2009 Fall ETC647

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 strategy I used had to do with training the school on these tools before we could begin talking and demonstarting NLE and PLE. However, I felt that I was able to provide activities that engeged them in connectivist learning principles by having the discover by the process of clicking and trying out.

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

One weakness in developing my unit properly was time. But the major weakness has to do with the environment I creted this unit for. Essentially, I am helping a school incorporate Google Apps. They have never used these web 2.0 features so the first part realy had to do with training. My presentation on NLE and PLE could have been developed further and alligned them better with connectivist principles.

One ore thing, my assessment and evaluation tool could be a bit more somprehevensive. This too is weakness.

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.

* Knowing where to find information; the links provided to learners to engage in unit content were informative and facilitated learning. * Diversity of opinions: Group collaboration within the unit lesson plans supported social networking and enabled learners to share ideas and personal knowledge. * A variety of learning tools; Web 2.0 tools provided allowed learners to collaborate in different forms. Having different approaches to communicate and share information facilitates learning since we all have different learning styles.

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

* More than four components of technology integration; may be overwhelming to those learners who are not technology savvy. * Rubric for essay assignment should have included more content; more specific on expectations of assignment. * Video embedded for instructional strategies instead of links to video.

Adrianna, It was a distinct pleasure reviewing your unit. Overall you unit is well organized, easy to follow, contains great instructions and graphics. I do not know anything about dentistry, but I think if I participated in your unit I would learn a great deal. I will comment in individual sticky notes by the 4 categories suggested for giving feedback. Excellent job!!

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.

Okay, thank you for the opportunity to answer the questions now. My three main NLE PLE strategies are: 1. Teamwork - using Elluminate to meet as a team in real time, using blog and voicethread for feedback, and using wiki page sites for team creation of product and presentation 2. Research - using Diigo and Delicious to share relevant discoveries and share information- at the same time creating PLE for study 3. Over-all strategy is to teach the principles by demonstrating how within the study and classwork so that they have an effective and powerful model and know how to integrate the technologies into their own lesson developments. The asessments are collaborative in nature and include self and peer assessments with an opportunity to revise work throughout. This allows for maximum learning.

as you can see, I like your style Chih =)

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

Three weaknesses: 1. Some data cannot be stored on the class wiki and will have to be housed separately and shared with students by email, like grades, contact information and so on. An advantage of a CMS is that you can track your personal progress a little easier because not everything is public information. Also the class wiki site could be altered by students or information possibly lost. 2. I needed to develop more evaluation rubrics - some for peer evaluation and map out how that would work a little more clearly. 3. I think 3 general synchronous class meetings would be helpful to clear up questions and demonstrate how to use technologies for those who need a visual example and the opportunity to ask questions in the learning process. (I only developed an example of the first meeting). These would be required (points given for attendance) but recorded for those who miss for unavoidable reasons.

I too think that structured training should not hinder informal learning.

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.

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