This week I have really been “playing” with my Moodle site. I found it incredibly easy to set up simple pages and links. I also played with making labels for many of the resources created. In terms of initial set up, to get a course up and running, to provide basic information to students, Moodle is very efficient. However, I then tried creating a few activities for my sample Moodle site. I created a wiki, in which students can edit and collaboratively add information to. This again was quite easy to set up. The problems arose when I tried to incorporate my first lesson. After watching a short YouTube video on how to create lessons, I decided to give it a shot. The branch set up and page set up was quite time consuming and took me many tries to get it set up right. Once I had that set up , I had to create my questions pages. The multiple choice, and true or false pages were quite easy to set up but very time consuming. If I had to set up a whole unit for a science of math class the time to create would not be worth the rewards. I also tried to include a short answer style question. This was beyond painful, the “code” needed to be input for the answers, to allow for various responses, is a whole course in itself. I cannot see myself using this feature of Moodle, as I would probably stick to multiple choice style questions. I did like the ability of Moodle to self grade and allow for teacher feedback after each section is complete..
Month: May 2009
My first media production was constructed for ETEC 531 using Photostory3. I found the exercise extremely rewarding but a serious amount of time was spent in authoring such a project. Entitled “I am an Artist” this video represents the interaction of art and technology in my life.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBOPBwJfOkQ[/youtube]
Today was a big day for me.
I set up my own domain name at mrblaskovits.com. In addition, I set up and played with using Joomla open script for the front page of my new website. Finally to top it all off, I set up my first Moodle site for my ETEC 565 course at mr.blaskovits.com/ETEC565.
Once the intial set up was done, I found the ETEC 565 toolkit very easy to work through. In fact I completed the first part of the toolkit of setting up my welcome page and discussion forum in about 20 minutes. I found moodle incredible quick to work with and easy to use, so far.
It left me want to do more, to bad I have been in front of my computer for 3 hours already working on other items. Time to rest but let the (r)evolution begin.
Categories
My ETEC 565 Flight Path
Fasten you seats belts and please ensure you tray tables are in their upright positions. My proposed flight plan for ETEC 565 is about to take off. As a full time teacher, teaching both Math and Science, I am turning to technology to find new ways to stay connected to my students. I have been teaching for just over eight years and during this time I have noticed a change in the way that students perceive learning and education. With technology surrounding every aspect of the culture of today’s youth, the need to provide technological guidance is ever increasing. Students need support and guidance to critically and effectively learn how to use the internet, as I have begun to see a generation of “Googlers” and “You Tubers”. Students need to be given the proper tools by which to communicate, assess, and learn using the internet which ensures their safety and meets their dynamic needs. As an educator, I need to be comfortable in my knowledge of the in order to facilitate these needs.
My first goal for this course is to become more proficient and knowledgeable with the use of Course Management Software such as Moodle, Web CT, and others. CMS bundles many different aspects of technology into one platform used to facilitate online discussions and incorporate different media types. I would like to learn how to effectively uses CMS to support the learning and safety of my students.
Secondly, I would like to learn how to use technology to efficiently and effectively assess the learning of my students. Technology affords the ability to provide near instaneous feedback to further students learning and to keep them engaged. As a result I want to learn how to construct and utlize online quizzes, and learning assignments to provide both summative and formative assessment for my students.
Digital-Age Teaching Professionals
As a Math and Science teacher I have tried to incorporate technology into many of my lessons as a way to facilitate learning, keep students focused, and to promote creativity.
I currently use a teacher website for all my classes, to post assignment due dates, provide printable assignment copies, post upcoming test dates, and provide useful weblinks for extra practice, in an effort to model digital citizenship and promote responsibility. In my advisory class, I have incorporated the use of Blogging as a way to discuss pertinent topics regarding school climate and culture, also in an effort to promote digital citizenship and responsibility. In my science classes, I have created projects using Photostory3 and Windows Movie Maker to inspire students to be expressive and creative in the presentation of dry factual scientific concepts. In my math classes, I have incorporated virtual manipulatives to aid in learning of abstract topics and used online gaming to illustrate abstract math concepts. I have just started using geometer’s sketchpad in conjunction with the online game Line Rider to conceptualize and calculate the slope of a line. My intent is to inspire students while providing “new” digital ways of looking at “old” topics. One area that I feel I am lacking in is designing digital age learning assessments.
One direction that I would like my flight-path to take me is towards competency using course management software, in particular opportunities to provide to digital assessment to students. I would appreciate an efficient way to assess student performance without having to physically grade tests or quizzes. In addition, I think much of the teaching profession is time management. To learn how to effectively use new technology takes time, and that time must come from somewhere else. Sometimes I feel my efforts to incorporate new technology in the class comes at a cost that outweighs the benefits. I am hoping that this course will provide some strategies as how to best incorporate technology without the enormous sacrifice of unavailable time.
Welcome to my ETEC 565 ePortfolio.
This site is designed to reflect upon and highlight key concepts from my Masters of Educational Technology program.
I have chosen the concept of “Evolution” as a metaphor for my learning progression from traditional educational models.
Constructive feedback is welcomed.
Enjoy the education (r)evolution.