Comments on: My Basic Toolbox http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/14/my-basic-toolbox/ Technology is neither the problem nor the solution. Wed, 7 Jan 2009 11:29:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Dean Groom http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/14/my-basic-toolbox/#comment-11153 Dean Groom Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:44:21 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=30#comment-11153 Powerpoint and it's desk bound friends Word, Excel and Publisher are the legacy of a decade of procrastination in the the ICT classroom. SlideRocket - easier and shareable - and there are more. In fact Adobe Air platform is changing the idea of online applications beyond anything we've seen before. Powerpoint is a linear tool, and often linked to linear teaching. Teacher writes questions on the board, kids Google the answers and knock out a presentation. Way too low level. Its all about creating discourse, engagement and authentic interest. Asking questions they can't Google or solving problems they can't Wikipedia. Instead, teach Google, teach Wikipedia. If you have to download or install it - search again, learning requires tools that allow ridiculously easy ways to create, share and collaborate - as reflective, individual learners, Elluminate, Connect Now, Flash Meeting etc SHOULD be in every teachers toolkit - its the best way of connecting to other teachers and building an effective personal learning network. If a teacher can read and send an email, then they can teach online. Its not the tools, its about rethinking how you undertake formative assessment and support students online - and often outside the classroom. Powerpoint and it’s desk bound friends Word, Excel and Publisher are the legacy of a decade of procrastination in the the ICT classroom.

SlideRocket - easier and shareable - and there are more. In fact Adobe Air platform is changing the idea of online applications beyond anything we’ve seen before.

Powerpoint is a linear tool, and often linked to linear teaching. Teacher writes questions on the board, kids Google the answers and knock out a presentation. Way too low level. Its all about creating discourse, engagement and authentic interest. Asking questions they can’t Google or solving problems they can’t Wikipedia. Instead, teach Google, teach Wikipedia.

If you have to download or install it - search again, learning requires tools that allow ridiculously easy ways to create, share and collaborate - as reflective, individual learners, Elluminate, Connect Now, Flash Meeting etc SHOULD be in every teachers toolkit - its the best way of connecting to other teachers and building an effective personal learning network.

If a teacher can read and send an email, then they can teach online. Its not the tools, its about rethinking how you undertake formative assessment and support students online - and often outside the classroom.

]]> By: Karen Adkins http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/14/my-basic-toolbox/#comment-11067 Karen Adkins Sat, 20 Sep 2008 23:22:46 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=30#comment-11067 I agree that powerpoint should not be used in Distance Education classes. It can be effective for in class presentations. Yet, just like Dr. Lowell has mentioned, if it is used incorrectly it can be awful then. Powerpoint should not be the focus of a presentation. I have seen teachers use powerpoint as an interactive tool with students. We used it once to teach about the Salem witchcraft trials. It was almost like one of those books where you could make choices and turn to a certain page to see the consequences of the choice. It was used to illustrate to the students why the situation was so hopeless for those on trial. Powerpoint was not used in the traditional sense in this case. I agree that powerpoint should not be used in Distance Education classes. It can be effective for in class presentations. Yet, just like Dr. Lowell has mentioned, if it is used incorrectly it can be awful then. Powerpoint should not be the focus of a presentation. I have seen teachers use powerpoint as an interactive tool with students. We used it once to teach about the Salem witchcraft trials. It was almost like one of those books where you could make choices and turn to a certain page to see the consequences of the choice. It was used to illustrate to the students why the situation was so hopeless for those on trial. Powerpoint was not used in the traditional sense in this case.

]]> By: Krista Kidwell http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/14/my-basic-toolbox/#comment-11024 Krista Kidwell Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:09:23 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=30#comment-11024 In teaching and in military settings we have called it "death by PowerPoint", I loathe it. I don't EVER use it in my teaching. I never will. I find little that is beneficial from it as the student or the teacher. There are so many other ways to get the information to the student. I think it is done most of the time because there is a mass number of students or soldiers and a lot of information that needs to be regurgitated to the students or soldiers. I think because I have spent hours upon hours looking at someone reading a PowerPoint to me that I have such ugly feelings about it. I have yet to have someone prove to me the benefit of having someone read a PowerPoint to me or worse than that have a hand out of EXACTLY what the PowerPoint says and then read it to me. I think I would rather have someone use a tranquilizer dart on me and put me out of my misery then make me sit through that. Of course this is just my opinion - :) In teaching and in military settings we have called it “death by PowerPoint”, I loathe it. I don’t EVER use it in my teaching. I never will. I find little that is beneficial from it as the student or the teacher. There are so many other ways to get the information to the student. I think it is done most of the time because there is a mass number of students or soldiers and a lot of information that needs to be regurgitated to the students or soldiers. I think because I have spent hours upon hours looking at someone reading a PowerPoint to me that I have such ugly feelings about it. I have yet to have someone prove to me the benefit of having someone read a PowerPoint to me or worse than that have a hand out of EXACTLY what the PowerPoint says and then read it to me. I think I would rather have someone use a tranquilizer dart on me and put me out of my misery then make me sit through that. Of course this is just my opinion - :)

]]> By: Kim Clevinger http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/14/my-basic-toolbox/#comment-11011 Kim Clevinger Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:27:24 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=30#comment-11011 I think that I didn't answer this question as detailed in the last post as I should have. I do feel as if your list is appropriate. However, I really like PowerPoint for notes and such. Like many of the others, I probably wouldn't take that out of my teaching toolbox. I think that I didn’t answer this question as detailed in the last post as I should have. I do feel as if your list is appropriate. However, I really like PowerPoint for notes and such. Like many of the others, I probably wouldn’t take that out of my teaching toolbox.

]]> By: Shellae Peters http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/14/my-basic-toolbox/#comment-11005 Shellae Peters Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:21:25 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=30#comment-11005 I see a lot of similarities between your toolbox and mine but I did not factor in bandwidth, server space, and web browser. I do not like the lecture-ware and I would love to do away with gradebooks but it is a handed down task and many times, a motivational tool. PPT, I would like to keep. I do think that it is widely overused and misused, but I like it for outlines, pictures, and basic review. I do not use it very often but I do think it enhances some of the lessons. Like with any thing else, it can become old and boring if used too often, but I would not just toss it completely. I see a lot of similarities between your toolbox and mine but I did not factor in bandwidth, server space, and web browser. I do not like the lecture-ware and I would love to do away with gradebooks but it is a handed down task and many times, a motivational tool. PPT, I would like to keep. I do think that it is widely overused and misused, but I like it for outlines, pictures, and basic review. I do not use it very often but I do think it enhances some of the lessons. Like with any thing else, it can become old and boring if used too often, but I would not just toss it completely.

]]> By: lowell http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/14/my-basic-toolbox/#comment-11001 lowell Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:58:14 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=30#comment-11001 The advantage of Firefox is that it's free, standards compliant, has a rich plugin toolset, and runs on any platform. Internet Explorer is not standards compliant, and the target of a multitude of harmful exploits. Opera is not free. Chrome lacks plugins for common functions Safari will not run on all platforms. While Apple rolled out a Windows version, it does not run on Linux as far as I know. If that's not the case, then I may have to revise my stance on this one. Yes, audio DOES provide a valuable component if used properly. For educational purposes, the majority of teachers use it because they don't understand how boring they are to listen to and are unaware of the bandwidth limitations on speech (about 100wpm) compared to text (in excess of 400 wpm for most people). Disclaimer: I produce audio - both my own novels and the works of others. After producing almost 40 hrs of finished audio, I have a fairly good idea of what it takes to make it compelling. The advantage of Firefox is that it’s free, standards compliant, has a rich plugin toolset, and runs on any platform.

Internet Explorer is not standards compliant, and the target of a multitude of harmful exploits.

Opera is not free.

Chrome lacks plugins for common functions

Safari will not run on all platforms. While Apple rolled out a Windows version, it does not run on Linux as far as I know. If that’s not the case, then I may have to revise my stance on this one.

Yes, audio DOES provide a valuable component if used properly. For educational purposes, the majority of teachers use it because they don’t understand how boring they are to listen to and are unaware of the bandwidth limitations on speech (about 100wpm) compared to text (in excess of 400 wpm for most people).

Disclaimer: I produce audio - both my own novels and the works of others. After producing almost 40 hrs of finished audio, I have a fairly good idea of what it takes to make it compelling.

]]> By: msujc http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/14/my-basic-toolbox/#comment-10999 msujc Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:40:21 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=30#comment-10999 Dr. Lowell, is there some reason that you say Firefox browser? Is there a major advantage over, Opera, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Safari, etc. Also as far as sound, in my content area of social studies, speaches are often better spoken if found by the original speaker or a good actor, rather than written. It provides a better setting and realism than just text. It is the same concept as a good movie, watch it without sound effects or background music and see how boring some hollywood hits can be. I do not think that just the voice of the teacher is effective, unless it is to meet accomodations for those students with vision problems. Dr. Lowell, is there some reason that you say Firefox browser? Is there a major advantage over, Opera, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Safari, etc. Also as far as sound, in my content area of social studies, speaches are often better spoken if found by the original speaker or a good actor, rather than written. It provides a better setting and realism than just text. It is the same concept as a good movie, watch it without sound effects or background music and see how boring some hollywood hits can be. I do not think that just the voice of the teacher is effective, unless it is to meet accomodations for those students with vision problems.

]]> By: Ronn Varney http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/14/my-basic-toolbox/#comment-10993 Ronn Varney Sun, 14 Sep 2008 03:11:29 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=30#comment-10993 I agree integrated notebooks should be removed, as students are always wondering about grades, rather than learning. As a student I also get caught up in this, but as a teacher I hate it. I do think that some form of feedback is necessary on projects, but not necessarily a letter grade. As far as adding things, I think this would be personal for the teacher depending on the class. The things included would definitely be a good "basic toolbox" to teach any online class. I agree integrated notebooks should be removed, as students are always wondering about grades, rather than learning. As a student I also get caught up in this, but as a teacher I hate it. I do think that some form of feedback is necessary on projects, but not necessarily a letter grade. As far as adding things, I think this would be personal for the teacher depending on the class. The things included would definitely be a good “basic toolbox” to teach any online class.

]]> By: Tim http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/14/my-basic-toolbox/#comment-10992 Tim Sun, 14 Sep 2008 02:24:15 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=30#comment-10992 Seems like a fair list, for you. I could see instances of each of them being used in my own classroom, even in a real non-distance ed kind of way. there would be a way to integrate them all, if you sat and thought about them enough. I wouldnt have survived my first year teaching were it not for my laptop, projector, and powerpoint-i was a "floater" and taught six classes in five different rooms, across three buildings on the campus. Technically, I didnt survive my first year, though. I got pink slipped without the opportunity to re-interview, so maybe I held on to those things too much. Seems like a fair list, for you. I could see instances of each of them being used in my own classroom, even in a real non-distance ed kind of way. there would be a way to integrate them all, if you sat and thought about them enough. I wouldnt have survived my first year teaching were it not for my laptop, projector, and powerpoint-i was a “floater” and taught six classes in five different rooms, across three buildings on the campus. Technically, I didnt survive my first year, though. I got pink slipped without the opportunity to re-interview, so maybe I held on to those things too much.

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