eLearning Technology: Do Learning Professionals Make the Worst Learners?

eLearning Technology: Do Learning Professionals Make the Worst Learners?

To the End

We are now reaching the end of the semester, I have not maintained this blog with the due diligence that is necessary for a coherent set of postings. I have found that when I am "forced" to write something that I am not really into I usually do not do well. (A problem all my life.) It is one thing to write a paper, but blogs bother me. I don't like writing off the top of my head without constant rewrites and this really isn't the place to constently change what is written. I am wondering if I will continue using blogs in the future, even though I will be starting my Ph.D. studies in January.

To all in the class: I've had a great time and learned quite a lot from all of you. Can't wait until next semester to continue the enjoyment. To Joanne, thanks for a great class.

Allan

Violence in Video Games

Although most people will not classify Video Games as online learning, I do! Anything that teachs all people something is in my mind classified as online, CBT, learning. Well it has been going on for a long, long time. The Lone Ranger of years ago on radio taught that "Good" triumphs of "Evil." On TV it was Superman, the Lone Ranger, Tom Mix, Batman, even "The Terminator" portays "Good" over "Evil." But the computer mavens of today can find nothing "Good" but all "Evil" rules.
"Grand Theft Auto" and its ilk demonstrates that "Evil" is better than "Good." Every game on the street shows that to be a criminal is better than being the good guy. Being the terrorist is better than the "Good" "Honest" people of the world.

Now TV is portraying the video game. As explained on the Slashdot Blog states that the TV series "CSI" is getting into the act. Although the outcome is that the "good" guys win it will still show that the "Bad" may win out it smart enough.

Enough is enough when will the programmers begin to realize that "Bad" is BAD, and that they can not make a good apple pie out of rotten apples.

The Need for Online Collaboration

I find that most students do not participate in collaborative projects with the same effort as required in a f2f class. The procrastination of collaborative users is such that it can get done tomorrow.

Although the collaborative learning process does help students to achieve levels of knowledge based on the shared goals of the other users. Taking into consideration the separation of time and distance to all users, and their instructors and the dicussion based nature or these programs the collaborative environment is an asset in the learning process. To properly function in a collaborative environment students must develop the a process of sharing their beliefs and goals. They must also develop the need of urgency when working in a collaborative project. Responses should be completed quickly and as acurately as possible.

Learners engaging in the collaborative process tend to build a firmer foundation of learning than in a non-collaborative course. Collaboration tends to increase the students self-reflection on the topic or course being discussed.

Video on your cell phone or Ipod

Forget about V-Blogs, IM's or even txt messages. We now have another way to stay in touch if that is what you call it. This is worse than when SONY came out with the walkman. There were plenty on accidents because people didn't hear the horns blowing or people talking to them. Then came the txt message, people can do without it whether they are on a date or having dinner.

Saturday night I went to an honoree dinner and the daughter of the honoree couldn't put the phone down. She didn't even hear her name mentioned by the parents in the acceptance speech.

Now with the video on the cell phone or Ipod, who knows who will get killed because they are more interested in watching the video than doing what they are supposed to do. I foresee many accidents and finally deaths because of this technology.

Year ago they showed the future of computing with people walking down the street wearing specialized glasses that act as screen for their computer. Thank G-d that never materialized

Live a day without your cell phone, PDA, computer, or walkman, you might see the sun, feel the drizzle or even learn to talk to somebody.

You will really enjoy the experience.

Allan

WebCt and Blackboard

Another one bites the dust. How will this affect the open-source LMS/CMS out there.
How will this affect the BlackBoard users that have integrated other VOIP systems. Will BlackBoard still support those systems or force those clients to swithc to WebCt?

Who is buying who? And will this be a better solution? In the long run I believe that online learning will be better off. Not saying that the BlackBoard/WebCt merger will eliminate all the competition. It will only enhance the Open Source products such as Moodle to continue to grow and will eventually give BlacBoard/WebCt a run to the money.

Small pieces loosely joined

Analyzing the difference between tightly joined and loosely joined pieces while teaching a class. I find that even with a strict and defined direction governed by lesson plans, I find that I am always deviating from the rigidness of that plan.

I find that students govern where we go during the class. More often than not someone will ask a question about the subject at hand and inorder to answer that question I must wander into territory that I have not planned for.

Even if the content of the class is set and handed out before class, we do find ourselves in that wonderful world not planned for. Usually by the end of class we have completed the topic of the day and all those loose pieces are now joined tightly and we are ready for the next class.