First of all let me point out that CYOA also stands for Choose Your Own Adventure which happens to be one of my favorite book series of all times. I currently own signed copy's of the original works(Adventures of You, 1976) of Edward Packard and RA Montgomery. This book series if it had included math using dice would have been the perfect Across the Curriculum in classroom use books.
Anyways - I'm not completely clear on "Choose one of the reflective prompts provided in the Blog Learning Unit (Week 1) as the basis for your second reflective post this week." It would appear I need to reflect upon week #1 where we initially set up our blogs. I was unable to locate the "reflective prompts provided."
I will say that week one was a lot easier than this week. I wish the modules had specific dates on them it takes some time going back and forth between the modules and figuring out which week is which. I printed out a schedule and labeled them all but that requires access to the document I made(which I have misplace yet again). Not to mention that all 4 classes have different weeks with starts being on Tuesday, Wednesday and the other on Saturday. I understand that labeling the weeks makes perfect sense and it is on the student not the teacher to distinguish whats what. I just need to work out a better system that a print out put on a calender I pack around.
Week 1 did go well with starting the blog and was quite fun. I'm not sure I'll use it with my class since it is open to the net and I prefer blackboard or that new Moodle I'm still trying to find the time to research. I've downloaded the software and so far it looks like I can set it up without being online. That's great since my online time is limited to Internet access when I can get it.
All in all it has been a good experience and I've learned a lot about blogger. I prefer forums or if blogger was able to group us together more effectively. There is just to much information to go through and keep up with.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Week 3 - GROUP COLLABORATION AND PROBLEM-SOLVING
I love the PBworks site. I've been amazed at how well it tracks posts and makes collaboration easier if your working on a single document. Making a second page for discussion I was not fond of all it seem to be good for is posting facts. It did make posting information that "might be used" easier so I can see where it has it's purpose. This seemed to deter from the actually work needed. By using the same document page it forces the writer to review and submit there facts more legibly to the group. I looked over a number of Discussion Boards and it appeared to be the same thing, just a lot of facts and link posts waiting for revision. In my opinion I believe the the discussion should take place in the comment area and work done on one page.
I will definitely be using the PBworks page in the fall with my class and I've already set up an account. like the fact that it tracks students individually what they post and you can compare document changes using the history button. Danielle taught me how to use the Star Button to concentrate on the specific pages I'm working on. Overall the collaboration has been going well despite the short time period and trying to get everyone to make changes on the single document. I think with more time lets say 2-3 weeks the collaboration would work out perfectly.
Collaborations should be a month long project. This would give students the time to coordinate more effectively. It takes at least 4-5 days to get everyone linked up online unless you have a classroom environment to prearrange everything. Tracking down the info takes about a 4-5 days then collaboration about a week or more to get a really good product. So far this collaboration has gone better than most class I've had group projects in thanks too the work some of the fellow student's have put in so far.
I will definitely be using the PBworks page in the fall with my class and I've already set up an account. like the fact that it tracks students individually what they post and you can compare document changes using the history button. Danielle taught me how to use the Star Button to concentrate on the specific pages I'm working on. Overall the collaboration has been going well despite the short time period and trying to get everyone to make changes on the single document. I think with more time lets say 2-3 weeks the collaboration would work out perfectly.
Collaborations should be a month long project. This would give students the time to coordinate more effectively. It takes at least 4-5 days to get everyone linked up online unless you have a classroom environment to prearrange everything. Tracking down the info takes about a 4-5 days then collaboration about a week or more to get a really good product. So far this collaboration has gone better than most class I've had group projects in thanks too the work some of the fellow student's have put in so far.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Moodle 2.0 Release
This Course has got me so excited that I've been trying to create an online teaching course like Blackboard using Freeware.
Looks like someone has beat me to the punch.
Much Like BlackBoard, Moodle is a free source teaching tool online. I'm still researching Moodle but this is what I was trying to make using a forum. I got involved in forum about 4 years ago because of a stupid video game so I joined a video game community. Using a free forum (that a 13 year old started) we modified the game using an Unreal Editor 2.0. I'm no PC wiz but I love to learn. After 20 years in the military and taking loads and loads of online courses I'm just starting to understand Psychological Development of Children and Adults. As Baker said in 1937-"Even Froegel understood that people who think that children are only seeking amusement when they play are committing a grave error, for he proposed that play is the first means of development of the human mind.(Play and Child Development)
Where do the Children Play?
Life is to short for us not to use every resource we can muster to teach the next generation. I'm hoping some of these freeware projects will make learning more fun and memorable. Why stress over school when learning is just playing. I'm hoping Moodle will help us with this.
Here is a link to Moodle administrative page that will help anyone understand it better-
I'm still learning so more to follow later.
Looks like someone has beat me to the punch.
Much Like BlackBoard, Moodle is a free source teaching tool online. I'm still researching Moodle but this is what I was trying to make using a forum. I got involved in forum about 4 years ago because of a stupid video game so I joined a video game community. Using a free forum (that a 13 year old started) we modified the game using an Unreal Editor 2.0. I'm no PC wiz but I love to learn. After 20 years in the military and taking loads and loads of online courses I'm just starting to understand Psychological Development of Children and Adults. As Baker said in 1937-"Even Froegel understood that people who think that children are only seeking amusement when they play are committing a grave error, for he proposed that play is the first means of development of the human mind.(Play and Child Development)
Where do the Children Play?
Life is to short for us not to use every resource we can muster to teach the next generation. I'm hoping some of these freeware projects will make learning more fun and memorable. Why stress over school when learning is just playing. I'm hoping Moodle will help us with this.
Here is a link to Moodle administrative page that will help anyone understand it better-
I'm still learning so more to follow later.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Group Work Collaboration Week 3
First let me say yes and no to the "Ten guidelines for students doing group work in mathematics" from an online perspective. In a classroom this sounds great since communication happens instantaniously and you can read body language. Online is similiar and some of those ideas work like #'s 1-5 and 8-10 but 6 and 7 DO NOT DO ONLINE! For a math problem maybe but for a group project not splitting up the work will get you fights and late assignments. As for #7 thinking outloud and random writing will get everyone confused. Online you must be specific and clear at all times!
What should the teacher do to prepare the students?
Give them a head's up (warning order) or an upcoming tasking or project. Inform them of Material, tools, and direction of the upcoming project.
How should he/she design the group project?
Based on what information she wants her students to learn. Powerpoint presentations and role playing or acting out projects is an excellent method followed by an After Action Review or Critic of themselves.
How should groups be formed--does it matter?
If it's the 1st few Group Projects let the students decide. After you evaluate who is doing what make those that have not specific jobs - do those jobs. Make them build on weaknesses. "Know your strengths, develope you weaknesses"(FM100-Leadership)
What kind of roles should group members take on?
Group Leader, Brain Storming session of everyone, Draft Team, Resource Gathering Team, Creation Team, Reviewed by all members, then Submitted by the whole team or Group Leader.
How will you monitor group interactions and check for understanding?
Continuiosly! Also in the After Action Review on "How can we do this better next time?" The Facilitator or Teacher must always monitor and ask questions as well as be available to answer questions.
What are ways to successfully close or wrap-up a collaborative process?
Review. Just like in the 5 years olds video we just watched the children reviewed the information they learned to re-enforce what they learned.
What are ways to assess group projects?
I hate Letter Grades to a degree. I was just reading how a University Professor in Indiana has started assigning Experience Points kind of like in a video game for things learned. I like the idea of Grades being % but not A, B, C... . The ABCDF is to broad and if your .5% off IT WILL DRIVE YOU NUTS!
Experience Points for Grades-
http://current.com/1a1oc4c
What are some tips that would help students accept responsibility and work together to accomplish the task?
Pep-talks, points awarded by position, perks of position like being in charge, access to items like computers or library passes,
What are tips/suggestions for working with others in a group?
Avoid the Drama.... after lisening to Teenagers and people at work for the last couple of days this is #1. Focus on the Project, keep the peace, and avoid personality conflicts.
What are tips/suggestions for getting a group started on the task?
Brainstorm, inform them of parameters like time, cost, access to materials, and backwards planning strategies then let them run with what ever they can come up with as long as it's in the guildlines you provided.
What should the teacher do to prepare the students?
Give them a head's up (warning order) or an upcoming tasking or project. Inform them of Material, tools, and direction of the upcoming project.
How should he/she design the group project?
Based on what information she wants her students to learn. Powerpoint presentations and role playing or acting out projects is an excellent method followed by an After Action Review or Critic of themselves.
How should groups be formed--does it matter?
If it's the 1st few Group Projects let the students decide. After you evaluate who is doing what make those that have not specific jobs - do those jobs. Make them build on weaknesses. "Know your strengths, develope you weaknesses"(FM100-Leadership)
What kind of roles should group members take on?
Group Leader, Brain Storming session of everyone, Draft Team, Resource Gathering Team, Creation Team, Reviewed by all members, then Submitted by the whole team or Group Leader.
How will you monitor group interactions and check for understanding?
Continuiosly! Also in the After Action Review on "How can we do this better next time?" The Facilitator or Teacher must always monitor and ask questions as well as be available to answer questions.
What are ways to successfully close or wrap-up a collaborative process?
Review. Just like in the 5 years olds video we just watched the children reviewed the information they learned to re-enforce what they learned.
What are ways to assess group projects?
I hate Letter Grades to a degree. I was just reading how a University Professor in Indiana has started assigning Experience Points kind of like in a video game for things learned. I like the idea of Grades being % but not A, B, C... . The ABCDF is to broad and if your .5% off IT WILL DRIVE YOU NUTS!
Experience Points for Grades-
http://current.com/1a1oc4c
If you don't believe me think about how many times you've considered purchases based on Cash Back or Reward Points.
What are some tips that would help students accept responsibility and work together to accomplish the task?
Pep-talks, points awarded by position, perks of position like being in charge, access to items like computers or library passes,
What are tips/suggestions for working with others in a group?
Avoid the Drama.... after lisening to Teenagers and people at work for the last couple of days this is #1. Focus on the Project, keep the peace, and avoid personality conflicts.
What are tips/suggestions for getting a group started on the task?
Brainstorm, inform them of parameters like time, cost, access to materials, and backwards planning strategies then let them run with what ever they can come up with as long as it's in the guildlines you provided.
Monday, January 24, 2011
My Teachinhg Philosophy- Hungary as a Hostage (how to copy and past link)
My Teaching Philosophy - "Hungary as a Hostage"
My Teaching philosophy - Feed the Hostage while you have their attention.
My Background about teaching-
I prefer Student-Centered Teaching and the teacher being the facilitator. I believe what we learn can be broken down into simple structures or symbols. In Air Traffic Control we call this "The Newbie Board." Students simple use memorization for the first 3 days of any subject. We create a picture of all the material that will be covered. Pictures are 100 times easier to memorize than words or numbers. Here is an Example.
This picture represents everything about what we need to know. We draw this picture about 30 times until we have it memorized. Once it is memorized we can use access the information by drawing it anywhere. Different areas of the picture represent different things we must know like Altitudes, Speeds, and Frequencies. All you have to do is picture that area of the flips in your mind and fill in the blank. This is behaviorism. Step #2 is Cognitive, Constructive, and Connectivism (Social Constructive) based learning. Congnitive are what steps must I follow in order to do a specific task like get airspace. Constructive is the problem solving of how to get an aircraft from point A to point B safely. Social Constructive is when I deploy to a Foreign Country with an Air Traffic Control Team how do all of US work together to develop Controlled Airspace from all our previous experiences into one team that moves and responds like a fluid or as one.
Philosophy
The Teaching Philosophy or Model for a classroom environment must be based on the Need's of the Individual or Group. As a Teacher or Facilitator we must pick which teaching strategy is needed and come up with the appropriate Activity. We must not forget the most important part in this process and that is Keeping it Simple. Everything is wasted if Teachers deviate from structure or routines. If you find a good strategy that is easily understood than keep it. Communication is the hardest part of teaching. The student wants to achieve a goal as instructors we know how to get them to that goal the problem lies in communicating it so be are both on the "same sheet of music". Self motivated learners will consume knowledge extremely rapidly (or like a hungry hostage at a buffet table).
Learning in the Near Future(I'm still trying to figure out how the teacher got her videos in her blogs)-
Tip of the Day- Copy and Paste into Blogger (Edit Html must be used) http://www.ehow.com/how_5226330_copy-paste-word-blogger-tags.html
I'm just getting the hang of this Html thingy but I hope to figure this out and how to use it- http://www.web-source.net/html_codes_chart.htm
My Teaching philosophy - Feed the Hostage while you have their attention.
My Background about teaching-
I prefer Student-Centered Teaching and the teacher being the facilitator. I believe what we learn can be broken down into simple structures or symbols. In Air Traffic Control we call this "The Newbie Board." Students simple use memorization for the first 3 days of any subject. We create a picture of all the material that will be covered. Pictures are 100 times easier to memorize than words or numbers. Here is an Example.
This picture represents everything about what we need to know. We draw this picture about 30 times until we have it memorized. Once it is memorized we can use access the information by drawing it anywhere. Different areas of the picture represent different things we must know like Altitudes, Speeds, and Frequencies. All you have to do is picture that area of the flips in your mind and fill in the blank. This is behaviorism. Step #2 is Cognitive, Constructive, and Connectivism (Social Constructive) based learning. Congnitive are what steps must I follow in order to do a specific task like get airspace. Constructive is the problem solving of how to get an aircraft from point A to point B safely. Social Constructive is when I deploy to a Foreign Country with an Air Traffic Control Team how do all of US work together to develop Controlled Airspace from all our previous experiences into one team that moves and responds like a fluid or as one. Philosophy
The Teaching Philosophy or Model for a classroom environment must be based on the Need's of the Individual or Group. As a Teacher or Facilitator we must pick which teaching strategy is needed and come up with the appropriate Activity. We must not forget the most important part in this process and that is Keeping it Simple. Everything is wasted if Teachers deviate from structure or routines. If you find a good strategy that is easily understood than keep it. Communication is the hardest part of teaching. The student wants to achieve a goal as instructors we know how to get them to that goal the problem lies in communicating it so be are both on the "same sheet of music". Self motivated learners will consume knowledge extremely rapidly (or like a hungry hostage at a buffet table).
Learning in the Near Future(I'm still trying to figure out how the teacher got her videos in her blogs)-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JTc9HeTh1A&feature=player_detailpage
Hope this works-
Tip of the Day- Copy and Paste into Blogger (Edit Html must be used) http://www.ehow.com/how_5226330_copy-paste-word-blogger-tags.html
I'm just getting the hang of this Html thingy but I hope to figure this out and how to use it- http://www.web-source.net/html_codes_chart.htm
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
SimulationEducation - Hands on Approach to Learning
I've worked with simulator for Air Traffic Control and when the US Army 1st started implementing Simulators into learning command and control and combat skills. I played around with some of the Battlefield Simulators that were just maps with symbols you could move around representing combat units. Each team (TOC) was located in separate rooms in a building; these TOC's would use radios that communicated individual computer operators that would move the units during a battlefield simulation.
From there I moved onto Air Traffic Control where we started with Magnets on a Chalkboard and eventually moved to ATC Simulators . I use various tools to train young soldiers how to be an Army Air Traffic Controller. I would like to eventually use the skills I have learned to help teach students skills like History, Mathematics, Reading, Writing thru simulated game play. Why should learning be boring? I can put a simple game in my children's hands like Civilization and they learn economics, map reading, and history. Why don't we use game play like it was intended to be used the way Lions teach their young to hunt?
Creating this Blog was easy except I had to sign-up for a Gmail account. I primarily use Microsoft and had a little problem with copy and paste but eventually figured it out. MS and Yahoo really needs to step things up.
From there I moved onto Air Traffic Control where we started with Magnets on a Chalkboard and eventually moved to ATC Simulators . I use various tools to train young soldiers how to be an Army Air Traffic Controller. I would like to eventually use the skills I have learned to help teach students skills like History, Mathematics, Reading, Writing thru simulated game play. Why should learning be boring? I can put a simple game in my children's hands like Civilization and they learn economics, map reading, and history. Why don't we use game play like it was intended to be used the way Lions teach their young to hunt?
Creating this Blog was easy except I had to sign-up for a Gmail account. I primarily use Microsoft and had a little problem with copy and paste but eventually figured it out. MS and Yahoo really needs to step things up.
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