What can go wrong usually will, at least the last few days in my world, but I am finding it very interesting to see how the bumps are handled especially knowing how some of the issues can be handled in traditional classrooms.
Big Bump - I have been working through lessons from the student stand point and submitting assignments and assessments and working on really exploring the student side of virtual learning. A few days ago the teacher I am working with called wondering why I had not submitted anything. I panicked. After further exploration it appears that I am listed under the wrong teacher. We are current;y working to get that straightened out and I am wondering if the work I did will move with me or get lost. I know all the issues we can run into in a traditional setting, turning books in and reassigning, teachers being off schedule by a day or two and so forth. Hopefully everything will get straightened out quickly.
I am working with a first year virtual teacher and it is very helpful to see how first year virtual compares to first year traditional. Just like any teacher new to a school or program she is working on getting all the pieces together. It helps to realize what has to be setup and how much time is required. I know she is probably swamped and so grateful that she can find time to work with me.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Second Life - Video Game or Virtual Classroom
Second Life is a virtual world that I have heard about, but just recently entered. I have met some teachers that utilize Second Life and wondered just how could the SL virtual world be utilized in virtual education. While reading through a few articles I found 101 Uses for Second Life in the College Classroom. The article not only gives suggested lessons that can be taught in Second Life, but list numerous resources for more information.
Private islands are available that can be used as a closed area for your students only, of course this involves $$$$, but helps protect the students and your lesson material. Teachers can use scavenger hunts - set meeting times to actually conduct a class. The list literally goes on. I however am still trying to get through the orientation. I learned to fly, but can't control my flight. Sure signs of a non digital native.
Private islands are available that can be used as a closed area for your students only, of course this involves $$$$, but helps protect the students and your lesson material. Teachers can use scavenger hunts - set meeting times to actually conduct a class. The list literally goes on. I however am still trying to get through the orientation. I learned to fly, but can't control my flight. Sure signs of a non digital native.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Anytime and Anywhere
Well it is just after 2:30 am and I am over 1000 miles from home just settling into a hotel room with snow outside the window. (I was in shorts earlier today at home. Regardless of the weather, distance from home or time of day I am able to complete part of my assignments simply by having access to the Internet. I remember distance ed about 20 years ago as waiting for video tapes to arrive by mail or watching a special TV channel at a given time. Now I am accessing information from my professors, communicating with classmates and whoever else stumbles into my virtual world. I can't help but wonder how much more will change over the next 20 years.
I decided to seek out the insight of others on the anytime anyplace concept and found an article by Bruce Bertram, Education Online: Learning Anywhere, Any Time. Bertram compares the view of institutions/schools as the center of education to Ptolemy making Earth the center of the universe. He also compares schools and other parts of our typical education system to paintings in frames and discusses what might happen as we alter those frames. One advantage is the accessibility of courses to more learners and an ability to tie the education portion into the workplace. The later could transform the type of material being taught and perhaps lead to education that is more directly tied to skills needed in the workforce.
The article is short, but I have seen the struggle distance learning has had gaining an acceptance. I also think that distance education offers rays of light to change the life of our education system and learners. I certainly appreciate the anywhere, any time flexibility of my courses.
I decided to seek out the insight of others on the anytime anyplace concept and found an article by Bruce Bertram, Education Online: Learning Anywhere, Any Time. Bertram compares the view of institutions/schools as the center of education to Ptolemy making Earth the center of the universe. He also compares schools and other parts of our typical education system to paintings in frames and discusses what might happen as we alter those frames. One advantage is the accessibility of courses to more learners and an ability to tie the education portion into the workplace. The later could transform the type of material being taught and perhaps lead to education that is more directly tied to skills needed in the workforce.
The article is short, but I have seen the struggle distance learning has had gaining an acceptance. I also think that distance education offers rays of light to change the life of our education system and learners. I certainly appreciate the anywhere, any time flexibility of my courses.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Embedding Online Information Research Findings
I found Embedding online information resources in Virtual Learning Environments: some implications for lecturers and librarians of the move towards delivering teaching in the online environment by Margaret Markland. She researched how lecturers choose online material, deliver the links to their students and what issues the lecturers and students have had. She also focused on the use of librarians in the selection and dissemination process.
I found it interesting that some of the lecturers only thought of the librarian as a training source, helping with log ins, and so forth rather than a resource for finding the material. Probably because I would do the same.
On of the problems that I have dealt with is broken links, which was a problem mentioned by students and lecturers.
I found it interesting that some of the lecturers only thought of the librarian as a training source, helping with log ins, and so forth rather than a resource for finding the material. Probably because I would do the same.
On of the problems that I have dealt with is broken links, which was a problem mentioned by students and lecturers.
What it is like to be a Virtual Student
I have now had the opportunity to participate as a student in the virtual class I am observing. THe material is clearly laid out and objectives are understanable. The session I worked on provided a pretest of the material. I am looking forward to seeing how the teacher interprets some common mistakes that my current students make.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Slow Start, but Ready to GO
For assorted understandable reasons, I just had the opportunity to communicate with the teacher I am working with. So now I am playing catch-up, but wow. I have been looking around the virtual school I am observing to see how everything seems to work and what tools are available. While I was waiting to actually talk with my teacher I started looking around for articles on virtual schools and wanted to find information on the good and bad. I found an news article http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/10/08/loc_virtualschool08.html that discusses the initial problems a different virutal school has had and what changes they have made in order to build a successful program. The school discussed uses virtual school similar to the program being used in my traditional high school. A program that has the students in a classroom/computer lab with a teacher present, but where the students work in virtual classrooms.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
What is a typical day like
The website I linked describes a day in the life of a virtual school teacher. The sample teacher used also teaches face-to-face classes and acts as a mentor to new vhs teachers. It is hard to imagine just how many hours go into teaching online and how would that compare to face-to-face teaching.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Welcome
I am working on my Ed.S. degree in Education Technology through the University of Florida. I will be using this blog to discuss my Spring 2 2008 courses. This term I am primarily focusing on designing and delivering online courses.
Go Gators !!!!!!!!!!!
Go Gators !!!!!!!!!!!
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