Google Inactive Account Manager

As we share and store increasing amounts of our personal data online whether it be through email, photo-sharing or blogging, the thought of what happens to this when we are no longer able to maintain it is an issue.

Google has addressed this matter with the news that it is now possible to Plan your digital afterlife with Inactive Account Manager.  You set the parameters regarding length of inactivity before action is taken, who (if anybody) you wish to nominate as the person/s (up to 10) you entrust with the task of managing the data on your behalf, or maybe you'd request Google to simply delete all data.  

CNET have provided an easy walk-through for setting this up for your Google account at How to set up Google's Inactive Account Manager.  Setting it up is a thought provoking process but very worthwhile.  Thanks Google.

Podcasts - a personal learning winner

 Podcasts, I can say without doubt, are the most useful and valuable component of my Personal Learning Program (PLP).  Twitter, RSS feeds that I read through a variety of platforms, Scoop.it and regular webinars are also valuable, however, for ease of listening and exposure to DEEP, informed conversations podcasts win hands-down.

The value of podcasts is:

• You choose when (and whether) to listen
• Listen according to your mood - maybe you're ready for something hard hitting, or maybe something relaxed
• Catch up on missed favourite programs - Australian ABC Radio is a world leader in podcasting
• Listen to worldwide internet radio programs - BBC (UK), 5BY5 &  NPR (US), PRI (International)
• Listen to private radio networks - British Tech Network, TWIT, EdReach, EdTechTalk
• Share with individual Aussie educators - EdTechCrew and RUConnected
• Access extensive educational resources - iTunesU
• Listen directly online line or download to a device. 

My device of choice is the Apple iPod.  A smart phone serves just as well, ipod nano or even smaller device.  While audo can be downloaded onto a variety of players, the inclusion of a screen enables viewing of vidcasts (video) in addition to the audio, an added bonus although you need to watch the download size.  Personal listening habits are a major determiner in device choice.  Battery life is a concern for my phone, also access away from the phone for those peaceful times, hence the separate device. 

iTunes is my podcast manager of choice.  This doesn't suit everybody but if you want it to be simple - this is the place.

While one could select any number of good examples, a recommended weekly podcast for senior students, especially debaters and maybe for your library to make available on devices, is the longstanding Radio National - Counterpoint, presently hosted by Amanda Vanstone.   It provides an Australian perspective with 'commentary and debate from all sides of Australian society, economics and culture', an important consideration when students are learning where to access a range of information to inform their opinions.    

This post has barely scratched the surface of easily accessible, free podcasts and vidcasts. As a lover of radio, they are a winner for me.  Comments are welcome.

Librii - new model of library for developing countries

Librii is an exciting new concept in libraries that has been successfully funded as a Kickstarter project raising $52,350, just above their $50,000 goal, with 650 backers.  Their plan is to develop a network of low-cost yet revenue-generating, digitally powered libraries deployed along the fibre optic infrastructure in the developing world.  It will be run by library and information professionals and provide access to people isolated from resources that could aid their independence.   

Librii's intention is to provide individuals and comunities with access to digital and physical tools to 'tools to solve their own educational, informational, and economic challenges'.  The purpose of being revenue-generating, they say, is to make them independent from government organisations and the like.  It makes sense.

The project was incubated with seed funding from the World Bank Institute and was awarded the Best Innovation Leveraging Technology from the Dell Social Innovation Challenge.  It's a project worth watching and provides inspiration to me personally, as we encourage our own library communities to look differently at the futures available to them. #Librii

Free & Creative Commons images for education

Encouraging students to use photos they have taken themselves is always the safest option and encourages the creative element in the individual.  For the times they do need to find an image, here is a list of sources appropriate for education use.

Learning the use of Creative Commons images and copyright limitations, i.e. everthing online is not free for the taking, is an essential skill.  It has the potential to save massive heartache for creative students by ensuring they don't dedicate hours of their time to a piece they cannot share publicly because of copyright restictions.

Full descriptions of the links below are on the Free & Creative Commons Images page of this site along with links to the excellent Australian Smartcopying Creative Commons resources site.  

• Flickr - Creative Commons
• Compfight image search
• Photo Pin
• Flickrstorm
• Wylio
• Picsearch – Search the web for images
• WorldImages – California State University IMAGE Project
• Animation Factory
• ScienceImage – CSIRO
• School Clip Art for Teachers and Kids
• Pics4Learning | Free photos for education
• Trove – Australian images
• KitZu
• morgueFile: free photos for creatives by creatives
• Image * After
• FreeFoto.com – Free Pictures
• Dreamstime – Download Free Stock Images and Photos
• Old Book Illustrations: pictures scanned from old books
• Pictures from Old Books
• Pool - ABC
• Dennis Kunkel Microscopy (Scientific) - Education website
• Google Images advanced search/ usage rights/ free to use and share
• Firefox browser - limit search to Creative Commons only

Google Knowledge Graph

Google's new search engine has similarities to the Wonder Wheel.  It's a fascinating means of building a biographical snapshot of an individual and associated personnel.  A semantic web type search that gathers related data in the search results.

See more detail at Google Inside Search