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Teaching Effectively Online
Lesson
Two: Constructivism:
Blended Learning and Project-based Learning
http://lone-eagles.com/teaching-lesson2.html
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NOTE: Required readings,
video viewings, and
resource explorations are captioned with READ, VIEW, EXPLORE.
Other resources are
optional, based on your time available and personal interests. Sending
your
instructor accurate feedback on this lesson regarding time spent as
manageable
is very important. We have some advanced students and some who are just
beginning
with online learning, social media, and technology in the classroom.
New
Business Models and Ethics are Emerging
The
big point of our Edupunks
Guide, and of the TED video ÒHow Web Video Powers Global InnovationÓ is
that it
is the nature of Web 2.0 businesses to be constantly watching the
innovations
of others, to copy them. For educators, whether employed by a school,
or an Elearning
Business, this is also true in order to stay
competitive. Properly used, video captures, like those you created
using Jing, can
quickly show a great deal in very little time, similar to the quick cut
edits
youth are used to seeing on TV commercials. Teaching youth how to
mentor each
other using these free tools will prove essential to their own
learning; we
learn best when we teach.
Four
Key Trends Related to Online Instruction
1. Modularization of
learning units. When one teacher creates a really great unit on
using search engines and elects to make it available for other teachers
via the
web, this unit, in effect, is a learning module that other teachers can
easily
plug into their curriculum. The trend is that more and more
learning
modules will be available to teachers. The challenge is organizing them
in a
way that makes it easy to find those modules you wish to utilize in
your
curriculum. Some form of micropayment needs to evolve for teachers for
such use
of their instructional products.
In
short, sophisticated, animated, interactive, multimedia
software "objects" are already being collected in the public domain
to allow you to easily enhance your online or classroom instruction
2. Customization
of
the resources of others, and customization of learning
resources by students, is becoming commonplace. Templates are available
where a
teacher can simply edit an existing resource, to create an original
online
activity or similar resource. The role of "teacher as info-broker"
can be expected to increase in importance.
3.
Industrialization
of
distance learning, also termed 'commoditization
of content,' is projected to be a big new
industry. Hence, for-profit corporations are jumping into the fray by
creating
robust K-12 resource sites. Have you wondered why VerizonÕs www.thinkfinity.org
offers thousands of free lessonplans
to
teachers? Are corporations doing a better job of providing
online
educational resources than the government, universities, and schools?
How is
the fact that corporations have embraced online learning more than
traditional
educational institutions relevant to K12 reform issues in light of
teachers
with technology skills being increasingly hired away from educational
institutions?
While
commoditization of online content is occurring, this should
be considered separate from the teaching methods a good teacher might
implement
when using such "content products." Let's hope the access to
greater numbers of resources means good teachers will be dramatically
empowered, not threatened with replacement! That said,
a national teacher shortage of 10 million teachers is projected by
2010. A
recent awardee of the
Stockholm Challenge competition
was a project delivering online instruction to rural students in India
who
could not afford teachers. With over six billion learners world wide Ð who will teach whom is an open
question.
4. Globalization
The world educational market, and no less, is what your online
courses could serve. With proper self-directed design, your online
lessons and
courses could educate untold number of students. With the newer media,
opportunities to personalize such instruction are increasing. With the
current
teacher shortage, and billions due to come on the Internet within the
next
couple decades, how can you help the instructional needs be met? And be
paid
commensurate with your global contributions?
Do
You Blog, Wiki, or use
Tweeter?
Social
media is taking the world by storm on many levels. Texas Governor Perry
invited
everyone on TV recently to follow him on Tweeter. He meant to say
Twitter, but
this is an example of the generational differences. If you donÕt
already know
about wikis, blogs, and other social media tools, you can view many
short video
explanations at www.commoncraft.com or,
go to our
class wiki, to learn about how you can easily create a free wiki,
and/or blog
in just a few minutes; http://web2fork12classrooms.pbworks.com
View
this
video
if
you have not already done so:
Social
Media Revolution 2 (Refresh) by Socialnomics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGzAHbBmcnk
OPTIONAL: To
learn more about Social Media, wikis, blogs, twitter:
Go to http://commoncraft.com
and
See the common craft ÒwayÓ one minute explanation video
Under
ÒBecome a Member:Ó click on
View videos (donÕt have to be a member)
Note
the explanations of wikis, blogs, twitter, social media
and more!
See also explanations of cloud computing, and project-based learning.
"The
illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who
cannot read and write,
but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." - Alvin Toffler
READ the
very short first article
below, and the INACOL Fast facts.
2010
online by
the numbers
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/14/2010-online-the-numbers/
Online
Learning
Fast Facts:
www.inacol.org/press/nacol_fast_facts.pdf (note
the source; www.inacol.org )
The
Promise of Broadband?!
Broadband Ð ever faster because what we really want is less information, but of higher relevance and value.
Broadband can be slow and unreliable, using wireless, satellite, or phonelines, or it can be very fast and reliable, using microwave, cable, or fiber options. ÒBandwidthÓ is the measure of how fast your broadband is. Much confusion has been the result of the use of this very general term. Most leaders can not tell you exactly what broadband is Ð just ask them.
Instead of using the word broadband, use the term ÒconnectednessÓ which begs the issue of who, what and why?
Your time is precious, most people want less information, but more targeted to their genuine needs. Most broadband is used for more TV, instead of better education. The history of new communications technology has been an initial focus on the potential for education, and then it becomes dominated by entertainment because thatÕs what people mostly will pay for.
BUT, new jobs
wonÕt come from using broadband for more TV, unless it IS used for
targeted
Education. New forms of short, very high quality videos,
represent an important trend. In short, historically when we invented
the
printed page, we went from an oral culture to a written culture, but
today, we
are returning to an oral culture via Internet video. (Have you noticed
few read
much anymore?)
View
this video from Lesson One - if you
have not already done so.
How Web Video Powers Global Innovation
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/chris_anderson_how_web_video_powers_global_innovation.html
(18 minutes)
Explore (links in this broadband section are optional)
$
7 billion was given out for the ARRA rural broadband stimulus
initiative called BTOP the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Details
at www.broadbandusa.gov
Alaska received $180 million for broadband infrastructure.
Specific grant details are in the applications database searchable by state.
Details at www.broadbandusa.gov
Two $5 million BTOP training projects were funded to help Alaskans understand the value of broadband.
AK UAF Eskills Grant Executive
Summary
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/broadbandgrants/applications/summaries/6396.pdf
20 Organizations offering online training.
AK libraries OWL
Grant Executive Summary
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/broadbandgrants/applications/summaries/5344.pdf
Is your library one of
the 103 Alaskan libraries
benefiting?
In addition, the Denali commission has received a $6 million State Broadband Data and Discovery (SBDD) Grant, to map who has broadband and who does not, and to create a 5 year Alaska Broadband Task Force, with subgrants available.
The FCC has proposed reducing federal Universal Service Fund broadband subsidies for rural communities, and particularly for Alaskan Native Villages.
In question is whether broadband infrastructure alone can create new jobs in villages, or whether an educational component is required, and if so, what exactly? Village schools are closing, young families are moving to the big cities to find work. The future of 250+ villages is in question.
Where are AlaskaÕs best practices for broadband empowerment training best demonstrated? Do Model Alaskan Native Digital Villages already exist? Or do we need to create them, and if so, how, and whose responsibility is this??
Your instructor helped the 43 villages of the Tanana Chiefs Conference write a major grant focused on broadband training to create sustainable villages, cultures and families. (An Optional Read)
Alaskan
Healthy
Village Sustainable Broadband Program
Executive
Summary http://lone-eagles.com/healthy-village-summary.htm
Healthy
Village
National Broadband Campaign
http://lone-eagles.com/healthy-village-campaign.htm
Social Entrepreneurship
Teaching Resources Handbook
Google this complete title for current links, a copy is in the class
Dropbox shared folder, too. Ask your instructor for an email invite to
Dropbox.
The growing numbers of social networks are becoming rapidly more sophisticated regarding peer mentoring, sharing videos and integrating new free web tools (called mashups). These new peer instructional dynamics have profound implications for educating the global population on an ongoing basis. See http://mashable.com and while optional, be inspired by the following two videos as you ponder how you can best teach the innovation process to your students. ÒConstructivismÓ is ÒBuilding OneÕs Own Knowledge.Ó
Tribute to Steve Jobs
video ÒThis Will Make You CryÓ
http://mashable.com/2011/10/16/steve-jobs-day-video/
Steve Jobs 2005
commencement speech. Strongly Recommended
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1R-jKKp3NA&feature=player_embedded
Project-Based
Learning
http://www.edutopia.org/start-pyramid
(article)
VIEW: This 9
minute video on PBL (also posted
on the lessons homepage)
http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning-overview video from article
above
Explore
(optional):
Directories
of other PBL models are at
http://lone-eagles.com/projects_tour.htm and
http://lone-eagles.com/pbl.htm
EdutopiaÕs
Project-based Learning Resources
http://www.edutopia.org/project-learning
Consider
Subscribing to one or more of the three free E-newletters:
http://www.edutopia.org/edutopia/enews
1. Edutopia Magazine
2. *Project-based Learning
3.
Technology in
Education
Explore
(optional): Book
Recommendations:
Reinventing
Project-Based Learning:
Your
Field Guide to
Real-World Projects in the Digital Age
http://reinventingpbl.blogspot.com/
Presentation
with links
http://usefulwiki.com/page/Reinventing_Project-based_Learning
Their wiki with some excellent links to PBL resources, and ideas.
http://usefulwiki.com/page/PBL_links
Using the social bookmarking site http://del.icio.us - these are all of the sites tagged with project-based learning. http://del.icio.us/tag/projectbasedlearning You will want to check for notes made by various users to see if the site is something you would find of interest.
Required Submissions Checklist:
____ Send instructor a private email with your
report on the Jing activity and feedback on lessons one and two
____ Completed a Skype session.
Lesson
Feedback:
You're invited to privately email your instructor:
1. What areas, if
any, did you have trouble with during this
lesson?
2. What
questions remain now that you've
finished this lesson?
3.
Approximately how much time did you
devote to this lesson?
4. What
improvements would you like to
suggest?