Virtually Face to Face

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 [...]

Online Education as Graduation Requirement

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 [...]

Technology is a tool, not content

Yesterday started my second year as the computer applications teacher at Cedar Middle School, where I have 7 classes teaching academic somputer skills to 7th and 8th greaders.  Last year we did some simple project involving word processing, presentations, digital animation, web research, and typing, but I was never real content with the design of [...]