Shared learning objects
from Mid-South Community College comes a publically accessible website with many learning objects.
Topic areas includeBusiness
Computer/Information Systems
English
Faculty Development
Fine Arts
History
Instructional Design
Math
Foreign Languages
Science
Social Sciences
blogsperiment: The WHAT of blogging
Marcus O'Donnell discusses various ways of using blogs, and the preparation and forethought needed to make sure it is successful. Many others posts around this theme too.
"These problems: not knowing the form; lack of specific objective; perceived centrality of the process; vague assessment criteria and the length of time necessary to develop synergy, certainly express themselves in specific ways in course blogging but they are also issues that I have found in my attempts to get quality work happening in Blackboard threaded discussions.
So getting back to my original question about the WHAT of blogging, issues to do with direction, form and purpose do seem to be critical to developing successful models of blogging for online learning. However part of this modeling must also include helping students get over the anxiety they might experience at the seemingly open-ended nature of blogging. So questions for further reflection include:
How do we provide a WHAT framework that still allows students to discover the more open-ended nature of blogging?
What are the different WHATS of different forms of blogging: writing blogs; research blogs; k-blogs; project blogs; personal blogs? Do we encourage students to sample, mix and match?
What ( if anything) is the specific WHAT of blogging that does not occur in other forms of teaching and learning?
Ferl - VLEs: Beyond the Fringe and into the Mainstream (PDF)
Guidance on the mainstreaming of virtual learning environments, drawn from the proceedings of the 2004 online conference from Becta's Ferl service. This report summarises the key factors in embedding the use of VLEs into everyday learning, teaching and management.
Communication dynamics: Discussion boards, weblogs and the development of communities of inquiry in online learning environments
[11 Oct 04 Updates: Small edits & hyperlinked references]
Online learning environments (OLEs) are now critical to teaching and learning across Australian higher education. Their influence impacts on the availability of content, the design of courses and, perhaps most pedagogically significantly, the nature of communication. The discussion board is the ubiquitous communication tool within these OLEs and hence significantly shapes the kind of communication that takes place. In light of this, the degree to which a successful community of inquiry can be facilitated through the use of discussion boards is examined and compared to the possibilities afforded by weblogs in the same role. Weblogs, it is argued, offer new opportunities in the development of social, cognitive and teacher presence online and should be considered in the development of or alongside established OLEs.
Singh, P. and Pan, W 2004 "Online Education: lessons for administrators and instructors", in College Student Journal, June 2004 v38 i1 p302(7)
Potential for increasing communication for learners using online technologies
"The most often heard complaint and a potentially recurring problem is the perception that the Web-based online course lacks face-to-face interactions between student and instructor" (Singh & Pan, 2004, p 4). This charge has also been levelled at workplace learning, and current funding structures do nothing to encourage greater interaction. It is interesting then to consider that the combination of online and workplace learning strategies could provide an answer. Under User Choice contracts, training providers are required to visit the learner in their workplace three times per year. Whilst this is the minimum, it becomes the default standard. Anecdotal information suggests that close links with learners and their employers are best maintained through more frequent contact, but where individual new apprentices are scattered through multiple businesses physically getting to each workplace more than the minimum times can prove difficult. Online support and communication does not remove the need for and benefits of onsite visits by training providers, but it can provide more regular and cost-effective support and structure for the learner.
REALLY CUTE Frontpage tutorial
CITES EdTech: Help Resources: Desktop Software
This page includes links to tutorials about web page editors, graphics, audio, multimedia and streaming video, publications and communications.