The Class that taught me much

Wow, that is all I can say for how much we have learned in this class. I felt like I was barely hanging on most of the time. The time involved in maintaining a healthy pace was a little overwhelming. I have learned that I am not as independent in the learning department as I thought. Before I was working full time I always questioned why people had trouble taking classes and working. Life horns in and it is difficult to find time to do what you must to get that good grade. There are many of you though who had it in you. I have held on, that is all I can say. The experience was educational to say the least. I would change how I responded to the challenge. I was afraid of the technology. Now, though I am comfortable with most of the things we discussed. I wish I had time to try the MUDD game. I was a Warcraft junkie before my career change and it would have been interesting to see how the two compare. The most important thing I have learned in this class is that I should not be afraid to try something new. When I read about a Gator I was petrified. I did not know what that was and did not think I could do it. Now I am very comfortable with blogging and using my Gator. The tools that we were introduced to will be useful for me in the classroom. I really think TappedIn will be great for keeping in touch with my students and their parents. I wish my son’s teachers would look into it for his school. When I start teaching again I will use that tool. This class has started me thinking about how distance education should not be a pale comparison to the regular classroom. There is so much available to us today, that it can actually be a more dynamic learning environment. For myself, I am usually very quiet in the classroom. There are much louder voices than my own, I tend to let them speak. This format really forces me to speak up because we are all responsible for participation. And, yes the instructor can hear everyone clearly. Distance education is not just for the college classroom. These tools are good for the lower grades as well. I am glad I took the class. Even though I do not think I am doing well. I am glad I did not give up.

Add comment December 10, 2008 khadkins

My Website

I have been working very hard on my site for my project. Please visit it and let me know what you all think. I am sure there are things I should change. I would love to hear your suggestions.

http://sites.google.com/site/geographytools/

Add comment December 10, 2008 khadkins

Capstone project revision

From what I have been reading on my Gator, more people than myself are revising their original project ideas. Needless to say, I have been overzealous with my estimation of my time and abilities. My project is changed slightly. I am now going to present a site for Geography teachers and students that includes information on free GIS programs and data. Additionally, the site will consist of a blog and comments section for those who have questions or suggestions. I am planning on using the site where I work, and in the future when I am teaching I will us it then as well. I am hopeful that it will become a place where everyone involved in the field of Geography, whether they are professionals, teachers, or students can find the information and support they need.

Add comment December 10, 2008 khadkins

Research topic Idea

A topic I would like to research in Distance Education is what types of students thrive in the online classroom. This topic would require access to the demographic data of students who take online courses. The demographic information would be whether they are married, do they have children, what type of job do they have, where do they live, etc. A survey to be completed by the student will be included in the research. The survey would include questions regarding study habits and additional questions pertaining to personality likes and dislikes. The survey would include statements that the students could rate on a number scale whether they pertain to the student. Statements like, “I like to study listening to music” could be rated as a 1 being least like the student and a 5 as being most like the student. Using the demographic information, the student completed surveys, and the final grades of the students it can be determined how each relates to the grade the student received.

3 comments November 9, 2008 khadkins

Final Project Idea

My Final project ideas have been numerous, but perhaps not the best. I do not have a classroom of students to teach. I have not been an educator in the last three years. I have pursued my first love of Geography and GIS. I am now working as a CADD person at a local surveying company. Due to the career change, I kept thinking along those lines. I work with geographic data everyday. When I was a GIS certification student, I also worked with geographic data. I like the idea of geographic representation of social, economic, and environmental issues. I have always thought that GIS would be a wonderful addition to Geography lessons in classrooms. Yet, programs are expensive, and most useful data is not free. Keeping that in mind, I have an idea for a web quest and web page.

I am going to create a web quest and web page that can be used in Geography classes. The web quest would be geared for older students in High School, and even at the college level. When I was working on my GIS certification, I had difficulty finding data and appropriate tools for the research I wanted to conduct. In my current job as a CADD person, we have a need for digital data like topographic maps and aerial photos. In each instance, it would have been useful to have a site that not only includes links to useful Free data, but Free GIS programs as well. I would like to create a web quest that would allow students to use some of the tools and data available online. The web quest would ask them to use a Free GIS program and data pertaining to their research. I will provide them with a list of Free GIS programs that I have located. They will then use these tools to complete a research project. The primary goal of the web quest is more than the project however. The students will evaluate the program they have used. Their evaluations will become part of the site for other users to view. After they have completed the web quest, they can submit any interesting sites they have discovered. We will each create a blog that will document our journey. I will be participating as well. Students will be required to use a Gator to monitor the posts of their classmates and also to communicate to each other. This project can be a semester project that students can work on throughout the semester.  Hopefully, we will not only have a site that teaches people how to use online GIS tools, but also a knowledge base that other users can consult. I will provide students with a grading rubric so they will know what type of work I expect. Additionally, there will be a suggestions section for those who have an idea how to make the project and site better. Hopefully, this idea is not more than I can accomplish. I would appreciate feedback from anyone who thinks they may have an idea how to make this better.

Add comment November 9, 2008 khadkins

The value of chat

The chat is a valuable tool for distance educators. Because many times the students live in different parts of the country or in some cases the world, the chat brings students together much like they would be in a traditional classroom. Before this class, my own experience with chats in distance education was negative. There was a lot of questions by the professor, but only a few would answer them. The rest of the class did not particpate. I like the chat we have in this class because it is a forum for all the students in the class. In this way it is different than the traditional classroom social construct. We all have an opportunity to speak and are given the same consideration. The chat, then if done right, gives students the ability to speak their mind and have immediate feedback. We can communicate as if we were in the same room. Students are no longer just names on the screen, but actual people.

Add comment November 9, 2008 khadkins

Things to Write

Does the global nature of the web have an effect on evaluation?

I think the global nature of the web has an effect on evaluation. As Dan mentions in his blog, people who are taking online courses are not all from the same areas of the world. Keeping this in mind, courses must not forget that participants may not have the same way of thinking. There will be cultural differences and language barriers that should be addressed. Effective courses will remember we are reaching a diverse population. Additionally, we have to utilize the information available on the web responsibly. We can toss students into cyberspace without direction and they will not learn. A course should provide enough structure for students to thrive and learn, without hindering their ability to explore. An article by Clarence Fisher (Social Networks and Assessment, http://remoteaccess.typepad.com/remote_access/2008/03/index.html) discusses how teaching in a networked classroom changes assessment, I think this can be applied to course evaluation. There is this idea that the product is the most important thing among some teachers. He disputes that and states that the process is equally important. We have so much information available on the internet, it makes it necessary for courses to include provisions for how students utilize that information. No matter where the student lives, it is important that the course considers the process involved in each assignment.

Are the goals and objectives changed when you take a course online compared to classroom based instruction?

I think the goals and objectives change somewhat when taking an online course. In an online course, it is necessary to ensure students understand how to use the technology as well. In classroom based instruction, it may not be necessary to learn a new program. Some students of online courses have never worked with programs like Blackboard. In online courses those concerns must be addressed in the goals and objectives, along with the actual subject matter of the course.

1 comment November 2, 2008 khadkins

Student learning in the classroom vs. online

Knowing if students are learning is a tricky challenge. Some students are very good at reciting facts, but not in applying them. When I was younger, I was very good at memorizing the random facts needed to pass a test. After the test was completed, however, I forgot everything. You know students are learning if they can apply the knowledge. Application is the key in my opinion. When we create lesson plans there are objectives and goals embedded within. We should have an assessment in the plan of those same objectives and goals. It would be easy to just give everyone a test at the end of class, but that does not illustrate that they have learned anything. They may remember what was said, but can they apply it? I have used bell ringers to jump start the class. They are intended to get the students thinking, making those connections before class has started. One way to assess if learning has occurred is to have an exit ticket as part of the lesson. The exit ticket should include an activity that would require the students to apply what they have learned. We do a lot of the same things in our online classes. Blogging is reflective of our learning. The blog could be considered our exit ticket. We discuss what we have learned for the week. Our capstone project is a perfect example of an activity that we will need to apply what we have learned. I really do not think there are many differences between teaching online and in the classroom regarding assessment of learning. Just because students are in the classroom looking like they are listening, does not mean they are.

Add comment October 26, 2008 khadkins

Assessment and students who think like learners

I would assess a student who is “thinking like a learner” through observation. Students who are thinking like learners will be asking questions, and striving for a greater understanding. They will be the students who stump you. There were many times in my short teaching career that a student asked a new question. The student wanted to know more. It reminds me of the article Dr. Lowell posted Michael Wesch. The students will be the ones who are over thinking the question. Students should not be penalized for wanting to know more. We should be challenging each other. While observing the student it will be possible to see them taking the concept taught and looking further. A teacher I worked with would check off desired observable behaviors she was looking for in students. Additionally, one can assess students who are thinking like learners with activities that will ask them to demonstrate what they have learned. These activities can provide them with opportunities to be creative and curious. The students should have options of what type of activity they would like to complete. In this manner, all students will have an opportunity to shine.

Add comment October 26, 2008 khadkins

Portfolio

The portfolio is supposed to be used as a measure of a student’s ability and achievement, at least that is my understanding. Additionally, they prepare students for college. I do not think that it is an appropriate measure or tool. Students and teachers spend a lot of time working on portfolio’s. There are days spent in the classroom editing and adding to them that could be spent in a more productive manner. When I was student teaching, I noticed how much time and effort was put into portfolios. The work that was included was some of the best work the students had produced. But, in the classroom I saw so much more that was reflective of their ability. Many of them were not that great at writing, but hearing them express themselves in the classroom, their true understanding of the topic was apparent. I think learning is demonstrated in the classroom through interaction between students and the teacher.

Add comment October 26, 2008 khadkins