Group items tagged

This study explores the pitfalls of virtual teams within the business world. While I realize this paper doesn't focus on schools specifically it still applies in its exploration of communities of practice. This paper follows a few case studies while it explores virtual teams rather than teams working in the same space or building. Traditionally, virtual teams, have more challenges and communities of practice are introduced as a way to help overcome these challenges. Communities of practice are also defined and stages of participation are explored.

This article focuses on virtual communities of practice within higher education. It provides an overview of the definition, purpose, and literature concerning CoPs. Further the authors detail many of the benefits, barriers, and critical success factors associated with virtual CoPs. The article also includes numerous practical examples of virtual CoPs as well as quotes from faculty with experience in these communities.

25 Awesome Virtual Learning Experiences Online

This article talks about the benefits of virtual field trips. It also talks about a specific school near Pittsburgh that took a virtual field trip through videoconferencing. The students did an e-Mission to learn about earth Science.

Edutopia writer Vicki Davis discusses how PLNs have empowered her students to guide their own learning experiences. She discusses the weaknesses of PLNs and how they work.

While this blog posting from Edutopia does point to some "how tos" and practical application, it does offer key theoretical practices for setting the stage for applying the PLN model for student use. Vicki Davis, the teacher and author of the blog post, states that her students are familiar with breaking news due the development of their own PLN that acts as a "virtual locker." She goes on to discuss how their research builds the content of their PLN and the content changes based upon the assignment. The big idea is that the PLN model allows students to act as the orchestrator of their own learning and allows them to analyze information via an avenue that is personalized to student's learning needs. It also teaches students to embrace connectivism where they make connections between domains in order to form a more complete understanding.

The article goes into the role of a PLN for students. Students can create their own networks to possess information at their fingertips on any topic they could ever desire. By establishing a networking system, the students don't necessarily have to go out and scour the internet for sources when their network could bring relevant information to them.

This article begins by addressing the changing technological innovations over time but the lack of widespread adoption of particular technologies. For example the acceptance of learning management system but apprehension towards virtual peer-to-peer interactions. Informal rather than formal learning is again highlighted as being a positive move of acceptance. The authors would like to see social media included in learning and life-long learning with a shift from virtual learning systems to personal learning environments

This paper addresses how virtual teaming in the workplace has changed the dynamics of the physical and virtual aspects of businesses.

This website contains a presentation on 'Designing Virtual Portfolios for Communities of Practice'.

Vicki Davis equates the student PLN to a virtual locker. The content in the virtual locker changes as students shift from one project to another. Whether it is an RSS feed or Twitter following, the students are developing networks to acquire the information. PLN allow student learning to become more self-directed. The article addresses the challenges for educators face as PLNs become more prevalent in the classroom.

Great article! It is encouraging to see that like educators, students can also utilize PLNs in a meaningful way. Definitely going to check out iGoogle!

Coming from a higher ed perspective I found this really interesting. I used an RSS feed for a 200 level undergrad blended format class and received terrible reviews on the use of the tool. I found this interesting and am still trying to understand what went wrong. I am moving toward the use of Twitter now but found loved this visual image of the locker!

This is my second unusual reference but well worth it. Chapter 3 provides the reader with a research article that considers the value of the PLEF Personal Learning Environment Format when implementing personalized mashups to increase collaborative learning. This peer reviewed article provides a Connectivist theoretically based argument for engaging dynamic virtual and network learning in lifelong, informal and personalized learning environments.

My sisters had the CDs of these educational games when we were growing up but now JumpStart has it's own virtual world for kids.

An excellent resource from scholastic for the Thanksgiving holiday. With teacher registration, you are granted access to the following: *Video tours of Wampanoag dwellings, canoe construction, and daily life *Replay of webcast including interviews with interpreters from the Plimoth Plantation *Series of classroom emails from a Pilgrim girl and a Wampanoag boy *Reminder emails for virtual field trips and webcast replay Interested in integrating technology into holiday lessons? This is an excellent place to start for Thanksgiving!

Virtual Nerd's patent-pending tutorial system provides in-context information, hints, and links to supporting tutorials, synchronized with videos, each 3 to 7 minutes long. In this non-linear system, users are free to take whatever path through the material best serves their needs. These unique features make Virtual Nerd a viable alternative to private tutoring.

A virtual library of mathematics manipulatives for grades preK-12. The manipulatives are broken down into the five components of mathematics; numbers & operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis & probability.

Skype virtual field trips let teachers and students "visit" some awesome sites and places! You have to register and sign in to be able to do Skype virtual field trips with your class. This is a fantastic way to get outside experts to visit your class on a variety of topics.

This journal article dives into the three biggest reservoirs of information based on the principles of connectivism: social networks, online classrooms, and virtual reality learning platforms. The author identifies some of these specific resources and addresses how they relate to connectivism.

I like this article. I like that the author breaks down the reservoirs of information in a graphic. I also like that the author talks about different social media that aren't as common or well-known. The examples of uses of podcasts, virtual learning and mobile devices are interesting in that I never considered using Nintendo DS in that manner.

This tool provides science resources for teachers including virtual labs. It provides a wide variety of tools for integrating technology into the science curriculum.

Simulation of a wet chemistry lab. The Virtual Lab is an online simulation of a chemistry lab. It is designed to help students link chemical computations with authentic laboratory chemistry. The lab allows students to select from hundreds of standard reagents (aqueous) and manipulate them in a manner resembling a real lab.