Week 8

MERLOT

http://www.merlot.org/merlot/index.htm

I selected this site from Erica Roark’s February 15^th posting about open education technologies and resources.  I chose this site because I am intrigued by the increasing advancements in the area of open classrooms.  In reviewing many of the resources that forecast the emergence of new technologies, open sourcing for resources, even from prestigious universities is the wave of the future for education.  The MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching) site is from California State University and provides the users with a wide variety of peer-reviewed journals.  Having found the search for specific topics of research often ambiguous or boggled down with extraneous other information, the MERLOT site provides reputable sources that can be used to substantiate further research.  MERLOT also provides learning materials that span the globe that can further enhance lessons I may be presenting.  In viewing open source resources I think of the lives that can be changed because of what is shared via the internet and through this exchange of information who else may be impacted.  The outlook is quite optimistic for the continued growth of such sites.

Netiquette

www.networketiquette.net

Bradley (2009) stated, netiquette includes the principles of good electronic communication through computer conferencing essential due to a lack of visual cues that can often cause information to be misinterpreted.  This website was from R. Kyle Kennedy’s posting, dated February 21, 2012 covering the topic of internet etiquette.  Having participated in internet discussions and group collaborative projects via the internet, I find this topic to be of utmost importance.  I selected this particular site because it was very user friendly and could be adapted for a variety of users.  I currently teach middle school and can see myself working with adult learners struggling with English and the entrance assessment for college.  This particular site explains the importance of interactions via the internet in which the ability to read another’s facial expressions is missing.  For so many new to the internet or even texting, knowing that something could be misinterpreted is essential to one’s continued successful interactions.

GCF Learnfree.org

http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computerbasics

This site is from Corleyn’s February 21^st blog posting about computer literacy.  While for many younger adult learners this site may be too basic or simply just irrelevant but for many adult learners this is a perfect starting point.  This site provides basic information about computers, types, names, functions etc.  For adult learners embarking on a new journey of schooling, computers are something they will be required to use proficiently.  Unfortunately, for many the last “computer” any of them used efficiently was an ATM machine or word processor.  This site provides access to a plethora of useful materials that can be viewed on a computer or printed for future reference.

Bradley, S. (2009). The impact of netiquette on online group work: A study of UK Open University students. In O. Kallioinen (Ed.), Learning by developing—New ways to learn 2009 conference proceedings (pp. 152–167).Espoo, Finland: Laureate University of Applied Sciences.

NetEtiquette or Not

NetEtiquette ot Not

 

NetEtiquette

http://www.albion.com/netiquette/index.html

This informative web site provides the core rules of netiquette as well as a multiple choice quiz to test the reader’s knowledge of proper online behavior and actions.  This comprehensive site would be a beneficial introduction for anyone unsure of how to interact in web based communication.  Upon completion of this program I hope to teach in an online environment in which proper internet interactions would be a critical component of the course.  In creating a course syllabus, I would include this type of information so that students could be more informed prior  to beginning interactions with one another in an one line class.  As Bradley (2009) stated, netiquette includes the principles of good electronic communication through computer conferencing essential  due to a lack of visual cues that can often cause information to be misinterpreted.

Digital Citizenship and Creative Content

http://digitalcitizenshiped.com/default.aspx

This website requires the user to register, for free, to access the curriculum units.  Once registered you may select a specific curriculum area as well as grade level taught.  The units cover topics that protect both the user as well as the facilitator.  What is most helpful is how the units explain how to be a conscientious digital citizen.  The program addresses a variety of uses including music, videos, writing, software, games, images, virtually anything that could be transmitted via the internet is covered.  This site would be an essential incorporation as a professional development workshop for staff as well as any internet user. Since the program is self-paced and available online it is easily accessible, anywhere and anytime.  I would include this as an introduction to the course so that all stakeholders were aware of the responsibilities that are associated with interacting, communicating, or sharing via the internet.

Bradley, S. (2009). The impact of netiquette on online group work: A study of UK Open University students. In O. Kallioinen (Ed.), Learning by developing—New ways to learn 2009 conference proceedings (pp. 152–167). Espoo, Finland: Laurea University of Applied Sciences.

Jane

Open Source Technology

Moodle
https://moodle.org/
Moodle is a Course Management System (CMS) or a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) that is a free web based tool that can be used by educators when creating an online learning site.  The educator creates a web sites(s) that are used by the students .  Moodle does require the internet to access, but is quite user friendly, for both the educator and the student alike.  Moodle has features that allow it to scale to very large deployments and hundreds of thousands of students, yet it can be used for a primary school or education hobbyist (moodle.org).  Moodle also incorporates forums, databases and wikis making it a one-stop-learn site. 

Moodle which is an acronym for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment.  When Moodle was developed it was designed to support a social constructionist framework of education where people can actively construct new knowledge as they interact with their environments. Everything you read, see, hear, feel, touch is tested against your prior knowledge and your knowledge is strengthened if you can successfully use it in your wider environment (GNU, 2012).
Moodle is used by a variety of institutions including:

• Universities
• High schools
• Government departments
• Military
• Homeschoolers
• Independent educators

If I were to incorporate Moodle as a VLE, I would be one of 1,259,537 registered users, that speak over 78 languages in 220 countries (moodle.org).  In seeking a position as a distance educator, Moodle provides an excellent learning platform to post course events and class discussions.  Students can collaborate via the wikis as well as demonstrate proficiency with online quiz/tests. One area in particular, Moodle for Language Teaching, is something that I could access and use for those students in need of language acquisition or the ESL learner.  The Moodle platform is really only limited by the creator’s imagination.

 

Distance Learning Technology
Technology plays a prominent and increasing role in everyday life and at work. Access to it and connectivity to the Internet are growing rapidly, even among low‐skilled adults. Despite the higher costs of broadband, 63 percent of all Americans have broadband connectivity at home, some 77 percent of adults have a computer, and 84 percent have a cell phone (McCain, 2009).  Although access is growing among all categories of users, the digital divide remains problematic for certain categories of potential learners, especially those at the lowest skills levels and most in need of services. Whether an adult has no experience using computers or the Internet or is well versed in computer skills technology offers an entirely new environment and learning experience that adds to or can go beyond the traditional classroom experience of instructor led text-based formats (McCain, 2009). Research shows that self study through distance learning – where materials are delivered through a variety of media – holds high promise in terms of learning gains, and persistence and motivation are markedly better than in traditional classroom only settings, even for low skilled learners (McCain, 2009).

TokBox

http://www.tokbox.com/

This free application is ideal for chatting with people over the internet.  It is used with your current online messenger system (AOL, Yahoo, MSN…) to hold a face-to-face conversation.  Users can send recorded messages to a participant’s email as well.  Another facet of this web-based browser VoIP (voice over IP) is its ability to hold a video conference session for up to 6 participants and it is still absolutely free. 

This service is managed in real time 24/7 availability making it an ideal application for adult learners working form different time zones or during off hours.  Users can engage in conferencing from computers, iPhones, or iPads, making this type of communication completely mobile, providing true anywhere/anytime contact.

This type of connection would be beneficial to the adult learner participating in a distance learning course as it offers flexibility and 24/7 opportunity to connect with group members.  This free service provides collaboration for up to 6 members of a team.  Lastly, one is not tethered to the desktop or laptop to contribute to conferences as this service is available on the iPhone or iPad.  Having used other forms of online collaboration tools, I can see the benefits of incorporating TokBox in the adult learning platform.

 References:

General Public License (2012). Moodle philosophy. Retrieved from:  http://docs.moodle.org/24/en/Philosophy.

McCain, M. (2009). The power of technology to transform adult learning:  Expanding access to adult education and workforce skills through distance learning.  Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy retrieved from https://www.vcn.org/careerladder/Resourcespdfs/POWER_OF_TECH.pdf.

Gaming, Simulations, and Virtual Environments

Mezirow (2000) and Brookfield have both argued for a greater need in adult education to go beyond the normative challenges of helping learners engage in educational learning and one way to encourage this is through the incorporation of newer technologies in the classroom. Game based learning seems to be a large part of the future of educational learning with the facilitation of students who are accustomed to learning from games, either digitally or traditionally (Anderson, Anderson, & Taylor, 2009).  There are more hands-on and practical application-based approached to using games in education that could allow for more personalization of learning, self-directedness and team or group learning (Anderson et. al, 2009).  With the influx of learning on the go and mobile technology, the incorporation of gaming, virtual worlds and simulated learning are changing the way adults can approach the learning environment.

SplitWords

http://braingames1.aarp.org/splitwords.html

The game has various skill levels that help to train the brain in memory, attention, language, executive and visual-spatial functions.  I selected this game because of its ease of use.  In working with struggling readers, this game is beneficial as the purpose it is build words from word parts beginning with 2 word parts, becoming more challenging as the user progresses.  While this is not something that I would incorporate in a regular level college course, it is a game that I would have adult learners use to improve word recognition and vocabulary in a variety of categories.  Adult learners could also use this game on a mobile device during down time, further increasing their knowledge base.

Writing in the Stars

http://braingames1.aarp.org/writing_in_the_stars.html

This challenge word game provides practice with problem solving and using the skills of logic, mental visualization, working and short-term memory.  In the adult learning environment, this game challenges the learners to connect and overlap letters in words.  It provides both those proficient as well as those less proficient with language practice.  For the ESL or struggling language learner, this game is an excellent way  to practice and become more familiar with words.  It is also able to be accessed on mobile devices allowing learners to challenge themselves on the go, making learning barrier free.                                                                                                                                

 References:

Anderson, B., Anderson, M., & Taylor, T. (2009).  New territories in adult education:  Game-based learning for adult learners.  Retrieved from:  http://www.adulterc.org/Proceedings/2009/proceedings/anderson_etal.pdf.

Brookfield, S. (1994). Adult learning: Overview.  The international encyclopedia of education (2nd ed.) Vol. 1,163-168. New York: Pergamon.

Mezirow, J. & Associates. (2000). Learning as transformation: Critical perspectives on a theory in progress. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.