Week 10: Gagne's Taxonomy...You had me at attention.

So, I lost a bet with myself...I actually found the room. I thought after 2 weeks off, I might not be able to find class, or somehow be disoriented when I walked into class...well we are off and running, and even though 80% of the class was late, it felt like old times.

An interesting Blog happenstance...we are receiving BLOG SPAM...someone (or some people) have been leaving SPAM comments on our blog. Someone even spoofed Dr. Foreman...I love technology/morals.

Dr. Foreman clarified our Independent Research/Final Project...in previous ITEC 800 classes, students did both a Final Project and Independent Research. This term we are combining them. Students are to do research on a topic relevant to ITEC and present it to the class and how it is tied into Instructional Strategy. The IR/FP can be in any form: report, powerpoint, video, web page, etc, but Dr. Foreman prefers powerpoint.
During the time off, Dr. Foreman visited the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) conference and learned a lot about Digital Storytelling. She is taking that knowledge and experience to Rwanda next summer to help educate Rwandans and help them come to terms on some level with their experiences during the genocide. For more info on AECT, visit http://www.aect.org

On Nov 9, we will be visiting the library to learn more about research. They will show us a bunch of tools for good research procedures.

Then we moved onto the lessons:

1. Jill
Icebreakers – We were each given an envelop with 4 cards with adjectives. We were told to choose the cards that DON’T describe us at work...I found I was not Courteous... We then walked around the room and traded our non-descriptive cards and traded them with others. After that we picked our MOST descriptive card. We shared our favorite cards and described how they helped us in our jobs. We got to learn more about each other from what we each thought of ourselves.

2. Matt
Dollar Bill T-Shirt – We learned how to create a collared T-Shirt using a Dollar Bill. We went through step by step how to use origami to create the T-Shirt. Matt put a webpage up on the project that had the steps visually and demonstrated the steps in front of the class. The steps were very complex and many students got lost, but the idea of following a procedure came across. It was interesting to learn a procedure and see how much people could take in. There were varying levels of ability, but everyone got something.

3. Jon
Web Accessibility – Being able to access the web by everyone with or without disability. We talked about those who have disabilities and how they would interpret web pages: vision impaired, motor skill impaired, color blind. He then used a screen reader to read a web page for us...it was quite difficult to understand what was posted on the web page. He then did this again with a properly formatted page that was designed to be accessible to blind users. When we looked at the page and noticed how much content there was and how easily ALT tags can make them more accessible to blind users.

4. Susan
Circumference of a Circle – We learned how to find the circumference of a circle. Susan explained what the circumference tells about a circle: circumference is the perimeter of a circle. She described the diameter and radius and their relationship. Then she showed us how to find the circumference using the diameter and PI (3.14). We then were given real examples to complete on our own. Susan did a VERY good job of following Gagne’s 9 events of instruction.

5. Candelario
Vowels in Sign Language – He probed for input from people to see how many people knew the vowels. He then demonstrated, with people from the class, the 5 vowels in sign language. It was impressive to see how many people already knew the vowels in sign language. He then went over mnemonic devices to remember the vowels, which I liked a lot. His humor also helped out quite a bit.

6. Sacramento
Numbers in Spanish – Again, the amount of people who knew the content already was impressive, but the lesson still worked well. Sacramento had us break up into groups and go over the numbers. This worked well because the number of people who didn’t know was just as high as those who did. This way, those who didn’t understand still received attention and weren’t overwhelmed by those who already knew the information. He then showed us a Flash site with interactive numbers that actually said the number in Spanish and wrote in on the screen.

7. Xavier
New Hire Tutorial – Xavier showed us a Flash site that explains important information that new hires would need to know. He then showed us a simulation that new hires would use to test out their new found knowledge in a controlled setting.

8. Michael
Counting to 10 in Japanese – He asked us to count in English...which I could actually do. Then he went over a VERY engaging activity to learn how to count to 10 in Japanese using mnemonic devices. I found really funny and interesting...ask me if I can count next week...I might end up telling you that NANA’s ITCHY KNEE IS CRAZY under the SUN.

9. David
Speaking Chinese – He probed for prior knowledge to see if any of us had to been to China or knew Chinese. He then went over some important Chinese sayings for visiting a restaurant. Yao = want...Bing Soy = Iced Water...thus Yao Bing Soy = I want Iced Water. Tea = tsa.

Leslie Rule came to class and gave an overview of what we will be covering on Saturday.

First, what we need to bring:

• Script...up to 200 words. 12 pt font, double spaced...half a page. NOT TOO MUCH.
• 10-20 images (10 really good ones)...preferably digitized. Scan in photos at 1440x1056 @ 72 dpi
• Piece of music...digitized form, CD or MP3 file...preferably instrumental. The lyrics should not get in the way. The tone of the piece and the beat is the most important.
  

We are going to be reading our scripts, so the spelling doesn’t matter...it will be read aloud. So, practice the scripts before class. We will be doing peer editing to refine the scripts.

Breaking down the story

1. Finding the experience — what do I want this story to be about?
2. Telling the story – How do I convey this message?
3. Create the piece on the computers
   

Then we begin...
We will be using Sound Studio to record the voiceover. Move the sounds into iMovie...and then go to town.

We will learn how iMovie messes things up...specifically in transitions.

Given the iMovie experience of the class, we should be able to talk more about the stories themselves and how to publish them and use them in the classroom.

We talked about actual quotes from real story tellers...this was interesting to me...up to this point, I had missed the point of doing this activity. I mean I know how to use iMovie, in fact, I teach students how to do this...I like the idea of getting a message across and that is the point. I understood this before, but the eloquence was lost on me. I was lost in the technology and honestly felt this was going to be a waste of time...sorry to say. But now, I feel stronger about what I can create...we’ll see how all of this goes...

What is the emotional truth about what is covered? What real basis does our story root from? How deep can go into the real message of the story?

MAKE THE STORY GOOD. TELL A STORY WORTH TELLING.

We talked about defining moment in our lives. On the order of Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken...we wrote a short story of taking a road, a defining moment about something in our lives. It was difficult to pick a single event and transcribe it on a 3x5 card, but I think that was the point...you pull out the important points and streamline the process when you don’t have as much BS or rhetoric in the way.

We shared some of our stories...it was interesting. The tone of each story was just as important as the stories themselves.

Leslie shared with us the dramatic arc: Desire – Action- Resolution – Reflection. <-- Remember this for the story! Be careful to only say what needs to be said...be economical and brief.

MENTAL NOTE: BRING FOOD!!!

Highlight of the night: The story is the thing. The story is the thing. How do I make myself a good storyteller?

Thoughts?


Visit the ITEC 800 website at:
http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~foreman/itec800/index.htm

Visit moodle at:
https://ilearn.sfsu.edu

===================================
Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School

Week 7: Learning Communities -- and what a community we have!

Learning theories for the week...we talked about specific learning experiences and how to view them in terms of schema, context, and learning trajectories. I like this activity because it takes the (excuse me for saying this) banal and boring textbook learnin’ and apply it to not only real world issues, but real world issues that personally effect all of us in class. I think that this week’s subject is the most relevant given its links to community learning. All theories aside, Humanity is a learning community.

In discussing learning communities, we talked about the digital world as a learning communities. For example, sharing knowledge on the Internet. Moodle is our small little learning community. Google is a great gateway to tons of learning communities. We live in a special time because our learning and knowledge are growing and molding and building at exponential rates because the Internet breaks down the barriers that have separated us in the past. We have so much at our fingertips...

Similarly, we talked about the computer in general as learning tool...from logo to multimedia to HTML to today. The computer is a social learning tool. But how are we going to use it? We have made many strives, but there is a lot more to do. Researchers are looking into various ways to figure this question out. They bring their knowledge together as pieces to a large puzzle... How does the vast knowledgebase of the Internet play into this? How does Generation Y and their needs affect this? What will happen to our changing workforce?

We began talking about appropriate computer uses for kids. How early do you get them on the computer? How much time should they be on the computer? We talked about computer time as it relates to childhood obesity. The computer is a tool, but is it detrimental? They can’t write anymore...but is that something we should focus on. These kids live in a different world. We need to teach to that world. Kids now have different needs because they live in a different world. Technology is transparent...whereas for us we see the computer not the community.

The Blog is our own learning community...another nice little plug...

Funny moment of the night: Dr. Foreman mentioned she is going to summarize chapters from the textbook and move away from it a bit...this was met by muffled ROARING APPLAUSE. We all agreed that the textbook is dry and disorganized with inappropriate examples...maybe we are helping future 800 students.

Dr. Foreman changed the final project: instead of a final project, now a research project. Students are asked choose a topic, research it, and present it to the class. Instead of producing new knowledge, research and summarize existing knowledge. The form of the project is open: video, document, web page, etc.

After the break, Dr. Foreman “forced” us to visit other students ilearn entries for this week and comment on their learning communities and trajectories. This lead to a small group discussion where we further defined “learning community” and learning trajectory. It was interesting with my group because they brought in interpersonal communities and tech-based communities...there are several similarities, yet the tech community of learning grays out the line between various trajectories...one’s interaction with the community changes that person’s trajectory use by use. We had trouble really understanding and defining (especially finding an example of) outbound trajectory.
For outbound activities...we talked about passionate people having a real problem creating outbound trajectories, that is to say, it is hard to let go.

And then...we got to meet each other. As a refresher of people’s names and personalities, we re-introduced ourselves.

Mental Note: Try the Quiz on the top of Moodle!!! THE FINAL TEST QUESTIONS WILL COME FROM THIS QUIZ AND THE QUIZZES IN CLASS

In two weeks, when we meet again, we are going to talk about Gagne’s taxonomy. Learn the five different taxonomies and how to teach them. Then learn the 9 events of instruction.
- Pick 1 taxonomy and write a lesson plan using that taxonomy. This lesson should take 5-7 minutes. Make sure to apply the 9 steps. Group 1 will present lesson plans the first week back..Group 2 presents the second week back.

Mental Note #2: Don’t come to class for the next two weeks...if you do you are going to be very lonely.

Mental Note #3: And don’t forget about the Saturday classes. It will be in BH 170 from 9-5 pm. Bring FOOD!!!

Leslie Rule came in and invited us to the KQED Digital Storytelling Festival on Saturday and Sunday and Narrative Archeology on Friday from 6-9pm (using iPaqs w/ GPS for the storytelling).

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK: Humanity is the ultimate learning community...and hopefully all of us are on the insider trajectory? Are we on a boundary trajectory?

Thoughts?


Visit the ITEC 800 website at:
http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~foreman/itec800/index.htm

Visit moodle at:
https://ilearn.sfsu.edu

===================================
Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School