Heidi's Hot Spot

Week 7 Reflection

2011-10-19T16:04:00.000-07:00

This class has reinforced my thoughts about social learning theory and cognitism theory. These theories are extremely important to learning. As instructors, we need to be aware of what they are and how our students can benefit from them. The theories that prove to work should be enforced in education. There are a few new things that I was introduced to that I think will encourage learning. Voice thread was one of them. Not that I will really use this but it could be very beneficial to a lot of instructors.

The instructional tools that I would like to implement are blogging and video conferencing. Most of my students don’t even know what a blog is. I would love to open up this door for them. I think once they see that they can have a personal blog site and set it up to their specifications; they will be very involved with it. The video conferencing won’t be used in my class but I would like to introduce the students to this to let them see what it’s about. I think being exposed to it will give them a heads up for what the real world is evolving to. I really feel that the more exposure students have to technology, the more comfortable they will feel when learning new things.

Two long-term goals changes that I would like to make are to implement blogging and video conferencing into my curriculum. The main issues I have with this are to get the curriculum developer and director to approve it. My curriculum is already designed with barely any time to introduce new information. I would need approval and software for the video conferencing. We usually have a few meetings each year in which we are encouraged to bring any suggestions to the table. I will start there. It will have to go through my director, school director, regional director, finally the corporate headquarters. This will be a long process. I can see, possibly, getting approval for the blogging but not sure they would foot the bill for the video conferencing cost.

Updated VT URL

2011-10-09T13:24:00.001-07:00

http://voicethread.com/#q.b2298561.i12189425

Week 5 VoiceThread

2011-10-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

http://voicethread.com/?#u2125539

Week 5 EDUC-6711I-4 Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology

2011-10-05T16:47:00.001-07:00

I feel that students will achieve more learning by using a combination of instructional strategies and social learning theories. Getting students involved to work in groups, individually, learning by experiment or an indirect method of learning will all encourage and support improve learning. If we have our students work in groups, each can offer their own unique qualities and input. This can help other students by listening to other ideas that they may have never thought of. There are many methods of collecting and sharing data. Our students can work together in a classroom or over the internet. Our ways of communicating have enhanced over the last 10 years, learning is becoming versatile. Technology is making our lives easier and richer.

Students need to be able to retain what they learn. It is not always what you learn but how you learn that can make a difference. I have a great example that my daughter just shared with me this morning. She is taking a college psychology class. For the entire 2.5 hours of class, the instructor shows a PPT that is basically pictures and phrases from the book sitting in from of her. My daughter wanted to take a Sudoku puzzle to class with her so she would not get bored. I told her that she needs to pay attention and learn what the instructor is saying. Her defense was that she reads it in the book so it doesn’t make a difference if she pays attention or not. WOW..this irritated me. Not towards my daughter but this college professor is teaching psychology and is a massive bore. She doesn’t stimulate the students and she is very monotone and boring. This is a good example of what not to do while teaching. I wish I could have a talk with her about this but it’s not really my place. Yes, it’s very frustrating to see this happening to my own child while I am learning how to make learning more stimulating.

Week 4 EDUC-6711I-4 Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology

2011-09-28T15:56:00.001-07:00

I feel that to completely understand something, you have to work it. You can listen to lecture all day but not really have the full effect of something until it is experienced. In my reading for this week, a group of students had to collect pH readings from various areas. These were compared to normal rain water. The students had a chance to collect the samples, give a hypothesis on projected pH levels, and view the actual levels. Had they simply read about the test in a text, it wouldn’t have had as much of an impact on them. It was more interesting and retained their interest because they were involved. When their predictions were not as they had predicted, thoughts were sparked and questions were asked. These questions may have never arisen had they not been exposed to the actual testing of the water. “Their findings lead to further hypotheses and more inquiry” (Pitler, 2007, p. 211). Learning is certainly an active process that needs to be encouraged by doing projects and forcing students to think critically.

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E. R., Kuhn, M., Malenoski, K. (2007). Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that works. Denver: McRel.

EDUC-6711I-4 Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology Week 3

2011-09-21T17:03:00.001-07:00

Using cues or questions will prompt the students to rely on their memory to recall things they had previously learned. I liked the example in the book about giving the student as assignment before a field trip. This method can be great for recalling information. “If you are taking your students on a field trip, have them conduct research on the Internet beforehand and create a simple brochure using word processing software. The brochure might contain useful information that students can refer to during the trip, including maps, facts, and pictures” (Pitler,2007). The book had many great examples on how to use cues and questions to make students aware of facts before they even get into the lesson. Giving them a little history on the subject, or having them create a brochure with useful facts about a subject will allow them a chance to learn before the actual lesson takes places, so they think. Making a fun assignment out of it will not make it seem like such a task but rather a fun project. Little do they realize that we are setting them up for a better learning/retention experience.

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E. R., Kuhn, M., Malenoski, K. (2007). Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that works. Denver: McRel.

EDUC-6711I-4 Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology Week 2

2011-09-14T15:51:00.001-07:00

“Reinforcing Efforts” immediately made me think of Skinners theory reinforcements. What we are trying to tell the student is if you put in effort, you will reap the benefits of the knowledge (positive reinforcement). If you don’t put in the effort, you will basically not learn anything (negative reinforcement). Same holds true for the ”Homework and Practice”. According to the generalizations “If homework is assigned, it should be commented upon” (Pitler, 2007, p. 187). If we are encouraging our students to do the homework so they have a deeper understanding of what they have learned, it should be acknowledged. If it is not commented on, it is almost like a punishment. If they actually get a deeper understanding of the subject they are studying from doing the homework, that in itself is a huge reward. They may not fully be aware of it at that moment so we need to take that opportunity to comment on it and give them praise. This is certainly positive reinforcement that will give the students more inspiration to learn and keep doing their work.

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E.R., Kuhn, M, Malenoski, K. (2007). Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works.

Week 7 Reflection

2011-08-09T16:02:00.001-07:00

Step 1: For your final blog posting, respond to the following questions:

• In what ways has this course helped you to develop your own technology skills as a professional teacher?

This course has forced me to take a look at what shortcomings my class has and how to approach it by using technology. Since my students are not very knowledgeable about computers, I thought blogging would be a good start. This introduces them to a different world. They can see their own work online and give them a chance to be heard. This could inspire many of them to learn more about technology.

• In what ways have you deepened your knowledge of the teaching and learning process?

I have learned to get on the students’ level and see things from their eyes. I am always surrounded by technology so I tend to think that everyone should be too. I have learned that it will take patience and time to teach new things to beginners.

• In what ways have you changed your perspective from being teacher-centered to learner-centered?

Not all students learn the same. Not all students will learn the way you do. Teachers MUST learn to adapt to different learning styles and cater to all types of learners. We need to go outside of our teaching comfort and expand our teaching methods. Teachers did not do this when I was younger but I will not make that mistake. There are so many ways to teach. We must remember that not all students will learn at the same rate or the same ways. We must adapt to them, not them to us.

• In what ways can you continue to expand your knowledge of learning, teaching, and leading with technology with the aim of increasing student achievement?

Keeping abreast of all new technology that emerges, take classes, implement new technology in the classroom. Find out what interests the students and try to find an interesting way to teach using those methods.

Step 2: Set two long-term goals (within two years) for transforming your classroom environment by which you may have to overcome institutional or systemic obstacles in order to achieve them. How do you plan to accomplish these goals?

I would like to implement new lessons into my curriculum. These would be using blogsites and podcasts. I would have to get permission from the main offices in VA. If I am able to do this, I’m sure they would make this mandatory at all of the campus locations. We have strict rules and all classes must offer the same. We have to stick with what we are told to teach. I will express the need for this because students will have a better chance at success in the working world if they are more versatile with a computer. These 2 features are used quite often by organizations so I think it will start a solid foundation to their skill set.

Step 3: Refer to your checklist from Week 1. Have any of your answers changed after completing this course?

My answers have really not changed, they were only enforced.

Week 5 Podcast

2011-07-31T16:27:00.000-07:00

This is the link for my podcast.

http://podcastmachine.com/podcasts/10728

Week 4 Evaluating 21st-Century Skills

2011-07-19T15:57:00.000-07:00

I think the idea is great. Students do need “real” skills to survive in the world. With the partnerships between the government, schools, and educational leaders, there are valid points for this program to be devised. Students need more than we needed 20 years ago. Our leaders were able to see that there is a great need for this in early years. Preparing our students early on will make them better prepared for work or college.

A local college has done something similar to motive an encourage student in jr. high to go into manufacturing. The college has partnered up with local manufactures, because Cleveland, OH is a huge manufacturing area, and go to schools throughout surrounding counties to promote this. They not only try to recruit students, but there parents too. If the parents understand the need and opportunities, they can encourage their kids. They want people to start thinking of manufacturing in a new light. People tend to think of old manufacturing way, hard labor, little pay, no future, etc. Manufacturing has changed with technology. Machines are computerized and we need skilled people to maintain them. Everything from office help to engineers. These kids are given the opportunity to get free college and apprenticeship opportunities after they graduate. They have such a shortage in this field, leaders have come up with this idea to see if things may change. The college was given a grant for one year to see if this takes off.

Like this site, there is a need and changes are being implemented to encourage the changes. What surprises me is that not more states are doing this. It seems that some states are offering more than others. Maybe this site can be used so they can learn from each other.

Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (n.d.). A Report and Mile Guide for 21st Century Skills. Washington DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.p21.org/images/stories/otherdocs/p21up_Report.pdf

Week 2 EDUC-6710I-4 Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society

2011-07-05T15:33:00.001-07:00

One way that I would use a blog for my classroom is to share news about new technologies that are emerging. The students will have a chance to read about it in my blog and decide if they want to look further into it. I would also offer website that they could visit to get more information on the topics. Each week, I would choose a newly emerged topic and share. Like this, I will be able to keep myself education too. It would solely serve as a means for new ideas, education, and they could also leave comments/questions. This could certainly be a place to share ideas and thoughts with everyone who reads it. I would also incorporate some of my lesson plans into the blogs as well. The things that I find it most difficult for students to relate to would be posted. This could help them get additional help if needed.

I teach basic computer use at a college level. A lot of my students are not familiar with a computer at all. Anywhere they could seek additional input would be a great feature for them. For instance, I could post how to google a topic. You would be surprised at how many people still do not know how to do this. I think my blog would be highly beneficial for my classroom. Most don’t even know what a blog is so this would be a lesson within a lesson.

EDUC-6710I-4 Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society

2011-07-03T05:56:00.000-07:00

Integrating technology is the classroom is starting to be a huge topic. I am starting a new class on this topic and will use my blog to discuss every aspect of this topic. I will post periodically. Feel free to leave comments or questions. I look forward to the discussion on this great topic.

Week 6/Analyzing Scope Creep

2010-12-08T16:33:00.001-08:00

Blog Assignment: Analyzing Scope Creep
Describe a project, either personal or professional, that experienced issues related to scope creep. What specific scope creep issues occurred? How did you or other stakeholders deal with those issues at the time? Looking back on the experience now, had you been in the position of managing the project, what could you have done to better manage these issues and control the scope of the project?

I have a personal experience in which I was the client. During my undergrad studies, the school I attended was implementing online classes. Up until this point, they only offered traditional and telecourse learning. After working on this project for a year, the school finally offered an online class. They taught they were fully prepared for it until the class actually started. There were too many glitches in the system. The blackboard was not working properly, it was impossible to submit work and the discussion board was not functioning properly. After two weeks, the students and the school was frustrated. Once it was determined that the online class was a disaster, the school gave all of the students a refund or let them transfer into a traditional class. Of course, as students we were very displeased because we wanted the convenience of the online class but there was not much that we could do but wait. After months of restructuring, they attempted another online class. This class took off without a glitch. After the first successful online class, they started offering a lot more classes.

“For project managers, the key to setting up a monitoring system is to identify the special characteristics of performance, cost, and time that need to be controlled in order to achieve the project goals as stated in the project plan” (Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton & Kramer, 2008, p. 318). Perhaps the project was not given enough time that was needed to make sure it ran smoothly. Maybe the PM was not experienced in this area. Whatever the reasons were, the project was not tested enough.

Had I been in charge of this project, I would have executed a pilot program. The first class should have been tested before it was offered to students. I would have completed a great deal of research on other schools that were successful with their online courses. It may have been possible to offer a class, free of charge, to employees so they could have tested it before it went public.

For every online class that I have taken, surveys are required at the end of the class. These are good tools to analyze what works well and what doesn’t work well. By using these, they can determine what works well for the students, since they are the paying clients, and make improvements based on those surveys.

Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). Project management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Week 5/Blog Assignment: Estimating Costs and Allocating Resources

2010-12-01T13:46:00.000-08:00

http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=383854

This site not only explains the importance of estimating costs but it explains how to get there. It explains the importance of variances and how to reach a realistic number without randomly pulling it out of thin air. They note that three of the most important estimates types that PM should rely on are: ballpark estimates, budget of top-down estimates, definitive or bottom-down estimate. Not only does it tell you what types are crucial but it also gives you explanations and examples of each. I am not an experienced ID so this website would be a great tool to utilize.

http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/55091.aspx

This site gives examples of estimating techniques for projects. It has some of the same ideas as the other site I found but also a few new ones. They fully explain analogous estimating, resource cost rates estimating and bottom-up estimating. They thoroughly explain each technique and emphasize that you should use more than one technique, don’t solely rely on one. They also use the example of the WBS, which is something that I am now familiar with. Very helpful features that they offered were the hyperlinks. They offer more insight to what they are explaining, if you need that extra insight.

Week 5/Blog Assignment: Estimating Costs and Allocating Resources

2010-12-01T13:35:00.001-08:00

http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=383854

http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/55091.aspx

This site gives examples of estimating techniques for projects. It has some of the same ideas as the other site I found but also a few new ones. They fully explain analogous estimating, resource cost rates estimating and bottom-up estimating. They thoroughly explain each technique and emphasize that you should use more than one technique, don’t solely rely on one. They also use the example of the WBS, which is something that I am now familiar with. Very helpful features that they offered were the hyperlinks. which is something that I am now familiar with. Very helpful features that they offered were the hyperlinks. They offer more insight to what they are explaining, if you need that extra insight.

Communicating Effectively

2010-11-18T08:39:00.000-08:00

Week 3/Communicating Effectively

EDUC-6145-1 Project Management in Education and Training

There were three versions of communication that I viewed. Everyone has their personal preferences as to how they want to receive a message. What works well for one person may not work as well for another. Some people are stimulated more by visual cues, others by audio. With that being said, here are my thoughts:

The text version of the message works the best for me because it offers visual cues. She could have included a subject line. “Email subject lines need to do exactly the same thing! Use a few well-chosen words, so that the recipient knows at a glance what the email is about” (Mind Tools, 2010). Having an email allows someone to view it and have a reminder in front of them. “Consistent, well-organized communication increases the likelihood that your message will be received and understood by other” (Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, Sutton & Kramer, 2008, p. 371). It was formally written and to the point.

I think there was too much information to put into a voicemail. It seemed to run on. She was very monotone, a bit boring. There are no visual cues at all and this can make the message less effective. It was a formal, professional voicemail but it was a bit unforgettable to me.

The face-to-face communication was the most unprofessional form of communication. It was approached in an informal manner and her body language was interpreted like she was just having a casual conversation with the person in the next cubicle. If someone came to me like this, I would not have taken her message as urgent. She was hesitating and acted a little backwards and unsure of herself.

The best forms of communication will offer specific details, be formally delivered, and have a lasting effect. The more detailed you are, the less confusion there will be with the receiver(s) of the message. I’m always a little hesitant on leaving a voicemail because you never know if it was received. With an email, you can choose to be notified if the receiver opened it. You have to choose whichever means of communication works best for you but you need to keep in mind what is the better method of delivery for everyone involved.

Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). Project Management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Writing Effective Emails. (2010). Retrieved on November 16, 2010, from http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/EmailCommunication.htm

Week 2/ Learning from a Project “Post-mortem”

2010-11-09T08:40:00.001-08:00

EDUC-6145-1 Project Management in Education and Training

Week 2

Learning from a Project “Post-mortem”

• What processes, project artifacts, or activities did you include in the project that contributed to its success?

I am going to elaborate on a personal project that I attempted about eight months ago. This self-project was to get in competition shape. I do not wish to compete in body building but want to look the part. My workout regimen was already in play, I have been working out for 18 years. To start this project, I did a lot of research to implement different training routines and better nutrition. For the first month, I did more circuit training, stopped eating anything enriched, hydrogenated, no fast-food and no junk food. After a month of sticking to the nutrition plan, I caved in and went back to my regular eating habits. I attempted this project with little knowledge of what is really takes to be successful at what my goals where. Reading a few articles does not prepare someone for a project such as this. Some people believe that you have to eat less and train more. ON the contrary, you have to eat more often (smaller meals) and train in moderation not excessiveness. You also need to know how to train. If you spend two hours a day in a gym working out, doesn’t mean that you are doing what you should be doing. There really is a science to it. A lot of research and studying fitness needs to be completed before attempting a project like this.

• What processes, project artifacts, or activities did you not include in the project that might have made the project more successful?

For the last three weeks, I have started a similar project. I have implemented new workout routines but have recruited outside help. I am not a personal trainer so from my last failed attempted, I realized that I needed someone who is qualified to work with me on nutrition and training. I thought that I only had to eat more fruits and veggies to be healthier. It’s not as simple as that. Since I have been working with a trainer, I have discovered that a lot of fruit isn’t good for you because of the sugar content and no consumption of fruit after 2 pm. I have to eat 5-6 times a day, including certain foods at certain times. There are no starches after 4 pm, and I implemented portion control. I always knew that nutrition was the key but I could never do it because I am not a fan of fruits and veggies. Having a better understanding of what is needed to reach success, I have been able to adapt easier this time. My pallet has opened this time around; I have someone giving me advice and encouragement. This project will be a life long commitment.

The results are more satisfying now then they were last time I attempted this. I know I am doing the right things and I can already see a transition in myself. Not only will I reap the benefits of looking how I want to look but I will be healthy doing it.

Greer, M. (2010). The Project Management Minimalist: Just Enough PM to Rock Your Projects! (Laureate Custom Ed.). Baltimore: Laureate Education, Inc.

Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B. E. (2008). Project Management: Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling Projects. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Project Management in Education and Training (EDUC - 6145 - 1)

2010-11-07T16:40:00.000-08:00

I will be using this forum to post my blogs for Project Management in Education and Training (EDUC - 6145 - 1). I look forward to working with all my followers!

Week 7/Converting to a Distance Learning Format

2010-10-24T07:51:00.000-07:00

I have created a PowerPoint Presentation that displays how to convert face-to-face learning to distance learning. It gives details on what to consider before you start the conversion and what will change or enhance with distance learning.

Week 5-The Impact of Open Source

2010-10-07T11:18:00.001-07:00

The Impact of Open Source

I chose to review http://oyc.yale.edu/. I didn’t even know that sites like this existed. This site offers great features that can help you decided if online school is the best thing for you. Although some things are different from classes I have taken online, it’s basically the same idea. There must be clarity, it should be user-friendly, and the site is not congested with too much information.

• Does the course appear to be carefully pre-planned and designed for a distance learning

environment? How so?

Yes, course does seem to be carefully pre-planned. The best feature, in my opinion, is that each class had the option of learning using three different methods; listen to lecture, read a transcript of lecture, or watch a video. I have never seen this offered before. Knowing to do this lets me know that the designer had in mind that they wanted to try to satisfy different learning styles.

• Does the course follow the recommendations for online instruction as listed in your course

textbook?

The course does follow the recommendation for online instruction. It offers a syllabus, sections are broke down by chapter, and you can read, listen to or watch the lecture. These features are wonderful to have because of the different learning styles. The course requirements were clearly stated in the syllabus. Required texts, grading policy, exams and reading requirements. The only thing that I could not find was the discussion area. Discussion assignments were required in some classes but it was not available. “Detailed assignment instructions are imperative. Each component of an instructor’s grading scheme should have its own document easily locatable within the course website” (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek, 2009, p. 249). It was very detailed and for online classes, clarity is extremely necessary because it’s not as easy as raising your hand to get an answer. .

• Did the course designer implement course activities that maximize active learning for the

students?

There were activities in the form of problem set/reading assignments. There were also answers that are available to check your own work. The course offered instructor notes and websites that the instructors created. There were also mid-terms and solutions available.

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education (4th Ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Distance Learning Technologies

2010-09-24T08:38:00.001-07:00

Example 3: Asynchronous Training

In an effort to improve its poor safety record, a biodiesel manufacturing plant needs a series of safety training modules. These stand-alone modules must illustrate best practices on how to safely operate the many pieces of heavy machinery on the plant floor. The modules should involve step-by-step processes and the method of delivery needs to be available to all shifts at the plant. As well, the shift supervisors want to be sure the employees are engaged and can demonstrate their learning from the modules.

My solution:

I would utilize a combination of asynchronous and face-to-face learning for this training program. I would design a self-paced module that would allow employees to log on and complete the work when it was convenient for them. I would set deadlines so the employees had some type of structure and can manage their time accordingly. The self-paced portion of the program would be educational scenarios followed by short quizzes. The quiz questions would reflect the safety procedures that must be demonstrated at work. Once the employees completed this step with success, I would then have small groups of employees meet in a face-to-face setting. This meeting would include going over the self-paced learning module questions, ensuring that everyone is educated on safety. Following the small meeting, I would arrange that each individual employee take a mandatory training test using the heavy machinery, displaying the safety procedures that have learned. Once they have completed this last task, they would be rewarded with a certificate of safety training completion.

“The obvious advantage of a self-paced course is convenience. People can get the training they need at any time. This can include just-in-time training where a person gets exactly the training he or she needs to perform a task” (e-learning, 2010). This type of course can be offered by means of intranet, internet, DVD or CD rom. I would most likely use the intranet for the program. The program would offer videos, tracking of your progress, interactive lessons, and highlighting features. “Asynchronous distance learning often relies on technology such as message boards, email, pre-recorded video lectures, mp3s, and traditional mail correspondence” (Littlefield, 2010). This method allows students to take as long as they want to ponder on the information in front of them, they can also do this on their own time which is one of the highlights of this type of learning.

Many colleges are using this type of instruction, Lakeland Community College, University of Phoenix, and Cuyahoga Community College. They are getting more popular and are continuing to grow at a rapid rate. I believe that the more common they become, more companies will utilized the method for training their employees too.

E-learning consulting (2010). Retrieved on September 24, 2010, from http://www.e-learningconsulting.com/consulting/what/asynchronous.html

Littlefield, J. (2010). Synchronous Distance Learning vs. Asynchronous Distance Learning. Retrieved on September 24, 2010, from http://distancelearn.about.com/od/choosingaschool/p/LearningTypes.htm

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education (4th Ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Mind Map

2010-09-10T11:34:00.001-07:00

Evolution of Distance Learning

2010-09-10T09:45:00.000-07:00

Evolution of Distance Learning

Distance learning is the ability to attend schooling without the hassle of traveling to and from a bricks and mortar institution. From my observation, I have noticed that a lot more schools are offering distance learning, K-12 up to universities. One thing I learned is that teachers like this method because it creates more communication in some instances. “Teachers benefit by having potentially greater contact with students who are not normally communicative in a face-to-face classroom” (Moller, Foshay, & Huett, 2008).

When I first started online schooling, I was nervous to post to the discussion area because I never thought my work was good enough. I was one person who never spoke up in class too. After getting comfortable with discussion boards, I am not nervous about speaking up, being the first one to post, it has even given me confidence to speak up outside of the classroom. I have become more confident because of it.

Distance learning is not only attending school online but it’s a whole new world. Learning to communicate, work in groups, meet new people, and learn from others by reading their posts. We would not have the ability to read other students posts if we were in a traditional classroom setting, so in some ways, online schooling is more productive than the traditional school.

Distance learning will continue to evolve as long as technology keeps changing. It needs to be updated; enhanced, and revised as new technology emerges that will make a positive change in that area. If it were not updated to keep up with technology, it would fall behind and eventually not be able to compete with other programs. “The No Child Left Behind Act requires states to offer alternative schooling options to students attending schools that fail to make adequate yearly progress” (Moller, Foshay, & Huett, 2008). This is probably a big reason computer-based home schooling has soared.

What we have seen emerge over the last 10 years will not compare to what we will see in the future. Technology is all around us and we need to adapt or be left behind. Right now, I sit at the table typing this. In 10 years, will I be speaking my work into my phone for it to be automatically typed into a doc? Only time will tell but I welcome any changes because it’s exciting.

Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the web (Part 1: Training and development). TechTrends, 52(3), 70–75.

Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the web (Part 2: Higher education). TechTrends, 52(4), 66–70.

Huett, J., Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Coleman, C. (2008). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the web (Part 3: K12). TechTrends, 52(5), 63–67.

Reflection

2009-12-27T17:22:00.001-08:00

This course has enlightened me to a few things in regards to educational technology, learning styles, and learning theories. The most amazing things that I have learned are the growth of technology and how this can be used in the world of education. Technology has grown in enormous amounts over the last 10 years and we will probably always see growth.

I have taken courses in the past that have exposed me to different learning styles so there wasn’t really anything surprising to me in this course. One new learning style that I was introduced to was adult learning. I was not aware that adult learning was actually a learning style. Being an adult learner, I can attest to this theory as being accurate. Attributes of motivation, self-directedness, life experiences, and the desire to learn must be present for adult learning to be successful. I certainly feel that I am successful in the aspect of adult learning. I have completed one online Master’s degree, and I am now working on number two. Most people that I know would not last one week with online learning because of the dedication and motivation that is necessary.

To keep up on technology, we must constantly be learning. We can also use technology for teaching students. When I attended high school, we only had one computer to share among the entire classroom. Now, classrooms have multiple computers. If the students of today aren’t computer savvy, they will surely be left behind in the real world. There is so much available online to gather information, even to gather real time information. This can be very useful for research projects, homework, just about anything that we want to learn. There are so many ways that people learn, we can utilize many different learning tools from the multitude of possibilities that the internet gives us.

This course has made me realize that I need to offer different ways of learning to my class. Some might be visual learners more so than audio learners. Some may learn better by repetition and others may learn better by watching. Knowing how each learning style learners and what works better for each learner, will assist me when creating a syllabus. I can approach it with all basis covered so I will have less confusion from the students. If only my instructors were aware of this in the beginning of my learning journey.

Fitting the pieces together

2009-12-20T14:32:00.000-08:00

How my view has changed on how I learn

I now have a deeper understanding of the different type of learning theories influence how I learn. Some of the theories are learned from repetition, cultural background, mimicking behaviors, or through experience. It’s interesting to see how certain parts of the brain process information. I can actually be a better learner by understanding how the brain functions and what functions work best for me. Not everyone learns the same way so understanding your personal learning attributes can be a positive factor in learning.

Personal learning preference

I have learned that my learning styles are based on repetition, hands-on, and through experience. I believe that I learn from best utilizing these theories; cognitive, constructivism, connectivism, and adult learning. Adult learning theory was new to me. I had never been exposed to this theory, prior to taking this class. It holds a great deal of truth to it. Because I am an adult learner, the description of this theory fits me. I am very goal oriented and driven.

The role technology plays in my learning

Since I am an online learning, technology is a much needed tool. I would not be able to function efficiently without my computer, cell phone, iPod, and many other little devices I use. On top of those things, there are many tools that I use on the computer such as schooling, research, email, applying for work, paying bills, banking, reading the daily newspaper, purchasing items, even reserving movies in the red box. I use sites such as monster, CareerBuilder, and yahoo jobs to post my resume. These features give many employers access to my resume. When search for work, online search sites have become extremely useful. You have the ability to look in any part of the world.

I would not be able to attend school if online schooling was not available. I’m sure many other adults would not be able to either. Since online schooling has become available, it has grown tremendously. I have learned a lot about different software and internet tools (blogging and discussion boards) since I have started online school. Not only did I learn to navigate through my home page for my schooling but the assignments open up an entire new world of learning. Learning how to create my own blog, teleconferencing, and constructing my own PowerPoint are only a few of the many tools I have mastered.

Connectivism

2009-12-04T19:04:00.001-08:00

The digital tools that enhance my learning are; internet (all aspects online tools), iPod, cell phone, Microsoft software, Abode software, laptop, and digital camera. All of these tools that I have mentioned are of great use to me. Two of my favorite digital tools are PowerPoint and Teleconferencing. I had exposure to both during my undergrad years. Both tools are pertinent to the working world, and I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from using these things. Teleconferencing has grown so much over the last 10 years and it saves time and money on traveling. I had no knowledge of this tool prior to my college career. We had to create PowerPoint presentations and present them to the entire class. The presentations had to be emailed to each of the classmates and the instructor. For the meeting, we had to call a phone number that was given to us, enter a code, and from there we entered the teleconference. We were able to view each PowerPoint presentation as the person gave their verbal presentation. It was a great learning experience, and I would not mind doing this at work. From learning PowerPoint, I was able to prepare a great presentation for an interview I recently had. I was excitement and pleased that I was actually able to put it together, and it looked great.

For any questions that I have, I immediately look it up online. With such advanced technology, we no longer have to drive to the local library for needed information. Almost anything that you need is available from a few clicks of a mouse and a keyboard. Digital tools have made life more convenient, comfortable, and they offer instant gratification. GPS, what other devices offers instant directions?

I completely support use of digital tools for learning. With the never-ending growth of technology, we will continue to see more tools geared to online learning. For the most part, we can learn without the cost of traveling, we can pretty much learn from the comfort of our own homes. More organizations are implementing digital tools too. Telecommuting, teleconferencing, and email are some things that are cost effective and very beneficial.

Connectivism

2009-12-01T18:19:00.000-08:00

The Brain and Learing Theories

2009-11-12T12:38:00.001-08:00

Introduction to Problem Solving Skills

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_00.htm

I found this interesting information on the, Mind Tools, Essential skills for an excellent career, website. This approach is designed for solving and avoiding business problems. Instead of feeling hopeless about a negative situation, they offer tools to enhance your problem solving abilities. They help you learn to understand your business strategy techniques so you can recognize risks and work out a plan to face them and move forward. Utilizing an Affinity, Systems and Cause and Effect diagrams are also used to categorize issues so they can be appropriately handled. They use a variety of methods to increase learning so your company will survive and be successful.

Brain and Learing Theories

2009-11-12T12:22:00.001-08:00

The Information-Processing Theory of Mind

http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/pdf?vid=9&hid=4&sid=d7df63e2-a134-4c96-9d96-b0fe5fc45300%40sessionmgr12

This article was written in 1995 by Herbert Simon, psychologist. This article explains ways to break down problems before we can actually think about how to solve it. We have to be able to symbolize it in our minds either verbally or pictorially. There have been a lot of developments over the last 35 years that he has witnessed. He feels that instead of wondering if computer programs can stimulate thinking, all the new theories should continue to be tested as they were years ago. If they need adjusted, adjust them, and explore with them by creating new tasks that have not yet been utilized.

2009-11-06T17:20:00.000-08:00

Experiencing E-Learning

Brief overview of blog #1

The jist of the blog was to inform people of what an Instructional Designer does. It also identifies what tools are helpful to help students learn.

Critique
Christy’s experience with Instructional design consisted of writing, web design, creating graphics, and learning how to help people learn. She believes that it is crucial to have students practice as they are learning. I agree with this 100%. If you aren’t able to actively practice, you might not completely understand what you’re trying to learn. ID’s are trying to make learning most beneficial to the recipient so they need to develop ways of learning that stimulate the different types of learners.

Christy Tucker
http://christytucker.wordpress.com/2007/05/26/what-does-an-instructional-designer-do/
_____________________________________________________________

What Everybody Ought to Know About Instructional Design

Brief overview of blog #2

This blog stresses the importance of learning how to get through unnecessary information and get a clear understanding of crucial information. If we don’t learn how to focus on the important factors, important information can be overlooked. As ID’s, if we aren’t able to grasp it, we will miss out on passing that tool onto our learners.

Critique
The blog was very interesting; he posted a video to it. There were some important messages in the video that could be overlooked, if we didn’t know what to look for. It was interesting because for most people, watching the video for the first time, who knows what they might focus on. If you’re focuses too much on one thing, you might be missing a lot of other things that are going on. It’s very true how he explains the reasoning for importance of ID’s. A lot of unaware people could be wasting tons of time trying to dissect a scenario to determine the important information they are supposed to draw from it. As I.D’s, we are here to help them. We know how to guide them so they aren’t wasting.

Tom Kuhlmann
http://www.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/what-everybody-ought-to-know-about-instructional-design/
_________________________________________________________
The Essential Tools For The Connected Teacher

Brief overview for blog #3

This blogs expresses that utilizing the right tools; teachers can take their teaching to the next level. He touched down on a lot of tools that will enhance learning for the students and empower the teachers with more knowledge.

Critique
Steven starts by saying that communication is the key. I couldn’t agree with this more. He feels that classroom websites will help the parents, students, community, and the teachers stay connected. These websites are great ideas. My local school district currently utilizes this method and it works out wonderfully. He also likes using blogs to get messages out there. This is such as asset because parents can keep track of what their kids are doing. A lot of kids may not be able to explain work to their parents so having this blog or website can help the parents get first-hand knowledge of what’ s going on.

Steven W. Anderson
http://www.educatorsroyaltreatment.com/2009/11/the-essential-tools-for-the-connected-teacher-part-1.html