CEP811: Online Learning: Meeting Today's Learning Demands

Photo attribution:
by jscreationzs [FAL], via Wikimedia Commons
from Wikimedia Commons
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Online.jpg
Released under a Free Art License

It is true that the Michigan Merit Curriculum Online Experience Guideline Companion is focused on middle school through high school students, but it is still a foundational reference for me to use as an educator who teaches adults.   Every student, regardless of age, should have a meaningful education by experiencing the same quality approach in conducting online learning through the use of technology and innovative tools.

I have been teaching classes where I can incorporate online modules to enhance hands-on learning for my students.  These online training and assessment tools assist the educators in helping students acquire skills they will need in a 21st century workplace.  Some examples are SimNet Online and Certiprep which are both for Microsoft Office and computer concepts; KeyTrain as a career planning tool; and GeoLearning for business skills modules.  Moodle, a learning management system, is also incorporated into our courses to build up their online learning experience.  It has been an effective teaching strategy for me to use the hybrid instruction.  The students have the best of both worlds by being able to work outside the classroom walls and to interact personally with the teacher and classmates in the computer lab.

Our current programs are more geared toward self-paced and hands-on method of delivery.  It has been challenging in our school for our students to have full online learning without face-to-face contact with teachers because our students were required to have their in-seat hours in the lab monitored.    Although, there have been changes and openness to new learning approaches in our school. I believe that this recognition and acceptance to changes contribute to the same goal of preparing our students as they encounter the media-rich and technological demands of not just today’s workplace but also in their personal daily lives. 

CEP811: Featuring M-TEC @ Wikipedia and PBWorks!

Photo attribution: M-TEC @ Night
originally uploaded by Kit Fishell
Released under an
Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike License

Thompson M-TEC was not in Wikipedia.  I asked approval from our Director if I can add it especially since we have to go through the marketing department to avoid duplication of any of their marketing plans.  I was approved to do it and have included some information in the page.  I have linked the page to Holland, Michigan at the Education section.  I think it would be an easier task if M-TEC had already been created and all I needed to do was just edit and add more information.  I have attributed three pictures as copyrights with fair use tags.  I would like to incorporate these in Wikipedia, but there is a part where I need to have at least ten edits or be a member for at least ten days to be able to upload those pictures.  I will have to read all the rules to make sure I understand all of the requirements.  At least, I have print screens as proofs that M-TEC is in Wikipedia.

I created a wikipage in PBWorks and loved it!   I decided to have a page to share with all my colleagues in M-TEC.  It will be a “Minutes of  Meeting” page, where everyone can add what should be covered during  the meeting day on Tuesday, Feb 22.  The real functionality about this wikipage is when the meeting is over, all the teachers and staff members can go back to the shared page and go to the ACTION ITEM section to make notations and review task assignments.  They can also provide feedback on the topics that have been discussed and comment on whether each item has been accomplished or needs to be revisited.

CEP811: UDL Guidelines for Educators

As I went through the instructional design plan that I submitted to MERLOT, I started identifying the features that were met in the lessons with the checkpoints listed in the Uniform Design of Learning (UDL) Guidelines – Educator Checklist.  Next, I considered the barriers.  This activity helped me realize the significance of UDL.  

As we, educators, create our lesson plans, courseware, instruction plan, or curriculum, we can still cater to the diverse needs of our learners by considering the UDL principles.  UDL supports the feasibility of teaching students with different learning challenges.  It helps make it happen!

So are you wondering how my comparison went?  Check out my notes that I have indicated in the UDL Guidelines – Educator Checklist.

CEP811: Evaluation of Learning Material in MERLOT

Hibernation is over!  I’m back to school and currently enrolled in CEP 811.  This is my initial blog post for this course  and  I need to find and evaluate a learning material from the MERLOT site that I can use at work.  While I was doing this activity, I was able to link two essential puzzle pieces together.

My task is to evaluate a resource from MERLOT and I would like to share with you Thinkfinity, the first puzzle piece.  Dr. Sandra Plair recommended this resource in my CEP 810 class while I was working on my computer science group project.   Finding it in MERLOT gives me more opportunity to really delve into it.

In terms of its quality of content, Thinkfinity offers free lesson plans, interactivity, games, teaching and learning strategies that are standard-aligned and geared toward 21st century skills.  I definitely agree that Thinkfinity has strong potential as a teaching-learning tool.   It is a great homework reference for pre-K to adult learners.  The site is meant for parents, student, and educators.  It provides engaging educational resources for different subjects, disciplines, and skill levels.  Users can access resources like worksheets and interactive materials for practice and application, listen to audio, and watch video materials for demonstration and explanation. The learning objectives are clearly explained and presented. It also focuses on professional development for specific states. 

Because of the site’s ease of use, I found the second puzzle piece. I clicked on the Professional Development link, and chose Michigan.  I was directed to Michigan eLibrary.  Eureka! This site was recommended by my CEP 811 instructor, Melissa White, for me to explore because she believes this will help in my professional effectiveness class in career development.  She offered her support if I’m interested in exploring LearnATest from http://mel.org because this would be a great resource for my adult learners with all the sample tests.   She even stressed not to forget this site because it contains great material based on the design plan that I have submitted.