp at this point.

The lack of understanding of the power of this medium and of a similar but emerging new medium -- social networking -- is what I find most frustrating. If you like, I'll write you an epistle about why I think new media quickly is superseding old media as the most critical outlet for Extension educators.

Anne A. Like Jim said, Extension agents' opportunities and reach are vast. It is a great medium that should not be overlooked. Blogging is a perfect fit for Extension educators. My advice to agents:

• team blog. Two examples are:

Tim Mathews and Diane Turner, write Master Your Garden.

My Minnesota Woods is updated by faculty members, Eli Sagor and Philip Potyondy.

The Beef Blog is a team blog serves as an educational forum for beef producers and Extension educators.

• multi-purpose material. Use material that is being used in newsletters as blog articles. Use photos and slide presentations as basis for blog articles.
  
• blog what you are already doing. Examples:

Teens use of social networking sites.

Internet security presentations.

• blog everyday questions. Tony Glover does this in the Heart of Dixie Gardener blog.


• blog your passion and knowledge for the purpose of sharing. Examples:

At Home with Extension

Civility in the Workplace

Shepherd's Notebook

Lead2020

High Touch

Keeper

Scouting Around

Virtual Blue Ribbon Party

Extending Extension

Brian Webster-Blog

• refer to content produced by Extension professionals. (We need to do this more and more!)

Becky Nibe refers to writing for the web post in Writing for the Web refers to writing tips.

Mitch Owen and I had a conversation via blogging in these 3 articles: Web 2.0 = Social Networks, NOT , Trust in Web 2.0 and Social Networks , and Trust,Web 2.0 and Influence, Social Networks Part II

John Dorner and I had a conversation via blogging in these 3 articles: What is a blog? , Do You Blog? or Why Blog? , and What is a blog? Continuation

• refer to specific educational materials on the eXtension site.
• summarize speakers and sessions at conferences.

• My examples: Challenging the process is a must to move from good to great and Connecting, Engagement, and Productivity

• Mitch Owen's examples: Ron Brown on Future and Jim Collins' Keynote - ASTD 2007

• blog about content in industry trade rags and popular news. Write about these articles, based on your professional and research-based knowledge.

Everyone has something to say. Blogging:

1. is a great way for Extension professionals to expand and develop their programs.
2. creates relationships with other Extension professionals.
3. creates relationships with clientele.

Random observations:

Anne A. As Jim says, writing and synthesizing the content is the hardest part. If agents are already writing articles for their newsletters, then they could easily adapt these articles into blog posts. I think a better option is to flip that process around: Blog articles and then develop newsletters from blog posts.

I see Extension educators blogging in niches. Niche blogs will get "reads" from people who are truly interested in those areas, not necessarily from thousands and thousands.

Blogging may not be for every Extension professional. However, most anyone can find a social media tool that fits for their style and talents.

Jim L. First, as I’ve said before, old media is not on a Hospice trajectory, though it’s nonetheless competing with entirely new and, in most respects, far more convenient media that many younger users, the so-called Millennials, find considerably more appealing.

Our role, as Extension educators, I believe, is to begin tapping into these sources. Indeed, if we don’t, we soon will begin losing any sort of competitive edge we still enjoy vis-à-vis better funded public and private entities.

Some would contend that Millennials still are roughly 10 years away from being fully integrated into the economy and exercising opinion-leading roles that ultimately could affect our bottom line. So what? My argument is that 10 years is an exceedingly short time, and besides that, there are other older clientele that could begin benefiting from blogging and other social networking techniques, if only they were given adequate training. At the top of the list are the Master Gardeners, who often tend to be retired, well-educated and highly adaptive Extension users - lifelong learners who hunger for knowledge.

I would add to that list a large number of well-educated agribusiness professionals who already have bought into the highly technical precision farming methods and who may be interested in one or more social networking techniques to keep abreast of emerging technologies and innovations among Extension experts and other producers.

Free blog workshop (for February)

According to Vicki Davis, Cool Cat Teacher, Atomic Learning is giving away their blogging workshop called "Learn to Blog" for the month of February.

Tim Warner created a great introductory course with 2 minute lessons. He specifically uses Blogger as the blogging software and the education community as the target audience.

For someone who has never blogged, you may want to look at these instructions as examples of the processes you would use in any type of blogging software. For me, I learned a few techniques I had not used before, though I have been blogging for a year.

For someone who is considering blogging, but not yet settled on Blogger, I would recommend taking the lessons in this order.

A. Blogging Basics
B. Choosing a Blog Subject
C. Selecting a Blog Hosting Solution
I. Formatting and Editing Your Posts
J. Using Hyperlinks
K. Posting Images
M. Managing Blog Archiving
O. Team Blogging
R. Additional Resources for Educators

You can pick up the other parts of the workshop if you decide to use Blogger.

Future of my blogging

georgia - 4.jpg
Originally uploaded by jerobins

This is my last post, in reflecting on my first year of blogging. I not only need to evaluate my first year of blogging, but I also need to consider the future of my blogging.

Where do I want to go with my blogging? What do I want to learn and write about? For this next year, I want to post more. In those posts, I want to include:

1. instructional posts

I want to write more on helping beginner bloggers. Specifically, I hope to cover these blogging topics:

• web analytics.
• linking.
• embedding graphics, videos, and presentations from other sites.
• writing for search engines.
• comparing writing in short posts and longer explanations.

2. people stories.

Anything we do, we do for and with people. People are fascinating and inspiring. Telling stories about people helps connect concepts with readers. After all, it is about people, not the technologies. I want to write how people have used technologies for improve processes or improve lives.

Additionally, I want to write about people who make a difference.

3. conceptual and idea kinds of posts, possibly, some "what if" posts.

Trying to convey concepts in a way that invokes ideas is something that I struggle with. Gosh darn it, I wish I was better at that. I will keep trying.

4. posts on what I am learning.

I am not sure what I am going to learn. I do know I want to investigate these specific topics more deeply:

• open source, open course, and open content.
• creative commons.
• personal learning environments.
• privacy and safety issues.
• data portability.
• use of social networks and social media to "build" communities.
• social networking analysis.

5. posts on using social media.

The more I used social media the more I know that I cannot rely on only 1 or 2 tools to communicate. Each tool has a purpose. Some of the newer social media tools open opportunities to communities, learning, and people, but are not full replacement for traditional electronic tools. For instance, email is a good tool for some asynchronous messages. It is, however, often used for the wrong purpose. Instant messaging, blogging, collaboration tools, such as Google docs and wikis, serve us better for some communications and activities.

I want to write more about the importance of using social media technologies, particularly social bookmarking, wikis, Twitter, and any other useful tool I happen to try.

What do you want me to investigate? What topics do you want me to cover in my blog?

Have I had an impact?

weight 2.0
Originally uploaded by Esthr

What was the impact, if any from my first year of blogging?

My web metrics show that my blog is being read. Sure, I would like to see an increase in the number of people reaching my blog. Though, it is more important to me that the articles help educators understand the potential of integrating technology into our educational programs.

In the first year, I have helped a few people become more aware of reading feeds, blogging, and sharing resources, such as photos, videos, and slide presentations. Several Extension educators have started blogging in a trial stage. Although the idea of social media is spreading in our organization, we still have more work to do. I will keep blogging.

I have not advertised the fact that I blog. Except in the last few months, while meeting with Extension professionals in my own state, I have used my blog as an example in showing them feeds and showing how they can subscribe to feeds. Thus, this is one reason my Feedburner subscriptions have jumped in the last month or so. :)

Several of us in Extension are talking about the importance of integrating social media into educational programs. No one individual can be effecive in bringing awareness and adoption of social media. We each say the message a little differently and we each have opportunities to chip into the influence factor.

Blogging is not the only application I started in the last year. I have also adopted:

• reading news feeds through Google Reader. See post: How to use a news reader.
• using social bookmarking del.icio.us/aafromaa.
• using instant messaging and SMS (text messaging) more. See post: SMS and instant messaging advantages.
• using Facebook (also joined MySpace, LinkedIn, and Ning. See post: Advantages of Facebook.
• using Twitter. See post: Advantages of Twitter.
• using Animoto. See post: Animoto: New way to present photos.
• using Flickr.
• using YouTube.
• using Slideshare.

The use of each of these applications have helped me learn, understand, adopt and use social media. Through these tools, I am also building an understanding how these tools fit in our organization.

My blog has become a centralized place for instructions and linking to interesting technologies and concepts. My blog isn't only a set of instructions, but rather my thoughts and professional opinion on how we can make our organization better. It is from some of these posts that conversations have been started. In the conversations, ideas are forming.

Blogging is not a one way communication tool. Blogging means participating. Knowing what others are finding and saying is as important as blogging itself. These others tools helped me grow my relationships with colleagues across the country and helped me learn from them.

The influence is not only about how much I have impacted the adoption of these tools, but it is also about the understanding and knowledge that I have gained.

The impact of my blog is not measured by the numbers. Impact is also about how scattered influence is being picked up, discussed, and diffused. Two examples are given in posts about never knowing when and how you are influential. One particular influential dinner conversation with Kevin Gamble sent me to the adoption phase. Another conversation on Sandia Peak sent a Brian Webster to the blogging adoption phase. It is hard to separate whether my blog is influential, because the other conversations that happen are just or more influential.

Blogging is one piece of the strategy. Other social media used and other conversations--those in-person or virtual --all play a part in influence and impact. Maybe the influence of my blog is not measurable, it is important, nevertheless.