Lesson 4 Instructor’s Notes

I hope you had positive learning experiences in Lesson 3.  It is the most important lesson in our class because it introduced us the key theory, pedagogy, and analysis, such as Connectivism, ONLE, and Social Network Analysis (SNA) etc.  With good understanding on these topics, it will help you to prepare the upcoming lessons.  I encourage you to go back to re-read the readings or search more readings to help you to understand these theory, pedagogy, and concepts. Here are a few my reflections to share with you to improve your upcoming performances.  ETC655 has the highest course number in all ETC courses. This means I expect your high quality performances, active and interactive participations in our course community.

 

Here are my reflections on Lesson 3 discussion topics to share with you.

 

L3-KEY-1-Strategies: Instructor's Reflection

This discussion topic is related to our Assignment 2.  I hope you have better understanding on ONLE instructional strategies and know how it relates to OL instructional strategies.

 

In online learning or networking learning, we manage four most fundamental components: Content, Delivery Technology, Instructional Strategies, and Assessment.

Often we are not unclear with Delivery technology and instructional strategies.  Delivery technology refers to tools, devices, and applications, while are the "how" we integrate delivery technology.

 

Frequently, educators technology is just a tool. In a way, it is true, so it leaves "instructional strategies" as the key components in technology integration.

It is critical for us know a wide range of ONLE and OL instructional strategies. We all have the access to technology, but effective instructional strategies would make our instructions more engaging, and interactive.

In other words, when we design any online or network instructions, we need pay more attention to instructional strategies.

 

L3-KEY-2-OERs-Instructor Reflection: Expand Understanding

It is great to see many of us have the interest in OER which is related Open Education.  If you would like to learn more about OER. Here are some suggested readings to enrich your knowledge in OER and Open Education.

 

Weller, Martin-2014-Book-Battle for Open.

 

Tait, A., & O'Rourke, J. (2014). Internationalization and concepts of social justice: What Is to be done? In Online Distance Education: Towards a Research Agenda (Zawacki-Richter, Olaf and Anderson, Terry. eds., pp. 39–70). Athabasca, Canada: Athabasca University Press. Retrieved from http://www.aupress.ca/books/120233/ebook/01_Zawacki-Richter_Anderson_2014-Online_Distance_Education.pdf

 

L3-KEY-3-Evernote-Instructor's Reflection: Go Mobile

Thanks for sharing your great ideas with us on Evernote.  Personally, I use Evernote almost every day for personal and professional purposes on mobile devices, iPhone and iPad in additional to my computer. Here are some mobile Evernote ideas to share with you: http://www.elearninglearning.com/evernote/integrate/mobile/   

 

It is no surprise that many of us foresee the potentials of Evernote. I would like to share one of previous ETC655 network training session in Evernote.  The group, in fact, trained us to use Evernote as more like LMS or PLE platform.  What a creative idea!!

Here is the recording.  In fact, the session was conducted in a very engaging way as well.

 

Don't miss!

 

ETC655 Network Training Session: Evernote (Spring 2014)

Starts 2:02:20

 

Evernote Web Clipper is an effective and efficient tool.  I use it personally for my own formal, non-formal, and informal learning regularly.  Regardless how we use it, one important concept that I like us to understand is "Tool Network."

 

When thinking about networks, we focus on people networks and resource networks, and overlook our own tool networks.  

 

I encourage you to think what your tool networks are and look alike.  Do you integrate them separately and individually?  How can you integrate them connectively to build your "networks?"

 

 

L2-KEY-4-Diigo: Instructor's Reflection

It is great to see that many of you shared your creative thoughts and logical analyses with us on Diigo.

 

Diigo is categorized as a social annotation and social bookmarking tool.  Therefore, it works well in these two features.  How about using Diigo as a tool other than bookmarking and annotation tool?

 

Here is an example that we did in ETC655 in 16-week format.

 

We used an online article as the reading.  The students commented on the online article as a web page and/or on specific texts/phrases/paragraph.  We turned each comment into a new thread.  In other words, anyone could turn the comment into a discussion thread on any specific part of article.  

 

Overall, the students' reaction to this integration was that their online discussion became more context specific and more meaningful.  

 

I encourage you to challenge yourself with any "creative" ideas when we examine any online technology.

 

L3-KEY-5-Diagram: Instructor's Reflections

Thanks for many of your responses to this question. PLE diagram is an unique way to help us to understand our own PLE.  Regardless which types of diagram that you drew, did you see any categories of applied tools emerged?  What are they?  Do they cover your PLE comprehensively?  Any categories do you think you should have? Visual diagram is a great way to help us to organize, manage, and updating our PLE. Our PLE seems to focus on network tools.  Do you see your PLE cover "tool networks," "people networks," and "resources networks?"  If not, shouldn't we modify/update our PLE?  If yes, how people networks and resource network relate to tool networks? Does your PLE include non-digital components?  If not, do you think non-digital components may shift your PLE to different formation?