Lauren Sommers Blog

       Chapter five of The Connected Educator discusses in great detail different tools to help professionals with communicating, documenting and social networking.  This chapter listed many great websites that can help enhance one's ability to learn and collaborate with others.  Creating a good online presence can help people seem more attractive to potential employers.  By taking advantage of websites and tools such as blogs to share knowledge and learn from others it can help build digital footprints.  The text listed several tools for documenting and archiving learning such as social bookmarking and the websites Delicious and Diigo.  The tool that I personally found most intriguing was the Diigo website, because it seemed to have the most useful features.  Diigo has basic features that allow learners to stay organized online by tagging interesting webpages and articles.  It also allows individuals to communicate with others tha...

         Google Meets has started to become one of the top contenders of video conferencing throughout the recent years.  It's biggest competitors are said to be Zoom, Skype and Microsoft Teams.  Throughout the pandemic Google Meets became a popular site for businesses and schools to continue work virtually.  Google Meets allows for all individuals with a Google account to video conference whenever.  Some of its most inportant features are that it allows up to one hundred people on each call and there is no time limit required.  There is also a screensharing feature which allows anyone in the meeting to show their screen, in order to present or explain directions.      Virtual meeting conferences have become increasingly popular since the pandemic in 2020.  Businesses and schools all over the world were forced to operate as usual, virtually.  Since then businesses have realized that instead of meeting in person i...

  The Indeed app and website is one of the most popular sites for posting and looking for jobs.  The website allows individuals to search for jobs that fit their description of what and where they would prefer to work.  Any job title can be entered in the search bar, to result in various job descriptions that are similar to what the potential employee is looking for.  Indeed, provides a description of the job itself, the average salary, work days and requirements for obtaining the job.  After reviewing the detailed description, applicants can choose to apply for the job through the Indeed website or app.  Potential applicants also have the ability to post their resume on to the website and let employers come to them.  Companies have the ability to view resumes on Indeed and find potential hire's that they feel suit the position they are looking for.  In addition, to applicants being able to post their own resumes, employers and companies need to b...

       Chapter six of The Connected Educator text focused on the power of connected learning communities.  These communities can be created on any social media platform but has become especially popular through Twitter.  Participants can talk to individuals that have shared interests and goals but come from different backgrounds and cultures.  Having diversity within a community is important for creating new ideas and perspectives.  Creating communities that consist of people of different backgrounds is crucial in allowing for extended learning.  These networks are a place where one can connect with people all over the world to find new information and bring it back to existing communities.  When getting started online it is important to be consistent with one username among all platforms, find a mentor and to choose connections that you respect.  Viewing social media platforms, such as twitter can help find people that have simila...

        Technology and the internet have enabled people all over the world to have access to information at the click of a button.  Not only has it been effective in benefiting each of our lives personally, but also has benefits towards the workplace.  The more people an individual is exposed to allows for different perspectives and knowledge.  Technology allows for employees in the business field to have access to others pursuing the same career path around the globe.  The business field is not unique to one area or another, therefore communicating with people from around the world can help teach new information.         The Connected Educator has proposed the importance of connected learning communities for each occupation.  Although the text primarily focuses on the benefits that connected learning communities have on educators, it can be transferred into any other profession.  The importance of gaining new ...

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