Virtually Face to Face

Posted on April 12, 2010
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Teaching online in real time

Background

While I was working on my MA I had the oportunity to take a couple of completely online courses. One being an incredible experience and the others being extremely poor. This got me to thinking about the difference between the two classes and what elements made one more effective and the others so poor. The conclusion that I came to was that for me the difference came from the amount of interaction that I experienced between the student and the professor. As I continued to learn more about current web technologies I realized that we would soon be approaching the time that online education did not have to be like the old correspondence course or even like the current asynchronous online classes. This has lead me on the path of developing my “virtually face to face” classes, working to provide the optimum learning experience by combining the best features of face to face and asynchronous online classes in an online environment. Below I will describe some of the systems and that I have used in my efforts to achieve what should be the optimal online learning environment.

Prezi rocks!

Posted on April 7, 2010
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Hi All,

Just finished putting together a video for a lesson plan for my sub tomorrow, and I used Prezi to layout the content for the video. It’s great! and so easy to use.

Sign up for a free account and give it a try.

Also, check out the video that i just posted here.

The World is Open - Curtis J. Bonk session

Posted on February 19, 2010
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I just listened to a great session by Dr. Curtis J. Bonk, Professor of Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University talking about the various ways learning is currently free and open using web 2.0 technologies.

Click Here to listen for yourself.

You can also check out a streaming online video of the session here. This video site is interesting on its own right as it shows two windows, one with the video of the speaker, the other with the speakers slides advancing with the video.

If you’re interested in learning more, Dr. Bonk is the author of The World Is Open: How Web Technology Is Revolutionizing Education.

Online Education as Graduation Requirement

Posted on October 28, 2008
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Here’s an interesting piece of news that I can accross. In a recent question/ answer session with teachers, Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty stated that he would like to make taking at least one online class a high school graduation requirement in order to teach necessary online skills and prepare students for online classes in college.

“They’re going to do this anyhow - the only question is ‘Are we going to be ahead of it, or trailing it?’” Says Pawlenty

One of the things that we continue to hear about in progressive education is the idea of modular, customizable educational experiences. I think that this kind of modular education options are going to come largely in the form of multiple online options for high school and middle school students. I also applaud Gov. Pawlenty for working to be ahead of the curve instead of behind it. I’m also a supporter of the idea that each level of education needs to be aware of its role in the overall education process. As a middle school technology educator I am aware that my role is to prepare my students with the appropriate technological skills to be successful in High School. Gov. Pawlenty is taking the same position in that it is the role of high schools to be sure that their students are prepared with the skills they will need to be successful in college and the professional world, including quickly increasing online courses and professional training.

Read the full article at the Minnesota Public Radio homepage: http://tinyurl.com/5quxjd

Coolmath.com

Posted on October 27, 2008
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Students and teachers are always looking for educational games that they can access in school computer labs. Coolmath.com is a great resource for online math materials including a collection of great arithmetic, logic, and spacial awareness games.

These games are not only fun to play, but are mentally stimulating as well. Personal favorites include Bloxorz, Breaking Bricks, Castle Defense, and Math Lines.

Check out coolmath-games.com for fun games that kids enjoy playing that are also mentally challenging.

~Tim

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