Final Class Reflection
As the class has been winding down, I have had time to reflect and think about everything that I experienced and learned during this class throughout the semester. As an accounting major, I have never taken a class like this before. I enjoyed this class because it gave me a different perspective on learning. My classes are usually note and lecture based with exams to test how much the students learned. This class has been more hands on and interactive with my classmates. I also learned a lot about how teaching has evolved and the impact technological advances have had on the teaching and learning processes. Building a scavenger hunt is also something I had never had any previous experience doing, so that was a good learning experience. Before this class I thought that I could only learn by listening to lectures and taking notes, but I have now realized that I can learn just as much doing hands on, group activities.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Week of April 24th
Environmental Education
Title: Teachers Set to Learn the Ropes of Environmental Education
This article talks about what the state of California did to prepare for the celebration of Earth Day on Friday, April 22nd. The California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC)and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education organized and scheduled an Environmental Education Resource Fair. Over 25 organizations from 4 California counties had tables at the event, ranging from large government agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to smaller organizations like Save the Frogs. The event was open to local educators, public, private, and home school to give them ideas and tools to enhance their environmental education curriculum for kindergarten through 12th grades. The last event like this in the Californian region attracted a few hundred teachers.
Title: Teachers Set to Learn the Ropes of Environmental Education
This article talks about what the state of California did to prepare for the celebration of Earth Day on Friday, April 22nd. The California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC)and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education organized and scheduled an Environmental Education Resource Fair. Over 25 organizations from 4 California counties had tables at the event, ranging from large government agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to smaller organizations like Save the Frogs. The event was open to local educators, public, private, and home school to give them ideas and tools to enhance their environmental education curriculum for kindergarten through 12th grades. The last event like this in the Californian region attracted a few hundred teachers.
Week of April 17th
Wetlands
Title: Beyond the Oil Spill, the Tragedy of an Ailing Gulf
I found this article in the New York Times and it talks about the effects the BP oil spill is currently having on the environment, even a year later. The health of the Gulf of Mexico is still declining, but this is something that many would assume. Something that might not be as obvious to the American public is the environmental impact the oil spill has had on Louisiana's wetlands. There is now an enormous dead zone off the mouth of the Mississippi and Louisiana's coastal wetlands are rapidly disappearing. These wetlands are about 2,000 square miles smaller than they were 80 years ago. On April 14th, the Justice Department announced that an agreement had been made between BP and those who are part of the natural resources damage assessment. BP will provide a $1 billion down payment for early restoration projects. This $1 billion down payment will be taken out of the final settlement, but will allow approved projects to get a head start.
Title: Beyond the Oil Spill, the Tragedy of an Ailing Gulf
I found this article in the New York Times and it talks about the effects the BP oil spill is currently having on the environment, even a year later. The health of the Gulf of Mexico is still declining, but this is something that many would assume. Something that might not be as obvious to the American public is the environmental impact the oil spill has had on Louisiana's wetlands. There is now an enormous dead zone off the mouth of the Mississippi and Louisiana's coastal wetlands are rapidly disappearing. These wetlands are about 2,000 square miles smaller than they were 80 years ago. On April 14th, the Justice Department announced that an agreement had been made between BP and those who are part of the natural resources damage assessment. BP will provide a $1 billion down payment for early restoration projects. This $1 billion down payment will be taken out of the final settlement, but will allow approved projects to get a head start.
Week of April 10th
Environmental Education
Title: Environmental Education Program Nurture Connection with Nature
This article talks about the importance of environmental education and what schools and the government are doing to promote this. April is National Environmental Education Month, and April 10 through 16 is National Environmental Education Week. Spending time in nature through environmental education programs leads to an increase in students' engagement in science and has been thought to improve mental, emotional and physical health of students, especially younger children. Today children are becoming more and more distanced from the natural environment because they are more involved with computers, television, and video games in their free time. In 2010, for the first time ever, President Barack Obama included funding for environmental education in the federal education budget. This was a great step towards promoting the importance of environmental education.
Title: Environmental Education Program Nurture Connection with Nature
This article talks about the importance of environmental education and what schools and the government are doing to promote this. April is National Environmental Education Month, and April 10 through 16 is National Environmental Education Week. Spending time in nature through environmental education programs leads to an increase in students' engagement in science and has been thought to improve mental, emotional and physical health of students, especially younger children. Today children are becoming more and more distanced from the natural environment because they are more involved with computers, television, and video games in their free time. In 2010, for the first time ever, President Barack Obama included funding for environmental education in the federal education budget. This was a great step towards promoting the importance of environmental education.
Week of April 3rd
Wetlands
Title: Front-Line City in Virginia Tackles Rise in Sea
This article talks about the problems cities on the East Coast of Virginia are having as the sea levels rise. When the sea levels rise, tidal flooding is increasingly disrupting life along the East Coast of Virginia. Many climate scientists are linking this to global warming. Many residents of these cities are using the lunar calendar as a reference for where to park their cars. When there is going to be a full moon, they know not to park their cars in areas that are more susceptible of flooding. Norfolk, VA is getting it worse than many other Virginia cities. Norfolk is located west of the mouth of Chesapeake Bay and is surrounded by water on 3 sides. Much of this water is rivers and streams that feed into the Chesapeake Bay and eventually the ocean. Norfolk was built on a filled-in marsh and currently that fill is settling and compacting. Norfolk is also in an area where significant natural sinking of land is occurring. Since 1930, Norfolk has experienced a 14.5 inch increase in sea level. This is the highest increase in sea level on the East Coast.
Title: Front-Line City in Virginia Tackles Rise in Sea
This article talks about the problems cities on the East Coast of Virginia are having as the sea levels rise. When the sea levels rise, tidal flooding is increasingly disrupting life along the East Coast of Virginia. Many climate scientists are linking this to global warming. Many residents of these cities are using the lunar calendar as a reference for where to park their cars. When there is going to be a full moon, they know not to park their cars in areas that are more susceptible of flooding. Norfolk, VA is getting it worse than many other Virginia cities. Norfolk is located west of the mouth of Chesapeake Bay and is surrounded by water on 3 sides. Much of this water is rivers and streams that feed into the Chesapeake Bay and eventually the ocean. Norfolk was built on a filled-in marsh and currently that fill is settling and compacting. Norfolk is also in an area where significant natural sinking of land is occurring. Since 1930, Norfolk has experienced a 14.5 inch increase in sea level. This is the highest increase in sea level on the East Coast.
Week of March 27th
Mobile Learning
Title: Is Mobile A Reality Now?
This article discuses whether the predictions and assumptions that have been made about mobile learning are now becoming a reality. Over the past couple of years there have been many predictions, both positive and negative about the role that mobile learning will play in the learning world. During this short period, the use of technologically advanced devices including iPads, tablets, smartphones and android devices has dramatically increased. These devices have also very quickly become used in the business world, providing employees with instant access to company information.
The large and fast growth in use and acceptance of mobile devices in the business world means companies have realized that mobile devices are a practical and efficient way of company-wide learning. Companies realizing that mobile devices are valid learning and support tools. For example, many large companies like Ford are using iPhones and iPads to deliver support to their front line sales teams.
Title: Is Mobile A Reality Now?
This article discuses whether the predictions and assumptions that have been made about mobile learning are now becoming a reality. Over the past couple of years there have been many predictions, both positive and negative about the role that mobile learning will play in the learning world. During this short period, the use of technologically advanced devices including iPads, tablets, smartphones and android devices has dramatically increased. These devices have also very quickly become used in the business world, providing employees with instant access to company information.
The large and fast growth in use and acceptance of mobile devices in the business world means companies have realized that mobile devices are a practical and efficient way of company-wide learning. Companies realizing that mobile devices are valid learning and support tools. For example, many large companies like Ford are using iPhones and iPads to deliver support to their front line sales teams.
Week of March 20th
Mobile Learning
Title: Mobile Learning - What It can Do For A Global Workforce
This article talks about how globalization has dramatically changed businesses. Today, organizations need to be more agile to maintain a competitive advantage in the market. The global workforce is very busy and has very little time to focus on learning, resulting in a lack of priority in training. Mobile learning is a solution to the time crunch problem in the workforce. Mobile learning can be used for activating knowledge, recalling/reactivating knowledge, providing application opportunities as well as for just-in-time search support by letting employees search in company’s knowledge databases using their mobile devices.
Title: Mobile Learning - What It can Do For A Global Workforce
This article talks about how globalization has dramatically changed businesses. Today, organizations need to be more agile to maintain a competitive advantage in the market. The global workforce is very busy and has very little time to focus on learning, resulting in a lack of priority in training. Mobile learning is a solution to the time crunch problem in the workforce. Mobile learning can be used for activating knowledge, recalling/reactivating knowledge, providing application opportunities as well as for just-in-time search support by letting employees search in company’s knowledge databases using their mobile devices.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Week of March 13th
Mobile Learning
Title: "Google App Inventor- Can It Boost mLearning?"
This article discusses Google's release of "App Inventor" in 2010. App Inventor is a visual development tool that allows anyone to create an Android app without having to write code. The blog discusses this tool and its advantages in the mobile learning environment. They believe that it will increase the number of Android apps launched and also speed up the process of mobile learning as a whole. I agree that allowing anyone to create their own apps will encourage the use of mobile learning, but I think that there should be some system for approving what apps are created. We want to keep mobile learning as a positive development for businesses and schools.
Title: "Google App Inventor- Can It Boost mLearning?"
This article discusses Google's release of "App Inventor" in 2010. App Inventor is a visual development tool that allows anyone to create an Android app without having to write code. The blog discusses this tool and its advantages in the mobile learning environment. They believe that it will increase the number of Android apps launched and also speed up the process of mobile learning as a whole. I agree that allowing anyone to create their own apps will encourage the use of mobile learning, but I think that there should be some system for approving what apps are created. We want to keep mobile learning as a positive development for businesses and schools.
Week of February 27th
Mobile Learning
Title: "9 Year Old Kid Builds An iPhone Application For His Sister"
Came across this article and found it very interesting and had to share! Lim Ding Wen, a nine year old boy from Singapore built the application "Doodle Kids" for his sister. It is a simple application where you can draw on your iPhone by touching your fingers to the screen and erase the drawing by shaking the iPhone. Reminds me of a favorite childhood game Etch-A-Sketch. Smart kid; he also speaks six different languages fluently and started using the computer at the age of two...
Title: "9 Year Old Kid Builds An iPhone Application For His Sister"
Came across this article and found it very interesting and had to share! Lim Ding Wen, a nine year old boy from Singapore built the application "Doodle Kids" for his sister. It is a simple application where you can draw on your iPhone by touching your fingers to the screen and erase the drawing by shaking the iPhone. Reminds me of a favorite childhood game Etch-A-Sketch. Smart kid; he also speaks six different languages fluently and started using the computer at the age of two...
Week of February 20th
Mobile Learning
Title: "mLearning Demand Is Growing"
This article interacted with many different clients to understand their requirements and potential learning solutions. The demand for mobile learning solutions stood out. The use of mobile phones and other digital media has become increasingly popular in learning environments as an alternative source of information. This is partly because a lot of organizations are looking for new ways to learn for training and development purposes. The "Ambient Insight Report", released in early 2010, forecasts that the United States market for mobile learning will be growing at a five-year compound annual growth rate of 21.7 percent.
This article suggested six Mobile Learning Solutions:
1. Mobile Apps - applications tailor-made for mobile devices
2. SMS-Based Learning - administer quizzes and questionnaires through text messages
3. Games - engaging in games that teach and entertain
4. mBooks - eLearning story-based courses accessible through mobilbe apps
5. Mobile LMS - access LMS on mobile phones through web browsers or apps
6. Augmented Reality - geo location based or image based information retrieval for real time learning
Title: "mLearning Demand Is Growing"
This article interacted with many different clients to understand their requirements and potential learning solutions. The demand for mobile learning solutions stood out. The use of mobile phones and other digital media has become increasingly popular in learning environments as an alternative source of information. This is partly because a lot of organizations are looking for new ways to learn for training and development purposes. The "Ambient Insight Report", released in early 2010, forecasts that the United States market for mobile learning will be growing at a five-year compound annual growth rate of 21.7 percent.
This article suggested six Mobile Learning Solutions:
1. Mobile Apps - applications tailor-made for mobile devices
2. SMS-Based Learning - administer quizzes and questionnaires through text messages
3. Games - engaging in games that teach and entertain
4. mBooks - eLearning story-based courses accessible through mobilbe apps
5. Mobile LMS - access LMS on mobile phones through web browsers or apps
6. Augmented Reality - geo location based or image based information retrieval for real time learning
Week of February 13th
Mobile Learning
Title: "Will Mobile Apps Change Training Forever?"
This article discusses how rapidly evolving technology has a direct affect on the evolution of learning technology. It argues that with this changing technology, the focus on training will shift more towards "performance support". Apps will conveniently provide employees manuals, charts, technical support, etc anytime or anywhere they would need them. I agree that apps with manuals and technical support would be helpful in a business to cut down on time wasted by employees, but I do not think training can be completely cut out of a business. Many people learn visually or with practice. Without initial training, some businesses may spend more time in future correcting mistakes.
The article also gave a couple facts that I found interesting. It is projected that apps will become a bigger market than CDs by 2012 and there are reports that 1 in 4 adults in the United States use mobile apps.
Title: "Will Mobile Apps Change Training Forever?"
This article discusses how rapidly evolving technology has a direct affect on the evolution of learning technology. It argues that with this changing technology, the focus on training will shift more towards "performance support". Apps will conveniently provide employees manuals, charts, technical support, etc anytime or anywhere they would need them. I agree that apps with manuals and technical support would be helpful in a business to cut down on time wasted by employees, but I do not think training can be completely cut out of a business. Many people learn visually or with practice. Without initial training, some businesses may spend more time in future correcting mistakes.
The article also gave a couple facts that I found interesting. It is projected that apps will become a bigger market than CDs by 2012 and there are reports that 1 in 4 adults in the United States use mobile apps.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)