Best Practices in Instructional Design & Use of Learning Technologies

I love hiking and mountains, and fortunately, Oregon is one of the best places to experience both!

But sometimes, I truly wish I lived in Kansas. This sentiment was especially strong last weekend when my husband suggested we hike up Salmon Butte, which involved a 12-mile, 3,000-foot trek near Mt. Hood Oregon. I’m slow and steady on the trail, with 7-8 mile jaunts comfortably within my “do-able” zone, but this trip posed a new challenge – it was the longest and most elevation gain hike I’ve ever attempted.

Add on the fact that there was going to be snow involved at some point at the higher elevations, and I knew this was going to be one of those experiences that really tested who I am as a person.

We set out on a cold and frosty morning, spurred on by weather reports that at higher altitudes, the weather was clear and we would be guaranteed great views–provided that we made it to the top of Salmon Butte...

As the holiday season prepares to give way to the New Year’s Eve and the end of 2011, the annual influx of year-end lists is about to begin in earnest. Top photos, top news stories, top Kardashian marriages… the lists are on their way. Lest anyone say that social media is any different, here for your consideration, in no particular order, are my Top Social Media Lessons of 2011 – part one today, and part two tomorrow.

Lesson #1: There is a significant amount of social network fatigue.

Google+. Quora. Empire Avenue. Chime.in. Unthink. It seemed in 2011 like there was a new or “hot” social network every month – and watching the social media in-crowd rush to adopt was a sometimes comical diversion. There was certainly an element of “shiny object syndrome” at play in the social media world...