Corey Whitacre's Blog

The purpose of this article is to review the scientific evidence on the use of games, simulations, and microworlds as multimedia learning tools. In this article we consider games, simulations, and microworlds within the broad organizational framework of educational multimedia. I think that using games and simulations in a classroom is a good thing. It gives some sort of hands on experience without leaving the classroom. I really feel that the closer you can make the learning process to real world application the more valuable it is.

“Virtual Worlds Research: Past, Present & Future”

Vol.1. No. 1

ISSN: 1941-8477

July 2008

Meeting in the Ether

A brief history of virtual worlds as a medium for user-created events

By Bruce Damer, President and CEO, Digital Space Corporation, Founder, Contact Consortium.

As I am not very familiar with the whole virtual world movement I figured this article would give me a good overview of what they are. This article explains the origins of virtual worlds, the present of virtual worlds and the future.

Virtual worlds are a new medium of human presence for the 21st Century. Virtual world are now making their impact in education, business, science and engineering. This article explains the development of the virtual world and the future.

I think I could use this article in a business marketing education classroom. This article can show students on how virtual worlds are changing the world. How business and marketing companies are talking advantages of a whole new world.

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Businesses are using second life and virtual worlds to expand and increase profit.

This research was helpful to help me understand the concept and the origins of the virtual world.

To me a Day in the Life of Web 2.0 shows how technology can be incorporated into all classrooms. I feel that it is more common than not for individual to think just about a computer class or a science class for technology infused into the curriculum. But the passage of A Day in the Life of Web 2.0 proved that wrong.

Technology can be infused into any subject or content. It is a part of everyday life and every aspect of life. There is no such thing as resisting technology anymore. If you do you will fall behind in the digital divide.

Infusing as much technology in business education is very important.  Not just for the benefit of being tech savvy or on the cutting edge. But, much technology is used for collaboration just as much today. This is important for students to understand and to be familiar as they enter the business/workforce. Business and technology are changing every day so students must be current and know how to properly used technology not only to benefit them but also to be able to collaborate with others.

In chapter nine there was a section on textbooks that caught my interest. We all know by now that wikis make collaborative writing possible. The book says that David Warlick has come up with an idea for textbooks that use wiki technology.  Warlick ask several questions about this. One question that sticks out to me is, “What if we could stop buying textbooks, and use the money to provide every teacher and learner with access to the world of digital networked content?

I think this is a good idea in theory and maybe in the future but seems a bit too much now. I know that the world of business is turning and depending on these means of communication and information through technology. But, we can’t just throw all of our textbooks away and use just technology. For one, many school systems are not in the finical situation for this or to have enough text books let alone also, the strain of vision that is associated to reading digital text.

I think that we will eventually see this and it is very important to teach students so that they are successful in a changing world. I just don’t think it can or should happen overnight.

Currently 5.4 million students are classified as limited English proficient (LEP). They are expected to make up one of every four students by the year 2025. How does this affect us as educators? It affects the way we communicate and they way these students will interpret what is being said. As we have learned through the course of this semester blogs and podcasting can be used for so many different functions. This even includes in a way breaking down language barriers. Blogs can be used as authentic language activities for students. This can include students listening, reading and participating in threads of learning communities.  I think that this is important, as we do not always communicate with proper English to each other and for those who are now learning the English language may easily become confuse by the way we communicate with each other, this gives a real feel for the language and the way it is used today. This is especially important and students enter the business world, as many of the English language words can be misinterpreted through the way it is communicated.

                This method also benefits students with special needs. Students with learning challenges are now have these tools to help them learn in way that best meet their learning styles. This is an ongoing challenge for all schools to provide equal opportunity to learn and achieve to all students. This allows these students with special needs to access the information and to develop and learn. In return, they will be able to use their knowledge to help achieve their goals and passion in the workforce and life also.

Chapter 7 is all about online safety and security.  When we are taking safety, security and students, we are talking about a lot because this is such an important issue. The danger for students on the Internet is increasing and commercial and pay sites are their greatest concern.  There are also concerns over useless or irrelevant results when using a search engine. This is a major concern. We all know that Wikipedia is not reliable but there are so many more sites with incorrect or skewed information. We need to emphasize that students use reliable sites when researching for information. If they are getting incorrect results that is just pointless and may hurt them worse in the long run. Especially, in the real world working real job.

                We also need to ensure information is being cited correctly for what students are pulling off the internet.  We cannot just pull something off the internet, change a few words and put our names on it and call it our work. This is a responsibility of ours to ensure students understand this problem. Because once again, this could cause major problems for the student latter on in life in the business world.

Online learning is traced back to 1995. Now it may have been around longer but this is when online learning became more then the future. It became a reality. Online learning really grew along side with the World Wide Web for obvious reasons. With that said, as the internet and technology has advanced tremendously in the last fifteen years so has online learning.

            The new environments of online learning include two major components. First, the multimedia explosion. This includes podcast, YouTube and slide sharer. This truly gives the opportunity to gain and receive more information than ever from wherever. Second, is mobile commuting such as mobile phones, PDAs ect. This truly gives us a wireless world where today’s people’s phones are better than computers from the past. We can access the web from anywhere.

            Another major change in online learning is the Web of 2007. It looks like nothing before its time. The definition of the Web of 2007 refers to the major changes the internet had seen at that time. The changes are such as social networks, blogs and wikis. As we all know from experience these changes have really changed the way we learn in the classroom and more importantly online.

http://www.slideshare.net/Downes/the-future-of-online-learning-and-personal-learning-environments

Education, educators and students are all changing at pace faster than ever, and that is due to technology. Students are part of a digital generation with new expectations and approaches to learning. They understand information from text, images, video and conversation. The day of using just the textbook with one author’s opinion is long gone. Students expect to be engaged and entertained at all times.

            This leaves educators with no choice but to embrace technology. We must be able to use technology proficiently and be able to pass the skills to our students. If we do not they will be at a disadvantage once they enter the business world.

            Another point in the text that caught my eye was financial issues. The cost of technology is far more than just the price of purchasing the equipment. Upgrades, support and maintenance are all additional cost. Districts have to explore the real cost of technology to ensure that they can sustain it. There is funding but sometimes this is just not enough. This truly is the business side to education.  

            The book offers alternatives such as using Linux as a platform and open source applications for free.

The article I chose is Online vs. Traditional Course Evaluation Formats: Student Perceptions. The reason I chose this article is because just from the title and later on reading through the content I was actually able to relate to the article and its points.

            The article talks about the many pros and cons of offering end-of-course evaluations in an electronic format or in traditional scan sheet format. This discussion stirred very many different viewpoints. A pro for offering evaluations on-line is that the evaluations online saves time and money and returns the results to faculty more quickly. This is mostly pro for faculty and administrator. As for students offering end-of-course evaluations in an electronic format is also a pro due to convenience. The report shows that there is a difference in responses of the research. The difference mostly comes from the demographics of gender, experience with online evaluations, and program level.

            I think offering end-of-course evaluations in an electronic format are a good idea vs. the traditional format. I like the ideal of saves time and money and returns the results to faculty more quickly and convenience to the students. I know that many students may just ignore completing the form by deleting the e-mail or whatever method they would use to get out of doing it. But, many students in the class do not fill out the traditional one either. Online may give students more time to reflect and give more meaningful feedback.

As I was reading through chapter five there was one point that really stood out to me. It was the professional development being administered through podcast in New Hampshire. I thought that this was a really cool idea as you can complete on your own time. Not only can you complete them on your own time but virtually from anywhere. They also mention a website LearningTimes (www.learningtimes.com) offers a variety of topics and is constantly being updated every day. There are a variety of organizations that offer podcast that you want to hear and can choose from.

It sounds that this area will be developing rapidly. This will allow for more training and development for educators. We can also the educate students on podcast and teach them how to use them to benefit themselves. As we prepared students for the business world podcast is an important component. Businesses are using this method for communication to their employees more and more every day.

Also, I think that blogs are a really useful tool for the classroom and in the business world. It allows for so much communication, networking and collaboration of ideas from the ease of anywhere we have internet access, which is practically everywhere.