"Issues, Trends, and Tools in Education and Technology in a Web 2.0 World"
We have recently aquired an open source, online course management tool called, Moodle. I've created a sample course and would like to have members of the Technology Study Groups volunteer to enroll and try out this pilot course. Your participation and feedback will help us to learn how to use this tool to provide alternative staff development offerings as well as how to help teachers to use this tool to provide online components to courses they are teaching their students.
Below is the course outline. If you enroll and complete all lessons and assignments, you can earn an inservice credit. If you enroll and complete just some of the lessons and assignments, you can use the time toward your inservice credit for the Tech Study Group. Either way, you will also get a "technology-related gift" from me as my way of saying thank you for participating in our pilot project.
Below is the course outline. If you enroll and complete all lessons and assignments, you can earn an inservice credit. If you enroll and complete just some of the lessons and assignments, you can use the time toward your inservice credit for the Tech Study Group. Either way, you will also get a "technology-related gift" from me as my way of saying thank you for participating in our pilot project.
If you would like to enroll in this course, please contact Lori Burch and I will send you instructions for creating an account and enrolling.
Don't wait too long. The course is beginning this week.
Don't wait too long. The course is beginning this week.
Course Outline
The course is divided into 3 strands or themes. Each strand has 3 lessons associated with it as well as a reflection activity.
Strand 1 - Blogging
Blogging has become such an integral part of news, information, politics, and social interactions in our technology rich world. This strand focuses on teaching participants about blogs and blogging, helping them to create a blog which they will use as a communication and collaboration tool throughout the course, and giving them a taste of how blogging can be used in the classroom.
Strand 2 - Web 2.0 Tools for Creating and Sharing Content
The Internet today has made a switch from being primarily a "read only" environment where content creators were a limited group who needed to possess special skills, to a "read/write" environmnent where anyone and everyone can easily create and share content online with no special training or skills. This strand will introduce several of these tools that allow users to create, collaborate, and share content online.
Strand 3 - School 2.0
Given all of the above, and more, educators today must rethink teaching and come to a new understanding of learning if we are to reach, teach, and have an impact on students who are growing up in a technology rich world, where technology is a given in their everyday lives, not an optional, added in tool. Our students need a different set of skills in order to be productive citizens of the world of today and tomorrow than their predecessors did. This strand is a more reflective strand giving participants an opportunity to think about these issues and what they mean to them.
At the end of each strand, there is a reflection activity which gives participants the opportunity to respond to what they have learned and share their insights. Participants will also be required to read and respond to the reflections of their online classmates, giving them experience in collaborating and participating in online conversation. At the end of the course there is also a final reflection activity. This will give participants the opportunity to share feedback on the course itself, the structure, the online experience and suggestions they might have for future online courses.
The course is divided into 3 strands or themes. Each strand has 3 lessons associated with it as well as a reflection activity.
Strand 1 - Blogging
Blogging has become such an integral part of news, information, politics, and social interactions in our technology rich world. This strand focuses on teaching participants about blogs and blogging, helping them to create a blog which they will use as a communication and collaboration tool throughout the course, and giving them a taste of how blogging can be used in the classroom.
Strand 2 - Web 2.0 Tools for Creating and Sharing Content
The Internet today has made a switch from being primarily a "read only" environment where content creators were a limited group who needed to possess special skills, to a "read/write" environmnent where anyone and everyone can easily create and share content online with no special training or skills. This strand will introduce several of these tools that allow users to create, collaborate, and share content online.
Strand 3 - School 2.0
Given all of the above, and more, educators today must rethink teaching and come to a new understanding of learning if we are to reach, teach, and have an impact on students who are growing up in a technology rich world, where technology is a given in their everyday lives, not an optional, added in tool. Our students need a different set of skills in order to be productive citizens of the world of today and tomorrow than their predecessors did. This strand is a more reflective strand giving participants an opportunity to think about these issues and what they mean to them.
At the end of each strand, there is a reflection activity which gives participants the opportunity to respond to what they have learned and share their insights. Participants will also be required to read and respond to the reflections of their online classmates, giving them experience in collaborating and participating in online conversation. At the end of the course there is also a final reflection activity. This will give participants the opportunity to share feedback on the course itself, the structure, the online experience and suggestions they might have for future online courses.
28 comments:
Your comment of "Our students need a different set of skills in order to be productive citizens of the world of today and tomorrow than their predecessors did" is my primary reason for enrolling in this course. I see blogging as a part of their future college education process, so if they feel at ease with it going in to college, that can be one less stress at that time in their lives.
I think online courses are a great idea. It gives teachers the flexibility to learn new content when it is convienient. If it works with teahers there might even be ways to incorporate this type of leaning with students. It might be a way to offer students at the high school a way to take more than 8 classes in a year, or it could posssibly be used by students who were on homebound instruction or tutoring.
Blogging is something new to me and I am still learning the process. It was sometimes hard to hear the Sprankle podcast, especially the questions students were asking. I got some good classroom ideas from the Bob Sprankle workshop. For example, typing responses for younger kids is a good idea. This makes it possible to finish a response in a timely manner. I would also like to incorporate a weekly classroom update (via the computer) into my schedule next year.
Carol
I like Jason's comments and agree with them completely. I also agree that our students need a different set of skills in today's world. It is a teacher's obligation to continue to be a life-long learner themselves in order to be in the best position to help students learn. I heard a professor(a gentleman in his 60s)recently say that although it was difficult to keep up with the technology that some of our students take for granted, he beleives that his experience and wisdom will help him be able to guide his students' use of technology in a productive way.
I have a bit more respect for blogging after listening to Bob Sprankle's podcast. Now I'm wishing I'd learned about it earlier in the year! It might offer another way to do literature study with students.
Following up Jason's comment...the flexibility of an online course really increases the potential for learning. Even though it's a way-to-busy time of year, I'm optimistic that I can put this online course on my plate and plug away whenever and wherever I have a chance. Our students could do the same. So far, my expectations were exceeded. Lori's first lesson integrated reading, listening and video in a comfortable yet sophisticated way. My 3 online graduate courses didn't come close. I agree with Carol, the Bob Sprankle podcast included great ideas...prompting me to rewind (yes the audience questions were hard to hear) and take some notes. Looking forward to replacing some web-based student work with a 2-way blog-based format next fall.
I, too agree with Lori's statement regarding students needing a different set of skills in today's world. No doubt that world will include many more courses being offered online, not only in college but perhaps at the middle/high school level. I am looking forward to entering that world myself as I take my 1st ever online course. While I possess a decent level of computer literacy, things are changing so quickly that it seems nigh impossible to keep up. And keep up we must--not only so our students can take advantage of these new tools in their learning, but so that WE can keep up with our students! It never ceases to amaze me how much they figure out on their own when using the web and various computer programs; I often learn more from them than they learn from me. So I am taking this course in the hopes that it prevents me from becoming an old geezer, putting along on the Information Highway watching the young-un's roll their eyes as they pass me by.
Online learning is very new to me. I've always avoided it because I need interactive learning. With this course I am hoping to find ways to explore and enjoy the interactive web 2.0. I hope this will help me make the leap from segregating technolgy to infusing it in my day to day learning and teaching.
Anything we can do to stay current with new ways of cummunicating can only help us relate with our students. Although the idea of learning blogging or any new technology is out of my comfort zone, I believe being able to understand the concept can only help us relate. With this in mind I can't wait to become an expert blogger!
I was hesitant to take this online course, but felt it would be a good experience for me to find ways to intergrate more technology with my classes/groups. Technology is such a hugh part of our world today, and to become a little more tech savvy will be a good thing. (I just hope I can keep up with the work!) I'm looking forward to setting up my own blog (I think!).
I agree that online technology is the wave of the future. It is helpful to be aware of the processes and knowledge that the students that we work with are using much more often than I. I am hoping this course helps me to see the educational benefits as the students have educated me about the social networking benefits.
I think the online course is a great way to learn about new technology at your own pace. This way you can take your time and explore what you are learning when you have the time to really look at all the new info.
I agree with dschlegel. As and educator and a parent I feel it is very important that I keep up with the changes in technology. I am glad that this was offered as an online course. It gave me the flexibility to learn new material on my own time. Great Idea!!!!
I think online courses are a great idea! It gives participants so much flexibility and the chance to work at your own pace. I hope to see more online courses offered in the future. So far I have found the information about blogging interesting and was excited to hear different ways to use it in the classroom such as with newsletters! Love the idea of having the students involved in that way.
Lori, I just finished Assignment 1 for the online course and found it interesting. I was able to hear the podcast well, watching the video was a little more difficult. I just posted my first comment, had a little trouble, but figured it out! I am looking forward to the rest of the course. Carolyn
In this day and age technology is everything. Being able to take a course online and learn something new is exciting. Also, being able to do it at your own pace is even better. I am looking forward to it. I feel like I am back in school again and it has been a while.
Blogging is new for me! As I looked throught the first lesson I first felt a little apprehensive as I am on the computer all day and I tend to stay way when my work is done. However I enjoy the computer so when I started looking through some of the blogs the wheels began to turn. What a great way to share knowledge. I even have an idea for my own and can't wait to get going on it.
The online courses that I have participated in before have been via Blackboard and e-mail, so I'm excited about utilizing blogging for myself and learning some new tools to try with my students next school year! Thanks for offering this course!
The more I learn about computers and the net, I realize I have A LOT to still learn! I look forward to continuing this course!!
Thank you Lori!
I have been hearing so much lately about blogging and other tech things associated with computers. I recently bought a new mac book and I have not even begun to learn all the capabilities it has.
My son is now traveling all the country and it has become important for me to learn the most effective way of communicating with him.
Thank you for offering this course again.
Lynda
I am very excited to take this course this summer. There is so much to learn regarding technology and this course will push me to be more knowledgeable about blogging and using more technology with my students. I am just starting and hoping to be able to use blogging as a tool to communicate with others in the target language. I would love for my students to have a real audience as I teach them Spanish. We as educators need to keep current with technology to help our students learn more too!
The ideas seem to be endless with blogging! I am really looking forward to developing a blog that will help my department connect, share ideas, and strengthen our teaching techniques through this tool. It will definately simplify providing everyone with a platform to participate in and stretch us beyond Hilton
I am excited about all the possibilities of this course. I have used blogs once with my classes last year but Angela set them up. I am glad that now I know a little more and I am looking forward to starting my own blog. A question I have is how to monitor all the comments of my students. I currently use a messageboard on my website and some days have to monitor 10 posts to the messageboard. If all of my students are blogging, I'm concerned with managing the posts.
I'm glad that our district is offering this course. I am hoping that use of new technologies like blogging will entice hesitant LOTE students to write more in the target language. I am also interested in learning more about wikis.
I'm excited to be enrolled in the class. The possibilities that lie before us is really exciting.
Cherie Lohrman
I am looking forward to taking this class, exploring moodle and working with teachers to enhance student learning through web 2.0 technology.
The phrase "the rich get rich and the poor get poorer" as well as the idea of the Matthew Effect definitely apply to us as educators (or at least to me) regarding technology. While I am a little nervous about this course, because I am definitely not tech-savvy, I do realize that it's just not something that you can ignore. Developments in technology occur so quickly that if you don't at least attempt to keep up, you'll never catch up! I am hoping that this class will help me tp lose some of my tech phobias as well as do a little catch up work. Thanks.
I am excited to be taking this online course web 2.0. The video tutorial for navigating a blog page was very helpful. I have taken a few other online courses and loved them for many reasons. The resources were clicks away and the reflection and comments portion was most helpful. I didn't know that I was bolgging but apparently I was and I learned that in this assignment!
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