I’m simultaneously interested and frustrated by Twitter. Perhaps I haven’t found the right group of friends yet. There’s no question I’m learning a great deal about things I’ve never previously explored, so for that reason it’s compelling enough.

However, the constant distraction of on-going Twittering sometimes makes it difficult to concentrate and actually get some work done. I truly wonder how others seem to have no problem posting Tweets every few minutes all the while attending meetings, conferences, visiting the spa, eating pizza, drinking beer, and generally goofing around. Is it possible for us to actually live life and be present in it when we are constantly recording our every move in text, photographs, audio, video, podcasts, etc., etc.? Is “living your life online” a mark of a creative, original individual making a difference in the world or someone willing to commit “ego-cide” as a contribution (read: sacrifice) to furthering digital culture?

I’ll stop my rant and go check out AllTop.com.

Oh yes, one more thing . . . my impression from reading Guy Kawasaki’s Tweets is that AllTop is intended to operate as a sort of moderated Wiki making use of the positive, worthwhile contributions of those willing and interested in doing so (i.e., Web 2.0). As an alternative to the all-inclusive ever expanding (and sometimes unstable) nature of Wikipedia, he’s creating a curated, high-quality guide to the Internet. If it’s successful, it will end up being a better guide to the Internet than Google (I was always a bit skeptical of the “popular” kids).

Remiss63’s last blog post..New Noguchi-Kenmochi book

I’m not sure Alltop can replace RSS, or even really be considered an RSS-lite. The benefit it may have is to introduce students to several blogs they like, which will invariably each introduce them to even more blogs they’ll like, until eventually they can’t remember all the blogs they want to check. They’ll be driven into using RSS aggregators.

I feel that if we want students to become digital consumers, Utilizing RSS feeds is something they need to be proficient in. However (as with most things introduced in school), it really takes their own motivation and interest to use it. A teacher telling students that they’re required to use RSS aggregators doesn’t have the same effect as students deciding to use aggregators.

Is the goal instead to have students read lots of online information? RSS aggregators really only serve a purpose if you’re doing lots of online reading. If you’re just checking out a few sites regularly there isn’t much necessity for an aggregator.

Ben’s last blog post..YES!

I really like your use with students, not to mention the writing exercise. But not sure I’d use it with teachers. But I see your point. Now get back to your honeymoon!

Dean Shareski’s last blog post..Diigo you have given me a headache

Yes, you can (and I do) connect to other blogs from places that you visit. And I love your LP for students, as an introduction to the concept of RSS.

Guess I’m just tired of having to water down tools and content for reluctant “professionals.”

The revolution has begun, the time is now! Wear water wings if you must, but dive in! Mixed metaphors, but you get the point. The desire to learn can’t be mandated. If the teachers and administrators don’t model it, where and how will our students acquire it?

The Dude abides, but he could use a little company here.

diane

diane’s last blog post..A Confederacy of Dunces