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ann stephens

Bloom's Taxonomy - 4 views

www.odu.edu/...blooms_taxonomy.htm

shared by ann stephens on 17 Jan 11 - Cached
  • ann stephens on 17 Jan 11
     
    This is an overview of a guideline for how learning occurs and how as teachers we can focus our lessons to this guideline. It is relevant in on-line education, as the on-line environment allows us to have different modes to provide information to our students. We can utilize everything from video to chat rooms.
  • ...6 more comments...
  • Mary Ann Simpson on 17 Jan 11
     
    This was so interesting, Ann! I was trained in Gifted Education and we used Bloom for all of our curriculum creation--I find the new version very appealing. It should also be easier to understand for people new to the taxonomy. I totally agree with your connection of its relevance to on-line learning.
  • Joy LaJeret on 17 Jan 11
     
    I found that fits with the animated video concepts about changing paradigms. Also, neither my youngest daughter or I finshed high school in the same way. I tested out after the 10th grade. She was unable to graduate after the 10th grade, even though her course work requirements were completed. She spent one year going to college and one year as a foreign exchange student before she could graduate, since she had to wait until her class did.
  • ann stephens on 19 Jan 11
     
    Mary Ann - I hadn't realized the Bloom taxonomy had been revised and am not sure of the changes, but very much like the scaffold. I must admit, that it has taken me a while to use better questioning. It is more responsive to test information. Joy - Your point about how the education process was different for you and your daughter is interesting. Many students go for a foreign experience.
  • Joy LaJeret on 19 Jan 11
     
    The real difference in my educational experience was my total boredom with school and cliques. It was not relevant to me, so I dropped out after my tenth grade year. I did a GED test and passed. At 33 years of age, I began a nine year journey in universities. This ended after completing my course work on a Ph.d. When my professors in my doctoral committee told me they could not really direct me, since I was ahead of them on the material I was researching. I see now that someone has stumbled upon my thesis and completed a book on conflict theory. Slightly to the left, it was not acceptable in the 80s but is relevant today, almost thirty years later.
  • Joy LaJeret on 19 Jan 11
     
    Post Script-I was building a theory in a Pol Sci mode on the issue of the ill defined word terror and global attacks. If you can't properly define it, one might want to reexamine the current theories and definitions for the behavior...which is was what I was thinking at the time. Hence, I began a doctoral thesis on Conflict Theory and Transnational Terrorism. Looking deeper you may see how this ties into the Bloom Taxonomy concept and why I aborted the thesis project completely! You can deal with ignorance through education; but it is difficult to deal with the lack of desire to learn.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 19 Jan 11
     
    Joy, people always tell me, it's never too late! I also didn't go back to finish my BS until after I had my daughter, when I was 29. I do not do well with traditional university classrooms, and made my way through my degrees by talking my instructors into letting me do alternative projects. I'm lucky I knew to do that, and had instructors who were open-minded enough to accept it. Your thesis sounds like something that would have been quite valuable. with your interest in relationships, technology, and communication, I'd imagine you'd thrive in a program studying network clustering coefficient in an identified population. There are stunning statistical modeling and visualization tools that just blow my mind. Thanks for sharing so much of your interests and background with us!
  • Jennifer Dalby on 19 Jan 11
     
    Ann, do you have any tools or taxonomies that have helped you develop those questioning skills? And have you got any experience using the SOLO taxonomy?
  • ann stephens on 21 Jan 11
     
    I have not had experience with SOLO - Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes - but from the bit of investigation I have done, it is similiar to Bloom's in that it is based upon the notion that a studen'ts ability to grasp more abstract concepts, is based on more fundamental understandings and that you need to make sure you are not too advanced for where the student is. It reminds me of Piaget's concept that you can only learn something that is slightly more advanced than where you are (my paraphrase). As for my experience with help in developing questioning skills, which I feel is an excellent example of elearning, is that my company had us first take an interactive tutorial on Bloom's taxonomy. The "final" was taking a math problem and providing questions for each level of the taxonomy. We posted this on a dedicated discussion, with the teacher providing her response for everyone to see and learn from. We have since started another topic where teacher can post specific questions they are using and have tried and this will eventually be collected into a reference document. For example, one idea that was shared was that you after you have tested your student on a fundamental, you can ask them to give you a problem. My experience is that I often get back something I didn't expect. Like if adding decimels, they will return with a problem that might be in the millionths rather than the tenths. What I found most useful was not these specifics or having a question for each level, as much as the consciousness raising it did for me to think more creatively in helping the students. I have found that an elearning platform is very helpful in this regard. For example, they might take a lesson on adding or subtracting fractions and another on adding or subtracting decimels. I will then give them a problem in adding both - example - 1/2 + .25 = . By having an interactive whiteboard I can see how they convert the fraction to a decimal to add them and offer guidan
ann stephens

You Digital Presence - 9 views

www.geek.com/...e-before-they-are-born-2010108

#EDUC251 presence online

shared by ann stephens on 26 Jan 11 - No Cached
  • ann stephens on 26 Jan 11
     
    Jennifer's email to us was a catalyst for this post to inquire about your digital prescence experience. I, like Jennifer, have aliases that I use on social networks. It is a challenge, though, to manage multiple presences and even when I do, often have a feeling of unease about the information. For example, in this course a suggestion was for us to update our profile. Although I don't feel secrative that I am taking a course at Bellevue College, the email/signature I use for this course is also the one I use for some other professional endeavors (such a technology consulting). I is not something that is a "need to know" by everyone. I chose, in this situation, not to update my general profile. When we are conscious of what/how we are posting and putting up, is one thing. Often though, I get on a mailing list, that I have no idea how I was included, as I probably forgot to check a "do not include me" box on something I have bought on line. This article was particularly interesting to me, as it talks about a survey that 23% of children get a digital presence even before they are born - having a lasting imprint.
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  • Mary Ann Simpson on 26 Jan 11
     
    Ann, the information contained in this article (digital presence sometimes even before birth) was a bit shocking. The lasting imprint you refer to is definitely a reason to instruct our children/grandchildren/students to carefully consider what they want broadcast to the world before they publish it! Thank you for this reference.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 27 Jan 11
     
    Articles like this are designed to be shocking. My children have had a digital footprint before they were born. They also both have their own domain names. But my grandparents and great grandparents also have digital footprints after they've passed on! In my opinion, it won't be long before there is so much content online, that the information about individuals will be of little interest to any of the people we currently worry are concerned about it. More importantly, I hope it brings awareness of what it means to be human. We all make mistakes. Most people aren't 100% good or bad. I would prefer more people to put more stuff online so it becomes irrelevant. The way I see it, only those with privilege and access even have the choice about what to put online. If we put too much value on it, the only people who will benefit are the people with privilege, access, and either the foresight to keep their online presence squeaky clean, or the money to clean it up afterward.
  • Bruce Wolcott on 27 Jan 11
     
    I used to think that my name was off the beaten path enough that there wasn't anyone else with the name Bruce Wolcott - but I was mistaken, and was glad that I laid claim to brucewolcott.com. Over the past few years, I've slowly been working to build an online presence. A few years ago, the my top reference on the Web was at ratemyprofessor.com , which I've found in the past to have favorable reviews, but also some student reviews I felt were retribution for getting poor grades. I wanted to build a presence that I thought was fair, represented my true interests, and a way to quickly let people know about my background. After developing my website and blog, it turns out that Google has put the information I'm most interested in having out there, at the top of the list. I see this as a long term project, and something that I will be building consistently and gradually over time. After Jennifer's comments regarding Facebook, I'm having second thoughts about what kind of presence to be projecting there.
  • ann stephens on 27 Jan 11
     
    I was thinking of the direct experience with the first grandchild in the family. Her facebook is limited to family (I have an alias email for this) and friends, but you never know when something is really forwarded. She recently had a some minor illness - ear ache, slight temperature. This has now been posted on facebook. We often think of medical things as private and yet this was easily shared as a way for us to know what was happening.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 27 Jan 11
     
    Ann, the medical thing is a good point. I had a Twitter conversation with Howard Rheingold the other day, about the kinds of things we put online. He felt he didn't put too much personal stuff. I thought it was pretty personal that he had a cancer blog and a separate Twitter account for his butt :) He explained a little about why he did that. Read from the bottom to the top. https://skitch.com/injenuity/rmqq1/twitter-your-favorites
  • ann stephens on 27 Jan 11
     
    Howard's cancer post exemplifies the uneasiness I feel. Having a blog for an illness is a wonderful way to stay connected, get advise, not feel isolated, etc. However, when we do that we are thinking of family, friends, and a community we want to connect to, but we have no control of where this information goes and what the consequences of that might be as happened in this case. We all know now that Howard had cancer. I have personal reaction to this information - what type of cancer, reminds me of personal experiences, current friends, the medical system, etc.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 27 Jan 11
     
    One thing to think about is the reality of community to an individual. An outside observer might analyze and decide there is no real community. But if a participant perceives it as community, do they then reap the benefits of community? Could there be health benefits in believing there are people who support you and are there to listen?
  • ann stephens on 27 Jan 11
     
    I agree that there is a benefit to on-line blogs and support groups. The question for me is how do I get that benefit from the people I am targetting it to? So, for instance, I have used online support groups for a medical challenge I went through. It was helpful and beneficial to both them and me. However, that is different from having a digital footprint of the interaction. Maybe an employer or someone who would use the information judgementally, for example. So to Howard's example, did he realize that people that only tangentially are even aware of him, now know something intimate about his life. He probably doesn't care on one level, but it is the "unconsciousness" of this footprint that I think about.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 27 Jan 11
     
    I think he cares and just wanted to have control of it himself, rather than let other people decide what's out there about him. The optimist in me hopes what will happen is we'll start to discover we have more in common with people that we ever thought possible. I blogged through the loss of my baby, and that's online forever. Years after the fact, at least 4 men in my online professional network have told me how much they appreciated being able to see that, because they went through the same thing, but didn't feel dads had the right to that kind of grief. It's very rewarding to go a thousand miles away to a conference and get the biggest hugs in the world, simply for being open about a personal experience. I drop off line all the time. I delete accounts. I stop blogging. Every time I do it, people contact me to tell me how much they miss my interaction, and how they've been touched by my sharing. When I feel like I'm not making a difference, people always tell me I don't know that, because it's not something I can see. A lot of times I've written blog posts that go against the wisdom of my colleagues, yet I receive many private messages from people thanking me for saying the things they've been afraid to say. I think it's all a matter of choice, and I want to encourage people to stand up for their right to change their minds. People thought I was nuts deleting my facebook account, but I've never regretted it. I do say, though, that when people tell me I never know who I might be helping, I have to consider whether I have a moral obligation or not, to continue to share. I certainly won't be bullied into it with that argument, but I do believe it's an important consideration.
  • Susan Kolwitz on 27 Jan 11
     
    Good article to bring things into perspective about 'online presence.' I found a similar article that compared statistics relating to age and online presence. 92% of children by age 2 have online presence thanks to parents and grandparents. As Jennifer mentioned in her discussion of facebook -- maybe we don't want the world to see what we did in our high school days...we were 15/16. Can we separate a personal online presence from a business profile...
  • ann stephens on 28 Jan 11
     
    I do separate my profiles by having different email aliases. There is overhead in having multiple ones, however, so not ideal.
Susan Kolwitz

Evidence of Understandings - 32 views

skolwitz.blogspot.com

#EDUC251 #Portfolio6

shared by Susan Kolwitz on 29 Jan 11 - No Cached
  • Susan Kolwitz on 29 Jan 11
     
    I started this over the summer while taking the first course for this certificate. Please feel free to follow my postings on blogger as we continue in this course.
  • ...22 more comments...
  • Jennifer Dalby on 29 Jan 11
     
    Thank you for sharing this. Our interrogation of "presence" has been interesting this week. I've been looking forward to seeing each of you make decisions about personal online presence.
  • Bruce Wolcott on 29 Jan 11
     
    Susan, In your second article on your blog you describe a PLE or 'personal learning environment' by saying: "The purpose of a PLE is to gather and process information, act on the learning that takes place, then showcase the results of what was learned to include how one arrived at those results." I'm curious to know how you set up a PLE, and maybe 1 or 2 examples if you could direct me there. Is this related to Microsoft's OneNote , or Evernote, which lets you copy, scan, and store web-based information? Also, could you explain how you have found this to be useful for you or your classes? Thanks!
  • Susan Kolwitz on 31 Jan 11
     
    Bruce: The blog is my ePortfolio. You can use different tools to establish your personal learning environment...I began with a blog. There is a nice example of a PLE by a 7th grader who used a different tool to showcase her science project. I think you will find it an excellent example of how web 2.0 tool are being used at the grade school level. Here's the link...it's a youtube video narrated by the student. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEls3tq5wIY Susan
  • Bruce Wolcott on 01 Feb 11
     
    Thanks, Susan For some reason, I thought a personal learning environment was a fish of a different color. I get the concept now, thanks to Wendy, the 7th grader who I found using your YouTube link. The personal learning environment can be a blog, a wiki, or note gathering app, that allows you to quickly organize, filter, and access the online information that makes up your personal knowledge universe. She was using a tool named SYMBALOO, which I'm definitely going to try out - as well as some other useful apps - Evernote for note-talking and Glogster, for building a collage of related information. I really liked Wendy's tutorial on the PLE - it covered a lot of information in a short span of time, while effectively communicating her ideas visually.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 01 Feb 11
     
    Here's a screencast I made about my PLE when I did a guest week in EDUC250 last quarter https://www.screencast.com/users/ccchit/folders/EDUC%20250/media/f974b78d-3c78-4a44-b231-b758bb54cdbd
  • Bruce Wolcott on 03 Feb 11
     
    Thanks, Jennifer This was very helpful. Also your strong endorsement of Twitter as a way to quickly connect with communities of common interest is giving me more motivation to become more engaged with that world. I've been a slow adopter of Twitter - but this week's events in Egypt organized by a younger generation on Facebook and Twitter are a strong testament to the transforming power of these media.
  • Susan Kolwitz on 06 Feb 11
     
    I've made the understandings entry to my blog.
  • Susan Kolwitz on 12 Feb 11
     
    This is my first Camtasia project. I realize that there is room for improvement. As I use it more, I'm sure I will begin to develop better skills. I can see where this is a good application for getting information up in an online course.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 14 Feb 11
     
    So glad you posted this! I'm in the middle of a similar process, and I appreciated seeing how you're comparing products.
  • Bruce Wolcott on 15 Feb 11
     
    Thanks for your comparison of Moodle, Joomla, and Blackboard. I was quite surprised to find out that Moodle leads the pack - since I assumed that Blackboard/Vista would have the majority following. It's been around since the mid-1990's. Great comparison chart, and use of Camtasia!
  • Susan Kolwitz on 15 Feb 11
     
    After looking at Joy's post about Canvas, I need to review this and compare to these three vendors. Will, then, have to update the comparison chart to include Canvas.
  • Susan Kolwitz on 06 Mar 11
     
    Here's the link to my ePortfolio with this module's assignment
  • Bruce Wolcott on 06 Mar 11
     
    Susan, I *really like* this list of reasons why stories work well for teaching that you posted on your blog. I've been teaching class sections on storytelling, and this gives me some well considered principles for how stories can be "put to work" for real world applications in education and information design. 1. A learning event is an unfolding story 2. People craft a story to make sense of what they are learning 3. Stories are at the intersection of people's synthesis of learning 4. Stories are tools for thinking 5. You can move through complex information more efficiently through story devices than through standard forms of discourse One of my favorite destinations for interactive stories is the Second Story website. It's jammed packed with terrific examples of interactive storytelling - on all sorts of interesting topics.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 06 Mar 11
     
    Thanks for your attention on storytelling! It's something that is applicable for so many different learning situations, and works particularly well online.
  • Joy LaJeret on 06 Mar 11
     
    While the most story telling I have done is one blog post and a short story about "I love my new Grandma" which I posted in this site...I want to do more and will hopefully b eable to get to this later. Nothing sticks like a good story!
  • Susan Kolwitz on 07 Mar 11
     
    Bruce: Thanks for the link on more interactive storytelling. I think this will help me to develop using case studies as learning activities for our courses.
  • Mary Ann Simpson on 08 Mar 11
     
    Susan, your activity on identifying sepsis in pediatric patients was clear, concise, and easy to navigate. I liked the fact that we were directed to a wiki page with the "case" facts presented in story form with a very clear picture of the "rash". if I were a trainee in your course, I would be excited by this lesson and the follow-up survey you posted.
  • Susan Kolwitz on 08 Mar 11
     
    Thanks for your comments Mary Ann. This is the first time I've used these tools for a case study...I'm hoping the wiki will allow the students to discuss the case and also allow them to pose thoughtful 'what-ifs'.
  • ann stephens on 09 Mar 11
     
    The thought the story telling definition you found to be a good guideline. Cases are great. One activity I might add would be What can you do to stop it? I know the student at this point is learning, but gives them a focus to think about their involvement.
  • Susan Kolwitz on 17 Mar 11
     
    In learning the Camtasia application, I found many good tips...I share them in my portfolio posting this week.
  • Joy LaJeret on 19 Mar 11
     
    I left a comment on your blog. I had to carefully think about what you had stated and found myself differing slightly with what you suggested. I suppose that attests to our differences. Nevertheless I appreciated the blog post Susan.
  • Susan Kolwitz on 22 Mar 11
     
    Here's the link to my blog where my final project is located.
  • Susan Kolwitz on 23 Mar 11
     
    My end of class reflection is located on my blog.
  • Susan Kolwitz on 24 Mar 11
     
    Thought I had posted this...to keep my blog in order, I post dated this to 2/28/11.
Jennifer Dalby

RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms - 5 views

www.youtube.com/watch

#EDUC251 eLearning teaching edreform RSA

shared by Jennifer Dalby on 17 Jan 11 - No Cached
  • Jennifer Dalby on 17 Jan 11
     
    This animate was adapted from a talk given at the RSA by Sir Ken Robinson, world-renowned education and creativity expert and recipient of the RSA's Benjamin Franklin award. For more information on Sir Ken's work visit: http://www.sirkenrobinson.com
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  • Joy LaJeret on 17 Jan 11
     
    Spot on! I have a MS; but have never had a job using my academic skills. In fact, the workplace has penalized me and on several jobs told me I have no skills to obtain other jobs or be advanced. In fact, I have been told NOT to put my academic degrees in a resume. So, I am a honor student with 9 solid years of academic education, and a work force retard. What do you suppose is going on here? Unfortunately, there a several varibles at work in my case. The "glass ceiling," discrimination, ignorance of what education means and is (or maybe a better grasp); no knowledge of what tranferrable skills are and as we brain storm the list goes on, especially as I get older.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 17 Jan 11
     
    I hear you. I turn 40 this year and I can't help but wonder if I'd be better able to support my family if I had a marketable skill, instead of knowledge about knowledge :) I fantasize about raising goats and alpaca and selling soap and sweaters. :)
  • Mary Ann Simpson on 17 Jan 11
     
    Joy and Jennifer--EVERYTHING you shared hits home with me. I find myself in both of your places (as expressed in your comments) so I am now trying to enhance my resume and become more marketable as I age!--I'm already "too old and too expensive" to fit into the traditional classroom in either private or public schools so. . . thanks for being there for me and helping me learn new skills that are so needed in the domain of 21st century education.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 17 Jan 11
     
    I recently submitted my resume for an education software training contract and this was the response. "I read through your resume and realized that most probably our position would bore the heck out of you." I replied that I enjoy working with people and it's always a challenge and not boring. He responded with the other issue; salary. I told him that was very low for this area. His response was, "Most probably I'll be finding someone younger (less experience) or someone older (semi retired)."
  • Joy LaJeret on 17 Jan 11
     
    Ouch that is discrimination! The "semi retired: comment was even worse!!! In the first case he stated you were over qualified; and in the second paying lower wages to "semi retired" people is even more discriminatory! His verbal behavior disgusts me!
  • Joy LaJeret on 17 Jan 11
     
    One resource to join the movement against age discrimination is typing into a search engine...Gray or Grey coalition. http://www.graymatterscoalition.com/
  • Mary Ann Simpson on 18 Jan 11
     
    AMEN, Sisters! I'm totally appalled at what happened to you, Jen--the whole thing was discrimination!! Thanks for the link, Joy--I'm looking into it!
  • Bruce Wolcott on 18 Jan 11
     
    WOW! The RSA Animate visualized version of Robinson's talk is terrific for a variety of reasons - I'm just trying to unpack it all! First the presentation provides an instant visualization of Robinson's talk - a shorthand for thinking and remembering his ideas. The animation is engaging, entertaining and memorable. Since it's on YouTube, you can go back and watch it all, or portions of it. The perspective moves from close up to big picture, and changes on the fly. What's especially powerful, however is the central idea that Robinson is talking about - a real elephant in the room. He says our educational system, which was created for a different time and economic era, is outdated. It's a factory system, arising originally from the Industrial Revolution, that to many students seems irrelevant to their own futures and careers in the 21st Century. It divides students into two camps - academic professionals (ie. "smart people"), and vocationals (blue collar, "not-so smart people"). In one memorable section, he distinguishes between "aesthetic" experiences - which enliven and engage human attention, and "anesthetic" experiences which deaden curiosity and passion. He associates these "anesthetic" experiences with our current educational process. The fact that he delivers these heavy hitting criticisms with such a light hearted, though well articulated sense of humor, is especially powerful.
  • ann stephens on 18 Jan 11
     
    Three points come to mind. 1. Presentation. The way the information was presented was totally engaging had me wanting to believe the message without question. I would have appreciated having the sources of his information indicated. As we've commented on in other posts as well, the verasity of information is always an issue. I tried finding the prescription distribution used in the tape, but could not find specific information to support the claim (although I'm sure it is somewhere on the internet.) 2. Education Model. Although his model definitely resonated with me, I think of education or I should say the educational system as having two goals - to train us to be academics (as he describes) and to prepare us for jobs. Some jobs do require specifc answer knowledge. 3. On-line learning. One of his earlier points about the educational system is that there was a paradigm shift when free, state-sponsored education became a reality. His description of education prior to that seemed to fit what we often see in "internet" learning - more individual driven learning.
  • Helen Maynard on 18 Jan 11
     
    Jennifer - I am so glad you included Sir Ken Robinson in your syllabus. I love his unique perspectives, especially about our educational systems. His talk about the importance of educators fostering creativity in the culture of the classroom is very powerful. I also finished reading Downes article about the role of the educator and I see his points regarding how technology has redefined/redesigned our roles. I find it very exciting. Regarding the value of"divergent thinking." As a teacher, I always encourage and appreciate this capacity in my students. However, I also ask they reflect upon this process of divergent thinking. "What led you to think this might be a possibility?" I often find asking students to be reflective and to articulate about meta-cognition frustrates them. In our overstimulating and quick answer/fix culture, is it wrong to ask how their ideas came about? "Could you follow your train of thought?" Also, (and not directly related) did anyone click on the game Downes referenced called "Evoke." What an amazing on-line game - a "designed, learning community" posing serious, real-life problem solving about starvation in Africa. Wow! I can see how a learning tool such as this would make a course very exciting, but I can also see where some basic geography, social studies and other content should be woven into the syllabus.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 18 Jan 11
     
    Ann, it is completely engaging. I recognize your concerns about sources. When they create the RSA Animates, they do take the talk out of the original context, and also add creative interpretation. It's interesting to see how those things can be mixed together for such a powerful effect. I've never taken the time to dig too deeply into them to find the original context and determine whether there's a publication with sources.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 18 Jan 11
     
    Helen, I like Sir Ken Robinson's stuff, but I do take it with a grain of salt as well. Like Gladwell, he's a good storyteller and can inspire, but everything's got to be taken in context. I love that you ask your students to follow their train of thought. I do that with my kids, and find I often have to explain my own train of thought to others. I like the way you are in tune with the benefits and risks of reflective practice. It can get messy, and it isn't always the best thing for every student. It sounds like you take extra steps to make sure they understand the value of it.
  • ann stephens on 18 Jan 11
     
    Helen, thanks for underlining the Evoke game. I did find it - www.urgentevoke.com - and was impressed by what a great representative of eLearning this was. Organized, engaging, lots of information - but what I liked most was that it led to action - i.e., the gaming playing is not just on the computer - but actions you take or are encouraged to take to make a difference.
Jennifer Dalby

Presentation Zen - 8 views

www.presentationzen.com

#EDUC251 eLearning design presentation

shared by Jennifer Dalby on 23 Jan 11 - Cached
  • Jennifer Dalby on 23 Jan 11
     
    This is my favorite site to learn about powerful presentation techniques.
  • ...11 more comments...
  • Mary Ann Simpson on 23 Jan 11
     
    Not only is this a good site to teach more about the art of presentation, but Mogi, the presenter is an amazing man! I was in love with his slides that spoke about the need to keep "the sense of wonder" alive and that "curiosity" is what has brought us to this point. These are the very same words that I always used with my science students in middle school and college! I even had them in my syllabus! I've always held that we all come into this world as scientists because we all share the one common characteristic that all practicing scientists have: CURIOSITY. Kids were pretty amazed that they were already scientists before they even embarked on the great science learning adventure! Rachel Carson, the famous environmental scientist of the '60's wrote a book titled, "The Sense of Wonder" in which she expounded on the idea that every child needs at least one person (adult) to nourish and share his/her innate sense of wonder in order to keep it alive. I resonated with this man and now plan to read/see more of his stuff! Moreover, the new learning module in my ED250 class is a collaborative presentation of a topic using Google Presenter. I think the Presentation Zen site I just looked at may have some implications for that assignment! Thanks once again, Jennifer! I find myself thoroughly enchanted!
  • ann stephens on 24 Jan 11
     
    The concept of maintaining curiosity as the catalyst for true education and joy in life resonates. The challenge for me is the line between enterntainment and education. One of the comments to this article restated the debate is education to train one for a profession or to be educated and think. Why can't it be both?
  • Mary Ann Simpson on 24 Jan 11
     
    I believe it can be both, Ann! Sometimes the "Experts R Us" and not those folks out there engaging in philosophical debates!
  • Jennifer Dalby on 24 Jan 11
     
    Ann and Mary Ann, I think you've touched on one of the challenges we find so frequently in discussing these things. It's not black and white. There isn't necessarily a right or a wrong. It's like potato salad. (Holy cow! I just made that up.) How many recipes are there for potato salad? People will argue about what it "should" have in it, but what really matters is the experience. And the experience isn't just in the taste. There's context around making it. There's a different context around the environment where we eat it, and our emotional state. We're not just training someone for a profession or to be educated and think. And even if those are our goals, where is the agency? What is the student's responsibility for learning? These are all complex issues, and I'm glad to see you all opening your minds and expressing both your gut reactions, and your own values. (Please forgive me for the potato salad. I maybe leaned to far on the entertainment side this time...)
  • ann stephens on 25 Jan 11
     
    The potato salad metaphor is a good one. In reading the post, it got my attention in a way that dry message might not. There is so much information (noise) out there, that it is important, maybe even mandatory, that information has something to catch us. What is a challenge for me as an educator, also with limited time, is the how much effort I put in to this "rising above the noise".
  • Joy LaJeret on 25 Jan 11
     
    Great now I am hungry for potato salad!! Actually, a little humor now and then would be nice! Even songs need a hook and that is what I hear you saying Ann. I argee with that concept. Set up a "hook!"
  • Joy LaJeret on 27 Jan 11
     
    I like the idea proposed by the potato salad metaphor. However, I may not forgive you Jen...LOL! I still want it! I like mine bland, no vinegar!
  • Jennifer Dalby on 27 Jan 11
     
    I want it too, and the more you keep saying it, the more I want it! I want mine with bacon and spicy mustard! You may just have to take a diet break, while we develop a collaborative potato salad recipe. P.S. Will you hate me if I post the site I used when I learned to make croissants from scratch?
  • Joy LaJeret on 27 Jan 11
     
    Wonderful! Now I want potato salad and croissants! Okay I am open to recipes. Now I hope this does not get us off our intellectual track of study. Slogging through recipes might side track the ladies in the group: and reduce me to a helpless food addicted, potato salad craving croissant vixen. ::::sigh::::I am suffering from brain overload!
  • Jennifer Dalby on 27 Jan 11
     
    My philosophy is that I'm happier when I'm chubby and doing things I want, then (than?) I would be if I were torturing myself and trying to resist temptation. It's a balance thing. Do I beat myself up more for breaking a goal, or for having to haul my bigger clothes out of the basement. (Just did that.) This isn't an intellectual track of study. It's play. People learn by playing. In fact, I'm going to inject some more fun in this course. (If I ever catch up on the grading.)
  • Susan Kolwitz on 27 Jan 11
     
    Looks like a good site to go back to for good techniques for our presentations.
  • Joy LaJeret on 28 Jan 11
     
    I think it is than...
  • Mary Ann Simpson on 29 Jan 11
     
    I'm a little slow on the uptake, but the potato salad discussion was great!! I like bacon and sour cream in mine--but on the serious side--life, education, teaching, learning, ad infinitum, are rarely black and white; you are so correct, Jennifer, in the longer comment you addressed to Ann and me about the challenge centering around these things not having to be one way or the other because there are so many other factors involved.
Joy LaJeret

Portfolio #5 Blog with Instructive Canvas Videos - 8 views

joystechtool.blogspot.com/...anvas-learning-management.html

shared by Joy LaJeret on 14 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Joy LaJeret on 14 Feb 11
     
    This is the activity for Module 5. I really like this open learning system. If you go to my blog you will find that they ( Canvas) will work with you whether you buy their system or not. Please watch video #2 on my blog. (Note: I wrote the last two paragraphs on my blog here. Then I cut and pasted it to my blog because it took up too much space on Diigo.)
  • ...3 more comments...
  • Bruce Wolcott on 14 Feb 11
     
    Joy, I really enjoyed the Instructure/Canvas review video, where the engineer describes Vista/Blackboard as remaining basically unchanged from the mid-1990's. He also mentioned that this CMS model has been adopted by other developers, and that Instructure is one of the few companies that is beginning to effectively implement new Web 2.0 technologies. Another plus - it's free for teachers!
  • Joy LaJeret on 14 Feb 11
     
    Yes...that is a deal maker!
  • ann stephens on 14 Feb 11
     
    I think the model of offering the product to free for teacher's, with the objective of it becoming the standard in education. This "marketing" approach is similiar to how Facebook and even Google got their foothold. Its interesting to see how ecommerce works.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 14 Feb 11
     
    Free is never really free, but it's a good way to learn about how these systems work. I'm currently investigating it for a project, and should find out actually licensing costs soon. I've got some quotes on other systems and it just blows my mind how much we pay for this stuff.
  • Susan Kolwitz on 15 Feb 11
     
    Thanks for posting those two videos on your blog -- informative. I am in the process of looking at LMS to use at my workplace...thought Moodle looked good. I will now do a thorough review of Canvas. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Jennifer Dalby

Behind Door Number Four - 8 views

injenuity.posterous.com/behind-door-number-four

#EDUC251 eLearning teaching

shared by Jennifer Dalby on 24 Jan 11 - No Cached
  • Jennifer Dalby on 24 Jan 11
     
    My reflections on Module 2, and some questions about the future.
  • ...5 more comments...
  • Joy LaJeret on 24 Jan 11
     
    Interesting comments. The postings in Diigo are very interesting as well. In a strange sort of way they do fit the course topics of the week. Each person is building on their own finds and thinking about the others perceptions and contributions. As for myself, I just want to know how to put a course together and make it the best possible learning experience. Sorting and read all the material is just loading my computer ( memory tapes) and eventually there will be a focus point to download what I am learning on to paper or a course in progress.
  • ann stephens on 25 Jan 11
     
    One of the main advantages I find in taking in course is that someone has organized the vast amount of data in a focused a way for me to expand my own knowledge in an area. So in response to the question on the blog, I prefer and would use in my course design the one-at-time posting approach. I find it to be focusing in an environment (the internet) that lets me be expansive.
  • Colleen Dixon on 26 Jan 11
     
    I too am finding the organization of the course very helpful - and Diigo especially - in viewing and thinking about the material. I anticipate that the aggregate of the readings, responses, and activities will help in my understanding of how to construct an online course.
  • Mary Ann Simpson on 27 Jan 11
     
    I left a comment at the bottom of your In post in Behind the Scenes.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 29 Jan 11
     
    Thanks for all your feedback. I'm glad you feel comfortable sharing so honestly. I'm very fortunate!
  • Susan Kolwitz on 29 Jan 11
     
    Appreciate you showing us, from the instructor side, how the class is going and asking for our input. I'm taking notes as how to incorporate this into my online classes.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 29 Jan 11
     
    What we really need is for something to go terribly wrong so we can solve it together. Maybe this week I'll share what's been going on in my day job, so you can learn what not to do!
Helen Maynard

Tech Application as Part of My Final Project - 7 views

www.vuvox.com/...03af46cc16

#EDUC251 elearning portfolio

shared by Helen Maynard on 20 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • Helen Maynard on 20 Mar 11
     
    Module 9 and Portfolio #9 assignment - Spent about 7 hrs. on Saturday creating a slide collage with VUVOX - "This dynamic media creation suite enables everyone to easily turn their photos, videos, text and audio clips into interactive stories." I wanted to have experience with several tech applications before I do my presentation. As usual, I got very engrossed in the creative aspects and spent too much time. However, this project involved many steps - making "snapshots" of some video I took of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Then, converting these to a JPG file. Discovered PICASA for storing my pixs, but since it didn't have audio capacity, searched and found VUVOX. I had great fun (and hrs.) creating my collage, writing a short narrative, then uploading my recorded voice. I'm still not happy with the speed of the slides in relation to the voiceover, but it's close to completion. Not sure what I'm going to do for a presentation but I wanted to have first-hand experience with tools other than VOICETHREAD.
  • ...4 more comments...
  • Mary Ann Simpson on 20 Mar 11
     
    Helen, this work is amazing! I felt like I was "in" the collage! Many questions came to mind about what was happening at the moment captured in each picture--I'm sure you have some wonderful stories to tell! I think I missed your voice over, but I will try again. It has been so helpful when other students post examples of work done with a tool new to me. Because my "play/exploration time" has been limited this quarter, I haven't found all of the cool things out there, so thanks for bringing this one to my attention!
  • Jennifer Dalby on 20 Mar 11
     
    Beautiful! Thank you for introducing me to a new tool. It looks like lots of fun. I love when I see tools used to tell a story.
  • Bruce Wolcott on 20 Mar 11
     
    Helen, I've never seen a presentation format like VUVOX before. It's really an interesting way to create a slide show - one that allows you to scroll back and forth through the entire experience - in this case, San Juan...
  • Joy LaJeret on 20 Mar 11
     
    I loved that presentation!!! I felt like I was there Helen. How wonderful to preserve memories on that tool!
  • ann stephens on 21 Mar 11
     
    It was audio and visual poem. I will definitely think about using this tool.
  • Susan Kolwitz on 23 Mar 11
     
    This is a great presentation. Using these different tools to put this together. I can see the potential this might have in the classroom.
Joy LaJeret

Class Wiki (#Portfolio 3) - 6 views

joysclasswiki.wikispaces.com

wiki spaces

shared by Joy LaJeret on 21 Jan 11 - No Cached
  • Jennifer Dalby on 21 Jan 11
     
    Nice! I'm teaching a wiki workshop at Skagit Valley College today. May I share this?
  • ...10 more comments...
  • Joy LaJeret on 21 Jan 11
     
    Yes, Jennifer.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 21 Jan 11
     
    Thanks! Just got your message. I'll add it to my page at http://injenuity.wikispaces.com/WIIFM
  • Joy LaJeret on 21 Jan 11
     
    Thanks for all the great links in that http:// !! I will use some of that information, and it is another great resource for material and how to work with Wiki Spaces.
  • Bruce Wolcott on 22 Jan 11
     
    Jennifer, Please do share your wiki workshop experiences...
  • ann stephens on 23 Jan 11
     
    The two videos shared here reinforced my understanding and views - i.e., the babyboomers (people born between 1946-1964, according to the PBS video) are planning to enjoy life to the fullest and are often seeing retirement from their primary career as an opportunity fo other careers and opportunities. As babyboomers do retire, I think it could be a different experience for those born closer to 1946 than those born later. Resources will probably be more limited and the earlier retires will probably have more serious, age-related health issues.
  • Joy LaJeret on 24 Jan 11
     
    Hi Ann...I think the articles I have presented show that the early boomers are the healthiest and will live longer than any generation in the future. The later boomers will have increasing shorter life spans and willnot be as healthy. There are a variety of reasons for this.
  • Joy LaJeret on 24 Jan 11
     
    http://www.babyboomer-magazine.com/news/127/ARTICLE/1215/2009-07-24.html This video and article might shed some light on the comments I made to your comments Ann. There are many more.
  • ann stephens on 25 Jan 11
     
    I agree about the boomers being the healthiest. I did not walk away with a strong differentiation between those born in the late 1940s and those in the 1960s, but it resonates with my common sense.
  • Joy LaJeret on 25 Jan 11
     
    On my wiki space...I have a hour long video that goes into all of this aging of the boomers and stats, etc.
  • Colleen Dixon on 26 Jan 11
     
    Thanks, Joy. As one of those baby boomer folks I am hoping there is a next step after retirement to perhaps new ways to use the skills and information we have acquired over time.
  • Joy LaJeret on 27 Jan 11
     
    There will be! My post on my blog listed above has an article about how to do this. You might want to click on it and read the blog.
  • Mary Ann Simpson on 27 Jan 11
     
    Great job, Joy! I enJOYed the videos and loved the layout of your wiki. Your eSkills really are apparent!
Jennifer Dalby

A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change - 5 views

www.newcultureoflearning.com

#EDUC251 eLearning onlinelearning teaching

shared by Jennifer Dalby on 20 Jan 11 - No Cached
  • Jennifer Dalby on 20 Jan 11
     
    "The 21st century is a world in constant change. In A New Culture of Learning, Douglas Thomas and John Seely Brown pursue an understanding of how the forces of change, and emerging waves of interest associated with these forces, inspire and invite us to imagine a future of learning that is as powerful as it is optimistic."
  • ...1 more comment...
  • Mary Ann Simpson on 21 Jan 11
     
    My juices are flowing, Jennifer! This book is most intriguing and appears to be filled with questions and answers (?) that will nudge me in a new learning and teaching direction! I love the this phrase from the title: . . . world of constant change" because the most CONSTANT thing about life in this world IS CHANGE! It's a nice play on words. I am frustrated about not being able to view any of the videos as my network is slow today but I really appreciate your bringing this resource to my attention. Thank you, Jennifer, you are a grand facilitator!
  • Helen Maynard on 21 Jan 11
     
    Mary Ann - do try to view the video interviews of Seely Brown & Thomas- very eloquent and thought provoking! The underlying message of this book has truly captured my imagination. Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing this. Some of my biases and hesitations about educators "competing" w/internet, social media learning are being challenged (I love this!) I'm beginning to understand the potential if you view knowledge the way JS Brown does - "information in flux." For educators, its about recognizing our change in role, how we frame or present information, and most important, how we allow our students to "play" with new information and the dispositions for learning we foster. Brown states, " . . . the role of educators needs to shift away from being expert in a particular area of knowledge, to becoming expert in the ability to create and shape new learning environments." For those of us who work with educators in K-12, this will be harder to articulate and sell, but I am excited by the thought. I totally agree with JS Brown, this is a major issue and calling for public ed. especially in the 21st Century. Jennifer, what is the best way for us to purchase this publication? On-line? Amazon? and do we get a student discount?
  • Jennifer Dalby on 21 Jan 11
     
    Helen, I hadn't thought that far ahead! I'll see if the bookstore can order things at a discount. I usually put things on reserve at my local library. If they don't have them, there's a form to order them. When I buy books, I always end up giving them away.
Jennifer Dalby

Stephens - Portfolio 5 Activity - Teacher's Presence and Learning Platforms (#portfolio5) - 11 views

I love the supporting work you've done for this. I especially like that you wrote a script for your audio introduction. That's definitely something I should learn to do!

#EDUC251 #portfolio5

started by ann stephens on 13 Feb 11 1 follow-up, last by Jennifer Dalby on 14 Feb 11
ann stephens

eTeacher Assessment Example - 5 views

spreadsheets.google.com/ccc

shared by ann stephens on 14 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • ann stephens on 14 Feb 11
     
    This week the focus is on assessment and evidence of understanding. The emphasis is, of course, on how we assess our students. However, eteachers can be more easily observed, so I thought the community might find it interesting as to how I, as an eteacher, am assessed. (The students do an automated self-paced lesson and then take a practice quiz. If they have questions during the lesson or in order to go the next one, we interact. Based on the quiz and other questions/discussions we have, I pass them to the next lesson. I have up to 4 students in one session.) Once a month, my supervisor listens to one of the recorded sessions and writes up an assessment. What I find interesting that is unique to elearning, is that my use of the technology environment goes into my assessment. I need to be logged in on time, I need to effectively switch among my students, etc. Also, if an area is weak, a request by my supervisor to re-take an automated class I have taken before - such as effective questioning - might be assigned.
  • ...3 more comments...
  • Joy LaJeret on 14 Feb 11
     
    I found those examples interesting and am reserving judgement and evaluation until I learn more about assessment.
  • Bruce Wolcott on 14 Feb 11
     
    Ann, Many thanks for this assessment form!
  • Mary Ann Simpson on 14 Feb 11
     
    Great example of a very thorough assessment! It is also of interest that your supervisor logs in on a regular basis to assess your instruction--quite a good strategy to ensure exceptional delivery by the school's online teachers. Thanks for sharing this form, Ann!
  • ann stephens on 14 Feb 11
     
    The online environment provides for easy capture of the session. The requirement for teaching include having a degree and a background check, but not a teaching certificate. I feel the monitoring is an extra check and balance on both how we are teaching and our online presence. We go through training and have guidelines on what we can and cannot discuss with the students - such as sharing emails, contacts outside of class, etc. Recently this has come into focus, as the regular school teachers at the school I am tutoring with (we are a scheduled once a week class during the school year) encouraged the students to ask where we live, etc., to feel more connected. On our teacher platform, the teachers and our supervisor were able to post and share with each other on how they were and should be handling this. It is a balance - just as in a regular classroom - to be connected, yet have privacy. I do not find what information I should and should share or ask to be a problem for me, but the time focus is. The students are used to texting all the time and feel comofrtable with using the time that way. I have now developed my own transitions - from the explicit: "we've chatted enough for right now, please go on with your lesson" to a softer transition by using the information in our dialog to set-up a problem: You got so much snow! So if you had eight snowballs and split them evenly....".
  • Jennifer Dalby on 14 Feb 11
     
    This is fascinating! I've honestly never seen an instrument for a supervisor to evaluate an online teaching session. (Or maybe I just don't remember.) For distance education at BC, instructors/divisions can opt in to the online student evaluations. I don't know if Norma signed up to have this course included in the evals. If so, you may have received access to that today. As far as I know, that's the primary way teachers are evaluated here. It compares to how they are evaluated in f2f classes. For me, I like to get constant feedback from students, and that's why you see me poking around a lot, sending lots of email, and including self-checks. It's always an awful feeling to get to the end of a course and discover you could have made changes early on that would have made a big difference in learning. (But I always expect to discover some of that at the end, as well!) Thanks for sharing this!
Bruce Wolcott

Wolcott - Evidence of Understanding post - 16 views

web2chronicle.wordpress.com

#Portfolio6

shared by Bruce Wolcott on 04 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Bruce Wolcott on 04 Feb 11
     
    This is my portfolio post for week 5
  • ...11 more comments...
  • ann stephens on 04 Feb 11
     
    Your question - How do you represent ideas with images? - is a very powerful one. We are bambarded with images all day. I often think of these images as trying to sell me something - such as a commerical to buy something - or sometimes a quick reference to information - such as a symbol for a restroom. I realize now that technology has allowed for the production of images to be so accessible that they are now a part of our normal dialog. It is easy to make a video or take a picture. On Facebook, we see this all the time; people adding content to their story with images.
  • Helen Maynard on 04 Feb 11
     
    Just looked at your portfolio which is a learning course in itself! You've done a great job of summarizing what we've been working on. Our portfolios are a perfect place to store this. You've inspired me to take a few steps back before I move forward with Module #4. Thanks, Bruce.
  • Bruce Wolcott on 05 Feb 11
     
    Ann and Helen, Thanks much for your feedback on the website. It's much appreciated!
  • Joy LaJeret on 05 Feb 11
     
    Bruce...I have a question. I wrote a story blog this week. Can you tell me if your course would help me create a video presentation of this blog? http://joystechtool.blogspot.com/ I don't have your email, except maybe the one you have at BC. I would have to take it as a senior. Which means space available. Can this be done?
  • Bruce Wolcott on 06 Feb 11
     
    Joy, Just to let you know... the visual storytelling class won't be offered again until Fall 2011. It sounds like your story would make an interesting educational online comic or presentation - explaining the idea of backwards design. One approach, is that you could use a virtual world environment like Second Life or BlueMars to engage virtual characters/actors, and set your camera positions to tell your visual narrative. You could synchronize narration and other audio, and then post it to the Web via YouTube, Google Presentations, or some other presentation application like SlideRocket. Just a thought...
  • Joy LaJeret on 06 Feb 11
     
    Thanks Bruce. Fall would be perfect! That is if I could get in the class. I suspect it is very popular on campus. I would like to use second life; but have not tried. Is it free. My understanding is it is very expensive. While I would like a video of the story to put with the blog, it can be done at a later date. What I do not know how to do is synchronize the narration and other audio. My husband uses camcording to capture band performances. Could you maybe email me on this issue? jal8008cel@comcast.net. Unless I am taking advantage of your knowledge here. Please?
  • Mary Ann Simpson on 07 Feb 11
     
    Thank you, Bruce, for sharing the objectives of your Course. It sounds so intriguing that I would love to be a part of it! Perhaps that will become a reality for me as time passes.
  • Bruce Wolcott on 08 Feb 11
     
    Joy, I could probably begin to answer your question here, and then if you have more questions we can connect via my other email address: bcweb20class@gmail.com. Probably the best online multimedia delivery application that I know of is SLIDEROCKET. I've been using it in my courses for about a year. You can upload Powerpoint slides, incorporate video directly from YouTube (or uploaded video), images, graphics, text, and integrate these all with a sound track. Everything is built online, and the interface works well. The catch is this - after the 30 day trial period, it costs $12 per month. I taught a very challenging online course this summer, and I didn't mind paying that fee because of the excellent results I got. SlideRocket saved the day by pulling me out of a jam. It also now integrates well with Google applications. Another (this one is free) cloud-based multimedia authoring application is EMPRESSR . Here's a quote from the website: Empressr is the first free online storytelling tool that allows you to create, manage and share rich media presentations online. Earlier in the quarter, Jennifer recommended another audio editing tool called AUDACITY , which is really terrific! It's simple to use and produces good results. I actually prefer Audacity for audio editing over some other commercial products that have a lot more bells and whistles. I hope that helps!
  • Bruce Wolcott on 20 Feb 11
     
    Here's my post for mapping an evidence for understanding to specific learning objectives.
  • Mary Ann Simpson on 21 Feb 11
     
    Bruce, I especially liked the "evidence" requiring students to create their own business card. Each item you posted was very concrete and would definitely indicate understanding on the part of students.
  • Joy LaJeret on 21 Feb 11
     
    I second that business card lesson. It will prepare them for job hunting in the future. I think creating ePortfolios are another good practice.
  • ann stephens on 22 Feb 11
     
    http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_17396167?nclick_check=1 - This is an OpEd piece by David Brooks of the New York Times, which came out this week. "It could be that the nature of technlogical changes is (causing) a shift in values". This is not an opinion about education, but goes to the point about preparing students for the future/present even that assumes technology. Maybe our values are and how we assess things has to evolve, as well.
  • Joy LaJeret on 22 Feb 11
     
    I truly thought that blog was thought provoking! I absolutely agree about changing values. But, I think that change must come from this generation and what they want for themselves, for their community and for their country. Hopefully they can think that broadly about themselves and the world. I believe they can and do!
ann stephens

EDUC 251 2/15 Checkin - 20 views

The point for me is not the amount of time I spend in a class, but having a filter for what is important. Posts, for example, that come with a highlight of what the link about or some reaction to ...

#EDUC251

started by ann stephens on 16 Feb 11 11 follow-ups, last by ann stephens on 21 Feb 11
Bruce Wolcott

FINAL PROJECT Fundamentals of Interactive Entertainment REVIEW - 12 views

www.screencast.com/Hsksbc1pP2XN

#EDUC251 #final portfolio screencast

shared by Bruce Wolcott on 14 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • Bruce Wolcott on 14 Mar 11
     
    In the Summer of 2010, I taught an online class called the Fundamentals of Interactive Entertainment for the University of Tasmania, via the Human Interface Technology Lab under the sponsorship of Dr. Thomas Furness of the University of Washington. This course provides an overview of interactive media - video games and real-time interactive simulations. It includes information concerning the history, theory, technology, design, and social impact of these emerging communications media. The course consists of thirteen modules, and in the Summer of 2010, was made up of two weekly events: 1) A lab session which met every Tuesday to provide discussions, team planning meetings, and hands-exercises and 2) a live classroom session which was videocast directly from Seattle to a University of Tasmania classroom in Launceston, Australia. I posted more information regarding this project on my Web2.0 Chronicle blog. PLEASE NOTE: This narrated screencast runs two minutes past the 5 minute recommendation given by Jennifer.
  • ...6 more comments...
  • ann stephens on 15 Mar 11
     
    Wow! The background of this course and what you taught is fascinating. I'll limit my comments to a few points, but definitely look forward to an interactive, in-person session. 1. Video Logistics. You sounded poised on the video, as opposed to me, where I felt self-conscious knowing I was being recorded. I was also interested in how clearly you transition from one screen to the next - I used multiple windows, but it felt you had a different technique. 2. Course logistics. As for the course, one thing was interesting is how - like Jennifer - you posted a new lesson each week. Our prior class in this series we were provided everything at the beginning. I like the pacing, however, for the most part, as it keeps you focused. As for feedback, which you indicated you would do more explicitly, my guess is that your weekly audio sessions where you went into the studio, provided feedback as part of the process of teaching the lesson. 3. Content. Very interesting. Thanks for including the second video which provided texture on what you were teaching. The metaphor of the Christmas tree, with students putting "decorations" on the wiki was a good one.
  • Susan Kolwitz on 16 Mar 11
     
    I agree with Ann...what a great resource for the rest of the class. Putting the presentation together, I can tell you followed all the best practices of this tool...very polished. Showing how elements of your online material relates to the best practices was thoughtful and student centered.
  • Bruce Wolcott on 17 Mar 11
     
    Ann and Susan, Many thanks for your comments! One of the great benefits of this class and the Conrad/Boettcher textbook is getting a solid framework for understanding how to build and run an online class. Up until now, my learning process for creating online classes has been 1) suggestions/advice from colleagues 2) experimentation (flying by the seat of my pants!) 3) feedback from students 4) online resources. I really enjoy the dense concentration of information provided in the class and our ongoing conversation. The University of Tasmania class gave me the opportunity to pull out all the stops, and integrate everything I'd learned up until that point. Thankfully I made it through that stretch of white water, with an approach that seemed to work pretty well for that teaching situation. The final project exercise gave me a chance to identify key areas of every course that need to be attended to.
  • ann stephens on 17 Mar 11
     
    Aside from the logistics, how did you get involved in doing this and how did the lab get started to begin with? It sounds fascinating for the locations to be so far away. Its a wonderful example of elearning in the "one" world concept we are developing into.
  • Bruce Wolcott on 17 Mar 11
     
    Ann, Tom Furness started up the Human Interface Technology Lab (HitLab) at the University of Washington around 1988 - he's been called the "godfather of virtual reality". At the HitLab, he was on the forefront of virtual reality technologies, working on immersive displays for medicine, engineering, architecture, education, etc. Before then, his background was in designing virtual cockpit simulations for pilots of high performance military jets. They needed to augment the pilot's cognitive field, in order to manage the complexity of 50 onboard computers, while flying the plane at supersonic speeds. He decided that he wanted to apply this technology to civilian, rather than military uses, which is how he ended up at the UW. About five years ago, New Zealand and Australia decided to set up their own HitLabs because of their remote locations. They see virtual world technologies as way to develop an exportable information-based industry for real-world applications. Video games and interactive simulations are currently leading the way in terms of artificial intelligence, information design, and sustained attention (entertainment) experiences. I've been teaching a class in game theory and interactive entertainment for the past five years at BC, which is how I got involved with this University of Tasmania course. You might be interested to know that one of the offshoots of the HitLab work in Seattle is the retinal scanner, which is pointing the way to portable immersive multisensory experiences. Microvision of Redmond is working on these wearable computing devices which may provide a new alternative to desktop/laptop/smartphone devices. And I agree, Ann - culturally and socially, the world is shrinking exponentially because of the Internet.
  • ann stephens on 17 Mar 11
     
    A small world. I was in technology development and management prior to a career transition to teaching. My first job out of college was working on out-the-window portion of cockpit simulators. I was the program manager for the B-52 simulator program at Singer-Link. We called the people that did the actual design of the scenes via computer softwre illustrators, which when I first heard the title always thought of someone drawing pictures on the code, rather than comments. Anyway, I checked out Tom's page, very interesting. Thanks.
  • Mary Ann Simpson on 17 Mar 11
     
    Bruce, applying the Boettcher/Conrad 10 Best Practices to a course you have already taught, was brilliant! It is always a source of learning when we can go back and critique our own work, finding needed areas of improvement or simply discovering how "right on" we were from the get-go! I enjoyed seeing this piece of your creativity!
  • Joy LaJeret on 19 Mar 11
     
    I found your presentation very smooth and professional.
ann stephens

Stephens- "jing"cast of Practices of my online teaching class (#portfolio9) - 8 views

www.screencast.com/...0f-089d-4e4a-a364-7bf6a7cb96bc

#portfolio9 #EDUC251

shared by ann stephens on 13 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • ann stephens on 13 Mar 11
     
    This is a jing.video of a 10 Best Practice Assessment for the on-line tutoring class I am teaching. I decided on this portfolio activity because: 1. I wanted experience with jing. Jennifer indicated she uses it all the time for screen capture and I agree with her - an awesome tool! (I felt like I was "on-stage" making a jing-case, knowing everything I was saying and doing on the screen was being recorded.) 2. I wanted to understand Best Practices better by applying them to a good yardstick. 3. I wanted to share my experience as an on-line teacher. As a note, I found jing, easy to install and use, although there were a few "operator" issues - like finding the sun/icon on my desktop. I did not do the tutorials they offered, but it was easy to figure everything out. Also, after you save the jing, to have others be able to view it, you need to save it on screencast. (I downloaded it my computer and then uploaded it to screencast.)
  • ...1 more comment...
  • Mary Ann Simpson on 13 Mar 11
     
    Ann, I just viewed your Jing project and want to applaud you for your work! In addition to Jennifer, you have inspired me to try this with my course framework, but to date, I have only installed Jing and made a copy of my desktop!!
  • Susan Kolwitz on 16 Mar 11
     
    Looked at your Jing presentation...very interesting how the tutoring works. Also, shows great use of the tool. Learning how to use the tools available to make the course material engaging for online classes takes time and patience. Thanks for showing how this tool can be used. I intend to download and begin to learn how to use.
  • Bruce Wolcott on 17 Mar 11
     
    I reviewed your Jing presentation and got a clearer idea of how you interact with students to problem solve math problems in real time on your class white board along with ongoing chat sessions. Thanks for a peek into your online classroom!
Helen Maynard

Students Slog through College, Don't Gain in Critical Skills - 4 views

seattletimes.nwsource.com/...3970569_collegelearning19.html

#EDUC251

shared by Helen Maynard on 19 Jan 11 - No Cached
  • Helen Maynard on 19 Jan 11
     
    In today's Seattle Times, A3 section - interesting article which followed over 2,000 US students from 2005 to 2009. 45% made no significant improvements in their critical thinking, reasoning or writing skills during first 2 years of study. After completing 4 years, 36 % showed no significant gains in "higher order" thinking skills. Article also states some contributing factors, many students work part-time, however, most students only spent 1/5 time on their studies and 51% on socializing & extra-curricular. I have a strong hunch the internet is a big contributor to the socializing factor. When I read such statistics, it makes me ponder if on-line learning can truly change this social/educational trend. I am enjoying many readings on the diigo, both from Jennifer and others, however, I'm not sure I would design an on-line class which designated a considerable amt. of time to short readings and discussions. Your thoughts on this?
  • ...8 more comments...
  • Helen Maynard on 19 Jan 11
     
    . . . and Jennifer, this isn't criticism of our course structure. I think I understand your reasoning for being introduced to diigo and using this "application" (is that the right word?) to respond to and communicate with our fellow students. I'm simply thinking about what kinds of course activities and applications really challenge students to read, research, analyze and CREATE some original thinking and student work products which can help change these types of findings, especially in higher-ed.
  • ann stephens on 19 Jan 11
     
    Someone observed once that when television first started, the people writing for tv came from a "reading book" age and we had shows like Twilight Zone, Perry Mason, etc. - shows with real stories. Now, although there are some of these, much of our tv is "reality" tv - where the focus is quick stories with emotions and that writers now grew-up watching television for entertainment. So, my connection here, is that perhaps education might need to de-emphasize some on-line usage tools and emphasize others, to balance students so they do get the critical thinking skills. I know with my math tutoring, that when the audio is not operational and they have to use a chat box, they learn more spelling and English. I purposely "chat" in full sentences and will often provide feedback on their chats. Hear and here, for example, is often incorrectly used.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 19 Jan 11
     
    Helen, it's important that you're recognizing that one tool or method won't work for all situations. For an online class, it's hard to predict what your students will do. There's a certain amount of control we have over design, but once things get rolling, there's a lot of improvisation. I didn't figure on Diigo playing such a prominent role so early on, but since several students felt comfortable writing here, I latched onto it for early community-building. We will definitely be creating more as we move forward. If we had a larger class, we'd do smaller group projects, as well. One of the big challenges in online teaching is the fact that so many of us are used to being motivated by grades. We've grown up in systems where we perform and receive a reward. Unless a student finds something to spark their interest and desire to learn, we risk a teaching and learning environment where learners only do the bare minimum. I think the short readings and conversation help learners discover what's in it for them. And, honestly, sometimes there might not be anything in it for them. I try to find something for everyone, but in a society that values certification/degree more than the learning experience, many students are forced to take classes that just don't interest them.
  • Joy LaJeret on 19 Jan 11
     
    It would seem to me, given my comments on Bloom's Taxonomy, that creative and critical thinking can be stifled by Universites and colleges. If this is happening, maybe they need to re-assess the whole concept of teaching and learning. I think that process has begun in the US. Had my professors been able to guide my learning, as we are beginning to learn in our reading materials, I may have finished that Ph.d and written the theory I began to write or not. Who knows. It is a question yet to be examined.
  • Mary Ann Simpson on 20 Jan 11
     
    I read this article too, Helen. It is indeed interesting to contemplate the reasons for very little forward progress in students' critical thinking skills, but you may be on to something with on-line socializing as a possible contributing factor. Since the wave of education today and into the future is focused on a combination of hybrid and on-line learning, I think it's very important that we as educators take the lead in changing our coursework to emphasize more critical and creative thinking as well as problem solving. After all, these are some of the 21st Century Learning skills that CAN be applied to digital technology and teaching. As for a series of short readings as proposed by Jennifer, I would be inclined to take part and enjoy discussions centered around them. Does anyone else have an opinion about this? Jennifer, I agree with your point that not all tools and ways of teaching things fit each learner in a given community, but considering learning styles and differentiated instruction, instructors (on-line) can create a community that is dynamic and viable. Have you ever thought of offering a "CHOICE of activities" focusing on different learning styles, all of which would meet a particular learning objective? Students could engage according to their own interests and preferred learning modes.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 20 Jan 11
     
    Mary Ann, all the portfolio activities will be your choice. You can get an idea of it if you skip ahead and skim the content for next week. I do as for a "cognitive presence" post, but you can use whatever medium you like. Next week we've got a collaborative document where we'll be adding potential activities. As far as learning styles are concerned, I'm not a big fan of how that theory is promoted and distorted. I'll share some resources about it, and you can tell me what you think.
  • ann stephens on 21 Jan 11
     
    I wanted to further Mary Ann's comment about this study making a case for the importance of elearning as tool for delivery of education. I understand elearning is in the early stages, but the internet lends itself to the written word and certainly has the flexibility to be molded to learning needs.
  • Susan Kolwitz on 21 Jan 11
     
    Helen: Very interesting article with compelling statistics. Statistics don't always tell us the true story, however. I say this after reading in our textbook about 'understanding' and 'misunderstanding' and learning how to determine how to express content so the student understands. Now, on the other hand, I agree that students spend more time with extra-curricular activities rather than their studies.
  • Colleen Dixon on 24 Jan 11
     
    I too found the article interesting - thanks! I do wonder about the types of classes students completed especially in their first two years. The might be a marked difference in skills acquisition if students were completing many required large class survey classes to meet initial requirements vs. small, more focused classes in their areas of interest.
  • Joy LaJeret on 25 Jan 11
     
    I am still trying to get the picture of "slogging" through studies! Is that what I am doing when reading all this material in Diigo? I don't think so.
Jennifer Dalby

Becoming Acquainted with the Digital World & Text-Based Communication - 3 views

blog.cataphora.com/?p=141

#EDUC251 eLearning eHabits digitalidentity privacy texting SMS

shared by Jennifer Dalby on 11 Jan 11 - No Cached
  • Jennifer Dalby on 11 Jan 11
     
    I just finished reading E-Habits, by Elizabeth Charnock, CEO of the company who puts out this blog. It was fascinating (and scary!).
  • ...4 more comments...
  • Colleen Dixon on 11 Jan 11
     
    Thanks for the book reference and the blog - excellent. Last week I had two e-mails from two different high school students that demonstrate points in this blog. One e-mail was one line, two half-sentences, written in 'txt'. The other was two paragraphs, complete sentences, grammatically correct. Both had the same issue but their handling, and my responses, were so very different.
  • Joy LaJeret on 12 Jan 11
     
    I am becoming more and more frustrated with digital text based communication for the reasons the blogger specified. It is increasingly difficult to figure out why my granddaughters use a language I do not understand (text slang) and pictures on Facebook to substitute for a good "old fashioned" conversation. They are all smiles and hugs, leaving me to wonder what is really behind all that texting symbolism. I still prefer body language and the art of conversation and I am wondering where all this is leading.
  • Bruce Wolcott on 13 Jan 11
     
    My experience has been that most students know the difference between online chatspeak / textchat versus writing for formal communication. I may be in a bubble regarding this, but it's an exception, rather than a rule to run into chatspeak like - lol, imho, 4ever, omg, etc. in written assignments.
  • Joy LaJeret on 13 Jan 11
     
    Hmmm Bruce. I think there is a void between chat rooms and classrooms. I think there is something lost and something gained in virtual social spaces. I am from an age where a hug and a kiss is the ultimate sign of intimacy when inter-relating to family members. I want to see a real smile and touch a real body. Virtual reality and cyber space leaves those human face-to-face meetings unavailable. I like body language and reading it. I cannot see, feel, touch and watch other humans in the same way. It frustrates me.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 13 Jan 11
     
    I think there's more of an opportunity for us to recognize that with so many different ways to communicate, the nuances of interpersonal communication are more important than ever. I think the people who will be successful, are the ones who truly learn to connect with their audience and make the digital seem personal. I grew up with a dad who taught English and was an Air Force public affairs officer. My writing style has always been formal, and cold, and I've had to learn to add warmth in digital spaces. I'm still trying to figure it out!
  • Joy LaJeret on 14 Jan 11
     
    My experience with your style is you are very intellectually based in your writing style, while your personal style when dealing with this student was warm and open, encouraging and sharing. Okay, it is one opinion among many, I am certain; but this one is mine. I spent many years with the military as a family member and the mother of soldiers. One has to be careful in the civilian world when it comes to interacting with others, because military directness and crispness can get in the way of showing warmth and interest. Hopefully, I have mastered a more civilian way of speaking over the past several years.
Jennifer Dalby

Antisocial media - 3 views

www.boston.com/...aging_us_and_our_relationships

#EDUC251 eLearning medialiteracy

shared by Jennifer Dalby on 17 Jan 11 - No Cached
  • Jennifer Dalby on 17 Jan 11
     
    In her important, controversial new book, Sherry Turkle reads our leap into digital technology not as the unfettering of a deep, human urge to connect, but as a dire symptom to be understood within an older framework: psychoanalysis. Whether you find this book's analysis convincing depends on how you read the Rorschach test that is the Internet.
  • ...7 more comments...
  • ann stephens on 18 Jan 11
     
    Based on this Boston Globe book review, I think the slant that Turkle misses is that maybe the internet is redefining, rather than limiting, human development. She uses an example of people instant texting things such as funerals, disallowing deep human, emotional discourse to illustrate how the internet is "not better", but limiting. But maybe this is a reflection of a society where families are often split for a variety of reasons - divorce, geography - and the internet is allowing a connection, rather than isolation. The internet doesn't prevent a deeper discussion.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 18 Jan 11
     
    Ann, from a sociological perspective, I believe the way we handle death and grieving is one of the most important trends to observe with this new media. Death is something we will always have to modify our perception to accommodate, and I think we're only at the beginning of a real cultural shift, and even an assimilation of cultures around how we make meaning around these issues. I'm going to add the Stefana Broadbent TED Talk to our shared bookmarks here. I think you'd like it.
  • Joy LaJeret on 20 Jan 11
     
    I think Sherry Turkle has voiced some of my concerns. I am not convinced that with the internet tools of social media the millennials and others are sharing deeper learning environments and relationships online. I think we need to reexamine these hypothesis as time goes by and they continue to develop.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 20 Jan 11
     
    Joy, you might like You Are Not a Gadget, by Jaron Lanier http://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Not-Gadget-Manifesto/dp/0307269647 It's his personal observation of where things might be headed. Much of it resonated with me, though I do understand it's only one point of view.
  • ann stephens on 21 Jan 11
     
    The observation how death and grieving is handled evolves and is reflective of society is an interesting observation. One internet tool I have noticed is that an on-line capability is often provided for death announcements. For several people close to me and a couple of celebrities that resonated with me, I would read or contribute to some of these postings and had a broader and more connected sense of the person. I didn't feel so isolated in my grief.
  • Joy LaJeret on 21 Jan 11
     
    I read an excerpt of the book and will try to find it in the library or buy it used! I really like what he is writing, Jen.
  • Bruce Wolcott on 21 Jan 11
     
    Since the Web is still less than 20 years old, I think the jury is still out regarding the darker isolating potential of online social behavior. Ann mentions online tools that announce death notices that allow people to publicly tell their stories and express grief over someone who recently died. I had a recent experience with an online service called CaringBridge that is used as a public communications forum for people who are experiencing life threatening illnesses or accidents. It gives well wishers an opportunity to express their support and lets family members communicate the ongoing status of the person who is sick. It provides a kind of forum for sympathetic and loving communications that has never existed before. My recent experience involves a friend I knew in high school who is battling brain cancer, and the debilitating chemo and radiation treatments. CaringBridge lets me join with a large group of other people to send messages of support to him. Recently, with difficulty, he has been able to begin writing posts to CaringBridge describing his day-to-day experiences and progress. Rather than being an alienating or "alone together" experience, I think it has a genuine positive effect on everyone involved, and is a powerful reminder of our own humanity and vulnerability.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 21 Jan 11
     
    Bruce, CaringBridge has been a great support for so many people. I originally discovered the site while I was following the story of Baby Allie http://www.scotthousehold.com/allie.htm whose mom documented her short life battling with AML. A huge community grew around her little life, and I discovered many CaringBridge sites. Jenny went on to start the Heroes for Children foundation, raising more than $3 million for families in TX with children undergoing treatment. My own early blogging experiences were around my own grief and loss http://momrealityblog.blogspot.com/2006/01/it-began-with-tragic-ending.html I had previously been involved in several online parenting communities. They were a huge support to me during that time. We have the potential to do a lot of good online and off. I think we just need to be cognizant of how our messages are amplified, and how we amplify the messages of others.
  • Jennifer Dalby on 21 Jan 11
     
    Joy, I am so sorry for your loss. I think grief is different for everyone, and the internet is a place we can find other people who share similar methods of grieving, so we don't feel so alone. In our own families, it's hard to support each other through periods of loss. I've discovered a lot of online communities, some healthy, and some not, where people feel comfortable expressing their feelings about loss. I think the most important thing I learned online during that time, was "be gentle with yourself."
ann stephens

Stephens-Course Framework Activity 4.4 - 3 views

http://elearner151.blogspot.com/ - is the link to my blog post describing my process for my course - Everything you wanted to know about Colon Cancer. http://elearner151.blogspot.com/p/course-fram...

#Portfolio4 #EDUC251

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