eLearn2Lead

Moved!

2005-05-18T19:36:00.000-07:00

Come visit my new blog at http://blog.elearn2lead.com/!

Coming Event: 5-17 webcast

2005-04-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

Please join me for an interactive webcast:
Writing Content and ICT Literacy Objectives

Log on to http://www.ictliteracy.info/ICT-Community.htm to register!
The event is offered at two times:
1:00 PM-2:00 PM and
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM GMT-05:00 Eastern (EST) DST

How can we articulate course goals and objectives to describe desired learning in both content and ICT literacy?

When it comes time to explain to others the purpose and process for teaching content knowledge together with technology, what can we say? How can we frame measurable and specific goals and objectives that encompass complex knowledge and skills?

In this webcast, we will work through and discuss practical examples. We will look at tools such as Bloom’s Taxonomy and subsequent revisions, and ICT literacy models that define tasks in various domains.

Bring your course goals and let’s transform them!

Asynchronous Tools for Communication, Learning and Collaboration

2005-04-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

Asynchronous is the term used to describe ways of interacting any time. This means the instructor and learners do not need to be online at the same time.

Advantages:
No scheduling
Flexible
Discussion organized by topic
Messages can be any length
Attachments possible
Responses are visible to all

Disadvantages:
Lacks spontaneity
“Low touch”

Use in online learning and collaboration: a few examples

> Post readings and discussion questions; ask participants to post responses and comments to each other;

> Post alternative points of view an ask participants to make a case for or against and support their claims with research or examples; or

> Conduct team or small group writing projects using blogs, wikis or other group access sites.

Free tools:

Forums
Nicenet (online classrooms) http://www.nicenet.org/
World Crossing http://www.worldcrossing.com/

Social Bookmarking (Share lists of favorites with your participants)
Read “A General Review: http://www.dlib.org/dlib/april05/hammond/04hammond.html
FURL http://www.furl.net/
Delicious http://del.icio.us/

Concept Maps and Shared Concept maps
Cmap http://cmap.ihmc.us/ /
ClaiMaker (http://claimaker.open.ac.uk/ /) is specifically
designed to construct and map arguments and debates.

Blogs:
Blogger (from Google): http://www.blogger.com/
Xanga: http://www.xanga.com/
DigitalDivide network: http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org/ (If your topic is relevant you can blog free. Read: "How to Create Your Own Blog," by Andy Carvin:
http://www.digitaldivide.net/articles/view.php?ArticleID=69)
TypePad: http://www.sixapart.com/typepad/ (Inexpensive options with no ads)

Collaborative web sites and other services:
Bloki http://www.bloki.com/
Web Collaborator http://www.webcollaborator.com/

Wikis:
Wikispaces: http://www.wikispaces.org/ @ wiki: http://atwiki.com/
Seedwiki: http://www.seedwiki.com/ (free and paid options)

Synchronous Tools for Communicating, Learning & Collaborating

2005-04-22T06:42:00.000-07:00

Synchronous is the term used to describe ways of communicating at the same time. This means the instructor and students are online together.

Advantages:
Immediate response
Instructor, guests or experts can make presentations or answer questions.

Disadvantages:
All must be online at the same time.
May require broadband, mics or other hardware.

Use in online learning and collaboration: a few examples
> Invite a guest speaker for a presentation ;
> Have a Q and A session to clarify ideas or assignments;
> Form teams and discuss expectations for projects; share reports from teams at conclusion of project.

Since free synchronous conferencing or webcast tools are typically harder to find and scheduling can be an issue, these live events can work well to launch or follow up on asynchronous discussions. For example, you could have a real-time session to get acquainted, introduce key concepts and answer questions. Use asynchronous tools for ongoing discussions or large or small group work. Or start with asynchronous team projects and use the synchronous meeting for reporting.

Chat tools are freely available and can be easily used to organize or plan team assignments, or for small group discussions.

Free tools:
Chat:
World Crossing http://www.worldcrossing.com/
ICQ http://web.icq.com/
Yahoo IM: http://messenger.yahoo.com/

Web conferencing:
A MUST READ! Robin Good's Official Guide to Web Conferencing and Live Presentation Tools http://www.masternewmedia.org/reports/webconferencing/guide/

Coming event: 4-18 to 4-22

2005-04-04T14:39:00.000-07:00

Online Learning & Collaboration: A Free Discussion Series on TechSoup.org

Please join me and Dan Bassill of the Tutor/Mentor Connection, Frances Long and Carole Cotton from Knowplace for an asynchronous discussion at the TechSoup community.

Themes for discussion include:

Day 1 (4-18) What does it mean to collaborate and learn online?

Day 2 (4-19) What are some free or inexpensive tools for teaching, training and building learning community?

Day 3 (4-20) How can we build learning community through meetings and conferences? We'll look at some best practice examples from the Tutor/Mentor Connection and KnowPlace.

Day 4 (4-21) Going from f2f to online learning...what does it take? We'll explore some factors to consider when teaching or training online.

Day 5 (4-22) Summary and resource sharing.

Let's conference online!

2005-01-05T13:57:00.000-08:00

I will be presenting at two online conferences, both scheduled for February. Come join me and lots of other interesting educators and practitioners to exchange ideas and learn from each other...without having to deal with airport security!

One is knowTIPS, Theory into Practice (TIPs. It is hosted by Knowplace (http://knowplace.ca), which is part of Capilano College in British Columbia. My session will be: "Let's Collaborate about Collaborative E-Learning!" Since this conference format includes a series of sessions with each presenter, I will present the Taxonomy for Collaborative E-Learning as a conceptual framework then invite participants to share and discuss ways they plan and facilitate team, peer or group learning activities in their online classes.

The second is the Illinois Online Conference for Teaching and Learning (http://www.ilonlineconf.org/). My session will be: "ICT <-> ICT: Information and Communications Technology Literacy through Interactive, Collaborative Team Learning." We will explore questions such as:
How are ICT literacy and collaborative e-learning related? Beyond individual proficiency at using computers, software and Internet connections, what competencies are needed to function in a globally connected society and economy? As online educators, how can we foster development of skills that will enable our learners to contribute to, participate in and benefit from the knowledge society?

My sessions at both conferences will include both synchronous and asynchronous discussions.

Continuing the Discussion Asynchronously

2004-12-21T08:08:00.000-08:00

One of the webcast discussions, "Let's Discuss Collaborative E-Learning!" is now available for viewing on the ICT Literacy Community., under the Program Materials tab. Post your comments or questions in the Discussions area. You can access and join the ICT Community by going to: http://www.ictliteracy.info/ICT-Community.htm.

Let's Discuss Collaborative E-Learning on the ICT Literacy Community

2004-12-05T15:04:00.000-08:00

Let's Discuss Collaborative E-Learning for Development of ICT Literacy Competencies

with Janet Salmons

Meeting in the Janet Salmons' Virtual Office in the Member Offices area of the ICT Literacy Community

http://www.ictliteracy.info/ICT-Community.htm to log in or join the ICT Community

December 14, at 10-11 AM Pacific Time

December 16, at 5-6 PM Pacific Time

Are you looking for ways to engage post-secondary learners in online group or team projects? Are you teaching communication and problem-solving skills through collaborative e-learning activities? Whether you are experienced or curious, come participate in this interactive webcast about collaborative e-learning.

We'll use the Taxonomy for Collaborative E-Learning as a conceptual framework for our discussion of ways collaborative e-learning activities can develop higher order ICT skills. (http://www.vision2lead.com/Taxonomy.pdf) We'll share ideas, examples and questions in the webcast, and continue the dialogue in the ICT Literacy Discussion Forum.

Collaborating on the World Wide Milieu

2004-12-03T15:06:00.000-08:00

Collaborative learning experiences can engage students within the online classroom learning community, beyond the classroom on the web, in an organization or the greater community…be it local or global.

In the online class: Learners to work collaboratively to complete comparative studies, peer review of papers and projects, or reflective summaries at the end of the class.

In organizations: Adult or employed online learners can collaborate on projects with others face-to-face, then come back to the class with new ideas about applying course concepts.

nOn the Web: Online practica, internships or service-learning allow students to gain broad experience and new expertise in areas that correspond to professional aspirations, or that mesh learning with service to a nonprofit/NGO that needs assistance. Reflective writing and discussion with other learners expands the opportunity for collaborative learning.

Collaborative E-Learning Commonplaces: Who, What, and Where?

2004-12-03T14:25:00.000-08:00

Instructors, learners, content and milieu are the who, what, and where of education. These are what Joseph Schwab described as four "commonplaces" of education. (Schwab, 1983)

Each "commonplace" has potential for collaboration. Let's start with milieu and subsequent posts will examine the other three.

Schwab, J. (1983). The practical 4: Something for curriculum professors to do. Curriculum inquiry, 13(3), 240-265.

Online conferences about online learning!

2004-12-02T16:51:00.000-08:00

February will be a busy time for online networking!

knowplace <http://knowplace.ca> is holding its first annual online
international conference: knowTIPS from
February 23 – 27, 2005

Illinois Online Conference for Teaching and Learning is scheduled for February 16-18, 2005.
http://www.ilonlineconf.org/

I'll see you there!

Visit Vision2Lead!

2004-11-20T08:29:00.000-08:00

eLearn2Lead is the area of Vision2Lead focused on elearning. Visit the Vision2Lead website for more elearning materials, resources and links, and background about our work in elearning.

A New Resource for Online Educators

2004-11-11T07:59:00.000-08:00

Innovate is a new online publication, a peer-reviewed journal about

online education. It is a publication with a twist: readers can easily

interact with the authors and each other. There is asynchronous

discussion in a forum that corresponds to each article. Innovate-Live

free webcasts offer an opportunity to synchronously interact with

the authors. Check it out! (http://www.innovateonline.info)

What is "collaborative e-learning"?

2004-11-06T09:08:00.000-08:00

The working definition I use for collaborative e-learning is:

Collaborative e-learning means mutual engagement of two or more learners in a coordinated effort to construct knowledge, negotiate meanings and/or solve problems using Internet and electronic communications.

"Mutual engagement" means all are participating in shared, reciprocal work.

"Two or more learners" means these are activities that engage pairs or groups of learners. Others may also be a part of the collaborative e-learning activity including the instructor or others involved in an applied or service-learning projects.

"Coordinated effort" means the project is purposeful and meshes with curricular goals.

"Construct knowledge, negotiate meanings and/or solve problems" means learning together in meaningful ways that use and develop higher order thinking skills.

"Internet and electronic communications" means learners use synchronous or asynchronous tools such as email, web conferencing, instant messaging, wikis or threaded discussion forums.

Welcome to eLearn2Lead!

2004-11-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

This blog is dedicated to sharing ideas about e-learning and development of 21 century competencies in communication and collaboration. I will share whatever intriguing questions, interesting resources and innovative approaches for collaborative e-learning I discover along the way.

eLearn2Lead is part of Vision2Lead, Inc. that focuses on e-learning. Visit my website, at www.vision2lead.com for more information.

Let's Discuss Collaborative E-Learning for Development of ICT Literacy Competencies

2004-11-04T09:25:00.000-08:00

November 10^th at 5 pm Pacific Time

Registration limited to 10 participants. (If demand is greater, we will schedule another session.)

Do you use online collaborative group or team projects with your post-secondary classes? Do you purposefully plan collaborative e-learning activities to foster development of online communication and problem-solving skills? If so, please join this small group discussion! We'll discuss the ways we are using collaborative e-learning to develop higher order ICT skills, and consider ways we can share our ideas and questions with the larger ICT Literacy community.

To register, join the ICT Literacy Community (it is free!) http://www.ictliteracy.info/ICT-Community.htm
Go to the Calendar and follow the registration link.