Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Outline for Motivating High School Students Video

I. Topic
Motivating High School Students in Online Distance Education Programs
II. Background
Motivational issues of high school students in both traditional and online distance learning programs
Motivational issues of high school students specific to online distance learning programs
III. Literature
Factors influencing student motivation
Demonstrated successes and failures in motivating students
IV. Motivational Theory
Introduction to ARCS
ARCS in practice
V. Additional Considerations
Areas for additional research
Closing question

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Elements of Distance Education Diffusion

Siemens in 2008 discussed collaboration briefly in the vlog and mentioned Skype in the process. He said that it was previously “seen as just not practical". Having had a Skype account since before Oprah, I would say that I shared that same sentiment until some potential uses were shared with me by another teacher. Technologically savvy K12 schools, institutes of higher learning, and Oprah continue to demonstrate what a great tool Skype is for getting people together to discuss events and other important issues when people are located all over the world.

Those demonstrations along with the need to increase engagement and collaboration of students, increase the credibility of online distance education. It also enriches the learning experience of both teachers and students.

With that being said, Skype and videoconferencing are not the only tools used for the purpose of collaboration. Google docs, wikis, blogs (including micro blogs), vlogs, social networking sites, and Second Life are also used to bring people together to work toward common goals. Again, these tools enrich learning experiences but it doesn’t end there. These same platforms are also used for things like corporate training and software troubleshooting because of the increased levels of effectiveness in these types of delivery formats.

I personally, in my educational pursuits, find Skype, Facebook, and Google docs as the most effective means with which to collaborate with classmates and believe that they have not only made this experience distinctly different from prior experiences with F2F instructional delivery but have given a certain type of “smoothness” to the collaboration process that isn’t had when meeting over coffee or talking on the phone.

http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4007778&Survey=1&47=6141513&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1

http://travelinedman.blogspot.com/search?q=collaboration

http://www.teachingdegree.org/2009/06/30/50-awesome-ways-to-use-skype-in-the-classroom/