Introducing Vyew Training Presentation

March 31, 2011

7:15 pm - 8:15 pm

 Elluminate

Michelle

Lesson 4 Reflection - global thinking

Well, after a whirlwind of getting together collaboratively, connectively with the group over the last few weeks in numerous meetings, it seems this last week is a little quiet as Ruth enjoys a much needed repose and we all are concentrating on our unit proposals, individual tasks. I find that I miss my group and keep scanning email sites for messages. We work together so well, and I know we are going to have to get together for one big push to get our Elluminate presentation polished. We have a good handle on it with some work in Vyew, narration being put together, and exploration of the Elluminate site. It is good to work ahead, that way bugs can be worked out. Michelle had a good experience with the tech help at NAU and suggested that I give them a call, as I was having difficulty with Java and getting on to some of the sites we were working on. I gave them a call last week and the young gentleman was so very helpful. When we get together again to work on our training lesson, I will have a chance to see if the "bugs" really did get worked out. Michelle stayed on top of things when there was concern about the link to the flyer for the Elluminate presentation not opening. It's all good to go now. Thanks, Michelle!

I think back to how things must have been for Missy Anna (Sir) when she was invited to teach some of the King of Siam's children. Until she became their instructor, the children viewed the world as though Siam was very big and influencial while the rest of the world was so very small. Their world view was so limited. Their new instructor brought them understanding, respect, and a new world view which expanded their knowledge and insight on a new global level.

These days global learning can take on so many aspects and take us so many places. We can go into virtual worlds of the human body, museums, space, and other explorations. We can communicate with others in our community, our classes, our state, country, and across the globe. In the future, we may even communicate with others who choose to live in other "spaces." These may be parts of our solar system, or even in tiny remote technologically enhanced places. I appreciate all this "connectivism" and realize that the PLE I am developing is so minute and tiny in perspective with this broader world, but in no means insignificant. Sharing and collaborating have taken on new meaning to me while working in my group in ETC 647. We take it very seriously to enhance each other's learning and experiences. We care about each other though we have never met formally nor in person. However, we feel that we know each other and that future endeavors and collaboration past this class are in order. It is an exciting time for me and I appreciate all that I am learning. Though, so overwhelmed initially, I am gaining new confidence. I can connect in this appreciation over time and have a fair understanding of how the excitement in new learning must have felt like to Anna's new students in Siam such a long time ago. My world, my learning, and my collaborative connections are so definitely expanding.

Teri

Lesson 3 Reflections

Lesson 3 has been interesting as I went into it knowing nothing at all about network hardware (give or take what I remember from my CIS 100 course years ago). I understand much more than I did, and came out of the lesson with a great deal of appreciation for the staff and technicians that keep the network connections running. I also learned a great deal about how the technicians view distance learning and faculty use of the hardware. There is a "software" skill in learning how to work cooperatively with technicians, as with any group of people, you have to understand things from their perspective and respect their input.

Bringing home the lesson on how fragile the hardware is, I had a little accident with my own personal computer. Nothing a little drying out didn't take care of, but everything I had been working on was lost. Fortunately, I have another computer linked to my wireless and was able to stay "networked," but it was awkward. A person gets a feel for the hardware they use most often, and using that equipment (knowing it's every little quirk and foible) becomes almost automatic. Moving over to another machine, even though it once was my primary computer, was almost like learning a new machine all over. The keyboard is slightly different making typing arduous because of hitting the keys at the wrong angle or having to stop and look for where a key is placed, the screen doesn't look "right" because of my familiarity with a smaller screen, plus it is an old laptop with a dead battery that has to be plugged in so I lost my mobility. All petty little complaints, but frustrating, and it made me realize that the software isn't just the programs that are downloaded onto the hardware, the software is also the users--and that the hardware is part of a personal network, either facilitating networked exchanges, or hindering them.

My group has been very patient with me, as I scrambled to re-write my part of our Content Development assignment around a hectic work week, and am late posting my Blog entry, and I really appreciate it :-) Thanks.

Lesson 3 Reflection

These last two weeks have been very stimulating for our group.

When we first reviewed the tasks at hand, we knew it was important for us to keep focused, to not become lost in the amount of learning about to take place.

We assumed the responsibility with great dedication and met at least twice a week for three hour work sessions in Vista Chat, Google Docs, and  Skype. 

Lesson 3

It was interesting to me to see our group responding as moderators and becoming immersed in the topics of this discussion. We communicated about posting responses, or the lack of, by email. 
It is certain as moderators we needed to be models of interactive postings.

There were many things learned from lesson. We all have little experience of networking knowledge and all discussion from our peers was very insightful. Ruth, Teri, and I  explored the use of new technology and developed a beginning plan of action for our presentation using Vyew and Prezi. I enjoyed having the opportunity to use my creativity designing the flyer. The constructive criticism was welcomed and I believe a professional product was developed. 


We also were introduced to VoiceThread and the potential it has to offer for online collaborative learning. 

I am awed at how genuine effort in our collaborative 

venture as a team is the essence of our learning experience!

Our process in Content Development seems to be 

approached with more confidence after completing 

Assignment 4 in a timely manner. We share resources 

and have no problem asking for help from each other. 

.......Following our Team Code of Ethics

Learning a little more about each other is Team 3s first item 

of each meeting agenda.

This is creating a

because...

We compliment each other in our process of learning....

We admit that we are all 50 something.....very unique....

We intend to network beyond this online classroom.....

Lesson 3 Reflection - Whew!

Whew!

We sure have been working diligently over these last two weeks. It has been very enlightening to work as moderators over the discussion area. Although we have been sharing, I think we are learning more from all the contributions and animated responses of our classmates. We started last session to work on our Network Structures and Policies paper. We are glad that we did. Ruth conducted multiple interviews and also gathered a lot of important information for us about Northern Pioneer College. We found that NPC was indeed a pioneer in technology as from the onstart they had offered distance education.

My team worked so very well together in constructing our Network Structures and Policies paper. We divided the work and gathered together in Skype and google docs to complete the final text. I enjoyed communicating with Ruth and Michelle in Skype and to hear their voices. It was my first opportunity to use Skype and I found it very easy. I look forward to exploring other Web tools and resources with them.

Michelle developed a beautiful flyer for us in regard to the presentation we will lead at the end of March in Elluminate. We explored Vyew and met in a meeting room, wrote on the main text area and in the chat area. We also drew and wrote freehand. We are looking forward to doing our presentation on Vyew using the presentation tool, Prezi, which Ruth has used before.

Although, we have to work around everyone's hectic schedules, it seems we have no problem meeting multiple times a week. We primarily use Vista chat and chat in google docs. Our group has done a great job of sharing resources, making inquiries, and keeping each other informed. We do this primarily in Vista email for ETC 647, the group space area, gmail, and the group blog site.

As we work on our Content and Development Page, we find that it works well to include material from both the discussions and from additional resources that we have found and that were provided for the lesson readings.

One of the main things that I have taken away from this lesson is that although there are times that the process may take us on a bumpy road, there are some beautiful sights along the way and alot of great things to learn. I feel much more confident in what I know about technology hard and soft structures and the using of various Web 2 tools. I look forward to using many more and collaborating using Prezi to make a presentation about Vyew in the Elluminate area.

Til the next lesson review - Teri