Week 2 (May 22, 2006)
This week I attended the four day pICT Emerging Trends Summer Symposium with the pICT Fellows and other SDSU Faculty. The first two days focused on learning new tools while the last two days focused on the projects the Fellows will be working on this summer.
Day 1: I took the opportunity to expose myself to tools I was either unfamiliar with or had never used before. Though I spent a lot of time in workshops for tools I am currently familiar with, I also spent a lot of time observing faculty experiences with these tools. I don’t consider myself technologically advanced, but I realize I can’t take for granted what I know and others do not.
One of the topics covered during the first day was tags and social software and it immediately reminded me of the Knowledge Management System (KMS) I created in ED795B. I used Tag World, which is basically a version of My Space with tagging capabilities. While I don’t necessarily consider myself a totally private person, I don’t like exposing myself on social forums where people can look me up and invite me to be their friend. I discovered Delicious.com this week, a tagging system that allows you to establish a network so you can access your network’s tags. Though it is similar to inviting people to be your “friend” on My Space, there is little if any socializing in Delicious.com and is much more suited for professional use.
I had plenty of time to think about the different KMSs presented last semester and the biggest change I would make to mine would be to make my internet home page my KMS with links to tagging systems, rss feeds, weather, and all the other sources of information I seek out daily. Knowledge Management Systems are so much more than stored documents on your hard drive or the location of a book in your personal library. A personalized home page where you access the different elements of your KMS is the way to go.
Day 2: I spent most of this day learning new tools. I attended the Technology and Diverse Learners workshop and learned how to use Inspiration for concept mapping. What a simple piece of software that allows you to communicate relationships on so many levels. I’ll be buying this one sometime in the near future…….
I also attended a workshop on Blackboard and wondered why my organization is not using something similar to this. We use PoepleSoft to manage our Human Resources and to provide members with test scores for correspondence courses required for promotion, but an LMS like Blackboard might offer up some other management opportunities. My organization provides numerous types of training that could be exported and taught in either a blended learning environment or through distance education. If all the course materials were made available on Blackboard, it would minimize travel expenses associates with certain training.
I attended the Digital Storytelling workshop and though I have been briefly exposed to this before, It was amazing to see some of the projects created by former students. I learned that I am a “digital immigrant with an accent”, otherwise referred to as someone who prints out their email. Though I don’t print everything out, anything over half a page will likely come to me via my printer. One of the things we talked about is how children are multi-tasking learners and how digital storytelling speaks to this generation. Children have a difficult time focusing on one thing, such as just reading, and must read, chat, listen to music, and blog – all at the same time. I have a difficult time with this. If children are so good at multi-tasking, then why can’t they shut everything down to focus on one thing? Why do kids expect teachers to change their style of teaching? If they are so advanced, then why don’t they meet the teachers half way? Are we letting this generation walk all over us? Who is in charge?
Days 3 & 4: I spent these two days with the Fellows as they worked through identifying learning outcomes and tools to use for their projects. Though I connected with a few Faculty, I really connected with Jacki Leak, a lecturer of Women’s Psychology. I shared a podcast/blog I co-created in EDTEC 671 as an informal learning system on Balancing Family and Careers for Women in the Coast Guard, and she asked to use it in her class http://cgworklife1.blogspot.com/. I hope it works for her. The podcast is accessible via the blog, so if she wants her students to provided thought on the content, the medium is already established.
Day 1: I took the opportunity to expose myself to tools I was either unfamiliar with or had never used before. Though I spent a lot of time in workshops for tools I am currently familiar with, I also spent a lot of time observing faculty experiences with these tools. I don’t consider myself technologically advanced, but I realize I can’t take for granted what I know and others do not.
One of the topics covered during the first day was tags and social software and it immediately reminded me of the Knowledge Management System (KMS) I created in ED795B. I used Tag World, which is basically a version of My Space with tagging capabilities. While I don’t necessarily consider myself a totally private person, I don’t like exposing myself on social forums where people can look me up and invite me to be their friend. I discovered Delicious.com this week, a tagging system that allows you to establish a network so you can access your network’s tags. Though it is similar to inviting people to be your “friend” on My Space, there is little if any socializing in Delicious.com and is much more suited for professional use.
I had plenty of time to think about the different KMSs presented last semester and the biggest change I would make to mine would be to make my internet home page my KMS with links to tagging systems, rss feeds, weather, and all the other sources of information I seek out daily. Knowledge Management Systems are so much more than stored documents on your hard drive or the location of a book in your personal library. A personalized home page where you access the different elements of your KMS is the way to go.
Day 2: I spent most of this day learning new tools. I attended the Technology and Diverse Learners workshop and learned how to use Inspiration for concept mapping. What a simple piece of software that allows you to communicate relationships on so many levels. I’ll be buying this one sometime in the near future…….
I also attended a workshop on Blackboard and wondered why my organization is not using something similar to this. We use PoepleSoft to manage our Human Resources and to provide members with test scores for correspondence courses required for promotion, but an LMS like Blackboard might offer up some other management opportunities. My organization provides numerous types of training that could be exported and taught in either a blended learning environment or through distance education. If all the course materials were made available on Blackboard, it would minimize travel expenses associates with certain training.
I attended the Digital Storytelling workshop and though I have been briefly exposed to this before, It was amazing to see some of the projects created by former students. I learned that I am a “digital immigrant with an accent”, otherwise referred to as someone who prints out their email. Though I don’t print everything out, anything over half a page will likely come to me via my printer. One of the things we talked about is how children are multi-tasking learners and how digital storytelling speaks to this generation. Children have a difficult time focusing on one thing, such as just reading, and must read, chat, listen to music, and blog – all at the same time. I have a difficult time with this. If children are so good at multi-tasking, then why can’t they shut everything down to focus on one thing? Why do kids expect teachers to change their style of teaching? If they are so advanced, then why don’t they meet the teachers half way? Are we letting this generation walk all over us? Who is in charge?
Days 3 & 4: I spent these two days with the Fellows as they worked through identifying learning outcomes and tools to use for their projects. Though I connected with a few Faculty, I really connected with Jacki Leak, a lecturer of Women’s Psychology. I shared a podcast/blog I co-created in EDTEC 671 as an informal learning system on Balancing Family and Careers for Women in the Coast Guard, and she asked to use it in her class http://cgworklife1.blogspot.com/. I hope it works for her. The podcast is accessible via the blog, so if she wants her students to provided thought on the content, the medium is already established.
posted by Deb and Kurt at 9:23 PM
1 Comments:
Wow -- so much going on here. Looks like the workshop had quite an impact on you--in the short- and long-term!
You bring up some interesting points -- ones I often ponder myself. For example, we almost revel in our description of today's kids and their "multitasking" abilities ... but, like you, I sometimes question why we view this so positively. Obviously, multi-tasking is a "good" skill to hone ... but so is concentrated focus and today's students (both childen and young students) seem unable to do that. A mid that "zaps" from one thing to another isn't necessary a productive one ... or one that's reflective.
I also question the negative way we point to people who don't like to read online ... or maintain a paper trail. Why is that "bad" behavior? What actually is wrong with that?
Good to see that your "balancing family" project has an extended shelf-life. I'm always pleased to see student work "used" (applied) beyond the class for which it was completed. Hope that all goes well!
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