One application that I have only recently learned about is a feature Apple Inc. utilizes for consumer use is iTunes U. Apple's website states, "iTunes U — a powerful distribution system for everything from lectures to language lessons, films to labs, audiobooks to tours — is an innovative way to get educational content into the hands of students."
You can access iTunes U one of three ways: on your iPod Touch, on your iPhone, or through the iTunes store application on your computer. Free education content can be accessed or downloaded from such institutions as Stanford, Berkeley, Texas A&M, MIT,Duke,Emory, and much much more. Endless college courses are available from intro classes to physics, mathematics, and business. In the summer of 2008, iTunes even launched k-12 content for educators.
After witnessing a review of that magnitude there is only one thing left to say: Microsoft, where are you? What are you doing to improve the lives of people through your applications? The cold stoned answer: NOWHERE!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Evaluation for Distance Educators
Sorry readers, no creative title this week. WYSIWYG.
CONTEXT:
The article was written from by the Engineering Outreach at University of Idaho. Granted it is a semi-dated article. The most recent reference used were from 1993, however, I did not know that jumping into the article; so it skewed my view of the overall effectiveness of the article.
CONTENT:
The article discusses several effective methods of evaluating distance education. The article first states that informal evaluations are at a near complete loss for distance education due to the fact there is no face-to-face contact which would breed convenient opportunities for teachers to answer student questions in a traditional classroom setting. However, informal evaluations are not completely lost from distance education.
Instructors can effectively implement informal evaluations using formative techniques coupled with qualitative questions and feedback. This might be the most effective way to receive feed back for the course due to the fact that summative evaluations come at the end of the course and wouldn't make any difference for those who just conquered the course. As well, quantitative feedback takes time to gather and most students finished with the course do not spend time evaluating the courses effectiveness or implement changes after the fact.
Some of the evaluation methods were a bit outdated calling for teachers to send out pre-post marked envelopes or for students to send in weekly postcard evaluations. I suppose that was the thing to do in 1993. E-Mail applications and other platforms like WEB CT, Moodle, or Blackboard has significantly increased teacher-student contact.
CONTEXT:
The article was written from by the Engineering Outreach at University of Idaho. Granted it is a semi-dated article. The most recent reference used were from 1993, however, I did not know that jumping into the article; so it skewed my view of the overall effectiveness of the article.
CONTENT:
The article discusses several effective methods of evaluating distance education. The article first states that informal evaluations are at a near complete loss for distance education due to the fact there is no face-to-face contact which would breed convenient opportunities for teachers to answer student questions in a traditional classroom setting. However, informal evaluations are not completely lost from distance education.
Instructors can effectively implement informal evaluations using formative techniques coupled with qualitative questions and feedback. This might be the most effective way to receive feed back for the course due to the fact that summative evaluations come at the end of the course and wouldn't make any difference for those who just conquered the course. As well, quantitative feedback takes time to gather and most students finished with the course do not spend time evaluating the courses effectiveness or implement changes after the fact.
Some of the evaluation methods were a bit outdated calling for teachers to send out pre-post marked envelopes or for students to send in weekly postcard evaluations. I suppose that was the thing to do in 1993. E-Mail applications and other platforms like WEB CT, Moodle, or Blackboard has significantly increased teacher-student contact.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Web Accessibility
Imagine trying to survive today's world... without the internet! How impossible would that be?! Well, for some it is an everyday challenge for those who are impaired in some way or another.
Those with disabilities have more opportunities in today's world to have information delivered to them almost as fast as it is posted on the internet. One web article (found at http://webaim.org/intro/) states that before there was internet those who were blind relied on someone reading the newspaper to them. Now, there are so many assistive technologies to help those who are impaired in one way or another to have that www information at their fingertips-so to speak.
One caution that the article warns web developers about is to remember those who have disabilities when creating and publishing websites; to think about how they could reach an impaired audience in order to bless their lives. The article states that some crucial questions need to be asked before implementing a website that would leave others out of the information loop such as, "What if the internet content is only accessible by using a mouse? What do people do if they can't use a mouse? And what if web developers use graphics instead of text? If screen readers can only read text, how would they read the graphics to people who are blind?"
Once those questions can be resolved, then one can start planning a layout that would include helps for the following disabilities: Visual, Hearing, Motor, and Cognitive. The article goes on to say that "Each of the major categories of disabilities requires certain types of adaptations in the design of the web content. Most of the time, these adaptations benefit nearly everyone, not just people with disabilities. Almost everyone benefits from helpful illustrations, properly-organized content and clear navigation. Similarly, while captions are a necessity for Deaf users, they can be helpful to others, including anyone who views a video without audio."
So, next time you are thinking about building a website in your spare time, consider your audience a moment longer.
Those with disabilities have more opportunities in today's world to have information delivered to them almost as fast as it is posted on the internet. One web article (found at http://webaim.org/intro/) states that before there was internet those who were blind relied on someone reading the newspaper to them. Now, there are so many assistive technologies to help those who are impaired in one way or another to have that www information at their fingertips-so to speak.
One caution that the article warns web developers about is to remember those who have disabilities when creating and publishing websites; to think about how they could reach an impaired audience in order to bless their lives. The article states that some crucial questions need to be asked before implementing a website that would leave others out of the information loop such as, "What if the internet content is only accessible by using a mouse? What do people do if they can't use a mouse? And what if web developers use graphics instead of text? If screen readers can only read text, how would they read the graphics to people who are blind?"
Once those questions can be resolved, then one can start planning a layout that would include helps for the following disabilities: Visual, Hearing, Motor, and Cognitive. The article goes on to say that "Each of the major categories of disabilities requires certain types of adaptations in the design of the web content. Most of the time, these adaptations benefit nearly everyone, not just people with disabilities. Almost everyone benefits from helpful illustrations, properly-organized content and clear navigation. Similarly, while captions are a necessity for Deaf users, they can be helpful to others, including anyone who views a video without audio."
So, next time you are thinking about building a website in your spare time, consider your audience a moment longer.
Wiki Wiki, We Want It Quicki
So, new terminology this week. Did you know that the word "wiki" actually means "fast" in Hawaiian? So what does the name have to do with the application?
A man by the name of Ward Cunningham (insert Leave It To Beaver and Happy Days jokes here)invented the first WikiWikiWeb software program in 1994 and had it up and running by mid 1995 with Wikipedia as the first online collaborative database in which users could openly and freely change, update or correct each other's content without strict guidelines as to how the content is organized.
Making changes to a Wikipedia article is as easy as 1-2-3: (1) have a user account that allows you privilages as a content editor, (2) find an article that you would like to add to or improve in some way, and (3) make approapriate changes. However, most people just choose to add hyperlink to other pages in an article. As a creator/editor you are never stuck with someone's editorial changes. You can choose to revert the article back to a pre-stupido copy.
A man by the name of Ward Cunningham (insert Leave It To Beaver and Happy Days jokes here)invented the first WikiWikiWeb software program in 1994 and had it up and running by mid 1995 with Wikipedia as the first online collaborative database in which users could openly and freely change, update or correct each other's content without strict guidelines as to how the content is organized.
Making changes to a Wikipedia article is as easy as 1-2-3: (1) have a user account that allows you privilages as a content editor, (2) find an article that you would like to add to or improve in some way, and (3) make approapriate changes. However, most people just choose to add hyperlink to other pages in an article. As a creator/editor you are never stuck with someone's editorial changes. You can choose to revert the article back to a pre-stupido copy.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Jing
What is Jing?
A- A four-star Chinese restaurant in Denver Colorado,
B- One of the Three Treasures of Chinese medicine,
or
C- Screencasting software launched in 2007 by TechSmith.
Actually the correct answer is "ALL of the Above". However today's blog will focus solely on the technology aspect of Jing. Screencasting software is becoming evermore popular in the world of online education. There are several screen sharing options, several listed as freeware, which enhance the instructors ability to SHOW online students how to work a particular task. One such instructor at USU screencasts videos weekly allowing students to "see" instructions on how to FTP using Filezilla, etc.
I don't know how effective Jing would be in a seminary setting. I have several home school students who might find success in 5 minute screenshots on how to work a particular lesson or instructions on how to finish and submit and assignment, but I think Jing might only be able to partially augment a small portion of learning in a religious classroom such as mine.
A- A four-star Chinese restaurant in Denver Colorado,
B- One of the Three Treasures of Chinese medicine,
or
C- Screencasting software launched in 2007 by TechSmith.
Actually the correct answer is "ALL of the Above". However today's blog will focus solely on the technology aspect of Jing. Screencasting software is becoming evermore popular in the world of online education. There are several screen sharing options, several listed as freeware, which enhance the instructors ability to SHOW online students how to work a particular task. One such instructor at USU screencasts videos weekly allowing students to "see" instructions on how to FTP using Filezilla, etc.
I don't know how effective Jing would be in a seminary setting. I have several home school students who might find success in 5 minute screenshots on how to work a particular lesson or instructions on how to finish and submit and assignment, but I think Jing might only be able to partially augment a small portion of learning in a religious classroom such as mine.
Take your Moodle for a Walk
That's right, I said Moodle, not poodle. Moodle is Course Management System and an Open Source software platform designed mainly for e-learning (but has other capabilities as well). It allows teachers to create online courses and share content with administrators, teachers, students and parents. By creating online course content and sharing in this manner, whether you are teaching a complete online course or using it to enhance your classroom instruction, it allows for effective communication between teachers, students AND parents. Importing RSS feeds, activity modules,assignment and quizzes, or a Google calendar is easy and in some cases you can import entire Blackboard or Web CT courses. Check it out at www.moodle.org
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
F2F VS. DE
When I was busy working my way through k-12 trying to survive (let alone graduate) never once did "getting an education online" ever pop into my head. As a high schooler, none of us had our own personal e-mail, cell phone for texting, or Wimba chatroom to hold class sessions. I remember having to type a history paper on a word processor that ny father purchased for reasonably cheap. As I was letting out my frustrations on the computer my father slyly said, "Be careful what you wish for. Computers are the future." Man, was he ever right. Here I am typing on one of two laptops in my home trying to fulfill a distance education assignment.
So what then is the difference between face to face teaching and learning as opposed to distance education? PREFERENCE and CONVENIENCE. Distance Ed allows for much more flexibility and yet is demanding more and more quality instruction and standards that you would find in a normal face to face classroom setting. Is it hard getting a Masters degree 100% online? Sure there are some difficulties, but consider this: the next time I have to step foot on campus is for graduation. How 'bout them apples? (or pc, whichever you prefer.)
So what then is the difference between face to face teaching and learning as opposed to distance education? PREFERENCE and CONVENIENCE. Distance Ed allows for much more flexibility and yet is demanding more and more quality instruction and standards that you would find in a normal face to face classroom setting. Is it hard getting a Masters degree 100% online? Sure there are some difficulties, but consider this: the next time I have to step foot on campus is for graduation. How 'bout them apples? (or pc, whichever you prefer.)
The Social Networking Lock Up
This week I learned about two web 2.0 tools that I will never be able to use in the classroom: Facebook and Youtube. It is not just because I work for the L.D.S. Church that my work computer is locked out of those social networking sites. In fact, I have many colleagues in the secular world who at their respective assignments are also presently locked out of those (or at least Facebook) sites due to district policy. And for good reason.
Several weeks ago I was browsing my 500+ Facebook friends and I noticed that over 75% of them were 16 years old and younger... and mostly past or present students. That is probably not the safest way for me to hang on to a job (especially working for the Church). So, I quit. I couldn't log on at work anyway so I didn't feel too much pain.
Youtube on the other hand is a slightly different story. I know there are videos that should not ever be watched--especially on a work computer--but there are so many good things to view on youtube. As a matter of fact the L.D.S. Churhc has hopped on the bandwagon (for lack of a better expression) and started posting 3-4 minute spiritual messages. So what's the big deal? Better safe than sorry. Right, Pratt?
Several weeks ago I was browsing my 500+ Facebook friends and I noticed that over 75% of them were 16 years old and younger... and mostly past or present students. That is probably not the safest way for me to hang on to a job (especially working for the Church). So, I quit. I couldn't log on at work anyway so I didn't feel too much pain.
Youtube on the other hand is a slightly different story. I know there are videos that should not ever be watched--especially on a work computer--but there are so many good things to view on youtube. As a matter of fact the L.D.S. Churhc has hopped on the bandwagon (for lack of a better expression) and started posting 3-4 minute spiritual messages. So what's the big deal? Better safe than sorry. Right, Pratt?
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Make A Movie Maker
Digital story telling is becoming much more popular in education. Using movie making technologies allows the students to use their knowledge and experience to create projects that enhance learning. Using a software program like Windows Movie Maker allows student growth in capturing digital video, storyboarding, editing, narration, etc even in areas such as science,social studies, and the arts.
Educators can play a more intimate role in such programs like distance education using Movie Maker vodcasting lectures or instructional videos. This tool can play a vital role in education if used accordingly and with simple stages of video production and publication.
(WOW! what a couple of really boring paragraphs about video capabilities in education. What an interesting topic though.) Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=windows+movie+maker&aq=0
Educators can play a more intimate role in such programs like distance education using Movie Maker vodcasting lectures or instructional videos. This tool can play a vital role in education if used accordingly and with simple stages of video production and publication.
(WOW! what a couple of really boring paragraphs about video capabilities in education. What an interesting topic though.) Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=windows+movie+maker&aq=0
Do You Have the Audacity?
When I was taking an upper division course in creative writing at SUU my professor was way into using technology to further the writing process. After we had spent a month writing a first draft to a novella, he had us create an Audacity account and record ourselves reading the novella. The revisions from the first draft were to be spawned from listening to ourselves read the novella.
As a teacher, using Audacity for distance education purposes is a smart way to go. For instance, I could create a podcast for my home school students. That way they could feel like they are still participating in a classroom experience. On the flipside, students can record themselves and send it in to the teacher for evaluations (no more 1980's "mixed tape" cassettes). This would have been nice when as a high school student I took a home course through BYU and had to record myself playing the guitar on a tape and then send it in to my professor. Technology sure makes educational life better.
As a teacher, using Audacity for distance education purposes is a smart way to go. For instance, I could create a podcast for my home school students. That way they could feel like they are still participating in a classroom experience. On the flipside, students can record themselves and send it in to the teacher for evaluations (no more 1980's "mixed tape" cassettes). This would have been nice when as a high school student I took a home course through BYU and had to record myself playing the guitar on a tape and then send it in to my professor. Technology sure makes educational life better.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Google-Belly
I watched a presentation on Google Docs this week. I thought I knew a lot before I watched it. Becky did a great job adding to what I already knew concerning the online application and it made me want to use it more.
My exposure to Google Docs started a year ago when my area director asked all of us teachers to fill out a document tracking our professional growth. So it did and our first meeting was great. We logged in to Google Talk for the conference call and then we both discussed how well I was or was not meeting the expectations as outlined on the document. I revised and he revised, all in real time. It was great and I was very impressed with the tool. However...
Becky showed me a convenient way to create a Google Doc form that would allow my students to take a test on scripture mastery application and how I could tabulate the scores against other classes. Another idea she shared was using Google Docs for sharing lesson plans. I thought it would be a great idea for me (in a one-man seminary) lesson plan collaboration with my inservice group that lives and teaches over 40 minutes away from my building. Thanks for some stellar idea today Becky. Keep 'em rolling!
My exposure to Google Docs started a year ago when my area director asked all of us teachers to fill out a document tracking our professional growth. So it did and our first meeting was great. We logged in to Google Talk for the conference call and then we both discussed how well I was or was not meeting the expectations as outlined on the document. I revised and he revised, all in real time. It was great and I was very impressed with the tool. However...
Becky showed me a convenient way to create a Google Doc form that would allow my students to take a test on scripture mastery application and how I could tabulate the scores against other classes. Another idea she shared was using Google Docs for sharing lesson plans. I thought it would be a great idea for me (in a one-man seminary) lesson plan collaboration with my inservice group that lives and teaches over 40 minutes away from my building. Thanks for some stellar idea today Becky. Keep 'em rolling!
Microsoft PowerPoint
Teachers can really get carried away with PowerPoint if they are not careful. Most of us who have been in school awhile have all had that one professor that completely relies on PowerPoint for EVEY lecture. What is wrong with this, you may ask? Here is a good analogy.
I cooked tacos last night for my family. Instead of putting in a half of a packet of taco seasoning in the meat I put in 3 full packs. Now, how would that make your tacos taste? Bad? Why? Because seasoning is not the main course. PowerPoint should be used to spice up the lesson, not to be THE method used to teach (or to have PowerPoint BE the teacher).
I cooked tacos last night for my family. Instead of putting in a half of a packet of taco seasoning in the meat I put in 3 full packs. Now, how would that make your tacos taste? Bad? Why? Because seasoning is not the main course. PowerPoint should be used to spice up the lesson, not to be THE method used to teach (or to have PowerPoint BE the teacher).
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Ustream! iStream! We All Scream for Ustream!
A classmate presented an application called Ustream to us today. What an effective tool for distance education! The best part of his presentation was when I realized that it was a solution to a problem my Inservice group is having.
Bro. J. is teaching a deaf class this fall at the seminary. He has five students in class and one that will be attending via P3 technology through Dell. It will cost the Church several hundred dollars in order to install the equipment at the seminary building and at the students home. However...
Ustream has the capability to video stream live events and can be recorded and archived for later viewing. All of this is free at http://www.ustream.tv/ If Bro. J. goes for this, all he has to do is make sure his deaf student has access to a broadband speed computer and can participate in class from miles away.
Bro. J. is teaching a deaf class this fall at the seminary. He has five students in class and one that will be attending via P3 technology through Dell. It will cost the Church several hundred dollars in order to install the equipment at the seminary building and at the students home. However...
Ustream has the capability to video stream live events and can be recorded and archived for later viewing. All of this is free at http://www.ustream.tv/ If Bro. J. goes for this, all he has to do is make sure his deaf student has access to a broadband speed computer and can participate in class from miles away.
Slide Rocket - Cool Concept?
I was introduced to a web application today called Slide Rocket which has one HUGE benefit and one HUGE detriment.
Slide Rocket is a web-based application that allows you to import a PowerPoint presentation from your hard drive or you can create a presentation using Slide Rocket's building capabilities. Either way, you can store it online on order to preserve the presentation and save hard drive space. That however is not the benefit I was referring to.
The benefit I am referring to is the option of creating a presentation online WITHOUT the use of Microsoft PowerPoint. So there is a savings of over $100 that goes straight back into the pocket and not into Bill Gates's pocket (or his grand children's, or whoever will get the plethora of green he owns).
The detriment to the web-based "software" program is that in order to access all the features and have unlimited space for projects, it will cost you money. A per month bill is mandatory for use of the program. So, for educational purposes, it might not be the best option for a district to supply multiple usernames/passwords at 15-20 bucks a pop per month. However, business-wise, collaboration efforts would be beneficial in using a tool such as Slide Rocket for the business world.
Slide Rocket is a web-based application that allows you to import a PowerPoint presentation from your hard drive or you can create a presentation using Slide Rocket's building capabilities. Either way, you can store it online on order to preserve the presentation and save hard drive space. That however is not the benefit I was referring to.
The benefit I am referring to is the option of creating a presentation online WITHOUT the use of Microsoft PowerPoint. So there is a savings of over $100 that goes straight back into the pocket and not into Bill Gates's pocket (or his grand children's, or whoever will get the plethora of green he owns).
The detriment to the web-based "software" program is that in order to access all the features and have unlimited space for projects, it will cost you money. A per month bill is mandatory for use of the program. So, for educational purposes, it might not be the best option for a district to supply multiple usernames/passwords at 15-20 bucks a pop per month. However, business-wise, collaboration efforts would be beneficial in using a tool such as Slide Rocket for the business world.
Monday, June 14, 2010
The Skype Hype
Last year, in an effort to further my teaching ability in the classroom, another seminary principal and I worked a technological plan out so that he could visit my classroom without ever leaving his. Enterprise is located approximately 45 miles east of NOWHERE, so in order for my colleagues to participate in some sort of inservice we decided to let technology solve our problem.
Bro. Leavitt and I set up Skype accounts and often communicated through that medium rather than by telephone so as to promote face-to-interface communication. We not only had face to face capabilities that way but often would broadcast Snow Canyon Seminary Faculty Meeting that way so that I could participate in the discussions as well. We decided to try our luck using Skype as a class observation tool so that Bro. Leavitt could virtually sit in my classroom and give me face to face feedback without ever having to make the lonely drive to Enterprise. What an effective way to use technology for spiritual distance education purposes.
Bro. Leavitt and I set up Skype accounts and often communicated through that medium rather than by telephone so as to promote face-to-interface communication. We not only had face to face capabilities that way but often would broadcast Snow Canyon Seminary Faculty Meeting that way so that I could participate in the discussions as well. We decided to try our luck using Skype as a class observation tool so that Bro. Leavitt could virtually sit in my classroom and give me face to face feedback without ever having to make the lonely drive to Enterprise. What an effective way to use technology for spiritual distance education purposes.
Connected Concepts
Last Saturday I was watching a movie with my children. Crashed on the couch, popcorn in hand, good guys fighting the bad guys. We were watching Aragon, a movie about a dragon rider that needed to man up to his destiny. Toward the end of the film there was a scene where the good guys were getting ready and psyched up for the final battle. The scene kept switching between their preparations and the bad guys coming to meet their doom.
Every time it watched between the good guys and the bad guys my 3-year old would ask, "Dad, are those the good/bad guys?" My response was either yes or no (depending on who the camera panned on). Finally, after the umpteenth camera switch, she poignantly said, "Dad, sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between the good guys and the bad ones." Wow! Wisdom beyond her years.
The angle with which I want to use this analogy may seem strange at first but I hope it pulls together in the end.
Dr. Clark N. Quinn wrote and article (titled "Seven Steps to Better E-Learning" http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=best_practices&article=35-1) in which one of those steps is "Connected Concepts". He stated that, " acquiring a specific skill doesn't work without reactivating the context in which that skill is used." He went on to say that placing material in its intended context is important to the success of the learner. In addition, giving our students a perfect model with which to base their problematic solutions on helps to effectuate their success as a student. Without that model, they may end up missing a step in the process or completely stuck as to how to solve the problem. As with my little girl, she did not know how to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys because she did not identify a pattern that would help her succeed at the task.
As teachers, it is so vital to the success of our students to give them a workable problem with some helps that they can connect with (i.e. previous knowledge) and use in order to understand the new knowledge or complex skill.
Every time it watched between the good guys and the bad guys my 3-year old would ask, "Dad, are those the good/bad guys?" My response was either yes or no (depending on who the camera panned on). Finally, after the umpteenth camera switch, she poignantly said, "Dad, sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between the good guys and the bad ones." Wow! Wisdom beyond her years.
The angle with which I want to use this analogy may seem strange at first but I hope it pulls together in the end.
Dr. Clark N. Quinn wrote and article (titled "Seven Steps to Better E-Learning" http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=best_practices&article=35-1) in which one of those steps is "Connected Concepts". He stated that, "
As teachers, it is so vital to the success of our students to give them a workable problem with some helps that they can connect with (i.e. previous knowledge) and use in order to understand the new knowledge or complex skill.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
I Am SOOOO Sorry www.blogger.com
OK, so I participated in a class presentation this week on the power of blogging. The presenter showed two different mediums that one can use. The first was blogger (or blog spot) which is what I use for my Master's program as well as a personal family site. I have always enjoyed the easy-to-use interface that makes blogger so wonderful. HOWEVER...
The second half of the presentation was about word press, another blogging site people can use. In comparing the advantages and disadvantages of each I have realized that blogger is mission some things that would make word press very effective to use (and vice versa). I hope this doesn't get me kicked off of blogger but people, check out word press. It is a great alternative to blog spot. To help you compare the two against eachother, depending on what features you are looking for. see http://pulsed.blogspot.com/2007/07/blogger-wordpress-chart.html and let me know what you think by leaving a post response. Thanks.
The second half of the presentation was about word press, another blogging site people can use. In comparing the advantages and disadvantages of each I have realized that blogger is mission some things that would make word press very effective to use (and vice versa). I hope this doesn't get me kicked off of blogger but people, check out word press. It is a great alternative to blog spot. To help you compare the two against eachother, depending on what features you are looking for. see http://pulsed.blogspot.com/2007/07/blogger-wordpress-chart.html and let me know what you think by leaving a post response. Thanks.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Web 2.0 (Blogging About Blogging)
I have thought a lot about the power of blogging in the past year. I have friends that faithfully blog on a weekly basis and just as faithfully you'll find me reading their updates. Web logging has certainly become a convenient way for me to "read all about it" concerning the personal lives of friends and family. So, if it has that kind of impact on my relationships with near kin and friends, what kind of an impact could it have in education?
I read a couple of articles (Fernando 2008 and Caverly 2008) today about the powerful use of Web 2.0 tools like Youtube, Second Life, Twitter, Innertoob, podcasting, wiki's and web logging. One point that Fernando made in his article was that in terms of e-learning education has "gotten into the business of teaching new media, using new media." Caverly discovered that teachers started figuring out "what interested, confused, and concerned [their] students" using blogs. If that is the case then teachers need to expect technology to play a greater role in rescuing their students from past dated instructional methods and helping them (and us) accept the evolution of technology and the learning sciences in the classroom now and in the future.
Even in my own career field as a seminary teacher, I have noticed more and more that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is using www.Youtube.com more frequently for the sole purpose of posting inspirational messages.
Therefore, we can either choose to go along for the supercompter ride, or be left in the dust.
I read a couple of articles (Fernando 2008 and Caverly 2008) today about the powerful use of Web 2.0 tools like Youtube, Second Life, Twitter, Innertoob, podcasting, wiki's and web logging. One point that Fernando made in his article was that in terms of e-learning education has "gotten into the business of teaching new media, using new media." Caverly discovered that teachers started figuring out "what interested, confused, and concerned [their] students" using blogs. If that is the case then teachers need to expect technology to play a greater role in rescuing their students from past dated instructional methods and helping them (and us) accept the evolution of technology and the learning sciences in the classroom now and in the future.
Even in my own career field as a seminary teacher, I have noticed more and more that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is using www.Youtube.com more frequently for the sole purpose of posting inspirational messages.
Therefore, we can either choose to go along for the supercompter ride, or be left in the dust.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
The Evolution of Effectual Teaching & Learning
What Is Learning?:
I knew at the start of this semester that learning is an abstraction. Never did I realize that, although abstract in nature, it is something that has TRIED to be grasped by educators in a way that information, understanding, meaningful learning and the like could be cognitively processed. There is but one perfect teacher and he never had to earn a Masters degree to teach on the side of a mount, or in a synagogue, or in the busy countryside of Galilee. The thing that blessed His short-lived teaching career was the fact that He KNEW his students, better than they knew themselves.
Having an opportunity to shallow-dive into behaviorism, functional behavior, meaningful learning, schema theory, human development, motivation, case-based learning, situated cognition and constructivism showed me that I have A LOT to learn about effective classroom organization and management.
Effectuated Teaching:
The one thing I am taking away from this class in terms of effectual teaching in the classroom is that there are many approaches one could take that work just as well as any other theory. Certainly there are things that could be argued within each theory, but the combination of one or more of the theories could prove a teacher's success for past, present and future students and their ability to become productive people.
Do I have a favorite theory? No. Are they all useful to my effectiveness as a teacher? Only if they uplift and inspire the rising generation to become, to think, to act, to speak and to observe.
I knew at the start of this semester that learning is an abstraction. Never did I realize that, although abstract in nature, it is something that has TRIED to be grasped by educators in a way that information, understanding, meaningful learning and the like could be cognitively processed. There is but one perfect teacher and he never had to earn a Masters degree to teach on the side of a mount, or in a synagogue, or in the busy countryside of Galilee. The thing that blessed His short-lived teaching career was the fact that He KNEW his students, better than they knew themselves.
Having an opportunity to shallow-dive into behaviorism, functional behavior, meaningful learning, schema theory, human development, motivation, case-based learning, situated cognition and constructivism showed me that I have A LOT to learn about effective classroom organization and management.
Effectuated Teaching:
The one thing I am taking away from this class in terms of effectual teaching in the classroom is that there are many approaches one could take that work just as well as any other theory. Certainly there are things that could be argued within each theory, but the combination of one or more of the theories could prove a teacher's success for past, present and future students and their ability to become productive people.
Do I have a favorite theory? No. Are they all useful to my effectiveness as a teacher? Only if they uplift and inspire the rising generation to become, to think, to act, to speak and to observe.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Social Constructivism
What is learning?
Learning is the ability to take new information, retain or discard, and pigeon-hole it into useful, meaningful, or crap categories.
How can it best be effectuated by a teacher?
This theory teaches us the importance of allowing the students to work out the information as a group and apply it to everyday life situations. However, within the group there needs to be a zone of proximal development, or in other words the ability to participate in group assignments that are challenging their problem-solving skills while at the same time having a capable individual lead the group to discovery. It challenges their skill level and raises their cognitive development.
Adam Cobb, a Preservice director in Boise, Idaho once stated, "Whoever does the work gets the learning." That statement is never truer than after having successfully experienced group work that creates an atmosphere of meaningful learning. When a student can walk out of the classroom and know what s/he needs to do to become a more productive person, then previous schemata morphs into more a meaningful cognition of that particular principle/doctrine.
Learning is the ability to take new information, retain or discard, and pigeon-hole it into useful, meaningful, or crap categories.
How can it best be effectuated by a teacher?
This theory teaches us the importance of allowing the students to work out the information as a group and apply it to everyday life situations. However, within the group there needs to be a zone of proximal development, or in other words the ability to participate in group assignments that are challenging their problem-solving skills while at the same time having a capable individual lead the group to discovery. It challenges their skill level and raises their cognitive development.
Adam Cobb, a Preservice director in Boise, Idaho once stated, "Whoever does the work gets the learning." That statement is never truer than after having successfully experienced group work that creates an atmosphere of meaningful learning. When a student can walk out of the classroom and know what s/he needs to do to become a more productive person, then previous schemata morphs into more a meaningful cognition of that particular principle/doctrine.
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