Facilitating online Effective use of Facebook

Finally something about twitter  http://mrslwalker.com/index.php/2009/03/29/nine-great-reasons-why-teachers-should-use-twitter/

There is a lot of information to read but hopefully this will add to the discussions so have a look at some of it if you can.

I have asked Herve Carpentier from Manukau Institute of Technology who lectures in Network security and Network engineering, he will talk about the negative aspects of Facebook. While Ross Buchan from Otago Polytechnic CLC’s (Community Learning Centre) who works with students showing them computing skills using MS Office uses Facebook and twitter for social networking and as part of the marketing for the CLC.  Once they have finished talking we can have a discussion on how or if it can be used for our gain as businesses and educators.

 The Elluminate meeting is on the 18 November 4pm for all those who can join us.   http://tinyurl.com/2u7h9pe 

03/29/nine-great-reasons-why-teachers-should-use-twitter/

I have a few ideas one being the pros and cons of using facebook in a learning environment. Personally I would like to have facebook locked here on the Otago Polytechnic campus simply because I teach computing and I spend a large portion of my time encouraging the students to get off it and onto their actual course work. Some actually appear to be addicted they can’ t help themselves. There must be  something about the dangers of too much online social networking. Honestly some have being facebooking each other in class 2 or 3 computers away.  All in all a good topic what do you think?

A direct quote from the Four Pairs of Shoes Ed Hootstein these different roles.

As e-learning facilitators put on and take off the four different pairs of shoes that define their roles–instructor, social director, program manager, and technical assistant–they should keep these action items firmly in mind:

• address the needs of adult learners by guiding self-directed, realistic, problem-based learning experiences
• structure learning opportunities in which learners make their own meanings by discovering content on their own
• encourage high degrees of participation and interactivity
• offer prompt, informative feedback
• provide strong leadership
• help learners feel comfortable with technology.

Gilly Salmon e-moderation strategies

This powerpoint great resource for practical ways of using the facilitated session great!!

I have begun listening to the elluminate recordings to see how it is managed both by the facilitators and the listeners. The first one was the Joining the Second Life Education Project on New Zealand. One of the points that was brought up was the concept of tone in a discussion. It is easier to have a conversation face to face because of the tone of voice makes all the difference for me . I find it better to be able to ask questions directly or in response to topics, ideas or points taht have been brought up.However I see that if you are delivering information through a virtual classroom (Elluminate) with a discussion at the end there is still an element of being able to hear the tone of voice rather than a group forum or email group.  I can see that I could use this  for my students so we could have answers and questions.  I was listening Asynchronously to the recording and I am keen to become part of a synchronous discussion. I have heard both of these terms before but now I have taken the time to stop and decide if there is any useful application for me. Because I  was unable to be there for the original session is was great to be able listen to the recording and knowing I could pause it and go back to it as well as go back over something that was said and listen again. I am also enjoying the new terminology asynchronous, synchronous, virtual classrooms and even “Second Life” I look forward to seeing that working. 

Jan Delmas video was very interesting clear ideas about how to facilitate a group workshop.

 The  video   from Nancy White  about communities was also interesting and I found the definition of the difference between network and communities very clear and concise. I also read  Building Online Communities this supported some of my frustrations with online communities.

• That some people read but don’t respond I am guitly of this on occasions I like to think about what I am going to say because the online is very public.
• I can think faster than I can type and going back because I have made an error re typing can be frustrating.
• The need for F2F communication and body language I suppose this is important in developing relationships but perhaps not so when delivering information for example how to to students.
• There is a lot of reading and scrolling through and I apologise for those who will have to read such a long post.
• I need to be able to develop community and encourage participation

I have done a lot of reading and it has been very interesting. I have been busy with other projects and I still am, so getting up to speed has been a bit of a mission. This has also put pressure on me so I think of students who will probably be in the same position I am interested in ways to minimise this issue.

I work for the Otago Polytechnic as a lecturer in the School of Business for computing. There are usually large class numbers and a variety of skill levels, sometimes the more skilled students become disengaged with the learning because of this. So I have decided to use a more blended delivery allowing the more competent students to work online and to attend class for tutorials and assessments only. I haven’t worked out the finer details yet but I’m sure that as I think  through the process there may be some difficulties. Having completed online courses myself as a student it can be fraught with issues but Hopefully not.

I am hoping that the Facilitating online course will give me some of the tools I can use to make this transition easier for me and students.

I have used online tools before blogs etc and I have found that you need a relatively good skills to navigate around all the technical, (how to do things part of the online digital world). I like to be able to do something immediately and have full control over the process but sometimes the digital world can interfere with that. I find that repetition of these functions is the key, the more often I do it the easier it is to remember.

Looking forward to engaging in a learning environment that exists online.

Looking at putting in a relevant video. To add a video that you have created you need to upload it into either Blipty or YouTube and then add the embedded code into your blog. Of course if you want to add your own you need to have an account with them. You can also add a video from either of these sources as well.  You will also have to be aware of copyright issues as well.

• How to add audio
• The following is a video from Youtube that shows how to add a video to a wordpress blog.

The Forth Street suite ready for action in the mornings.

I have decided that if you are going to write a post about an activity or something that needs to be recorded writing within 24 hours has to be the way to do it. Otherwise life takes over and there is no time left to reflect or be able even to remember.

Once again I find myself in the position of learning new technology as I need to. I have already learnt it but now I need to remind myself how. Being a kinesthestic learner I need to do something at least 3 times within quick succession to be able to remember, I don’t think that it has anything to do with my age. I feel sometimes I can’t  keep up as I say life takes over and there is more to do than sit on a computer.

 Look at the concentration