I have enjoyed this course and have gained so much from it. Not only have I (finally) learned what a well-written literature review should include, the process of writing one has helped me become an expert of sorts in an area of personal interest. As I wrote and re-wrote my literature review, I made mental notes of things I need to consider when I finally introduce blogging in my computer classes this coming year.
In addition, I've had the opportunity to work with tools that were new to me. Although I can't say that Twitter wowed me (prefer status messages on Facebook), I'm glad it was a part of this course. At the very least, I can now say that I, too, have tweeted. Tumblr, on the other hand, I loved. In fact, I think it's a great tool for promoting visual literacy. I'm planning to introduce a Tumblr activity, similar to the one we completed in this course, in my middle school computer classes this coming year.
I also felt that our Elluminate meetings were valuable. Through the sharing of questions and concerns, I gained a better understanding of the course expectations, particularly as they related to my scholarly activity and literature review.
Reflecting back on the course, I don't feel there's anything that needs to be changed.
Thank you for a wonderful semester!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Let Me Explain: Tumblr Posts, Part 2
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/138417307/digital-immigrant-image
I love this image of a father asking his son for help as he sits in front of a computer that’s on fire. Like the father (digital immigrant), I have had to turn to my younger sister on several occasions for help as I try to do something new on the computer.
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/138419693/digital-native-image-from
The picture of the infant in front of the laptop is a perfect visual representation for the term “digital native”. Although it may be a bit of an exaggeration, it’s a reminder that children as early as infancy are interacting with technology.
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/123152010/community-of-practice-image-from
The picture of the human forms putting a puzzle together represents a community of practice where individuals with the same goal work together to solve a problem.
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/121257123/tell-me-and-i-will-forget-show-me-and-i-may
Here’s another quote I love. It’s a reminder that children learn best by doing (i.e. construct reality through interactions with the world around them).
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/119247184/technology-image-from-www-vdh-state-va-us
The image of the world coming out of the screen of a laptop reminds me that technology has brought the world to “our fingertips”. It has made it possible for individuals from across the globe to communicate and collaborate with each other with the click of a mouse.
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/119244275/participatory-culture-image-from
I chose a picture of two arrows pointing in opposite directions to represent participatory culture. The arrows symbolize the online collaboration that can take place between individuals via the Internet.
I love this image of a father asking his son for help as he sits in front of a computer that’s on fire. Like the father (digital immigrant), I have had to turn to my younger sister on several occasions for help as I try to do something new on the computer.
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/138419693/digital-native-image-from
The picture of the infant in front of the laptop is a perfect visual representation for the term “digital native”. Although it may be a bit of an exaggeration, it’s a reminder that children as early as infancy are interacting with technology.
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/123152010/community-of-practice-image-from
The picture of the human forms putting a puzzle together represents a community of practice where individuals with the same goal work together to solve a problem.
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/121257123/tell-me-and-i-will-forget-show-me-and-i-may
Here’s another quote I love. It’s a reminder that children learn best by doing (i.e. construct reality through interactions with the world around them).
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/119247184/technology-image-from-www-vdh-state-va-us
The image of the world coming out of the screen of a laptop reminds me that technology has brought the world to “our fingertips”. It has made it possible for individuals from across the globe to communicate and collaborate with each other with the click of a mouse.
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/119244275/participatory-culture-image-from
I chose a picture of two arrows pointing in opposite directions to represent participatory culture. The arrows symbolize the online collaboration that can take place between individuals via the Internet.
Friday, June 26, 2009
How the EdS Program Influenced My Teaching and Learning
Over the last two years in the EdS program, I have learned a lot about teaching and learning. Not only has it contributed to changes in what I teach, it has also contributed to changes in how I teach. Although I have taught computers for over ten years, I realized while taking these courses just how out of the loop I was. My middle school classes, in particular, had become stagnant and dated. While my students were proficient at gathering information online, they had not discovered the power of the read/write Web. As a result of these courses however, my students have had the opportunity to interact with various tools of the Web 2.0.
Through the EdS program, I have also become more aware of the way students learn today. Many of our students have been interacting with technology in some form since infancy. Because technology is so prevalent in our society and students use it regularly outside of school, it stands to reason that these same technologies should be incorporated in our classroom teaching as well. Realizing this, I now make a concerted effort to create technology-infused lessons that follow a constructivist approach and are relevant and meaningful to my students.
While teaching and learning is a continuous process of trial and error that is never quite perfected, I feel that the EdS program has made me more aware of this and, in the process, has provided me with the tools necessary to become a better teacher.
Through the EdS program, I have also become more aware of the way students learn today. Many of our students have been interacting with technology in some form since infancy. Because technology is so prevalent in our society and students use it regularly outside of school, it stands to reason that these same technologies should be incorporated in our classroom teaching as well. Realizing this, I now make a concerted effort to create technology-infused lessons that follow a constructivist approach and are relevant and meaningful to my students.
While teaching and learning is a continuous process of trial and error that is never quite perfected, I feel that the EdS program has made me more aware of this and, in the process, has provided me with the tools necessary to become a better teacher.
Sample Literature Reviews: My Take on Them
As I read the three sample literature reviews that were provided, I realized that they had several characteristics in common. Each of the literature reviews began with an introduction, in which the authors identified the topic/research question, described the set up of the review, explained what they expected to accomplish in the review, and provided a brief summary of the literature and its findings. In addition, each one was separated into sections and included a list of keywords, detailed information regarding the source data that was used and its relevance to the research question, a summary of the literature, and the authors' synthesis of the research findings.
While the sample reviews had many commonalities, they had some differences as well. The following are the differences I noted and my reactions to them:
- Length of literature review – The length of the literature reviews were varied. The second review, "Teaching Courses Online: A Review of the Research", particularly caught my attention in this area, as I felt that it was excessively long in comparison to the others.
- Depth of summaries – Some of the summaries were more detailed than others. Again, the second review stood out for me because I felt that the summaries it provided were somewhat limited and general in nature compared to the other reviews.
- Rhetoric - The rhetoric used differed in each of the reviews. The first one, "Gender in Teaching: A Literature Review", was not an easy read for me. In fact, this is one that I had to read twice to get a true grasp of what it was about. On the other hand, I felt that the third review, "Online Collaborative Learning for Healthcare Continuing Professional Development: Lessons from the Recent Research", was the easiest to read and understand.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Distance Learning: My Thoughts and Experiences
A little over two years ago, I began toying with the idea of returning to school and pursuing a post graduate degree. At the time, I was well aware that taking on-campus classes would be impossible to accommodate. I also knew that an online program would only be an option for me if the university offering the courses was a reputable one. During my planning period one day, I performed a Google search for online EdS and EdD programs and came across UF’s distance learning site. I immediately knew that if I was going to go “back to school”, that was where I wanted to do it. Within a week of finding the site, I submitted all of the required application documents for the Educational Technology online program and registered for my first class.
Looking back at the program, I have been very pleased with my overall experiences. In terms of time, the flexibility inherent in the online courses has worked well for me, as I complete most of my work at nights (after my children go to sleep) and on the weekends. The material covered in the courses has been comprehensive and valuable, and I have already applied much of what I have learned in my classroom teaching. As for the instructors, they have been wonderful. Their passion for the subject matter is evident, and they have shown a genuine interest in my success as a student.
Interestingly, the one thing I have realized about myself through these courses is really how much of a “digital immigrant” I am. I still prefer hardcopies of articles to reading them online so I generally print the articles out so that I can read, highlight, and write notes on them. I also prefer for information to be presented in a linear fashion, as I, unlike today’s “digital natives”, am more of a linear thinker. This is an area I struggled with last year in one of the most work-intensive courses I took. Where I would have preferred for assignment instructions, requirements, and due dates to be organized in an easy-to-follow format that was chronological and intuitive, I often felt overwhelmed and frustrated as I jumped back and forth in the modules trying to make sense of what I should be doing. This isolated case, one course out of ten, would be the one “needs improvement” I found.
Through this program, I have learned a lot about myself as an online learner, and the areas upon which I need to improve. First, I need to work on staying focused. I am embarrassed to say that I often catch myself navigating away from a paper or school-related site to check out Yahoo News or Facebook. Second, I need to continue to make a concerted effort to start on my work ahead of time instead of waiting for “crunch time”. I’m happy to say, though, that I am much better at these than I was two years ago when I started the program.
Looking back at the program, I have been very pleased with my overall experiences. In terms of time, the flexibility inherent in the online courses has worked well for me, as I complete most of my work at nights (after my children go to sleep) and on the weekends. The material covered in the courses has been comprehensive and valuable, and I have already applied much of what I have learned in my classroom teaching. As for the instructors, they have been wonderful. Their passion for the subject matter is evident, and they have shown a genuine interest in my success as a student.
Interestingly, the one thing I have realized about myself through these courses is really how much of a “digital immigrant” I am. I still prefer hardcopies of articles to reading them online so I generally print the articles out so that I can read, highlight, and write notes on them. I also prefer for information to be presented in a linear fashion, as I, unlike today’s “digital natives”, am more of a linear thinker. This is an area I struggled with last year in one of the most work-intensive courses I took. Where I would have preferred for assignment instructions, requirements, and due dates to be organized in an easy-to-follow format that was chronological and intuitive, I often felt overwhelmed and frustrated as I jumped back and forth in the modules trying to make sense of what I should be doing. This isolated case, one course out of ten, would be the one “needs improvement” I found.
Through this program, I have learned a lot about myself as an online learner, and the areas upon which I need to improve. First, I need to work on staying focused. I am embarrassed to say that I often catch myself navigating away from a paper or school-related site to check out Yahoo News or Facebook. Second, I need to continue to make a concerted effort to start on my work ahead of time instead of waiting for “crunch time”. I’m happy to say, though, that I am much better at these than I was two years ago when I started the program.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Technology and Me
If someone would have told me fifteen years ago that I would be teaching computers today (and love doing so), I would have said they were crazy. For as long as I can remember, English was my thing. I majored in English at the university and earned graduate degrees in ESOL and Linguistics. My intention was always to pursue a career related to English (i.e. teacher, researcher, editor, etc.). At the time, my interest in computers was minimal, at best, and my work with them was limited to writing a paper for a class.
When I first interviewed for a teaching position in 1995, I was told that there was a surplus of English teachers and was, instead, offered a position as an ESOL/computer teacher. Although I was apprehensive, I accepted the position. I spent that first year learning as much as I could about computers, always staying a class or two ahead of my students. I became a self-taught computer teacher.
Today, I teach both elementary and middle school computers. I love what I do and can't imagine teaching anything else at this point. For the time being, I intend on remaining a computer teacher and applying what I have learned in the Ed Tech program in my classes. In the future, however, I would like to pursue a career as a curriculum and technology specialist.
When I first interviewed for a teaching position in 1995, I was told that there was a surplus of English teachers and was, instead, offered a position as an ESOL/computer teacher. Although I was apprehensive, I accepted the position. I spent that first year learning as much as I could about computers, always staying a class or two ahead of my students. I became a self-taught computer teacher.
Today, I teach both elementary and middle school computers. I love what I do and can't imagine teaching anything else at this point. For the time being, I intend on remaining a computer teacher and applying what I have learned in the Ed Tech program in my classes. In the future, however, I would like to pursue a career as a curriculum and technology specialist.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Let Me Explain: Tumblr Posts, Part 1
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/112890305/
With all the new tools that I feel my students should learn how to use, and I will be introducing next year, I often feel like this picture would suggest – overwhelmed, not sure where to start, but convinced that it is necessary for teaching and learning.
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/113219738/
This picture of the toddler in front of the computer reminds me that students are interacting with some form of technology at a very early age, and it is my responsibility as a teacher to provide them with opportunities to learn from and with them.
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/113458665/
Legos seem to be the perfect visual representation of constructivism. Learners construct their own knowledge by piecing together past and present experiences.
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/113991379/
I love this quote! It is an eloquent reminder that children may not listen to what their parents are saying, but they’re paying close attention to what they’re doing.
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/113993261/
This quote could have been written just for me. It took a difficult divorce for me to remember the importance of family, education, hard work, and my faith.
With all the new tools that I feel my students should learn how to use, and I will be introducing next year, I often feel like this picture would suggest – overwhelmed, not sure where to start, but convinced that it is necessary for teaching and learning.
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/113219738/
This picture of the toddler in front of the computer reminds me that students are interacting with some form of technology at a very early age, and it is my responsibility as a teacher to provide them with opportunities to learn from and with them.
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/113458665/
Legos seem to be the perfect visual representation of constructivism. Learners construct their own knowledge by piecing together past and present experiences.
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/113991379/
I love this quote! It is an eloquent reminder that children may not listen to what their parents are saying, but they’re paying close attention to what they’re doing.
http://rdgm.tumblr.com/post/113993261/
This quote could have been written just for me. It took a difficult divorce for me to remember the importance of family, education, hard work, and my faith.
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