Teachers and Learning Disabled Students(MOD5)

http://www.learningabledkids.com/special_education_nightmare.htm

Social Networking..Mod 3

As a coach, networking and professional developed are pivotal, so I signed on to a coaches corner networking page. I hope to generate more contacts and ideas on professional develop as my career moves along.

http://coachescorner.ning.com/profile/Bill


on a side note, I have used Facebook to contect with many of my colleagues in the past so I am going to leave this post up in conjunction with the addition above...

I am a big Facebook fan. I allows me to stay in touch with many of my former athletes that I have coached. There are an array of privacy settings to protect you and your friends and colleagues. I have a few professor colleagues at other schools that use Facebook to stay in touch, and to better communicate with students. Many students respondes more quickly to Facebook posts and emails...Check it out

http://www.facebook.com/

Connectivism MOD 3

Siemens article talked about many of the earlier theories of learning. He hi-lighted Behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism that are the most widely used in creating teaching environments. Since the time of these theories creation, much had changed in how we learn, as well as the ways in which we are able to access information. Technology has forever changed the way we learn and process information.
"One of the most persuasive factors is the shrinking half life of knowledge. The 'half-life of knowledge' is the time span from which knowledge is gained and when it becomes obsolete." To me this quote summarizes the changing face of learning and instruction. Much of what we know about learning and instruction has become obsolete.

The instructor of today is like a new computer. They have all the new features, much like that of behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism. By the time learners walk out the door the computer has become an 'older' version, and the features will not be needed because better ones have been developed. New processors and new formats, fast running computers are always the horizon. Making older versions obsolete. As instructiors come across new ideas on learning, that have been developed, our current ideas about learning are becoming obsolete.

Siemens discusses the importance of connectivism as a newer model of instruction that encompasses the constant changing face of learning. The instructors ability to be able to see what's on the horizon and adapt learning theories before they become obsolete will be important in continuing to develop more effective learning processes.

Bathroom Etiquette

This was an interesting take on bathroom etiquette....We have all been there to some degree.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzO1mCAVyMw

3 ways to use blogs in class

I would use a blog to develop a class portal to organize course materials and have a place to post homework assignments for the class. Using this to communicate information to the class will give me an opportunity to refine my course management, but allow students to be better organized. I like the ability to use this tool to provide parents a way to monitor the homework and progress their kids are making. This will be a powerful tool in helping involve parents in their kids education. I would also want to use blogs as a place to post work and 'file' away assignments. This would provide an organized portfolio of a students work. Giving teachers and students an opportunity to comment and reflect upon their works can create more analytical thinking and development for students. The third way to use blogs is as a collaborative space. In this day and age, students communicate across the global, the sharing of ideas will inspire more thought and analysis of questions and answers potentially creating new avenues and directions in out thinking. Inspired learning through the use of a collaborative effort will empower students to no end, and continue to fuel their desires to continue to learn and develop.