Wordle Your Personality

This is a Wordle. It's written online and is free. I was recently reminded that this tool was out there. I'm going to be working with a new group of people soon that I've never met them. The purpose of this exercise is to have a different way to share something of oneself with those we don't know and to offer something of ourselves to those who know things about us. This is an exciting way to open the doors to learning new things about new people or ideas. This tool can be used for ice breakers, brainstorming and more. It's easy.

Social Network for DKG

We have launched the dkgnetwork for members only. Currently, we are in beta testing, phase II. It is exciting to see what this small group has started. I'm looking forward to opening the site to more members.

Social Networking Update

Welcome to the newest update for moving forward into the virtual world.

We have been busy behind the scenes getting the technical side of connecting the Delta Kappa Society Website and the DKGnetwork connected. Installations have been completed and URL's point to the right spot. We will finish all the navigation pieces for the website soon. Then we provide that information to the GoLightly team for integration. This will allow the 2 sites to have the same look and blend from one to another as you choose to enter the DKGnetwork. Oh one other thing, we now own dkg.org which will be the new URL for the international site. Our email has already made the change. So you can reach me at lindae@dkg.org. I'd love to hear from you.

This is very exciting to me as we are getting closer to launching the new look and feel for the international website and the beginnings of the social network component. We are planning this launch in January. The website will have a great new beautiful appearance and new navigation. Our aim is to make it much easier to find what members need. With that in mind here's a hint... to find anything to do with committees, you'll go to the committee tab which will be part of the top navigation. To find forms, applications, resources, program ideas and much more, you'll go to the library, also in the top navigation. I've shared the new changes with Phyllis Hickey and Corlea Plowman and they are excited with the new design.

I'll keep you posted about the new website but for the next couple of weeks, I'll be working to develop the next issue of the DKG NEWS.

DKGnetwork

Social networking will soon be available to the members of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. Headquarters has planned the launch for January 2010.

The GoLightly platform will house the network and be a part of the international website. Within this site, members will have web 2.0 tools to create committee wikis, develop their own blogs, establish private discussion forums, use video and images to convey meaning to today's new teaching generation.


In addition to wikis and blogs, web 2.0 tools can include social bookmarking, like delicious, RSS, tag clouding, podcasts, photo sharing, and online video or media, such as YouTube or TeacherTube. Most of these tools are free. All one does is sign up for an account. One's involvement level deepens the experiences of collaborative community learning. In any social community we learn from others. The more one reads other blogs and participates in the social community, the more you learn.

In his book Smart Mobs, Howard Rheingold talks about "people who are able to act in concert even when they don't know each other. The people who make up smart mobs cooperate in ways never before possible..." His views on smart mobs relate to the entire idea of social networking and collaborative work. Will Richardson talks about social media and how we as participants will de-focus on the tools of today but continue to latch onto "the “properties and dynamics” or the “network effects” that they bring about." The way of communication has forever changed. It is up to us, the world of educators at any level, to help one another learn the new world of collaboration and connectivity. The DKGnetwork is our first step toward that effort. Look for the launch in January.