Unit 8

My EdWeb
I still don't know what I am going to do for my EdWeb ... well I mean I know what I want to do, but i just don't know if it's possible, how to tweak it to make it possible, etc.

Here is what Lexis has now:

1. basic online "tutorials" that just walk you through different features/functions -- NOT what I want to do (nor does it fit our assignment): http://web.lexis.com/help/multimedia/detect.asp?sPage=mom

2. interactive tutorials ... I think the biggest problem I face is that Lexis requires an ID and Password to use the research system. So, as I said before, whenever I want to do a "now you try" I can't unless they have an ID. This page, however, allows anyone to go through the interactive tutorial without having a Lexis ID.... (you just have to sign into the website itself, but not Lexis subscription -ID/PW - required) I think that recreating something like this is WAAAAAYYYY Outside of what we're doing this semester (and my skills altogether) but it is something I'd like to do, if possible, in any way.

http://www.lexisnexis.com/custserv/Training/iot/iot_login.asp?msg=IDUSED

I could easily sign on myself and record it ... but my team already does that (click here)

So, what I want is a way to say:

• We are going to learn how to do the following things in Lexis
• (learning objective)
• Now test yourself ... that is where i'm stuck -- how am I going to do that?

CRAP and CARP ...
This reading assignment was quick and interesting ... it was nice to immediately apply it to the web critique assignment.

Fun activities
I loved the Yearbook assignment and sent it to all my friends

Belated Unit 7 Post

Horton Ch. 4 - Connect

the scavenger hunt spoke to me because that is the method I use now to serve multiple functions: as a fun way to see how well someone knows the research system, to refresh their skills/minds, and as a test after a series of classes. there are only so many "facts" you can quiz someone about using the research system... after that it's really more important for them to actually try to put it into action. This was my AH=HA moment but more for what I think is lacking in my team's (at work) webinar series.

EdWeb
So I have to admit that I know in my head what i want to do but:
a). feel overwhelmed by the process I am about to undertake -- the form is a bit intimidating (i.e. the sections and learning objectives, etc.) and I'm not sure if I can do what I want/envision ... is it too advanced for me, is it not what I'm supposed to be doing, is it a waste/pointless b/c there are people in my company (the Education department) who are already doing these things?
b). am mentally torn in prepping for both projects at once
c). have avoided putting the analysis section to paper -- i have saved everything though!

Sample Websites
1. Kirsten Morton (adult): http://thunder1.cudenver.edu/ilt/elearning/edweb_morton/index.html

I really liked this one ... it was simple but informative; the icons were cute and relevant; and the memory aids were helpful.

2. Betsy McNair (adult): http://thunder1.cudenver.edu/ilt/elearning/mcnair_edweb/index.html

This one was very detailed and thorough in how it moved step-by-step ... it wasn't as easy for me to understand b/c it didn't apply to me so the various steps kind of overwhelmed me a bit (in terms of info intake) but I liked that each button on the left had its corresponding sub-parts ... I really really liked the fill in the blank portion in the middle of the process that was brought to use later. that was neat!

3. Kim Baker (adult): http://www.wildhorseeducation.com/

This one was great b/c the modules were distinct and each listed their learning objective very clearly; the assessment was fun to take and I liked the summary at the end (just before the assessment). (there were actually two distinct tutorials!) The additional resources were appropriate and interesting. I liked this one a lot!

4. Kathleen Brady (adult): http://thunder1.cudenver.edu/ilt/elearning/brady/index.html
This site had lots of interactive things (aka DO Activities)-- for example, I liked how you could do your pre-work right from the site ... also, you could print the checklist for the unit, there were case studies and quick references and self-tests ... and there were even "CONNECTION ACTIVITIES" ... agahghag, this site integrated everything we've talked about so far!!!! a very good example!

5. Jen McDonald (adult): http://home.comcast.net/~JenEd830/school/wle/index.html

This one had the ability to "test out" of a module and move ahead to the next (if you got all the questions right) as well as a neat demonstration to reinforce an element of computer graphics just learned (scaling an image and pixelation) ... that was really neat. I liked this one as an example as well!

Belated Unit 6 post

Fav.or.ites
My favorite part of Unit 6 was going to and actually using del.icio.us ... unfortunately, it's like numerous other fun tools that I find on the internet -- I FORGET TO USE THEM!!! what good is that? So instead of finding a website I want to remember and bookmarking it, I end up having to use the folders (including sent) in my various email accounts (too many) to relocate things ... or I have to browse through the WAY TOO many favorites that I've saved.

I also do this with www.rememberthemilk.com -- i love this because you can send an email to righ to this site with a one line entry of a to-do item and it is populated in your to-do list. Once again, what good is that if I never check my rememberthemilk?

This all is closely intertwined with a related problem that happens when finding various websites to enjoy and make use of later ... I have TOO many passwords to remember to get into them all -- especially if it's something i don't use for a long time! ahghaghag.

Do-Type Activities
For our webinar group there were only so many things that we could do ... I think we have a few good ideas ... but I am not sure. The Do-Type Activity question is one of the basic reasons I took this course - how to integrate learner-interaction within a webinar. We're the podcasting/RSS group so we may have people listen to one or make one themselves but those would be after the fact and i'm not sure if that counts?