Look below for my post! Deb :)

I responded to:

Melinda Duckett at: http://ducketmc.wordpress.com/

Robert Hopkins at: http://educ-8848emergingandfuturetech.blogspot.com/

Cynthia Shelton at: http://shelcy316.blogspot.com/

Annette Brooker-Grogan at: http://educ8848technologies.blogspot.com/

Erika Penninger at: http://penninger8848.blogspot.com/

Dynamic Strategies

Strategies for engaging students (Siemens, p. 11-19)

Decide on how the learning occurs
Change the role of the educator
Overlay new opportunities by diminishing geographic lines
Change the role(s) of the educator and instructional designer

On-line instructors must change and in order to be effective, they must move toward the dynamic way of teaching- thus reaching higher levels of thinking and creativeness. As Moller (2008, para.1) stated, “the paramount decision should be the capability of chosen technology to support knowledge building, which indicates the need for interactivity.” With this being said, the meta-analysis of McGreal’s chapter resulted in valid conclusions. I say this because I believe (Anderson , 2008, p.149) stated that internet telephony will “facilitate more fluid and natural communication between different culture groups...” I have experienced this first hand with Skype as Cyndy Shelton and I have collaborated to a great extent on the assignments and have devised ways to involve the children with virtual experiences from Hilton Head Island. I can envision this to help: (a) with the lack of funding for field trips, (b) for home bound students, and (c) for diversifying the learning experiences in every facet of education. This allowed for group interaction much like the ICQ (I see you) messaging.

Developing on-line classes would be more dynamic in proportion to the more collaboration that was planned. Isolation would be of less concern. Part, such as internet telephony would need to be synchronous, but that too could be flexible. The asynchronous part would be the individuals work on wikis and blogs and receiving constructive feedback from peers. According to my readings and experiences using technology in an online setting, media research must have components that allow collaboration. An instructor whether in a F2F classroom or on-line MUST be allowed to use and have experience with this type of technology in order to utilize these valuable resources.

According to Siemens (p.3), “Classroom walls are increasingly permeable.” I thought this was a profound statement because the first thing I thought was, “What does this mean?” I came to the realization that it meant that they may not be coming down, but the walls are able to be crossed by waves in cyberspace. They are being permeable because of the capability of collaboration using social networks, such as Facebook.

Reference:

Anderson, T. (Ed.). (2008). The theory and practice of online learning. (2nd ed.). Edmonton, AB: Athabasca University Press.

Moller, L. (2008). Static and dynamic technological tools. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Laureate Education, Inc. [unpublished paper]

Siemens, G. (2008, January). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and designers. ITForum.

Educators as Botanists

Plants have developed different varieties with many hybrids in existence. Botanists identify specific needs of the various young flowers. Some needing shade, while others need direct sunlight. Botanists must give them the right stimulus to keep them reaching for the sun. Covered with soil, they must be planted with them all the theories at her disposal. Botanists must prune away all the dead leaves and keep the temperature at a comfortable level. Botanists continue to cultivate them with just the right nutrients. Visitors learn about them with the posts to the web. Their growth is seen in their blossoms. The botanists continue to use the communication at through the internet to find other theories about how to better reach the needs of her “Blooming” little flowers. Debra L. Hanks

Varieties refer to the various cultures that we teach.
Hybrids refer to those coming from drug or alcohol abuse families.
Specific needs identifying gives way to individualized teaching.
Covered with soil symbolizes the impoverished.
Prune away means uncovering bad experiences exposing the fresh new learning.
Temperature refers to holding your temper in face of resistance.
Blooming children refers to those reaching different levels of Bloom’s taxonomy.
Theories refer to those of the behaviorism, cognitive learning, and social learning etc...
Cultivate refers to teach.
Nutrients represent the strategies that we use to teach them.


Botanists were not the parents of the young flowers. They take what nature gives them. They expose children to various strategies and methods taught to them through on-the-job training and learned experiences. However, they can’t stay at the agricultural age; they are now moving into an age of communication for them and their little flowers. They use research-proven theories. Just as Siemens (2008, January 27) stated about curators, “they balance the freedom of the individual learner.” However, I felt that there was a lack of the “nature vs nurture” aspect in Siemens’ metaphor.


References

Siemens, G. (2008, January 27). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and designers.