Orientation-Old

Orientation

Goals

  • Become familiar with course structures

  • Get acquainted with the instructor, and classmates

  • Participate various orientation activities.

Instructor's Notes

Welcome to ETC777!!

In this orientation week, we will complete certain course preparation activities. This course is different from other courses. Failure to complete these activities may create difficulties with your progress in this course. This course requires students to be intimately familiar with the course structure and completing the orientation if properly pursued will ensure this familiarity. Students must read the syllabus carefully because the design of this course is very different from other educational technology courses. There are activities that must be accomplished during this week, please see the activity page for details.

Here are some highlights of the structure of this course:

    • Each lesson lasts ONE week. Our class lasts for 8 weeks and the final paper is due later.

    • Students will be involved in various course activities: moderate lesson discussions, peer evaluations, project presentations...,etc.

    • Integrating Web 2.0 and social networking technology, such as Twitter, iGoogle, Delicious, Diigo etc., into course activities. It is a good experience for us to learn more this new educational technology trend.

    • Students will be involved in various team activities: moderation as a team of lesson discussions, team work, peer evaluations, self evaluations, online project presentations...,etc.

    • Students will engage in Peer Support for Assignments activities, or supporting one another on the assignments.

This is not an easy course. It covers wide range of knowledge in distance education. Most students find this course challenging. There are many important activities and assignments that must be accomplished to fulfill the requirements of this course, many are labor intensive. Students must stay current with course activities, assignments. and readings. Do not fall behind! It is important that students complete every single activity and assignment on time. Although each lesson last two weeks, you must not wait until the final days of the lesson to complete the course work. Procrastination will cause you to encounter many difficulties.

Course materials are organized into seven lessons. Each lesson is divided into four different sections: Lecture, Reading, Activities, and Assignment.

    • The Instructor's Notes section is where the instructor provides learning guidance and information for the lesson. Lectures may be updated depending on the students' progress and learning experiences.

    • The reading section provides several different types of reading information: Required reading, Optional reading, Resources, and Resources recommended by the students. It is highly recommended that students should finish the required reading before each lesson begins. After finishing the required readings, students are better prepared to participate in the lesson activities, such as lesson discussions. The optional readings are for those students who would like to obtain additional information on the lesson content and challenge themselves with more learning opportunities. Resources are references for students . It is good to take a look at the resources to review a range of related topics. Resources shared by students on Delicious are shared by current or previous students. This list of readings is dynamic because when students tag their Delicious with ETC777, it will appear on the resources. Be sure to check back for newer shared resources or subscribe RSS

    • The activity section lists all important activities in which students should participate. It also lists the questions that we will contemplate in lesson discussions.

    • The assignment page lists the various assignments.

Additionally, we integrate multiple social media (Web 2.0) to deliver our online instructions. In fact, all of our course materials, instruction, and activities will occur on multiple Web 20 tools. We do not use any Learning Management System (LMS) or Course Management System (CMS), such as Sakai, Blackboard etc.

"Openness proponents contend that distance education often isolates students behind password-protected gates. By unlatching those barriers, professors like Mr. Couros are inventing a way of learning online that feels less like a digital copy of face-to-face classes and more like the open, social, connected Web of blogs, wikis, and Twitter. It can expose students to a far broader network than they would encounter discussing their lessons with a small group of graduate students. " (Parry, 2010).

In order to create a base of knowledge for our learning community, stay up-to-date with the assigned readings, we will use the readings as our basic knowledge to plan, design, and develop network learning environments. We integrate various Web 2.0 tools, such as iGoogle, Facebook, Diigo, Delicious, Wetpaint Wiki etc. to support the emerging ideas of Open Network Learning Environments (ONLE) and “Personal Learning Environments (PLE).” In fact, researchers foresee that Web 2.0 tools will disrupt Course Management Systems (CMS). Another reason to apply Web 2.0 tools to deliver our instructions is that most of our classmates won't have access to CMS since their schools do not have such systems to support teaching and learning. Since most Web 2.0 tools are free and easy to use, schools, or other organizations, are able to adopt them to support organizational teaching and learning for the workforce. We will discuss additional reasons to integrate web 2.0 to create network learning environments.

Frequently, Web 2.0 tools require us to have separate log-in accounts. This is the reason why we need to create an account for each Web 2.0 tool; however, iGoogle, a personalized portals/homepages, allows us manage multiple Web 2.0 tools at the same location. Research has suggested that Web 2.0 tools are more effective than the ones provided in CMS. Students in Educational Technology fields should explore the current effective technologies to support learning. This is why we are integrating various Web 2.0 tools into our course. The Web 2.0 tools integrated into our course designs and instructions are not just for the required activities; it is highly recommended that students should apply Web 2.0 tools to support their own learning and their group activities. It is important for you to maintain good communication with your teammates and the instructor.

Why do we integrate multiple tools to deliver our instructions? As Dede has observed, "the history of tool making shows that the best strategy is to have simultaneously available a variety of specialized tools, rather than a single device that attempts to accomplish everything" (2008, p. 58).

Dede, C. (2008). Theoretical perspectives influencing the use of information technology in teaching and learning. In J. Voogt and G. Knezek, (Eds.), International Handbook of Information Technology in Primary and Secondary Education. New York: Springer.

We will experience many technology tools. You may feel comfortable and/or uncomfortable with some of them. The key is that we need to "experience" these emerging technologies and evaluate how they may impact human learning. Being an educational technology specialist, we need to have broad experiences in different emerging technologies so we can evaluate, and suggest effective technologies to support our organizational learning.

If you intend to print our course materials, please be sure to check back our course instructions because frequently we update our course materials based on students' needs.

It is important for you to maintain good communication with your teammates and the instructor. Frequently, you will have questions or issues that require help to be resolved. Maintain close communication with your teammates and the instructor. I always like to hear from you, even when you are doing well in the class. I prefer that you forward your e-mail correspondence to my NAU e-mail account at Chih.Tu@Nau.edu

Readings (Powered by Del.icio.us. Consider to subscribe RSS to keep updated on reading resources.)

    • Required Readings (Finish the required readings before the lesson starts)

    • Optional Readings (More readings for you to enrich your learning, to prepare for discussions, assignments, projects etc.)

    • Resources (Resources from our classmates, ETC students, and ETC faculty.)

Activities

Orientation Activities

Self introductions on Nabble discussion board: http://etc777-spring-2012-discussion-boards.10260.n6.nabble.com/

I also believe it is important to know a little something about the people in our class. To do that, we need to post our self introductions on the Discussion Board are. Self-introduction is an excellent resource to use in forming a good team; therefore, open yourself up. If you have pictures that you would like to share with us, please do so. Here are some ideas to help you get started.

    • Create a Nabble account. You will use this account to participate our lesson discussions throughout the course.

    • Your name and what you liked to be called.

    • General information about where you live and what you do.

    • What your expectations are for our class.

    • What makes you unique.

    • A picture of you, or an image that represents you.

    • Links to some of your favorite things.

    • Your hobbies, etc.

    • Anything else that you want to provide

Form Teams

Students are required to form teams. Please the instructor your team members' names. Each team is composed of THREE members. However, when one or two students are left without a team, they may be assigned to a group to form a team with 3-4 members. It is recommended that students select teammates who have similar professional interests. Reading the students' bio will help introduce you to your classmates. Teams will collaborate throughout entire the semester; therefore, building good relationships with teammates is highly encouraged. Here is a tip for you, reading your classmates' Facebook will help you determine who can be your ideal teammates. Therefore, you must be thorough in your bio and be open about yourself.

Sign up a group

After forming teams, each team has a few things to accomplish in this week.

    • If you have formed a team.

  • Exchange contact information, particularly an alternative e-mail contact.

Sign up a section facilitator/contributor for Assignment 3: Web 2.0 Learning Environments: Mobile Learning Research

  • See Lesson 6 for the detailed instructions.

Optional tools integrations

      • Zotero

          • Zetero is a tool for you to collect, cite, and manage research resources. We will be involved numerous research resources . It is critical to have a useful tool to manage our valuable resources.

Assignment

Assignment 1: PLE Setup

  • Due: 03/09/14, Sunday

  • Grade: 5 points

  • Individual Project

      • Submission:

            • Google DocsUse "Print Screen" on PC or Mac to capture you iGoogle screen images.

            • Paste screen shoots to a Word document and respond to the questions (see below). Submit your Word document. You may need to submit multiple images to demonstrate that you added all the gadgets to your iGoogle. Be sure your images show you have all required gadgets.

            • In the Google Docs include your Delicious home page URL (EX: http://delicious.com/ChihTu)

            • In the Google Docs include your iGoogle e-mail (EX: chihhsiungtu@gamil.com)

            • In the Google Docs include your Twitter URL (EX: http://twitter.com/chihhsgiuntu)

            • Use Google Docs to share your file with the instructor at chihhsiungtu@gmail.com

            • If you are not familiar with Google docs, take Google docs Tutorials.

          • If you upload your file from your computer to Google Docs, make sure you check "Convert documents, spreadsheets & presentations to Google Docs format." so your assignments be edited by the instructor.

          • File should be named as: ETC777-YourLastName-YourFirstName-Assignment#. For example, ETC777-Tu-Chih-A1 (Incorrect file name is unacceptable & will result in point deduction.)

          • Be sure to give the instructor "Collaborator" privilege so the instructor can provide feedback onto the shared document.

We will create multiple Web 2.0 accounts to support our learning in this course. Here are tips to assist you to create Web 2.0 accounts.

GMail

    • We will use GMail to collaborate and submit our assignments. If you have a GMail, feel free to use your exist GMail account. Or you can create a new GMail account.

Nabble

Social Bookmarking

We will use Delicious.com to manage distributed assignment resources/bookmarks.

    • Social Bookmarking with Del.icio.us

Social Networking: Twitter

Do you Tweet? If you are not familiar with Twitter, this is a good chance to learn how to Tweet and how to integrate Twitter to build online learning community. Own a smart phone? You can tweet from your smart phone.

Why we use Twitter for our course?

    • We will use ETC777 Twitter to make announcements.

    • Purposes:

        • Get updated on what is happening in the course, such as class announcements etc.

        • Get updated on course resources and talking to classmates.

        • Share tips, ideas, information, & personal perspectives with classmates.

    • Course tag: ETC777

    • If you want to get classmates' attentions, tweet it. You may get the attentions immediately since many students check Twitter more frequently than E-mails.

  • How to use Twitter to grow your plan

    • Learn from our classmates, if you follow our classmates' Twitter.

  • Take Twitter tutorials

    • Create a Twitter account: If you have a Twitter account already, you can use that existing account. (Please use your full name so we can recognize you.)

    • Let class to see your tweets: Uncheck "Protect my tweets"

        • At your Twitter Home, click "Settings" on the right top corner of the page.

        • Scroll down, Uncheck "Protect my tweets"

    • Required: Follow ETC777 Twitter so ETC777 tweets will be displayed on your Twitter page.

    • Want to know more about Twitter for learning, see Twitter for Educators

    • Use any creative way to support your learning, such as a team, all team member scan follow each others' Twitter. See GroupTweet.

    • If you use course hashtag #ETC777, and uncheck protect tweets, you should see your tweets below.

Course Google Calendar

    • Add ETC777 Course Calendar to your Google Calendar.

    • Why use Google Calendar?

    • You can view course calendar on iGoogle or your smartphones.

iGoogle Setup

    • Goals: Integrate iGoogle to manage multiple learning tools.

    • If you have an existing iGoogle, please use it. You can create different tab for our course.

    • If you have PLE tab from previous courses, you can use the same tab or create an new tab for ETC777.

    • Create an iGoogle Account. You can use your exist GMail account. If you wish, you can use your preferred e-mail account to create an iGoogle account.

    • If you are not familiar with iGoogle. View the tutorial on TeacherTube. iGoogle Tutorial.

        • Log on to your iGoogle

        • Organize your iGoogle to support your learning: You can add various “Gadgets” to support your learning.

        • Twitter:

          • Here is a Twitter iGoogle gadget that many previous students added: TwitterGadget (Feel free to add any different one(s) that you prefer).

        • Twitter Search (This gadget is different from Twitter Gadget. To see what ETC777 students are talking about).

        • Delicious: Add Delicious Bookmark gadget to your iGoogle.

        • Google Docs

        • Google Calendar (Be sure to add ETC777 Google Calendar to your Google Calendar).

        • Google Reader

        • ETC777 Nabble Discussion Board

          • Search RSS gadget

          • Obtain ETC777 Nabble Discussion Board RSS feed URL or Nabble lesson discussion RSS feeds

          • Enter the RSS feeds to the RSS gadget (you can add multiple ones; for example, one for each lesson discussions etc.)

          • Here are two RSS gadgets that previous students added

          • RSS gadget 1

          • RSS gadget 2

      • Add 2 additional gadgets to support your learning. They can be personal learning, other courses, work related gadgets.

          • Previous students favorite gadgets

              • Facebook

              • Google Groups

              • Google Notebook

              • Blogger

              • ....

      • Respond to these questions on your Word document.

          • What major gadgets have you added to your iGoogle? What purposes do they support in your personal learning environments?

          • Discuss two of the most useful/effective gadgets that support your learning.

          • Discuss how you intend to use iGoogle with various gadgets to support your future online learning.

          • Discuss how you may integrate iGoogle into your teaching.

      • After finishing this assignment, students could apply their PLE tab as their personal learning environments to manage their Web 2.0 learning tools.

Setup your Google Reader

    • Use your Google account to obtain your Google Reader.

    • Review Google Reader tutorial

  • Source: Google Video: Google Reader Tutorial

    • Subscribe related RSS feeds:

    • http://www.delicious.com/tag/ETC777+RSS+Feeds

    • Feel free to add any RSS feeds that are relevant to your own learning and personal uses.

    • It is highly encouraged students use different features on Google Reader (Tag, Add Star, Like, Share, Share with note etc.) to help you to manage and to organize your multiple subscriptions. They are particularly helpful when you have more subscriptions. You can use Google Reader as a tool to help you and your group to build Open Network Learning Environment (ONLE).

    • It is highly encouraged students should visit their Google Reader regularly because your subscriptions to course relevant feeds would keep you updated on the course activities at multiple sites but without visit multiple sites. In other words, you take on your own learning responsibilities to control and to manage your personal learning environment (PLE).

    • Notes

If you use iGoogle for other courses, you can use the same iGoogle to manage your gadgets, tabs etc.