[my Ashford MAIN page] [^^^PNS home page]Edu-616: Week 2
See also: -[]- -[Three Case Studies - Analysis and Review]- (M/S word doc) -[]- -[]- -[]-Edu-616: Week 2
NOTE: An "SME" - Subject Matter Expert; eg, "an orinthologist". "SMA" - Subject Matter Area; the area of knowledge that the SME is an expert in; eg, "birds". "K-domain" - Knowledge domain. Should be sufficient to locate via googles. Thus "an orinthologist" is an SMA in "birds" (K-domain: aves). NOTE: For proper spelling refer to the Dewey Decimal System; specifically "Melvin Dewey". - that is all (well, for now ;) IN THIS Block: -[Case Studies: Paper 1]- (word doc) -[EDU in USA - The Future is Now!]- (National EdTech Plan) -[]- -[]- -[]- On this page: {Intro} {Stuff} {} {Drill and Kill} {} {} {Refs} {Links}Intro
Readings
1. Read the following selections from Teaching and Learning with Technology: a. Chapter 6 (pp. 224-241 – start reading at the Reference Software section) 2. Read the following selections from Technology for Teaching: a. Chapter 2 (pp. 9-34)Discussion Forums
Participate in the following Discussion Forum: 1. 1st Posting Due by Day 3. Drill and Practice Software. Drill and practice software is controversial. While proponents tout it as a way to provide students with self-directed practice, critics sometimes call it “drill and kill” software (see p.227 of Teaching and Learning w/Techno for more information.) Write 2-3 paragraphs on your opinions on drill and practice software and its appropriateness in your educational focus (K-12 or corporate). If you are familiar with any particular software packages, please include personal observations or experiences with it. If you are unfamiliar with drill and practice software, you can do a search in the ProQuest database --OR-- on the World Wide Web for articles that address “educational software” and find out what proponents and critics are saying about some packages. 2. 1st Posting Due by Day 3. Visual Mapping. Graphic organizers or visual mapping software are useful tools for organizing information, both at a student and professional level. Software such as Inspiration and Kidspiration are graphic organizer applications made especially for K-12 audience. Software such as Visio and C-Map tools can be used at a professional level for this purpose. Download a demo of Inspiration or Kidspiration from www.inspiration.com. Though the two pieces of software are very similar, Kidspiration has icons and tools geared towards elementary age students, while Inspiration is geared for older students (Gr. 6-12). You may also be able to download a 30 day free trial version of Visio. Look for examples in each company’s homepage as to how graphic organizer software can be used to support curriculum/learning. Using the demo version of Inspiration or Visio, create a visual map. If you are a school-based educator, you can create a map relevant to what you do (look at examples in the Curriculum section). If you are a technology trainer, use Visio (or Inspiration) to make a map of a project that is relevant to you professionally. After you practice using Inspiration or Visio, write 1-2 paragraphs on how graphic organizer software can be useful for people. Consider how the software can address different learning styles and help people communicate and present information.Written Assignment
Blackboard Assignment Uploading Tips Critical Reflection - ILS or Not? In both the readings for this week, you read about Integrated Learning Systems (ILS). ILS are packaged hardware and software systems that integrate content, management and assessment (see http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/content/cntareas/reading/li3lk59.htm for a detailed description of ILS). Chapter 2 of Technology for Teaching discussed the research on ILS and its impact on student learning. The readings also covered the pros and cons of adopting ILS and noted some factors that need to be in place for ILS to be effective such as adequate resources and support. For this assignment, put yourself in the shoes of a technology coordinator at a state, district or school level or as a corporate trainer. Decide whether you will purchase an ILS that a vendor has been trying to sell you. Draft a letter to the school board or to your client explaining why you have decided to purchase or not to purchase (or recommend/not recommend if a corporate trainer) the ILS that has been recommended. If you decide to purchase/recommend it, explain what type of support or resources you plan to provide as you implement the system. If you decided not to purchase/recommend it, explain what alternatives you plan to pursue. This assignment should be 1-2 pages in length and formatted as a business letter. >> View/Complete Assignment: Critical Reflection - ILS or Not? ======== ==================================Drill and Kill
As i recall in the film "Stand and Deliver" all about a H/S in California, one of the instructors Jaime Escalante ??sp?? when they had to approach a bunch of learning would get the kids doing a chant - to psyche them up. The idea is that our body (mind, etc) isn't a separate and im-mutable thing. Thus, using "body rhthms" (low notes - drumming, repetition approaching the heart-rate) he was able to stir them up and get them ready to tackle the "rote stuff". But, the idea should be clear: In order to understand *anything*, you have to learn the basics and get over that level of ignorance (eg, Wow, i'd never even heard of XYZ...). Then it becomes a secret language. As does every kind of thing. But, we are stead-fastly derrogating deep learning and actually enjoying knowledge that we are being left behind. Not that there's anything really wrong with this. I mean the dinosaurs had their 65 million years, and then these little rat-like creatures showed up (ie, our ancestors). So, so what if we just vanish (and by the way we're going it doesn't even look like it will take an asteriod - just plain old fashioned greed, ignorance, and asserting that we know when in fact we DON'T KNOW. (squat, or otherwise) So, some millions of years from now the Koala bears will be digging up our bones and wondering how it was that we had brains TEN times the size of dinosaurs, that we only lasted 6 measley million years. And you know, i honestly don't know that i;d say to them. So: 2 times 3 is six 2 times 4 is eight 2 times 5 is ten .... learn by rote - or die.
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