Clear as mud...

Well, tonights' class was fun and informative.  It was interesting to see how the 3 group projects turned out.  To me they looked like three different examples that you might show students.  What made it particularly interesting is how the teachers thought that they had thought that the instructions were explicit enough about what they wanted.   It definitely drove home that instructions need to be explicit. Personally, I thought they were fine.

Another thing which nobody mentioned and I thought of while laying awake last night is that we as teachers, need to be prepared to accept and grade things that don't meet our expectations.  We all give out assignments and occasionally something comes back that isn't wrong per se, but it's not what we were fishing for. If the project is well done, there still was learning that went on and perhaps that's what the focus should be on.  We can always  hit on the topics we wanted them to learn with either the project discussions OR assign a smaller project to get them thinking more about what we intended.

I also think that many of us haven't, but hopefully will, be exchanging contact information.  We get so wrapped up in all of the Skyping, IMing and emailing that we forget that the phone can be just as important.   I think we should make a class google doc and post all of our cell/phone numbers...then people and print it off and put it near their computers.

I have also been making a running list of all of the little tips Greg & Ken have been making in class.  If you're curious, here they are:

Moderator (Greg ): NOTE TO SELF: Provide enough time for students to collaborate.

Moderator (Greg ): NOTE TO SELF: Beginning communication can be challenging.

Moderator (Greg ): NOTE TO SELF: Division of labor is important. Roles may be useful for younger students.

Moderator (Greg ): NOTE TO SELF: Scheduling a first meeting for your students may help to get the project started.

Moderator (Greg ): NOTE TO SELF: Share contact information at the beginning of the project.

Moderator (Greg ): NOTE TO SELF: Students may feel isolated when they are unable to communicate.

Moderator (Greg ): NOTE TO SELF: Establishing check points for students will help students to set the pace.

Moderator (Ken): Note to Self: Scheduling can be a challenge.

Moderator (Greg ): NOTE TO SELF: Collaboartion is messy.

I think this is all for now. I'm off.

Class #2

I must say, I am really enjoying the interactive nature of class.  I'll be honest, during the first class when we kept getting "invited" to raise our hands, clap, etc. I thought to myself, "Seriously? We've been using this forever. We know how to do this stuff.", but after our second class it makes sense.

The discussion about similarities and differences between online learning and traditional learning really drove home some points. Even though I knew many of the things we talked about like different ways students could participate vs. a traditional classroom, ways of inviting participation (like all of the hand raising, etc.)

Also, I really liked the break out rooms and how there were used. They reminded me a lot of "language labs" where you would wear a headset and interact with someone across the room.... but instead you're only limited by time-zones and willingness.
I actually went in a played with the grouping settings after class it is really cool.  I am really excited to learn about all the little features.

I think the hardest thing will be asking GOOD questions that will elicit the answers and critical thinking that I want.  I did notice though about the questions we did have in class, they were very reminiscent of my D&D/Role-Playing days.  "There's a sleeping dragon on a pile of gold in the cavern.  What do you do?" and then leave it up to the players/students to work though it.   I think I may really turn out to like thinking of these higher order questions. :-)

I think this is all for now.  I'm looking forward to our next class.

Class has begun.... again

It seems like there's a never ending supply of classes.  :-P  However, I am really excited to get into the meat of this class.   Learning to use Eluminate will be fun.  Although I've used it with my groups in the past... I didn't know how to do a poll, which I do now!!  Now I just need to think up fun polling questions.

As for moderating, especially students, it will definitely be challenging to come up with good higher-ordering thinking questions.  I know when working with middle school kids, they don't like to think and will do their best to give the easiest answer possible.  They really hate it when I keep asking, "why" and making them justify their answers.  It is a skill I try to use, but I'm still a long ways away from being a rock star when it comes to asking questions.

As for my online conferencing experiences... I've only used Skype and Eluminate, unless you count my days in college on the ISCA BBS.  As I like to refer to it, the all-text FaceBook. Now, I never did anything on their academically related, but I sure had a lot of fun. :-)

I can't wait to see what week two has in store.  I'm enjoying all of this so far.  I hope the class stays as fun and interesting as it was last week.