Week 4

1. Our text categorizes electronic information into four types:

Textual Information

Presentation Graphics Slide Show

Spreadsheets and Databases

Multimedia objects

Provide an example or multiple examples of effective use of each type of electronic information for eLearning. Be sure to provide specific information about what makes your indicated use “effective”. Explaining effectiveness in light of one of the media theories as presented in this session (or another media theory you prefer) is expected.

A. Textual Information – consists of two categories, announcements and documents. Announcements are shorter and are created using the LMS software. Documents are prepared using a word processor, and are longer and more detailed. Email is the basic form of textual information. Blackboard is a great tool that shares simple announcements for one way communication, and lets documents and examples to be posted so one can view them in the formats they were intended to be presented in.

B. Presentation Graphic Slide Shows- The one I am most familiar with is Powerpoint. Powerpoint provides great one-way communication when presenting instructions on a task or a presentation about a subject. In Dr. Newberry’s and Dr. Baek’s classes, I have found these to be a great way for a more complete understanding of the task at hand. It’s advantages go beyond textual information in that they create a more appealing way to present information to the audience.

C. Spreadsheets and Databases – using LMS gradebooks is minimal effecgiveness but does not contain much media richness. The book states that students can play a “what if”, and is a neat tool in trying to figure out your grade.

D. Multimedia Objects – lectures made in imovie are high in media richness theory as it relates tone and facial expression. It’s not as personally focused as email, but is easier to understand the intended meaning by the presenter. One of the key advantages for me is the ability to pause, and rewind to make sure I have complete understanding of the topic.

2. Our text goes into some very specific detail on the proper formatting of textual information. Explain what you believe to be the most important guidelines for your use of textual information that are provided in the text and then create a sample text document (other than an announcement) that demonstrates the best practices of formatting textual information. Be sure to explain the purpose of the document and who the intended users are if that isn’t obvious from the document itself.

The most important guidelines for use in textual information are to chunk information, use bulleted lists, and use text links within documents. The shorter the announcement is, the more likely that people will read it. Teachers are especially notorious at my school for not reading announcements or emails, so quick and concise is the key. Keeping the announcement brief and easier to read takes away from the intimidation of the announcement or text. The best way I have seen this used is in our schedule portion of our class. The links provided in their take to you to specific requirments for that week.

The document I have used for this was an announcement I passed out to teachers on how to retrieve data for their students using our districts Datadirector.

Common Assessment Data Guide

A. Summative Results (Classroom Standards Performance Report)

1. Log on to DataDirector. (www.achievedata.com/sanbernardino)

2. Click on Exams.

3. Click on 1 test you want results for (ex. 2009-2010 Grade 3 Spelling Common Assessment #2)

4. Under the Reports table, click on Classroom Standards Performance Report.

5. If you are viewing more than one exam, Click on Add Exams.

6. Select other tests to includes in report.

7. Click Save Changes.

8. Must click on Update button.

9. To print, click PDF icon at top of screen.

3. What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous communication as it is used in eLearning and how do you choose between the two for a given task?

Synchronous communication is where there is communication between two parties at the same time. Examples of this would be in an audio chat or Skype. Asynchronous communication is where the communication is happening anytime. Blogs and email are the two most common forms of this.

If the goal of the task is more involved and needs a clearer and faster mode of communication between people, synchronous communication would be the better tool. The challenge with this way is to find a time where everyone can “meet” to complete the task. If the task is feedback about a project or a question that needs to be answered, asynchronous communication can be used.

4. What technologies does your CMS/LMS have to support synchronous communication?

Skype and Talkshoe are the two synchronous technologies that I have used. Using Talkshoe for the first time last week, I was impressed with the fact that Dr. Newberry recorded the session for later use. Recently, I learned about Blackboard having the feature to have an online whiteboard. It also contains the virtual classroom and chat feature.

5. What technologies does your CMS/LMS have to support asynchronous communication?

Blackboard uses discussion board, email, and forums. I use the link in blackboard to gain access to all the blogs to further the discussions we have about our tasks.

6. Describe a task or assignment you could use in an online class that would use either asynchronous or synchronous communication. Explain the task or assignment, identify the technology you would use to support the activity and explain why you chose that technology. Explain what you would do to ensure that the activity was successful.

As someone who needs answers now and am very impatient waiting for responses to texts, emails, and blog posts, I would choose Skype as my synchronous technology for a class assignment. I used Skype successfully in past classes to complete projects with my partner. Of course, the key was to have that partner on line and logged in, texting was used to set up those times. The huge advantage for me using Skype is getting meaning and tone across. My wife will tell you how my tone in texts often don’t portay what I really mean! ;)

The task I could use would be to create a simple powerpoint assignment with a partner. Skype gives the ability to share what is on my screen with my partner at the same time being able to communicate openly. No meaning would be lost due to the fact it is a video text, expressing both tone and facial expressions. Immediate feedback could be given by both partners as the presentation is created on one of the computers involced.

Session 3 Guest Speaker

I consider myself to have a limited knowledge when it comes to instructional technology. One of the reasons I chose to get my masters in this field was to broaden my knowledge about this field, as I am the "so called" expert at my school.

I was frantically trying to take notes while he was talking. He was a wealth of information when it came to elearning. Some of the points that I found interesting are listed below.

1. It was interesting to hear about how the department came about and how it operates within the university. It was also encouraging to hear that we selected a college that is one of the front runners in this field with it's wide variety of support and application.

2. The biggest "wow" for me was the US Department of Education study that said blended classes are getting better result than face to face. I can definately see the advantages of the on line classes, as you can do it at your "leisure". Also, he mentioned that students think about course content more when participating in on line classes versus face to face, and I guess I'm sitting here being example #1 of that! The communication among peers is a great exmple, and our blogs are a perfect example of constant communication, wether it's one way or two way.

3. I liked how he mentioned that they use the professors as trailblazers and embrace new technology. It sounds like a good working relationship within the university. I believe as trainers, are ultimate goal is to empower our teachers/ students and not have them depend on the office to be there to help all the time, but rather to use them as a crutch.

4. Blew me away that 1 in 4 students take online classes. I guess since I last attended college (before the internet) this has taken off. I just never realized how much this has taken off.

5. I was glad someone brought up the point about voice capability of blackboard. I look forward to seeing this work.

I enjoyed very much hearing the presentation. I feel I will learn more from my fellow classmates than I could in any face to face class. Everyone asked very good questions.

Week 2 Questions and CMS/LMS Review

1. Central to our investigation of eLearning Technologies and Methods is gaining an understanding of Learning Management Systems (LMS) sometimes also called Course Management System (CMS) software. Chapter 1 of our text discusses the functionality of typical LMS/CMS, identifying four major categories. What are those categories?

The four major categories of LMS/CMS are

1. Distribution of course information

2. Student – instructor and student – student communications

3. Student interaction with course resources

4. Online testing and grading

2. What LMS/CMS software do you currently use or plan to use? Explain what you know about your system's functionality in each of the four areas identified by the book. (If you don't have access to LMS/CMS software just use Blackboard for your discussion in this area.)

I currently use a variety of LMS/CMS software. The main one is Blackboard. Blackboard has the ability to host up-to-the-minute announcements, presents course syllabus, and hosts course documents and class materials. It has a discussion board, but does not have a real time chat feature like Skype or Talkshoe. I enjoy the ability of Skype in communicating right away with a person. Of course, that person needs to be logged on, but has been a great way to communicate with my principal at school. Blackboard also has the ability to host surveys and tests. I never used Blackboard before this program, but the only think I feel it lacks is the ability to host real time chats.

3. Chapter 1 of our text identifies six steps for getting started with eLearning. Discuss each step and use each step as a springboard for discussing what you want to do with eLearning either now or in the future.

As a 4^th and 5^th grade teacher, elearning beyond what I currently use at this present moment doesn’t seem possible with the school and district requirements and with the level of technological mastery available to my students. I will however, attempt to justify my current use in my classroom.

1. Ask Yourself Why – The biggest advantage for elearning is to enhance your instruction. As Chapter 1 stated, pedagogy needs to drive technology, not the other way. For my needs, I would like to continue to use elearning on the level of test distribution, data collection, and classroom management. In my program currently, lessons are reinforced through the computer instruction program and am able to monitor my students progress.

2. Make a commitment – When first starting the program every year, it takes repetition, instruction, and modeling with the students. A lot of students have little experience on computers besides going on the internet. The time put in at the beginning of the program is a must to ensure a smooth year.

3. Develop a New Vision – I have a new vision or tweak in the course I teach. Our learning CD’s were finally put on the server, so that has been a much smother experience for the students as well as for the teacher. The next step to this would be to put all the audiobook CD’s on ipods or upload them to the server. Taking the handling out of the students hands of the CD’s themselves is a classroom management must!

4. Determine the resources - The resources are available to me to be able to upload the audiobooks to the server or to each individual computer. We do not currently have the funds to purchase ipods for this.

5. Acquire new technology skills – I will need to learn how to specifically download all the audiobooks to the server and enable the students to connect and find the story they need with little ongoing management.

6. Plan – While this isn’t planning a whole new course my need, it does give me time to reflect and figure out the best way to implement this part of my class.

4. Chapter 4 of our text discusses the functionality of specific LMS/CMS tools in terms of being for one-way communication, two-way communication or for organization. Explain the key differences between one-way and two-way communication and identify the tools your LMS/CMS provides for each type of communication.

One way communication is meant to send a person a message, post information about a course, or assign a task in the classroom. IN my classroom, I use one way communication everyday as the students complete the assigned tasks that I assign for the day.

Two way communication is meant to elicit a response. Emails that require a response is a basic example of this. One of my favorite forms of this is Skype.

CMS/ LMS Review

I discovered Skype a few years ago when a teacher asked me to install it so she could speak to her sister in the Philippines. I originally thought it was a great tool to have to get around having to pay long distance phone charges or international rates. Don't get me wrong, it's great for that as I was able to stay in contact with my family during my trip last year to Samoa, New Zealand, and Australia. Skype can function as a one way communication tool and a two way communication tool. The text chat feature can be used as an on going conversation. This does not have to be in real time. However, you need to log in to see if you have any messages. For me, the best use is the video chat. Skype hosts one on one video chat, as well as group voice chats. At school, it is the best way for me to get in touch with my principal to ask questions. A great feature that I recently discovered last semester is the share screen function. In having a conversation with someone, you can show them a document on your screen or the entire screen of your computer. Works wonders when you're trying to explain to someone what you're seeing.

One of the drawbacks that we discovered last semester with the group chats is people leaving their microphones on during discussions. Also, if there are too many people involved in a chat, people tend to lose connection.

While Skype doesn't cover all 4 categories of LMS/ CMS, for me, it's the best way to communicate between students, and student to teacher interactions.

My "Real" LMS/CMS Review

Blackboard was introduced to me during my first semester with Dr. Newberry in ETEC 500. At the time, I thought it was a bulletin board to just post schedules and syllabi.

One Way Communication

Blackboard offers a variety of one way communication tools. This was the first and only thing I thought Blackboard was used for. Teachers have the ability to post classroom announcements, schedules, and syllabi. These are meant as informative one way communication, not eliciting a response by posting them. You also have the ability to upload documents, videos, and powerpoint presentations for your students to use and view.

The Gradebook feature provides up to date grade for your student. The student can only view their score, but the teacher obviously has the ability to view entire class grades.

Blackboard also has the ability to send emails to entire classes or individual students. The downside of his is blackboard creates separate email accounts for each student, ignoring there private emails. Most students would feel more comfortable sending and receiving from their own private account.

Blackboard also has the ability to have a homepage for individual students or groups with the ability to upload pictures, links, and personal information about students or teachers. I have not had any experience with this or with another one way communication tool, the calendar feature. In the calendar feautre, the teacher can post dates of assignments, tests, and projects.

I also was able to see the digital dropbox in effect last semester with Dr. Baek. Here is where she would put our corrected assignments with grades and comments attached to them.

Two Way Communication

Blackboard uses discussion boards as one of it's more popular feature that I have seen. Students have the ability to post work on the discussion board under teacher created threads, or student created threads. Anyone in the class can then log into those threads and post comments. This is a must in on-line classes that facilitate learning between students.

I don't believe blackboard has the ability to host live chats, one of the few faults I can find with the program.

Talkshoe ID

My Talkshoe ID is scottneuscheler2.

ETEC 674 Week 1

I can thank Dr. Newberry for already requiring us to have a blog going for a past class. I'm currently trying to figure out where we can get everyone's email addresses. I was looking on blackboard, but am obviously missing something.

This is my 5th quarter in the Master's program. This is my first on-line class. I enjoy this option, but experienced various technological hiccups with a class last quarter. I enjoy the face to face classes, but look forward to the rewards and challenges of this class.

Week 8

Trying to find an uninterrupted 2 hour block to finish my CITI training.  That might have to wait for work.  OK, that CITI training was impossible to do in two hours and the 98% passing score was ridiculous.  I learned a lot about the processes however.

Plugging away at my "working" model of my project.  Trying to lay out the order I want the video and the flow to go.  Having a hard time picturing what I want without any pictures or video shot yet.  I am hoping the modernization at our school is completed quickly so I don't have to show my tour of my school under construction.

Week 7

I believe I have fixed the link.  It's not nearly as pretty and smooth as I would like, but it works!  

Proposal

IRB Application

Application is still a work in progress.

I spent the week completing my IRB process proposal.

Link isn't working as of yet.  I'm going to master this soon! 

This week will be time to continue to work on my prototyping and meet with a couple of more of my focus groups.  

Hope everyone had a safe and relaxing weekend.