Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Day 3

What tools are you finding to be useful in the creation of your hybrid course?

Here are some websites that you might find useful...
  • Lifehacker - 'Tech tricks, tips and downloads for getting things done' (lifehacker.com)
  • Go2Web20 - directory of Web 2.0 tools (www.go2web20.net)
  • PBWiki & WikiSpaces - create your own wiki for free (www.pbwiki.com or www.wikispaces.com)

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Day Two

I am so excited. I need a blog for the Urban Teaching Academy. I need to insert video from VHS onto Blackboard. I would like to set up a test/quiz and a survey on Blackboard. I would like to set up grade book, and look at appropriate rubrics and grading.

Day 2

Please refer to the schedule of today's activities below:

9:15 – 10:00
Topic: Blogs (A – 1120)
Presenter: Dana Wilber
Participants:
Barice W.
Michele F.

Topic: Wikis (B - 1121 )
Presenter: Joe Russo
Participants:
Fran G.
Kathy G.
Liz K.

10:15 – 11:00
Topic: Podcasting (A – 1120)
Presenter: Edina Renfro-Michel
Participants:
Fran G.
Barice W.

Topic: Second Life (B - 1121 )
Presenter: Donna DeGennaro
Participants:
Kathy G.
Michele F.
Liz K.

11:00 – 11:15
Break

11:15 – 12:00
Topic: Blogs (A – 1120)
Presenter: Dana Wilber
Participants:
Fran G.
Kathy G.
Liz K.

Topic: Wikis (B - 1121)
Presenter: Joe Russo
Participants:
Barice W.
Michele F.

Lunch

1:00 – 1:45
Topic: Podcasting (A – 1120)
Presenter: Edina Renfro-Michel
Participants:
Kathy G.
Liz K.

Topic :Discussion Boards (B - 1121)
Presenters: Donna DeGennaro & Connie Gager
Participnats:
Fran G.
Barice W.
Michele F.

1:45 – 2:00
Break

2:00 – 3:00
Blackboard & Epsilen
Presenters: Patty Kahn & Yanling Sun
Participants: Everyone

Monday, May 19, 2008

First Day

My eyes have certainly been opened! Now that I have some sense of the variety of tools out there, I am axious to learn more about how they work tomorrow. I only wish that we could attend all of the sessions. Thanks to all of the presenters today!

Michele

face to face v.s Hybrid

I think that any course could utilize the hybrid model, as long as it is well thought out and planned, and the instructor understands that an assessment of where students are, technologically, is critical before undertaking a hybrid model.
Again, because the class that I teach is so very hands on, I could see using certain aspects of the (new to me) methods, such as blogs for student journaling. I am also excited about using "second life" as a creative imagination tool.
Again, any new technology has to be used properly. The car (don't speed and pay attention to the road), the blender (make sure the cap is secure before blending at high speed), the flashlight (make sure not to shine it directly into someone's eyes),etc.
There are things to learn and know about any technologically invention. As Vince says, "technology is the study of the human made world in which problems are solved by the development of new ideas that make life easier for the world in which humans live" (that's a Liz Kendall variation of a Vince Walencik statement).
Having said that, be it face to face, or hybrid or online or dangling from a trapeze, if it serves the good of teaching and learning, go for it.
Liz K

What I learned on the first day of camp

I learned that, in the very first stages of learning anything really new, it feels like a swarm of mosquitoes has invaded your brain.
There was so much information today, all good, all wonderful, all exciting, all challenging, but so much!
I did open a facebook account and signed up for a blog, and did the Wiki thing. Although I've "signed up" for all of this, I have no idea what to do with it all. I am excited to learn more, and at the same time, I'm a little nervous about feeling a little dumb about the whole thing. The nice part about my fellow campers, though, is that we are all at different learning points and we can help each other. It's nice to know that Dana and Greg and Edina, starting learning this stuff a while ago and are still learning learning as the technology gets bigger and bigger and more things can be accomplished by magic.
So, looking forward to more great inforamtion and "playing"---because, as those of us in early childhood know, we learn best when we play.
LIz Kendall

My head is spinning

I have climbed onto the learning curve and look forward to becoming more secure with using technology to enhance my work. Thanks for a great day. Fran