This week, I learned an abundance of knowledge using Audio and Video. I uploaded a PowerPoint on Slideshare and recorded audio using Audacity. I downloaded the program “Lame” to convert my Audacity file to mp3 format.
Below is a URL of my creation of a PPT using both Slideshare and Audacity:
Annotated Motivational Quotes Image
I also included the link of my annotated picture because the annotations do not show up using html and Mbedr kept coming back with an error message.
It’s a wrap! 
Here are my posts for far…
Week 1 : My Introduction
Something I Shared
Week 3: I took the beginner’s questionnaire and explored the POT’s Getting Started chart. I wrote about my teachings reflections, my pedagogical goals and objectives for my students.
Week 4: I practiced writing HTML, explored Prezi, and created a sample that I could use in my classroom.
Week 5: I viewed the Elluminate video on how to create an Interactive Syllabus and posted on my reflection.
Week 6: Shared Jing video
Week 7: Discussion of the positive uses of Facebook in the classroom environment.
Week 8: I explored Elluminate, posted an audio thread on Pilar’s voice thread, explored Google +, and read Jonathon’s Mott’s article, Envisioning the post-LMS Era
Week 9: Explored Second Life
Week 10: Discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of using a class blog.
Week 11: I learned more about Web Accessibility and Assistive Technology.
Web Accessibility knowledge of technology resources is extremely important for professors. There are many programs and “Assistive Technology” for individuals with disabilities in order to perform functions that might otherwise be difficult or impossible.
Here is a list of programs that are very useful for Web Accessibility:
Dragon Naturally Speaking: Speech recognition software that works like dictation. Use voice commands in lieu of a keyboard. http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/
Windows 7 Speech Recognition: For PC users who have Windows 7. Voice recognition program. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/accessibility
Kurzweil: Reading program that takes any text (e-file or scanned page), recognizes it, highlights the text onscreen, and reads it out loud. Kurzweil is customizable to fit the needs of the individual (reading speed, text size, voice preference, etc.) www.kurzweiledu.com/
Natural Reader: Works much like Kurzweil, but it id free to download online. However, natural reader cannot recognize text on a scanned page. http://www.naturalreaders.com/index.htm
If you work at MiraCosta College, the DSPS office can help students set up these programs for personal use.
My experience with Second Life…
I was able to create my own customizable avatar. While exploring Orientation Island, I was taught how to walk, teleport, and fly. I learned that I could meet others, go shopping, and explore the whole world virtually. The special effects are definitely amazing which create a highly interactive environment.
How could Second Life be useful in Education?
Virtual campuses could be used where professors set up private areas not open to the public where their students can explore. Here, students can collaborate, role -play, inspire creative ideas, interact, and become immersed in their own education. Since I am a counselor and I teach college success skills, one way I would be able to use Second Life in the online classroom is to send students on a scavenger hunt where they can locate items or information relevant to their possible career choice or field of study. I also teach a section of study on diversity. In this chapter, I could take my students on a virtual field trip to learn about various cultures. In addition, students can work on projects together and this immersive education gives students a sense of being present when meeting in person is not practical.
Even though we have a growth of the student gaming population and Second Life could completely peak these students interest, I feel there are also many students who would not have the technology skills and it would be difficult to train these students online. I can possibly use Second Life first as an extra credit assignment to see what feedback I receive from these students.
Facebook has quickly become the “popular” social network site for many college students. I constantly hear chatter of Facebook amongst my students before or after my live classroom sessions. For the most part, I always viewed Facebook as a place to share pictures, view, and comment on a friend’s status. In fact, many college’s and universities have adopted a Facebook page for their students, including MiraCosta College!
How can Facebook be useful in education? Facebook has the capability of instant messaging, bulletin boards, email, and the ability to post videos and pictures. In addition, Facebook can be an excellent tool for collaboration amongst our students and indirectly creates a learning community. I also feel that Facebook increases both teacher-student and student-student communication and interaction. Students can contact their peers about questions regarding assignments, group projects, or create a study group for upcoming exams or midterms. Instructors can use Facebook as a tool to post reminders for students about assignments, examples of assignments, links, upcoming events, etc. Since many of our current generation students are already so familiar with Facebook, it may not require extensive training on how to use Facebook. Why not give it a try in your classroom next semester?
I enjoyed watching the Interactive Syllabus through Elluminate and learning step by step on how to create one through Blackboard. I loved how Lisa links documents directly into her syllabus to save students time by reducing their “clicks.” I plan to make my future syllabus hyper-linked! I loved how Lisa brought out that our syllabi can become “a living document” where students can always go back and use it! Since I have never used Moodle, I also enjoyed seeing the brief example of a Moodle syllabus Lisa shared with us in the beginning of her presentation. I am very curious on how Moodle works in comparison to Blackboard.
While reading Chapter 5, I learned many useful ideas that I will implement in my online classroom. I found the summary checklist extremely helpful in double checking the function of my syllabus. I feel that including specific dates along with each week is important to help students keep a schedule. Also, the book suggest to supply information more than once. I feel it can be helpful to post all your information in my syllabus and re-posting the information in the specific week where the information belongs. The sample syllabi provided by Ko and Rossen is organized and easy to read.
I am learning how to Write in HTML ! HTML can be useful for my online class to add images, links, and videos.
Below is a sample started that I will use in my online class.
Topics that will be covered in Counseling 110 will include creative goal setting, academic and life management, college and community resources, health maintenance, stress management, library and information resources, diversity awareness, time management, memory techniques and learning styles.
In which direction are you heading? Counseling 110 can help you!
Click here to watch a short video on Learning Styles: Learning Stlyes Video
Blogging can provide an opportunity to learn and communicate beyond the traditional class room settings.Blogging has a less informal environment outside the classroom where students can expand and use blogging as a knowledge log. This can allows different perspectives on a verity of subjects and topics. Blogging is a very cost effective way to interrogate technology in the class room and puts this technology in the learners hands. Bringing technology like blogging to class room will provide more real world experiences and models in the educational setting. As Technology becomes more prominent in every day life it is vital that students of the present day get exposed to different forms of technology. Computers probable devices and electronic communications are very common in today’s world and is no longer enough to simply be aware of these innovations. Students need the opportunity to have hands on experiences with today’s up and comming technologies and Blogging in the classroom would be a small step in a important direction to provide more relevant learning experience to our students. But there are some major draw backs. Blogging can sometimes be a slow form of communication, and if a quick response is required, email serves the purpose better. The structure of blogs does not provide confidentiality and not all assignments are appropriate for it.
