PAR-TAY! @ Scott's means 1 thing ......

It means we are closing yet another chapter of our MAIT’s tale by concluding yet another course in our journey towards our Masters. I applaud Scott for not once but twice opening his home to his classmates to enjoy everyone’s company but to also reflect everyone’s work on the video projection. And to step it up a notch he also invited out cohort’s, cohort, the Egg Harbor Township group, to also participate in the conclusion of this class. Kudos to you and I am looking forward to your hospitality once again.

Thanks Scott ……

Lots ‘O Theories

         Another class completed and two more theories to add to the arsenal of teaching styles. Tonight’s theories were Connectivism and Cognitive Load. Each presentation was thorough and really drove the point home of what each theory represented.

    We as teachers probably have been using most of the theories or concepts or applications without even realizing it. It’s now that we can put a name to it and also dive deeper into them knowing some of the little intricacies that weren’t in our cognitive domain, our thought process.

    And as goes the title to this weeks blog, in honor of the upcoming festivities of St. Patty’s Day.

It's almost showtime

Having a week in between presentations, makes me feel like we’re going first. Enjoyed the extra prep time but it also increases the anxiety factor by 10. All in all I think our group has really blossomed. Never meeting my virtual colleague before, Jessica Kowal, and my other classmate whom I have class with, Carolann Pfeiffer, but works in another school district, it’s been relatively painless using the Web tools available to us to collaborate on this project.

 We’ve been using Google Docs as a means for sharing presentation documents as well as outlines and timeframes. We have also shared on-line surveys and mined-mapping tools as well. I have used Skype before, but not to the extent that we have been using it as a means for our conference calling.  And we have been practicing and fine tuning our use of Wimba as our means for our virtual on-line presentation to the class. Barring any power outages or downed internet services, looking  forward to our group presenting Constructivism.

See you virtually on Monday!

Never paint yourself into a corner!

No matter what you’re doing in life, you should always leave options open and never paint yourself into a corner with no way out. This past week during class, we were thrown a few obstacles that where not foreseen or thought of. We as a group didn’t panic and found an ‘alternative’ learning experience and were able to continue to grow.

Always have a back-up plan – PLAN ‘B’ have you. For those of us who panic and find themselves in a corner, always thinking about that corner and how to circumvent that situation before it arrives adds years to your life, and just makes a better enjoyed moment.

GOOGLE

GOOGLE – When something works, well why fight it. I’m a big fan of Google because of what it is doing for the user. Yes they are a corporation out to make money, but the way they are going about it is for the good of the user(s) and the vision they have for a global product that works for the masses and not the ones with deep pockets. Most of all their products are free and with the collaboration end built into many of these products it makes sense to use a good, free environment.

When I heard we were using Google Sites for our new portfolio, I was happy to learn from instruction, to see the total depth that this application had but was not taught all the ins and outs of. I’ve used Sites before but after a half hour lesson really had a better grasp and feel for the use of it. Most of what I learned I either have self taught or researched on YouTube (another member of Google). It is almost a communal effort, a grass root type of company.

Go Google!!

Time to Regroup - Lock & Load

A new class/course, a new year, the holidays are over and the massive work load of Spring is amongst us. Well they say time flies when your having fun and busy with life. It was so nice having an extended break between the Fall class and now. But with that said I am ready, to lock and load as they say and regroup for the challenges that lie ahead with this current course and what ever the next class offering is.

We as a class met a whole other class via Wimba and I must say, the collaboration that has taken place and the eagerness to work together on a project without even seeing the other person is unreal. I am working in the Southern Cohort with Carolann  Pfeiffer and we teamed up with Jessica Kowal from the ?Egg Harbor Group? Miles away and with completely different backgrounds, we are off and running. Very exciting!