Cuban predicted that computers would be used the same way radio, tv, and film are used. Was he right?
Cuban was right. Today, I think teachers have more access to classrooms computers. Classroom computers are largely limited to a few workstations and sometimes they don’t’ work. There is also limited access to school labs or mobile carts. I think computers offer more flexibility as far as scheduling and software that is available.
How does this dynamic change when the computer is the classroom (like this class)? Or does it?
I think the dynamic has change when the computer is the classroom. In this class, all work is composed and presented with the computer. The computer provides access to course assignments and podcasts. However, I do not feel this approach would work well with students younger than high school. I could see using a blended learning environment but I feel children younger than high school would not have the ability to fully benefit and participate in such a class. I am sure that some students may be ready but the majority would not. I believe that children need someone in the room physically accessible.
In our class, the computer is still a tool- a medium that we use to compose work, publish it, and communicate.
Another way to think about that is “Beyond the communications aspect, how do we use computers in this class?
Computers are used to compose our work. It provides me with access to research materials and resources. The computer is a learning tool for me to use in acquiring knowledge and information.
How do other teachers use computers in their online classes?
I have largely only used Blackboard in my other online classes. I have also participated in virtual chats with professor and fellow students. I have submitted all communication on discussion boards and submitted work on Blackboard.
However, this class has used a blog for everything. I only go to Blackboard to check for assignments. I like the podcasts and hearing the Dr. Lowell’s thoughts and insights. I like using the blog but I like the ability of the discussion board to know when things have been posted to not only mine but others work as well.
I am now curious to experiment, maybe with just one class to have them do their lessons this way to see what they feel. To test for myself your thought that it couldn't be done with people younger than high school and even then I would have my doubts. With 7th graders you would probably need a lot more parameters about how long posts have to be, what is acceptable and what is not, etc.
ReplyDelete"I like using the blog but I like the ability of the discussion board to know when things have been posted to not only mine but others work as well."
ReplyDelete... your feed reader should be telling you when others have posted stuff, Carolyn. Is that what you meant here?
No, I know when classmates have posted their blogs, it does come up in my feed reader. It is with the comments really. Like if I made a comment and someone responded to it then I wouldn't know unless I went back and looked. Does that make any sense?
ReplyDelete"Computers are used to compose our work. It provides me with access to research materials and resources"
ReplyDeleteGood Post....
I forgot to include this in my blog, but with online classes anything you do is done computer based and sent. Also, touching on the research materials and resources is important (especially with our paper coming up!).
@carolyn - that's why you subscribe to the comments feed, too. I thought I mentioned that early on.
ReplyDeleteI have both post and comment feeds enabled for everybody in the class. It's easy to keep track of that way.