Most of us are at the very beginning of our teaching careers. Most, if none, of us have ever taught an online course. When you begin teaching and find yor niche, that is wonderful. However, what do you do after you have been teaching for a while and things seem to become monotonous? How do you maintain students' interests when you yourself are not interested? The solutions offered are for both traditional classroom teachers and online course facilitators. I just read an article which offers some solutions to teachers.
One solution is to collaborate with other teachers. Collaboration allows for new, fresh ideas to enter one's mind. People who collaborate often take an idea given to them and mold it to fit their personal needs and the needs of their students. Another solution is to attend free webinars or seminars on the content that you teach.Professional development greatly enhances the teaching tools that one learns to use within the classroom. When using online resources, use a microphone to ask students individual questions or even post videos for them to watch. Have students experiment with and use the web 2.0 tools discussed in the previous blog entry. Ask students to state how they found these tools to be useful and anything that they would change. Then, the teacher can make modifications for next time. Do not become overwhelmed by trying to complete everything at once. This is difficult for me, because as soon as I am given an assignment, I am eager to start it that day. Too much at once will become overwhelming and as a teacher you will tire your brain. Reserve time for yourself. If you teach an onine course, do not access the course information on the weekend because you will need this time to take a break and clear your mind this way it is fresh when you resume on Monday. Lastly, establish when your students and colleagues are able to reach you and where the best place for them to reach you will be. Do you prefer meeting online via webex, gtalk, or email? Do you prefer to meet in person? Do you prefer a phone call? This is very important and is up to you.
Until next time...
Monday, February 21, 2011
Web 2.0
Web 2.0 is any technology that allows a person to interact with other people. Web 2.0 includes the use of blogs, Google docs, and interactive sites such as webex.
As you know, a blog is basically an online journal. Webex is a website that is interactive. It is a website which schedules meeting times and allows you to see and hear the people that you are meeting with. The video below explains google docs.
All of these technologies can certainly be used in the classroom. Blogs are good ways for students to keep track of what they are learning. Students can keep track of any data or new information that they collect on google docs and use webex to share their information with the class, or maybe even other students in the school who are in a different classroom.
As you know, a blog is basically an online journal. Webex is a website that is interactive. It is a website which schedules meeting times and allows you to see and hear the people that you are meeting with. The video below explains google docs.
All of these technologies can certainly be used in the classroom. Blogs are good ways for students to keep track of what they are learning. Students can keep track of any data or new information that they collect on google docs and use webex to share their information with the class, or maybe even other students in the school who are in a different classroom.
What makes technology good?
According to Stephen Downes, there are nine possibilities which indicate good technology.
1. Technology is always available Good technology will automatically be found in the classroom and the teacher does not have to wait and sign the technology out so that they can use it. In my opinion, smart boards and computers are generally good technology because many classrooms have them readily available.
2. Good technology is always on Much of the technology today uses a lot of energy and takes a long time to start up. This wastes precious classroom time. If technology that takes only a few seconds to start up becomes more common, this will increase the amount of time that teachers can use it with their students.
3. Good technology is always connected This goes along with number 2. If the technology is connected, teachers can spend more time using it with their students rather than wasting time setting it up.
4. Good technology is standardized Technology should be universal, meaning that we should be able to access our information from any computer as well as share information from any computer. Some programs only work on certain computer brands, but if those programs help to improve technology, they should be able to work on all computers.
5. Technology is simple I need technology to be very simple, otherwise I become frustrated very quickly. I need to know right away how to access the main functions of the computer that I use daily. If those functions are not there or are not easily accessible, I will not buy that computer. In order for me to use the technology, it must be very easy to work with.
6. Good technology doesn't require parts Along with being simple, my technology must not require parts, otherwise I do not know how to work it myself. If this is the case, I will bring it to someone who does know how to work the parts and will have it fixed. I, however, do not feel comfortable at all when technology is complicated and has many parts to it.
7. Good technology is personalized The use of emails, blogs, PLE's, and personal web pages has allowed technology to become more personalized. The most common form of personalization today is probably the email address. Nearly everyone who is around technology has a personalized email address or screename which reflects that person's personality in some way.
8. Good technology is modular It can be built in a variety of different ways and constantly improved from one model to the next. For example, one laptop may not have something that the next version of that same laptop will have. The new version will therefore be faster and have higher picture quality, for example.
9. Good technology does what you want it to do I don't know how many times over the course of my college years I have found myself in an argument with my computer because it won't do what I need it to do. Good ttechnology will not have these glitches.
Until next time...
1. Technology is always available Good technology will automatically be found in the classroom and the teacher does not have to wait and sign the technology out so that they can use it. In my opinion, smart boards and computers are generally good technology because many classrooms have them readily available.
2. Good technology is always on Much of the technology today uses a lot of energy and takes a long time to start up. This wastes precious classroom time. If technology that takes only a few seconds to start up becomes more common, this will increase the amount of time that teachers can use it with their students.
3. Good technology is always connected This goes along with number 2. If the technology is connected, teachers can spend more time using it with their students rather than wasting time setting it up.
4. Good technology is standardized Technology should be universal, meaning that we should be able to access our information from any computer as well as share information from any computer. Some programs only work on certain computer brands, but if those programs help to improve technology, they should be able to work on all computers.
5. Technology is simple I need technology to be very simple, otherwise I become frustrated very quickly. I need to know right away how to access the main functions of the computer that I use daily. If those functions are not there or are not easily accessible, I will not buy that computer. In order for me to use the technology, it must be very easy to work with.
6. Good technology doesn't require parts Along with being simple, my technology must not require parts, otherwise I do not know how to work it myself. If this is the case, I will bring it to someone who does know how to work the parts and will have it fixed. I, however, do not feel comfortable at all when technology is complicated and has many parts to it.
7. Good technology is personalized The use of emails, blogs, PLE's, and personal web pages has allowed technology to become more personalized. The most common form of personalization today is probably the email address. Nearly everyone who is around technology has a personalized email address or screename which reflects that person's personality in some way.
8. Good technology is modular It can be built in a variety of different ways and constantly improved from one model to the next. For example, one laptop may not have something that the next version of that same laptop will have. The new version will therefore be faster and have higher picture quality, for example.
9. Good technology does what you want it to do I don't know how many times over the course of my college years I have found myself in an argument with my computer because it won't do what I need it to do. Good ttechnology will not have these glitches.
Until next time...
THE BIG QUESTION
What should we learn? In other words, what are the most important tools needed for a person to learn today via a computer? The suggested tools were: blogs, Jing, a search engine, a video camera, webinars, screencasts, etc. I think that this list is great. I think that it is important to start with just the basics. I would also add word processing, general use of smart boards, and and digital uploading of pictures from a camera.
The Personal Learning Environment
I just finished watching a video on what is called the Personal Learning Environment (PLE). What I took away from the video is that personal learning environments are websites created by a person for a specific purpose. For example, a person may be an expert in one field of study and will set up a personal learning environment for their peers to access information from. The person who sets up the website can manage what is posted on there and who they send information to. People can take information from their facebook, twitter, secondlife, and blog accounts and post it to their PLE. This allows the reader to access a mountain of information which they may find to be useful. The PLE is a network where people can access information and interact with each other. It allows the learning process to go from being a straight line (where all you do is absorb information) to expanding and covering a much more in- depth understanding of the material and how the material can be used.
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