Week 16 article

Remote Access article
Buy this Book

This article encourages you to buy Bill Kist’s new book “Socially Networked Classroom.” This book is completely relevant to education today, because there is more and more focus on integrating technology into the classroom. A new reading program called Kidbiz3000 that I am using this year encourages students to email and discuss a question regarding their reading article. My students love this!!
Teachers are socially linked to other educators around the world through different types of social networking systems like My Space and Facebook. I really think this book would be interesting to read, given that a lot of the technology sites I implemented during this class were all mostly foreign to me at first. The more we read and research information about ways to successfully implement technology, will not only benefit us, but our students as well.

Week 15 article

OLDaily Stephen’s Web Article
US Self-paced eLearning Market
Sam S. Adkins Ambient Research
http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?post=50856

What’s all the hype about eLearning? The US market for eLearning products and services reached 16.7 billion in 2009. As the demand for the eLearning increases, more and more products are being integrated into the classroom. I personally use eLearning daily in reading and math. I use the products eWord Game that comes with Harcourt Reading Series and math lingo that comes with Harcourt Math Series. The eWord Game is an awesome way to practice vocabulary words before students take their reading vocabulary quizzes. I really see and understand why there is a major focus on integrating products and services linked to eLearning in education. Students are “digital natives” and quickly understand how to utilize many different types of technology. Students use technology at home and at school. Many of my students think of technology (computers, Smart Board, document camera) as second nature to them. I think that eLearning does enhance the instruction for students and improves their performance.

Week 13, 14, 15 Technology Floods

I am thinking and thinking, about my final project for this class. There are so many things I want to do and it is difficult to narrow them down to just one. I want to choose something that will have an impact and be beneficial for someone else taking this course. I have really had to think a lot about each task for this course.
I would really like to put together a toolbox for others to use during the time they take this course. Some of the tools, would be "help" tools to use when there are "oh no" moments.
I really like the idea of putting together sites to help other students, it will have a great impact on the successes of others taking this class.

Week 14 article

OLDaily Stephen’s Web
Yahoo’s Newest Strategy: Lot’s and lot’s of Facebook
Mashable Stephen Ostrow
http://mashable.com/2009/12/02/yahoo-facebook-connect/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

According to Yahoo’s latest strategy is to incorporate lot’s and lot’s of face book! Yahoo is planning to partner with Facebook to build it’s social networking system. I really like the conviction that Downes writes with about Facebook. I too do not or would not trust a Facebook account. I think that there are too many open-ended ways to misconstrue data and the ways information is presented. I do not think of it as being a professional way to present or share information regarding education topics. I completely see why Downes does not trust Facebook to “behave itself.” I would not trust this system either. I can see some reasons for educators to use some networking service to convey and share educational issues with other educators. But I do think there needs to be careful boundaries when using different social networking services as educators. Too many students use these services and one statement can be completely misconstrued into meaning something other that what it’s meaning is. I think educators need to keep in mind, as their using Facebook, My Space and many other social networking services, to keep their ideas and comments professional.

Week 13 Article

OLDaily Stephen’s Web
Pattern Seeking Instead of Content Delivery
http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?post=50947
Angela Maiers, Weblog

Angela Maiers presents how we fail to deliver lessons, because we are planning as teachers, instead of readers. I agree that most of the time, I do not put myself in the shoes of the students and how the content is being recieved. Most of the time my focus is on how to teach the lesson, and not how to learn/grow from the lesson. Maiers makes some valuable points on how to change the patterning of teaching. Looking at lessons through the eyes of the students and how successfully they are learning from the lessons, will have more of an impact then focusing solely on how to teach the lessons. I too, believe that teaching is a lifelong journey. If we do not examine and analyze the way we deliver lessons then we will lose our impact on students and there will be little comprehension of information. The important things to improve upon as educators are thinking, reading, and communication. Without thinking about and reading about what you are planning to teach, the delivery of the lesson will lose it’s pizzazz. Also, without communication you are already at a loss with winning students over. Students must have respect and the willingness to please you, or they will not strive to do their best in lessons.

Week 12: Things to Do- Proposal of Final Project

How should research be done?
- using the web
- reading scholary articles or books
- collaborating with educators through blogs, discussion boards, or chat forums

What should be studied?
Any gray areas or uncertainty about a topic should be fully researched by educators. There are many things to study and reflect on in Distance Education.
Once all students are in agreement about the final project, then what to study and research will be easier to focus on. Some of the suggestions that I have, about what to study include:
- pick a topic, research it, add to a DE online text book
- pick a topic, research it, add to a DE tutorial

Week 12 Things to Write: DE Topic and Research

The 21st Century, Technology, and Teaching


According to Kearsley, "the 21st century will bring tremendous advances in computers and networks, dramatically changing our daily lives- and how we learn or teach." Technology is changing our lives as educators and the lives of learners. Teachers can find any information they need about a topic they are teaching, on the web, then use the research to enhance a lesson they are teaching. Not only does the educator benefit, by presenting the topic with more knowledge, but the learner attains more information about the topic. There are many ways to improve instruction and learn using technology including:

Teacher-
power point presentations
online games
simulations

Student-
podcasts
video making
webquests
games/sims

These are only a few suggestions of ways that implementing technology enhances a lesson. The traditional classroom, was once prevalent, but is slowly being erased and replaced with online learning.

Week 12 Things to Write

Kearsley and Research

According to Kearsley, "the school-level impact of online learning depends on the characteristics of the students and the nature of the learning activities." Research proves that the more interaction students have with technology, the more availability there is for students to improve teaching activities. I have had a lot of practice using new types of technology by taking this class, which has shaped the way I teach content. I am creating online games, making presentations on the Smart Board, and coming up with projects for students to complete using technology. Educators and students are evolving now, more than ever. There are so many technological resources available to enhance learning and improve instruction.

Week 12 Things to Do

Blog and Gator

coolcatteacher@gmail.com (Victoria A Davis, Cool Cat Teacher)
Get Some Java and Spend Some Time with Jane in Java

I found a really neat article at Cool Cat Teacher, about spending time improving oneself, as an educator. This blog was about, an educator- Jane Ross, being an inspiration for teachers. I was very curious to see what ideas this person could offer that was so motivating. After reading a few of Ross's blogs, I began to understand. There were many great ideas that I found to use as an educator.

Blog by Ross:
Blog 1:1 in Practice at Sinarmas World Academy
link- http://1to1inpractice.blogspot.com/

I found this blog, by Jane, very interesting. This particular blog, discussed OOo4Kids or Open Office for Kids. Using this software application, students were able to complete podcasts and make images using, Artrage. This approach to learning is great. Students would be able to present a lesson on any topic to the class using this type of technology. I can see ways to integrate these podcasts into my classroom.

One of the other links I viewed was, an ebook about movie making for kids. This site was very popular and visited by many individuals. It would be a good learning experience for students to video themselves presenting information. Students can not only learn from their peers, but work on ways to improve their speaking skills and build confidence.

Viewing this article about Jane Ross, has opened up my eyes even more about ways to grow as an educator. We should always be researching ways to improve instruction. This educator, Jane Ross, is a motivated teacher. It is inspiring to read about an educator who shares their passion and enthusiasm for teaching so openly. This blog really made me think about ways to integrate these types of technology into my curriculum. Students' learning would be enhanced by the implementation of movie making and podcasts.

Week 11 Technology Flood

No floods this week, just a lot of work to be done! I find myself thinking, and thinking more about these questions each week. It is getting easier for me to answer them and see how I am no longer answering the questions objectively so much, but more subjectively.

Week 11 Ch. 4 Kearsley

This chapter discusses the research linked to online learning and teaching. Some of the research suggests that most students achieve and learn content effectively in online courses and online courses are effective as on-campus classes. I do agree with this research and think that student achievement depends upon the student. Just as in a traditional classroom, students will participate and complete work with as much effort as they are willing to put into the course. The case is the same for an online course, the student will participate and complete work with as much effort as they are willing to put into the class. The student make's the decision about how much they want to apply themselves during the time they are taking a course. The teacher-student interaction does not change, whether the student is taking an online class or working in a traditional classroom. The teacher and student still have ample amounts of time to conference and communicate during an online class, probably just as much, if not more time, than in a traditional classroom.

Week 11

Things to Write

2. Are the goals and objectives changed when you take a course online compared to classroom based instruction?

No, the goals and objectives are not changed. The goals and objectives depend on the teacher's course content. The way that there would be any variation for goals and objectives amongst different classes, whether online or in a traditional classroom, is dependant upon the goals/objectives set in place by the teacher. The content should be the consistent for a course that could be taught online or in a traditional classroom.

Week 11

Things to Write

1. Does the global nature of the web have an effect on evaluation?
Yes, the global nature of the web does have an effect on evaluating assignments for a course. Given that you can pull resources off the web to enhance an assignment, many things come into play during evaluation of class work. Some of the ways that using the web can help the student and the teacher during evaluations include:

Student - The web helps the student on assignments that will be evaluated by the instructor.
- The student can search additional websites for ideas, information, and assistance on assignments.
- The student can have discussions through IM, discussion boards, email, or blogs with teacher or classmates to collaborate and share ideas.

Teacher- The teacher can use the web to evaluate assignments completed by students.
- The teacher can search the web to get ideas on how to put assignments together, in ways that will enhance students' learning, as well as help them out with future evaluations.
- The teacher can collaborate and have discussions with faculty or students through IM, discussion boards, email, or blogs.

Week 11 Blog and Gator

Article from OLDaily
Reshaping Learning from the Ground Up
James Daly


This article was informative in the way that school , “is a system that is completely out of time, designed to produce industrial workers.” I do think this perspective is interesting, and makes me think about the ways we offer education to students. I do agree that we no longer need all students learning at the same pace, such as reading textbooks in the same way, at the same time. I think that textbooks should have diversity, offering a variety of information for students to choose from. Students are not all interested in the same content, so offering them books that have content that they are interested in, will enhance their interest to learn. Daly says we should “get the current system out of our heads.” I think that we have a concrete view that is a traditional stance on what school should be like for students. But I believe the classroom is evolving and teachers are finding more ways to diversify the instruction for students and encourage students to become active participants in their education.

Week 11

Blog and Gator

End of Year Evaluations
Remote Access Clarence Fisher

I really liked the perspective that Clarence Fisher had on “End of Year Evaluations.” I do agree that evaluations are a way to cover yourself. At work we have a great way to document reading and math progress through Star Reading and Star Math we administer three times a year. I do agree with Fisher, that if you have ongoing documentation of assessments, it is available to pull and show to administers or concerned parents. With the Star Reading and Star Math running records, there is always data available in reading and math, to pull and show to my administrator or concerned parents. There is so much emphasis put on evaluating data and analyzing data for new teachers, that it is overwhelming. My KTIP portfolio was completely stuffed, with data analysis in two monstrous binders. I had to choose two identified students and keep running records on them of their progress, as well as work on presenting and evaluating 3 lessons for my administrator, 3 lessons for my KTIP teacher, and 3 lessons for my college representative. There were several other things to complete for my portfolio including a project to create and manage school wide, that would enhance the school learning environment. I do agree with Fisher, that end of year evaluations are essential. Without them, you do not have documentation to cover yourself.

Week 11

Blog and Gator
Taking Stock of the First Six Months Beyond the Walls: I Had No Idea…Really…
Barbara Ganley
from Stephen's Web ~ OLDaily

I found this really interesting article on “Taking Stock on the First Six Months Beyond the Walls” by Ganley. Ganley evaluated the process of college students learning through “collaborative learning” and taking ownership of their learning. But, as she was leaving the classroom for other adventures to experience in education, she conjured up the thoughts that maybe this isn’t the way students learn, given that you have an “artificial environment.” Ganely compares the aspects of teaching in an academic environment, completely different from teaching outside of a classroom-type setting. In the real-world, working with non-profit organizations and the community, she feels that school was a “comfort confine.” I do agree that often school is comfortable, the teacher talks and the students listen. This year I have been challenging myself to be more creative as I teach, stepping away from whole group teaching and lecturing. I am integrating small groups, interactive play, manipulatives, investigations, technology exploration, and am finding my students growing and responding to these new learning options. It is not that I haven’t always used them in my classroom, just in moderation, given that the school day has a limited amount of teaching time. Working in an elementary school, it seems that you are always playing catch-up, but I like this new approach to learning. This article made me think, we can get too comfortable as educators in a school/academic setting.