CEP 811 Share & Evaluate learning Material from MERLOT

I picked an activity called Google~Guide. I have been looking for a lesson on Google features and thought this looked interesting. The tutorial was http://courses.cvcc.vccs.edu/IST_Hoisington/searchmodule.htm

When I got into it though, I found that it was not really interactive unless you count active links you could click on.

So, in my opinion it is not a tutorial that I would use for my class other than as a possible resource for what is available.


Quality of Content:
1. Does the software present valid (correct) concepts, models, and skills? The content contained valid concepts, models and skills for searching the Internet using Google.
2. Does the software present educationally significant concepts, models, and skills for the discipline? The content had educationally significant concepts, models and skills but you really had to click on everything and open up other pages to see it

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching-Learning Tool:
1. What stage(s) in the learning process/cycle could the materials be used? The material would be used during the explanation and demonstration process of learning to search Google. I believe you could also use it during the practice and applying if you went and looked at just that section or used some of the “cheat sheets” for queries.
2. What is(are) the learning objective(s)? What should students be able to do after successfully learning with the materials? The learning objective was stated to “use Google’s capabilities, features, and services”. Students should be more familiar with what Google can do after the tutorial.
3. What are the characteristics of the target learner(s) The characteristics of the target learner would be someone who is very interested in the subject and who is a high level reader.
4. Does the interactive/media-rich presentation of material improve faculty and students' abilities to teach and learn the materials? There were a lot of pictures but not a lot of interactive presentations in the material.
5. Can the use of the software be readily integrated into current curriculum and pedagogy within the discipline? I think the teacher would have to assign a particular part instead of just letting students jump in, there are too many areas where it gives options (if you know the material skip ahead, if not open this link and read…)
6. Can the software be used in a variety of ways to achieve teaching and learning goals? I think the only way would be to read it and try some of the directions out in Google)
7. Are the teaching-learning goals easy to identify? The teaching-learning goals were not listed anywhere that I could find.
8. Can good learning assignments for using the software application be written easily? If you just picked one section I think it could be used at a learning resource.


Ease of Use:
1. Are the labels, buttons, menus, text, and general layout of the computer interface consistent and visually distinct? I found it very difficult to find the information I was looking for after the initial page.  There were many links that all led to other topics and more information but not back where you were.
2. Does the user get trapped in the material? There is a lot of information presented all at once and not much guidance in the order in which you could tackle it so I personally was trapped!
3. Can the user get lost easily in the material? Very easily lost. I didn’t know what I had looked at and it was not sequential.
4. Does the module provide feedback about the system status and the user's responses? There was no way of responding or practicing outside of having a Google browser open.
5. Does the module provide appropriate flexibility in its use? It would be flexible in that it has a lot of material contained in the module.
6. Does the learning material require a lot of documentation, technical support, and/or instruction for most students to successfully use the software? There really is not an order or any rules to using the module, you could jump in or out of any section.
7. Does the material present information in ways that are familiar for students? It is set up something like a book with an index on the left and the text on the right.
8. Does the material present information in ways that would be attractive to students? I don’t think students would enjoy this module as it would take a lot of reading and there is no guidance or feedback and the only pictures are of google and its tools.

PC Maintenance and Security Lab

For the Atomic Lab I picked 3 Tutorials.

The first was under the Blocking and Killing Sypware and Adware and was about Spyware Blaster. There were actually 2 that I watched but the second one was very short!
I learned that there are good free tools on the Internet and I will definitely share this one with other people. It was easy to install, updates regularly and will make my computer run quickly.

The second tutorial I watched was on Tips for Safer Browsing, Exploring Firefox. I only began using Firefox when I began using Angel for this class. So I was interested to find out about the different settings I could use and tools were particularly useful. I would show some of the ways I learned about the Firefox privacy options and the set master passwords option.

The final tutorial I used was under the Good Safety and Security Habits: Following a PC Maintenance checklist. It was interesting to see that they recommended manually doing updates instead of just using the automatic updates. I would share this list with others!

Getting Things Done

So I read the Mastering Workflow article with great interest and as I've been hoping to clear up incoming paperwork and email I've been practicing this week.
1. Collect: I have an inbox for paperwork and for email at work.
2. Process: I tried each day to have a do/keep/toss/later immediate sorting. I was amazed at how much I eliminated right away! Most things were either right now or in the recycle bin.
3. Organize: I made subcategory folders (both paper and email). While I was moving the items in I added notations into my calendar
4. Review: I haven't had a chance to Review yet, that might take a couple days since most things that I didn't get to on the day I got it are future events.
5: Do: My inbox is empty, my outbox is full and all my email is taken care of. Hurrah!

Well, at least until tomorrow when the process starts all over.

To answer the questions in the assignment:
Once you have gone through the process once, (get to the do process), go to your blog and answer the following questions.

1. How did you organize your process? (are you using paper and pencil, a phone, a piece of software)? I organized using paper folders and computer folders plus my work (computer) calendar.
2. What was it like for you going through the process the first time? It was pretty easy to go through the process for the first time. Its not too different from what I already do, I just never did it in a formal step-by-step process.
3. Do you think that this process will help you? Why or why not? I think the process will be good to keep in mind when I see all the paperwork/computer work piling up. It helps keep things from getting overwhelming and out of hand.
4. Do you think you will continue this process? If not, what will your process be? I think I will continue the process.

Appropriate eMail Addresses and email Etiquette

My MERLOT Lesson Plan for CEP 811

Appropriate eMail Addresses and email Etiquette

Social Networking

I think I already had a head start on the social networking. I have a Facebook, MySpace (does anyone use that anymore--lol), Twitter account.

I have been wanting to integrate these social networks more into my workflow and already I can see how MACUL and LinkedIn could help me talk to others in my area. It will be good to see what other people have done, talk about their resources and stop trying to reinvent the wheel!

Professionally it will be good for me to work more on these social networks as I will be in a new job next year and maybe I can find a great new position or create a working relationship with other teachers at my new school even before I start.

Personally, I have really enjoyed the social networking and have been able to keep in contact with hundreds of former students as well as former classmates, current students, family and friends. Normally I don't have time to write to everyone so this has been great. I even got my Mom a Facebook account and she loves it!

As for my students, I have included them in my social network and not only do they get a kick out of being my friend but they also take full advantage of being able to contact me as a resource for jobs, homework help, advice etc. I think I am in contact with a student at least once a day year round! I would love to help them find more social networks that can help them out now that they are just beginning to see places like Facebook as more than just silly posts and visiting with their friends.

RSS Page Reflections

I have been using Google Reader for a week now. I added all the required items plus a few that I thought would be interesting. I added a comment on the use of blogs in teaching as I had been wondering about that. I found that it was hard to keep up on all the things that were posted! But a lot of the information was interesting and informative. I tried to star the ones I wanted to keep to reread in the future so that seems a good way to narrow the selection down. Some days the sites posted multiple articles or blogs and some days there was nothing. I learned a quite a bit by reading through my feeds. First of all I learned that other people are doing the same things I am and that there is information on everything out there! I think I could use this to keep up on the latest news in my area without having to search the whole web and could be a good time saver.

CEP 810 Blog regarding Web Pages vs. Blogs

I feel that the main differences between traditional web pages and blogs are the interactions, the format, and the content.  First of all a blog is more of a interactive discussion between people who either own or follow the blog while web pages are more of an information resource.  Secondly, traditional web page format is more formal like a book and is used to deliver facts.  The format of a blog is like a discussion where many people may add information.  Finally, the content of a web page is usually contributed by one person or organization and does not change very often.  The blog is more fluid and continually changes as it is added to by multiple users.