karenkeffer

Hello :-)

Is anyone still reading these?? I just wanted to say hello before the new semester is underway. I hope that all are well and happy!

Karen

posted by Karen Keffer @ 12/03/2006 07:31:00 PM 1 comments

Response to Week 11 Reflection

Sorry to hear about the shootings, these are the times we live in.
I enjoyed the discussion on simulations and games. I was especially happy to learn about SimSchool. This is a simulation in which trainees can apply what they have learned under hypothetical situations.

posted by Unknown @ 11/26/2006 12:59:00 PM 0 comments

Week 12 Reflection

This has certainly been a busy semester! I have actually used more of the available technologies in this course than I have in any of my other courses. I feel that I received a good grounding in each of the technologies presented, and found appropriate methods to use each of the technologies in a pedagogically sound fashion.

MSN Messenger

I have found the use of MSN meddenger to be a great asset to this class. I feel that I have developed a more personal relationship with other members of the class than I have in other courses. I also like the immediate feedback that is possible in this medium. In using MSN messenger I have completed the following activities in the course:
Chatted with other class members (Often!)
Chatted with a group of three or more (This got a bit hairy if everyone used a similar font)
Shared files with other class members (Thanks to those of you who proofread my papers!)
Had audio (and video) chats (I apologize to those of you who saw me looking somewhat less than my best!)
Used the whiteboard (Reminded me of MS Paint)
Shared an application (This was such a cool way to share!)
Shared my desktop (You never knew anyone could fit that many icons on a desktop, did you?)
used the e-College Live platform (with somewhat limited success, MSN Messenger is much for fluid)

I have found MSN Messenger to be invaluable this semester. Although I have used it before, I did not use it to the fullest extent of its capabilities. This is quite a powerful tool.

Karen

posted by Karen Keffer @ 11/25/2006 11:31:00 PM 2 comments

Week 11 Reflection

This has been a week of lots of reflection. There was a shooting here yesterday morning and 5 people were shot. There was no theft involved, no carjacking, just someone driving down the street and randomly shooting outside a daycare center. Two of the people who were shot died. They both worked at the daycare center. One of the people killed was the brother of a coworker and dear friend of mine. He was an ex-marine, ordained minister, and all around great guy. This was just senseless.

Six teachers have been laid off in my building. Of course, these are the younger, new, motivated teachers who were more willing to use technology in the classroom. We already have classes with over 35 students, and with the loss of teachers will have to combine classes. In addition the district is suing each teacher who went on strike for $250 a day for each day that we stayed on strike. It seems the district is working hard to punish us for not doing what they wanted us to do.

I have really enjoyed this week's topic! Simulations and games are great motivational objects for students. They like to play them so they stay on task longer. If games and sims are chosen wisely, students will be motivated to use them, spend more time on task, and even learn something in the process! My district blocks many of the game and simulation sites as they do not feel that games are an acceptable form of learning. I need to find a way to convince them otherwise...

I was not on MSN a lot this week as I was back in the hospital for a few days but I did manage to chat with David, Lisa, and Yolanda. I did some file sharing with Yolanda and discussed Learning Objects, their characteristics and uses.

posted by Karen Keffer @ 11/17/2006 08:16:00 PM 6 comments

Week 10 Reflection

I have been having difficulty focusing this week due to lots of medication. I think that I am finally getting used to it and can work a bit better. I am so glad to not be in pain! I told my principal that I did not know how bad I felt until I felt better!

Learning objects has been an interesting topic. They are essential to online courses. Learning objects are used because they increase learners' interest and motivation, as they imply interactivity based on sound, image and text.

I have been busy with MSN this week also. I have spent time talking with David, and Nia, and Dianne. I shared some files with Yolanda this week or last, and David and I experimented with the whiteboard features.

posted by Karen Keffer @ 11/08/2006 10:38:00 PM 4 comments

Week 9 Reflection

This is my granddaughter, Kylie, on Halloween. Isn't she adorable??

I am going to have to make this short (are you relieved??), as I am on my way to the hospital. I am having trouble walking, and my doctors cannot seem to pinpoint the problem, so I am being admitted to the hospital in a couple of hours.

When I began the reading for this week, I was a bit confused on the differences between an LCMS and an LMS, but the readings, and a few additional articles I came across, cleared it up for me. I have to admit that this is an area where I did not have much familiarity going into this class.

I have enjoyed the multimedia presentations and really like the different ways everyone presented.

posted by Karen Keffer @ 11/02/2006 08:18:00 PM 4 comments

Week 8 Reflection

This has been another hectic week! (Do I say that every week?) I had a grant due today, that I finally finished last night! I spent a lot of time refining my podcast, but still do not have the RSS feed quite right. I did manage to create and upload the file and made an RSS feed that validates, but I cannot seem to subscribe to it.

I have had a relatively busy MSN week also. I have talked to Phyllis, and Nia, and David, and Lisa, and Dr. Powley. David was a great help in trying to get the RSS feed to work, Yolanda and I commiserated on projects that were not quite up to par, and Dr. Powley and Lisa and I discussed virtual reality. (Thanks for the site info Dr. Powley...I have been hanging out there quite a bit!)

I found the information on Wireless in the classroom to be quite interesting. Here in the States, wireless computing often means laptops and PDA's, though in many other countries, wireless computing is done on cell phones! In my school we are recipients of Freedom to Learn laptops for our middle school students, so all 6th - 8th grade students have wireless laptops. We have several access points in the school, so they can be used in various classrooms. I am also hoping that we will soon have PDA's in the 3rd through 5th grade classes if my grant is accepted. DO you also have wireless technologies in your schools?

posted by Karen Keffer @ 10/26/2006 11:40:00 PM 4 comments