I am really impressed that the "online world" has only been around for about a decade. As I was reading, I kept thinking that I would have loved to take online classes when I was in undergrad in the early 90's. To me lecture style of teaching is boring anyway (no disrespect to anyone, I just like hands on better).
As society continues to become more engaged in the computer age, as well as continuing to stay extremely busy, the life of the online class becomes more appealing. It can be taken anywhere.
The Keller Plan/PSI seems to be a better plan than conventional lecture style of teaching. It allows the student to move at his/her own pace with smaller chunks of material. Once they take a test and master the current information, then they can move on to the next piece of information. It is great that students get to have more of hands on experience versus the lecture style of teaching. It allows them to feel more in control of what they learn and how they learn it, which will allow them to actually learn more. The positive reinforcement that is used is an added plus for the student to want to learn more.
Since we now have access to about anything via the web, it makes it easier for plans, such as Keller’s, to be used in the online environment.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Learning Object
First I will start off by saying, YEAH-Last Post!!!! Can you tell that I am not much of a blogger? However, I have loved the learning experience-I know how to do something my 12 yr old does not know how to do yet (dealing with computers).
Moving on to Learning Object.
I have read and reread some of the material as well as listened to the week's lecture concerning LO. At first I understood but didnt, because I really didnt grasp the affect that LO has on learning, especially in the online environment. From what I gather, It is using and reusing material, mostly online, that can be used in different learning areas. I think that this is a great process, because there are times that you may teach something that could be taught in a different subject, case in point, History and English. You may learn about the History of Rome and also study about different literature in English that falls under the same information. Some of the information from the two classes that cross over can be set up within a learning object so they can be shared. This would save time and energy for both subjects/teachers.
I noticed in the lecture that SCORM was discussed, which I was glad because that is all that I have heard about at work for about the past year. Now, everything that we do has to be SCORM compliant. We are also looking into a new LMS system. I have found that LMS is a very important tool where I work because it stores all of our training information. We had a contract with another LMS but ended up terminating because it did not fit our needs. Right now we use a Lotus Notes database (stone ages) which will not do what we need for our online training.
Also, I have learned that the training environment that I work in would fall under the proprietary economy type. We develop our own training for internal purposes. Our company has recently started moving more toward online training. Within the past year, we have developed learning objects that we can now use in several different trainings, which has really saved in time, with showing the E-Learning piece vs teaching in class, and money. Another case in point: We recently did an online module for systems training for existing users. It saved the company money because we were able to have our staff who lived several hours away, take the training online, vs having to pay gas mileage for them to attend a live session.
Needless to say, I did learn alot from this week's lesson, although I feel that I still have alot to learn.
It has been great working with each of you. Have a happy summer!
Moving on to Learning Object.
I have read and reread some of the material as well as listened to the week's lecture concerning LO. At first I understood but didnt, because I really didnt grasp the affect that LO has on learning, especially in the online environment. From what I gather, It is using and reusing material, mostly online, that can be used in different learning areas. I think that this is a great process, because there are times that you may teach something that could be taught in a different subject, case in point, History and English. You may learn about the History of Rome and also study about different literature in English that falls under the same information. Some of the information from the two classes that cross over can be set up within a learning object so they can be shared. This would save time and energy for both subjects/teachers.
I noticed in the lecture that SCORM was discussed, which I was glad because that is all that I have heard about at work for about the past year. Now, everything that we do has to be SCORM compliant. We are also looking into a new LMS system. I have found that LMS is a very important tool where I work because it stores all of our training information. We had a contract with another LMS but ended up terminating because it did not fit our needs. Right now we use a Lotus Notes database (stone ages) which will not do what we need for our online training.
Also, I have learned that the training environment that I work in would fall under the proprietary economy type. We develop our own training for internal purposes. Our company has recently started moving more toward online training. Within the past year, we have developed learning objects that we can now use in several different trainings, which has really saved in time, with showing the E-Learning piece vs teaching in class, and money. Another case in point: We recently did an online module for systems training for existing users. It saved the company money because we were able to have our staff who lived several hours away, take the training online, vs having to pay gas mileage for them to attend a live session.
Needless to say, I did learn alot from this week's lesson, although I feel that I still have alot to learn.
It has been great working with each of you. Have a happy summer!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Cognitive Flexibility Theory
Wow, what a week. I am still trying to totally grasp Cognitive Flexibility Theory. It seems to me that it is a combination of web resources mixed with different cases to read. From there the student uses prior knowledge as well as newly acquired knowledge to come up with problem solving skills.
Actually being in the students roll and working on the Cognitive Flexibility Theory really put in into perspective for me. Again, like other theories that we have discussed over the semester, this one allows the student to build upon existing knowledge to learn more about the subject, instead of being "spoon fed" by the teacher. It allows them to research in order to acquire the knowledge instead of memorization.
My minor was in History, which made this activity even more interesting to me. I had studied about the treatment of slaves in early civilization, but using that knowledge and comparing it to today's events in Haiti, Africa, and the US during Hurricane Katrina brought a new meaning for me. It actually made me reevaluate beliefs that I had about both subjects. Before this activity I would have never pieced the two events together.
I liked the use of the multimedia in the Cognitive Flexibility Theory. It allows the students to access numberous amounts of data without having to visit different place to acquire the knowledge.
I know that I still have a lot to learn about Cognitive Flexibility Theory, but from what I understand so far, I think that it would be one that I will use years to come.
Actually being in the students roll and working on the Cognitive Flexibility Theory really put in into perspective for me. Again, like other theories that we have discussed over the semester, this one allows the student to build upon existing knowledge to learn more about the subject, instead of being "spoon fed" by the teacher. It allows them to research in order to acquire the knowledge instead of memorization.
My minor was in History, which made this activity even more interesting to me. I had studied about the treatment of slaves in early civilization, but using that knowledge and comparing it to today's events in Haiti, Africa, and the US during Hurricane Katrina brought a new meaning for me. It actually made me reevaluate beliefs that I had about both subjects. Before this activity I would have never pieced the two events together.
I liked the use of the multimedia in the Cognitive Flexibility Theory. It allows the students to access numberous amounts of data without having to visit different place to acquire the knowledge.
I know that I still have a lot to learn about Cognitive Flexibility Theory, but from what I understand so far, I think that it would be one that I will use years to come.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Case Based Learning (Reasoning)
As I was studying and reading about CBR this week, I could really see it's use in some of the classes that I teach/train for new employees. One class that I teach is dealing with Serving Patients with Disabilities in which we use old cases of where patients with disabilities had problems in accessing the facilities. What students are supposed to do it to figure out ways that the problems can be corrected so that patients do not have to deal with these problems in the future. We also have the students to add their own personal experiences or stories that enhance what we have already discussed. I really can see where cased based learning would probably enhance this class and add more structure to what we are already teaching.
I can also see where CBR can be used in the Medical field where Interns and Residence Doctors can learn from past cases and apply them to new case situations. During the camtasia presentation on CBR adaptation was discussed. I was thinking that during adaptation, a doctor could also use old cases to help rule out what might not help the patient or rule out other diagnoses.
I like the fact that this module deals with realistic situations. I can see where this module would be used for more adult learning versus K-12 in the fact that in adult training, the adult learner can benefit more from real world situations since they can use them to apply to not only their work but other areas of their life as well.
I believe that using CBR to help students to discuss the cases/issues and also to debate different ideas will help not only their problem solving skills but their social skills as well. It will help people to be able to listen to others ideas without becoming defensive.
I can see myself incorporating this module into my current style of teaching.
I can also see where CBR can be used in the Medical field where Interns and Residence Doctors can learn from past cases and apply them to new case situations. During the camtasia presentation on CBR adaptation was discussed. I was thinking that during adaptation, a doctor could also use old cases to help rule out what might not help the patient or rule out other diagnoses.
I like the fact that this module deals with realistic situations. I can see where this module would be used for more adult learning versus K-12 in the fact that in adult training, the adult learner can benefit more from real world situations since they can use them to apply to not only their work but other areas of their life as well.
I believe that using CBR to help students to discuss the cases/issues and also to debate different ideas will help not only their problem solving skills but their social skills as well. It will help people to be able to listen to others ideas without becoming defensive.
I can see myself incorporating this module into my current style of teaching.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
MOST
It seems that most of the arguments that you hear against using computers or tvs for students to learn is that it takes them away from literacy, ie reading.
The first thing I think about when I am reading this weeks info is the advertisements you will see for Babies can Read. This is where a parent shows their baby a video with the word being shown on the screen along with a picture of the word. They also have flash cards. If it is an action word then the action is done along with saying the word. It incorporates a mixture of tools in order for a baby to read at a young age.
To me the MOST environment reminds me of the Babies can Read. By combining media with reading, it helps to reinforce what is being learned. Critics sometime say that children watch too much tv as it is or they are on the computer way too much, however, if the child is watching the right type of tv or studying the right type of information on the computer, then it can only enhance what they are learning. I see the MOST environment as being an enhanced way of learning.
The reading described how the MOST environment can help with at risk students. I think anytime you can find a program that will help at risk students and give them confidence, then that is a definite plus. Students these days are more into using computers, so why not incorporate them into helping them learn.
The one negative I can see is that in poor rural schools or districts, they may not have the funds available to use the MOST environment as well as more financially well to do school systems because they may not have the technology available. I use to teach in a school system that we were very lucky to have one computer in each class. However, one computer is a start.
The first thing I think about when I am reading this weeks info is the advertisements you will see for Babies can Read. This is where a parent shows their baby a video with the word being shown on the screen along with a picture of the word. They also have flash cards. If it is an action word then the action is done along with saying the word. It incorporates a mixture of tools in order for a baby to read at a young age.
To me the MOST environment reminds me of the Babies can Read. By combining media with reading, it helps to reinforce what is being learned. Critics sometime say that children watch too much tv as it is or they are on the computer way too much, however, if the child is watching the right type of tv or studying the right type of information on the computer, then it can only enhance what they are learning. I see the MOST environment as being an enhanced way of learning.
The reading described how the MOST environment can help with at risk students. I think anytime you can find a program that will help at risk students and give them confidence, then that is a definite plus. Students these days are more into using computers, so why not incorporate them into helping them learn.
The one negative I can see is that in poor rural schools or districts, they may not have the funds available to use the MOST environment as well as more financially well to do school systems because they may not have the technology available. I use to teach in a school system that we were very lucky to have one computer in each class. However, one computer is a start.
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