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Common Question I: Aligned Connectivism Principles Please discuss three most important strategies of NLE/PLE in your unit, identify what aligned Connectivism principle(s) are, and discuss the assessments you integrate. Remember NLE/PLE strategies are not your contents or "technologies," such as wiki, discussion board etc. It is the integrated soft technologies. If you don't remember Connectivism principles, please review our Lesson 1 readings. Hint: be sure to include four components of technology integrations: Content; Technology; Instructional Strategies; Assessment.

My unit just barely made it in my opinion with Connectivism if I understand the theory correctly. One thing that I did fail to integrate in this unit is group activities that led to continued prospectives for learning. One of the things that I did incorporate, however, were peer reviews and response questions on specific assignments. Although mediocre compared to some other tools, the peer review documents I used as assessment in this unit come in two formats. One was reviewing the various information in papers on the various learning theories,which exposes the adult learners to multiple perspectives on similar topics which may increase their learning and approaches to a specific topic/subject. The other document was used to determine if learning had occurred based on student samples. This is quite distinctive because it allows for the adult learner to learn information and perspectives from the students and not fellow colleagues. I have also requested that the adult learners peer review various projects in the module. Not only does this expose the adult learners to the various individual interpretations of the assignments, it also exposes them to the various usages of certain tools. I have also required that the adult learners use Twitter,blogs, wikis,etc to find useful information for papers. Although these are not professional sources, it again exposes the adult learners to the various interpretations of topics, concepts, etc from various individuals in society, not just colleagues. Examples in the Unit *Philosophy of Education Peer Review *Learning Theory Paper utilizing various social networks, blogs, wikis, forums, Delicious, Wikipedia,etc - access to information through various nodes, opinions, examples, interpretations,etc - peer review *Creation of a Social Network using Ning -allows for the adult learners to create an environment where the students can collectively learn from each other -using Twitter t

At first I thought the video of this old guy was kind of different. Then it was interesting in the fact that here was this old guy embracing technology in a way that education has yet to do. It made a powerful point.

Hi, Thanks Mr. Gilbert. I too found this video quite powerful because I know his age cohort probably had no idea that such tools would even exist. Although some of the baby boomers,etc may resist technology, I guess it still doesnt change that we live in a society that is built around a common factor, technology. In my opinion, its no longer an option to know and effectively understand technology, it is a necessity. Thanks. Mary

Common Question II: Weaknesses Please discuss three weaknesses of your unit. Please specific. Hint: focus on technology, instructional strategies, and assessments.

Although my unit is focused on Higher Education professionals, I feel that I failed to provide a strong foundation for the unit. Even though some Higher Education professionals have PhDs,EdDs,etc, when it comes to effectively utilizing technology, you must provide the basics as if the professionals were a "blank slate." Although I expected the professionals to have a high level of computer literacy, there may be some professionals who don't have a high literacy for computers, but may still like to use web-based tools. Access to numerous tutorials for the various accounts I required to be created would have been reasonable since the adult learners would have to effectively use these tools to create the various products in the module. If you can't effectively use the tools, I shouldnt expect for effective products to be created either. Another weakness was the time to complete the assignments. If it takes us students two weeks to complete certain assignments that we have a reasonable background in, for individuals just beginning, two weeks wouldn't be enough to complete all the assignments adequately in each module. The assignments could be rushed, and the assessments may not reflect the true potential of the adult learner. Finally, I feel that I asked the adult learners to utilize too many potentially difficult technology and web-based tools during their stages of learning that could produce many moments of frustration and confusion.

Common Question I: Aligned Connectivism Principles Please discuss three most important strategies of NLE/PLE in your unit, identify what aligned Connectivism principle(s) are, and discuss the assessments you integrate. Remember NLE/PLE strategies are not your contents or "technologies," such as wiki, discussion board etc. It is the integrated soft technologies. If you don't remember Connectivism principles, please review our Lesson 1 readings. Hint: be sure to include four components of technology integrations: Content; Technology; Instructional Strategies; Assessment.

The first connectivism principle that my Unit plan includes is the opportunity for learners, in this case, in-service teachers to connect with each other with ease using different software applications. More specifically, when they use wiki to collaborate contents is a good strategy to keep learners connected. Another strategy is that building online libraries, using Delicious for example, help learners share useful materials without having to buy books. Learners become actively engaged in social bookmarking process as distributed learning and they become socially networked via social network sites to connect to relevant human learning resources. Next, when they write their lesson plan and use World to visualize their ideas, it is a core principle of connectivism which emphasizes that "utilizing visualization to examine data, such as tag clouds or Wordle Arts" is produces the "ability to see connections between fields, ideas, and concepts." Finally, when learners review each other's lesson plan in groups, this allows them to make contributions to learning content and engage in collaborative and community learning activities for the first principle of connectivism sates: "Learning and knowledge rests in diversity of opinions."

Unit Presentation: I designed this 6-week unit plan to give in-service teachers more opportunities to diversify their lesson delivery and content strategies for a number of reasons. First, commercial materials are very scarce in many schools For example, in my own country there is a ratio of one book for 30 students. The unit also aims at strengthening collaboration between teachers and students for a better outcome. I have included multiple technologies( VoiceThread, Wiki, and Delicious) to allow for connectivism principles to be used throughout the whole six weeks that the training will last. The unit comprises three lessons, one leson for every two weeks, a training outline, and groups space. Lesson 1 is essentially focused on Introductions of students and orientation. During this first lesson all students are required the mandatory training for each tool to be used during the training. Reading and discussions start with Lesson 2. Lesson 3 concludes with a survey at the end of training to ensure that this kind of training is/isn't worthwhile in the future.

Common Question II: Weaknesses Please discuss three weaknesses of your unit. Please specific. Hint: focus on technology, instructional strategies, and assessments.

My Unit plan is hypothetical and as such may not be implemented in any context. However, it can fit in many teaching and learning situations. For me, the most challenging aspect in putting together this unit plan is to marry the objectives with strategies and link everything to connectivism principles. I am not sure I have married each goal with an appropriate strategy and this may constitute another handicap. Finally, the course format that I chose may pose difficulty for technology low-skill ability learners in Africa. After I submitted, I thought a hybrid format could solve the problem. Otherwise, everything looks fine for me although I cannot see my back...