Shelley’s Reflection on Internet Communications

Photo by tarotastic @ Flickr.
Organized Chaos…that is what internet communications are to me. I definitely benefit from having the multitude of windows open at the same time. Do I get distracted? Sure! However, I make some great connections between materials as I “multi-task” in my various online environments.

In terms of the organized chaos of teaching with online communications…They can be so organized in the manner you track them, or initially organize them; however, once communications start the spiral out of control (at least out of my control in the method and manner in which I hoped they would go). With asynchronous discussions you are not monitoring at all times and students can say one thing, or move down an entire thread of discussion, that you didn’t consider, or want. And wikis, don’t get me started there. I have definite ideas how information should be organized and presented…once people start constructing their own pages and making their own links, it’s out of my control…And I just have to accept it!

But this chaos can be so beautiful and enlightening. Students having time to think about what they might say, before being pressured to say it in a f2f environment, can sometimes be amazingly insightful. With the right types of prompt, I definitely feel like I get more engaged thinking out of students in online asynchronous environments.

Photo by downtownlynn @ Flickr

Week 2: Online Communications & Course Outcomes

Your To-Do list for deadline #2:

• listen to the weekly podcast (you now have options, it is posted at Gabcast or on MCC's iTunes U --if one of you decide to subscribe to it using iTunes, please tell me so I can ask you about the process at the end of the course! Michelle, I know I need to make transcripts. I'll work on those this weekend.)
• new technologies: wikis and document sharing, watch the following videos:
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRqUE6IHTEA
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7BAU2XX5Ws
    
• course build: Share a document with entire class (using Google Docs) with course outcomes (both the MCCCD official competencies as well as your own specific outcomes). Comment on at least a couple classmates' documents (use "insert" tab and comment so that your comment is labeled). At this point I would just make comments about how/why you think these outcomes will/not work in an online environment. Watch this video to see how I shared my Outcomes document with you all!
  
• find course content: Creative Commons (CC) is a mechanism for authors to more freely share their material. Many authors who publish work in the internet share their materials under one of the CC licenses. Many people upload pictures at Flickr with CC licenses. You can do an advanced search at Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/search/advanced/) that allows you to only see results with CC licenses. Go find some pictures that are useful for your course!
  
• blog entry: Ultimately, the internet is a tool to facilitate communications, and we already know this; however, it does help to take a moment to distinguish between Internet vs. World Wide Web vs. Browsers (you can also watch You Tube: v=WMaOFbzWxh0). This week take some time to think about your experiences communicating via the internet. What are shared characteristics between your good experiences? Your bad experiences? What are the different strengths and weaknesses of communicating via the internet? Find a creative commons covered picture from Flickr that helps demonstrate your reflections about communicating via the internet and post that picture in your blog posting along with the reflection.
  
• iGoogle: add Google Docs gadget to help keep track of who has shared what with you!
• wiki entry: Read and comment on one of the already existing articles about communications and online learning at the course wiki. Then add a new article on the communication page in the wiki. You need to make it an annotated bibliography; so put the bibliographic citation first and then add a paragraph with a brief summary of the work.

Image from NaOH at Flickr.

week 1:new technology assignment

OOPS, I said I would attach, I meant to link...here it is

Online Teaching Resource Page Assignment

Picture from ktpupp @ Flickr.

Introducing Shelley

Hi! I'm your cruise director for this trip! :-) I wont' pretend to know everything about online teaching and learning; however, I will share the tips, tricks, and words-o-wisdom that I have learned over the years. One thing to keep in mind as you look at my course and compare it to others you have built or seen...I rebuild almost every time I teach a course. I am constantly trying new technologies; therefore, my courses do not remain the same. However, the uber-courses that win awards...those instructors are usually adding to courses they build instead of starting fresh each semester. Definitely don't feel like you have to copy me!

I love playing with new technologies. My current passion is Jing, which made all the little flash videos I gave you during week one. I like exploring different web-based technologies, like Radar which allowed me to take a picture of my home desk with my cell phone and easily upload the picture to the Radar website.

Getting Started: Week 1

Week 1: Learn the Technology
Welcome to CIS237!
In my experience the first week of an online class is always lost to "learn the technology." Obviously since I have classes that are a confederacy of loosely strung together technologies, this learning time is extremely importantly; however, I find this time is just as important in a course that is completely restricted to a Learning Management System (LMS) like WebCT or Blackboard. Those systems can be organized in different ways, and you may use different technologies, so it is always important to have that first week of activities to bang on the buttons. This week...you get to bang on the buttons. :-)

Your To-Do List:

• read the syllabus; use the "insert tab" and "comments" feature (with the shared version) to ask questions, make comments, etc.
  
• listen to week one podcast.
  
• set up gmail account (send an email from your gmail account to the instructor: shelley.rodrigo@gmail.com)--extra video about using Google Apps
  
• set up Blogger Blog (send URL to instructor)
• new technology: read the linked Online Learning Resource page assignment prompt (it's got a few videos for your to watch)
  
• set up iGoogle page (share w/instructor): make links to the course blog, course wiki, course podcast, and your blog--instructions to help
  
• get account at the course wetpaint wiki (the instructor will email you an invitation)
  
• Take a screencapture of your desktop (and if you want, a picture of your physical desk as well); post the picture/s in Picasa (make public, consider starting a cis237 album)--no tips here yet...play a little and see if you can figure out how!
  
• blog entry: introduction and what you want to learn from this course also include picture of desktop linked from Picasa (read & reply to two classmates)

Flickr CC photo from: desroches