Education and Digital Learning

The Digital Learning Council's Bob Wise talks on C-Span about how digital learning can help students learn by transforming the current education system.

C-SPAN Video


By bringing current digital content from anywhere around the world to the class room to assist teachers learning is improved. In the hybrid learning teachers are not obsolete, but more essential. The content can be married with the classroom. Subject matter experts can build content and teachers can teach.

Other nations have already realized the gains from digital learning. Technology, as a great originator, has produce great savings and increase productivity in the business sector, but education uses it very infective. This is not about layering technology on top of current educational system, but a new way. Learning becomes personalized. Cost can be covered by saving from putting assessment and text books online and less need for remediation.

The 10 elements he outlines for high Quality Digital Learning to moving forward.
1. Student Eligibility
2. Student Access
3. Personalized Learning
4. Advancement
5. Content
6. Instruction
7. Providers
8. Assessment and Accountability
9. Funding
10. Delivery

Emerging Technologies Websites

This list of useful websites includes

Applications for K-16
Planning for implementation of future technologies
Resources
Group Publications
Publications
Wikis from Class


Applications for K-16

Audacity is open source software for recording. This is an excellent way to record podcast for student to listen to.

Blogger allows you make your own blog to share your ideas online.

Captivate by Adobe allows you to create, deliver and maintain eLearning content. This for sale version offers integration with eLearning applications.

Delicious is your browsers favorites store online. It also allows to tag, search, and share websites. It is a better way to keep track of bookmarks than a blog.

Facebook allows formation of groups for social networking, which can be used for forums on problem solving and debates.

GeoGebra is free mathematics software for learning and teaching with interactive graphics, algebra, and spreadsheets for use from elementary to university level with free learning materials.

Gliffy is platform independent internet applications with rich user interface that help your student learn with visuals. These visual include flow charts, network diagrams, website maps, organizational charts, floor plans, Venn diagrams, technical drawings, and more.

Google docs allow you create and share your work online with documents, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings, and forms.

Google Earth is free download with all type of information on the Earth.

Google Maps allows overlying your own marking on maps to help student use maps for learning.

Google Reader is a news finding tool. The program search different sites you would like to follow for new news.

Hotseat is a mobile Web application that allows student to provide near real-time feedback during class. For more information see article.

Jing by TechSmith allows you to take a picture or a short video of what you see on your computer monitor and share it online.

Mindmeister helps you be productive with online mind mapping software to help you work together with colleagues.

My Brainshark allows you to create, share, and track online video presentation for sales, marketing, eLearning, and more.

Ning allows you to create your own social network

Panopto helps you capture and publish elements of a presentation. Video, slides, screenshots, and notes with just a click.

PBworks is a hosted workspace for wikis. Wikis are excellent tool for collaborative work on papers and files.

Project ROME by Adobe is a software-as-a-service intended to explore opportunities of creative tools.

SlideShare is a way to share presentations, documents, and videos with student or other professionals.

Swivel is a website to share reports.

TeacherTube is a way to share video, photos, audio, and documents dedicated to teachers.

WizIQ is a free service that allows you teach or take classes online. Teachers can teach in virtual classrooms, share online tutorials, give online test, and list courses.

WordPress is web software used to create website or blog.

Xwix helps you create your own free flash website.

YouTube is a way to share videos.


Planning for implementation of future technologies

Project Tomorrow is a education nonprofit organization. Their site includes information to help teacher prepare student for tomorrow.


Resources

Centre for Learning and Performance Technologies is a resource site about social learning.  The site also list top tools each year.

Common Craft is a library of animated educational videos.

Edutopia is a website that connects people to improve education by sharing innovative solutions and resources. Edutopia is a George Lucas Educational Foundation.

Moodle is a free course management system.

Open Source Initiative is an open source community promoting awareness of non –proprietary software for public and education use.

T.H.E. Journal includes information, webinars, and resources on practices to transform education through technology.

Webopedia is a site dedicated to keeping you up to date with the latest developments in internet terminology


Courses

Alison offers free independent interactive multimedia training online courses and certification.

GeoThentic shows ways to go beyond using Google Earth as a mere substitute for a map or globe and use it for solving geographic problems. GeoThentic is supported by National Geographic and a University of Minnesota product.

OpenLearningInitiative is a Carnegie Mellon sponsored consortium that working to develop new ways of measuring learning.

SkillSoft provides comprehensive and current content for on demand e-learning and performance support solutions for business, government, and education.


Agencies and Organizations

Adobe Education Exchange is a way to connect and collaborate with people in your field and find resources.

Adobe Youth Voices provides youth from underserved communities to access music and multimedia production tools to allow them to self-express and improve digital literacy among young people.

Associated Content of the Yahoo! Contributor Network is a digital library of community created content.

Connexions breaks up information in to modules of small chunks of educational material that be reorganized as needed into courses or text.

Digital Ethnography is a Kansas State University site exploring the educational culture.

Digital Learning Environments is a website providing information on tools and technologies for effective classrooms.

Educause is a nonprofit group promoting the intelligent use of information technology to advance higher education.

IMS Global Learning Consortium shares a wide variety of learning platforms and applications. Universities around the world leverage innovation by collaborating on interoperability, adoption and learning impact.

McRel is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to making a difference in public education through research. They combine analysis and experience to find solutions. There site includes products and services.

Michigan Association for Computer Uses in Learning is dedicated to bring educators together to share knowledge and concerns about technology in education.

The NASA website has science content. The site is dedicated to excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education for the next generation of Americans.

Techsoup.org provides free information resources and support for technology needs.

U.S. Department of Education: Information federal programs including financial aid, research, key educational issuers, and prohibiting discrimination in education.


Group Publications

Campus Technology is a higher education technology magazine provides up to date information about advanced networking on campus.

Digg is breaking news, which can be set to areas of interest to keep students current.

EmergingEdTech is weekly article providing information and insight on topics of emerging internet technologies in education.

Inside Higher Ed publishes news and commentary on education.

Dr. Leneway’s blog on Educating the Digital Tribe is an excellent collection of papers, ideas, and information on technology and education.

eSchool News is an education newsletter on news and information on technology for today’s educators.

The International Society for Technology in Education website has videos on broadcast in Real and Second Life on innovations in educational technology.

Teaching with Tech is a collection podcast of from Indiana University School of Education to inform them on integrating technology into the classroom.

The Tech&Learning Website has a collection of articles, blogs, and forums on the best practices used on integrating technology in the classroom.

Web 2.0 Mash Up - Using Google Maps to teach aviation history

Web 2.0 is an exciting way to teach students.  Google maps can be matched up with a historical flight to make learning exciting.  Wiley Post's flight of the Winnie Mae around the world is an example.  Students could study these first flights and find each landing along the way.  They would learn about internet resources, geography, and aviation history.


Added Nov 29th

More info at acepilots

Google Map of Wiley Post and the flight of the Winnie Mae

View Wiley Post in a larger map
Added Nov 30th

Second Life Education Art Tour

Check out my video slide tour of ISTE and an Art Tour given by ISTE.  Second Life has many educational opportunities.  International Society for Technology in Education is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting the use of information technology in learning.

Watch it now
 

Ten Top Tips for teaching with new media

MP2 Ten Top Tips for teaching with new media

October 11, 2010

It is not often in academe that you will find a succinct break down of anything.  The Ten Top Tips for Teaching with New Media (2009-2010) provides just that.  We have yet to reach all the technology tools that many of your students want to learn on.  Yet inventions like the I-pad with it small size and multifunctional design is coming close.  Even so, many things can be done today to enrich learning in the classroom with technology.

The first idea helps to improve communication and get everyone involved.   The second lets your students help you with technology and some tools to help you find out who knows what.  Next, number three, helps the student manage their own learning with some online tools.  The world is more connected than ever and collaborators can be found around the world to help students with projects with advice from the fourth tip.  The budget is getting tighter every year; Ten Top Tips for teaching with new media, tip 5 includes how to ‘take advantage of online tools and community resources to find what you need-for nothing’.   Let an exciting tool turn vocabulary into fun with tip number 6.  Today’s workplace requires teamwork more than ever, let tip 7 help you teach students this important skill.  Tip 8 gets even the shy kid in the back a chance to speak up.  A picture is worth a thousand words and students are more visual than ever, learn how to make it visual, with tip 9.  The teachers also need help, with the last tip; number 10 shows how to get help from other teachers.

Combining the ten tips with access to computers can help motivate and improve learning.  With wireless, easy to use, one-to-one computers with internet access for student these tips are great ideas to help bring your class room up to date.  Hopefully I have made you interested in learning more, so head over to Edutopia and the Ten Top Tips at http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/Edutopia-10-top-tips-for-teaching-with-new-media.pdf and try out some of their ideas.

References:

Boss, Suzie.  The Ten Top Tips for Teaching with New Media. 2010. Edutopia.  Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/Edutopia-10-top-tips-for-teaching-with-new-media.pdf

U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Education, NetDay. Visions 2020.2 Student Views on Transforming Education and Training Through Advanced Technologies. 2004.  Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/listed/os/technolgy/plan/2004/site/documents/visions_20202.pdf

Dr. Taylor on Meet Generation NeXt – Understanding Today’s Student

Meet Generation NeXt – Understanding Today’s Student


September 20, 2010

Overall Dr. Taylor was a very engaging presenter. He used humor and other methods to keep everyone mentally occupied. His major themes had two parts: why is this generation different and how do we teach them. He presented two different times one in the morning as a lecture and the other as an afternoon workshop. The workshop had the audience ‘hooked up’, as he called it, with one other person and complete some tasks he assigned.

Back up by data that showed many students are unable to cope in college. He asked ‘why are today’s college age students overwhelmed?’ The response dealt with the differences in Generation NeXt, or Millennial Generation, and the generations that came before it. Dr. Taylor gave a short review of the different generations from Traditionals to the current generation Gen 2.0, except he skipped over the Xers from 1965 to 1982. Of course some X’er asked ‘what about Generation X’. He replied that was because they were the forgotten group of latch key kids. Each group had different events that shaped their lives.

The NeXt Generation, 1982 to 1994, was different than the ones before, not because they were young, but how they were raised. The differences were the parenting styles and available technologies. They grew up inside with TV, videogames, and social networks. Parents wanting a different up bringing for their kids than what they got were snowplows, plowing a path and managing their kid’s lives. Kids learned that someone else will take care of things and they were not good enough to do it themselves. The choices they gave their kids hardwire them to expect choices and over value their own opinions. The every one wins a trophy concepts removed the rewards for effort. No longer do you have to make up with lack of talent with more work.

The next question was ‘does this generation have short attention spans?’ The answer was no in stimulating environments, using gaming as an example. Generation NeXt is good at:

Using visuals, reacting in high stimulation / complex environments, experimentation, surface navigation, using content in and out in the short term, social networking

They have issues with:

Critical thinking, problem solving, anticipation, reflection, applying theory in new settings, sustained attention in low stimulation environments (school), critical reading for understanding

To teach this generation we need to switch from delivering content to passive students in class to engaging them with activity and interaction in the classroom. Class time is too valuable for transmission of content. Most class info can be accessed from other sources. They have a wealth of knowledge at their finger tips. Not like the previous generations who had to mine knowledge. We need class time to work on areas that these students have issues. Pay them, 15% of their grade, to get content outside of class. They are good at that anyways. They also need to know why they need to learn this. They must know what they can do with this info and how will it help them.

As teachers it is our responsibility to use the best learning methods. This includes making expectations clearer and improving students in areas that they are weak. By moving content out of class and using the time for supervising practice, the student will learn by application. Showing students future benefits will allow them to understand its worth. Once they apply it, and value it, they may want more content on their own and become life long learners.



Reference

Taylor, Mark . (2010, September). Meet Generation NeXt – Understanding Today’s Students: A conversation for faculty, staff, and students. Lecture delivered at Western Michigan University Fetzer Auditorium, Kalamazoo, MI.

Taylor, Mark . (2010, September). Meet Generation NeXt –Teaching Today’s Students: An interactive hands-on workshop for instructors. Lecture delivered at Western Michigan University Fetzer Auditorium, Kalamazoo, MI.

Flight Training Device Review

Flight Training Device Review


Stephen Hasenick

Western Michigan University



Abstract

Flight simulators are used in training people to be pilots. This educational analysis will review one category of simulators called Flight Training Devices or FTDs. The FTD referenced is a Cirrus SR 20. This review discusses the basic functions, history, and purpose of flight simulators. It analyzes the educational value by type of experience, imagination, and cost effectiveness.



Cirrus SR20 Flight Training Device

1. Detail description of the functionality of a flight training device

A simulator tries to reproduce the experience of flying by electronic hardware and software. Computers receive inputs from different flight controls, interpret this data, and simulate the output on various flight instruments. Simulators come in different categories, based on how well the device mocks the real experience of flying. The most accurate are Airplane Simulators followed by Flight Training Devices, and then Aviation Training Devices. Airplane Simulators accurately mimic many flight experiences. These include an exact full size cockpit layout, cockpit sounds, handling and aerodynamic affects, control loading dynamics, aerodynamic modeling, replicated motion, and generated visuals of the view out the windows (US Department of Transportation, 1991). Flight Training Devices or FTDs have less fidelity than Airplane Simulators, but accurately replicate different instruments, equipment, panels, and controls. They are not required to replicate motion (US Department of Transportation, 1992). Aviation Training Devices are more generic. They only provide a limited amount of actual controls, but are more realistic than using a gaming joystick to control the represented aircraft model (US Department of Transportation, 2008). Simulators provide an effective, viable environment for flight instruction, demonstration, and practice of maneuvers and procedures.

The FTD reviewed is the Cirrus SR20 Flight Training Device. A computer models the SR-20 aircraft’s aerodynamics including various combinations of drag and thrust encountered in flight. This includes additional portions of the flight envelope not required for FAA certification. Additional data was collected and modeled in slow flight and stalls for training purposes. The cockpit is an actual front section of a Cirrus aircraft. The FTD simulates the different aircraft systems and avionic equipment present in the Cirrus Aircraft use for training. Control loading mimics the actual flight forces felt by pilots on the yoke. The visual system includes three projectors that show 220 degrees of horizontal display of the view out the cirrus windows. A custom database includes a 50 nautical mile radius around Battle Creek, Michigan (Frasca International Inc., 2006). The FTD does an excellent job replicating the actual aircraft.

2. When was the flight training device first created

The first simulator was the Pilot Trainer produced by Edwin Link in the United States in 1929 (Link Trainer - Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia, 2010). The second version rotated on three axes and simulated different flight instruments. The US Army Air Force purchased this trainer in 1934 to train pilots. A large number of these trainers were used during War World II for training. The Fight Training Device reviewed here was made by Frasca International Inc. in 2006 for Western Michigan University to simulate a Cirrus SR20.

3. What are the educational purposes of this tool

The main objective of Flight Training Devices is to provide a means for flight students to acquire the skills required to perform to a desired training standard (US Department of Transportation, 1992). The original trainers were used to train pilots to fly in conditions when visibility was insufficient (instrument conditions) to control the airplane. The trainee learned to interpret different flight instruments, combine this information, and then control the aircraft. Modern technology has allowed the FTDs to simulate more flight conditions and controls. These improvements have expanded the role of these devices in modern training.

4. Which of the categories in Dale’s Cone of Experience does it fit

Modern improvements allow trainees to almost receive direct experiences in flight simulators. They respond to flight conditions and scenarios similar to real flight. These conditions are represented in a simulator. Dale in The Cone of Experience states “When we contrive an experience, we deal with a representation that differs from the original reality” (Dale, 1969). Flight Training Devices provide contrive experiences. The model varies in complexity and size with the category of the simulator. Flight Simulators are often as complex as the aircraft they represent. Training devices are far less complex and smaller, than an airplane. A greater complexity maybe distracting for some simple task. Greater complexity allows for more tasks to be instructed in the same piece of equipment.

5. Describe 3 examples of how the tool could be used in educational practice

Advances in technology have reduced the cost of modeling more aspects of flight. The Cirrus FTD’s 220 degree high definition visual leaves many students feeling like they are really flying. The visuals created by computers are exactly what Siegel’s computer imagination is about (Siegel, 2003). This visual has a desired end and allows training to go beyond just instruments. These high details of visual conditions and control loading allow teaching of beginning training concepts. Beginning fundamental skills including effect of controls, straight and level, and climbs and descents can be taught.

Today’s Advance Avionics systems take longer to become proficient to operate. These systems have a large amount of data available at the finger tips of the pilot. Learning to operate and find information in flight promptly is a good match for simulators. While texting and driving is illegal in many states, entering text, turning dials, and talking on a radio is a requirement for learning to fly. Students learn these skills while safely on the ground.

Actual flight scenarios can be attempted in the flight training device or airplane simulator. Many of these cannot be done in an airplane for safety reasons. More training can be reproduced on emergency procedures. Scenarios are presented that required students to make decisions. This is important because recent accident trends show Aeronautical Decision Making as a main factor (AOPA Air Safety Foundation, 2008). In a simulator the trainee response to a scenarios or emergencies can be allowed to continue to its actual outcome.

6. Non-computer-based method to accomplish task

The lowest technology method would be Chair-flying; a student sits in a chair and looks at a poster of a cockpit. Another non-computer method, but not necessarily low tech, is to fly an airplane. The chair and poster is really cheap. Cockpit posters run about 10 to 15 dollars and most of us already have a chair or something to sit on. New Cirrus SR-20 aircraft cost approximately three hundred thousand dollars. A new high end FTD from Frasca International Inc. runs about four hundred thousand dollars. To learn to fly you have to use an airplane. The Federal Aviation Administration requires a minimum number of flight hours in an actual plane. Since you need an airplane, it comes down to operating cost of the FTD and plane. Loan payments and other cost add up in the FTD and aircraft. A Cirrus SR-20 aircraft cost about 200 dollars an hour to keep it fueled, insured, and properly maintained. A Flight Training Device cost is only about 60 dollars an hour to power and maintain. Both costs per hour are affected by number of trainees.

The Flight Training Device is a lot safer to operate. No actual emergencies to worry about. Basic task can be repeated and better discussed in the FTD than in an airplane. Radio work and information management can be learned in a more relax environment. Scenarios can be completed to allow students to learn first hand the result of their decisions. Simulators are better at teaching decision making skills.

The cost of a Flight Training Device, if used for a small group of students is prohibitive. Large groups of students can spread out the additional purchase cost of FTDs and reduce the per hour rate. If your flight school is large enough I would recommend a Flight Training Device. It allows trainees to learn task before they step into an airplane and improve safety of your flight program.



7. Reference

AOPA Air Safety Foundation. (2008) . 2008 Nall Report . Frederick, MD

Dale, E. (1969). Audiovisual Methods in Teaching. New York: Dryden Press.

Frasca International Inc. (2006). Specification FAA Level 6 Cirrus SR20/22 Flight Training Appendix D. Urbana, IL

Link Trainer - Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. (2010, May). Retrieved May 28, 2010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_Trainer

Siegel, M. (2003). Falling Asleep at Your Keyboard: The Case for Computer Imagination. Unpublished Manuscript.

US Department of Transportation. (2008) . FAA Approval of Basic Aviation Training Devices (BATD) and Advanced Aviation Training Devices (AATD) (Advisory Circular No. 61-136) . Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office

US Department of Transportation. (1991) . Airplane Simulator Qualification (Advisory Circular, No. 120-40B) . Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office

US Department of Transportation. (1992) . Airplane Flight Training Device Qualification (Advisory Circular, No. 120-45A) . Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office

Foto Flexer Review

Image Editor

The Image Editor I reviewed was Foto Flexer.  At first I was in more of a paint program concept and found that it did not allow some of the simple paint commands.  I than realized it was more of a photo editor.  Foto Flexer is an all on-line image editor.  You must upload your picture to the site or share one from other photo-sharing sites.  It will share with Flickr, Picasa, and numerous others.

The basics include auto fix, which did a OK job at fixing lightness and contrast.  Red Eye, crop, copy, and resize is included and works like any other editor that I have seen.  It offers some affects which add some flare to pictures.  Decorate has some normal functions like text, stickers, draw, erase, fill, and grab color, but no shapes like squares and circles.  A few animations are available for twinkling stars and like wise.  Some advance features are available, you can select and cut into layers for mixing of photos.

Annoying ads do keep popping up at the top, if you are in full screen it will change you back to part screen so you can see their ad.

Foto Flexer would be a good start at learning to use image editors and works well for basic fixes and playing around with pictures. It does lack the depth of expensive editors and would only teach the basics.  The best part is that it is free, with out any annoying request to upgrade.

Zoho Office Suite Review

Review of Office Suite

I decide to review Zoho, an on-line office suite.  At first I was going to do Google Doc, but I have not been that happy with their word processor.  It is great for storing documents written else where, but not that great for writing them.  I took this chance to review something new.  Zoho looks a little like Microsoft word, which I use regularly.  I wrote this review using Zoho Writer.  Zoho has three part.  Zoho Writer - Word Processor, Zoho Sheet - Spreadsheet, and Zoho Show - presentation program.

Zolo Writer is a basic word processor that does contain more functions than I expect for a free on-line service.  The Word like interface is easy to use.  Zolo has many formats, but not nearly as many as Word. The Insert tab does have some easy to use math functions that I have not found in Word. Two features that I see as a must, it has, Spell Check and Thesaurus.  Both seem easy to use and functional.  One feature I miss from Word is grammar check and the add-on that I have added like Text to speech, a great way to proof read your paper.  The Share tab shows promise and I will check this out when I post this to my Blog.  Overall Writer does not stand up to the expensive Word, but it is good little program at great cost, free.

Zolo Sheet is their Spreadsheet. It does the basic functions that a spreadsheet needs to do.  It has a large amount of functions and creates a number of graphs.  It also has some basic sorting and data functions.  This could be a good starting point for learning about spreadsheet use for basic needs.

Zoho Show is Zohos Presentation.  Of the three, Show has the farthess to go.  It still very basic. 

Zoho Office Suite does not stand up to Microsoft for a finished product.  I note that it is still in beta.  It is kind of like where Microsoft was a few years back.  Zoho does show more promise for internet sharing of files.  If you are looking for a professional presentation or document stick with the expensive product.  If you looking for a everyday, type a letter, add up some numbers, or presentation to show friends, than Zolo is a good free solution.

Google Site Website

Click on the Title to goto my website on a work-related project on the transition of the current syllabus for adjust of new avionics in the Cirrus Aircraft.

The website will be used to keep track of required work and a timeline to complete a syllabus change. The site themes included many good elements to keep track of problems, progress, and comments.

Students use of Wikipedia during the course–related research process

Interesting article on Wikipedia - click on title for link

Screen Cast on Flying at Battle Creek

Learn the landmarks around Battle Creek
New student view this screen cast to become familar with the landmarks around Battle Creek.

Guide to Battle Creek Airport for Flight Students

The objective of this map would be for students to use the Google Map – Guide to Battle Creek Airport for Flight Students to get familiar with the Battle Creek Airport.


The trainee shall be able to recognize and explain where to park their aircraft after returning from a flight.

The trainee would remember names of taxiways and interpret which taxiway to get to and from certain runways.

The trainee needs to recognize landmarks for left downwind and base patterns for each runway.

View Battle Creek Airport - WMU operations in a larger map

A vision of Students Today

Interesting Youtube video on current college students
Link

Safety in Training

Profile of Aviation Safety in Training of Glenn Pew’s interview with Bob Ray Sanders. The topic was about the flight training accident in Texas that killed a 15-year old school student and his instructor. The student was in a school program that includes both in-class-room and flight training. Part of the interview covered weather training should be continuing with comparisons to sports and driver education accidents. Another part of the interview was about how to handle the press. Stressing the importance of not assuming the press will find the facts about your educational program.  Click on title above for link.

See other AVweb Podcast listings

Err Session

What I learned at Dr. Kerns Session Global War on Error at the Great Lakes International Aviation Conference and Expo.  Dr. Kerns has a book out on

Blue Threat Why to Err is Inhuman.

Follow the link to my first podcast

http://edtsh.mypodcast.com/index.html

Wright Bros

Map to Kill Devil Hills

Wright Brothers First Flight

Week 4 Reflection

Week 4 Reflection:
   Part 1 : Social bookmarking, not my bookmarking
   Part 2 : What field is this?
 - posted on WMU blackboard

Common Craft - Other Videos

I just checked out some of the other videos at Common Craft.  The same site that this week's video Social Bookmarking in Plain English is at.  Hit Browse Videos on the page.  I finally know what Twitters is, after watching one of the videos.

Reflection Week 3 Post

Week 3 Reflection: Education 2.0 - posted on WMU blackboard

WMU Blackboard at GoWMU

Source

While you are editing your PBworks Wiki Page click on source. I am sure glad we do not have to do this in HTML. FrontPage makes this a lot easier.

Stephen Hasenick Week 2 Reflection

Reading Reflection


My first notion of the Cone of Experience was that it is some logical steps or order. Throughout the article, Dale seems to be one-step ahead of me. He covers many of my question or thoughts. I tried to reason repetitively that direct experience had to be the best. Learning by doing uses more senses, so it must be a better way. Besides, symbols have no real meaning without adequate foundations.

I start wondering if I am wrong, with Dale’s difference in difficulty between a photograph of a tree and a dramatization of Hamlet. He continues to push me with contrived experiences of a steel plant. He is right, that it would be too complex, big, and deafening. So some complex tasks could be learned better by ‘editing of reality’ and leaving out ‘unimportant and confusing elements’. My logical rank order falls apart even more with mention of limits of space and time. I am unable to go back in time to learn history or travel in a spaceship to distance stars.

I still try to believe that direct experiences are at least more motivating. Yet motivation and imagination go hand and hand. Dale argues that students learn more imagination at higher steps on the cone. Siegel states imagination flourished in movies when control move to the artist. Yet I do not see artists spending more time at higher steps than engineers do?

The final straw is the use of symbolic experience in mathematics. A lot of higher-level math cannot be done on lower steps. The comment not to mistake the Cone device for exact rank-order finishes it. Obviously, I am not the first person to try to rank the cone.

Lesson learned, I will pick the steps, which give the best kind of experience to the student, and vary the experience as needed. ‘The question’ stills remains, what step is first, the picture or the word?


Questions

1) Early Impressions of using a blog and RSS reader: Setting up the blog was straight forward and about like setting up any new online email. Using a blog seems easy enough. Type up your paper or ideas in Word and paste it over. Finding classmate’s blogs would have been tougher, if not for Dr. Horvitz handy links. Outside of class, people would have had to email their web addresses or belong to a group. Blogs themselves are like any other source of information. Is the information truthful, fact based, and real?

The RSS reader seems to be just an extension of blogs. It makes gathering blogs easier to use. Like any new program, it has a slight learning curve to it. What I like about reader is that it searches for new blogs and keeps track of blogs I have read. Another nice feature allows re-naming blogs to keep them straight.

2) Which part of the cone: So far, blogs are just written words, like newspapers. The written words are verbal symbols at the top of the cone. I have not tried it yet, but I am thinking there has to be a way to capture pictures in your blogs also. Does U-tube have connections to blogs? The RSS reader appears able to link to things other than written blogs. The reader does not seem like a step on the cone, but more like a tool to gather different parts. These parts could fall in many steps in the cone. It is best setup for updating blogs, but just a link to a PowerPoint presentation would fall into Visual Symbols, Still Pictures, and even as low on the cone as Demonstrations. Many of the middle steps seem available for new technology improvements that readers could link.

3) Imaginative uses of Blogs and RSS reader: Creative uses would be to move Blogs out of the higher steps of the Cone of Experience to lower levels. Video conference would work better, but blogs and reader could be combined to simulate a scenario-solving group. Like Dale talks about many ideas do not fit just one area. A scenario could be setup by a teacher and students could role-play by blogging about ideas to solve the scenario. RSS Reader would allow a group to easily keep track of other blogged ideas and expand on them. This could be done in any field of study. It would be an excellent way to learn problem solving.

Avatar and Siegel - Not this weeks reflection

On Monday, I saw the movie Avatar, as Siegel mention I forgot I was in a theatre. I felt like I was on an alien planet with beautiful scenery. Eye candy? Well, no real education value, but a 77.3 million dollar opening weekend definitely achieve the desired end.

I questioned, how was I able to relate? I have never been to Planet Pandora. How then could I disappear mentally into the film without direct-experiences? Did I relate due to my own experience of hiking in forest, climbing of mountains, and flying. On the other hand, maybe I do not need prior direct-experiences to associate freely at higher levels of the Cone of Experience.

Wisdom Tools LLC - Not this weeks blog

Did anyone follow the link to Wisdom Tools Scenarios mention in Siegel article? They have some interesting concepts on Scenarios. They are developing a real exciting new program with NASA that is a serious learning game called Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond.

RSS at Google

At first, I thought it was as easy as just hitting follow on others blog pages.  So I hit follow on everyones blog.

Now I found Google has a link on it's page to reader.  Now it is link two different ways.  Reader is nice, it keeps track of which blog I have read already.  Atleast Google copied my already made links.

Stephen Hasenick Week 1 Reflection

Roberto Joseph in Beyond Technology Integration: The Case for Technology Transformation states ‘technology might allow us to transform our teaching methods in ways that could result in quantum improvements in learning’. In some ways, this is happening, but for what skills. My teenage son has learned how to increase the levels of his gaming character, by using certain tricks in an online game. He learned something, just maybe not a worthwhile life skill. A more essential skill, he learned on the same game was how to buy low and sell high to make money for use in the game. Learning from play is not a new idea. Before formal education, it was a natural way to learn. Combining play and computer technology has a great potential for learner motivation.


From what I have seen in formal education, I agree with Joseph that a technology transformation on how we teach has not happen. Technology has just made education more convenient. Take this online course. It is a lot more convenient to study whenever and learn online than to drive a long distance. Technology has made teaching and learning easier. I find it a lot easier to teach from a prepare presentation on the computer than to use a marker board. Students have it easier to find information on the web than to use an encyclopedia.

Postman would say what problem did this solve. Invention is often about making something less work or more convenient. Electric windows and cruise control are less work and handier. Yet, he is right this does not solve a problem by itself. Technological improvements are merely tools. It is up to people to find new and creative ways to use these tools to improve life or learning.

Joseph and Reigeluth article talks about a required fundamental shift in roles of both people and technology. Of these, I think the shift in people seem to be the harder one to achieve. People have resisted change thorough out history. The Luddities and Postman himself in Of Luddites, Learning, and Life article are examples of this. I see people at work who are still stuck in the Industrial Age systems, even when recent studies showing the importance of human factors with teamwork and decision-making.

Postman has a good point, that learning still needs to be about ignoring and discarding information, but what information. Wrong information is just confusing and a waste of time. I hate it when I do an internet search and get tons of worthless results. In the information age, the most important skill maybe learning how to shift through data. I totally disagree that ‘none of this (starving, crime, abuse…) happens because of a lack of information’. How can you make a decision without accurate and sufficient information?

I am excited to learn about which methods worked, that Joseph said showed considerable promise seven years ago, when the paper was written. Where are these methods now? I hope that they are out there and I just lack the information about their location.