Technology effecting our emotions
Technology effecting our emotions 
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I really believe this goes to show how much technology effects our emotions, so fast it is alarming!
Technology can help us organize so quickly, and so many eyes can get information at once, tremendous impact can be made.
Earth Hour: http://www8.earthhourus.org/
The Google background was black. I have to say, when things change that are so familiar to you it startles you! I have been sifting through the social art communities I am a member of online, and it seems others were as startled as I :
One comment I want to make before his quote is the deviant art group is not very mature, as I read the tone of most comments. I omitted his title as this particular title was very crude…
“scared the crap outta me. i thought i broke my browser or something.
anyway yeah. turn off your damn lights etc.”
There were over 30 comments to his, and unfortunately only one person out of 30 new about it, however no one posted the link to Earth Hour. What are these folks even getting out of this space they are blabbing away in? They seem very disconnected to what is happening in the world.
A piece of the pie
Burnt as I may be (I can’t even make a pizza pie!)
I am making significant progress on both my Moodle CMS, and the Instructional Design Paper. (A bit late, yes, yikes!) I have such a different perspective now from this point of view of the student. I had to burry myself into just this design process (IEEE), and my course, and pretend no one else was alive, I felt like an ostridge – But with my head stuck in the computer. (HA!)
My biggest concern is my learner’s level of computer competency. This will drive the pace of the class, ultimately. I am ready and willing to be agile and flexible, and allow the students computer literacy to keep the pace of the class.
Concerns and thoughts in this process of designing the materials are…. how broad to be, how much content – should be understood, or absorbed, given?
Meaghan and I were chatting the other day about how incredible blogs are, I am adding it to my course structure, but how much technology can they handle?
I feel as though I am over conscious of time on the computer, as my work is ALL on the computer, my job, my school, and some of my art, all of my communication. There are points where I am so overloaded with technology I can’t think anymore!
I understand I can re-visit and re-structure the class if need be, but what is realistic?
I joined a social learning art space called: Art Education 2.0, Using New Technology in Art Classrooms. I have joined Facebook, and Deviant Art, and others for training in developing VT Art Trails. The Art Education site is really exciting and lively, I have posted the videos I created in my Multimedia class, and I have received excellent comments on them, quite helpful. I am looking forward to putting out there my Capstone. The creator of the site himself, Craig Roland has added me already as a “friend” I am excited to talk with him on how he runs this space. This is getting exciting!!!!
Leadership and Teaching
I have been revisiting my Change Management Plan I created for that class two trimesters ago with Catherine Seo. I have updated my MCGC page, and will be adding more, you can see the plan there and the power point I created for my presentation. All my classes are beginning to overlap each other and I see change management issues that need to be addressed in all kinds of systems and processes, and processes that need change management plans! They are so very connected to people and how we learn and teach and evolve.
The below is an image I created for my change management plan, and power point:
The invisible pen
I just finished a wonderful discussion with Miss Meaghan Meachem, a MCGC graduate, who helped me asses and develop my course structure for the ped final, and my Moodle site. I have been using an invisible pen – as my friend Josh said – you’ve been working on this for weeks! I know I have, and yes, I have felt as though I’ve been writing a tome with an invisible pen! Meaghan put it lightly: Stop over thinking this! you are being to broad – narrow it way down and simplify your course. I spent a half hour or so talking out my thoughts with Meaghan on my class and its structure and objectives, I feel excited and much more on track now!
Collaboration is key, and I am a talk to think learner. I work best when I engage in verbal conversations, to “work out” my thoughts.
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I had an interview yesterday with the executive Director of Manchester and the mountains regional chamber of commerce. They are looking for part time work, and we were meeting to discuss a possible opportunity. After much thought about our meeting, which was very positive – The director fairly clearly explained the job, and that he really has no understanding of technology, and they really need someone like myself to help them get on track. It is truly amazing to me, to think that someone in a position of Ex Director of a Chamber of Commerce that he doesn’t understand: Technology IS the future. He made it clear that he struggles with technology, and has a limited knowledge and competency. Why does not he realize that technology IS the future, and that he needs to get his knowledge and understanding of technology up to speed because we live in a culture that is completely immersed with it, and to succeed and contribute to the community technology IS the answer!
He was so focused on this one little part: creating this newsletter. I don’t think he sees the big picture. He’s never heard of Open Source and the possibilities that are on the plate before him…they could grow the Chamber to where it should already be growing to…
So my conversation with him veered towards re-designing their processes, (here we go again process process process) to streamline them to align with their goals which are to serve the community.
He was essentially sweeping all the ideas under the rug thinking that they simply could not afford the cost of this new re-structure with technology. I see the opportunity like a golden egg! The most powerful and efficient way to inform the community, and streamline the business is to use technology.
Teaching visual learning in primarily text-based learning environments
The most frustrating and embarrassing for me was our last class session, when, as usual Elaine asks us: What was your biggest Ahh Ha moment , and what was your most confusing? I ponder the questions and respond by saying: most confusing is setting goals and objectives before having taught the course. The Ahh Ha: How vital images and multimedia are to instruction, and the question: what it means to be literate in a culture saturated with images. when it came to explaining myself regarding the latter, I was at a loss for words. I knew the answer but I could not explain it for the life of me! Wow what an embarrassing moment. So here is a shot at explaining it:
VISUAL AND MULTIPLE REPRESENTATION IN LEARNING MATERIALS: AN ISSUE OF LITERACY
Michael Sankey University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Aristotle once stated that, ‘without image, thinking is impossible’ (Aristotle 19). Felder and Soloman (2001) further suggest that most people are visual learners, and that if sufficient visual content were included in learning materials students would retain more information.
Kellner (2000) believes that literacies are socially constructed by educational and cultural practices and that they evolve and shift in response to social and cultural change, he writes:
‘…one could argue that in an era of technological revolution and new technologies we need to develop new forms of media literacy, computer literacy, and multimedia literacies that I and others call by the covering concept of “multiliteracies” or “multiple literacies”. New technologies and cultural forms require new skills and competencies and if education is to be relevant to the problems and challenges of contemporary life it must expand the concept of literacy and develop new curricula and pedagogies’ (p. 249).
If maximum benefit is to be extracted from information presented by modern communication technologies, as Kellner has suggested, both in terms of engagement and learning, a futures oriented approach must be adopted. Such an approach will prepare students to ‘read’ the world and communicate through multiple modes of communication and prepare them to function in our increasingly technological society (O’Rourke 2002).
Learners use a combination of Visual / Kinesthetic / Aural. And when multiple sensory channels are involved learning can become more effective. (Kearnsley 2000) And both memory and recall are improved. Multimedia will allow us to more fully cater for the multiliterate learner.
Offer a choice for the learner. Cognitive constraints: Dual Coding Theory, and Cognitive Load Theory.
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A FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION OF “TEACHING PRESENCE” IN THE SUNY LEARNING NETWORK
Peter J. Shea, Alexandra M. Pickett, and William E. Pelz
I found this paper informative regarding distance learning. SUNY has designed a learning network called “teaching presence” I felt SUNY was a good model to look at because of their experience and success in distance education. * Create and sustain a cognitive presence online through Chickering and Gamson: 7 principles of good practice, and Anderson and Colleagues framework to measure faculty development, effective pedagogy, and stimulate satisfaction and learning.
Great resources – Thank you
Putting the Pieces Together: Integrating Technology with Marzano’s Instructional Strategies
Presented by Sherri Miller, ITRT, Gloucester County Public Schools
Virginia Society for Technology in Education conference presentation
February 24-26, 2008
Nine strategies that have a high probability of enhancing student achievement…
there are many examples and templates that support technology integration.
Similarities & Differences
Summarizing & Note-Taking
Effort & Recognition
Homework & Practice
Non-Linguistics Representations
Cooperative Learning
Objectives & Feedback
Hypotheses
Questions, Cues, & Adv. Organizers
Also: From University of Idaho
http://www.uidaho.edu/eo/dist3.html
DISTANCE EDUCATION AT A GLANCE
GUIDE 3: Instructional Development for Distance Education
This development process is now seriously set in my brain! I have now reviewed so many processes, and have a good understanding of these steps that vary with each model, but are generally the same basic framework.
Needs Assessment: A Systematic Approach for Successful Distance Education
Robert G. Stewart, Darcey M. Cuffman http://www.mtsu.edu/%7Eitconf/proceed98/rstewart.html
I found this conclusion well stated, and enforces that a systematic approach is so very essential to success:
“Moore and Kearsley (1996) conclude that “there cannot be within any unit, institution, or the nation at large, or even in a global network, a viable distance education program in the future that is not in some way integrated into a total system” (p. 245). Likewise productive needs assessments are dependent upon an systematic approach. The integration of needs assessment as part of a total distance education system should benefit all stakeholders (e.g., faculty, administrators, students).”
I have practically been a resident at ROI Rubric for online instruction. These are so incredibly helpful for me to get this first run of instruction going ….
I want to just keep our Ped2 class going at this point, I feel like I am just getting into this!
I am a little worried as I know I am behind in my final project. I really should have gone through three revisions of it by this point, but I am very nervous about it all, mostly because it is new, and also the multiple layers of understanding and being both teacher and student. I am confident I will have a successful outcome, but it is so daunting….The sample projects from Karen Case and Katie O’Connell are a great guide, and the fun part is that I know them from class….The first trimester I started at MCGC, I only took two classes, L&E and Planning for Change which is where I met Katie and Karen.
Steady on…. whew – breathe ….
Current Practices
Current Practices
question from: Elaine Garofoli 12 March 2008
What kind of teaching and learning activities are you planning to use in your final project, and what questions do you have about these activities?
Creating a Portfilio Online:
We will explore different ways of displaying your work online; to create an Online Portfolio that represents you as an artist.
Learn how to and create an active and lively space for dialogue and creativity using technology.
Where should I have the students create the portfolio? In A Moodle forum space? Create an actual say, WordPress blog and create a portfolio there? A free Google website? Buy their own domain name? A wiki?
Working with digital images:
We will explore open source image manipulation programs like GIMP, and touch on Photoshop, and how to manipulate images for the web.
What should the students produce, or create? An online book? A blog? A Wiki? What activities will prove to me they understand and manipulate images?
Conference at SIT, more process… and Theory U.
http://public.sit.edu/peopleplantspossibilities/
I attended this conference today at SIT / World Learning: on Social and Ecological Renewal. A friend of mine is a graduate of SIT and was one of the speakers: Josh Nelson: Closing the Carbon Loop. Very informative and interesting, highlighting organic composting: one of sustainability’s best weapons, building community, healthier foods, and agriculture in VT. The keynote speaker: Steven Chase began with a great statement:
“You have to start somewhere! You can’t wait until your ready”
[Oh lord, I thought, he is speaking to me!!!]
Steve was not holding my interest so I worked on my IEEE design while the lecture was going on, there were 50-75 people attending, so I wasn’t too obvious about it. Something about being around academics that helps one think.
There were many other great speakers as well the one other talk I attended was quite an interesting discussion from Tom Grasso, who involved the audience (20 of us) first by telling who we were, and why we were attending. I was happy to see him engage with us, for us not to just be spectators, to begin a very human conversation about business, and compassion, and engaging people on a human level. He spoke of being a part of designing the future. He also spoke about the Theory U, and letting go of your perspective, and then you have an open mind, open heart, open will. I have investigated this Theory U just a bit, seeing as I have no spare time to do so – and hope to take a look further for my capstone…
I did find it quite interesting. It is a little bit far out, I would say it ties in closely with values and how you go about doing things, but there is an intuitive nature I associate with, and possibly a relation to my interest in Yoga, which has many similarities, like stillness, being open, meditation, responding intuitively to situations, etc. This was of particular interest:
http://www.presencing.com/ArtEmbodied.html
this was recommended to me by Tom Grasso :
http://www.garrisoninstitute.org/programs.php?type=contemplation_education
Now I must get back to work on my IEEE design!
“The clarity of observation” (We’re on a roll)
I had a web design meeting with a long time client of mine, and artist, friend, Noel Hoffmann. She is a portrait painter specializing in dogs, as well as training and showing her own dog…this was a quote on her old home page:
“Dog portraiture became widely popular in England during the later part of the nineteenth century largely due to the patronage of Queen Victoria. She commissioned many portraits from the great dog painters of her time, including Edwin Landseer, Gourlay Steell, Burton Barber and my personal favorite, Maud Earl. Not only were these painters wonderful artists, they were all involved with dogs, perhaps as sporting partners in the field, participants in the show ring, or simply as companions at home. Their passion for animals gave them the clarity of observation that is essential to all great portrait painters.
It is in this tradition that I paint dogs.”
With the help of amazing artists like Noel my Capstone: VT Art Trails, will succeed. Noel is already involved, as she has spurred many good ideas…. this is true creativity***
I simply asked her, [which I now need to document and ask the same two questions to all artists:]
1. What would you use on this site?
2. How do you see yourself involved?
Her first response was that she would be interested in resources: where to get materials, and she was specifically interested in artists’ process of art, how they used their medium.
(See Elaine everything IS a process ☺) But also in the process department, to demystify the business of Art. It really is a mystery to most of us who had a traditional art education, nowhere are you guided towards the business of art. VT Art Trail will take you there! Noel also brought up that artists want to be protected, or feel a sense of security. This is a very good point and I will need to keep this clearly in mind as we design. As we all know, artists, and humans – in general can be needy! So how to create a space that squishes that needy rhetoric.
Noel has agreed to do a Discussion on: ” The limitations of Mediums” Noel works in an untraditional style using Acrylics and Pastels
Noel would look for the following on VT Art Trails:
1. How to get an image to digital / Scanning
2. Marketing / Web Design / Advertising / Postcards etc.
3. Gallery / How to locate / Need to know
4. Framing / Resources / Presenting Art, how to show your particular art so it generates income.
Lastly she suggested interviews, and We both considered Steven Shwaub (sp?). who created Life=Art, and would be a valuable person to speak with concerning collaboration and online forums.
Noel and I also spoke of John Conte, who is a MCGC graduate, (ching ching MCGC) who I will certainly be interviewing and getting advice on my capstone. I think hi thought will prove valuable, and hopefully I can pitch it to him, and he will want to be involved because it sounds so good!!!
Kristen’s Sun Blog
Kristen’s Sun Blog
This is reference to My Educational Design I & II Blog
