Hussain Luaibi

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  • Hussain Luaibi 6:23 pm on July 28, 2012
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    Hello everybody and welcome to our new product the Digital Writing Pad ( or DWP). The new product ( hardware and software ) will help many educational centres, that use smartboards as learning platforms, to overcome the hurdles that students face when using the smartboards. What the Digital Writing Pad does is really magic. Go […]

    Continue reading Digital Writing Pad Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • Donna Forward 9:59 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Hussain,

      It was interesting how you presented your Elevator Pitch with no sound. However, It was easy to follow and the concept of your digital writing pad was well presented.

      I like how you compared the digital writing pad with Smartboarts and you gave some good examples of the differences, such as kids not being tall enough to reach the topic functions on the Smartboard screen.

      Your look at the potential markets was good and you came across as a geniune CEO. It didn’t look like you were reading, so it made your presentation more personable.

      I like your idea because it is bringing a hand writing option back into the classroom while keeping up with the latest trends of technology. Also, the writing pad is a great idea to create an electronic, communal chalkboard.

      The only problems you could face with a product like this is that people might rather use iPads instead of writing pads, since typing is much more common than printing or writing by hand these days.

      Donna

      • Hussain Luaibi 12:34 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hello Donna
        Thank you very much for your constructive review. With the feedback I am getting from my classmates I feel I am really enriched with valuable information about my work.
        You mentioned that there is a potential rival to my product which is the iPads. Well, yes, the iPad could be a rival here but it doesn’t offer what the writing pad does. The latter is connected to the smartboards. Technocally we can’t do that with the iPad which is limited in terms of hardware and software. The Writing Pad doesn’t have the ability of the iPad and it is not meant to be like a tablet. It is a pad for writing on the board, I mean the smartboard. The iPad encourages individualistic learning style whereas the writing pad is meant to be communal.
        Thank you for review.
        Hussain

    • shawn harris 10:23 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Hussain,
      Thanks for sharing your pitch! The digital writing pad has it place in the market as I am interested in any tool which enhances learning! Love the examples you gave, they are convincing and depicts the reason for someone to invest in this product. Why is your elevator pitch without sound? It would have been felt by potential investors if the CEO was actually reading the slides or appearing in between slides.

      I do believe this product has some potential on the market though it has some strong competitions such as the iPad. It has to be affordable to survive in the educational market.
      I notice that you did not introduce yourself in the pitch and for the future you could look at making mention of your management team as this would add some credibility.

      Good effort Hussain !

      ~ Shawn

      • Hussain Luaibi 12:49 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hello Shawn
        Thanks a lot for your review. I appreciate the honest way of talking about my “product”. The examples I chose are to elevate the main idea behind my product. So it took me sometime to choose such examples. As for why my elevator pitch was silent, well, I didn’t think I needed to add comments or music to. I thought that it was informative and engaging. But all the same you are right I should have put at least some music or just some comments. I was also deterred from do so because of the technical side. I am good at playing with powerpoint files and I could have added a lot of things but I didn’t want to have a large size file that will not be uploaded easily.
        I didn’t introduce myself in the pitch but I did mention the name of the company, I mean my company and I thought that would create a logical link.
        Shawn this product is much cheaper than the iPad which can’t be hooked to the smartboard easily. The pad I presented is not meant to be a tablet but simply a pad for writing.
        Thanks a lot
        Hussain

    • Dave Horn 10:43 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Hussain,
      I agree that the presentation format was novel and it had a good use of images and text, though I felt like the pace was too slow. I saw problems with students using the tablets in terms of who was writing on the board and preventing others from “being difficult” during a lesson. It was mentioned before too, but I see tools like iPads and tablets providing greater overall functionality when paired with something like Apple TV. Given that it was going to be mounted on the desk, what work space would be left for the students when not using the pad?

      Dave

      • Hussain Luaibi 1:00 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hello Dave
        Thanks a lot for your constructive review. Yes, you might be right about the slow pace of the presentation. But that is how things are when you want to make things look credible.
        The writing pad I presented is meant to be looked at a tablet at all. It is simply a writing pad hooked to the smartboard. The iPads and tablets you mentioned can’t do the same job. I think the iPad encourages individualistic learning behaviour whereas the writing pad is simply a platform for writing where everybody can see. Besides, if we think about the cost of the iPads and the Apple TVs, we will be shocked. The writing pad is more realistic in terms of cost and function. The writing pad was mentioned before but not exactly the same it is presented this time.
        I appreciate your review.
        Thank you
        Hussain

    • Ronna Hoglund 11:58 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Hussain,
      Thank you for sharing your venture idea. I do think your idea has potential and call me old-fashioned but I would like to see printing & cursive to be considered valuable life skills. My 17 y/o cannot write! I do think your elevator pitch would have been more effective in video format like your venture pitch. I am not sure potential investors would be “sold” as it is.
      Ronna

      • Hussain Luaibi 1:51 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hello Ronna
        I totally agree with that writing is an essential part in the sphere of learning. With the high technology we are having these days, people have become dependent completely on ready made cliches. I was hoping with products like the one I presented I could re-address the issue of writing again in schools. As for the format of the pitch I thought doing it as a powerpoint will add some strength to the whole project. I just thought that it would highlight the theory of the venture. It would be very easy to transfer it into a youtube video. Do you think doing the pitch via powerpoint program is not very positive when it comes to winning the hearts of investors?
        Thank you for the support
        Hussain

    • Brian H 6:56 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hussain,

      Elevator Pitch Review

      You have an interesting venture especially if the cost of the writing pads could be kept to a minimum. The writing pads would really be beneficial in traditional schools as the technology is not disruptive to standard lessons but is a natural analogue to digital process. The writing pads would not require major classroom changes and be appealing to many teachers whom are satisfied with tested pedology and practice.

      There is a market for digitizing traditional practices and I would be interested in this particular venture even though I would not use it in my own classroom.

      Thanks,
      Brian Hotovy

    • Hussain Luaibi 11:09 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Brian
      Thank you for the support. I think the writing pad will not only facilitate the class activities but also will enhance teaching writing as an important aspect of education where writing hasn’t been given much attention.
      Thank you
      Hussain

    • Denise 10:05 am on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      HI Hussain,

      I liked the idea and could see the benefit. Also liked that you saw opportunities beyond schools.

      As with others, the silent powerpoint elevator pitch was different. Personally if I were looking to invest I would have been more engaged if I had met you, as with your venture pitch. I found the powperpoint slow and there were too many interactivies – which I found distracted from your pitch. I also didn’t get a sense of your background and competency as CEO. I have to say I probably wouldn’t have gone on to oyur venture pitch.

      The venture pitch did give good demonstrations of the advantages of the writing pad and I found it easy to listen to you.However the pitch seemd more vague than your elevator pitch, it could have been more punchy – one suggestion would be to use the video and the powperpoint together. There were times where the way you presented the venture was not convincing eg “sign of potential succes” i think you could have been much more confident with a product like this.

      You asked for $300,000 but I wasn’t sure how that investment would roll out, and the return seemed to have no actual figures to back it and you didn’t identify a time line for the return of investment.

      Loved the concept, but I wasn’t convicned as an investor with your pitches.
      Denise

    • mariefrancehetu 4:00 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Hussain,

      Great job! Here is my feedback for your elevator pitch and venture pitch.

      I thought the use of words and images with no voice in your elevator pitch were quite effective! However, I did think that the tempo was a bit slow and you could have used the time saved on your one-minute presentation to add more information for example. Your elevator pitch did prick my curiosity as an investor . . . as a second-language teacher I could really see using these writing pads in my classroom!

      Venture Pitch

      Your venture pitch really covered all of the important points and convinced me this gadget could be of interest to me as an investor. However, if you need 300,000$ I would have liked to know what for and how you intend to spend it. Also you say you think the company would make X number of millions over the next year, and it would have been nice to see a graph that showed where the money would be coming from in percentages (from schools – K-12, private sector, universities etc.)

      If this product really existed I really would like to promote it to my superiors, so that shows you were able to demonstrate the need and propose a solution quite well. Where your presentation could have been improved is the video clips of yourself. Perhaps pinning the main points you wanted to discuss on sheets of paper on the wall in front of you might have helped you sound more convincing so you did not have to think of your ideas as you spoke. Otherwise, great job integrating video, slides and wording in your presentation, I know how much work that can be.

      Congrats Hussain!

      Marie-France

    • Danielle Dubien 10:49 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Hussain,

      Your pad would be great for some of the applications you mention, as well as saving paper, being a great way for students to improve their calligraphy and providing great opportunities for collaborative drawing projects. However, considering the amount of time that teachers get students to write at the board, I’m not sure the increase in convenience makes the purchase worthwhile. In addition, it’s already possible to write on tablets, although they are very expensive and the technology still seems to be in need of development.

      There may be a great number of SmartBoards in classrooms, but I would need hard facts to show just how much they are actually being used. There is just too much anecdotal evidence indicating that a lot of Smartboards are not used often or at all, and that this technology may be on its way out. Therefore, the link with the digital pad is not convincingly strong.

      If the pad is attached to the desk, it would take away space for doing other things. There are high chances of the pad being damaged during a normal day’s activities, especially considering that a lot of kids eat at their desks.

      If you want to provide students with the chance to write on the board while sitting at their desks, why not make your venture about an app for mobile devcices? Teachers could have the students select different templates like straight or round grids, diagrams or anything else and kids could write on selected spots. They could label a diagram, write out words in a grid to keep the writing neat, they could circle parts of a picture in an art history course… whatever!

      I wish you luck in developing other ideas for use in educational technology!

      Cheers,
      Dan

    • Sherman Lee 11:01 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Hussain,

      Great effort there, Hussain. I hope you do not mind as I am going to be quite critical here, since you have presented on something that I am personally quite passionate about. Or at least hit quite close to home for me because I work with a writing pad (or tablet) all the time and had done quite a bit of research prior to making my purchase. I wish to help you push your idea further.

      Overall, you presented yourself as quite a confident CEO. It is just a personal preference, but it would be great if you could speed up your speech a little. Other than that, your presentation methodology was good.

      In regards to the concept, I think the biggest drawback from my point of view is the uniqueness of this product. I think there is quite a bit of competition for what you have. Aside from the iPad that someone else mentioned in their comment, a closer cousin to what you have would be the Wacom tablets. Out of all the writing input devices, Wacom has the best imitation that gives the closest feel to writing / drawing on paper. It is also a single USB line powered device that would input directly onto a computer, which means, with a USB hub and 30 of these tablets, your product’s functionality can be duplicated. Furthermore, I recall that you have mentioned the Smart Podium device as a competition either. I see that one as a valid competition for your product as it is geared directly to interact as a handheld or desktop friendly device to input onto the Smartboard. Regardless of rather current competition replicate your product directly, I think the most important thing is that there are similar product that can be tweaked to do what yours does. Should a school be looking at common inputting device, Microsoft Mouse Mischief also offer a very cost effective solution. Of course, my biggest question is, how will you solve that and show me the value proposition and sustainment of that value in the long run.

      I wish you luck in developing this idea further and hopefully I have provided value to you in my comments.

      Cheers,

      Sherman

      • Hussain Luaibi 1:11 pm on August 5, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Sherman
        Thank you very much for the nice input about the market and the competition my project will face. Yes, I agree with you that the competition is (will be ) relentless. Probably what will help my product is the simplicity and this means the low-cost of the pad which is meant to be fixed on the desk. The wireless connection is another great option but we have to prepare ourselves for the high increase in the cost.
        Yes, Sherman, the pad market is very competitive and it is not easy to break into it.
        Thank you
        Hussain

    • HJDeW 7:49 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hussain, you have presented a unique product that will solve a ‘pain’ in the classroom. It has a compelling need (coming from a short person who can’t reach the top of most smartboards) with a strong potential for growth in the educational and corporate marketplaces.

      Your presentation is short on lots of details that are needed for potential investors (differentiation of your product, return on investment, costs of delivery and distribution, client base, strengths of your management team) but your commitment and interest in this product are compelling.

      As others have already noted, your ‘silent’ elevator pitch had some interesting elements, but was not as engaging or enticing as it could have been with such a venture. Your venture pitch contained all the essential elements and provided details about the product itself and how it resolves the need. I wondered if you were including support or training with the sales of the DWP?
      Good luck with your venture!
      Helen

      • Hussain Luaibi 12:52 pm on August 5, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hello Helen
        Thank you very much for your constructive notions in regard to my pitch and venture. I will definitely take them into consideration because they are really valuable.
        Thank you
        Hussain

  • Hussain Luaibi 2:18 am on July 2, 2012
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       Everybody likes to take notes especially if we want to work on an assignment or task. The notes will help us arrange our plans. What if the notes became visual? Definitely the task will be much easier to grasp and control. We are all visual learners and putting our thoughts into a visual framework […]

    Continue reading Welcome to Week 9: Visual Intensive Learning Posted in: Week 09: Visual-Intensive Learning
     

    • Leonora Zefi 7:15 am on July 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Impressive work week 9 team.
      It is fascinating to see the variety of applications for mind mapping in education. I am particularly interested in mind mapping for assessment so will start exploring it. Your visual EVA is quite impressive.
      Looking forward to exploring cacoo and contributing the the collaborative mind mapping.

      Leonora

      • ping 7:48 pm on July 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Thank you, Leonara!

        We had a lot of fun making the EVA collaboratively. It’s an amazing process to see our thoughts speading out structively and visible to everybody. I think “mind mapping for assessment” is a very interesting topic. Why not you just drop a concept in our collaborative Cacoo map, and our peers will gather around and think with you together? Waiting to collaborate with you.

        Ping

        • Leonora Zefi 4:04 am on July 5, 2012 | Log in to Reply

          Hi Ping.
          I can see the Cacoo map is coming along really well. For some reason I can’t edit but I will keep trying.
          Leonora

          • Sherman Lee 8:31 am on July 5, 2012 | Log in to Reply

            Hi Leonora,

            To edit the Cacoo map, click the edit button in the bar located just above the different tabs showing you the different mind maps we have. Once clicked, a new window will open with a map that you can edit. Please let us know if you run into any other problem 🙂

            Sherman

            • Leonora Zefi 7:35 pm on July 5, 2012

              Thanks Sherman,
              I was able to log in and edit.
              Leonora

    • HJDeW 6:17 am on July 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Very interesting presentation Week 9 team! One of my favourite topics and there is so much to learn here. I am amazed at the detail and content provided in the concept maps you have presented. I had just connected to Cacoo and look forward to exploring this tool – collaboratively. Helen

    • lisamallen 11:26 am on July 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Well done group 9!
      I find concept maps/ mind mapping such great tool for collaboration. I am not in the K-12 system, but will use mind maps when I’m trying to figure out a departmental issue in my department in higher education. Recently, we’ve been working on a series of maps to illustrate to students the different paths they can take (in terms of course planning and registration) – I have to say, working on these maps is one of the more fun tasks of my job.

      Thanks!
      Lisa

      • ping 8:47 am on July 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Helen and Lisa,

        Happy to hear that you like mind mapping. Please come to the Cacoo map, the collaborative mind mapping has already started there!

        Ping

    • mariefrancehetu 1:32 pm on July 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello!
      I must confess I have not used many mind maps – I usually find them confusing and time consuming to construct . . . perhaps it is the aps I have been using so far. Cacoo certainly looks interesting and provides many ways to create mind maps. I certainly hope that by the end of week 9 I will feel more comfortable using mind maps! Like Lisa, I am not in the K-12 system and find that as a FSL I don’t really have much use for mind maps. I do need to use them within this MET program so I hope to learn a few tricks to add to my learner tool box.

      Marie-France

      • ping 9:27 am on July 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Marie,

        I think your problem with mind maps might more likely because of the program, not a best one maybe. Try this one Cacoo. And certainly it’s not the final version. Tools are evolving fast. The feeling you find them “confusing” might because a visual intensive diagram transfers too much information at one time to our brains, and dazzled us a little at the beginning. I think maps still needs to be “read”, just follow the links and navigate at ease, you will find the mind map convey meaningful information to you much quicker than texts. It’s a tool for thinkers, no matter in what professions they are.

        Ping

        • mariefrancehetu 4:55 pm on July 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

          Hi Ping,

          I think you are right, I have been using the wrong mind map tools and that is likely why I found creating them so confusing. In comparison, I find that Cacoo is easy to use, and I love the fact that one can also work collaboratively at a project. In my last ETEC class I tried to find a mind map program that would allow this type of co-editing and just could not find one.
          Although I don’t work within the K-12 world I can certainly see how this collaborative feature could be used when class-mates need to build mind maps together.

          Being very visual, I think I like the idea that you can add symbols or pictures instead of just wording (which I often find overwhelming). I also believe that since mind maps created by individuals speak to them in a specific wa, this is why some maps may not appeal to others.

          It takes lots of practice I think to make a map clear enough that others can really benefit from them. Now that I have tried Cacoo, I can see how I could create a mind map that describes to my FSL students the memorization process of a second language works. With this in mind, I would need to create something that is visually appealing and easy to understand, using key words and images.

          Marie-France

    • Bridget 5:06 am on July 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      I have used mind maps in order to help make clear connections between concepts and to brainstorm ideas. However, I find that they are very personal and the exercise in completing a mind map can be more valuable than the mind map itself. Although I can appreciate the connections made by others, I learn better by doing, as do most people. They are effective in helping one see relationships and can be a great study skill in many subjects areas; history being one that immediately comes to mind. C-Maps is a program that I have used and find to be quite versatile and has a few functions which clean up a messy map with one click. They can easily get out of hand so this is a nice feature.
      I have not used, or even heard of Cacoo so thanks for the introduction to a new program and experience. I am actually having difficulty editing the mind map which is part of the activity. I can see the diagram on Cacoo, I select the “edit” button, and although it says “loading diagram” I see nothing…on any of the pages. I have tried signing up for the site and it does not seem to make a difference. I am just checking to see if anyone else has the same problem or if it local (me).
      Thanks,
      Bridget

      • Denise 8:06 am on July 6, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        i agree. i find visual learning tools like mind maps are very personl. My expereince of using them in MET was valuable (used Cmap and Vue) as a learning and reflective exercise. When we shared our end results it was very easy to see that they were highly personal and that many of us had highlighted different areas or made different connections. it was easier to have viewed other people maps once I had done my own, it woudl have been overwhelming if the maps had been shown completed, and without the personal experience.

    • Bridget 5:50 am on July 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Problem solved. At the bottom right is an icon that said I was offline…..must be online to see or edit. All is fine.
      Bridget

      • ping 9:51 am on July 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Bridget,

        Glad to know that your problem was solved. You’re right that mind mapping is kind of personal, and the doing process is more valuable for the author than for the reader. In my own experience, a good mind map should also be easier to understand, and should contains as many visual-intensive elements (image, graphics, video etc) as possible. However, I find many mind maps are still text-intensive, only link-and-arrow flow charts. It’s certainly not enough.

        Ping

        • Bridget 1:12 pm on July 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

          Hi Ping,
          Well, I guess I just got lucky that one time. i cannot see the diagram at all once I click “edit”.
          Bridget

          • ping 9:28 pm on July 6, 2012 | Log in to Reply

            Hi Bridget,

            You need to sign in before click “edit”, otherwise the editable maps will not show. Just check your sign in status (on the top-right corner) before click “edit”. If you still have problem, please let us know here or in our trouble-shooting google doc.

            Ping

        • Denise 8:08 am on July 6, 2012 | Log in to Reply

          HI Ping,
          I do wonder whether too many visual intensive elements might cause cognitive overload?
          Denise

          • ping 9:16 pm on July 6, 2012 | Log in to Reply

            Hi Danise,

            You raised a very good question. I think visual intensive elements might cause cognitive overload if they carry too much extra information than what to be expressed. Unlike texts that have been defined accurately by dictionaries, we have little standard to restrict the exact meaning of an image/graph which are created personally. I think in the future we could develop richer stencils, visual dictionaries etc. to assist the mind mapping, to make it more accurate to express, and easier to understand.

            Ping

    • Deborah S 10:49 am on July 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Thanks for the wonderful examples! I haven’t used mind maps much, but I can certainly see their potential. I especially like the notion of using pictures or graphics to get things to “stick” better than simply using words. I look forward to exploring more throughout the week.

      Deborah

    • Dave Horn 11:08 am on July 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      I think that mind maps are useful tools, that can help learners not only make connections between a variety of disparate and often complex ideas, but also to organize their own thoughts and creative process. Admittedly I had a little trouble getting Cacoo to work like I wanted, but I know that there a plenty of other great tools out there for learners to use both cloud-based and software based.
      Cloud-based collaborative concepts make have a lot of potential to engage a large number of learners and help them to think differently than if they were to just pursue a concept map on their own.
      One of the issues I see with concept maps it that many times the users can be overwhelmed with the number of possible options and clickable features found in digital concept map tools and then attempt to use them all. This then makes the maps overly complicated and distracting. Anyone have a good “one-sheet” for approaches to creating concept maps for learners?

      • HJDeW 5:50 pm on July 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Dave. It’s not a one page ‘cheat sheet’ but this link may have the answer you are looking for. http://www.flaguide.org/cat/conmap/conmap7.php
        Hope it helps. Concrete suggestions for implementation and evaluation in content heavy subject areas. Helen

        • Dave Horn 9:40 pm on July 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

          Thanks

        • Denise 8:12 am on July 6, 2012 | Log in to Reply

          Thanks from me too. Really interesting read. Also interested in the assessment side; ” traditional evaluation tools (quizzes, tests, final grades) capture some aspects of conceptual structure, and concept maps capture other aspects”
          Denise

    • vawells 2:47 pm on July 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Group 9

      Thank you for the innovative and interesting mind maps you have presented. I have only used mind maps myself in courses in the MET program. I have also used simplified mind maps in the grade 3 classroom to facilitate student brainstorming and for exit cards in science. The ability for students to use pictures and text have opened independent brainstorm sessions to students who have difficulty contributing with written output.

      I look forward to further explorations through the collaborative mind mapping activity.

      Valerie

      • Sherman Lee 11:32 pm on July 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Valerie,

        Hopefully this week’s presentation and learn lots more about mind maps. I do think that computer mind mapping has a potential for younger grade levels, so be sure to share what you think with us after you have done your exploration!

        Cheers,

        Sherman

    • jtpatry 5:08 pm on July 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Grp 9.

      Veyr well thought out and visually impressive presentation. I have provided the option for students in the class to use mind maps to help with ideas and brainstorming sessions. If students have acces to the computer, they choose to use Kidspiration/Inspiration. What I really like about Kidspiration (Inspiration is the adult version) is that the user can browse through images and use the visual for the map. If students choose not to use mind maps, they think of creative ways of transcribing the information. Mind Maps are another great tool for educators to show their learners as a way of collecting thoughts or In the MET program I have used mind mapping, and although I found the program that was selected for us to use frustrating to navigate, I still enjoyed the process .
      Thanks again group!

      Jon

      • Dave Horn 9:40 pm on July 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Jon

        Inspiration is definitely a useful program. I have also used Mind-meister with my classes as it is web-based and setup a class account/password so that they could collaboratively build a concept map.

    • dubiend 10:52 pm on July 5, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi there!

      I’ve come to post an answer to one of Week 9’s discussion questions: “What makes a good mind map?”

      To me, a good mind map allows the reader to both see the big picture and focus on details with relative ease. It facilitates comprehension and retention of information and indicates clear links between ideas. It groups bits of information into manageable chunks – neither scattered bits of data, nor long rambling paragraphs. A good mind map is well-structured. If, by contrast, it is overwhelming and distracting, the reader might actually experience a temporary drop in IQ (Visocky O’Grady & Visocky O’Grady, 2008). Sometimes a written report or a PPT presentation is more effective than a mind map for communicating information, so the content and the format need to be matched properly.

      Here’s a blog entry that explains map shock, which is a term to describe the sense of visual information overload:

      http://blog.modellearning.com/blog/2011/4/25/map-shock.html

      Here’s a blog entry about designing effective visual graphics:

      http://www.johnrandle.co.uk/graphic-design/information-design/

      Here are a variety of very effective infographics that you can select from the roll-down menu at the top right, where it says “Select Visualization”. Note that some examples are interactive.

      http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/the-hierarchy-of-digital-distractions/

      Visocky O’Grady J. & Visocky O’Grady K. (2008) The information design handbook. Cincinatti, OH: HOW Books.

      Cheers,
      D

    • Allan 9:41 am on July 6, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Thanks you everyone in Week 9 for this excellent presentation “Visual Intensive Learning – Mind Mapping for K-12 Learning.” I really enjoyed viewing the presentation and learning about the mind mapping. I find it interesting that in Britain, it is called “spidergram” and “spidergraph” instead. Thank you also for introducing Cacoo as part of this visually enriching presentation. I certainly enjoyed creating my own mind mapping activity. What a great interactive idea! Kudos for thinking of it.

      Allan

    • gillian 11:03 am on July 7, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Thank you to all in Week 9. I was very impressed with the amount of information you were able to present not only textually, but visually as well. I quite enjoyed playing around in Cacoo and will most certainly add it to my growing collection of teaching and learning tools.
      gillian

    • Bridget 4:58 pm on July 7, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello week 9 group,
      It is interesting to look at a cooperative mind map since each person needs to conform to the previous additions yet has the ability to be creative. Some used graphics, colours and various shapes while others used the standard rectangles. Some wrote full sentences inside the nodes while other preferred 1-2 words and linked with another word. The flexibilty and customization of mind maps makes them easy to use for many types of learners. This was an enjoyable exercise and interesting to see the final product.
      Thanks,
      Bridget

  • Hussain Luaibi 1:01 am on May 31, 2012
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    (Note: I was unable to get a photo of the CEO) Smart is a famous company in the sphere of the educational technology that is used in schools and in places not related to education as well. Smart  (or Smarttech) was founded in 1987 and was and still is based in Calgary, Alberta (Canada). Thomas […]

    Continue reading (Note: I was unable to get a photo of th… Posted in: Week 04: Entrepreneur Bootcamp
     

  • Hussain Luaibi 11:16 am on May 24, 2012
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           No, I would not invest in this project. What makes me feel so are the following:   1- the way the whole thing was presented.   2- Insufficient information   3- Vague ideas   4- Unclear target market         Cloud Connect as a concept is great and we can […]

    Continue reading        No, I would n… Posted in: Week 03: Analyst Bootcamp
     

    • troos 11:13 am on May 25, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hussain:

      Good point about the speed of presentation. I had to listen to the pitch at least 4 times before I had a thorough understanding of what was being presented. I would rather the pitch was a little longer to allow some time to process the information, especially since the information being vocalized was somewhat different than that being presented visually.

      Tim

  • Hussain Luaibi 11:55 pm on May 22, 2012
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    This project is  potentially a great venue for investment.  Yes, there are similar products but this product has been in the market for a while now and it has been used with almost all the operation systems of computers and tablets. So technically the product is ready for the fast growing market. What makes me […]

    Continue reading Evernote: A promising project Posted in: Week 03: Analyst Bootcamp
     

    • shawn harris 6:32 am on May 23, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      I would invest as an EVA also Hussain…This product is not new on the market it has been around for a little while now it seems. In fact a friend of mine just recently introduced it to me as this is what he uses daily. He seems quite fond of the product and tried to persuade me also to get on to it. It yields a lot of benefits and as the CEO of Evernote mentioned “its an external brain”! For a feasible product of such the cost is quite low and so many can have access. I do agree with you that It is a promising project…

      ~Shawn

    • lisamallen 2:05 pm on May 25, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Like you Shawn and Hussain, I too would invest in Evernote as an EVA. I agree that short and to-the-point presentations should not be viewed as negative. In fact, I think that long pitches should be challenged – do you really need 18 minutes to present your pitch?

      Cheers,
      Lisa

  • Hussain Luaibi 1:16 am on May 19, 2012
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    Tags: Predictions or analyses,   

    I chose to tackle the article that deals with the ten predictions: “Top Ten Ed Tech Predictions for 2011” by Christopher Dawson. The article deals with a very important aspect in the world of computing and education. In spite of the fact that the article talks about predictions which are usually  not tangible in our […]

    Continue reading Predictions or Analyses! Posted in: Uncategorized
     

    • gillian 10:13 am on May 19, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hussain,
      A comprehensive and appropriately critical overview. It is an interesting exercise to view 2 year old predictions and see how accurate they were. I must admit that I don’t envy those who are tasked with predicting future trends in any market – especially the edtech market where the market itself changes so rapidly, but the institutions or the “customers” change so slowly.
      gillian

      • Hussain Luaibi 12:19 am on May 20, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Gillian
        Thanks for the note. Yes, I agree with you that making a prediction in the light of the fast pace technology is taking is really hard. I think these big companies which are contributing to the ET, software and hardware have their own ways of speculating the market and its consumers.
        Take care
        Hussain

  • Hussain Luaibi 12:15 pm on May 8, 2012
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    Hello everyone My name is Hussain Luaibi. I am ESL/ELSA teacher. I have been in this field for about 18 years. I did the same thing in Moscow, Russia for nine years and three years in the Middle East, Yemen. Currently I teach at MOSAIC , Vancouver BC. I speak two more languages Russian and […]

    Continue reading Hello everyone Posted in: Uncategorized
     

    • shawnharris 1:47 pm on May 8, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Hussain, good to see you on this side as well. Looking forward to a great summer semester!!

      Shawn

    • Hussain Luaibi 2:38 pm on May 8, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Shawn, you made it! Looking forward to working together.
      Hussain

    • mariefrancehetu 5:51 pm on May 8, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Hussain!

      Nice to work with you again – I look forward to sharing experiences with you over the term. éare you still working on your ETEC portfolio?

      Marie-France

      • Hussain Luaibi 9:51 am on May 9, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hello Marie-France
        Happy to know that you are taking the same course. My eportfolio is still there. I need to update some information in it. I think we will need to have a portfolio here as well. I wasn’t able to upload a photo here in this site. The photo is JPG but still the system refused it. By the way I am taking some HTML CSS self-paced classes. I think we will need them in our future work.
        Take care

    • Danielle 7:54 pm on May 8, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Salam wa aleikum!

      Nice to meet you, Hussain! How long ago were you in Yemen? I would love to visit Yemen someday.

      It will be great to share ideas with another English language teacher. Looking forward to learning from you and hearing about your experiences.

      Danielle

      • Hussain Luaibi 10:17 am on May 9, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Salam wa aleikum ,too
        Glad to meet you,Daniella. I worked in Yemen for three years. It is an amazing country in terms of culture and nature. People are very friendly. The innate beauty of people’s spontaneous behavior can be marred by overambitious politicians. I hope that hasn’t affected people there because I left Yemen in 1997. I would love to go back and see how things are there. Daniella, there is a market not far away from the city center of Sana’a, the capital. If you go inside you feel yourself you are in the year 1500. Oh, I miss it a lot. By the way do you speak Arabic? The way you transcribed the Arabic words was very very accurate.
        Looking forward to working with you and other classmates.
        Hussain

        • Danielle 1:26 am on May 19, 2012 | Log in to Reply

          Hi Hussain,

          My apologies for the late reply! I am still getting used to finding my way in this blog. The search function is coming in quite handy!

          I am learning Arabic though I have been a terrible student as of late! My Arab friends speak English so well, as do most people in the UAE, so there are few opportunities for me to be immersed in the language. Insha’allah I will be able to focus on learning Arabic once I have finished the MET – an Arabic eLearning venture perhaps? 😀

          Nice meeting you!

          Danielle

    • adi 8:49 pm on May 9, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Hussain,
      When you say ELSA, do you mean ELSA Net.? Do you also work there? Did you go to the BC TEAL Conference at Capilano?
      I’m looking forward to working with you, and sharing ideas about language teaching.
      Adriana

    • Hussain Luaibi 12:26 am on May 10, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Adriana
      By ELSA I meant English Language Services for Adults. It is offered by most of the schools that deal with immigrants and refugees. ELSA Net is a society of ELSA Service Providers. So MOSAIC is part of it. I don’t work for the ELSA Net. They usually hold conferences and meetings from time to time and schools that provide ELSA services usually send their members or some of their members to attend. I usually attend their conferences. Also I always attend the BC TEAL conferences. But I didn’t attend the one at Capilano. I attended the previous one which was held in Coal Harbor, Canada Place.
      I am looking forward to working with you as well.
      take care
      Hussain

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