The Awards Show

Every season ends with award shows, the Emmys, the Academy awards, the Tony, etc.  So why not our class.  I stubbled on to this site this morning and thought it was a perfect way to end this class.  It is a award show of sorts for internet technology.  I wanted to share this site not so much for submitting for the awards, although you could, but more because it has the last several years worth of award winners and these have a lot of good information.

http://edublogawards.com/

I really have enjoyed learning from all of you and hope to learn with you all again!

John

My Final Project

Well as we come to an end of this course, I am posting my final project.  I created a student resource website.  This is a place for my students to find information about their classes, resources for learning, and a little bit about me.

Here is the URL, it is rough...but this is my first website ever...
http://profluke.homestead.com/untitled.html

John

A new tool

I had someone show me a great site.  http://www.wordle.net/

This would be a great site.  To use with students who want to learn terminology or do a creative project on a topic. 

I could see using this in my Intro to Economics class where there is a ton of terminology.  If one believes in multiple intelligences or at least preferences then this would appeal to the visual learner.

To PowerPoint or Not?

In class we discussed effective instruction and how many intructors use too much PowerPoint as the focus of their instruction versus as a tool. 

When looking for resources to add items for the distance learning page on the class wiki site I found other ways to use PowerPoint.

http://facstaff.uww.edu/jonesd/games/

http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/PPT-games/

Both of these sites have resources that you can use PowerPoint for they are mostly games to reinforce content.

John

A fun new site

I was examining some resources that are in a online professional development course that I am taking for one of the schools that I teach at and found a treasure trove of resources.  The professional development courses ties in with our topic of using technology in the classroom. 

Anyway I found a cute tool that is more for entertainment than education, but it might have educational applications as well.   http://www.xtranormal.com/   Xtranormal takes what you type and allows you to create an animated movie.  I thought this might be a fun way to do a class introduction or something of that nature.

Google the world

We studied a lot of different apps this term in our class and many of them revolved Google.  Many people do not know about most of these applications, I am sure I didn't.  But I have since started using many of these on a regular basis.  Google Calendar is amazing and helps me keept track of what needs done for each of my jobs.  Google Docs is a great way to store documents to work on at various place without remembering to pack my flash drive.  I tend to keep exploring these.

In addition there are many different add ons and enhancements that come to assist in making these Google tools and other better.  Some are from private developers and some times from Google.  In my feeds I came across http://chrome.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-chrome-extensions-by-google.html and article that google released several new extension that are official enhancement.

So even more to explore!

John

Wikinomics Part 2

News Flash there is a follow up book to Wikinomics.  I received this in a feed this morning.  I then went to the book's website.  http://www.macrowikinomics.com/about/.  This book take the ideas of collaboration that were the key to the first book and applies them to the society and world as a whole. 

The site advertises it as "Macrowikinomics offers nothing less than a game plan for all of us to fix a broken world" (http://www.macrowikinomics.com/about/).

I have ordered mine.

John

Gmail Enhancements

Lifehacker had an article today about enhancements that Gmail is making to their platform.  http://lifehacker.com/5684224/compose-gmail-messages-with-cc-and-bcc-with-semi+secret-shortcuts?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lifehacker%2Ffull+%28Lifehacker%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

It also led to this shortcut link: http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2010/11/undocumented-gmail-shortcuts-for.html

We use gmail or some other client like it is our third hand.  As a distance educator email is my primary method of communicating with my students.  How effective is what I type.  I have gotten feedback that perhaps I am too direct in emails and do not add enough feel good fluff.  Effective communciation via email is it possible or is it a matter of interpretation.

Netiquette for Social Media

My post today is based on a article that was sent to me in regard to a style guide for Twitter.  http://www.socialmediatoday.com/briansolis/227651/trick-or-tweet-meet-new-twitter-styleguide?utm_source=smt_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

This made me start thinking, when we start a new term we remind the students of Netiquette in the online classroom.  It includes the basics show respect to others, don't type in all caps, stay on topic etc.  But what about social media?  This could be two fold if you are incorporating social media into your instructional strategy or even if you are just looking at it from a personal point of view. 

As educator we have a reputation to uphold and a certain expectation of decorum, but what about outside the class and in social media?  Robin mention in class how she uses various social media for different purposes, there are people that she share information with on a professional level, but would never imagine friending them on Facebook.  I am somewhat the same way in the limited social media spectrum that I have been experimenting with this term.  I have a linkedin account that I use for professional networking etc.  But I would never think of befriending those same folks on Facebook.  Facebook is a social outlet for my friends and acquaintances to discuss anything under the son, many of which would not be approriate for a business collegue to see.  Nothing too terrible but people sometimes for opinions based on what they see and hear. 

Just my thught for the day!

Facebook and other Social Tools

I was reviewing my Lifehecker posts today and there were several posts about facebook and how these social networking tools have influences on relationships.  One of the feeds was about a tool that would show you who has unfriended you on Facebook.  This article had me thinking about using social networking as part of my total education strategy.  I think I will look at it as an optional tool.  I have found that many of the students that I have been teaching from the community colleges this term have struggle with using the platform, thus to require them to learn other technology may be a bit much.  Although truth be known they most likely know more about FB and Twitter than educational technology.

John

Successful Blogging

The social media newsletter I get weekly had a really good article about what it takes to have a successful blog.  Granted this is if people are not doing it casually but are trying to build a serious readership, etc.  but still good information.  Article

This article made me think why applications could I use blogging for as an educator?  I thought of several uses that I wanted to share.  First I would need to decide if I had seperate blogs for each subject area, i.e computers versus account and business.  I think with my current work load more than one would not be feasible. 

Then I thought how would I draw students in, I decided there must be a way with the site I am building for my project to incorporate a blog in there.  even if it is just a link to this blog or another blog site.  I could post an announcement on the webpage when there is something new available and provide the link.

Then the third question I thought about and am still thinking about is content.  Do I want this to be directly related to academics, like this is my post about how to write a paper or do citations?  Or do I use it more to share announcements and happenings, or the third which I am leaning toward is to write blogs about current events that would tie into what we are studying and then vary the content for the different class types.

That is what I am thinking about this sunny fall Friday before my other ALOP class.

In case you are stuck in a windowless cube today

Final Weekend of Class

I finally have gotten a second to reflect on our final weekend of class,  It was a perfect cpastone to the end of the course.  I learned something that I had wanted to learn for quite some time and was totally new to me.  Making movies or screencasts are going to be very valuable to adding a personalized extra component to the classes that I teach. 

More than this I also have left with a new appreciation for doing the best I can to reach my students, not settling for what will work but to take it a step beyond.  Additionally,  I have a renewed love of learning and grasping all of the new knowledge that I can.  I wish I would have had this craving when I was younger and would have been able to follow my dreams but at some point I may still get there.

Thanks for a great class!

Wake up call

Technology is not always available.  This is a blog of reflection versus introducing a new technology or cool tool that I found.  I had to take my husband to the hospital on Sunday morning at 2am, it made for a long couple of days until he was released this afternoon.  But it made me think, internet access was spotty at best when I was staying with him in his hospital room.  This is something that as an online instructor I have to consider and be allowing for.  Every term I get quit a few excuses and you never kow how many are accurate and how many are untruths to get a extension.  But with that in mind it is necessary to allow for student emergencies and ways to adapt technology and assignments for students.

It seems like it is something that does not have an easy solution so it is a matter of trust until you get burned.  But as those that embrace technology we need be able to be flexible for those that are without access at times.

John

Is it worth the effort

A Social Media group that I belong to sent me this article link today about users of social media sites.  Article  It discusses the amount of users using Facebook versus Twitter and the other major sites.  They discuss gains of losses of millions of users per quarter.  When looking as an educator for ways to reach today's students it definitely demonstrates that these mediums are one way to do just that.

Should I twitter to my students, should I have a facebook site so they can 'Like" my class?  Frnakly, I am not sure what will be the answer but I do know that if we rely on what has always worked we will not get through to our students. 

"Who woulda thunk that??"

John

Cool Tool I found

Markup.io Bookmarklet Let's You Draw on and Annotate Any Web Site
http://lifehacker.com/5662834/draw-on-annotate-and-share-any-web-site-with-markupio-bookmarklet

This is an interesting tool I came across in one of my feeds.  This allows you to markup a website and make notes and then once you publish it you get a new URL where people can see your marked up site.

This would be great for showing a student how to operate a website.  For example a class that I am teaching is having student's use the companion website to the textbook, if they have trouble logging in I can take the login page and provide notes.

This has many applications.

John

I great deal of information gathering on using Twitter

Twitter was one of those tools that we covered in class that I have had a ahrd time focusing on as I was not sure how to use it in distance learning which is the field that I am working in for this class.  However I cam across this article from one of my yahoo groups and it provided a ton of different links about the in's and out's of Twitter in the business world.  Twitter Guide  This site has over 50 articles that discuss different ways to use and explore Twitter. 

John

Technologically Broken

This post is not about a new technology but more of a reflection on when your planned use of technology goes wrong.  We have learned of a lot of great tools that we can apply to learning, but what happens when the technology your relying on goes wrong.  I remember when I was teaching a night class at DMACC.  I Was relying on the standby powerpoint as a guide.  Thus all of the activities and such that I had planned I used PowerPoint slides to show the instructions.  I get to campus and my class is moved to a different room, that does not have an instructor PC, what now?  This is one of those situations when you have to punt.  Another example is in the college that I work for in California.  We are in the middle of a pre-term start and running orientation for over a thousand students and the system that produces reports as to student progress goes down.  How do we punt?

Just my thought for the evening?

Meaningful Assignments

Through my reader I found a article that really has an impact on teaching today and particularly in higher ed.  The article discusses the fundamental five.  Five things an assignment must have to make it the best learning experience for our students.

These were:
1) Purpose--What is the goal of the assignment
2) Efficency--Is the assignment given the best way to get this material taught?
3) Ownership--This is does that student have buy in to the assignment and process or are they jumping through hoops for a grade.
4) Competence-Is what we are asking them to do reasonable?
5) Aesthetic Appeal-Does it appear to be interesting or even, *gasp* fun?  Or is it some boring task.  How can we package the assignment to achieve the greatest good.

These are key factors that I think we should consider when creating assignment and projectg for our students.

John

Source: http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept10/vol68/num01/Five-Hallmarks-of-Good-Homework.aspx

On to the next day...

Well the move is over, well sort of, it is all moved, but our three car garage is about waist deep in boxes to be unpacked.  But the basics a bed and the internet are good to go. 

With that said I wanted to blog about a related topic that we learned about in my other class this weekend.  This is something that I want to incorporate when I work toward revamping my online classes to make them more interactive and user friendly.  Our professor last Saturday led us through a serious of activities in regard to writing sound objectives.  She help us with the basics of what an objective needs, but also how to tell if it is good or not.  She said to keep asking you why. 

An example: I want students to search the internet for Business Examples of Economic Recessions.  Why:  Because I want them to be able to explain a recession.  Why:  They need to know what a recssion is and why it relates to the economy.  Why: Because their future careers may be effected by recession economic times.

It just made me think so I wanted to share this thought process with you.

Pondering Starting my Webpage

As I mentioned in class last weekend, I am looking to start a student webpage to support my online teaching.  This will be a challenge as far as the technical aspect but not the inspiration.  I find my students seeming to get lost in the technology of the online learning platform and thus worry about introducing other tools to them, thus my hesitation of using twitter or Wiki's.  However, I think they would be a great way to spur interest and make it more creative then a discussion board, quiz, and an assigment each week. 

But where do I begin, I subscribed to a hosting service and have an ENTIRELY blank page, I played with their templates and it looked terrible.  So I want to start from Scratch.  I bought some software the Adobve Creative Suite, not necessarily for this project but that I wanted to starting learning web design, going to take a online class in it starting 10/4.

I was reading through my Mashable reader items and stumbled across items about Web Fonts, Web technologies, and it reinforced the face to me that this is all new and foreign to me, so I have a feeling of what a first time online student feels like about the learning platform that I take for granted as the back of my hand.

John

Wrapping up the weekend

WOW another weekend in which I feel inspired and overwhelmed. We have learned so many new tools that I feel would improve my teaching and online classes. I definitely want to use the audio recording that we have used this weekend to record introductions for the beginning of the class, instructions for assignments, as well as unit overviews. Again though it goes back to my initial problem of how and when to get this all done. I hope to be able to incorporate a few of these into my current classes but also more extensively when I start to re-evaluate my classes for spring. Jing, especially the video would be helpful with demonstrating computer skills, and perhaps the PowerPoint audio for brief lecture highlights.

WHEW I am tired but inspired.

John

Sample Audio

Today we learned about using Audacity to record files, tonight I will rewrite this in my new standard blog format but for now this is why we have this audio file.

WIKI's

THE FIND: The wonderful world of Wiki's.  We covered to different Wiki sites last night, of which I joined both:
http://www.pbworks.com/
http://www.wikispaces.com/

MY IMPRESSIONS and THOUGHTS
When Robin mentioned we would be looking at Wiki's last night, I thought I had at least a basic understanding of what a Wiki was, from my years of 'hating on' Wikipedia as a professor.  Which has changed since we started this class, but I will comment on that in second.   But after looking at the functionality and user-friendliness of the sites, my creative juices started to flow. 

Ok so why have I historically been a Wiki hater, because that is what I was taught, simply.  In my masters program, that was online and thus most of our research was via online sources, as there was not a brick and morter library to go to.  Which brings up a topic for a future posts, encouraging and training students to use online sources, and perhaps another on how to recognize a crediable online source.  But I digress,  simply I was taught that wikipedia was not a reliable source due to the lack of control and checking on the content.  I do still believe that to a point, but my thought since starting this class has changed.  I know feel why not use wikipedia to get some basic knowledge on a topic.  If I were teaching a class on Computer NEtworking and I had students that did not have the basic terminology down and were reading the text but not comprehending as evidenced from their work, why not suggest looking at this information on Wikipedia.  I still am not saying use Wikipedia as a scholarly source but more as a way to get some cursory ideas about a topic.

So I definitely think that Wiki's have a use in education and I plan to implement them when I start to make improvements to my online courses.

THE APPLICATION AND USESOne application is as a resource landing site, for my semester project I want to create a student resource center website.  My thought was to have a resource wiki linked to this site.  Where I or class members could add sites for reference on certain topics. 

However, one that I am more excited about is using a Wiki for a group project.  Leaning toward the idea above but with a different focus.  Have a group publish a wiki on a course topic.  They can be as creative as they want.  I currently have some of my classes do a PowerPoint along these same lines, however from our brief exploration last evening, it seems a Wiki-space would allow more creative freedom.

So on to new topics in today's class.  Thanks for reading and I do hope you will leave a comment, perhaps you have additional ideas how a Wiki could be used for online classes.  If you have ideas leave them for me and I will share them in a future posting or email me at gvcjtl@gmail.com

Regards,

John

New Blog Format

As most of you know I am a project manager as one of my careers (1/3).  Thus it stands to reason that I am one for order, details, and standardization.  Thus going forward with this blog I am going to use a standard format that assists me in making a meaningful contribution, as well as, making it easier for the reader to review.

The headings will be:
THE FIND
THE APPLICATION AND USES
MY IMPRESSIONS and THOUGHTS

I will be creating a content blog shortly but wanted to expllain and in turn solidify in my mind the how and why behind this.

John

Blogging about a blog

I was looking for new feeds about online teaching today and accidently came across a blogspot blog that has some very useful information for me as a online professor.  One of the necessary evils of an online class is some way to measure participation of the students, in an asychronous class this is usually accomplished by disucsion boards.  Thr normal drill is that I post the initial question, then the student must make a main reply and then respond to at least a couple of other student's posts.  Most time the main post for many students at least address the question to some extent.  The problem is that the replies are usually of little or NO value to teh discussion or the student.  The intend is to emulate a class discussion where students are conversing on a topic back and forth as in a live classroom. 

The blog I found today offered some suggestions on increase that accountability and encouraging participation in discussions.  http://technologybites.blogspot.com/2009/05/tips-for-online-discussions.html.  One specific idea that I would likle to try is having as part of the initial post a student ask a follow up question and then require that they answer the follow up question of someone else.  This stears us away from the I agree type of posts.  I plan on trying that in my online classes.

John

Growing as an online instructor

One of the requirements for my teaching duties at Minnesota College of Business is to go through at least one Professional Development course per quarter.  They have us use MaxKnowledge for these courses.  http://www.maxknowledge.com/ED101.php.  The courses they have available are varied and I have completed 3 so far:
ED101 Effective Teaching Strategies

ED102 Student Retention Methods
ED103 Student Learning & Assessment
ED104 Class Management Strategies
ED105 Instructional Planning for Student Success
ED106 Enhancing Student Learning
ED107 Creating an Accelerated Learning Environment
ED108 Learning Theory and Practice
ED110 Time & Stress Management for Instructors

At first I avoided taking these as they were just something more to do with my already limited time available.  Now before Fall term started I had some down time and strted looking at ED 101 and really found some great information.  ED 101 gives some concrete theory behind online teaching and how to do it effectively.  They sparked my interest and from the information I found there I have purchased some reading materials about improving my strategies.

John

I cannot believe I just found a instructor's treasure chest!

http://www.merlot.org/merlot/materials.htm

This site is a virtual treasure chest for me especially as I look for ways to make my introductory business classes more entertaining or at least engaging.  This site has a collection of case studies, simulations, and other activities on many different business subjects.  This takes the online experience beyond discussions and written assignments.  Granted these would require a bit more from the instructor and the student.  but I believe that it would be a good way to add application to the text concepts.

An example would be for a unit on Marketing in my Intro to Business Class, http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=91435
This provides a hands on way to cover the concept besides just a lecture.

Again as an instructor I am always looking for ways to revise my courses.  I am going to spend some development time on this site seeing what I may be able to use.  With 3345 entries in just business alone I am sure there will be jewels.

Podcasts

I have long wanted to explore options for adding audio content to my online classes.  But it seemed like a dauntiong task.  But the more I explore the more that I see it is a doable options.  In addition to recording my own content, I have found some ready made content or podcasts.  An example would be the audio lectures that are available from MIT or the New York Times Poscasts.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519
http://www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses
http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm

I think I have an idea for my project

Well it has been one crazy wee and unfortunately this is my first blog post since class ended last Saturday. However, I have decided to schedule blogging like any other appointment on my schedule that way I will be guaranteed to post every other day.

After reviewing some of the technologies, notes, and ideas from class I think that the best way to accomplish my project and something that would be useful to meet my objectives for taking this class would be a resource website for my students. During class last weekend, I joined Homestead and some basic layout on the main page at first the system experiment that has expired to try based on our immersion into technology last weekend.  However, why not create a site where students have a resource to course information, perhaps a way to contact me, and other things. I think that I can create some sort of wiki that has resources for online learners and specific resources for course content. I also thought that it would be a neat idea to have a blog in which we could discuss different topics related to their learning and again to course content. Perhaps, an example would be a blog entry on APA citations or what makes a substantial response to discussion post. These are topics that I use is announcements on the learning platform however an announcement has limited visibility and space whereas a blog post on one of these topics I could provide a great deal more explanation and examples.

These are just some initial thoughts for the project please feel free to e-mail me at DSMTRAINERJT@aol.com.

John

Weekend 1 Reflection

Wow, I cannot believe that weekend one is over already.  I feel overloaded but refreshed, if that makes sense.  I learned about so many tools and sites that I want to explore, but then I worry will I have the time.  I think there are two teaching related topics that I can see myself attempting to somehow implement into my teaching.  First would be RSS Feeds and google reader.  I never understood what the RSS meant nor that it was so easy to have many website's current information in one place.  I can see myself adding sites that have to do with topics I am teaching and then providing weblinks for students to explore current topics.   The other is blogging, this is one that I have wanted to explore but again have never made the time.  I can see this as a good way to organize thoughts and ideas not only for this class but in the other realms.  I think I mentioned that everything I do, I schedule on my calendar.  That way things do not get missed.  I want to include an item to check my feeds at least once a day and then find one new technology, teaching idea or tip, activity idea, etc and blog about it each night.  This may be rather optimistic but after this weekend I feel inspired to embrace and look for ways to improve my skill set but also improve the learning experience for my students.

Preclass Reflection from Wikinomics Chapter 3

Wikipedia, the topic in this chapter that I thought was very interesting was about the London bombing and the use of Wikipedia. Every course I have ever taken and now when I teach courses we tell students to not use Wikipedia as the information is not reliable. Granted it is not a scholarly source, but if it is down to earth and a way to explore a completely foreign topic, I am thinking why not. I still would caution using it as an academic source, but why not a way to start exploring a new idea. Then you can do your academic resource from scholarly sources after you have an idea or background.

Preclass Reflection from Wikinomics Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The second chapter had a focus for me around two realms first was the need for collaboration to reach consumers and then for private industry to adopted these processed to compete. To me this leaves the door wide open for education. I see tools like facebook and blogs to be the next wave of tools for educators. I would love to use some sort of blog to communicate with students. Also to have a space outside of the computerized classroom for students to connect. One of the big issues that I have seen with online education is the isolate of students, thus if these tools were able to bring my online students together I feel that student buy in would be improved dramatically.

Preclass Reflection from Wikinomics Chapter 1

Chapter 1:


This introduction was a reaffirmation for me of what I new on the fringe but had really never explored. Being both firmly entrenched in the education realm and the IT (Business Realm) there for me has always been a disconnect when it comes to collaboration. Education has from my experience always been more open and focused on the greater good for all involved. However business and IT has always been focus on the bottom dollar. Thus to read in this chapter about different collaborative efforts among various organizations was surprising but not totally foreign. The company that I work for is a contractor for the federal government one of the contracts that I had been a member on the project team involved creating collaborative space where various contractors would have a collaborative space for working on different projects for this government agency. This was foreign to most of the contractors and was resisted by most. Many of these IT departments still held on to the mind set of our knowledge, data, etc are ours, however the government representatives put it simply get together or do not get the work.