For this week's assignment, I designed a graphic organizer that shows web tools and strategies that are best for learners in regards to knowledge, communication, and collaboration. The teacher is the person who creates and organizes the material so that it can be effectively used by the learners (Siemens, 2008).
The web tools that promote student engagment in communication with their peers and instructors are technologies such as email, instant messaging, and skype. For example, students can email their teachers to ask them for extra help on a homework assignment. Also, teachers can skype with students to help them work through a math problem over long school breaks. Anderson (2008) discusses that communication tools offer students direct communication to their instructors; also they allow students to avoid time constraints.
The web tools that I chose that will help learners build content knowledge are podcast, educational websites, YouTube videos, and textbooks. These tools will be very beneficial to students. They can be easily accessed and used with the core curriculum in any grade level. For example, students can use any educational website from home to work on standards that they are struggling with in class at their own pace. Also, they can use the textbook websites from home to study for their assessments. Additionally, students can download YouTube videos to their iphones to watch while they are riding to school and vice-versa. Videos could contain songs or skits that would help them understand a standard.
Web tools also can promote collaboration among students. For example, wikis. class cafe's, discussion boards and blogs allow students to post projects that they can edit and modify. Students and teachers can offer feedback to help with understanding for the creator. Also, Google Apps can be used for a variety of collaboration modes such as Google Docs allows people to share documents with other students and teachers.
Reference:
Anderson, T. (Ed.). (2008). The theory and practice of online learning (2nd ed.). Edmonton, AB: Athabasca University Press
Siemens, G. (2008, January). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and designers. ITForum.
Kasey, Garrison, Anderson, and Archer claimed that, "cognitive presence is a vital element in critical thinking" (2000, p.89). Which of the tools you highlight reinforce cognitive presence?
ReplyDeleteGarrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2000). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. The Internet and Higher Education, 2(2–3), 87-105. doi:10.1016/S1096-7516(00)00016-6
I love the Prezi application. I have not seen this before and would love to know more about it. I think seeing a flow rather than just a snapshot can help observers understand connections if used with other concepts. Great for this topic about using new tools and strategies.
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