Time management is a very important skill that people must learn in order to function in our ever growing busy lifestyles. With all the advancements in technology, there are many tools that can be utilized in order to help us manage our time, activities, and priorities.
Nozbe - this application helps to prioritize activities and is based on the best-selling author David Allen's "Getting Things Done" philosophy. There is a free plan, but it is limited to only 5 projects. The other plans range in price dependent upon how many people use it. As online educators this application could help those in the same department to delegate responsibility and get more done with more people. This application could be used for personal or professional use.
StayFocusd- if you have Facebook or Candy Crush constantly calling your name, this just might be the application for you. StayFocusd allows users to put a timer on certain sites to limit the amount of time spent distracted from other more important tasks. This is a Google Chrome extension application and is completely free. Online education is a little more easily sidetracked with the distractions than a face-to-face class. For the student in an online class this application would be a benefit so that they devote a certain amount of time per day for their games and not a minute more. This could also be used for personal use.
Be Limitless- Be limitless is another free productivity companion application for Chrome. It turns the new tab that
that is opened into a dashboard describing where you are using your time. It also includes a smart notepad that easily
creates to-do notes, reminders, and countdowns to achieve goals. The distance educator could use this to keep
focused on tasks as well as making notes on what needs to be accomplished for the week. This application could be
used for professional use and personal use.
List.ly- This tool is ideal for the person that likes to make lists. It is very similar to Pinterest, and can be used for personal or professional lists. One person even commented on how she used it to lists links for her followers on her blog. Chris Danzy from ServiceSphere stated "Without Listly our community could not have democratized content, conferences, and participation. Listly enabled us to create a platform of peer selected speakers that generated our first six figure event in 2013." It is a free site. The online professional could definitely use this tool to help students have quick and easy access to relevant links which would be a valuable timesaver for the student.
Good old-fashioned calendar- Whether it be the old paper type or the newest smart phone, just tracking appointments and making time for yourself to complete tasks is an essential tool for anyone. This is a must have. The other tools listed above are a great add on, but I have to have my datebook. Sometimes technology fails us, so I still carry a planner with all my important appointments as well as what my classes will be doing, when projects are due, etc. This, of course, can be used for personal and professional use and is rather inexpensive. Sometimes the employer even provides one free of charge!
There are many other options for tools to help with time management. One only has to do a search at Google or Bing with the keywords "time management apps" or even "productivity apps" and a tremendous amount of resources will be at your fingertips.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Communicate 4.3.1 The Synchronous Session
How does integrating synchronous learning sessions within the online environment assist in developing a learning community for students?
While asynchronous sessions are a very important component of online learning to offer the student more flexibility in schedules, integrating synchronous learning sessions will offer students a more face-to-face class feel. Synchronous sessions could be used for students to present projects to other classmates or to the instructor as well as the instructor demonstrating new concepts. There are many resources that instructors can use to facilitate synchronous sessions. A few are listed below along with links to their website:
While asynchronous sessions are a very important component of online learning to offer the student more flexibility in schedules, integrating synchronous learning sessions will offer students a more face-to-face class feel. Synchronous sessions could be used for students to present projects to other classmates or to the instructor as well as the instructor demonstrating new concepts. There are many resources that instructors can use to facilitate synchronous sessions. A few are listed below along with links to their website:
Some guidelines an online instructor should keep in mind while developing synchronous sessions have been established to make the online learning experience productive and effective for everyone involved.
- Plan sessions and make sure to stay focused to keep from wasting participant's time
- Allow some flexibility in the beginning until everyone becomes familiar with the technology
- Create an instruction guide on how to access the session and make it available to all participants
- Instructors should log in early to prepare for students
- Technology can let us down so be prepared for an glitches (A backup plan)
- Try to incorporate activities that appeal to all learner types
- Have everything ready before the session so that students have access to all instructional materials
- Try to be engaging. A boring monotone lecture will lose the students
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Communicate 2.1.1 Identify Stakeholders
As with face-to-face instruction, distance education has stakeholders. Stakeholders include the instructors, students, parents, and local school administrative staff of the distance education platform.
The TOOL MOOC does an exemplary job at explaining the stakeholders and their roles. The only thing I might add would be that the local administrative staff has the responsibility to ensure the teachers do have all the resources needed to effectively teach the students.
As well, I would add another stakeholder to the list. Local businesses that will be hiring the graduates could be considered stakeholders as well. They have a need for educated, responsible, and ethical employees that will be filling positions in their company.
The TOOL MOOC does an exemplary job at explaining the stakeholders and their roles. The only thing I might add would be that the local administrative staff has the responsibility to ensure the teachers do have all the resources needed to effectively teach the students.
As well, I would add another stakeholder to the list. Local businesses that will be hiring the graduates could be considered stakeholders as well. They have a need for educated, responsible, and ethical employees that will be filling positions in their company.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Communicate 1.1.2 Laws of Communication
With the passing of FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), educators have had to become even more careful about the information that they share about their students. Some guidelines to prevent a teacher from violating FERPA are listed below:
- Have a signed, written consent from a student before a school official, administrator, career services staff member, or faculty member releases personally identifiable information to an employer, third-party recruiter, or resume referral data base.
- Remind students each semester or at least yearly of their rights under FERPA.
- Obtain a new consent form if any student has to change any information on the original consent form.
- Never share a students grade over e-mail. With online education, it is very important to only show grades to the student through private means.
- DO NOT share information about student with anyone other than the parent/guardian.
- Inform students before the course starts that they will have to use a public blog and give them a chance to discuss concerns with you.
- Allow students to participate with a pseudonym or alias.
- Explain to students that they should never post private information on the blog.
In the field of Education, another issue teachers face is copyright.
Most educators are trained in copyright laws, but in order to make sure copyright laws are not being violated, teachers should have ongoing training about copyright laws. This will help teachers know what they can and cannot use in their courses. As well, students have to be informed in the syllabus or at the beginning of the course about copyright and held accountable. There are computer programs available to check for plagiarism in students' work.
A question a student might ask is "Does copyright require that all work, images, words, and graphics must be original?"
The work that a student turns in as their own should be original. If anything is ever used then permission must be obtained from the original creator of that work. In other words " Don't take credit for something you didn't do."
Monday, February 10, 2014
Communicate 1.1.1. Definitions of Communication
Just this morning while driving to work, I thought to myself, about how sleepy I was and the reason for that probably lies in the fact that my phone stays on the bedside table and makes a beeping noise every time I receive an e-mail or a Facebook post. I told myself, "just buy an old fashioned alarm clock and turn the phone off tonight". But, then I think what if there is an emergency and someone needs to get in touch with me. As much as I love technology, I think it is hindering us in other ways. Sleep deprivation is only one of those.
How have your individual communication skills changed as with the innovations in technology?
For me, the innovations in technology have caused me to hardly every talk on the phone. I really do not even like to talk on the phone anymore. To save money, we had our land line removed. However, as Turkle suggested, I do enjoy the time when my phone is dead, and I have no distractions. I am not yet to the point where I am reliant on my phone for company or connection. I like the ease of sending a quick text when I need to, but our children are losing the communication skills that we learned. Instead of saying" I was laughing so hard because it was so funny." Now we simply type "LOL"
How have advancements in technology altered classroom communication? Will these change further?
Advancements in technology have altered classroom communication in many ways. Communication between the teacher and student as well as the student with other students has been affected. Teachers now have tools such as remind101.com that will send out group texts to remind students of a test the next day. Students are taking pictures of assignments and texting their classmates. E-mail is growing more accepted for students to send in work to their teachers or to communicate with them while they are out sick.
As much as classroom communication has changed, it will continue to change as our technology continues to grow. Distance education will become even easier for the student and teacher. While I think the possibility of all students being able to attend distance education courses is monumental, I still worry about the social aspect of our students.
Navigate 3.1.1 LMS Tool Categories
As we learned earlier, Learning Management Systems are the tool used for delivery of the content. Student Information Systems can work with the LMS to record data from the course. The components available within the LMS make the digital learning experience much more rewarding for the professor and the learner. Features within the LMS fall in one of the three following catergories:
Evaluation Tools
Communication Tools
Reporting/Analyzing Tools
Evaluation Tools
- Course Content
- Dropboxes
- Quizzes/Tests
- Rubrics
Communication Tools
- Discussion Boards
- Instant Messaging
- Bulletin Boards
Reporting/Analyzing Tools
- Grade books
- Progress monitoring check lists
- Analytical reports
Navigate 2.1.3 Commercial versus Open Virtual Classrooms
When comparing Commercial versus Open Virtual Classrooms, the obvious difference of course is cost. As an educator, you have to take in to consideration, what your students will have access to at home. While most schools can purchase the commercial software, students can not.
For example, our school has Microsoft Office on all computers, but our students may not have Microsoft Office at home. When posting documents online, I try to remember to upload everything in the pdf format so it is a little easier for students to open.
For example, our school has Microsoft Office on all computers, but our students may not have Microsoft Office at home. When posting documents online, I try to remember to upload everything in the pdf format so it is a little easier for students to open.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Navigate 2.1.1 Delivery Methods and the Synchronous Vendor Market
There are many options available for the distance educator to synchronously hold classroom discussions. So many, in fact, that it would take a tremendous amount of time to list them all here.
Some of the major options are:
Adobe Connect (Free for 30 days)
Cisco WebEx (A free option for up to 3 people)
Blackboard Collaborate (Free for 30 days)
GoToMeeting (Free for 30 days)
Google+Hangouts (Free)
Big Blue Button (Free)
Skype (Free)
SMS (Charges vary depending upon contract)
The correct choice will be different for everyone depending upon needs and budget. The iNACOL has a good table to identify some of the differences in Vendor options and Open Source options.
Source: http://www.onlineprogramhowto.org/admin/vendor-vs-open-source/
Some of the major options are:
Adobe Connect (Free for 30 days)
Cisco WebEx (A free option for up to 3 people)
Blackboard Collaborate (Free for 30 days)
GoToMeeting (Free for 30 days)
Google+Hangouts (Free)
Big Blue Button (Free)
Skype (Free)
SMS (Charges vary depending upon contract)
The correct choice will be different for everyone depending upon needs and budget. The iNACOL has a good table to identify some of the differences in Vendor options and Open Source options.
| Vendor Solution | Open Source Solution |
|
+ Professionally Developed
+ Vendor is accountable for correct functioning of system
+ Initial start-up may be easier
+ Technical Support available from vendor, in some cases 24×7 support
– In some cases, technical support, especially 24×7 support has extra costs
– Ability to make changes to systems and content is more limited
– Ongoing licensing cost
|
+ Software is developed by a community with common needs
+ Vendors may exist to provide technical support for open source solution (at a cost)
+ Are able to customize and modify systems and content as desired
+ Little or no cost to obtain system, low risk to trying out system
– May not have formal technical support available
– Sufficient technical expertise required to make modifications to systems and content
– Ongoing human resource cost to maintain and update
|
Source: http://www.onlineprogramhowto.org/admin/vendor-vs-open-source/
Navigate 1.3.1 Discussing the LMS and CMS
While LMS and CMS are similar the two are not the same.
A CMS (Content Management System) is designed to provide support for the course. It allows the teacher to create a website, where documents can be uploaded in popular formats such as word, power point, etc. without having to change them to HTML. This requires less skills on the behalf of the educator. However, there are some drawbacks. CMS is inefficient in testing and tracking. The CMS cannot identify students taking tests nor save the progress.
A LMS (Learning Management System) plans, delivers and manages all the learning needs of an organization. An LMS can also be used to record and check the progress of the learner. In addition, it can generate reports of data from the course.
The one to choose is dependent upon the needs of the organization.
A CMS (Content Management System) is designed to provide support for the course. It allows the teacher to create a website, where documents can be uploaded in popular formats such as word, power point, etc. without having to change them to HTML. This requires less skills on the behalf of the educator. However, there are some drawbacks. CMS is inefficient in testing and tracking. The CMS cannot identify students taking tests nor save the progress.
A LMS (Learning Management System) plans, delivers and manages all the learning needs of an organization. An LMS can also be used to record and check the progress of the learner. In addition, it can generate reports of data from the course.
The one to choose is dependent upon the needs of the organization.
Navigate 1.2.1 Describe roles and functions in online learning environments
Click here to see an online poster or SIS and LMS system roles.
Just as in face to face school settings there are roles and responsibilities.
Administrators must oversee all instructional practices of an organization, including informing teachers and students about student accounts and tool use, teacher accounts and tool use, course offering schedules, course teaching assignments, and reporting of grades and other data.
Teachers must deliver instruction as well as manage classroom and students. Teachers must provide resources as well as feedback and post grades.
Students must do their share and be proactive in their learning. They have to stay on task to meet deadlines and participate.
Parents and/or guardians also have to monitor student progress if the students are minors.
In some cases teachers create their own content modules but sometimes there are content development personnel to develop content to be used.
Data can be analyzed by the teacher or a separate position may be available for someone to analyze data from the individuals in the course.
While the SIS is a tool to help record data, the LMS is the tool that helps deliver the content. The systems and the people all work together to create a well oiled machine.
Just as in face to face school settings there are roles and responsibilities.
Administrators must oversee all instructional practices of an organization, including informing teachers and students about student accounts and tool use, teacher accounts and tool use, course offering schedules, course teaching assignments, and reporting of grades and other data.
Teachers must deliver instruction as well as manage classroom and students. Teachers must provide resources as well as feedback and post grades.
Students must do their share and be proactive in their learning. They have to stay on task to meet deadlines and participate.
Parents and/or guardians also have to monitor student progress if the students are minors.
In some cases teachers create their own content modules but sometimes there are content development personnel to develop content to be used.
Data can be analyzed by the teacher or a separate position may be available for someone to analyze data from the individuals in the course.
While the SIS is a tool to help record data, the LMS is the tool that helps deliver the content. The systems and the people all work together to create a well oiled machine.
Navigate 1.1.1 Delineating between synchronous and asynchronous content
Synchronous online classes require students and
instructors to be online at the same time. Lectures, discussions, and
presentations occur at a certain time, and all students must be present at
that time.
In contrast, asynchronous classes are not in real time. Instructors provide materials, lectures, tests, and assignments that can be accessed by the student at a time convenient for them. Students are usually given a deadline for assignments and discussions.
As with any format, there are pro and cons to both designs. Some students prefer synchronous courses because they need that immediate feedback. For others, asynchronous courses provide a more flexible way to learn. Some students need more time to think on a topic or may need more time to type responses than in a synchronous class.
Synchronous classes can use the following tools:
Chat rooms
Telephone
Video or Web conferencing
Broadcast
Virtual worlds
Asynchronous classes rely on:
E-mail
Discussion Boards
Blogs/Wikis
Virtual libraries
Social Networks
Dropbox
In contrast, asynchronous classes are not in real time. Instructors provide materials, lectures, tests, and assignments that can be accessed by the student at a time convenient for them. Students are usually given a deadline for assignments and discussions.
As with any format, there are pro and cons to both designs. Some students prefer synchronous courses because they need that immediate feedback. For others, asynchronous courses provide a more flexible way to learn. Some students need more time to think on a topic or may need more time to type responses than in a synchronous class.
Synchronous classes can use the following tools:
Chat rooms
Telephone
Video or Web conferencing
Broadcast
Virtual worlds
Asynchronous classes rely on:
Discussion Boards
Blogs/Wikis
Virtual libraries
Social Networks
Dropbox
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Participate 4.1.3 Digital Health
With all of the digital resources we have at our disposal, sometimes we forget that too much exposure can be harmful. It is very important to practice ergonomics and also remember to be active. For the next month, I have decided to make some changes in my habits. I frequently suffer from neck and shoulder stiffness due to the amount of time I sit at a computer. I work at a computer during the day, and then I come home and complete classwork for the Masters program at night. I plan to start with small things like sitting up straight at my desk and moving the mouse closer to the keyboard. I hope to walk at least three days a week.
Visit some of the links below to learn more about the conditions caused by too much exposure.
http://www.healthycomputing.com/health/discomfort/index.html
http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Internet/e-Security/Australian-Internet-Security-Initiative/excessive-internet-use
The most proactive means of ensuring the most balanced blend of technology and well-being is to make an effort to limit screen-time and be sure to incorporate some activities that promote good health. Exercise, dining with friends without electronic disruptions, reading, playing with your children are all good activities to balance the blend of technology and well-being.
Students and teachers can use a schedule to make sure they get the most from technology while simultaneously safeguarding good health. Making a conscious effort to include activities that do not include technology as well as activities that do will help limit screen-time and hopefully incorporate more active activities into their schedule.
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