Pursuits--
A Bit More on the Personal Side of Things
Technology
- I'm
currently exploring a few new tools. One is an open- source Learning Management
System called Plone. The
software looks pretty straightforward, but I need to investigate how it
will play with my ISP and whether our technologies will retrofit well together.
Through my ramblings it looks pretty straightforward and compatible.
- When
Macromedia jumped up to MX I was still developing in UltraDev and using
the asp / VB framework. I am currently installing the ASP.Net
framework on my server and testing this with Dreamweaver MX. My ISP has
the framework already installed, so I just need to get my feet wet with
this technology and get some development time in to learn how it works.
One of my questions is how my existing applications will convert to ASP.Net.
I'm willing to leap slowly on this, but I feel I need to continue to feel
my way through these technologies.
- Meanwhile,
after taking the multimedia courses at CU-D I am still expanding my knowledge
and techniques with the practical day-to-day building of sites and exploring
Macromedia's Site
and downloading extensions.
After over three years with the tools I feel I have barely scratched the
surface and still have ample opportunity to learn new tools and techniques.
- I'm excited
to start the process of building the Virtual Business Learning Center. While
I'm still undecided on the technologies, I'm currently playing with some
templates and frameworks for design, layout, content, and attributes. It
will be great to see this part of the business be fulfilled and to start
having our clients and users be able to use this center.
Books
I am currently exploring
- Beyond
Dreamweaver
- Joseph
Lowery's
An
interesting book to go beyond the basics with Dreamweaver MX and explore
extending Dreamweaver to CMS, XML, Extensions, 508 and SMIL among other
things. A bit more heavy hitting on the geek side of Dreamweaver, but programming
knowledge I'm interested in understanding how to apply the software to the
situation.
- Dreamweaver
MX: ASP.net Web Development
This book addresses the .NET Framework, Dreamweaver
MX and ASP.NEt, Using server behaviors and interacting with databases. This
book doesn't pretend to teach the basics of Dreamweaver or Databases, but
is a good introduction into the ASP.net framework and using this with Dreamweaver
MX. My first run through the book has demonstrated that I need to be working
on the computer and doing the work, to see how to really do this. Otherwise,
the knowledge is helpful to understand how things have shifted with the
new framework, but not real practical unless you are actually working directly
with the programming and the software.
- E-Learning
Tools and Technologies
- Horton
William Horton provides an overview of the tools and
technologies available for e-learning. Some of this is review, but Horton
provides a simple to follow review of technologies we can use for designing
e-learning and some hand-holding on how to approach using the technologies
in ways that enhance learning. This is a nice resource and approaches technologies
with the end result of learners learning, rather than the techno-centric
approach of throwing technology into the mix because you can.
Other
Hobbies & Interests
Making
Medicine
A
little known fact about me is that I like to do Wild Crafting (that means
collect wild herbs). Now that we are transitioning into Summer I am out daily
checking out the local materia medica and finding new places to collect plant
samples for teas, tinctures and flower arrangements. With the burn in the
Big Elk Meadow area we are now able to find Morrel Mushrooms. And with all
of the moisture we hope to get some great puff balls this year. Besides the
edibles, some of my favorite herbs like nettles and skullcap are back. And
for the first time in three years I finally found a Lady Slipper again. It
is certainly nice to have the moisture!
Hiking
the Rockies
One
of the luxuries of living in the Colorado Rockies is easy access to hiking.
I like to take daily hikes around our area and explore the awesome views and
terrain. Our area is rich with hiking trails, lakes, streams and rocks. At
times we head up to the Peak-To-Peak to find new trails - especially when
the weather in the lower elevations gets too warm. We enjoy everything from
the Montaine to the Alpines during the year. We are able to hike year round,
so enjoy the forest on a regular basis.
Living
In Big
Elk Meadows
We
have the best of all worlds - beauty, nature and great outdoor activities
right out our front door. My other full-time hobby is living in this incredible
environment. That being said, we've bought a property in Estes Park to build
a home - another world from here, but equally inviting. I would expect that
the next few months will be a plethora of selling, moving and then finally
building. While we are enjoying every moment we have in Big Elk, I'm looking
forward to having the conveniences of city living on our "Old Man Mountain."
