Bloggers' Roundup nr 4

Well, these are starting to feel like the closing sequences to "Open all Hours". As IE was crashing on me, and I like having my work and personal info on two different browsers, the solution was simple: download a different browser. Hopefully viewing 433 updates since last month won't cause my system to crash. And so, on with the show.

Int2 students were interviewing historical figures. Here's some of my favourites:

Robert Roy MacGregor, William McGonagall, Otis Reading, Alexander Graham Bell (again, and again), Robert "The Bruce" (again), Robert Burns (again), Sir Alexander Fleming, Walt Disney, John Pemberton, George Stephenson, Flora Macdonald, Oliver Cromwell, Tom Pryce, Sir Walter Scott, Jimi Hendrix, Mary (Queen of Scots).

There were some good short ones, that are crying out for more work to be done on them: John Muir, John Logie Baird, William Blake, James Clerk Maxwell, William Wallace (again), John McDouall Stuart, William McEwan, Charles Rennie Macintosh (again), Kristijonas Donelaitis, Sir Walter Scott, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, David Douglas, Jane Austin, Andrew Moray, Sir William Paterson.

In other posts. Good advice from Jodie: One thing that you should never do is to exchange photos. You may not no who the person is or what they are intending on doing with the picture. Chrissie gives a presentation on Old Aberdeen. Luke got the trial version of 3ds Max and is investigating 3d graphics. Scott gives a lesson in Photoshop.  Alanna and Becca have their future mapped out (possibly doing this next year). Paul's found some crazy but good folk at College. Calum's tried a video post using Blogger's system (good attempt, technology letting you down though). Colin took apart a PC and put it back together again. Meanwhile, Richard's having a bad time with his PC.  Dale's not been looking healthy.

But Kari gains the place of honour by starting the countdown to the New Year!

Small Print

If your blog is missing from your tutor's blogroll, please contact them with the updated url.

Those mentioned above can feel free to carry the award below on your blog.

This listing is purely subjective, and is solely the responsibility of Duncan.

Not much to say in the summing up. Avant browser worked without crashing. Festive season is coming in, and most folk are shattered - it'll be a long deserved break for most of us after the HMIE visit. There's some interesting plans and projects buzzing around in the background. I think the timing of the inspection was good, as it came at a time when we can ride the Web2.0 wave, and you have the chance of using your creativity and energy to further your career. The wave won't last long. There won't be another one along for years.

And yet, the more things change, the more they stay the same. I noticed another person I'll need to question, and it isn't Alexander Graham Bell.

Bloggers' Roundup nr 3

Craig Yeats writes a detailed review of the Foo Fighters' gig at the AECC. Steve reviews his band's gig in Portlethen. Jamie looks forward to the Scotland v Italy game at Hampden, and Shaun's found a site where you can pass on messages to a chap in Canada via LED lights.

Wesley's used Google Analytics to see who's been coming to his blog, and what they have been looking for. Using this information, he's provided visitors with useful links. Very cunning.

Speaking of cunning, Michael has been planning ahead for next year's HNC. Alex has been roped into doing a voice-over and being a director. Ross writes briefly about what happened in Duthie Park.

Michaela and Claire have been doing some introductory work in Flash, telling stories from their younger days. Click on the images to get them working. John has pushed the envelope with his animation. It's a very big download.

A big "well done" to all who participated in the first completed "Blog Your Own Adventure" game. Link.

By no means finally, Graham posts about a chat I had following some problems, and Dean has a message for you all. Brings a tear to the eye. Well done, sir.

And on a lighter note, this made me laugh and wince.

Small Print

If your blog is missing from your tutor's blogroll, please contact them with the updated url.

Those mentioned above can feel free to carry the award below on your blog.

This listing is purely subjective, and is solely the responsibility of Duncan.

With the HMIE away for another few years, we await their written report. We are missing an opportunity, it seems. I have various ideas of what we are missing. We have a list of "soft skills" that employers are looking for. Timekeeping and attendance are amongst them. Other skills include: a proactive disposition; the ability to communicate; initiative, flexibility and adaptability; self-motivation and a competitive and results-driven attitude; and knowledge of the business area in which you want to work [Source].

Many of you have no idea what it is like in the real world. Turning up late or refusing to undertake tasks that you have been given will result in only one course of action from your employer. As will doing things grudgingly and doing the minimum to get by. It is a competitive jobs market out there, and we hope that coming to Aberdeen College will better prepare you for the real world.

Sitting on your hands is not an option, there is always something you can do better, or research for the future. Your future.

Bloggers' Roundup nr 2

Michael's been thinking about adding photographs to his blog, as well as where about in the world looks like a good holiday spot.

Catherine has been sketching, Hugo has been dabbling with colour, film and cooking.

Nelson noted Lewis Hamilton's lap time. Luke did some homework, and wrote a good report about the recent legal actions. Michael went to see Saw IV. I look forward to the continuing adventures of Nevil.

I promised Farrakh a mention, as he solved a problem with getting logged into Google Reader - you can change the email address to a Hotmail account, or a correct College email address if it was originally mistyped.

Small Print

If your blog is missing from your tutor's blogroll, please contact them with the updated url.

Those mentioned above can feel free to carry the award below on your blog.

This listing is purely subjective, and is solely the responsibility of Duncan.

As technology advances, more and more employers look at your online presence to back up your job applications. If you decide to write short, rude words in your blog, an employer will not think much of you. If you don't care about your online presence, why should a potential technology employer. Use your blogs to project the image that you choose - if you choose to be a numpty, that is what the world will see. Leave numptydom behind, and look to the future instead, to your future. Watch the first 6 minutes of this report from BBC's Click.

Bloggers' Roundup nr 1

NOG classes

Dean has a couple of lessons for Halo3 players: collecting skulls, and killing scarabs.

Vet gamer, Jimbo, opens his survival training school.

Away from the virtual world, Jordan shows us the first skateboard trick he learnt, an ollie. While Swales starts his learn something new series.

Jocky reminds us that in paintball IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO TAKE THE PAIN THEN YOU AINT WILLING TO PLAY

Some good blogging "do's and don't" from Clark - do make the blog interesting, and don't post any offensive materials to someone's blog. I like the one Luke added about keeping comments understandable (pwning Halo oldbies in the process?)

 

In Other News

Amber: I got in a fight with a huge dog and guess what the dog won!!

Jason is conducting a poll on whether you think he'll pass his driving test on Tuesday.

Kari has some cute pictures on her blog. Whilst others in Chrissie's class find out what happens if you can't remember your password, or put the wrong email address in when setting up blogger.

The most thought-provoking blog post this week has got to be John's. And the funniest post has got to be Kelly's. The most stylish seen this week is Becca's blog.

The HNC students have been doing a variety of work in Photoshop (N3CL-A) and with Audacity (N3CC-E; Nuno wins for best recording, Phill second). Samples have been appearing in my blog, and are listed the blogroll. Blogging above and beyond the call of duty: Hugo, Catherine, Paul, Scott.

 

Post-script

I've been planning to introduce the Bloggers' Roundup since first hearing that we were running a course in blogging this teaching year. Darren Christie does the roundups for the UK hiking community, and I've stolen his idea (thanks, Darren).

 

Small Print

If your blog is missing from your tutor's blogroll, please contact them with the updated url.

Those mentioned above, feel free to carry the award below on your blog, download the size that best fits.

 

This listing is purely subjective, and is solely the responsibility of Duncan. I may not play Halo, but I totally pwn blogging at AbCol. Go out and prove me wrong, n00bs - it is your career, your future, not mine.

Absentee Landlord

I've been off ill since 5pm last Monday. Nothing to do with work, and I won't go into the gory details of 4-6 days of side-clasping agony. I'm on painkillers and have a walking stick in the base room for when they wear off.

Thanks to all my colleagues who covered my classes for me. Hopefully no-one's learning process was interrupted by my absence. A few students had updated their blogs in my absence, but most had other things on their mind, so I'll postpone the planned bloggers round-up. In the mean-time, here are some blogs that I liked the look of, or were trying to do something different. I'll make this more formal when there's more to see across the classes.

From the HNC Multimedia A group
http://claire385.blogspot.com/
http://catherine970.blogspot.com/
http://dale459.blogspot.com/
http://dave049.blogspot.com/
http://robiniii.blogspot.com/
http://scott216.blogspot.com/


From the HNC Computing E group
http://ao-li.blogspot.com/
http://j0hnst0n.blogspot.com/
http://owen873.blogspot.com/
http://sian798.blogspot.com/