My feelings are mixed.
I think CMS is a great tool for undergrad education if it's used properly and designed in a useful way.
In my time spent at Mac I've used three systems: Learn Link, WebCT and Moodle. I don't even really feel like talking about Learn Link.... we used it when I was in second year a couple times... and then I never heard about it again... and for good reason. The design was confusing and even though I spent the time to figure out how the program worked... I still had assignments lost, or was registered in the wrong section of a class.......... it was just messy. WebCT is a big step up from Learn Link because it's simple and effective. WebCT doesn't have all the bells and whistles of Moodle, but it's easy for someone with basic computer knowledge to figure out. The prof posts something... you download it. Simple. I think WebCT is sufficient enough for any program. Moodle is my personal favourite... because of the bells and whistles. I quite enjoy logging on and having Moodle remind me when my next assignment's due. I'm not sure however, if this system might be a little too complex for the basic level of computer knowledge. The "Key Findings" from the ECAR article noted that students use computers mainly for e mail, creating documents, creating presentations and accessing their school's website; Moodle might be a little too advanced for the norm.
I have tree hugging tendancies and absolutely love how the various CMSs at Mac are cutting back the use of paper (and cost of courseware!!), but my beef lies in the fact that there's too many to choose from. In my perfect world the university would choose one system to work with.
The results found that most students who use CMS in their courses found it beneficial.... I think this could be for a couple reasons:
1. All the information is in one place - there's no losing papers or not being able to read the notes you took in class etc.
2. Learning can continue even when class is over - if the professor thinks of something he or she forgot to mention in lecture, the information can immediately be disseminated through the system
3. It allows flexibility - students have the ability to contact each other or their professors at any time of day, they can have group meetings in the comfort of their home etc.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Week One
Seven Principles
The Principles to good practice in undergrad education and my thoughts:
1. Encourages contact between students and faculty
When we first came to university we were all warned by our high school teachers how different the atmosphere would be because we'd be in classes of hundreds of students and the professors wouldn't take the time to learn all of our names ... now that I'm in fourth year I've realized that it's up to ME to make sure that my professors do know my name. Our professors are such great resources for us for knowledge, networking etc. I'm interested in pursuing a masters degree in journalism after I complete my undergrad and to do so I have to include a reference letter from a professor in my application.... yet another reason to make the connection.
The cycle can work both ways; students have information that can be useful to professors as well.
2. Develops reciprocity and cooperation among students
In class we discussed the importance of team/ group work. We decided that teams generally produce better results than a single person so learning how communicate effectively and cooperate with groupmates is essential to team work.
3. Uses active learning techniques
From my experience, the best way to learn is through doing. The best way to understand a theory presented in class is to test it in real life situations or play with it until we can draw our own meaning from an idea. For example, blogging about our readings is a unique way to make us read the information that's relevant to what we're learning about in lecture AND a way to make us take the information and interact with it on a level we don't normally do when we simply open up our courseware and read (....and then forget).
4. Gives prompt feedback
Feedback is important for us to learn and grow. If students are expected to put a lot of effort into creating a project or writing a paper, then professors should do the same when they mark. When I get a paper back with a B- scribbled on the top and nothing else.... I'm frustrated because B- is obviously not what I thought the project was worth, and because there's nothing to tell me WHY the project is a B-..... how do I know I won't make the same mistakes on the next project?
.. With that said... I also think the timeliness of feedback is important as well. I should have assignment A back before I hand in assignment B so that I can use assignment A as a guide to things I need to steph up in assignment B.
5. Emphasizes time on task
This is something I struggle with. I have sooooooooo many things going on in my life that I most often pick the more inticing tasks to do over the boring or tedious ones. Three weeks down the road I'll realize that I've totally neglected a certain course's readings and the task of reading all of them because wayyyyyy more tedious than if I had just read a page everyday.
6. Communicates high expectations
I'm a self admitted over achiever. Although I stress myself out trying to reach expectations that I've either set for myself or that someone has set for me..... it makes me work harder to achieve my goals. When someone expects something of me I'm more apt to deliver a better product because I don't want to let anyone down (this includes myself).
7. Respects diverse talents and ways of learning
Our multimedia program is a great venue to recognize that the students enrolled are all talented, but excel in very different areas from one another. Personally, I think I have an eye for design and layout, but my technical skills (especially in networking and anything involving math) are a little sub par and take me wayyyyyyy longer to figure out. However, there are some people that can run circles around me in code or calculating transfer speeds ... but they can't put together an eye catching poster or website to save their life. Especially in fourth year and on the brink of our thesis projects we really need to use each other to make the best projects possible.
As for ways of learning, but this time most of us know what type of learners we are. I'm a kinestetic learner and learn best through doing. University isn't really the ideal place for learners of my type, but I've clearly made it work if I've gotten this far!! I've found that engaging as many senses as possible in a task is the way that I produce my best results. For example, if I want to remember something I'm told I repeat it over and over to myself, connect a visual cue to what I'm trying to remember and even write it down. Or, if I'm editing an essay I read it out loud to myself while I'm editing so that I not only see what I'm trying to say, but I can also hear what is sounds like.
The Principles to good practice in undergrad education and my thoughts:
1. Encourages contact between students and faculty
When we first came to university we were all warned by our high school teachers how different the atmosphere would be because we'd be in classes of hundreds of students and the professors wouldn't take the time to learn all of our names ... now that I'm in fourth year I've realized that it's up to ME to make sure that my professors do know my name. Our professors are such great resources for us for knowledge, networking etc. I'm interested in pursuing a masters degree in journalism after I complete my undergrad and to do so I have to include a reference letter from a professor in my application.... yet another reason to make the connection.
The cycle can work both ways; students have information that can be useful to professors as well.
2. Develops reciprocity and cooperation among students
In class we discussed the importance of team/ group work. We decided that teams generally produce better results than a single person so learning how communicate effectively and cooperate with groupmates is essential to team work.
3. Uses active learning techniques
From my experience, the best way to learn is through doing. The best way to understand a theory presented in class is to test it in real life situations or play with it until we can draw our own meaning from an idea. For example, blogging about our readings is a unique way to make us read the information that's relevant to what we're learning about in lecture AND a way to make us take the information and interact with it on a level we don't normally do when we simply open up our courseware and read (....and then forget).
4. Gives prompt feedback
Feedback is important for us to learn and grow. If students are expected to put a lot of effort into creating a project or writing a paper, then professors should do the same when they mark. When I get a paper back with a B- scribbled on the top and nothing else.... I'm frustrated because B- is obviously not what I thought the project was worth, and because there's nothing to tell me WHY the project is a B-..... how do I know I won't make the same mistakes on the next project?
.. With that said... I also think the timeliness of feedback is important as well. I should have assignment A back before I hand in assignment B so that I can use assignment A as a guide to things I need to steph up in assignment B.
5. Emphasizes time on task
This is something I struggle with. I have sooooooooo many things going on in my life that I most often pick the more inticing tasks to do over the boring or tedious ones. Three weeks down the road I'll realize that I've totally neglected a certain course's readings and the task of reading all of them because wayyyyyy more tedious than if I had just read a page everyday.
6. Communicates high expectations
I'm a self admitted over achiever. Although I stress myself out trying to reach expectations that I've either set for myself or that someone has set for me..... it makes me work harder to achieve my goals. When someone expects something of me I'm more apt to deliver a better product because I don't want to let anyone down (this includes myself).
7. Respects diverse talents and ways of learning
Our multimedia program is a great venue to recognize that the students enrolled are all talented, but excel in very different areas from one another. Personally, I think I have an eye for design and layout, but my technical skills (especially in networking and anything involving math) are a little sub par and take me wayyyyyyy longer to figure out. However, there are some people that can run circles around me in code or calculating transfer speeds ... but they can't put together an eye catching poster or website to save their life. Especially in fourth year and on the brink of our thesis projects we really need to use each other to make the best projects possible.
As for ways of learning, but this time most of us know what type of learners we are. I'm a kinestetic learner and learn best through doing. University isn't really the ideal place for learners of my type, but I've clearly made it work if I've gotten this far!! I've found that engaging as many senses as possible in a task is the way that I produce my best results. For example, if I want to remember something I'm told I repeat it over and over to myself, connect a visual cue to what I'm trying to remember and even write it down. Or, if I'm editing an essay I read it out loud to myself while I'm editing so that I not only see what I'm trying to say, but I can also hear what is sounds like.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
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