2007年12月6日星期四

Webquest

WebQuests are designed to: a) use learners' time well; b) focus on using information rather than looking for it, and c) "support learners' thinking at levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation”. (Dodge 1997).

The WebQuest embodies many of the things I value about the teaching and learning experience.

1. It is an active task. Students must work to understand new information and transform their knowledge of a given topic to solve a problem or answer a question. The task is also interactive, which is motivating for students.
2. It is meaningful. Many WebQuests integrate skills from various subject areas to create a "complete" learning experience, rather than disassociated sections of knowledge.
3. It is authentic. Good WebQuests challenge students to solve problems which are relevant to the world, and to their future lives outside of school.

Webquests can enhance the learning for students. With webquests, students do not need to work with the past data of a project after understanding the concepts from the texts. A real case will give students chance to gain the knowledge. In addition, because all the steps are tailored, students just simply need to follow all the steps, finish each part and achieve the goal, complete the assignment.

Discussion board

Discussion boards contain the components of online communication, information publishing, discussion, peer learning, communication, alternative formative for student participation. Students can use the discussion board anytime and anywhere as long as the internet is available. Therefore, discussion boards increase the debating and discussing chance inside the students. For those students who are shy or hesitate to ask question in the classroom can make use of discussion board to communicate, ask questions and search the answers. Generally speaking, discussion boards have the advantages in peer-to-peer interaction; share ideas; engage the participation of subject experts from around the world.

2007年12月5日星期三

Electronic Portfolio

“In the context of education and learning an ePortfolio is a portfolio based on electronic media and services. It consists of a personal digital record containing information such as personal profile and collection of achievements, information on which different services can be provided to the owner of the ePortfolio and the people and organizations to whom the owner has granted access.” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPortfolio Reference by: http://classes.uleth.ca/200703/educ4766ol/module7.htm
Electronic Portfolios provide information to students, parents, teachers, and members of the learning and employment community about what students have learned or what they are able to learn. I feel Electronic Portfolios are gaining recognition as a valuable tool for learners, instructors, and academic organizations because it could foster active learning, motivate students. Electronic Portfolio also could be as instruments of feedback and discussion on student performance. Future more, Electronic Portfolios also have other advantages like they can store multiple media and allow cross-referencing of student work; they are easy to upgrade and accessible.

Online Assessment

Online Assessment is a common method that uses computer system to question students. It is an information technology for any assessment-related activity. It can be used as informed progress and guide learning, and measured outcomes and success of the students, and because of this renovation of education, students tend to be more self-managed and active learning and participation. The advantages of online assessment include:
First, save teachers’ grading time and instructional time.
Second, it increased student engagement in the curriculums. Students would like to be more interested for the class if the get their test results immediately.
Third, it offers a flexible test environment. Students can write the test anytime as they wish during a specific time.

Online communication

Online communication is communication online using communication technologies. There are 3 main fields from the website: EBooks, webcast, and podcasting.

Webcast can describe as an audio or video broadcast that is conducted over the world wide wed. It is a media file distributed over the internet using streaming media technology. That is mean it allows you to conduct online conferences and provide opportunities to learn. You also can enjoy discussion and ask question through webcast; webcast allows one to many communication in real time, which is very efficient for online course.

EBooks are the electronic version of old books which allow you to read through your computer, PDA and cell phone. The most popular software for ebook is Adobe Reader. Generally, ebook can save you a lot of money from buying the printed books because ebooks always cost less than printed books; ebooks save paper, so it is good for the whole environment; it is very portability, all you need to do is just carrying a labtop or a PDA.

2007年12月4日星期二

Learning Objects

Learning object sometimes also called a content object or course object. It Is a piece of content that can be used as an element of learning experience. The learning object could be “any entity, digital, or digital, that may be used for learning, education or training” (Beck, Robert J., 2007). It range in size from anything such people, online video, blog, graphic, learning module, etc, as long as it can be use for educational purposes.

The learning objects can break learning modules down to smaller pieces. And it could be specified as 4 characteristics:
Manageably sized -- large enough to enable creating an activity-sized or larger learning experience by expending 10-20 hours of work

Reusable -- can be used to create other learning activities, either within a given content or domain area (“intra-contextual”) or in other content or domain areas (“inter-contextual”) Example: a web-based simulation showing how to do vector analysis might be reusable in several units of a Vector Analysis course (“intra-contextual”) as well as in units of engineering statics or physics courses (“inter-contextual”)

Accessible -- easy to locate and use. Project Synergy enhanced learning objects will be Web-accessible

Broad impact -- suitable for being used to create several enhanced learning objects or supporting multiple enhancements of a single learning object

I believe this is a new way for online learning, and it can bring the world to be more efficient and effective.