Postings

I posted to :
http://amusingmoose.wordpress.com/
and
http://mikedillon1977.wordpress.com/

Metaphors of Educators

With the many facets of metaphors for educators, it is hard to decide which one best describes the role of educators. "All four models, then, share a common attribute of blending the concept of educator expertise with learner contruction"(Siemens, 2007). I tend to gravitate more toward the educator as concierge. " The concierge serves to provide a form of "soft" guidance - at times, incorporating traditional lectures and, in other instances, permitting learners to explore on their own" (Siemens, 2007, P.17). An educator's job is to provide students with the opportunities to expand their knowledge by various methods of instruction. All learners are not the same and does not learn in the same way, so educators must profice a plethora of learning possibilities for their students. I believe this incorporates all other metaphors provided by Siemens, as what an educator should be. Another good example of a metaphor of an educator as coach. A coach does many of the jobs of others all in one and being a coach of education will allow guidance for all students in what ever area is necessary at the specific time.

Peer Reviews

I posted to:
Bill Goldstein, Andree Simmons, Latonya Simmons and Amy Cantymagli.

Video Presentation - Best Practices in Online Discussion Forums

Apple IPod Graphic Organizer Module 4

The Ipod Touch is a technological innovation that has been highly diffused. Many of our students currently have one or something similar. This tool does much of what a phone could do, but actually have a verbal conversation. Many of its apps can be adapted to fit in class instruction. It has access to the internet for collaboration and communication. It also has email or access to sites that allow interaction like Facebook and LinkedIn, and has apps like Twittelator Pro and Loopt for sharing videos and discovering places friends have been. Gps and travel apps can have a major impact in a lesson for a social studies class as would access to fitness and shopping sites in a math class. The Ipod could have a major impact on a classroom, it just needs to have that advantage discovered.







Retrieved from http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/games-and-apps/

Post Comments

I commented on Bill Goldstein and Andree Simmons.

Technology and Media for Distance Education

Static and Dynamic Technology Used in Distance Education

Currently, distance education is mainly on the static level of interaction. Many of the things we do in the classes stem from streaming videos, audio and books. Discussion posts, blogs and email are mainly what is used to collaborate at this time. It will be very interesting to see how these classes would work using many of the dynamic innovations for distance learning. Dynamic media will redefine distance education. It will enhance the expectation of distance education for providing an environment of interaction of people from all parts of the world. Although this is true now, it is hard to feel that aspect of distance education while still working with static media. Once dynamic media starts to take off, there will be another face on distance education.