What is a Plant?

Here is a brief introduction to the characteristics shared by all plants. Also, there is a little homework assignment at the end!

Quality of Online Learning

For this week’s post I have found two great resources to share. The first is essentially just a checklist to determine the quality of online teaching and learning. The second is a PowerPoint presentation regarding online (virtual) learning quality and equality. They are both very useful and relevant to the course content and seem to be useful resources for me as I begin to consider my approach and plan for our final project.

National Standards for Quality Online Teaching

The first resource I have chosen for this week’s focus is a document (pdf) pertaining to the quality of online teaching. It contains an extensive checklist, broken down into sub-categories, for determining the quality of an online learning experience. I think it dovetails nicely with not just this week’s course content, but really with EDT 6030 as a whole. It seems to address many of the topics that we have covered and/or discussed in both our reading and online synchronous class section.

Online Equality

This PowerPoint presentation is a great summary of many of the things we have learning throughout the course of our EDT 6030 class. Considering this is the last required resource sharing project we will have I thought I should go for something that covered a lot of ground. It is good to see many of the things that we have discussed summarized in an effective format for use by my classmates and myself. The presentation also has links to some good resources, including an example of constructivist approaches, tools for course evaluation, links to research and examples of effective practices. This truly is a comprehensive resource that can be utilized by many.

Considering our readings focused a lot on the quality on online learning and how it compares to traditional classroom learning I felt that these two resources could help expand on those discussions or at least provide further evidence or see discussions one way or the other. There are various arguments both for and against online learning and I think that the individual learner is ultimately the one who has to make the decision about what is best for him or her. Every learner is different and requires different resources for success.

Evaluating Software

Evaluating Software

This website is provided by educational publisher Glencoe for educators who are deciding on educational software. The page lists several questions and criteria for selecting software based on many different factors.

As Palloff and Pratt (2007) state, "technology should not drive the course" but instead "the desired outcomes and needs of the participants should be the deciding factors" (Chapter 5, Technology as a Facilitative Tool, paragraph 2). These should be the primary factors in deciding on the particular software that will be used to implement online learning or a virtual classroom. The answers to the questions provided by the Glencoe page could help determine the software that an educator or education facility will use. Considerations include the adjustability (both content and difficulty), adherence to state standards, and the capability of engaging students all come into play in the decision. In addition "the software used for a course should be transparent" (Palloff & Pratt, 2007, Chapter 5, Ease of Use, paragraph 1).

There are many things to consider and take into account when choosing educational software. There are also many resources available to help with that decision. The Internet is a great resource but try to stick to sites dedicated to education and the technology that is associated with it.

Blogs As Communities (Resource #4 Take 2!)

Blogs As Communities

This article effectively summarizes the content of chapter one from Palloff. It restates the definitions of community and why it is important for both communication and creating learning environments. It serves as an excellent resource to both review and redefine some of the content that we have covered in our course so far.

I particularly like some of the arguments for the importance of “virtual community”, especially how it can promote a more democratic involvement and find ways to include many participants that may otherwise shy away from conversation or conflict. This article also cites studies that say involvement in virtual communities can increase involvement in face-to-face communities, serving as almost a gateway to a broader participation.

This also has a good point about the definition of blogs as a form of community. I believe that with the right “followers” or groups forming, blogs can be an effective form of community where all participants can be informed and up-to-date. Blogs, when used correctly, can be useful for staying involved in communication and participate in conversation/dialogue with other community members.

The author, Anita Blanchard, also talks about the meaning of a sense of community. I think that this is important because these characteristics are important in professional learning communities as well. Feelings of membership, influence, emotional connectedness, and feelings of support foster all types of communities and can lead to very effective professional learning communities.

Module 4 Resrouce

Thoughts About Virtual Education

This blog post supports the needs for establishing online communities and the necessary contracts for their success. These contracts take the form of a set of expectations, or guidelines, that allow all participants to take part in a safe and comfortable virtual environment. This post also gives an example for a set of rules to govern an online learning community and also some of the qualities of a skilled (successful) online classroom leader/facilitator.

Palloff and Pratt, as well as Martin-Kniep, state that an effective leader or facilitator will establish a set of rules or guidelines early on in the formation of the learning community. This will help govern discussion and promote growth/learning within the community. The characteristics that are stated in this blog post fall very much in-line with the characteristics of effective leadership that I have discussed in recent posts for our own learning community. This was the main aspect that caught my attention when searching for a good resource to share.

Teachers Grade Parent's?

An interesting article on CNN. Not sure about it personally...

"Think Tank" Learning Communites

I came across this blog post while researching for Module 3. This is a really useful type of learning community, and not far off of what I'm used to. I would argue that meeting every 6 weeks may not be often enough. It would depend on the student population and what type of information is being shared/cultivated during community meetings.

I particularly liked this passage from the blog post:

PLC’s are a powerful tool in education because it allows for collaboration among colleagues. PLC’s are a form of adult professional development that builds the skills and learning capital of the teachers. This in turn benefits the students as the focus of teacher attention becomes specific students and specific learning outcomes.

Professional learning communities do, indeed, build skills and "learning capital". I also agree that they are a cutting edge initiative.

Elk Heard Blog