On-Line Learning Experience

What content could this help you teach?

I searched through the online project section and found many different areas I could use.  The first was the NASA website which, ironically I already used.  It had a section where students could build their own planet.  This helped with our "Another Earth" project where students were trying to create an Earth like planet.  I also enjoyed the The Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education website.  It had numerous projects that I could pick from.  Teaching a general science curriculum can be tricky when trying to make all areas interesting and this website had a wide selection of projects that could help with this. 

What type of pedagogical strategies might you use with your students?

I think that by using these types of websites, students are able to explore, examine, and recreate quicker, and more efficiently.  Each one of the projects offers students the ability to create a hypothesis.  Then, they are able to collect data or design a rough draft model for examination.  Because students could explore and test their hypothesis by using technology, students get quick results which allowed for them to make adjustments for a better product.  Using these websites allows for an inductive learning process along with hands on experience.   

What technologies do you think would be harder to use with your students? Why?

Some of the hardest technologies to use are the ones where there seems to be simulations but the only things you click on and paragraph comes up.  They are very misleading and students become disappointed when they find that there is very little interaction.  Another technology that is hard to use with students is the online gaming.  Not that students do not enjoy this, but a lot of them require you to download the program which makes it difficult because only certain people have access. 

UDL

These two questions were asked about Universal Design Learner or UDL.  UDL is a process to look at how we not only teach our students but how we reach each one of them.  I probably have a different view than most educators but from the position I have, I see it in a different way.  

1. At the core of UDL is the premise that often the curriculum is disabled (and disabling!). It is not flexible; it often poses barriers, and consequently prevents rather than supports optimal learning experiences. Do you agree or disagree with this view? Why or why not?

I do not agree with this statement.  The reason is that I think curriculum should be a foundation and not something that is followed step by step.  Curriculum should guide a teacher through the unit and the teacher should decide how they are going to cover the curriculum.  Just like we do not expect students to learn in the same way, teachers should not teach the same way.  I think curriculum is important because it makes teachers across a state cover the same material but with a teacher modifying it to fit their students. 

1. What are the benefits of analyzing the curriculum for strengths and weaknesses rather than focusing on the student’s strengths and weaknesses? What are the challenges of this approach?

By analyzing the curriculum for strengths and weaknesses, a teacher can spend lesson time modifying the good lessons and more time on the weak ones.  It also provides a teacher who is struggling a better opportunity to use the strong lessons and get help with weak ones.  Along with these, teachers who focus on the curriculum can talk with other teachers who are teaching the curriculum for advice.  One challenge with this is that each lesson should be created so all students can learn.  If a teacher focuses on the curriculum then they forget the reason they are there.  Another challenge is that because all students learn differently, a weak lesson in the curriculum may be just what a student needs and by modifying a weak lesson one student misses 

Wiki Page

This is a picture of the wikipedia page that I created for my school.  I only put a little information because I wanted my principal to give some more information to me before I put it up there.  I struggled with this assignment because I could not figure out how to actually make this an article.  I also had a hard time with the html format but after hours, this is what I finally got.  It even includes a link to the school's website.  I hope that more people will see this and add information to it.  

Another wiki I created was from wikispaces.    The website is http://msutrial.wikispaces.com/  It  includes a page where people can include calendar events.  On the homepage, I have a discussion board which allows people to give me ideas about what I should have on the wiki along with my glogster page and an inspirational video for teachers.  

Merlot Review

http://www.learner.org/interactives/volcanoes/entry.html

Quality of Content:

• Does the software present valid (correct) concepts, models, and skills?

When looking at this website, it was very easy to read.  Each page was filled with accurate information but not overwhelming.  Students reading at a middle school level should be able to grasp the many concepts that make up a volcano. 

• Does the software present educationally significant concepts, models, and skills for the discipline?

This website does present information significant to understanding how a volcano functions.  The models are average at best and maybe hard for some students to understand.  At best this website would be used for an introduction or for reinforcement to a lesson already taught.   

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching-Learning Tool:

• What stage(s) in the learning process/cycle could the materials be used?

In order for this website to be relevant to students, it must be used for introducing new material or for further explanation of material.  Teachers would need to have students read through this first to get introduction to volcanoes or they would have to use it for reteaching. 

• What is(are) the learning objective(s)? What should students be able to do after successfully learning with the materials?

After reading through the material, students should be able to understand how volcanoes form along with being able to distinguish how different lava/magma forms.  Students will also to be able to explain how volcanoes erupt and the process used to predict when a volcano will erupt. 

• What are the characteristics of the target learner(s)

This website would be for students who like to read.  Although there are some interactive material, it lacks stimulation. 

• Does the interactive/media-rich presentation of material improve faculty and students' abilities to teach and learn the materials?

The interactive material is sub par.  It does include some video but the video screen is very small and the content is very dry.  The simulations are hard to follow and do not present anything to be visually appealing. 

• Can the use of the software be readily integrated into current curriculum and pedagogy within the discipline?

I would find this website to be hard to incorporate into my classroom as a lesson but I would use it for reteaching or enrichment.  The reading is easy enough for most students.  Although some of the simulations and videos are not all that stimulating, they do offer decent and accurate information.    

• Can the software be used in a variety of ways to achieve teaching and learning goals?

It can be used in two ways as mentioned before, reteaching and enrichment.  By using it in these two ways, students would gain a better understanding of how volcanoes function which would increase their chances at mysterying the concepts. 

• Are the teaching-learning goals easy to identify?

The goals of this website is offer the basics of how volcanoes form and function.  It is quite clear and evident after looking at the reading and simulations.  

• Can good learning assignments for using the software application be written easily?

The best way to use this website is to create an online lab exploration.  It would be very easy to create and students would be able to follow along with ease and little assistance. 

Ease of Use:

• Are the labels, buttons, menus, text, and general layout of the computer interface consistent and visually distinct?

After browsing this website, students could easily go through this website and find the many areas of content it has to offer.  The link buttons are easy to find and the text is easy to read.  When first looking at this website, students will not be overwhelmed by the amount of information offered.   

• Does the user get trapped in the material?

Navigating through this website was very simple and a person could move back and forth through majority of it with ease.  The only confusing part was the read more button which comes across as a continue button.  This may be confusing to some students who may find themselves stuck between reading more and the original page.   

• Can the user get lost easily in the material?

The material is good material and does not allow the user to get lost. 

• Does the module provide feedback about the system status and the user's responses?

There are no user response item. 

• Does the module provide appropriate flexibility in its use?

This website can offer a few different options.  One is to have students get an overview of the parts of a volcano and the other is to obtain specific knowledge about the different aspects of a volcano. 

• Does the learning material require a lot of documentation, technical support, and/or instruction for most students to successfully use the software?

Because this website is very user friendly, little guiding is needed for students.  Most students will be able explore this website with little help. 

• Does the material present information in ways that are familiar for students?

Most of the information presented is like most educational websites.  Lots of reading with a simulation and video spread throughout.  Students should be able to gain the information they need with little help.

• Does the material present information in ways that would be attractive to students?

Although the information shared is good information, it is not all that appealing to students.  Students who are looking for an interaction will be greatly disappointed.