have been lucky
enough to have taught the full range of our freshman / sophmore undergraduate
offerings as both an onsite and online instructor. While I have
thoroughly enjoyed both formats - and very much so - I must admit that my
experiences online have been *much* more positive than onsite instruction. Let
me try and elucidate:1. While in the onsite classroom you have the
opportunity to think on your feet and challenge and be experiential on your feet
to reactions to the students who speak, in the online classroom, you are able to
meet *every* class member and challenge their minds and ideas. The students who
would normally be lost in a classroom of 35-40 are met and developed each day or
week at their level and pushed to consider ideas they might not have considered.
2. I am able to reach the entire class through multimedia exhibits in
each of the weekly units - journal articles, non-copyrighted film clips (and
many from our university's purchased collection under an agreement for both
onsite classroom and online classroom use), photography, art, patents, etc, that
the students would not see - or would otherwise ignore - in an onsite classroom.
We incorporate this information into our discussions and make it part of the
larger whole of history.3. Each student and I - on the phone during
office hours or in e-mail - discuss the creation of their term papers - and
discuss midterm and final "anxiety" issues - and as they are used to the online
format, and regular communication with me through the discussion boards, they
respond much more readily than onsite students, whom I have found I have to
pressure to talk to me. 4. I am able to accommodate students from around
the country - and around the world. I have had enrolled in my class students
from Japan, Indonesia, India, England - and many other countries. As a result, I
have set up a *very* specific Skype address *only* for use of my students. They
are required to set up the time and day with me ahead of time and I need to
approve that request, but for them (and for some of my students scattered all
over the state and US), the face time is invaluable in helping them feel
"connected" - and I am more than happy to offer it. 5. As the software
upgrades, the possibilities of what I can offer become more and more amazing,
and the ease of use for both me - and for the students - becomes
astronomically better. Many have never known the software, so they don't notice
it - but those who have taken online courses before cheer it on. Software does
not achieve backwards. As very few of these issues are met by the onsite
classroom, I am leaning more and more toward the online classroom as the better
mode of instruction. Yes, there are times I *really* miss the onsite
opportunities, but then I think of the above distinctions and realize that yes,
I am where I should be, and virtually *ALL* the students are getting far more
for their money than they would get in an onsite classroom. This is the
wave of the future, and it holds such amazing promise. Already I think we are
seeing clear and fruitful results, and if academics receive effective - and
continuing - instruction and support from the very beginning, I cannot imagine
why one would ever go back. The only reason I can think of *not* doing this is
if the instructor has his or her *own* fear of computers. Beyond that - please,
please jump on the bandwagon, swallow your fears, and learn how to do this with
vigor. I don't think you will ever be sorry.PhD2BinUS
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Another Look at the Weaknesses of Online Learning - Innovations - The Chronicle of High... - 86 views
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have been lucky enough to have taught the full range of our freshman / sophmore undergraduate offerings as both an onsite and online instructor. While I have thoroughly enjoyed both formats - and very much so - I must admit that my experiences online have been *much* more positive than onsite instruction. Let me try and elucidate:
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While I have thoroughly enjoyed both formats - and very much so - I must admit that my experiences online have been *much* more positive than onsite instruction. Let me try and elucidate:
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I am a graduate student at Sam Houston State University and before I started grad school I never had taken an online course before. My opinion then was that online courses were a joke and you couldn't learn from taking a course online. Now my opinion has done a complete 180. The teachers post numerous youtube videos and other helpful tools for each assignment so that anyone can successfully complete the assignment no matter what their technology skill level is. I do not see much difference between online and face-to-face now because of the way the instructors teach the courses.
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When People Feared Computers - The Atlantic - 27 views
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Allow yourself to be a little ignorant for a while. Plan to spend some time learning; give the computer a chance to prove itself before you decide you can't use it; take things a step at a time; make sure you read the documentation carefully; and finally, don't forget that you're in charge, not the computer."
Why We Shouldn't Fear Technology in the Classroom - 39 views
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shared by Glenn Hervieux on 08 May 15
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The Digital Tattoo: Think Before You Ink - 73 views
educationtechnologysolutions.com.au/...comment-page-1
internet safety DigitalCitizenship digital literacy
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Busting the myths of AI in education - 10 views
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"When you mention Artificial Intelligence (AI), you're likely to get a variety of responses ranging from the fear that robots will take over our jobs - and our lives - to the conviction that it will transform our future for the better. Now that AI is becoming an integral part of organisations such as NASA, the NHS and even your local council, is it time for education to embrace the power of AI? I believe that it is. While algorithms will never be a substitute for a good teacher, there are some exciting new ways that AI can help schools to spot patterns of progress, or identify pupils who are having difficulties with their learning."
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Book: Developing Tenacity by @LucasLearn & @DrEllenSpencer - 2 views
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"What are those key phrases you hear from frustrated teachers in the staffroom during breaks? Or on those rare occasions, you get to meet up with teachers from other schools on training courses? For me it is the following: 'They give up so easily,' 'Where is their stickability?' 'Why do they fear making a mistake?' However it is phrased, you get the gist, that pupils today have no resilience, they aren't prepared to keep going in the face of challenge or set back. They can't think their way around a problem. In discussions with staff within my own school (a large primary in an area of high deprivation in the north of England) I am frequently asked how we can help these children. As part of our school's SLT I have already supported staff to make daring changes to our curriculum but we still seem to be falling short of what we state in our vision; that we want our children to become resilient learners, confident individuals, critical thinkers and lifelong learners. (Traits that I am sure many schools up and down the land wish for their pupils to develop.) Why are our pupils struggling with 'resilience'? What opportunities can we, as a school, provide our children so that they develop these skills? After reading the blurb and the introductory pages, I was, as you can imagine, excited to delve further into this book to see if it could answer some of my questions."
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Improving Writing - 11 views
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"Writing is vital to most examples of learning. It is how civilisation conveys information from generation to generation, it is how parents often communicate their needs and fears for their children as notes to the teacher, and it is how little Johnny/Jane tells you about what their cat and/or dog did at the weekend. Some people love writing, while others struggle with it, but everyone has to write to some degree in their daily lives, and all of this stems from their experiences in the classroom."
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shared by Nigel Coutts on 25 Nov 18
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Why we fear data and how our perception can change. - The Learner's Way - 4 views
thelearnersway.net/...-how-our-perception-can-change
data learner change education teaching learning
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Data occupies a somewhat curious place within education. Mention it to teachers and you tend to get one of two responses. One group will roll their eyes and with great sarcasm how data is "so exciting". The other group responds with something akin to "actually I quite like data" indicating that experience has shown them that they are members of a small group. The question is why do some people find data to be a useful and fascinating tool while others see it as a good method for inducing sleep?
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shared by Nigel Coutts on 21 Jan 21
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What might education focus on post COVID19? - The Learner's Way - 11 views
thelearnersway.net/...ducation-focus-on-post-covid19
education change dispositions 21stcenturylearning
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As we move towards this brighter future with the fear of a global pandemic somewhat alleviated, what might be our next steps? How might we apply the lessons learned so rapidly, and brutally during this past twelve-month period? Might COVID be a catalyst for the reinvention of education that so many have been calling for?
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shared by Nigel Coutts on 03 Nov 19
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Bringing concepts to early learning in Mathematics - The Learner's Way - 4 views
thelearnersway.net/...-early-learning-in-mathematics
concepts learning mathematics teaching Early Years
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Our beliefs about mathematics play a significant role in how we approach learning within the discipline. These beliefs are established by the nature of our early engagement with mathematics and are difficult to change once established. For many people mathematics is viewed as a subject that is not for them. Indeed the situation is so bad that many people will say that they are not a maths person and approach mathematics with fear and anxiety.
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Overcoming Technology Barriers: How to Innovate Without Extra Money or Support | Edutopia - 5 views
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Teachers' fear of learning something new is still the main hurdle to technology integration, says Bob Moore, executive director of information technology for the Blue Valley Schools, in Overland Park, Kansas.
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Creating time and opportunities for teachers to share ideas has led to "a common language about student learning and has accelerated our use of instructional technology," Moore notes. "You can't do that if teachers are working in isolation behind closed doors."
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GenYES encourages teachers to learn about technology in the context of their own classroom, side-by-side with their students. Professional development that's embedded in the classroom has more staying power than one-shot workshops.
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shared by anonymous on 18 May 13
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The Art of Virtual Leadership - 4 Keys to Leading Remote Workers and Managing Virtual T... - 19 views
www.evancarmichael.com/...nd-Managing-Virtual-Teams.html
leadership leading remote workers managing teams
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Many organizations believe that one of the biggest challenges they face when implementing a virtual office is managing mobile or remote workers. It is unfortunate that they let this perception stop them from reaping the many benefits of a more flexible workplace.
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Remote management is not radically different from managing people on-site. The biggest difference is a shift in management style from "eyeball management" (assuming workers are being productive because you physically see them at their desks working) to managing by results. By learning to mange by results rather than activity, improving communication, and nurturing trust between managers and employees the whole organization benefits. In fact, virtual team managers have reported that their overall management skills increased for both on and off-site workers.
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MANAGING BY RESULTS, NOT ACTIVITY One of the most common fears that managers and executives have when considering virtual teams is, "How do I know my employees will be working if I'm not there to watch them?" Well the simple answer is that you won't, not every minute. But realistically, you can't be sure they are really working every minute you see them in the office either; it is easy to confuse activity with productivity. A manager's job is to provide specific, measurable, and attainable goals for the remote employee so that he or she knows what must be done and when. These can include reports completed, number of calls made, and number of support issues resolved - or any other appropriate measure of job productivity.It is important that the employee and manager arrive upon a shared definition of the deliverables and timetable together. This ensures that everyone is on the "same page" and prevents miscommunication. It also ensures that the goals and expectations are realistic. A manager's value to an organization is as more of a coach and mentor, not an overseer. This move away from "eyeball management," and the resulting clearer definition of employee job responsibilities, is one of the major contributing factors to the improved productivity normally experienced with virtual teams. Shifting your focus to performance based management will help you build a more productive mobile workforce.
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Crash Test | Texas Monthly - 24 views
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STAAR replaced the four tests previously required for graduation with fifteen—more than any other state. Lawmakers also mandated that the new tests, known as end-of-course exams, would count for 15 percent of a student’s grade in each subject area
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“cult of educational testing” and argued that the accountability system was doing more harm than good
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Longtime observers of education policy are openly speculating that we are seeing the beginning of the end of the accountability movement, right here in the state where it was born.
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Of course, the stakes are high not just for kids but for adults too. Teachers whose students fail to improve—or don’t improve sufficiently—can find themselves out of a job. Students at poor-performing schools can transfer to better schools in their district—and take their state funding with them.
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Shortly before he resigned as education commissioner, Robert Scott warned that assessment and accountability had grown into something akin to a “military-industrial complex,” a kind of public policy juggernaut with its own internal momentum.
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The Siege of Academe - www.washingtonmonthly.com - Readability - 1 views
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the whole thing is a corrupt enterprise doomed to collapse in a spectacular, real-estate-market-circa-2008 fashion. The media lapped it up, and soon enough Thiel was featured in long New York and New Yorker profiles.
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Investors have chased after clever short-term innovations and looked for quick profit, which is not only bad for the world but bad for most investors—since 1999, according to the manifesto, venture capital has lost money on average. Only the top 20 percent are any good.
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There is a great deal of money and power at stake now. We may not know who and we may not know when, but someone is going to write the software that eats higher education.
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most of the first adopters won’t be American students forgoing the opportunity to drink beer on weekends at State U. Instead, they’ll be students like Bali, among the hundreds of millions of people around the world with the talent and desire to learn but no State U to attend.
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Political pressure will continue to grow for credits earned in low-cost MOOCs to be transferable to traditional colleges, cutting into the profit margins that colleges have traditionally enjoyed in providing large, lecture-based college courses.
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shared by Wayne Holly on 27 Oct 11
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Should You Flip Your Classroom? | Edutopia - 207 views
www.edutopia.org/...pped-classroom-ramsey-musallam
Flipped flipped classroom flipclass edutopia strategy
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Jason Finley and Patricia Hermes liked it
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Good teaching, regardless of discipline, should always limit passive transfer of knowledge in class, and promote learning environments built on the tenants of inquiry, collaboration and critical thinking
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The science teacher in me is deeply committed to the process of inquiry, and arming my students with the skills needed to construct and test their own ideas. The AP teacher in me fears sending my students off to their examination in May having covered only a portion of all the content required
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I like this concept - read more. Works against teacher as delivery system to be ignored.
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At its core, "flipped instruction" refers to moving aspects of teaching out of the classroom and into the homework space. With the advent of new technologies, specifically the ability to record digitally annotated and narrated screencasts, instructional videos have become a common medium in the flipped classroom. Although not limited to videos, a flipped classroom most often harnesses different forms of instructional video published online for students.
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shared by tapiatanova on 08 Nov 11
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A Social Network Can Be a Learning Network - The Digital Campus - The Chronicle of High... - 98 views
chronicle.com/...129609
social network sociallearning Social Media learning education millenials socialnetworking socialbookmarking pln ple optometry
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Kate Pok liked it
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Sharing student work on a course blog is an example of what Randall Bass and Heidi Elmendorf, of Georgetown University, call "social pedagogies." They define these as "design approaches for teaching and learning that engage students with what we might call an 'authentic audience' (other than the teacher), where the representation of knowledge for an audience is absolutely central to the construction of knowledge in a course."
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External audiences certainly motivate students to do their best work. But students can also serve as their own authentic audience when asked to create meaningful work to share with one another.
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The last sentence is especially important in institutional contexts where the staff voices their distrust against "open scholarship" (Weller 2011), web 2.0 and/or open education. Where "privacy" is deemed the most important thing in dealing with new technologies, advocates of an external audience have to be prepared for certain questions.
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yes! nothing but barriers! However, it is unclear if the worries about pravacy are in regards to students or is it instructors who fear teaching in the open. everyone cites FERPA and protection of student identities, but I have yet to hear any student refusing to work in the open...
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Students most likely won't find this difficult. After all, you're asking them to surf the Web and tag pages they like. That's something they do via Facebook every day. By having them share course-related content with their peers in the class, however, you'll tap into their desires to be part of your course's learning community. And you might be surprised by the resources they find and share.
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While keynote speakers and session leaders are speaking, audience members are sharing highlights, asking questions, and conversing with colleagues on Twitter
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Ask your students to create accounts on Twitter or some other back-channel tool and share ideas that occur to them in your course. You might give them specific assignments, as does the University of Connecticut's Margaret Rubega, who asks students in her ornithology class to tweet about birds they see. During a face-to-face class session, you could have students discuss their reading in small groups and share observations on the back channel. Or you could simply ask them to post a single question about the week's reading they would like to discuss.
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A back channel provides students a way to stay connected to the course and their fellow students. Students are often able to integrate back channels into their daily lives, checking for and sending updates on their smartphones, for instance. That helps the class become more of a community and gives students another way to learn from each other.
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Deep learning is hard work, and students need to be well motivated in order to pursue it. Extrinsic factors like grades aren't sufficient—they motivate competitive students toward strategic learning and risk-averse students to surface learning.
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Social pedagogies provide a way to tap into a set of intrinsic motivations that we often overlook: people's desire to be part of a community and to share what they know with that community.
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Online, social pedagogies can play an important role in creating such a community. These are strong motivators, and we can make use of them in the courses we teach.
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The papers they wrote for my course weren't just academic exercises; they were authentic expressions of learning, open to the world as part of their "digital footprints."
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Collaborative documents need not be text-based works. Sarah C. Stiles, a sociologist at Georgetown, has had her students create collaborative timelines showing the activities of characters in a text, using a presentation tool called Prezi.com. I used that tool to have my cryptography students create a map of the debate over security and privacy. They worked in small groups to brainstorm arguments, and contributed those arguments to a shared debate map synchronously during class.
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A great blog post on social pedagogies and how they can be incorporated in university/college classes. A good understanding of creating authentic learning experiences through social media.
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A great blog post on social pedagogies and how they can be incorporated in university/college classes. A good understanding of creating authentic learning experiences through social media.
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A great blog post on social pedagogies and how they can be incorporated in university/college classes. A good understanding of creating authentic learning experiences through social media.
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Creator of 'Anonymous' Gossip Site Names Names - Wired Campus - The Chronicle of Higher... - 2 views
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Campus-gossip Web sites like JuicyCampus and CollegeACB used the lure of anonymity to entice students to post on them. The cloak gave students a virtual bathroom wall on which to write racy rumors and explicit insults about their peers without fear of being exposed.
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I want to share this with my students in future, when we work with social media..are you really ever anonymous on the web?