Linda has been busy updating the textbook web site located at http://dlthede.net/Informatics/Informatics.html.  The following links to resources are now available:

March 17, 2010 American College of Cardiology. (2008). ACC Unique Patient Identifier Principles. Puts fortu the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) position on Unique Patient Identifiers. (Chapter 21)

http://www.acc.org/practicemgt/HealthCareTechnology/principle_patient.cfm

March 17, 2010 Creating Unique Health ID Numbers Would Improve Health Care Quality, Efficiency, Study Claims (OCt 22, 2008). From Science Daily. Describes benefits and reports on a RAND corporation study. (Chapter 21) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081020120103.htm

March 17, 2010 Health Information Exchange. An up to date description of HIEs. Links to some that are now active. It was last updated Feb 10, 2010. (Chapter 16) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_information_exchange

Digital Literacy

I stumbled over an amazing web site on Digital Literacy by Microsoft this morning at http://www.microsoft.com/about/corporatecitizenship/Citizenship/giving/programs/UP/digitalliteracy/default.mspx%20

It is certainly worth exploring as it may be very useful in phase 3 of our research study.

PS - The site requires the user to register (free) with a Windows Live account.  Windows Live provides access to Microsoft Cloud Computing and Web 2.0 (instant messaging) features. 

March 2010 Issue of Journal of Online Learning and Teaching

The March 2010 Issue of the Journal of Online Learning and Teaching is now online at http://jolt.merlot.org/currentissue.html

Articles in this issue are noted below:
An Evaluation on Wiki’s Effect in Enhancing Online Learning Interactions -Wen-Hao David Huang

A Comparison of University Student Perceptions and Success Learning Music Online and Face-to-Face - Agi Horspool and Sandra S. Yang

Comparing Student Achievement in Online and Face-to-Face Classes - Cindy Ann Dell, Christy Low, and Jeanine F. Wilker

Techniques for Enhancing Reflection and Learning in an Online Course - Nancy O’Hanlon and Karen R. Diaz

Weighing the Risks of Excessive Participation in Asynchronous Online Discussions against the Benefits of Robust Participation - Brian G. Wolff and Monique R. Dosdall

The AETZone Experience:A Qualitative Analysis of the Use of Presence Pedagogy in a 3D Immersive Learning Environment - Robert L. Sanders and Shanna J. Melton

Interactivity/Community Process Model for the Online Education Environment - Janet L. Lear, Charles Ansorge, and Allan Steckelberg

Using Wikis to Facilitate Communication for Rural, Remote, and At-risk Practicum Students - Serena Davie and Richard Berlach

Online Student Success: Making a Difference - Gregory Beyrer

A Closer Look at Instructor-Student Feedback Online: A Case Study Analysis of the Types and Frequency - J. Garvey Pyke and John J. Sherlock

Why Wikis? Student Perceptions of Using Wikis in Online Coursework -
Faye Deters, Kristen Cuthrell, and Joy Stapleton

Using Virtual classrooms: Student Perceptions of Features and Characteristics in an Online and Blended Course - Michele A. Parker and Florence Martin

Does Relational Communication Training Improve Student Satisfaction with Web-Assisted Courses? -
Jollean K. Sinclaire, Judith C. Simon, Charles J. Campbell, and Ronald B. Wilkes

Animated versus Static Images of Team Processes to Affect Knowledge Acquisition and Learning Efficiency - Jennifer J. Vogel-Walcutt, Juliana Beatriz Gebrim, and Denise Nicholson

Technology and instructional communication: Student usage and perceptions of Virtual Office Hours -
Jennifer T. Edwards and Lora Helvie-Mason

The Effects of Normative and Self-Referenced Feedback on Students’ Motivation and Academic Performance in Online Learning Environments - Tae Seob Shin and W. Patrick Dickson

Teaching and Learning Public Speaking Online - Nick Linardopoulos

Cognitive Apprenticeship as a Framework for Teaching Online - Mary D. Oriol, Gail Tumulty, and Kathleen Snyder

Integrating Onsite and Distance Learning in a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education Program -
Pam Millett and Connie Mayer

Improving Online Course Design through Usability Testing - Elizabeth A. Fisher and Vivian H. Wright

Two Heads Are Better Than One: Collaborative Development of an Online Course Content Template -
Michelle D. Miller and Michael E. Rader

Online Highway Robbery: Is Your Intellectual Property Up for Grabs in the Online Classroom? -
Stephanie Reese Masson

Netiquette: Make it Part of Your Syllabus  - Alma Mintu-Wimsatt, Courtney Kernek, and Hector R. Lozada

Switching gears: Moving from e-learning to m-learning - Robert Crow, John LeBaron, Anna T. McFadden, and Christine F. Osborne

Spontaneous Group Decision Making in Distributed Collaborative Learning: Toward a New Research Direction - Geoffrey Z. Liu

Online Assessment Strategies: A Primer - Jeanne Sewell, Karen H. Frith, and Martha M. Colvin

Computer Mediated Communication and Scaffolding Toward New Literacy in Preservice Teacher Education Courses - Tomás Galguera and Julie Nicholson

Invitation to Participate in Health 2.0 Research Project

What are the implications of the Health 2.0 environment for healthcare? What is the future of the healthcare provision in the Health 2.0 environment?  We want to hear from all healthcare consumers and anyone who works in healthcare.

Take the survey for The Future of Healthcare in the Health 2.0 Environment at http://www2.gcsu.edu/irb/health.htm

We are asking you to participate in a survey that explores your experiences and personal views in regards to the use of interactive web (Web 2.0* and Health 2.0**) tools in your personal lives and in the healthcare setting. Please take the survey even if you are not familiar with some of the terms. When you are finished, sign up for the raffle of a free gift.

*Web 2.0 tools are defined as interactive social web applications that allow users to create, collaborate, and/or publish web-based content. Web 2.0 tools are often accessed using a personal computer and mobile devices, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) or smartphone.

**Health 2.0 is defined as the participatory health environment that is enabled with software, technology, and the Internet. In the Health 2.0 environment, healthcare consumers become partners in the care that they receive. Health 2.0 is a component of Web 2.0 tools. Source: http://www.health2con.com/faq.html

Purpose of the Survey: There is little data about how healthcare consumers and providers/individuals working in the healthcare setting are using the Internet and technology tools. However, there is current evidence that suggests the Internet and the use of technology enhances healthcare delivery.

Free Office Suite Alternatives to Microsoft Office

There are two free alternative for Microsoft Office - OpenOffice.org and IBM Lotus Symphony. Both suites can be downloaded to your personal computer for use.

OpenOffice.org (http://www.openoffice.org/)%20) %20is a comprehensive open source office suite that contains:

• Word processing
• Spreadsheet
• Presentation software
• Graphics software
• Database

OpenOffice.org will open Microsoft 2007 Word, Excel, and Access database files.  It is compatible with Windows 7 operating system.

IBM Lotus Symphony (http://symphony.lotus.com/software/lotus/symphony/home.nsf/home )  is open source office suite.  It includes word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software.  It will also open Microsoft Office 2007 Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.  The web site does not indicate that Lotus Symphony is compatible with Windows 7 operating system. 

The bottom line is that there are free office suite alternatives. They may not allow all of the capabilities of Microsoft Office, but are surely good enough for 99% of most users computing needs.

Passwords - Lessons Learned

Last week was not particularly a good week for me - technology wise.  It began with the malware infection on Sunday and ended with me getting locked out of a new netbook.  The netbook was delivered to the house a little after 6 PM on Saturday.  I plugged in the power source and started the system to set it up.  About 5 minutes later I closed the lid of the computer to examine the different ports.  When I opened the computer up, it would not accept my password!  Can you believe it?  5 minutes.  I had not even opened the programs menu.  Word and tears would not explain my frustration.

I went to Dell suppport on another computer. After 2 chat sessions, Dell support told me that the problem was because I had used the @ symbol in my password!  In all of my many years of using a computer, I had never had a problem using the @ symbol.  Oh well....  Lesson Learned!!  Never again.  I will only use numbers and letters from now on.

I contacted my colleague who uses Windows 7 on her netbook to see if she could create a password change file for me.  Well, she did and it did not work.  That particular file has to be created on the netbook by the administrator.  It requires that the administrator enter the correct password when creating the file.

Fortunately, I have phenomenal friends who are IT garus.  J.C. & N.S. came to my rescue.  N.S. had not worked with Windows 7 Starter.  He worked through lunch - for over an hour to figure out how to change the password.  Interestingly enough, when he found the fix, Windows 7 would not allow my a change in my old password.  The work around was to create a new user, make that user the administrator, and delete the original account. BTW - I DID create a file to change my password on a flash drive.

Cloud Computing Backup Solutions

There are several cloud computing backup solutions available.  Martha told me about Dropbox.  I downloaded it several weeks ago, but never used it until today.  Dropbox is a fantastic solution to my computing needs because I can synch to a remote server in addition to my backup drive. I like the fact that I can access it from any computer where I have it downloaded. I have downloaded the server connection to my home office PC and my iPhone.  It allows me 2 GB of storage space free.

Flor told me about Box.net. Box.net provides off site file storage but not the file synchronization feature.  Box.net does allow for file sharing with others.

Windows Live Office provides off site file storage, but only for Microsoft Office files.  It is certainly a great solution as an extra file backup service for really important files, such as manuscripts, thesis papers, and dissertations.

The malware issue forced me to explore improved synch features. For example, I had all of my standard MERLOT mail merge letters and the associated files on the laptop. Since I loss use of the laptop for 5 days, I got behind on my Editors activities.




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Web Browser Choices

I read a CNET article this morning about web browser choices at http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20000111-264.html?tag=rtcol;pop I learned that the second choice for a web browser in china is Maxthon.  The 12 web browsers discussed in the article were:

• Google Chrome
• Safari
• Opera
• Internet Explorer
• Mozilla Firefox
• Avant Browser
• K-Meleon
• GreenBrowser
• Maxthon
• Sleipnir
• Flock
• FlashPeak

Clearly we have many choices when it comes to surfing the web!

Online Safety and Privacy Education

I accidentally stumbled upone an OUTSTANDING Microsoft web site about online safety and privacy at http://www.microsoft.com/protect/ .  It includes links to comprehensive information about:

• Protecting your family with tips on how child safety, certain products (Windows Live, Xbox, Zune, Windows Media Center), etc
•  Protecting youself (passwords, phishing and email scams, spam, & shopping)
• Protecting your computer (security updates, free antivirus & antispyware security software, malware removal, etc)
• Online safety community questions and answers

The Microsoft Fraud Prevention web site is also excellent.  This web site is a one-page listing of links to information about passwords, phishing and email scams, spam, and oline shopping.  It is located at http://www.microsoft.com/protect/fraud/default.aspx

Malware Blues

This past week I had my first experience with malware in all my years of computing.  Yes, my antivirus software was up-to-date and active.  So what happened?  I was working on a word processing document and using the Internet for digital library and web searches.  I MUST have inadvertently run into malware associated with an web page.  Norton antivirus did not pick it up. 

How did I recognize the problem?  A menu popped up while I was typing on the word processing document stating that a virus was detected and asked for permission to open my antivirus program.  NOT THINKING, I clicked on the popup menu!!!  I remembered that the sequence was exactly what happened to a colleague a few weeks ago. 

I quickly closed the window and the computer shut itself down.  I lost everything that had not been saved in the previous 15 minutes.  I restarted the computer, saw that my antivirus softare had been updated earlier that morning.  I turned off the wireless system - because I was concerned that the virus was a Trojan Horse and a keylogger set to grab all of my passwords, etc, and ran my antivirus software program.  It indicated that there were no problems.  I went to another computer and looked up the problem.  I attempted to remove the malware myself, but was not able to do so.  I could see the malware in the Task Manager Processes menu, but it would not allow me to end the task.

Malware is the term for malicious software that infiltrates your computer system without your permission (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-malware.htm).  It can be spyware, malware, or a vitus.  It can occur from simply browsing the Internet (http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?journalid=8043C99D262654DDE040AC0A63E976E9&docid=277075)

One of our wonderful university's techs cleaned the computer last Monday, but afterwards the computer kept locking up.  I had to take it back for more intensive care work. 

I naively believed that my antivirus software would have picked up the problem.  In further researching solutions, I recognized that I can run a malware identifier program in addition to my antivirus software.  This is important because we should never try to run more than one antivirus software.

Microsoft provides free download of a Microsoft® Windows® Malicious Software Removal Tool at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ad724ae0-e72d-4f54-9ab3-75b8eb148356&displaylang=en

Consider installing a malware detector on your computer, if you don't have one.