Learning 2.0

People have been trying to find ways to communicate since ancient man drew pictures on cave walls. Technology has always played a part in communication and learning as with the invention of the printing press, radio and television. Ivan Illich wrote of educational webs and envisioned a society empowered through the use of audio cassette tapes and the postal service. (Deschooling Society 1971) I wonder what Ivan would think of today's opportunities for teachers to connect and communicate with students using Web 2.0 tools.

A blog can be used to provide students with personal online space to pose questions, publish work in progress and comment on other web sources. A blog is not limited to just one author because it can include fellow students, teachers, and subject specialists.

Students are digital natives and we must communicate with them using digital media. Podcasting engages students in ways the printed page can't. Podcasts can be used by teachers to extend class time, provide review activities and deliver lectures. Podcasts created by students help them to understand content more fully, become more engaged in the learning process and offer them authentic learning experiences.

Media sharing sites such as YouTube and Flickr improve student participation and learning. Class projects that involve presentations or directions on how to do something can be enhanced with images and video uploaded to the class web site. Students can then collaborate and provide feedback on on-going projects.

Ivan was afraid of machines (computers) as he thought humans would become their servants, but I believe today's students have wrestled the machine (computer) into becoming their servants. If you don't believe this is true, please view the attached video The State of the Internet by Jesse Thomas and it may change your mind.

JESS3 / The State of The Internet from Jesse Thomas on Vimeo.

Thanks For the Memories

As the semester comes to a close, I want to thank my group members for all the help and support they gave me during the project. Christi and and Denice were a joy to work with and I believe, we worked equally hard to create a great instructional design that anyone could use to teach podcasting for the classroom.

Christi, I'm jealous that you are done with your program. Denice, onwards and upwards.

Gagne Revisited

Every night as we entered 206, a poster of Gagne's Nine Instructional Events was on the board at the front of the room, but I never stopped to read it and now I'm discussing it in detail for the Swenson paper. Gagne suggests that there are nine general instructional events which are always relevant, even though in detail they will vary with the type of learning outcome being achieved. The nine events are: Gaining Attention, Tell Learners the Learning Objective, Stimulate Recall of Prior Learning, Present the Stimulus, Provide Learning Guidance, Elicit Performance, Provide Feedback, Assess Performance and Enhance Retention and Transfer to Other Contexts. Looks a lot like the Implementation portion of ADDIE to me.

Things Have to Get Worse..

I'm sure everyone has heard the saying, "Things have to get worse before they can get better." Well, that's how I feel it is going to be during the next months. I decided to go back to school to learn different and better teaching techniques and force myself to learn new computer applications to enhance my students' learning and kick up my teaching skills. If future classes are going to be as informative and motivating as Instructional Design with Dr. Monson, I made the right choice. This class has renewed my spirit to teach and reminded me that I am here for the students, the students are not here for me. However, what I didn't plan on was the time it was going to take to complete all the class assignments, which in turn is stealing time from putting all my new knowledge and skills into action; some of the new ideas will have to wait to be instituted until I graduate from the program. So watch out students of 2011-2012, here comes the new and improved me.

How About That!

Sometimes being a teacher is an eye opener. It amazes me how much I learn while I am preparing to teach. While investigating theories of Jerome Bruner, I found out that Alan Kay of Xerox studied Bruner's Three Modes of Representation and based the GUI system for computers on what he learned. Kay felt, like Bruner, that using symbols and icons would make it easier and faster for students to learn how to use computers.

As we finish our Instructional Design project, I am astounded by the work my group members have put forth; I only wish that I had the time to produce the same wonderful instructional materials for each and every class I teach. Using graphic organizers like the ones we created, I know that student learning would increase.

The first major change I plan on incorporating is a better needs analysis based on what outcomes I want for my students and plan my assessments accordingly.

Never To SME To Learn

After years of teaching, I was hoping that going back to school would train/inspire me to add new techniques to my teaching style and I have not been disappointed. In Monson's class I have been reminded that the curriculum should be focused on student learning, not teacher teaching; that we should have the outcome squarely in our sights as we prepare each lesson. In Swenson’s class, while preparing my lesson for December 3rd, I have been inspired by Jerome Bruner (said to be the father of Instructional Design) and the Three Modes of Representation. I see that I have to be more diligent in setting up the lesson so that students can make the connection between what they know and what new knowledge they will learn. Put some "discovery/play" back into the classroom. If I weren’t so tired between the work-load at both schools, it would almost be fun to teach again; something to look forward to in 24 months.