I have responded to the following classmate's Module 1 blog assignments:
Christopher Cannon: http://chrisotphercannon.blogspot.com/2012/06/beliefs-about-how-people-learn.html
Amanda: http://langstoneducationaltechnology.blogspot.com/2012/06/module-1-assignment.html
Sunday, June 17, 2012
EDUC 7105: Module 1 Blog Assignment
Critique Siemens’s “metaphors of educators.” Which of these metaphors best describes the role you believe an instructor should take in a digital classroom or workplace? Is there a better metaphor to reflect your view of the role of instructors?
Excellent online teachers have to first be excellent teachers. Anderson, (2008) stated that excellent teachers:
• Enjoy working with and learning with learners
• Have excellent knowledge of their subject area
• Communicate and express enthusiasm for their subject and their job as a teacher
• Have a “pedagogical” understanding of the educational process
• Are prepared with an abundance of learning activities to reach every student
Along with the above characteristics, online teachers must “have sufficient technical skill to navigate and contribute effectively within the online learning context, have access to necessary hardware, and have sufficient Internet efficacy…” (Anderson, 2008). All educators, whether in a face-to-face classroom or an online classroom must provide a safe learning environment for their students that fosters communication among and between students and between instructor and student. Online instructors must participate in the discussions and show their students that there is someone listening to them and motivating them to participate. Effective online instructors provide a clear set of instructions, rubrics, and examples in order to help their students be able to complete assignments without frustration. The best teachers are those that can be a facilitator and an expert and encourage their students to become experts through critical thinking and collaboration.
Each of Siemens metaphors discusses the teacher as either a facilitator or an expert. Both the educator as a master artist and network administrator depict the teacher as a guide or facilitator that guides the learning process and allows students to explore and learn on their own. The educator as a concierge depicts the teacher as an expert that shows students all the available resources in their field of study. “The concierge serves to provide a form of “soft” guidance—at times incorporating traditional lectures and, in other instances, permitting learners to explore on their own” (Siemens, 2008, p. 16). The educator as curator is, in my opinion, the role an instructor should take whether in a digital classroom or a face-to-face classroom. Siemens (2008) defined the curator “as experts with advanced knowledge of a domain and guides who foster and encourage learner exploration… A curator balances the freedom of individual learners with the thoughtful interpretation of the subject being explored” (Siemens, 2008, p. 17). Learners need to be able to explore on their own but with guidance from the instructor. There must be a balance between the “guide on the side” and “sage on the stage”. With the educator as a curator, “learners are free to explore, [but along the way] they encounter displays, concepts, and artifacts representative of the discipline” (Siemens, 2008, p. 17).
References:
Anderson, T. (2008). Teaching in an online learning context. In T. Anderson, The theory and
practice of online learning (2nd ed., pp. 343-365). Edmonton, AB: Athabasca University
Press.
Siemens, G. (2008, Jan 27). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and
designers. Paper presented to ITFORUM. Retrieved from
http://it.coe.uga.edu/itforum/Paper105/Siemens.pdf
Excellent online teachers have to first be excellent teachers. Anderson, (2008) stated that excellent teachers:
• Enjoy working with and learning with learners
• Have excellent knowledge of their subject area
• Communicate and express enthusiasm for their subject and their job as a teacher
• Have a “pedagogical” understanding of the educational process
• Are prepared with an abundance of learning activities to reach every student
Along with the above characteristics, online teachers must “have sufficient technical skill to navigate and contribute effectively within the online learning context, have access to necessary hardware, and have sufficient Internet efficacy…” (Anderson, 2008). All educators, whether in a face-to-face classroom or an online classroom must provide a safe learning environment for their students that fosters communication among and between students and between instructor and student. Online instructors must participate in the discussions and show their students that there is someone listening to them and motivating them to participate. Effective online instructors provide a clear set of instructions, rubrics, and examples in order to help their students be able to complete assignments without frustration. The best teachers are those that can be a facilitator and an expert and encourage their students to become experts through critical thinking and collaboration.
Each of Siemens metaphors discusses the teacher as either a facilitator or an expert. Both the educator as a master artist and network administrator depict the teacher as a guide or facilitator that guides the learning process and allows students to explore and learn on their own. The educator as a concierge depicts the teacher as an expert that shows students all the available resources in their field of study. “The concierge serves to provide a form of “soft” guidance—at times incorporating traditional lectures and, in other instances, permitting learners to explore on their own” (Siemens, 2008, p. 16). The educator as curator is, in my opinion, the role an instructor should take whether in a digital classroom or a face-to-face classroom. Siemens (2008) defined the curator “as experts with advanced knowledge of a domain and guides who foster and encourage learner exploration… A curator balances the freedom of individual learners with the thoughtful interpretation of the subject being explored” (Siemens, 2008, p. 17). Learners need to be able to explore on their own but with guidance from the instructor. There must be a balance between the “guide on the side” and “sage on the stage”. With the educator as a curator, “learners are free to explore, [but along the way] they encounter displays, concepts, and artifacts representative of the discipline” (Siemens, 2008, p. 17).
References:
Anderson, T. (2008). Teaching in an online learning context. In T. Anderson, The theory and
practice of online learning (2nd ed., pp. 343-365). Edmonton, AB: Athabasca University
Press.
Siemens, G. (2008, Jan 27). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and
designers. Paper presented to ITFORUM. Retrieved from
http://it.coe.uga.edu/itforum/Paper105/Siemens.pdf
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Module 5 Concept Map
Concept Map: Static vs. Dynamic Technologies
I believe that I'm in the middle of the static-dynamic continuum and moving towards the dynamic side. Wikis and Blogs are a great way to get students to collaborate that is not static and is different from the regular face-to-face classroom. I'm comfortable using Wikis and Blogs and collaborating with my classmates in this manner. While webinars and podcasts have their place in distance learning, educators must use other tools to engage their students. My research into Second Life has changed my opinion of virtual worlds and I believe that virtual worlds would be beneficial to higher ed distance learning and a step in the direction of dynamic. I would like to explore the use of virtual worlds and mind tools in education and learn more about how to use them.
I believe that I'm in the middle of the static-dynamic continuum and moving towards the dynamic side. Wikis and Blogs are a great way to get students to collaborate that is not static and is different from the regular face-to-face classroom. I'm comfortable using Wikis and Blogs and collaborating with my classmates in this manner. While webinars and podcasts have their place in distance learning, educators must use other tools to engage their students. My research into Second Life has changed my opinion of virtual worlds and I believe that virtual worlds would be beneficial to higher ed distance learning and a step in the direction of dynamic. I would like to explore the use of virtual worlds and mind tools in education and learn more about how to use them.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Blog Post Module 4-Engaging Learners
Here is the link to my graphic organizer and reflection: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1dMwuHRmUHwWUU5SUhWWGY4U0U/edit
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Assessing Collaborative Efforts - Module 3
Participation in a collaborative learning community is a key
component to the success of the community. Due to other demands on learners;
technical issues with computers; and differences in learner expectations,
learner participation will not be equal and instructors need to address these issues
at the beginning of the class (Palloff & Pratt, 2005) . “The challenge isn’t
that collaboration is an issue. That’s the positive. The challenge is: How do
you change an assessment model that’s been pinpointed on individual learners”
(Siemens, 2008a)? Siemens provides the following four models for assessment in
a collaborative learning environment: peer assessment, peer feedback, students
assessed on individual contributions, and students assessed based on metrics
from learning management systems. Assessment needs to be “fair and direct,
based on stated outcomes, and equitable” (Siemens, 2008a). Students have
different levels of knowledge and skill that they bring to the classroom.
Students who are used to being the brightest and assessed based on their
individual work will have the hardest time with collaborative learning. In
order to make sure assessment is fair and equitable; a large portion of the
assessment needs to be based on participation. “The notion of equitable
assessment is that it is based and tied tightly to participation” (Siemens, 2008a).
“The best way to get students to participate in a learning
community is to tie the assessment participation that emphasizes working
together” (Siemens, 2008b). There has to be a mixture of individual
participation as well as collaborative participation. In order to have a
successful collaborative environment, Siemens stated that there must be “a high
level of trust, a combination of well-connected sources, and external
connections to tightly knit groups” (2008b). If a student does not want to
participate, the learners can try and talk to the student that is not
participating but if they are unsuccessful in getting the learner to participate,
the instructor must step in. By making sure there is an individual assessment
as well as a group assessment, the instructor can help to ensure that all
students will be willing to participate in a collaborative environment.
References:
Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2005). Collaborating
online: Learning together in community. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Siemens,
G. (2008a) Assessment of collaborative learning [Video file]. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=6509797&Survey=1&47 11068223&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1
Siemens, G (2008b) Learning Communities [Video file]. Retrieved
from
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Here is my storyboard for the video presentation. I have never done this before, please give me feedback as to if I'm on the right track or not and any suggestions you have.
Thanks, Mel
Storyboard Video Presentation
Apparently you have to create an account on Prezi in order to view my storyboard, sorry. It's free and all you need is your e-mail and a password. =)
If the above link does not work. Try this one:
http://prezi.com/qtlaryxnnb-f/second-life-presented-by-philip-rosedale/
Thanks, Mel
Storyboard Video Presentation
Apparently you have to create an account on Prezi in order to view my storyboard, sorry. It's free and all you need is your e-mail and a password. =)
If the above link does not work. Try this one:
http://prezi.com/qtlaryxnnb-f/second-life-presented-by-philip-rosedale/
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