Week 9 - A Whole New World

Reading about student activities in the online environment, the participants in the class can connect in a whole new level. I understand the use of computer-based simulations and animations. If done correctly and managed properly, then I feel like this is a great tool for students to interact and help create community while learning. I feel like this is another tool for students to have an outlet and communication in this particular virtual world.

From personal experience, I own a Sony Playstation 3, a video game console, and they have something similar to Second Life. It is a neat way to meet people and network with others. In a classroom setting, it could be used as project and for students to create and learn from each other. I view it as a possible distraction, but I honestly believe if done correctly with parameters then the students have the opportunity to learn and grow by recreating a process or activity. It can be use a participation grading tool for students to interact and complete tasks in the this simulation world.

Week 7 - Community or No Community

From readings and the video, I see that creating community is important for the teacher and the students to feel connected and have the proper resources to navigate through the content with no problems. I look forward to seeing your ideas and concepts as well as receiving feedback from my colleagues on this topic that interest me below.

I do want to take the time to discuss the research and study I am doing for another class. I mentioned earlier in my blog that I would like to create a class on the examining and analyzing data as well as trends regarding the direction of funding and finances for higher education institutions. I would like to recap the history and look the designed formulas that set the budget for colleges and universities. Then take it a step further to look at percent change for the state flagship schools versus the regional colleges. 

I want to look at the trends to see if state governments are taking the right steps and measures by maintaining higher education. Look at allocation of funds and examine to see if that amount is sufficient or are schools forced to moved into a privatization model. 

Week 6 - The Virtual World

On the internet skills test, I scored 92% on the assessment and missed the question about ISP. I should have known this term, since my professor in another course recently asked the class to define the term.

From class last week, I wanted to spend time on the use of discussion board in an online course. This video highlights four points on how students can use the medium of discussion board to create community and engage students in the course. I firmly believe that discussion board are great for the students to share ideas about a topic and more in-depth learning for the students. I have had professors in the past that required discussion board as a separate category as well as participation for the students. On the other hand, I like how the discussion board creates a small sense of community and a more engaging piece where you can see ideas and thoughts in different perspectives.

Week 5 - The Legal Contract

The syllabus is the document students and professors refer to the most throughout the course to make sure the goals and objectives are covered efficiently and effectively. Additionally, the syllabus is the foundation of how the course will go from start to finish and use the document as guide for the course.

• From the text, Ko and Rossen do a great job implying and signaling out how important it is for professors to create a detailed play-by-play syllabus. I did like the use of metaphors that the authors use referring to the syllabus as the "map" and "contract" throughout Chapter 5.
• Explicit and concrete details are important. I am a detail oriented person and would like to see everything in front of me. I understand the big picture individuals but at the same time defining and describing the picture into details are important when designing a syllabus in my opinion.
• I value the checklist for an online syllabus in the textbook that would help guide me the right direction in creating a solid syllabus (Reference page 123 under "The Schedule" section)
• I feel that incorporating an interactive syllabus would be beneficial to the students and give the participants the opportunity to understand the document thoroughly. In designing the class, I would have a welcome/introduction video for the students to use and refer to for further explanation of the syllabus, then move to a discussion chat to answer another questions, make changes to the contract, and clarifying points about the course/syllabus.    

Week 4 - Defining the Branches for the Course

• Sequence of Activities
• The sequence of activities are important in developing the layout of the course. The text points out that the sequence of activities should link back to the course goals and objectives. The order of the course is vital to the students and teachers, so everyone understands the flow of activities throughout the course and everything has a purpose and user-friendly. The structure of activities for course should be clear and concise for the instructors and students to follow through accordingly and accomplish the learning objectives. 

• Presentation
• The presentation of the online course plays a role in how the information and materials are being displayed to the students. Personally, I feel having a blend of recorded lectures and PowerPoint slides will be beneficial and something tangible for the students to use and reference to when learning the material and studying for the assessment piece. For designing a class about budgeting and financing higher education, I would provide video clips, lectures, and articles that point out the background and history of financing higher education.

•  I strongly feel depending on the course (math, science, education, history, accounting, or literature) and how you dress up your presentation that subject matter will need to be tailored and tweaked for the best results and learning experience.

• Discussion
• I value discussion in a face-to-face classroom to understand different perspectives and gain a deeper/better understanding of the topic on hand. Creating discussion on online course can be challenging but an opportunity for students to interact with one another in different light. For example, I am taking an research methods course online using Wimba. The professor lectures and goes through the PowerPoint slides, but this application also allows us to ask questions to the professor and engage in conversation/discussion using a chat while she is teaching the class. I enjoy this tool and I see it to be resourceful for students.  

• Building a Course

• I find that all the elements for developing a course are helpful from the reading and video course tours, but does not mean you do not have to use every single tool or element on the course. It is apparent that each course is designed with similar but different components depending on what works, the subject matter, and the audience. 

•  Personally, I am an organized individual and would see that planning the sequence of activities are important first and the other elements will fall into play by default. I would strongly encourage the use of video clips and other social media outlets be implemented in the course, since this generation is more tune with items that are covered various outlets to communicate in this world (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and blogging).