Mashups functions are great for the website developer. It can provide great tools for new developers to use easily. As John discovered in the class that we have to use only IE to view and add mashups to our webpages, this is a downside of it. I tried to create several mashups for the website hoping they all work well. However, some of the mashups don't allow me to use easily. Even if we already installed the Silverlight to use mashups, some of them require us to use another version of SilverLight and we have to uninstall the old one first before installing a new one. For example, WeatherWidget, it requires version Silverlight 2 Beta 1 (2.0.30226) instead of version Silverlight 2 RTW (2.0.31005.0). I think mashups can do the same task as the widgets we used in Wordpress. If we create any mashups and don't put any inputs but show only the mashups functions themselves, when we copy the embedded code and paste to our webpage, it'll just show those functions like widgets. This is quite interesting for me. If we put the input function, it means we are expanding the mashups functions but the first result is not the things we want to show, but it's the text, blank space, and the icon for us to click. Then, it will show the result according to what we put in the blank space. During the Thanksgiving week, I think I'll put the Technology deals and news for my mashups. If there are more space on my webpage, I'll put more.

My project is on going with not much progress. The interesting problem is I can't install some of the plugins that require me to modify the database (as Daniel suggested). However when I see the claremont conversation having those plugins, it really makes me feel why I can't do that haha. I'll try to work on modifying the skin to make it look better.

 

Just an update on where I am in the final project:

The Joomla! Installation is straightforward.  I've found the Joomla Support forum to be invaluable throughout the process: http://forum.joomla.org/. 

During installation, they asked if I wanted a clean install or one prepopulated with fake "data".  I chose the one with the fake data to see examples of how Joomla could be most effectively used with the default installation.  Although I initially had this prepopulated data, it was easily removable and I just chose to keep some basic files (like FAQ or Joomla support pages). 

I've found the system to be quite robust.  Since the version I installed was version 1.5, it had came prepopulated with several extensions.  The search seems very comprehensive.  I may look at a few other extensions to add a calendar and some additional functionality.

As a CMS (from the user perspective), its great.  You can easily print or email particular articles very easily.  As I've said earlier it is easy to search and the menus make it easy to find content as well. 

Managing the CMS (from an admin perspective) is not so intuitive.  There's an admin panel that takes some time to get used to (ie, it is not so intuitive).  And "hard coding" or changing templates (like even changing the menu image) is quite difficult as you are encouraged to do most of the config through the admin panel and not through an FTP client.

All in all, I'm enjoying the experience and still just trying to tap the full potential of this CMS.  Its a work in progress but as I experiment, I continue to find new features and functionality.

I have been involved in health care IT for the past 6 years.  I currently work as a Clinical Analyst at Methodist Hospital of Arcadia.  In the past I've worked at the University of Southern California at County Hospital. 

I've been involved in numerous projects over this time.  Mostly as a programmer or analyst but ocassionally as the lead.  What I've found is that many of the projects (including the ones that I've "managed") have been ran in an ad-hoc manner with no formalized project management.  While I've found that although this works ok in small projects, larger projects require a formal PM methodology to become successful.  Following PM principles will help keep the project on time, on budget, functional, and will satisfy the stakeholders.

HIM 376 has helped me bring this formalized PM methodology to my workplace.  I'm lucky b/c my manager at work is also a certified PMP (Project Management Professional).  With his guidance, and with what I have learned in Dr. Bird's class, I've been able to accomplish a successful Go-Live.  I've brought in many concepts I've learned from class and have implemented them at work. 

I've found this class to be invaluable because it is much more than just theory.  These are concepts learned in the classroom that can be applied in real life allowing me to bring value to my organization.

Apparently I posted this in the wrone place originally!  Sorry!

Using Jazz as a Vehicle for Self Discovery -  Jeremy, Alex, Jill

 

I was very interested in the hands-on approach of this group.  Their idea to gather high school students of varying levels of musical experience and talent, and to actually meet with these students, inspire them with students, while, at the same time learning from the students who will also serve as a focus group.

 

But at the same time, the group is not afraid to move beyond the hands on interaction with students, but also astutely uses the identity theory of Judith Butler who, according to the group, “begins with the idea that identity is culturally constructed”; as well as Erikson’s theories of late adolescent psychological development, and Marcia’s four statuses of adolescence.  Particularly the identity aspect of the group’s project feels directly inspired by the autobiographies that became such a major focus of this course.  And yet, the group never lost sight of the students they hope to inspire and learn from, quickly moving back again from theory to Jazz performance, which the students will be engaging in, as formation (I assume of talent as well as of identity, but this wasn’t entirely clear to me).

 

The group also looked at “Performance, Identity and Gender.”  Here they did an excellent job of drawing on previous studies on the percentage of female students in high school bands versus high school jazz ensembles.  As part of their project they plan to encourage male and female gender equality in jazz.

   

Jazzwomen: Gender and Representation - Sharone, Michelle, Fanny, Karen Beth

 

“African American jazzwomen in images, documentary film footage, and radio broadcast produced by the government.”

 

This group’s questions about government-sites, gender, and commodification of women involved in the jazz world is interesting in its transdiciplinary collaboration, which emphasizes a realistic approach to a subject which, though it has broached academia, is primarily explored in the world outside of academia, as Sharone pointed out.

 

Karen Beth discussed the idea of women in Jazz as adornment and sexual objects rather than as musicians.  I wonder where those female singers who were obese fit in to this equation.  It seems that, at least some of the time, women (those who are not particularly sexually appealing) were included in jazz groups for their singing talents alone. 

 

Fanny’s look at all female jazz bands was very surprising to me.  I had no idea that there were “close to a hundred” female jazz bands.  I particularly enjoyed the youtube video of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm from 1946.  I was struck by how strange the scene looked, particularly the female band leader, which is something that is still relatively rare today.

 

Experience Jazz in the Middle School Language Arts Classroom – Jukyung, Gene, Katheryne, Karen, Melissa

 

Goals of Achievement, Engagement, Self-Expression, Acceptance/Respect of Diversity

 

With this group I was again impressed and excited by the focus on real world, hands on engagement with students.  The group obviously came from a place of classroom experience, but also had the wherewithal to see potential beyond what has classically been experienced in classrooms, and instead combining typical instruction with one class period of musical instruction. Something that was different from the first educationally-based group we heard from was this group’s use of control groups which would not have the musical instruction.  

 

I was very intrigued by the combination of musical training with the use of journals.  In my own writing classrooms I have certainly found that having a theme or focus in writing prompts makes a big difference. This semester, for instance, my classes are focused on nature and environmentalism.  I love the idea of focusing a writing class, even a non-creative writing class, on the idea of creativity.  I found Katheryne’s sample prompts particularly interesting.

Identity and Formation: The idea to study the identity formation was very interesting. In particular, the experience of working with the children will produce interesting results. Many children are not exposed to music in schools, in particular, the jazz. They will be able to learn and identify themselves with some of the jazz musicians and possibly make some connection with the hip-hop as well. Gender and Jazz:  I liked to see how organized and prepared was the group and the energy they put into this project. I believe that this course could incorporate the study and the role played for women in jazz music into the next classes. Jazz and Education: The curriculum timeline presented by the group is very consistent. The example of the improvisation with the feet and hands given by Melissa was very interesting and many students might become interested by music.  I wish a happy thanksgiving for all!  Leandro

Identity Formation:  The opportunity for teens to participate in an extra curricular performance based adventure of self-discovery and personal development through self-expression, is exactly what high school students are hungry for in this systematic "teach to the test" educational age.  I believe this proposal will receive increasingly positive attention from funding sources due to its extreme affordability in combination with its tremendously high level of perceived contribution both to the knowledge base and more importantly to the lives of each impressionable participant.  Using jazz music as a means to strengthen and reveal individuality in an era of increasing conformity is an excellent concept which must be pursued with fervor- My friends, I think you're on to something BIG! 

Gender and Jazz:  Ladies!  This archival proposal completely captivated me with its clear focus and its detailed spectrum of coverage.  Before your presentation, our group was just discussing how we were dissatisfied with the lack of representation of female musicians associated with jazz music, specifically instrumentalists.  I especially enjoyed your identification  of the "all girl" bands, however I was shocked that there seemed to be only one book on the subject.  What a crime.  Your proposal effectively identified the necessity for the compilation of a collective data base, not to mention the need for dramatically increased publications regarding  female experiences and their contributions to the history of jazz.  I can just see the beautiful coffee table edition- fully illustrated complete with companion interactive DVD.  As an amateur archivist myself, I was additionally intrigued by the "thrill of the chase," which I believe awaits you ladies from coast to coast as you devote yourself to this heroic endeavor.  Please keep us posted on your progress, and great luck to you.        

 

After registering with KEEPtoolkit, I tested some features, mainly snapshots creation. As per the session instructions, I created two snapshots: one for my individual project and another for the three applications we used in our class (Wordpress, MediaWiki, PHPBB3). I included the two snapshots in one shared group called “Class Group”. I invited most of my classmates in addition to Lorne and Sonya. I received some comments and replied to them. Also, I left some comments on snapshots of those who invited me to join their groups, and accessed others profiles through “browse” tab and tried to collaborate and share ideas. As for the “blog” task, I posted a blog on Sonya’s web page after several trials.

 

In fact, I like this idea of e-portfolio systems. I think a real use of this tool will make its advantages more clear since serious involvement of others is needed. I like the way Dej used the snapshots where he provided visual explanation and guidelines for the use of his project page.

 

What I did not like is the process of preparing pictures to be uploaded as snapshots starting from saving the image from the web page, resizing and compressing it, and finally uploading it. It takes time considering the low speed of the system. Also, I tried to rename the group I created but it seems that it cannot be done. In addition, the blogging function is confusing. It was not clear for me where my comment will be posted. Personally, I prefer to visit the website I intend to write a blog on and post there. Regarding the comments, I think more number of characters should be allowed per comment.

 

I realize the need for such tool but at the same time, I am afraid that it is going to be an extra task instead of making other tasks easier. So, I believe that it should very simple and fast.

I liked how the KEEPtoolkit facilitated the presentation of screenshots with descriptions. This made it easy to present a summary description of functionality for my individual project.

The gallery was a very useful view feature.

The group feature had good functionality in that I could invite a group to collaborate on my individual project snapshot but did not invite the group to collaborate on my class activities snapshot. I used John's group invite to "tag" his individual project header with my tumbleweed image.

The header function underperformed in its ability to place images as well as image size. The placement flexibility seemed very limited and I would have preferred to use smaller image size.

Because data quality, reliability, and validity is a huge issue in research, a researcher must carefully plan his or her survey instrument. Survey is defined broadly as a research strategy that describes the practical and tactical matters surrounding survey instruments. These instrument are mostly questionnaires and interviews.
Questions in Questionnaire exhibit the following properties:

• Simple language avoiding jargons and ambiguities
• Question frame of reference is clear
• Closed-ended option laden question
• Partially closed-ended questions option laden question with ’others’ as option
• Questions means the same thing to all respondents
• Rating numeric scale indicating the direction and strength of the response
• Likert rating scale to judge level of agreement to a statement

When designing questions, the following should be avoided:

• Loaded questions including nonneutral or emotional laden terms
• Leading questions swaying the responded to answer in a desired manner
• Double-barreled questions asking for more than one thing
• Questions in negative making understanding difficult
• Prestige bias
• Creating opinions
• Direct questions on sensitive topics (de Vaus, 2001; Jackson, 2008)

By Wikipedia's definition, Mashup is, "In web development, a mashup is a web application that combines data from more than one source into a single integrated tool; an example is the use of cartographic data from Google Maps to add location information to real-estate data, thereby creating a new and distinct web service that was not originally provided by either source."

My understanding is that Mashup is a new way to organize informations on the web.There are just so many information on the web, I believe everybody is feeling a little bit overwhelmed. So mashup is a technology to allow people to gather related information, text, picture, video ... and create a new web page quickly. I think the good thing is it will increase the speed of users to reach useful information. 

There are already some information aggregation models around, I think what's new about mashup is it gives more freedom to users, like other web 2.0 technologies.