Learning2.0 : Journey to about2findout.com

Ziipa is a visual web 2.0 search engine, as they describe themselves. About2findout.com was recently added to ziipa. Check it out here.

Another cool learning related site that is currently features there is Mindbites. Mindbites is based around instructional video's to show people how to do about anything. The aim of the site is to let authors make money on their video's by having viewers pay small amounts of money. But I'm lazy today, so here is their own description:

MindBites is an online video site where regular people can go to share the knowledge they have in virtually any field. For a small fee, users can download or stream any of the posted instructional videos to learn something new. MindBites enables individuals and video producers by giving them a platform to publish, mass-distribute and make money off of what they know for themselves or for charity. MindBites’ unique, pay-for-content business model facilitates the transfer of knowledge in a video format between authors of instructional videos and interested users. Much free content exists on the site, but most of it aims to help potential authors with every conceivable part of the MindBite lesson creation process (content, structure, lighting, equipment, editing, etc). Content uploaded by authors is available to users for $1.65-$1.99 per video. The author receives $1 for each video download. Users interested in purchasing a video on the site are able to see ratings, read reviews, and watch a preview before they commit to purchasing the video. Once purchased, the video is available forever and can be watched over and over and over.

Labels: learning2.0, mindbites, ziipa

NBC, one of America's big television networks, has embraced e-learning and opened up the iCue platform. After free registration you get to access tons of video's based on the NBC news archive, games and forums. The heart of the iCue system is the iCue card. This 3D card hard a video with transcript on the front, and some short information on the back, as well as extra links or tags. And as any 2.0 site it has its social component based around profiles (friends).

Like the content or not, but the fact that learning have to move more into visual components such as video fragments is a no-brainer to me. And media companies have a hugh headstart in that. So I expect more media firms to go after some of the learning market out there.

http://www.icue.com/portal/site/iCue/tour

Labels: iCue, learning2.0, NBC, television

Google has released Lively.com upon the world. It is a web-based 3D chat environment. As always with Google services: it is simple. It has not the feature set or worlds of Second Life, just a collection of rooms and a limited variety in avatars and clothing. I guess the rest will come or be available for purchase. Every room has some music playing, which is nice.

That's me on the pic as my lively avatar. You need to have a Google account (such as for your gmail), and you need to install a software. After that, you can login and visit all rooms via Internet Explorer or Firefox. I don't know what this is realy, I guess a virtual chat room, nothing more.
And what did you guess? After a few weeks of availability, the platforms is used most for... right, things that are not conform the rules of the site. The number one room on the 'all rooms' page is called 'Sex Club'. Rest my case. People will be people I guess, virtual or not.

Labels: 3D internet, lively

It has nothing to do with quizzes or web 2.0, but it's holiday for everyone :-). I purchased and downloaded a preview chapter of the game 'World of Goo', and I'm enjoying it very much. I love those sticky balls :-).


Here's more about the game and a little movie:
http://www.2dboy.com/games.php

Labels: goo

I'm a fan of visually structuring your thoughts, notes or even e-learning menus via mindmaps, and I've blogged on them before.

Lately, new complete web-based mind mapping tools have changed the landscape a bit. You can read on tools like mindmeister, meadmap or spinscape on the WebWare blog.

My new favorite mindmapping tool however is mindomo.com. It has a nice flash-based interface and an Office-like menu, and you can share your maps with anyone you wish to. The resulting maps are visually appealing and allow for notes and links. In the free version the number of private maps you have is limited, so they offer a paying service too. But you probably want to try it for yourself. And right you are in doing so.

PS Update: another site for making simple mindmaps is Text2MindMap.com . It does pretty much what the title suggests.

Labels: mindmaps, mindomo.com

MyStudiyo.com is another site that allows you to easily create a quiz and then add it to your site. Some of these quizzes seem sponsored, like the one in the image about babies that gives you a Pampers offer at the end.
The site has the usual question types, but allows for images to support the questions, and has a variable number of points per question. After you submit the answer you get some feedback and the percentage of people who knew.
Sharing is possible via an embedded iframe, and you can post, bookmark or e-mail. Another nice feature is that you can created quizzes that allow users to add questions (and you can moderate that optionally).

Labels: mystudiyo, quiz, trivia

Linkedhot.com is a beta site where you in one go can see how many popular search engines or web 2.0 tools keep an eye on your site.