Week 4: Digital literacy skills

In the present time when technology plays a great role in our lives, digital literacy seems to be crucial skills that we should have in order to survive and able to live in this competative environment. Then there are many questions arising. For example, what skills that each group of people should have, how instructional strategies should be, or what materials or resources should be used to address such digital learning skills. Here are my opinion trying to answer those problems.

First, to answer on the questions concerning the digital learning skills that should be nurtured today (in the early part of the 21st century), three groups of people are addressed: students in K-12 education, higher education, and those who are in corporate training.

Skills needed for k1-12 students are:
a. Basic computer skills e.g. OS, word processor, etc.
b. Browsing and scrolling through the Internet.
c. Basic communication via online environment including gaming e.g. Email, IM,

Skills needed for higher education:
a. sharing self-authored content and working on webpages such as blogs, social book marking, etc.
b. music and vedio streaming
c. WWW and network connection.

Skills needed for corporate training
a. Technical skills concerning electronic media and mobile device.
b. authoring tools and content creation.
c. System maintenance

Second, it is about the instructional strategies that might motivate learners and simultaneously address vital digital learning skills.
a. Interactive learning.
b. Integrate daily lifestyle with some kinds of digital device.

When ready with the teaching strategies, here are technology tools, resources, and materials that might be taken their advantages to address such digital learning skills.
a. Household media e.g. TV set with satellite, cable radio, video game console, personal computer, etc.
b. personal media e.g. PDA, cellphone, etc.
c. Public media e.g. community/local radio/TV programs.

The above ideas are just examples to address importance of digital literacy skills in the present society together with possible strategies. Each person needs different skills and ways of learning with different environments, therefore, you should find the most appropriate solution for individuals!

Week 3: Connectivism, social knowledge,

The topic today sounds scary “Connectivism”! Anyway, it is interesting, drawing theoratical concept into practice. The video presentation as well as the article on connectivism and connected knowledge

by George Siemens provoke the ideas of new learning model by human beings in the twenty-first century. Some scholars might call “connectivism” as a learning theory. For me, however, it is rather a communicative approach. If we know how to connect our thinking to other objects, that would enhance our learnability. Similarly, the network or connection of learners such as community of practice is compatible to the web or learning where learners can exercise their thoughts. As the expansion of this growing network proceeds as well as the advancement of digital world, acquiring knowledge of various domains become crucial. These social activities require some sort of communication. If she/he is able to connect their cognition to other people or artifacts, they are most likely to benefit from this knowledge-based society!

Another article which I feel particularly interested this week is written
by Nicholas Carr, titled “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/google”>
This story well reflects the human behavior in the real world of Internet. At least me, who was exactly one of persons have such habits. For example, I always lost my concentration when reading articles, distracted by Email, IM, Podcast, and so on. I sometimes think that I am lucky to be born in this digital era; when information is floating everywhere just a click. On the other hand, the luxury of having such technologies make me feel not as struggle as I should be. There is the old saying that anything we got easy, that will go quickly whereas the things we got from our great effort, they will stay with us for a very long time. this may be true compared between the knowledge we got so easily from the Google or wherever and the libraries where we have to try to search and dig as much information as we can. In addition, as sated in one of our readings this week by Brown,

, it is not the content which matter, the real learning occurs from the way how we get those content!

Despite indulgence of the Internet, I do not have any objection that it offers a great stuff for learning where we can never gain from class or formal education.
“reflection comes from being embedded in a community”. I think the best way for learning is to compromise both traditional method together with the new approach offered by technology, and I would love to see what will happen next to the next generation!

Week2: Course management 1.0 in a web 2.0

CMS has been used in education for a while ago. In 2005, I was first introduced to this system (although I’d been familiar with the online environment for many years). I was doing my master at that time, and that was the program held in three different countries. We used MS Sharepoint as the major tool for communication like sending Email, posting course materials, discussion forrum, and so forth. However, due to the early stage of the CMS development, its capacity were much limited compared to the current versions. Nonetheless, we found it was very useful to keep us in the same pace although we were in the different locations.

Last year when I moved to Indiana University, they even use CMS in study more than the schools I had just left. CMS is integrated into every class i.e. Oncourse and other different systems for certain course. For example, in the last semester, there was one session for final presentations. While we were presenting our projects, our classmates could send comments anonymously via CMS. I think it is very good channel of communication especially for the non oral learner like me!

Another advantage of CMS in my education is that for me, a slow thinking person, it allows learners to think more thoroughly of a certain subject and then response later via the assignment page or whatever. Besides, the hyperlinks appear on the handouts posted on the web can lead us to many relevant documents including external sources. These are only a small number of CMS advantages in learning. Undoubtedly, why CMS becomes popular in the field of education.

Regarding Tidbits this week, I picked up the first reading of Carnevale. Admited that I was also ones who used to ignore the University Email account since the name is so long and complicated login process compared to the others. If the IT division of universities has improved their products (like adding/linking to the social networking features, I believe that students would turn more interest to their University accounts.

week 1: Explosion of Online and Blended Learning

This is the my first class of this semester. Unfortunately, I had to skipped it and that is why I did fully benefit from the “blended learning” with the help of emerging technology!

Starting from reviewing previous talks related to the lessons through potcast, readings articles via Oncourse and web sites, and communicating with instructor through Email made me feel like I did not miss the class at all.

Such asynchronous learning can be done over the limitations of geographical distance and time, which cater the needs of learners; they can login whenever and wherever they are. In addition, for me, using various communication channels enhance my learning. For example, I might not have much confidence in sharing or express my ideas in class; hence, using Email or blogs can encourage learner to participate more with their learnings. almost everything has pros and cons, this “blended learning” is not an exception.

It is very obvious, particularly when using technology (esp. unexpected circumstances often occur), that we should not rely too much on such innovations. There is a case that the technologies do not work when we want to use them. On the other hand, learners might not be educated/trained enough to use such technologies up to their potentiality. Let’s take me as an example, I do not know how to access one potcast which requires authentication login; therefore, it is quite frustrated to proceed. Knowing that this silly problem can be solved, that needs other courage for communication, and here is a typical habit of Asian student!