Educational Technology Today

Digital Learning

kathryn — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 01:01:25 +0000

The Digital Learning site from the MacArthur foundation was launched in 2006. Parts of the site are still under development. … Definitely worth watching…

Using Graphics When Designing Courses

kathryn — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 03:14:15 +0000

As I mentioned previously, I am currently helping to build a set of online courses. Our design team is constantly struggling with different ways to represent content (for a particular goal or objective–e.g. model for students how to integrate a internet-based lesson plan). Anyway, I wanted to add a link to a Posting from Creating Passionate Users because it has some great ideas/ information related to using graphics.

Check it out: http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2006/11/add_graphics_to.html

Michigan Merit Curriculum Guidelines for Online Learning

kathryn — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 21:31:27 +0000

On April 20th of this year our governor signed into effect a law that revised Michigan’s high school graduation requirements. The state has more recently published a set of guidelines for the Online Learning requirement. (Thanks to my colleague Carrie for sending this along ). This document provides clarification on what the state means by “online learning experience”.

Also, you might want to check out the “Michigan Merit Curriculum Course/Credit Content Expectation and Guideline Completion Schedule“.

ODEO Tutorial

kathryn — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 03:47:35 +0000

Recently I spoke with students at CMU on how to create a podcast using ODEO studio. I have also created a short flash video on how to create a podcast. To view the video click here.

EASE History

kathryn — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 22:13:35 +0000

EASE History is a web-based application that supports the social studies curriculum. The site is filled with videos and photographs from campaign ads. Users of the EASE interface can compare and contrast videos with their unique flash based interface.

Recently, I interviewed Brian Collins the lead developer of the site.

Listen to my podcast of the interview.

Digital Libraries

kathryn — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 16:40:14 +0000

In my quest for finding open source digital library software, I came across Dspace.org. Dspace was developed by MIT and Hewlett-Packard. Institutions are using it to store, organize, classify, and make accessible to others all different types of digital objects. Important metadata is associated with each digital object. (Once again the power of metadata strikes again.) Uses of dspace range from making available research, student theses, and learning objects. I think that there are also applications for the K-12 arena. Why? Well, we know that increasingly students are becoming creators of their own digital content. Once we as educators can think about how we can capitalize on these new outlets (while also addressing the related ethical issues) for creativity (some teachers are already doing this) digital libraries may be import ways of sharing student work.

Ebb and Flow

kathryn — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 20:56:35 +0000

Currently I am in the process of designing some online courses. Today I was thinking about not just how and why a specific media should be selected but also … when. While the courses focus on teaching skills (in a meaningful context and related to practice) they are still well … teaching skills. When teaching technology skills it is important to teach the “big ideas” that are not specific to one company’s application but to types of applications or technology in general. Besides creating more fluid and flexible understandings it is just downright practical. (example–Adobe buys Macromedia– prices skyrocket). So when teaching these skills we want to present the big ideas, give step-by-step instructions (build foundational knowledge), encourage exploration and self-guided learning (don’t make them dependent on your modules– they should be able to utilize forums, the help menu etc. )

Okay, okay– so you are probably saying how does this relate to ebb and flow– I think we should consider the ebb and flow of information and activities that are specific to the type of content we are teaching. Think of it as writing a piece of music. Education should not just draw on experience … it should be an experience.

Audio Comments

kathryn — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 02:25:10 +0000

I just came across this site that has an application which gives visitors to your blog the opportunity to leave audio comments. It is $45 dollars a year and has a 2 min limit on messages. I haven’t looked into this any further but it has interesting possibilities for K-12. A couple of teachers I was working with this year were struggling with how they can help students who have difficulty typing (sometimes they are too young, the blog is not in their native language, or they have special needs)… this tool may be a way for those students to also participate in the blog. Site:Â MyChingo

The site that led me to MyChingo was GenTechÂ

Blackboard’s Patent

kathryn — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:15:39 +0000

All I can say is that I don’t think we have heard the last of this. I have seen some other postings from people who feel that the patent was too broad and that it will have to be worked out in litigation. See an article last month in The Chronicle

New (and Old) Posts

kathryn — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:04:51 +0000

The next series of posts have all been copied from a blog I was using as part of a course I was teaching in Spring 06.