FREE Online Course MiraCosta College Workshop: Internet Basics I - Critical Concepts & Browser Basics

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DNWSNU-OHaXKGbpRKcCDz_oOLHHqvTAr2EKOwo32zCM/edit?pli=1

Internet Basics I - Critical Concepts & Browser Basics
http://goo.gl/aop8M

8/13/2012
Jim Julius, Faculty Director of Online Education
jjulius@miracosta.edu / 760.795.6745 / OC 1253 - TIC

Outcomes / Contents

Participants will:

• Strengthen understanding of key terms and concepts underlying effective Internet use
• Discuss concerns and benefits of social media in education
• Be able to select a web browser based on important pros and cons of each

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Key Terms and Concepts
Let’s start with a little activity and discuss results (results only available to Jim).

For further reference:

• ”Chapter” on internet basics, a bit old
• Web 2.0 simple definition
• Cloud computing simple definition
• Good overview of HTML5 and “apps”
• Netiquette (classic)
• Online student etiquette tips (brief)
• Expanded netiquette (mostly email related)

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Social Media in Education
What do we mean by “social media” - ?
What benefits might social media bring to education? What challenges?

Discuss differences among the big four social networks

Do you realize how extensively Facebook is being used around MiraCosta?

• Academic areas: Library, Writing Center, Lisa Lane’s History Classes
• Departments: Business, Horticulture, Design
• Support services: Transfer Center, Community Services, Career Center
• Student activities: GSA, Surf team, Outdoors club, Men’s soccer, MECHA

Of course this is just the tip of the iceberg …

For future reference:

• Faculty experiences: Article on using Facebook and Twitter for outside-class communication with students; 5-minute video on use of Twitter during 90-person history class sessions; article on using Twitter for professional growth; 4-minute video from Lisa Lane on using Twitter for her own learning
• Research studies from 2011 on higher education faculty use of social media (PDFs from Pearson and Faculty Focus)
• Twitter how-tos: general article on how and why to use Twitter; Twitter beginner’s guide for educators; using “disposable” Twitter accounts for classroom purposes
• Facebook how-tos: Specific steps to take as an educator to friend students (not recommended) or set up a Facebook group or page (better); Another Facebook intro for educators focused on groups and pages; Unofficial Facebook privacy manual (remember, FB is constantly tweaking things)
• Google+ how-tos: Getting started; Google+ hangouts; Google+ for universities
• Critical thinking: Facebook is Using You, Things We Can Learn from Facebook

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Browser Choices

Browser selection factors:

• Computers/operating systems you use
• Speed
• Security
• Ease of use & extensibility
• Features & support

Keeping in mind that browsers are continuously updating and evolving, and evaluating them is a subjective, highly contextualized process, take a look at this site:

http://internet-browser-review.toptenreviews.com/ - and click on the links for the areas rated at the left if you’re curious to learn more about what they mean.

Do any of the ratings/factors surprise you?
Does this help you rethink which browser you are using?

Bottom line at present: Chrome is fast and secure. Firefox is most customizable. Internet Explorer is most likely to have vulnerabilities exploited, is not available on Mac, and can require a lot of tweaking. Recent speed testing on a PC favors Firefox and rates IE very poorly; security testing rates Firefox below both Chrome and IE but if you use an older version of IE, you may be exposing yourself to numerous vulnerabilities.
No one browser is right or wrong, but whichever you use, be sure it is UP TO DATE!

Why I like Chrome: speed, security, one bar for URLs and searches, automatic page