Educational resources for Learning Lesson Models

I located this site while researching the different Learning Lesson Models. Along with offering an overview of different models, the site has a number of links that offer examples of lesson plans. http://clifmims.wetpaint.com/page/Lesson+Plan+Models

EDU 655 Lesson

Welcome to the Lesson. The purpose of this activity is to gain a basic understanding of Instant Messaging (IM). The following PowerPoint presentation will give you a brief overview of the history, current applications and benefits of IM. The PPT also offers step by step instructions on how to acquire an IM account. After watching the PPT, check out the IM on your email provider link. Gain some information about your particular IM and any special features that it offers. You may want to start an account! After you have started an IM account, or simply researched your options, share your experience on this blog. Thank you for your participaton in this lesson.
Click on the following link to view the PPTx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-66FfQw41FQ

Finding the Fallacy in an Advertisement

Please view  PDF “Finding the Fallacy in Advertisements”  sent to your email address.
 On this blog,  please  follow proceeding directions to complete the task of discovering and identifying the fallacy in  each of the 3 specific advertisements.

Next....

 Reflect on the defining elements of common Fallacies.

You may visit Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (January 27, 2003) Retrieved May, 30, 2011 from   http://www.iep.utm.edu/argument/ for reviewing common fallacies.

Following are three advertisements.  Read the ads  and “Find the Fallacy” Advertisement #1 Advertisement  #2 Advertisement # 3 Finally......  Click on  this link   http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5B3YCZZ   and take short quiz. You will Identify the Fallacy ! Good luck and thank you for your participation.

Connect Activity EDU 652

The following quiz was retrieved from philosophy.lander.edu (PLE) and consists of numbered questions (10-25) on the PLE site. This quiz is designed to test your knowledge of common fallacies, based on information that you have acquired through previous assigned readings and activities. You are to post your answers to these questions on this blog. Following your posts, you are at liberty to visit the site and correct your work. URL is located at the end of assignment.


Directions:


Please evaluate the following statements and identify common, recognizable fallacies. You will find one in each statement.


1. John Bardeen, a professor at the Advanced Institute of Physics, has gone on record to say that the American Medical Association needs to raise its standards for physicians. The opinion of a man of that brilliance should not be disregarded.


2. If we took a poll right now, almost every American would agree that a vaccine for AIDS will soon be found. Therefore there can be little doubt that AIDS will be practically wiped out in the near future.


3. I made low grades on my first tests in math and English. I must really be dumb.


4. As a daughter when I was four, my father taught me the beauty of numbers, and I have excelled at mathematics ever since. My conclusion on why females do not score as high on math tests? The males with a high aptitude for mathematics are not spending enough time with their daughters.


5. I think that the tests given in this class were more than fair, and I think you will agree with me because, if you do not, your grade in this course will certainly be in jeopardy.


6. The result of my doing well in economics is very simple. I eat Post Toasties for breakfast every morning for breakfast, and this breakfast helps my ability to analyze in great depth. I think it must be all those complex carbohydrates.


7. Oriental Philosophy is the best course taught at Lander University. I know this because all of my friends say so.


8. Look Mr. IRS examiner, of course I owe taxes--I'm not denying that. However, I was unable to file on time because my wife was sick and my two children need my attention. Surely the IRS is not opposed to keeping the family together.9. Mr. Smith, maybe there is some truth in what you say about me being rude to sales people, but I have certainly heard may sales people complain about your manners, so you are certainly not the person to point this out to me.


10. Sir, don't you want to look more closely at our aluminum siding for your new home? When we put this up your home will take on the glow of beauty, and you will be admired by others as someone who cares. Not only that, but your life will be richer as you invite with pride others to your home to share the better way of life.11. It is easy to see that goodness is in the world and not just in our minds, because as we look at the world, some things are obviously not evil in themselves.


12. Mr. Watkins has clearly and concisely detailed his arguments concerning the relative safety of tobacco products for third world countries. But, let me remind you that we could hardly expect him to say anything else because he has worked in the tobacco industry for the last twenty years.


13. All persons act in order that they might get pleasure. Even so-called altruistic persons who help others so much that they do almost nothing for themselves get pleasure out of giving. Otherwise, they wouldn't do it. Suppose a person hits himself over the head with a hammer. He must get pleasure from it, because why else would he do it if he didn't get pleasure from it?


14. The Roper Organization says that more persons watch CBS's 60 Minutes that any other news program on television. Therefore, it must be the best news programming on TV.


15. Hilda Robinson, an old backwoods, ignorant lady who never got past the fourth grade in school, claims that chicken soup is good for a cold. What does she know? She is ignorant of the scientific evidence.


16. Watch the Business Report at 7:00 on channel 6. It's the best report on current dealings on Wall Street because no comparative study of business reposts has ever proved to our satisfaction that there is any better.


PLE site URL:


http://philosophy.lander.edu/logic/fall_rev_answers.html

Linking it All Together

The past week presented a number of interesting and informative projects. Constructing a group project on the social network Facebook, creating a bookmarking account and completing the PBworks learning course had its share of challenges, but in the long run was both a rewarding and pleasurable experience.   Our assignments included linking all of the tools together and then critiqueing the work of other group members. 
Here is my wiki at PBworks
http://blearningtech.pbworks.com/w/page/38902685/Welcome-Page                   Microblogging, Bookmarking and Feeds

Are twitter, delicious and Google reader household names? Maybe not in all households around the world but there is no question that they are quickly becoming proverbial icons; prolific instruments of our communications and sharing.  Consequently, unless we are tuned in to their relevance we may miss something or someone.

Twitter is a micro-blogging tool, originally created “to send quick updates (tweets) to anyone who… (is) following” (Richardson, 2010, pg 86). Tweets can only be 140 characters long. However, 140 characters of information create an enthusiastic, enduring link of questions and answers, and URL links between millions of followers.

It’s no wonder that twitter has become the fad in politics, and it’s “not just for profits” (2008, ¶ 1) claim the online Corporate Eye. In fact, we might even speculate that President Obama’s tweeting won him the presidential election; as he enduringly “maneuvered the social networking stratosphere… gather (ing) large, massive followings”(¶ 1). According to the Corporate Eye “The world has rapidly moved toward technology and there is absolutely no slowing down”(¶ 6).  From a political standpoint, “politicians”(¶ 6) have to “go where their voters are”(¶ 6) and right now that’s twitter.

How about delicious? It’s one of a number of social bookmarking services where individuals, organizations business and virtually anyone can spread their interests and/or gain information through bookmarking links by use of tags, chosen by the user.  Consequently, diverse tags are a downfall for some bookmarking sites.  For example a particular learning blog can be tagged by a user as “learning, schools, edtech” (Richardson, 2010,pg 91) etc… The Delicious site is unique in its ability to connect “resources” (pg. 90) with “similar” (pg. 90) tags.

 Speaking of education, Delicious is a resourceful site for both educators and students. The application makes searching for particular subject material less complicated and time consuming, compared to using a search engine.

If you like the idea of having the NYTimes delivered to your email, blog, wiki or webpage on a daily basis, you would be interested in acquiring a feed. Really Simple Syndication (RSS) like, Google Reader affords a user subscriptions to his/her favorite news sites, blogs, and/or web pages. Google Reader also offers an “integrated feed search” (Google Reader, 2011), which delivers feeds that interest you based on your subscriptions. Unfortunately, this feature is not always an advantage as not all information qualified as matching your interest is acceptable to your viewing. Like twitter and delicious, the unique aspect of a feed is having easy accessibility to information and contacts along with the continual flow of updated information.

Today, being tuned in requires understanding the relevance of Microblogging, bookmarking and feeds.

References

Google Reader (2011) A Quick Tour. Retrieved May 02, 2011 from http://www.google.com/intl/en/googlereader/tour.html

Richardson,, W. (2010) Blogs, Wikis Podcasts and Other powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. Corwin.

 Corporate Eye (March 19, 2009). The Effects of Twitter on Politics – It’s Not Just for Profits. Retrieved May 02, 2011 from http://www.corporate-eye.com/blog/2009/03/the-effects-of-twitter-on-politics-its-not-just-for-profits/

       During the process of setting up my PBworks account, I took the time to examine some of the lesson plans that instructors have developed on wikis. There are numerous ideas for diverse courses. Will Richardson also points out the many ways  that wikis are being used in education and suggests viewing the “tinyurl.com” (Richardson, 2010, pg.66) site.
       Wikis have obviously gained ground in pedagogy. To begin, the “Building your PBworks class” page offers an introduction to the use of wikis.  In addition, PBworks step by step guide offers educators, otherwise unfamiliar with  using a wiki, a simple process of getting started; including some resourceful ideas. Having a distinct section for educators, facilities and universities gives PBworks a distinct advantage over Facebook, because the education section reflects a separation between education and personal life. As a social network Facebook  lacks this feature.
       Reflecting back,  EDU 651 week three discussions revealed that there are apparent concerns regarding  Facebook privacy issues. The conflict between what is considered private in an individual’s life, and the realm of  formal education remains a concern when considering a social network for formal education.  
       Discovering that there are a number of applications that can be used to develop  learning courses on FB is  impressive, yet, not proming enough  to override the concerns. It would be advantageous for Facebook to supply a seperate section for educators. It is therefore fair to contend that PBworks is better equipped to consider the needs of instructors than Facebook (FB).  
Richardson (2010).Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms (3^rd ed) Corwin

                                                      

Among the tasks for the week were establishing an FB Group, linking the PBworks learning course to the FB group and starting a bookmarking account with delicious. Subsequently, sending e-college emails to colleagues with account links. 

Challenges included:                        

• Having to Add  potential group members as Facebook Friends in order to add them to group list.

• Difficulty masteing delicious in such a short time, with numerous other assignments to contend with.

Positive Aspects

• FB has an option to keep the group "closed" or "secret."
• PBworks site is complimentary to educators in the establishment of learning courses.

        Suspended Teacher in Facebook Incident Ignites Debate: Should Online  Privacy for Educators Exist?

The Charlotte teacher in question, had posted statements on her Facebook page regarding the school  and students in her class. The comments were made unwittingly, as the teacher assumed that her Facebook page is private and her friends were the only ones viewing it.

• Should the teacher who posted the comments to her friends be disciplined for her remarks she thought were made in private?
• How responsible are educators for their online content?
• Should online privacy exist for students and educators?
• Should we be able to separate our professional and personal profiles on social networks? Would it actually be feasible?

 To begin, the Family Educational Rights of Privacy Act FERPA asserts that “agencies must maintain, for public inspection, a list of employees who have access to personally identifiable information”(pg.8). This in essence, suggests that all employees who have access to student information are required to follow the guidelines.

 Family Educational Rights of Privacy Act (FERPA) is explicit in what information may not be exposed, and to who it may be revealed.  Educational records protected under FERPA are defined as “information directly related to a student, specifically any information recorded in any way” (pg10). This includes “handwriting, print, computer media, videotape or audiotape, film, microfilm, and microfiche; and maintained by an education agency or institution, or by parties acting for the agency or institution (e.g., special education schools and health or social services institutions”(pg.10).

When “the suspended teacher wrote, “I am teaching in the most ghetto school in Charlotte”( Schaffhauser, November19, 2008,¶14), she was, in fact, revealing the economic status of students at the Thomasboro Elementary School to people not necessarily on the “list of employees” (National Forum on Education Statistics, pg.8). Furthermore, because a student’s financial status is documented at the school for purposes of free lunches or statistics, it falls under the guidelines of protected information.  The National School Lunch Act of 1994 “protects the privacy of information that agencies collect from families of children who are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals.”(pg 8)

Is there any relevance to the fact that the teacher was on her private Facebook page? When considering that she was divulging protected information in a manner unacceptable to FERPA guidelines. When should a teacher’s right to privacy excel over that of a student’s? 

 FERPA standards insist on teachers admonishing the privacy of students and adhering to the laws set before them. Educators are implicitly responsible for their online content because the private information of their students is entrusted to them.  FERPA sets the standards and the teachers enforce those standards. Is

Facebook privacy  really  the issue here? Or should educators  know their boundaries regarding what information can be shared and what is private.

Schools afford educators and other employees a private, secure means of discussing student information through school and district communication systems that are only accessible to specific employees. Isn't this where the separation exists?

Instructors today must teach students that whatever they put online stays online and to be cautious about what they write.

 It is imperative that instructors  set the example of appropriate online communications for their students.

Students, on the other hand, do not have access to private information regarding teachers, so whatever they write is not under scrutiny.

What students choose to write has much to do with the models that are set for them. 
Here's a thought:

Now that we have reasoned that standards are set in place for instructors to follow in America, we face a much greater impasse. Who will set the standards for online communications, and what will they be when there is no universal code of ethics?

Clasen-Kelly, F (November 14, 2008). Teachers and Facebook: Privacy vs. Standards. Retrieved April 12, 2011 from http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2008/11/14/349354/teachers-and-facebook-privacy.html  

 

National Forum on Education Statistics. Forum Guide to Protecting the Privacy of Student Information: State and Local Education Agencies, NCES 2004–330. Washington, DC: 2004. Retrieved April 10, 2011 from nces.ed.gov/pubs2004/2004330.pdf

Schaffhauser, D (November, 19, 2008)  Suspended Teacher in Facebook Incident Ignites Debate:  

            Should Online Privacy for Educators Exist? Retrieved April 10, 2011 from   

            http://thejournal.com/articles/2008/11/19/suspended-teacher-in-facebook-incident-

            ignites-debate-should-online-privacy-for-educators-exist.aspx

Week two assignments include the development of this blog; a required assignment, which will be ongoing throughout the course. In addition, this week's assignments include twittering the blog. Learning to use these technology tools, and interlink them reveals innovative ways for a student to reflect, communicate thoughts, collaborate with others, and share ideas.
Developing a learning course wiki represents the greatest challenge of this weeks assignments. There are several elements to consider when using a wiki for learning, which include anticipating pitfalls. Most pitfalls  appear to relate to the actual interactions between a group of learners. These include fear and mistrust, which are in fact ”natural reactions”(West & West,2009, pg 46) according to James A. West and Margaret L. West, authors of ”Using Wikis for Online Collaboration “ (2009). Subsequently, conflicts can occur among group members when project standards are disregarded, and/or an imbalance of contribution among members exists.
The lack of “constructive editing ” (52) can create conflict and affect the wiki outcome. West and West list unflattering “behaviors ”(52) of editing, which include, do-it-all, over organizer, wikitroll, empty pager and lockdown manager. Because the objective is to have a successful wiki outcome, dependent on member editing, both monitoring and process checks should be adopted in early planning and structured as an assessment in the project. Individual assessments should also be prearranged into the course. These elements would prove helpful in confronting and resolving an individual’s failure to contribute and avoid “sticky wikis” (55).  Project coordinator, Brian Lamb, with the Office of Learning Technology at the University of British Columbia claims that overall " a wiki will generally have little difficulty remaining stable, assuming that people see value in its existence and have a genuine interest in keeping things tidy" (pg.6).  Much confusion and dismay can be prevented by initially clarifying members roles and responsibilities, establishing a “wiki etiquette” (38), and group “ ground rules”(38), promoting learners use of discussion tools, and having a clear understanding of the difference between controversy and conflict.

    
Lamb, B. Wide Open Spaces: Wikis, Ready or Not. Retrieved April 07, 2011 from http://tccl.rit.albany.edu/knilt/images/c/c1/Lamb(final).doc 
 West, J.A. & West, M.L (2009).Using Wikis for Online Collaboration: The Power of the Read/Write Web. John Wiley and Sons Inc. 

Over the past few years, adolescent online content creators and mass global users, have ushered in the manifestation of Tim Berners Lee’s vision of a“collaborative (Read/Write) medium” (Richardson, 2010, pg.1) with the development of cost free, accessible, uncomplicated, internet publishing tools. Availability to create weblogs, wikis, podcasts and various, other online applications has inspired a massive increase of internet readers and writers around the globe, all conceding to sharing their opinions, ideas, products, stories and creating online media. In 2009, “Technorate.com noted “133 million blogs” (Richardson, 2010, pg 2). In addition,




Wikipedia currently has approximately “ 3 million separate entries” on subjects from A to Z. Early on founder Jimmy Wales, compelled us to "Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge” (Richardson, 2010, pg 55). Today we are witnessing the reality that anyone who can read and write has the ability to create online media, and second by second, the world wide web is drawing closer to becoming “the sum of the source of all human knowledge”(pg.55) .




It’s all very exciting, but there is a downside from the perspective of education where many students exceed “their teachers in computer literacy” (Richardson, 2010, pg 6). Over the past few years, “tens of thousands of teachers… have begun using” (pg.6) technology tools to bridge the gap. These include blogs and wikis, which have a number of pedagogical uses and advantages. The web is flooded with resources for educators. This week’s coursework revealed the Top 100 Tools for Learning 2008 by Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies. http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/recommended/top100.html
Educators today face a number of challenges when instructing students to become efficient online “readers, writers…editors… collaborators and publishers” (pg. 6). In this Read/Write era where anyone can author online content, students must understand the anomaly of online data and the importance of testing authorship and authenticity prior to accepting it as accurate. Major, ongoing challenges for teachers remain in the area of ensuring student privacy and protecting their students from “inappropriate content” (12).




References




Richardson (2010).Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms (3rd ed) Corwin




West, J.A. & West, M.L (2009).Using Wikis for Online Collaboration: The Power of the Read/Write Web. John Wiley and Sons Inc.