Google Earth

A friend showed me Google Earth the other day. I don't know why I hadn't tried it before. It is one of the most engaging software programs I have ever used. I highly recommend downloading it, showing it to your students, and integrating into lessons. I think just playing around with it is an educational experience. You can see what almost any place in the world looks like. It's truly amazing.

http://earth.google.com/

Don't reinvent the wheel

Do research before you start building an istructional technology project. There is so much stuff available that is free. Spend a couple of days looking for stuff that is similar to what you want to do. It is worth the time.

Mandated use of technology

There is a lot of pressure to use technology in the classroom these days. In the state of Texas teachers are evaluated on their use of technology in the classroom. These polices and pressures create situeations in which technology is missused and actually takes away from learning.

Technology is meant to be used as a tool to do something that you could not do with out it, or make doing something faster and more efficient. If there is no reason to use technology, don't use it. Before you start a project, design a lesson, or bring gadgets into a classroom, ask yourself the following: "Does using technology in this situation solve a problem, make things easier, or add value?"

Browserless RIAs

I've been hearing some rumblings around the world wide Internet about browserless rich Internet applications (RIAs). These are described as RIAs that run on your desktop without a browser. What's even more fascinating about this idea is that the applications would work on and off line.

Adobe is apparently working on something called Apollo that is said to be a runtime environment for running these kinds of RIAs. The runtime environment would be able to execute applications built in Flash, Flex, and probably other Adobe products.

These kinds of applications give you the best of both worlds, traditional computer software and web applications. Of course this can already be done, but it usually involves as great amount of effort. If there was a standardized way to do this, or at least an immensely popular and easy way, we would see a lot more of these kinds of applications.

It seems to me this would work in a way that is analogous to swf files and the Flash Player plug-in, except that it would be like a plug-in for your computer, not your browser.

So what does this have to do with K12 instructional Tech? Nothing really. I just thought is was cool. Seriously though, the Internet is here to stay. Schools need to continue to maintain and beef up their networks, and continue to evolve with technology.

Advocating the Use of CSCL

The flowing was written by me and one of my teammates for a group activity. The other two members of the group are writing in support of tradition (direct) teaching
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Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) has many characteristics that create an environment for optimal student learning. CSCL uses technology to allow learning to extend beyond the classroom in a student centered environment. Teamwork is also emphasized in CSCL which relates directly to real working environments.

CSCL allows students to be connected and interact outside, as well as inside, the classroom. This means that learning is not confined to a time and location. Students may work and learn when they feel the most ready. Because or this, student often learn when they are less tired, have eaten, and can maintain the most focus. This can result in high retention and a deep level of understanding. Because learning is not tied to a location students who normally would not be able to work together can collaborate or cooperative synchronously and asynchronously.

CSCL also creates a student centered environment where students are thinkers and active learners. Rather than sit and passively absorb knowledge, students interact with their peers which increases student engagement and satisfaction. They rely on each other to meet objectives and goals which fosters motivation and further engagement. Using this method of collaboration and teamwork closely aligns with real-world working environments

What students retain

Intel's Classmate PC

Intel announced a new laptop that sells for below $400. I'm really glad there are efforts to make affordable PC's for the education market, but these things seem kind of worthless. Instead of committing time and money to develop something with extreme limitations, why not commit time and money to get low cost computers to students that need them. For more info on the Classmate PC click here.

Computer Supported Collaborative Learning

http://www.uib.no/People/sinia/CSCL/cscl_paradigm_big.gif

In response to someone's response to a reading

It is interesting that you have always played one role. In my very limited experience I have always played many roles. I think this was product of working in small teams with limited resources.

I think you have described a significant difference in traditional software development and instructional design for new media.

I have never worked in the software industry, but I did study computer science for a couple of years. I can imagine that roles remain more separated when working in that field. I wonder if it is because tools for instructional design and media creation are a bit easier to pick up and learn than programing and software engineering, so more people can pitch in when necessary, or if it is because instructional design is not always considered an important part of creating educational technology? In other words, because instructional designer is a less formalized and excepted role.

In response to a reading

Project management techniques and challenges for instructional designers

I find it interesting that we are learning so much about models, processes, and management. Most of our readings, including Phyo and the Liu et al papers, have been about these topics in regards to designing instructional technology projects.

One thing I am starting to realize is that, as was mentioned in this weeks readings, was that everyone has their own model that is derived, or very similar to, the basic plan, design, develop, implement model. I am still wondering how important these models are. I keep coming back to the thought that the most important thing (in almost any job) is to plan (think before you act), stay organized, and pay attention to what you are doing (be detail oriented). Anyway, I still like learning about the models. It helps me come up with ideas and ways to work on projects. It is also always good to have a default system to fall back on or start with.

I am interested in learning more about Greer's model and Gentry's model.

Finally, an important point that was touch on in the readings was that understanding the different talents in a team and the lingo they use to talk about their area of expertise is very important.

Distance Learning Lab

My Computer Supported Collaborative Learning Class meeting in the distance learning classroom in the education building on the UT Austin campus. It is really amazing how much interaction can go on at a distance. Here is a picture of what the classroom looks like.



This Monday my professor taught the class from Santa Fe. We had students from all over the state of Texas watching and listening on a webcast, The professor was lecturing from Santa Fe, and the majority of the class was in the distance learning classroom, and we could all see and hear each other via conference call on speaker phone and webcast (we could not see the students located around the state. We could only hear talk to them via conference call.) Here is another shot of the professor speaking on his webcam:




It is really amazing the amount of interaction that can be had at a distance these days. I commented to a friend in the class that I did not think the quality of the class was degraded very much at all by communicating through the technology. He agreed.

Re: to collaborative experiences post for class

I have had similar experiences in the classroom trying to create collaborative learning environments. One thing that I found helpful for facilitating group work was breaking up the work students were doing in groups into tasks with time limits. At the end of each time limit I would have different groups present or show what they had done up to that point. I found that some groups would just wait and hope they didn't get called on so they could just copy the work from the group that was presenting, but I would move around the room a lot and monitor to try and make sure this didn't happen. Also, having each person in a group have a specific role where they had to be accountable for something was very helpful.

Collaborative experiences post for class

What was your best and worst collaboration experience in an education or work setting? What factors were most important in the success and failure of the collaborative activity?

I would say that my worst collaboration experience was in my last job. I was supervising two employees that lived in another part of the state. The two employees would often turn in documents late or not at all, not respond or respond with incorrect information, and not follow through with tasks that had been assigned to them. As there supervisor, this made me look bad. I tried as many ways as I could think of solve these problems, including sending meeting notes, telling them what they needed to do verbally, as well as in writing, giving them verbal and written reminders, letting them know the consequences of not completing there assigned tasks, and getting my supervisor involved. Nothing seemed to work. It was a very frustrating collaborative working environment.

Have you taught classes or lead a group at work or in another setting utilizing cooperative and collaborative learning strategies? If so, identify what you feel were the most important things to consider in helping to effectively lead the collaborative activity?

I think leading a group at work and teaching class are two very different activities. However, there are common important things to consider for both of them. In both situations it is important to make sure everyone in the group is engaged. It is also important to create enough structure so everyone in the group knows what they are working on or learning, what the goal is, and how they are going to get there.

List of Computer Supported Collaborative Learning Tools and Environments

Knowledge Forum: http://www.knowledgeforum.com/

A tool that is designed to support collaborative learning in K-12 and higher education. It starts as an empty data base that is filled by the students

FluxTime Studio: http://www.fluxtime.com/

This tool allows children to create their own animation online and collaborate with other animators worldwide to create characters and stories.

Student Virtual Parliament: http://studentparliament.net/

Tool allows students to submit and discuss options and to vote and rank issues, positions or solutions.

Whyville: http://www.whyville.net/smmk/nice

Whyville is a virtual world geared for 8-15 year old students allowing them to learn, create and have fun together

iVisit: http://www.ivisit.com/

IVisit is a mult-party video conferencing software tool that supports collaboration for both PC and Mac

MooseCrossing: http://www.cc.gatech.edu/elc/moose-crossing/

MOOSE Crossing enables children to build creative writing skills and learn to program by creating objects and virtual spaces.

Tapped In: http://tappedin.org/tappedin/

This is a virtual environment that supports professional development, collaboration and support for K-12 teachers, librarians, administrators, and professional development staff, university faculty, students, and researchers.

River City: A Multi-User Virtual Environment Experiential Simulator: http://simportal.edreform.net/resource/11015

Enables students to move through the environment and solve problem collaboratively

Teams are encouraged to do their own research of tools or environments for online collaborative environments. The following are only some links that may help you get started:

Collaboration Tools http://collaboration.mitre.org/tools.htm E-LEARNING TOOLS & SYSTEMS http://www.elearningcentre.co.uk/eclipse/vendors/index.html#1 Web-Collaboration Tools http://www.thinkofit.com/webconf/workspaces.htm#groupware Collaborative Groupware http://www.thinkofit.com/webconf/workspaces.htm#groupware Online Collaborative Learning in Higher Education Software Tools http://clp.cqu.edu.au/software_tools.htm Moos and Muds Educational Moos http://www.uta.edu/english/V/students/collab1/COLLEGE.HTM Rachel's Super MOO List of Educational MOOs http://cinemaspace.berkeley.edu/~rachel/moolist/edu.html Comprehensive list of educational MOOs and MUDS

Concept Maps

For an assignment, I had to use Inspiration to do a content analysis. Right now in my instructional systems design class we are learning about content, task, and skills analysis. I know there are other programs available, such as Mindmapper, that are competitors to Inspiration. Any thoughts on which one is the best? Is there a web-based software that has this functionality?

I used Inspiration several years ago and, at that point in time, wrote it off as kind of a waste of time. I can see know the power and usefulness of software like this, not only for instructional design, but for project management.