Knowing Knowledge LRND6820

1. Siemens stated that “We cannot stand alone on our own knowledge we have to aggregate with other nodes (people, content, knowledge) in order to meet the challenges of a complex information climate”

How do you stay connected and on top of current information? What nodes or external entities do you use, (people, websites, books, databases, etc.) to collect information?

As Siemens points out it is impossible to stay on top of all of the information that is available today.  Years ago if you had a question you had to hold onto that question until you could make it to the local library or if you had a set of encyclopedias you could look up little bits of information on a variety of things.  Ultimately you would forget the question and wouldn’t follow through with getting an answer. Now days I rely on everything from web 2.0, to Cha cha, to texting a friend or family member to ask if they know the answer.  I rarely go to the library but I still enjoy paging through a book and I especially enjoy getting a new periodical to page through while sitting at home on the couch.  When I want information I count on the web and I often look at the posting date to get the most current information. 

I am looking forward to creating a PLE and will use that to organize information for my thesis as well as teaching material and resources.

1. According to Siemens – Understanding that a different view exists is very different from seeing the different view. (p.34)

Talk about an experience that you’ve had that relates to this statement.

My experiences in education relates to this statement.  Since I have entered the Learning Design program at BGSU, I have read a ton of information about how we learn, different ways people learn, different ways to teach, etc.  Many of these studies and theories have been discussed and researched for centuries.  I would have to assume that some component of a teachers education addressed and discussed teaching theories and strategies. Teachers must know that people have varying learning styles yet they do not know how to teach to reach those with different learning styles.  The majority of my education has been presented in the agrarian, sage on the stage format, and many learners struggle because this format/structure was not suited to their learning style.  I guess most teachers know this, but few understand how to adapt their lessons to reach varying learning styles.

LRND6820 Understanding E-Learning

After reading and reflecting on your own ideas concerning e-learning, how would you define your own personal philosophical orientation, and how doe it effect your e-learning? Is it a “purist” acceptance of one of the philosophies outlined in the reading or is it a conglomeration of several?

  The article was a little hard to digest at first, but the personal reflection of the discussion question helped me to absorb the content.  I would have to say I am a conglomeration, and bits and pieces from each of the philosophies defines my personal philosophical orientation.  

By educating ourselves we open our minds to examine information and ideas without bias and this allows us to move from knowledge to wisdom and with this I identify with Liberal/Perennial philosophy. However, I do not believe that educators should impose their own morals and values onto their students.  Instead, present the information and let the students examine it and conclude on their own.  I am also not a huge fan of the sage on the stage presentation format. however I accept it as a reasonable form of presenting class material when organized and efficient.

The Progressive philosophy also has useful components.  For example the teacher is there to consult and to encourage.  I find this type of environment very productive. 

The philosophies I define with the least are behaviorist and radical.  The behaviorist philosophy seems to rigid and almost discouraging and the radical philosophy seems well just too radical, but I can see its use in a philosophy class.  I see the behaviourist philosophy as potentially detrimental and discouraging in the learning environment. 

Like some of the other philosophies I can accept some components of the analytical philosophy, most notably the idea of life long learning for human development.  This is especially true today and today’s technology makes life long learning easier to attain.

I can also define myself closely with the humanist philosophy and my teaching style seems to be geared in that direction.  A good part of my teaching strategy centers around group dynamics, group relations and self directed learning.  This is curious to me, because as a student I am generally shy and at times found these environment a bit intimidating. 

As an e-learner a mix of these philosophies works well.  I prefer a mix of the  liberalist, progressive, humanist and analytical philosophies.   As an e learner I want certain thing spelled out so that there is direction.  Next, give  feed back as I go, so I know if I am heading in the right direction, third, encourage a bit of self directed learning, and finally define skills and knowledge to continue my quest for knowledge. 

 2) What latest trends in e-learning or social networking do you think are more damaging to e-learning in the long run, if any?

The most damaging trends in elearning is the need to trump the latest technology.  While I fully embrace learning new technology, at times it becomes too overbearing and cumbersome and obstructs the learning process and the end goal. 

 As far as social networking there are the obvious risks of identity theft and even some safety concerns.  I think we will see more problems with this as younger generations enter the professional world.  Often times things that are posted never really go away and that could hurt some young people in the future.

Role and Function of Theory in Online Education Development and Delivery LRND 6820

Describe an online learning module that you feel was most beneficial to you. Describe one that was not (may include training or seminars online as well as online classes.
What do you feel makes a good online learning experience?

Elluminate is a great online learning module that I have used in the past. It can be useful for online, blended and face to face classes. With Elluminate you can participate in a live session, which gives you a virtual face to face experience, and if you can’t make it to the live session you can review the recorded session. You can also use it to review information that you were present for, but did not quite understand. This is great for difficult subject matter.
Dim Dim was another version of a virtual live learning, but the program did not work very well. The computer kept jumping back to the top of the text and it was difficult to follow the conversation. I would still consider it a good learning experience though, because I had the chance to see how technology can be a problem in online education.
A good online learning environment is similar to a face to face environment. Good organization of the material, a sensible flow of material, interesting material and presentation and the learner must come with an open mind for learning. Personally, I prefer some interaction and a little eye candy (graphics, images, diagrams, etc

Hello LRND 6820

am a full time graduate student in LRND and hope to graduate in May 2011. I work in the Co-op office here at BGSU on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 – 5pm. My role in the Co-op office is to work with students to help them write their resumes, cover letters, and thank you letters, as well as preparing them for interviews. I also work with employers in developing co-op opportunities for our students. For the last 8 years I have worked part-time at Owens College, where I teach intro and intermediate photography and manage the lab. This semester I am on the Findlay Campus on Tuesday and Thursdays from noon – 9pm. I also work as a freelance photographer for myself as well as several photographers in and around Northwest Ohio. Before coming to BGSU I was the Director for the Henry County Arts Council (a non-profit) as well as an independent art enrichment instructor. As an Art Enrichment Instructor I provided art enrichment experiences for nursing homes, developmentally disabled residents, and elementary and middle school students. As the Director for the Henry County Arts Council I was responsible for all of the day to day activities, promoting and organizing activiities and events, as well as writing grants. After resigning from the HCAC to pursue my Masters degree I rejoined and was re-appointed as a board member. I am very interested in art and I believe that nurturing creativity is extremely important in the academic world. My goals are to further my career in higher education, including teaching and advising.

Week 15: Still Working on Learning Module

After weeks of re-working, re-writing and tweaking my learning module it is almost ready for the final post.  I am still working on finalizing and working out the technical hiccups, but the final  version is nearly complete.  It was interesting to read about and experiment with the various programs that can be used to design learning modules.

Week 14: Learning Module Take 3

Well, I have been working on the learning module and as a digital immigrant I can tell you this technology stuff can be quite frustrating.  I decided to use a slide presentation with a voice overlay.  Originally I thought I could import a power point into the Articulate software, but had trouble.  Next I wrote a script and recorded on Audacity, but couldn’t get it to import.  Next I used the Audacity program to record the script, but again couldn’t get it to import.  I went back to using Audacity, but when I tried to copy and paste the contents of the slides I couldn’t get alot of my diagrams to copy and paste with all of the elements of the slide.  At this point I will look into other options, the deadline is Wednesday at midnight, so I am running out of time, options and patience, well maybe not patience yet, but definetely some what frustrated.

Week 13 – Learning Module take 2

My learning module on the basic functions of an SLR has been posted in Power Point, but I am going to explore other programs that allow you to use voice over to narrate.  I also hope to use a programs that makes it a bit more “snazzy”.  The problem is I don’t have the technical background that some of my classmates seem to have.  When comparing my stuff with theirs it is obvious that they have experience with software and other computer based technology that I have not had.   Happy Thanksgiving.

Week 12: Learning Module Posted

Well, I put together a power point to teach students how to use a Single Lens Refex Camera.  By mixing text and images together I hope to  keep the slide presentaion interesting.  After reading information from Mark Prensky and John Seely Brown about the new digital kid, I am was concerned with keeping the attention of this new generation of Digital Natives.  I decided to keep the text minimal and intermix images to help the viewer visually comprehend the technical components of exposure. 

The semester is getting busier and busier, but I have learned some new stuff and find all these computer based teaching options intriguing.  I hope to begin integrating them more and more into my class instruction.  Good Stuff.

Week 11: Learning Module Strategies

I have been working on my learning module instructional design.  I decided to used the Elaboation Theory by Charles Reigeluth.  This theory presents information in layers and each layer elaborates on the previous layer.  This works perfectly for my learning module, which will teach students the basic information needed to use an SLR. 

I will begin by explaining what exposure is, what controls exposure, how to control exposure and how different exposure controls effect the final image, both technically and creatively. 

The semester is getting near the end an I am feeling the pain.  As I get busier and busier time management has been challenging.

Week 10: Keeping Up on the Learning Module

I have submitted and have been approved to build my learning module on the basic operation of a 35 mm camera, I have written my project Plan including the audience analysis, scope, proposed learning objectives  and outcomes and timeline.  Now, I have began working on the instructional and technical strategies, and the design model.  While I have some experience in teaching, I find it intriguing to teach a concept.  Sometimes you forget to describe a basic element and everything goes haywire.  I never had any formal education in teaching, so I guess I learned how to build a learning module the hard way.  These guidelines and theories get me thinking about better teaching strategies.

When it comes to teaching, I often remember a project I had in elementary school.  “Teach an Alien How to Make a Peanut Butter Sandwich”.  Oh, guess what,  this was an interactive project and it stuck with me all these years, hmmmm.  Anyway, the teacher picked one student to be the alien and he wasn’t allowed to do anything unless the class told him what to do, and the teacher told him to go ahead.  The teacher asked the class to describe to the alien how to make a peanut butter sandwich.  As students raised their hands she would call on them, and they would offer a suggestion, like ‘open the jar” oh but the teacher said, maybe the alien doesn’t know what a jar is? , so the student would describe the jar, and say specifically how to open the jar.  After the first 3 or 4 suggestions we got the idea.  In the end everyone got a peanut butter sandwich.  Good Stuff.