525---Session 12--What the Future Has in Store for Education

Session 12--What the Future Has in Store for Education

Some believe the future will look like more of the same—more smartphones, tablets, screens embedded in every conceivable surface. David Rose has a different vision: technology that atomizes, combining itself with the objects that make up the very fabric of daily living. Such technology will be woven into the background of our environment, enhancing human relationships and channeling desires for omniscience, long life, and creative expression. The enchanted objects of fairy tales and science fiction will enter real life.

No one really has a crystal ball telling us what the future holds. Given that this course's mission was to revolve itself around, and expose you to, technology that can be used to teach the adult learner; and given the fact that the evolution of the tools and resources covered this semester are evolving at an exhausting pace I thought that we would end with 'possibilities...'

We normally would meet together for your Final Projects presentation, but we are all online now.  Please review your Final Project description  and expectations on the syllabus to make sure that you are aware of the criteria and guidelines. AND ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN B in case the tech doesn't work right.

Until then dream...

PS-Some of you have already completed your Final Projects.  There will be another blog entry for you to post them soon, but if you would like to submit it early, then that would be great!  

Please also check to ensure that you have completed all of your blog postings, entries, and submissions, and let me know if you have any questions.  Remember there is an example of a FP in the margin.

Good Luck!
Professor Fontaine

525-Session 11--Open Education Resources--Continued

Session 11

This week's Session will be an extension of the content that we covered in Session 10.  In Part 1 we will build open our foundational knowledge of OER's and learn how to find and recognize open content on the web.

Part 1

This challenge will help you learn how to find and recognize open content, such as public domain and Creative Commons licensed videos, images, and websites, in the 'wild'. You'll get acquainted with valuable collections of open content and discover new ways to find them. 

There are three elements within Part 1 of S11. 

1. Choosing a topic or question to focus on, (Try to choose something 'pragmatic' for your present or future work-setting.)
2. Finding your resources for #1, and 
3. Posting links to the results of your search.

You may find the exercises and details for Part 1 "Teach Someone Something with Open Content"  here.  Please return to this blog and post your information in the comments (due by Midnight on 11/24) before moving on to Part 2 below.

525-Session 9 & 10 &--The Flipped Classroom--Part 2

Welcome to Session 9 where we will be delving more deeply into tools and resources that can be used for 'Flipping' your classroom.


As some of you mentioned in your comments and reflections under Session 8, flipping an entire course, or training program, may not be the ideal scenario. Video lectures should be brief and clearly focus on specific learning outcomes.  (and not all lessons are meant to be 'flipped')  What you really want to do is slowly transition your teaching style so that you can begin to take advantage of the 'flipping concept' without getting too overwhelmed.

Several of you commented on the 'up-front' workload involved.  This is a significant factor when you are taking all of the work on yourself, but as I've preached many times this semester--'no man is an island'.  You can, and should, take advantage of the vast trove of videos and interactive lessons that others have created and integrate them to reduce your workload. As I said in Session 8, 'Stand on the shoulders of giants'.

Also this semester, we have lightly touched upon the concept of 'Open Educational Resources' or OER's.  The concept of 'Openness' becomes extremely powerful when you begin to access videos, tools, and resources that have been created by others (and are freely licensed).  They allow you to not only use the work of others, but often allow you to modify, remix, and reuse material for your own purposes.  Once you begin to dive more deeply into these resources you'll begin to see how much easier it will become to educate others.

Just like when we spoke about using wikis as a knowledge base or as an eTextbook.  If you start off small, and slowly, then your momentum can build. Also, if you can find a partner or peer group to collaborate with, then your project can really pick up some speed.

Let's start off this session by looking at some teachers that have experience 'flipping' and working as trainers.  If you haven't joined the edWeb.net community yet, then please do so now.  Once you are there you have the option of choosing different communities that offer webinars perpetually to support the theme of that specific community.  For example:  https://www.edweb.net/flipped

is the first community I would like you to join.  Once logged in please view two archived webinars to support your evolution towards becoming a 'flipper'.

The first webinar is called, "Flipped Learning---There Must Be a Better Way Than This..."

Click here for the direct link, but you have to be logged into edWeb.net to see it.  If you get lost going through links then, once logged in, go to www.edweb.net/flipped

Now, take a break and when you are done with the video above come back here.
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The next webinar for this week is: "The Top 10 Reasons to Flip".   After watching this, take the CE Quiz and email me your certificate of completion.

Next we'll delve more deeply into Google Forms and their ability to streamline your teaching, instruction, and life.

Please go through these in order.  Let's start with,

1- "An Introduction to Google Forms"

2- "Google Forms Overview"

3- "Getting Started with Google Forms"

4- "Advanced Features with Forms" (OPTIONAL)

5- "Google Forms Challenge"  (The directions for this week's 'comments' are within #5.)