Ridge View Media’s Blog

The link in this post is for anyone, but especially for my wonderful nephew Chris. He’s an awesome elementary school teacher, and I’ll probably brag about him in future posts!

http://zaidlearn.blogspot.com/2008/04/free-learning-tool-for-every-learning.html

Zaid Ali Algasoff put together a long and very helpful list for budget-conscious public-school instructors. Um, that includes 99.9% of them! (I taught in a Community College district for three years, and know that funds come out of a public instructor’s pocket if they really want to engage their students).

Zaid compiled a list of 137 free resources, the Web 2.0 variety, that teachers can use.

Go for it, nephew! That free Web site you asked me to review is fine (the SnapFish photo galleries are awesome!), but check out:

Edublogs at http://edublogs.org/

More and more, I’m seeing people use blogs to blog and to be their Web site/CMS (content management system, including photos, homework assignments, items for parents, etc.). A blog isn’t just a blog anymore.

It doesn’t matter what grade level you’re currently teaching. You can set up your blog to “go with you” as you advance in the career that you love!

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.

I’m so proud of you!

~Aunt Jenise.

Warning: Some Silliness Ahead
In the corporate world, the e-learning courses I’ve worked on fall mainly under two categories: Human Resources and Compliance/Required. After awhile, I need to stretch my fingers on the keyboard and have some fun! While test driving Articulate’s Engage interaction called the Circle Diagram, a silly, feline muse suddenly came over me.

The sample Circle Diagram now lives on my online portfolio site, RidgeViewMedia.com, in the (obvious) “Portfolio” section.

Click here to go to my Portfolio of e-learning samples, and select the image for the Sample Circle Diagram. It will open in a new window.

Make sure you have tongue firmly in cheek, or the cat will get it! (”What, cat got your tongue?”)

…to extend my sympathies to the residents of both Myanmar (Burma) and the Sichuan Province of China.

No words of mine can comfort and help. I simply ask anyone who reads this post to extend your thoughts and prayers to these residents, and to continue to support the international disaster/aid agencies that can most effectively meet needs during these crises.

Technical communicators and instructional systems designers for e-learning courses find themselves working with XML at some point in their careers. Yet, a degree of ambivalence seems to waft through many conversations these professional have with each other.

An emotion-packed ambivalence. For example, I read a post like Jeff Attwood’s on his Coding Horror blog and wonder why XML discussions can be so charged with emotions, yet result in ambivalence. Visit Jeff’s post and the gazillion Comments below it:

XML: The Angle Bracket Tax
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001114.html

I’d love to hear your “I mastered XML” success stories, so please leave a comment on my post.

Yes, I’m “Always Learning”, and native XML is another tool to add to my tool kit. A new project may depend on it!

The lovely month of May 2008, initiates The Video of the Month for this blog.

The video below is by VendAsta and NoMoreDoorKnocking (view their blog) up in Canada. It reminds us all to create trustworthy social networking Profiles when we describe ourselves. And, to “trust but verify” when we add contacts to grow our professional networks.

Embedding a YouTube.com Video
How did I embed this video on my post? The screen shot below from the WP.org Codex FAQ page tells us all how:

Hat Tip on the video to Jay Thompson via his PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com blog.

It’s Not About WordPress, But It Is
What does THAT post subtitle mean? My blog’s tag line is “Always Learning”. In this space, I want to share what I have learned in the past, what I am learning now, and what I hope to learn in the future.

Currently, it may seem like I’m obsessed with WordPress while I set up my blog. I’m not, really. No, I’m not. I’m not! Seriously, what fiddling around in WordPress helps me with includes practicing my basic CSS skills, and encouraging me to learn PHP.

My local public library loves this. I’m requesting books like crazy from throughout the library system. When I go to my local branch to pick up the books, I’m charged a 25 cent handling fee for each book. I enjoy supporting my public library system, so no bother about the fees.

However, what has bothered me is something about my blog: The post titles were not left justified. Finally, I found the style element I needed to edit:

h2.pagetitle {
margin-top: 30px;
text-align: center;
}

<< || Changed to: || >>

h2.pagetitle {
margin-top: 30px;
text-align: left;
}

I’m happy, now, and can move on to further customizing the Kubrick theme, claiming it as my own.

As more of my writing and instructional design projects continue to move to the Web, I’m grateful to WordPress for giving me a great sandbox to play in and improve my CSS, JS, and PHP skills, and to keep me “Always Learning”!

Instructional Systems Demi-god Mel Aclaro asked a question on LinkedIn.com regarding which quiz-maker software we prefer. I answered his question voting for Articulate’s Quizmaker. Mel posts the casual survey results here:

http://www.businesscasualblog.com/2008/03/instructional-d.html

I’ll take a look at Questionmark’s product. However, I like the results I get from Articulate’s Quizmaker.

Like you, I’m “Always Learning” about new-to-me software products.

(Mel, BTW…very interesting use of Articulate Presenter for your online resume and portfolio!)