WEEK 16: Intelligences, eLearning, unlearning, eLearning,

The final class...sniffle.

Evaluation time. We got to fill out our evaluation forms for the class...hopefully we can help the 800ers of the future as they move online...

And now...we are finishing up our final projects

Important note: Beeps equal time

David – English Language Learning
Dave talked about ESL (English as a Second Language) learners. He spoke about teachers and their common faults. He talked about how the learners fall behind, often because they are neglected and overlooked. He talked about the skills theory associated with ESL learners and how to apply it to instruction. These included retention and acquisition theory...methods for helping the students acquire and retain what they learned beyond the short timeframe from instruction to examination. Whereas certain modalities of communications are emphasized in current theories, he suggests teaching to all modalities, such as writing, reading, speaking.

Azure – How to get an A
Learning skills. This was based on topics from classes that Azure took at Cal Poly. Go Mustangs! Azure defined learning and skill to define learning skills as the process of acquiring knowledge through practice. She spoke about learning goals and how to use them to help attain knowledge. With this goal you can discover the GAP: what has to be covered between the now and the goal. She talked about ways to avoid Procrastination...I will write about that later. Another key element of learning skills is learning to manage time to complete tasks efficiently. Don’t study late at night...1 hr during the day is worth 1.5 hrs at night. Meaningful organization and memory strategies are key to remembering what you have learned. Notetaking skills are key...take notes on everything.

Matt Albert - The Tools of eLearning
Elearning is the enhancement of learning through technology. Elearning covers many media from the internet to tv to who knows. Highlighted tools are: Multimedia, web dev, groupware, video conferencing, content management. Multimedia – Flash is most prominent to create instruction experiences with sound, animation, text, etc. Web Dev Tools – Dreamweaver, great for putting content on the web. Groupware – wikis, blogs, discussion forums. Video Conferencing tools – Breeze, Centra create a virtual classroom, webinars, web conference. Learning/Content Management systems – Moodle, blackboard, WebCT, organize and manage content on the web.

Vaidis – Informal Learning
Informal learning occurs at all times and is subconscious and conscious at the time. It is not one of classes and grades. Informal learning is 75-80% of our learning. The learner pushes the learning whereas formal is pushed by someone else (a teacher). 2 advantages: Immediacy and Relevancy – you learn important info and skills in real time. There are no recognized forms of informal learning. However, check out Connectivism ( http://www.connectivism.ca/)

Jon – Assembling an Online Community of Practice to Create Tech Innovations for Early Intervention Systems
Early intervention systems are designed to help children with special needs and their parents. Child Find is an example of these early intervention systems. He then talked about getSet Project that helps EIS by integrating technology into the system. This creates Online Communities of Practice to pool information and maintain goal and scope. He then showed a view into the getSet Moodle site and showed us to utilize this in practice.

Matt Harris – Using Blogs
I talked about creating a blog and setting it up to accept posts via email and using an RSS feed to highlight elements of the blog. I handed out a publication that highlights ways to use blogs in education ( http://wornickjds.org/tech/resources/blogsineducation.html)

Sacramento – E-Learning taking an Inquiry-Based Strategy
Inquiry based learning is the process of learning through meaningful thoughtful activities. Pros: everyone is involved, it is flexible, evokes critical thinking, learn from others in the community, avoid teacher-centered discussions. Cons: lack of on-hand expert, technology issues, lack of face to face interaction. He showed us an example of an inquiry based eLearning web site in which students have to complete a project.

Candelario – Gaming as a Form of Teaching
Video games are part of pop culture and are now seen as a learning tool. He talked about the long history of video games that span back all the way to 1952...Video games are an integral part of our Digital Culture. With video games, skills can be taught through the use of video games. Video games have already effected the way we interact, it is time to take advantage of that. Video games promote critical thinking, they promote learning, and incorporate the principle of expertise. However, video games can be violent and video game programmer are not teachers.

Patrick - UnLearning
Example, looking the correct direction when crossing the street in England. Unlearning what you have learned up to a point and change your perceptions. Unlearning is remembering, not using, and re-learning. Remembering in unlearning throws in a wrench and requires metacognition (thinking about thinking). There is a roadblock in the metacognitive state that requires reevaluation and relearning. Unlearning is painful because it breaks out comfort circles and motivation. Unlearning using doubt to leverage change.

Brian – Creative Home Schooling
He believes that children learn most when home-schooled. Quoting Abraham Maslow he shows the education should be holistic rather than specialized. Home school breaks down in to Digressive Learning. Digressive Learning – allowing students to use their multiple intelligences to solve academic or social problems, such as Monopoly. Self-Directed Learning and Unschooling – children learn at their own speed, for example, follow-up on interests. Integration of Work and Play.

Quetzal – Summarization of Three Learning Theories
He gave an overview of the three major learning styles we covered in the course: Behaviorism. Behaviorism: Skinner, the environment, and behavior. Respondent and operant behavior, Contingencies of Reinforcement, SRS Model, and Behavior Management. Information Processing Model... Person is a processor of information. Create methods for the learner to input and retain information...retrieve when needed. Constructivism – learners are vessels of learning. Learners develop through meaningful activity.

Xavier – Constructivist Elements in Digital Storytelling
After defining constructivism and reiterating the steps in Digital Storytelling, he showed us these concepts applied to the Digital Storytelling activity we partook in earlier in the semester. Script: Short and succinct...the promotes mindful reflection, personal growth and ownership in learning. Planning: Compose series of images that will tell the story...Critical thinking and use of knowledge, multiple perspectives and modes of knowledge. Discuss and revise the script: Small group discussions...social negotiations and collaborative learning. Using these ideals of constructivism you could use Digital Storytelling for personal healing through the personal story, the power of voice, and compassionate voice.

Diana – Online Instructional Strategies
Online instructions encompass class taught over the Internet. Key elements – students need to be involved and integrated, curriculum needs to be clear, the class must be facilitated, Technology must fit. Strategies: Clearly state expectation, assign weekly written reflections, organize discussion and assignments to align to weekly lessons, be sensitive to student’s needs, have student-centered exercises, require a hand-in assignment, and provide timely feedback. She listed facilitator skills that encourage active participation in class while still allowing the students to work without you.

Michael – Website for Gagne’s Theory of Instruction
He outlined Gagne’s 9 steps in this website not only by describing them, but through the user experience on the site. He had quizzes and interactive activities on top of the store of knowledge he had produced. Including a simulated lesson plan. He also gave us a good overview of Gagne’s Theory of Instruction.

Dorothy – Developing effective eLearning Instruction
A good portion of what she was going to cover was covered in other presentations, so she shortened her presentation which rather impressive and thorough from her powerpoint. She spoke of benefits and delivery methods for eLearning. The role of the designer is the trainer, facilitator, and instructor...perhaps even developer. Demands for eLearning instructors in increasing quite a bit now.

Adam – Multiple Intelligences
He talked about the history of Multiple intelligence Theories. At first there were 7, now there are 9...In order to be an intelligence: rooted in the brain, rooted in history, symbols, and operations, developmental path, exceptional people, evidence, and supported by finding. Another one, not on the list is Emotional Intelligence. Emotional Intelligence – Self awareness, mood management, self-motivation, Empathy, Managing Relationships. Emotional health is essential to learning. We then talked about the types of learning theory and how they related to multiple intelligences.

Nathan – Podcasting: Uses in Education
He explained podcasting as a visual or audio content available on the Internet. It is an on-demand service. In a school, podcasts could be used to broadcast lectures or supplements to lectures. There are several online resources available online right now via podcasts. Creating podcasts are quite simple using GarageBand on the Mac to record audio and the web to publish.

Special notice: Go check out Nicole’s website: http://www.aslterpshirts.com

Highlight of the week: This class is now over and I reflect what I have learned. I could speak of theories or activities or even paper airplanes and knitting, but the true benefit of this class comes from the relationships I developed and the “informal learning” I partook in through meeting new people. And I think we are all pretty lucky to have such a dynamic, intelligent, and engaging group of passionate people. When I look back that is what I remember most...thanks for all of that.

Thoughts?


...and this your blogger, signing off.


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

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

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Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
http://www.wornickjds.org/tech