ecmp455

13 goes into 3?

Posted by Dean Shareski on in ecmp, socialnetworks 1 Comment

I’ve been teaching an undergrad class at the University of Regina each and every semester since the summer of 2007. Semester classes last 13 weeks. Last spring I taught it during intercession which lasted 6 weeks. That was real challenge. Beginning Monday, I’ll be teaching this course over 3 weeks. I’ve already resigned myself that this won’t be the same course. It can’t be. 13 doesn’t go into 3 very easily.
My major themes always include the following concepts:

  • Learning is social and connected
  • Learning is personal and self-directed
  • Learning is shared and transparent
  • Learning is rich in content and diversity

These concepts for the most part are not discovered and realized in one or two classes. They must be experienced. The first three concepts often take students several weeks before they start to understand them. You can have a look at my course and see how I’m planning to meet these objectives. The idea of learning being social and connected is the most challenging as the building of a learning community requires trust and time to develop. This is where you come in.

I’ve never really pushed twitter on my students but I’ll be asking them to give it … Read the rest

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

Posted by Dean Shareski on in ecmp, socialnetworks 4 Comments

As I wrap up another term teaching at the University of Regina, I’m once again grateful for the way a host of people, (known to some as a PLN) are so willing to support my students and me in our learning.

Earlier this semester I sent out a call for teachers and as usual, they responding wonderfully. I had each of my students working with great teachers around the globe on various projects and instructional practices. From what I’ve seen thus far it’s been a wonderful learning experience.

One of my goals in this class was to help my students gain a deeper understanding of connections and get to know other educators on a personal level. I asked a few of them to allow themselves to be interviewed by my students.

Beth Still, Lee Kolbert, Carolyn Foote, Michelle Bourgeois, Chris Harbeck, Jan Smith, Alan Levine, Jeff Utecht, Maria Knee, Diana Laufenberg, Allanah King, Clarence Fisher, Lisa Parisi, Rodd Lucier, Scott S. Floyd, Kathy Cassidy, Meredith Stewart, Silvia Tolisano, Chris Betcher, Chris Craft, Vicki Davis, Julie Lindsay, Brian Crosby

… Read the rest

Have Students, Will Outsource

Posted by Dean Shareski on in Classrooms, ecmp 13 Comments

Amber and Dani

I'll be teaching a new session of advanced computers and technology with pre-service teachers at the University of Regina from January to April. In previous introductory courses I've had my students become mentors for classrooms around this world. The chance for my students to connect with great teachers and becoming involved in classrooms in a variety of ways is often the most powerful learning they experience.

For the upcoming term I'd like to offer my students a chance to take that experience a little bit deeper. Instead of randomly posting to blogs or occasionally Skyping into classrooms, I'd like teachers to suggest a project, or teaching opportunity for my students to explore. 

The project might be a chance to teach a short series of lessons, build some tutorials, create some podcasts or videos. These are some suggestions but generally the idea would be for a group of my students, either pairs or threes would create or make something for you and your students. I"m open to other ideas but want my students to be involved in creating something of value using technology and working with/for a real classroom teacher.  Even if you have a thread of an idea but … Read the rest

Timeline of Productivity and Stupidity

Posted by Dean Shareski on in Classrooms, ecmp 4 Comments

The following took place on Wednesday, February 4th, 2009. All events are true.

24-time-effect

5:24 QIK recorded of me parking at the U of R. (stupid, but I was trying to figure out why the alert to twitter wasn’t working, I guess it worked)
6:25 Email from a student who said she was sick and wondered what I could do so she could participate. (Our online classes are held in Elluminate but since this was a f2f class I didn’t create a session for tonight)
6:28 Started a Ustream broadcast and sent her the link and my other student who is in Malaysia.(Productive. Didn’t plan to do this but I suppose a teachable moment)
6:30 Class begins. I demo ustream and qik to students and have the stay there to keep Chelsey and Eric company in the chat.
7:15 Join with Alec’s class and watch Ben Hazzard’s excellent presentation on SmartBoards.
8:05 Students explore Smartboards I move my computer over to one of the Boards, use the video feature in Elluminate to show the board and students to the 2 students viewing virtually. (productive)
8:55 Class ends.
9:12 Wait for Alec to finish with students. Stuck my nose in … Read the rest