This is your LAST blog for Ed Psych. It is worth 30 pts and will be for Weeks 13,14,15.
Due date: December 2.
Toward the end of each semester, I typically like to get some feedback from students in regard to the course.
The information you share will in no way affect your grade. That said, keep in mind that every other member of the class will be able to see your comments.
I am constantly looking for ways to improve delivery. I am considering text messages for important due dates, etc. I am also considering apps for certain components of the class so that you can complete assignments directly from your mobile device. I have also looked at having you "record" your assignments in some sort of voice thread so that you do not need to be next to your computer to complete an assignment. I also thought of creating the entire course in a googledocument so that you could access it from your mobile device and receive notifications every time something changed. Do you like Blogger? Do you like GoogleDocs? Learning today has changed dramatically. Sitting down and listening to a lecture is out. What would you like to see in place of that?
I welcome any comments regarding delivery and the class as a whole. What would make the learning more convenient for you? This course is online. What would make the learning more valuable to you? Please provide me with some feedback, even if it seems "over the top" so to speak.
Thank you. Splichal
Overall, I had a positive experience with this class! :) One of the things I really liked the most was that you had a pretty set routine for each week: blog, assignment, quiz. With this being my 1st semester completely online, it took me a while to get organized. However, knowing what you expected each week took the guessing out of everything and make the course easy to follow. When you did include multiple week long projects, I thought the due dates were clearly given with plenty of notice. At the beginning of the semester, there was some confusion with the content, but I appreciate you taking the the time to fix everything and not leaving it on us to get it figured out!
ReplyDeleteI liked that you had us use GoogleDocs. I had only a little previous experience with using it, but it was not hard to completely figure out. I thought it was an easy way to submit assignments and receive feedback. Not to mention, changes could be made to the document before the due date unlike SafeAssign where once you submit the document it's permanent.
I liked using Blogger as well. I liked that you had us focus on relating the topics and content to our own lives and asked our own thoughts and own opinions rather than just had us summarize chapters.
The only problem I had this semester was with my textbook. Sometimes the content matched up and sometimes it didn't - especially with the Praxis book. I don't know if I just got the wrong edition from the bookstore or what, but that's really the only problem I had.
I thought you were very quick to reply to e-mails and notify the rest of us if an issue was brought to your attention. I think having us record our thoughts or answers to an assignment is a good idea. I am not particularly a huge fan of listening to my recorded voice, but it is something different than typing all of the time.
Other than that, thanks for a great semester!! :)
I also really liked how I knew what needed to be done each week. I am a very structured person so I really liked that I didn't have anything crazy thrown my way. I also had a hard time with the praxis book. I tried to fine somethings that he was talking about and I could not find it to save my life, so I don't know if I got a different edition of the cliff notes book. Great post!!
DeleteI agree! In other courses I feel as though I get so stressed because I don't have an exact layout of the assignments and what is due every single week by a certain time. This class did that and it was really helpful! I felt the same way with the praxis book - it seemed as though some things matched up but others didn't.
DeleteYou are correct. The editions of the text caused issues. Same for the Praxis.
DeleteI will fix this for next semester.
Splichal
I would like to say that I really enjoyed this class and the format of it. I took this course with another teacher last semester and nothing was explained, she never e-mailed back, and she would grade the assignments based on her opinion rather than the rubric she made. So long story short I failed the class by a few points. I really liked that you graded the assignments fast and you e-mailed me back within 24 hours. I would love if we could have had a program that we could record our assignment s away from our computer. This would have helped me this past week due to a family emergency I had in the middle of now where, where people there have no idea what the internet is haha. So to have that would be awesome!! I think that texting assignments would be great so we get an alert right there rather than going into our e-mail, because not every student checks their e-mail every day. I personally do not like Google docs because I am not very familiar with it and I am just so used to word document. If there was a video explaining it or something then I would probably be okay. I like the blackboard discussion board better because it is organized a little better and we can see all the posts together rather than scrolling all the way through. Instead of recorded lectures I really like the power points because I can read through them and take notes rather than listening to someone talk about something that I could just do on my own. Again like I said earlier I really liked how you communicated back to me so fast because since we aren’t face to face it is really important to have great communication. Thanks for a great non-stressed semester :)!!!
ReplyDeleteI thought the format of this class was great. It was well organized and put together. I didn't have to search around for any assignment and I knew what to expect each week. I thought the blogger we used was good too. The only complaint I had about it was having to confirm I wasn't a robot each time. That got a little old. I had only used google docs a little before this but it was very easy to use and I really liked it. It was an easy way to receive feedback. It was nice being able to go back and edit some things if we didn't feel we did it quite right. I think using apps for this class on your phone would be very convenient too. Not everyone can always be around the computer so i think that would be a good thing to look into. Overall it was a good class and I really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI also got SO annoyed with the verification every time I had to submit a post.
DeleteI concur with having to verify that I am human. Sometimes I couldnt read the words or letters. I like the blog more than discussion boards but would like to see something more interactive to where there is real discussion about the topic, something maybe that requires us to interact with one another. Truthfully, if you are short on time, you are not reading all the other blogs!
DeleteI agree about the proving you are not a robot often times I could not read the words. I agree at times I did not read very many other blog post just kind of skimmed them and gave a reply that was plausible.
DeleteUnderstood. I will revamp the blogs for next semester and come up with new ideas on more interaction.
DeleteSplichal
I enjoyed this course, both the content and the way it was organized. I've taken courses with Mr. Splichal in the past and I always like how he organizes his classes and content. I enjoy using GoogleDocs because it keeps me organized in regards to the assignments for the course. It's nice to be able to have all of the submitted assignments in one spot and easy to access grades and feedback. There is no saving, uploading, or anything else. The assignment is just created in GoogleDocs, saved throughout the time you are creating it, and then you can just share it with your instructor.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed using Blogger as well. I loved that we didn't just have to post every week a summary of what we read in the chapters. One thing I have noticed in Mr. Splichal's classes is that he always has blogs/discussion boards/etc. related to everyday experiences or our own personal lives. I feel as though this really helps me learn the content versus just reading and writing a quick summary over the material.
I think that voice recording is a good idea. Lecture is something that is out - so replacing that is important. However, in other classes I've enjoyed meeting a few times throughout the semester face to face to discuss classroom via adobe or something similar. It gives the class a chance to actually connect with each other and with the instructor.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this course. Thank you to Mr. Splichal for always being so prompt with e-mail replies, grading, feedback, etc. Great class!
I really liked the structure of this course. I have take 20+ online classes since on I started my bachelors degree across 4 different learning platforms (WebCT, Moodle, Angel, Blackboard) which all do about the same thing. Having taken so many classes, I can say that I appreciate structure, predictable due dates, and reasonably timed assignments.
ReplyDeleteA few things that I don't care for:
I prefer the "chunking" teaching strategy as I get a little overwhelmed when there are multiple assignments (weeks 11-15) on one document to finish.
I would be absolutely furious in having to submitted videos (youtube, voice thread, screen cast) as it is a pain to find a quiet time, create a script, deliver, upload on the terribly slow internet I have, and then wait for others to post theirs. Plus it is difficult to stream a video to a mobile device when you are still on AT&T's Edge network! But, you can read a blog on the go where you might not be able to watch a video.
GoogleDocs is nice but it is still rather buggy when it comes to editing and I would not like to do my class wholly on that medium.
Lastly, I am glad you did not assign a group project as it becomes a mess to deal with peoples schedules and work ethics.
Overall, this was my favorite course this semester. I found that I really did not have questions about the directions for assignments. I really like the I have a grade in this class, it helps me know that I am meeting expectations. In some of my classes I don't have a single grade posted.
Teachers who are responsive and show care in their teaching get better quality work from me. So, I appreciate your work!
Thanks!
I agree that I preferred the weekly assignments at the beginning of the semester versus the 3-4 week ones like our last two.
DeleteNathanial, I appreciate what you said very much. I can tell, in your work, that you did produce excellent quality. Thank you.
DeleteI am making a list of all suggestions you are all making. I will make the course better for Spring.
Splichal
I thought the format of this class began to run smoothly after you were able to arrange it to fit yours and our needs. There were assignments and quizzes that seemed jumbled at the beginning, but you were able to stay on top of these matters and help us through them. You were also willing to admit when the mistake was on FHSU's end and not blame the system. You took control and set things up so it would work for all of us, and to me, that's a sign of a teacher who cares about the course load and the students.
ReplyDeleteUsing google docs and a voice thread is something I have used in the past for other online courses. I really enjoyed using the voice thread. For me, it was easier to talk about my responses or comments and let the computer record them. I'm not the best writer, so the voice thread was a favorite of mine.
Structure is a key component for me when taking these online courses. I'm finishing up my T2T, and also teach full time, coach and have a family to go along with this course. So knowing when things will be due helps me plan my time.
Clarity of instructions would be the other important part of this structure. Because it is an online course, the clearer the instructions the better chance for success the student has. I thought that you were available to handle any questions I had during this semester in a timely matter. You also helped out with some material I did not have at the beginning of the year to complete an assignment.
Ditto on structure! I, too, am in T2T and have to really balance my time.
DeleteI agree, Mr. Splichal was very willing to help us out in any way he could. Knowing exact due dates and assignments help for virtual students who are also working full time. I think we sometimes take our online school for granted. Being able to still work and go to school full time is something a lot of people never thought would be possible.
DeleteThank you Randy,
DeleteThe T2T people have a unique situation that I need to be aware of. You are NOT like the other candidates.
Splichal
The Good –
ReplyDelete1. I liked using Google Docs because there was an opportunity to go back and fix assignments if they hadn’t been graded, even though I never had to do it. Also, I like that we can easily review the documents after they had been graded and see specific feedback.
2. I liked the reliable weekly schedule with a chapter to read, a quiz, and an assignment.
3. Response via email was always very prompt, which I appreciate.
The Not So Good –
1. I disliked the textbook. It was very informative, but very clinical. I had to reread things over and over and never felt I truly understood them.
2. Since I had trouble understanding difficult concepts, I would have liked some sort of supplemental discussion or lecture.
3. Sometime the assignments didn’t really match up with the blogs or chapter readings. For example, two of my favorite chapters were Chapter 7: Behavioral Views of Learning and Chapter 13: Creating Learning Environments. I would have loved to do a project that directly related to the concepts in each of those chapters.
You don't trust the course evals? :D
ReplyDeletePositive stuff:
The textbook - this was a really great textbook. It was very easy to read and the author has a great sense of humor!
As others have said - I too am a very structured person. Honestly to do well with online classes, I don't know how you cannot be. I was glad for the predictability of the schedule. Even with the messes at the beginning of the semester I still felt that the course went smoothly and there were no negative surprises.
I did like that you put the last several assignments together. It helps (me at least) have a little more flexibility in managing my own time, which is of course one of the reasons that I am in online classes. I also really appreciated the "templates" you provided for the last two assignments. Obviously I can put together my own organization, but having it structured in the way you want to grade it was really helpfully in knowing what you expected.
I was glad that the assignments and the blogs were about application not regurgitation. I was also glad to not have a group project. While I see the benefit of those - they lose a little when you are just emailing back and forth.
I love GoogleDocs, I use it for personal documents frequently so I didn't have an issue with that. I definitely prefer it to SafeAssign for the same reason another person mentioned. You can post it in there, share it even, and still make changes, updates, whatever to it until the due date. That saves time for everyone because in SafeAssign, while I know other teachers are willing to clear assignments (prior to their intended due date) that's a step on their part and me waiting on my part in order to submit it again. GoogleDocs saves all those steps. However, there are other applications like Dropbox that could be used as well and if the biggest complaint is working specifically in Google - something like Dropbox would eliminate that. That might be harder to manage though - security wise.
I am neutral on the blog. I like the organization of the discussion boards better, something another poster already mentioned. But I read several other blogs so I'm flexible on that.
Negatives:
I didn't have any I guess. I never had any issues that I wasn't able to figure out.
Suggestions:
I would really like to see ALL textbooks be offered online. If you are working toward trying to create this class to be more mobile friendly that would be a great help. I did get the Praxis book through Google Play, but none of the others. It would be a huge savings to the students as well.
I have to say that if there were to be a video/voice component, that would not be my favorite. I have done that before and, for me, that is extra work because I will still write my response and then read it. I don't like speaking to my computer screen, or my phone, or my tablet "off the cuff", I ramble. Being in an in-class discussion is a little different because there is immediate back and forth. The VoiceThread is everyone's own personal monologue. I think that would not be as effective.
I am surprised you were unable to get the textbook digitally. I was able to get it digitally.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI got the Praxis in digital form... I guess I'll have to look harder next time. :( Thanks!
DeleteStacie, that is good input about voice recordings. Thank you.
DeleteI am limited in regard to text/online text based on the department.
Splichal
Overall, I am fine with the class the way that it is. For me, I have to have organization. I think you have done a great job with the whole assignment tab on the side so that we can follow what needs to be done. I like when the entire class has been planned for the semester with no surprise assignments in the middle. I like to print the class schedule the first day of class and plan myself accordingly. If things are added to the list later, things can be missed and confusing.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Google Docs, I really didn’t like it at first. Once I got into it, I decided that it was the best way to communicate on assignments. I like that feedback can easily be left on the material. If there was a delay in grades being posted in the grade book, I was able to go out to Google Docs to see that you left a note so I knew the assignment just needed to be put n the grade book. I had another class that was all done through Google Docs and I didn’t care for it at all. It was hard to find things and to track. I think using Google Docs to turn in assignments is the best thing to use it for.
I have never done the recorded response on assignments before. I am pretty sure that would have been horrible for me if you required it this semester. I like to write ideas down and reread them. I think much deeper if I type my response. If I make a mistake, I can just simply delete the comment and fix it. If it was a recorded session, I couldn’t just simply take a section out. If this is something you want to explore, I would think offering it as an option instead makings it a requirement so students who would find that delivery method as a benefit could use it and for those students, like me that wouldn’t care for it, could continue with what we have always done.
One thing I would suggest is to break assignments down into smaller pieces. I think it would be really beneficial if you select a particular theorist for the week and design an assignment that forces the students to really know the ends and outs of that theorist. You could include all the areas that will be on the PLT also. It would really help students study for the test while they are completing the course work for the class. It’s really hard for me to sit down and study all the theorist at once, but if I was focusing on just one at a time and really studying everything he or she has done, It will more and likely stick with me.
I feel that we are all pretty limited due to the fact we are not face to face. Since I have been a virtual student, I think I have had to try every avenue out there. Overall, nothing really had a huge impact on me. I love everything about online classes, but I have to admit, nothing replaces the good old fashion lectures. Dr. Walizer actually records her face to face classes and post them online for her virtual candidates to watch. She was really good about including everyone that was online in her recordings. One great example that I really loved about the recordings was her read a louds. I could have read on a course outline to do a read aloud with students. I certainly understand what it is telling me to do, but actually watching someone model it was a whole different ball game. My personal read alouds have improved drastically just by watching her. I am not sure what to suggest in place of lectures, but I really do enjoy them.
I like Googledocs and also feel that it is a great way to get feedback. One of the things I might mention regarding studying the theorists more thoroughly would be that I have done that in many other classes. I felt that what we did in this class was just enough of a refresher to remind me of all the theorists. I liked Dr. Walizer's lectures too, but I don't always need a lecture. I don't always have the time to sit down and watch the lectures as well as all of the other coursework that is provided. I really like how this class was set up and thought that the assignments did a good job of engaging my thought processes to increase my knowledge in the subject.
DeleteBonnie and Kristi, thank you. Two different perspectives. I am learning that you can't please everyone, but maybe more "options" would be good.
DeleteSplichal
Probably what I would like to see most from the course in the future is a possible website for the course (Marsha Moody does this, and I really enjoyed it), and more use of Google docs for collaboration. I love Google docs! I think they are useful and fun, and I also think that they're a great way to collaborate with other students. I encourage their use with a tutorial video.
ReplyDeleteAs for projects, I would love to see a more specialized project in which students could select a possible topic or issue to report back on for the class. Letting us become "experts" on a particular topic is worthwhile and helps us to delve more deeply into our own specialties (I would probably choose Diverse Learning, for example).
I don't love Blogger--its interface is nice, and it's fairly easy to use, but darn those Captchas. I think perhaps they're a bit more trouble than they're worth for many users. I do think that the blogging component is important, though, and it is also necessary that actual discussion and not just summary is happening (thanks for the clarification on that).
I personally have never used my phone to complete assignments, and wouldn't necessarily want text updates. I know many college students have smartphones and unlimited text plans, but there are still a lot of non-traditional students in the virtual college who wouldn't use these methods of delivery, either.
Thank you for clear deadlines! That was very helpful. I can understand that some people might have difficulty doing a big project over 4 chapters, but part of being in the virtual college is organizing your own time--if you do a portion each week, it will be easier. Having the projects laid out from the beginning is also useful--maybe a video with your expectations will help keep students from skipping over reading instructions. I am a read-write person, I always read directions, but I think a video would help improve delivery.
I always enjoy courses that include that visual component, like watching a video (I liked the theorists, that would be cool to have that more directly in the course). We could always blog responses to those!
That's all I can think of right now--I appreciate that we aren't doing group projects, and I also appreciate the consistent delivery and feedback. Have a good rest of the semester!
I agree with you in several areas Alyssa. First, I don't feel that assingments using your phone would be advantageous, atleast not for me. I like to be able to work on my computer and complete the task as we are now. But having that option for others is great, just don't make it mandatory. In addition, I like the idea of you using video for additional learning, such as the theorists or to express your expectations of the class, for even for each week of assignments. If everytime we opened a module there was a short video to watch explaining the assignment for that module, maybe modeling the assignment, and having the due date, that would be great too.
DeleteMr. Splichal, for me I simply love that you are so understanding and easy to work with. I love that you know we have REAL lives beyond school and that there is a reason why we are taking online classes rather than being on campus. I appreciate this to no end!! I love love love the structure and predictability of your course. I know every week that we'll have a quiz, a discussion board and some sort of assignment. For me this was great as my other courses were adding more and more each week and giving me less and less time to complete work. I really like googledocs and think that it would be neat to do group work, however, I'm always worried about my peers not holding their end of the bargain. I like your idea of making things avaible from our mobile devices. This makes the availability of the course a lot better. To bad we all couldn't afford iPads :(.... The textbooks are great but I'd like to see you add more with preperations towards our testing. Overall you know I enjoy your courses, thanks for all your hard work to make our learning more meaningful :)
ReplyDeleteKevin,
ReplyDeleteI really like the format of your classes. Everything is always laid out for us in a systematic way. I know when I look at the course, I can see all of the assignments, when they are due, and exactly what is expected of me. It is easy to follow and rarely do I have questions with regard to assignments.
I like that we use the blogs instead of a discussion board because too often it seems the discussion boards are just another format for us to answer questions which could be done as another assignment, and truthfully, I don't really have the time to read what everybody else is writing, even the responses to me.
I like the idea of Google Docs because of how you insert feedback into our assignments and how easy it is to review. In addition, there is never issues in sending the document, all we have to do is just share it with you.
I would always like to try new ways of learning material and doing assignments so if that means trying voice threads or using any other technology, than I think this would be great. I do believe that sometimes too much integration of technology can inhibit learning if students are too concerned with trying to figure out the technology part.
I do appreciate your quick repsonses to emails and your understanding when problems arise. I have had you as an instructor in two different courses and both times I've had a positive experience.
Thanks!
Kendra and Robert. Thank you.
DeleteI agree, Robert, that technology can inhibit learning if a person has to spend more time figuring it out rather than actually "learning."
I am hearing more and more that "options" are good for online learners.
Splichal
This class is very good and I had a great experience with it. THere isn't much I would change at all. Googledocs took quite awhile for me to figure out but once I did I loved it. I think the text messaging idea for due dates would be a good idea with the way things are these days. One thing I didn't like was that the textbooks didn't match up very well and i felt the praxis book was useless. The blogs were more of a pain and I didn't get anything out of them I think maybe some improvements would be to set up a video discussion on skype or something to that effect once or twice during the semester so we can talk about issues or questions we have been having. Also I would have liked to review more of the theories that we need for education. Overall I had a great time in class!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of group texting, it makes getting information out much easier. I almost always have my cell phone with me. I like the blogger, it makes responding to other students and seeing their responses to our own statements much easier than getting in and out in the discussion board that is offered in Blackboard. Googledocs is easy to use and I can go out and see at anytime whether you have seen my assignment or not. It also makes feedback much easier. I always use my laptop and do not use mobile devices for schoolwork. I do realize that many other people are not always able to get to a computer so this may be a very good option for them. I however would not need that option.
ReplyDeleteI like how this class was set up. The assignments each week were very consistent and I always knew what was expected of me. The assignments were thought provoking and also ensured that I do some research to help me with the Praxis exam that I will need to take in the near future. I liked how everything was available to us at the beginning of the semester so there was no guessing as to how much time might be required to get this weeks assignment done. I could always see what was coming and be able to adjust my time accordingly. I feel this class was very valuable and I feel I got a lot out it. Thanks a bunch for a great semester!
I liked the structure of this class so that every week was going to be similar. This made it easy to plan my time. I also liked how all the assignments were in order and easy to find. I have a online class right now where they assignments are in no order so you have to hunt through the folder to find them. I enjoy using Google Docs and think it is something that I will incorporate into my high school classes as a way for students to turn in papers. One thing that I was thinking might be useful it to take some of the theories and learning models and have videos of teachers using them in the classroom. This would give us a little more concrete examples of how these theories would work in a class.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the structure of this course. I knew exactly what I needed to do each week. I am not a big technology person so all that stuff about apps and recordings is not something I would be interested in. I do like using Google Docs and Blogger. I was able to work on assignments during down time at work and not worry about the printing or saving it. I thought the grading turn around was great, I like to know how I am doing and what I have missed. Every time I had a question, Mr. Splichal was quick to reply. All in all I have had a great experience with this course and look forward to having Mr. Splichal as a professor in other classes.
ReplyDeleteOh! Reading your post reminded me that I forgot to comment about recordings. I would NOT like to record my submissions. I like to be able to type mine up and I'm not that "techie" either so google docs and blogger were perfectly fine for me. I also agree that I knew EXACTLY what needed to be done each week. One class I have has changes made to the assignments/calendar almost every two weeks and it drives me CRAZY because I like to fill my planner out ahead of time at the beginning of the semester so I can budget my time and this course was fantastic in this department!!!!!
DeleteOverall, I enjoyed how the class was set up. The assignments and deadlines were presented clearly. I liked how you all of the assignments and readings divided up into weeks. I'm still somewhat new to online courses. If the layout of a course site is confusing, I become a bit distressed. The layout of this course was very easy to navigate.
ReplyDeleteBefore this class, I had only ever used Googledocs a few times. While I have come to enjoy Googledocs, I was a bit confused by it at first. For students that aren't familiar with how Googledocs works, it may help to have a link to a video explaining how Googledocs works on the site. Perhaps in the future, you could utilize Googledocs for more than just individual assignments in the course. Collaborative assignments or projects using Googledocs could be beneficial to teaching students how to collaborate purely online.
I feel that the blogging component of the course is very useful for open discussions. I like how Blogger is an easy site to use for first-time bloggers. I feel like the way this blog is set up is much more user-friendly than the discussion boards in blackboard. I absolutely hate how you have to click on each thread in the discussion boards in order to see what your classmates have written. I definitely prefer having all of the posts open and easy to read.
I have never used voice thread before, so I can't really comment on it.
On the subject of mobile devices, I generally don't use my phone to access the internet or many other things. Although making it so that students can access the course documents and assignments using their mobile devices sounds like a great way to keep students in touch with the course and its updates, I don't believe that I would personally use it.
All in all, I liked the format and clarity of this online course. While there are some technological aspects that can be advanced, I think it's on the right track.
I personally have liked the format of the course and find the use of Google docs for submission easy and convenient. I have actually been using Google docs for a couple of years because it eliminates the need for me to use a jump drive when going between my work computer and home computer and I don’t have to worry about any formatting issues when using that application.
ReplyDeleteI also like the format of each week/chapter being in its own module. It is very organized and it’s easy to find information. One class I have right now, this is not the case. I have to spend so much time hunting for templates and information and it’s confusing and frustrating. I have so much appreciated the organization of the class.
As far as using my cell phone to access the course that is not something that would appeal to me. I still just have talk and text (yes, I’m old). I like the use of blogger and think it’s simple and easy. It is much better than the discussion board within blackboard because I can see all the posts at once and immediately see who I have replied to. That’s what always drove me crazy about discussion board is that you have to click on each person’s name to see the post and it just take so much time to do it that way.
I think maybe having some type of group activity would help pull us all together as a class, even though we are virtual. If you could assign a project and include four or five students in it, and do it in a google doc so we could all add to the assignment, I think that would be a beneficial learning experience and opportunity for cooperative learning. The blog does this to a certain extent but it’s not actually something we work together on. As far as sitting down and listening to lecture I agree, that is not the way learning takes place anymore. I like being able to work ahead if I need to, which in some instances in the course, I was not able to do toward the beginning because of problems in course format that I’m not sure were really any fault of yours. In some cases a recorded session of instructions might be helpful but I’m not sure are necessary in this class because your instructions are clear and precise. I have enjoyed this course and hope I have the opportunity to have you in another course as well. This is my second course with you as my instructor and I have enjoyed it!
I agree with you a group project would have been good. The idea of working in a group used to bother me however I have gained a great deal of knowledge from projects like that and I learned a lot. I would not use my phone for this either. I barely know how to operate my phone and know there are many features on it I don't use because I don't know how. What is worse is I really don't want to learn how. LOL!!! I had not used Google docs before and I did learn to love it. Working on assignments from any computer was awesome and I plan to use it for many other things as well. I also agree the organization to this class was great and is one of the most organized online classes I have taken.
DeleteCarolyn, I am happy that you feel the course was organized because I didn't. I have many plans to improve for next semester.
DeleteSplichal
I have really enjoyed this class! I have had many online classes that were difficult and frustrating because of the structure and the instructor. The class structure was set and I knew what was expected of me each week. I really liked blogger especially better than the blackboard discussion board because I can see everyone's post at the same time and it is so much easier to comment this was as well. I liked that although the chapters and the quizzes didn't always match because I had the older edition I was still able to find the answers in the text very easily. I personally would not like to record my answers or discussions because I like writing it out. I like being able to write and think about my answers more than talking it out. I love GoogleDocs and think it is so easy to work with. I think it makes being able to edit and communicate with a professor much easier than safeassign. I think that making the course more mobile device friendly is a neat idea but I don't know how much it would get used. I think that I have my computer with me just as much as my cell phone so it really isn't a problem getting the assignments done because everywhere has WiFi. Overall I think this course was so easy to manage and Kevin answered any question or concern I had quickly and worked with me on any problems I had. This was one of my favorite online courses I have taken!
ReplyDeleteCMoses - I too like blogger way better than the traditional discussion board on blackboard. However, there are some courses that will still require the traditional discussion board for simply assignments.
DeleteFinial Blog –
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Splichal,
I have really enjoyed this class. I am so glad that I was able to get to know you as an on campus student as well as a virtual student. In terms of the information presented in this course, I feel as if all the information was organized wonderfully. I was never left guess what it was you were asking me to do. I did have a few technology issues this semester with my computer crashing, but that’s life. : )
For future references I would love to have an app for this course that I could complete assignments on the go. I also love the idea of having everything organized in GoogleDocs so that as you stated whenever something is changed or updated I would receive an email on my mobile device. I did have a class a few semesters ago where we were able to record different discussion boards through a recording device called audacity. I did really enjoy recording my thoughts rather than typing them out.
Thanks for all you have done this semester.
Sincerely,
Matraca Forell
I also thought the recording of our thoughts on audacity was a neat idea. It gave you a chance to really express yourself, and it was something new and different as well.
DeleteOverall I felt that the set up and organization of this course was good. It was nice to know EXACTLY what was due and when it was due each week. I felt that we were given plenty of notice before an assignment was due also. Being online students we complete course work at different times. I was thankful for being given plenty of notice before assignments were due so that I could "schedule" when I would work on assignments. I also really appreciated Mr. Splichal's timely responses to e-mails. Again, this is SOOOO important for online classes as it is our only form of communication with our instructors. I really appreciate him making that a priority. The blogger was new to me and for the most part I liked it. I liked that the questions related to life and were not just a simple reflection of what we had read. Just as some other students said before, I did not like having to prove that I am not a computer every time that I posted, but I understand the need for that. I think it might have been nice to have a separate blog for classroom collaboration and questions. There were times that I had a few questions about assignments and I e-mailed Mr. Splichal my questions. It might have been nice to ask other students or to have Mr. Splichal answer them publicly through blogging so that other students could see the questions and answers as well. I would think this would prevent have to answer the same question multiple times and would allow me to get feedback on my assignments from my classmates if I wanted to. I could see the benefit to having a mobile app. I don't know that I would use it to complete assignments, but it would be nice for checking my grades and for checking for new information or assignments added to the class. Lastly, I sometimes wished things were graded more quickly. I like to see my grade on previous assignments (or blogs) before I begin my next assignment so that I know that I am fully understanding what is expected from the teacher. This being said, I CANNOT imagine having to grade all of the work for the MANY students in this class, so I completely understand that it is not always possible to grade any quicker. This brings me back to being thankful for timely responses to my e-mailed questions! Thanks for a well organized class Mr. Splichal!
ReplyDeleteThank you Natalie.
DeleteSplichal
What I really liked about the class was the Google documents. I had never used this and found it very useful. I could access the document from any computer or internet device and found that useful. I could work on the assignment where ever I was. I have to admit that I was pretty leary of the Google docs in the beginning but grew to really like it. I would like to see more webinars or more modules used. The book was not very interesting and was too scientific (i guess that is what I want to say). I would have preferred to have other information to learn from that was more implementable. I had a hard time with only having it for assignments. I felt I did not learn as much as I would have it we would have had other information to go along with it.
ReplyDeleteAs far as more in depth technology I am a bit skeptical about it. I am technology illiterate and have a difficult time learning new programs so for this personal reason only I would say no more technology. With that being said I do want to state that all the technology I have learned over the years I am glad to have learned. The same is true with Google docs so if I needed to learn it for a class I am sure I would love it and use it once I got acquainted with the program. Like I said it my lack of knowledge is the only reason I am hesitant. Before online classes, I had no computer knowledge except to type a document and print it out.
I have enjoyed this class and have learned a lot from it. Thank you Mr. Splichal.
Mr. Splichal,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your willingness to adapt to the new world of technology. It's nice to hear an instructor so open to all technology has to offer. With that being said, I love the idea of creating the entire course through googledocs. I love know exactly what and when assignments are due. I also appreciate your availability and your quick responses to any questions we have through emails or phone calls. You can tell you are a very organized and structured teacher, something we should all be striving to be. Especially when working with so many virtual students, it's nice to know that our input is appreciated as well. I think all of your ideas for the future sound good. Googledocs is definitely, something I would keep. as well as the voice threads. I think this would go over well for virtual students.
I Love Google docs and like how you put constructive comments right in there for review. This has been incredibly beneficial to me over the semester. It was great to be able to go back and read your comments before I started the next project.
ReplyDeleteI like the Idea of the blogging and enjoyed reading everyone responses. The only downfall is that I am severely dyslexic and the organization of the blog was hard for me to keep track of. I would read something then leave to think it over and would have a horrible time finding the post again to comment on it. I also HATED that “prove your not a robot scrambled words” I laughed many times over having to get my husband to come type it for me because I would miss read the letters so badly It would take me several tries to get it to let me post. It was very frustrating.
I also had a hard time with the quizzes but this was only due to the fact that I am a really bad test taker. I do feel like I got better as the semester moved forward and I felt more comfortable with the format. Over all found the class to be a very positive learning experience.
In regards to the quizzes, I wouldn't say that I am a bad test taker however, I didn't like that there were only five questions. If you miss one question you automatically have an 80%. I think that ten questions would be better because then you can get away with missing a couple before you have an 80%. Maybe this isn't a problem for anyone else. I just don't like shorter quizzes/exams because in my opinion it is easier to get a lower grade.
DeleteCathryn and Courtney - I agree about the quizzes. Such a short quiz with questions worth so many points.... I hate tests. If you look at the assignments that I turn in versus the quizzes you might think I have multiple personalities or something. I also think that overall, the assignments do a much better job of showing what a person really "knows" because you work on application of that knowledge, not just rote memory.
DeleteAgreed. Quizzes will be replaced with different objectives.
DeleteSplichal
First of all let me say THANK YOU for understanding and realizing that we as virtual students take online classes for a reason and that sitting down listening/watching multiple lectures a week is not always very easy for many of us to do. With that some of my other likes are: GoogleDocs- I love googledocs- I was able to load googledrive onto my phone and could view my assignments and your comments easily from my phone anywhere and anytime. Blogger- It is okay. It is easy to use and when the different weeks are setup, like you do, it is easier to see what everyone is posting. I have had courses where the blogger turned into somewhat of a cluster, and it took forever to go back, read and respond. It didn’t turn into that in this course, so that was very helpful and effective. The other thing I like, is when you setup the assignments/projects over a span of multiple weeks. As a mother that works full time and takes classes online, it helps me to plan further in advance and gives me some flexibility so that when “life happens” there is some wiggle room! I think that the idea of having text messaging for due dates is great! Another thing I loved was that you gave feedback and comments within our assignments. You highlighted key parts of our work, and gave your comments with it. I really liked that.
ReplyDeleteNow, as for things I don’t like… I can’t really say there was much of anything. I thought that the organization was good, we knew from week to week what to expect, we knew what your expectations were for each assignment and that was very nice. We were given great feedback and resources within the course and overall it was a very positive learning experience.
Yes - that is why were are online. We are moms and dads and work full time all the while attending school full time. Without having a program like this most of us wouldn't be able to go to school.
DeleteHanna and Jackie, Thank you for your comments.
DeleteI fortifies what I know about online learners. You have children, full-time jobs, spouses, soccer games to attend, etc, etc, etc. The list goes on. Laundry. Hate laundry.
Splichal
Once you "cleaned up" the class, it seemed a lot more straight forward. All those video reflections that were on here initially would have taken hours of our time, and as virtual students that's exactly what we don't have a lot of (hence why we are online!) I like that the class is work ahead capable. I like the idea of apps for the class to use from your phone (I use the BLOGGER app from my iphone for my own personal blog!), and text message reminders. The expectations of the class are outlined well from the beginning of the semester, and the quizzes are actually OVER the course material we study for that week! I can't say the same for some of my other online courses I've taken! haha MR. SPLICHAL =0) I thoroughly enjoyed taking a course from you.
ReplyDeleteI have seen many improvements in the class over the course of the semester but there aren't many things I could see improvement on. Most of my issues with the class where technology/compatibility issues. I do a lot of work via Iphone thanks to the Blackboard App and better signal from my Iphone than my Macbook. It'll allow the user to post threads on discussion board but blogger tends to timeout/force quit on longer posts. I ran into similar issues with google docs and the sharing abilities. This may have not been a problem if I didn't live in a valley where my wifi card gets poor signal and lags horribly on uploading larger files and timing out on long submissions. Blogger isn't bad and Googledocs is alright, I just prefer email and Blackboard because I've grown more accustomed to them. I think using an app for the class is a great idea and blackboard has made many improvements. Text messages would be really great.
ReplyDeleteThe quizzes were setup well in this class. The questions seemed to follow the chapters well in relevance. I'm not the greatest test-taker due to second-guessing myself. The short quizzes made it easier to take them via Iphone. Virtual Learning can be difficult due to conflicting schedules but I did feel that this class was better than many. I believe that I gained a lot of good information from this class and that it will help me in the future. I also appreciate the understanding of difficulties faced by virtual students. Everyone has a different situation that requires taking an online class and it is nice to see a class that is more accommodating toward schedule conflicts. Thank You
I agree there has to be some sort of understanding because technology doesn't always work well and I too feel that Kevin gave us a lot of understanding when problems raised.
DeleteI understand the complete need to rethink how things are done for online education. I also have been taking online classes for a while now and like some things that are being used and also fret about other things that are being used. I like your idea about text messages for important due dates. I think that everyone has their phone on them all the time and most have smart phone. This could also save someone with a misconception about a due date. I have another class now that one assignment has three different due dates and times. I guess that I am not secure enough to complete assignments on mobile devices. I have a Kindle fire and a smart phone but the screens are so much smaller than the computer that I am used to, that this kind of terrifies me. I have tried to look up assignments on the Kindle and I end up going back to the computer. As for the voice thread, I would have more work with this than just typing up an assignment. I would have to write out what I was going to say and read a script so that it would make sense rather than just talk about it without writing anything out. I don’t mind the Blogger; I am used to this kind of thing and think that it works fine. Just as long as the blogs don’t go into the spam like four of my classes did early this semester. I am not a big fan of GoogleDocs. I like the way they can be shared with others but I don’t like how the transfer documents, much like the ones for our instructional unit, over all distorted. None of my charts and bar graphs would transfer correctly. I am be a creature of habit, and this is my last semester before I student teach so what I say does not matter, but I like what I know and learning how to access new things for every class you take each semester and then getting adapted to the new class is stressful. I hope this helps and feel that this class was a success all but those darn quizzes! Lol! I am not so great at those even when I try REALLY hard.
ReplyDeleteMr. Splichal,
ReplyDeleteI think it would be neat to include some kind of app for this class; maybe if there was some kind of psychology quiz game or something where we could match theories to psychologists. I think that would help me. Although I know not everybody has a smart phone so maybe that could be an option not required.
We used GoogleDocs this semester and I personally had a lot of trouble trying to figure it out. I have used it a few times before this semester, but I still feel like a rookie. Whenever I use GoogleDocs it seems like I stumble around and luckily I just happen to figure out how to post my assignment. You would think that when I am in my g-mail account I could get on to GoogleDocs from there, but I can’t find it! So I always have to log out of my g-mail account and then click on the Document tab from the main Google screen. It is just weird. I don’t know how to use it.
Courtney
Courtney - just an FYI in case no one has mentioned it before. When you are in your GMail account and the very top there are a bunch of 'words'. If you click on the word DRIVE, you'll find the GoogleDocs stuff. Hope that helps!
DeleteI have found this class to be set up best to suit my learning needs. That being said, I would love to see this move more toward mobility and laptop freedom. Being able to submit voice blogs would be fantastic, as I could do this from my daughter's volleyball or choir practice. I could do it on my break at work without too much trouble, as well. I am not a big fan of googledocs, however, this semester I finally decided to actually use it properly and it was great being able to work on the assignment from any computer or my smartphone.
ReplyDeleteSince this is part of the teacher's ed program, I think it would be cool to have some games we could do that would reinforce learning. Loading these games into an app or something for a smartphone would be fantastic!
One thing I have to ask you not to change is group projects. Thank you so much for not doing these. As an over-achiever, group projects are the bane of my existence.
LOL, I am hearing that a GROUP project is OUT.
DeleteExactly why I stopped doing them a year ago.
Splichal
When the class began I was frustrated because I was just getting comfortable with blackboard and e-mailing assignments only to find that we weren’t using them. Having very little experience with Google Docs and no experience using blogs I had to adjust my thinking. After a few weeks my attitude towards both changed as they got easier to use. I still have a bit of issues blogging and I’ve learned to really like Google documents. I could access the document from any computer and found that useful because I could work on assignments where ever I was, so that was cool.
ReplyDeleteI liked the short quizzes but I didn’t like the book because it was made very cheap and I think a twelfth edition of a topic by the same author is just another way of making money. The price was ridiculous and other than a couple of assignments and the quizzes it wasn’t very helpful or useful.
As far as more in depth technology, I’m not sure because I personally think I would have enjoyed this class more in person. I do think getting text messages would add to the class and I think I would have also gotten more from this class if I hadn’t taken and passed the Praxis II beforehand. I was studying most of the information covered over the past year so I wish I would have had the class prior to the Praxis.
Mr. Splichal, I want to thank you for your understanding when I did have technology issues or misunderstandings. Good luck and God bless.
I had the previous edition book and I agree with you I really only used it for tests. I am glad i went with the 11th edition, it was a little confusing at first as I was a chapter off each posted chapter.
DeleteI also enjoyed Google Docs being able to work on things on the go is great.
Was pretty nervous about the blogging as well it was just something I had never done and was unsure of. The quizzes I felt at times did not match up well with the information in the book. I agree the book seem a little flimsy in construction and I worry that if this is the 12th addition some information in it might have been out dated.
DeleteThanks Bill.
DeleteSplichal
Mr. Splichal
ReplyDeleteI was pleased with the set up of the class. I find the blogger very easy and the best peer interaction in majority of my courses. I really like Google Docs. I downloaded the Google Drive application for my smart phone. I now have access on the go. This is extremely helpful being a mother of 5. I also have the Black Board app, but it's not as easy to use as the Google Docs, Drive, or Blog.
I liked that we had short tests. I did not like the confusion of the tests. First I did not realize I had a previous edition 11, which is one chapter behind the posted chapter. Once I figured this out, I was able to follow along much more easily. I also didn't like that some of the test were mixed up. I still managed to get through the course, but this is something that should definitely be fixed.
I like the idea of using more technology, such as text message communication. I also like the idea of the whole course being in Google Docs, as I mentioned earlier it is easier to access on mobile devices.
Overall the course was outlined very close to my personal needs as a student. I would definitely want a course set up similar to this one again. I also enjoyed the extended assignments, I like to work over time and this worked out great. Thank you for a great semester.
I agree on the quizzes. I also had a previous version of the textbook and had a hard time figuring out where all of the information was coming from. I ended up using the index at the back of the book ALOT! I like Google Docs and I am thinking of having my own students use it to collaborate on projects.
DeleteI like the idea of text messaging important due dates, but at the same time I think students should be able to keep track of their own due dates. At this point in our education we should know how to become and stay organized enough to turn in assignments on time. I think that it would be okay to text message the class if a due date or an assignment has changed. This would allow the students to know right when something has changed in case they had already made plans on when to work on an assignment.
ReplyDeleteI do not like the idea of creating the course outside of Blackboard. This is would make it harder for me to want to be in the class if I had to go to a different site to access it. I like having all my courses in one place so that I can move through them easier. I do like GoogleDocs, but I wish we could just turn in our assignments in Blackboard like I do for every other course. I do like Blogger though it seems much more interactive than Blackboards discussion board.
My husband teaches online sociology for Friends University in Wichita. He says that instead of creating a lecture over the chapter he finds information in short video clips or from other textbooks that ties into the chapter of the week and he puts that up on the website for the students to review. He has questions over the class textbook as well as his outside resources each week. This could be an option. If you are looking for an option to flat out replace the lecture but still teach the class textbook you could do like Dr. Walizer and record the on campus class periods and post them for the online class to watch and if you do it like her and use AdobeConnect the online students have the option of “attending” class. We could also have Skype meetings each week to go over the content of the week.
Thank you Kasey,
DeleteThere is "talk" that Blackboard will NOT be used by FHSU in the future. Just talk at this point.
Also, I do not teach Ed Psych on campus. Lectures recorded from an on-campus course are not possible for me.
Splichal
At the first part of this class I read the through the syllabus and saw all of the assignments and I was really dreading going through this class. I have never used GoogleDocs and I still don't really like using it probably because I don't know everything that it is capable of. Also, I think that blogging is ineffective and is a waste of every ones time. Personally I think if you know the material you know it, if not well that's your fault. I like that there are many points available for this class so everyone has a good chance at getting a good grade. I think instead of blogging we should have two or three online meetings or something of that nature. Another thing is that I do appreciate that we did not do any group activities. In college everyone is so busy and has their own thing going on that it is hard to get everyone together and also you always have that person who is not reliable and brings the whole group down. I do like the idea of text messages or apps for this class.
ReplyDeleteOverall I do feel like I have learned some new things that are very interesting and that I will know and use from now on.
I am honestly not here or there about blogging as it pertains to being a replacement for the discussion boards. However, I disagree that having online meetings is more effective. I have two classes this semester that have online meetings that don't have a required attendance, but then if you miss you have to submit detailed notes after having watched the recording. I definitely prefer the discussion boards/blogging to online meetings. It is nice to be able to ask a question and get an immediate response - particular for assignments - but I wouldn't say that I learn more from attending them. More importantly, because they are at a set time, they are harder to work around. The discussion boards/blogging at least take into account the likely reasons that I am taking an online class to begin with - I don't have time to attend like a traditional college student.
DeleteI believe that discussion has merits, I'm not sure that's what has happened this semester with the blogging, however, which was unfortunate because ultimately this class has a lot to offer for future and current teachers.
Thank you Matt and Stacie. Again, everyone has preferences so I think "options" will be good.
DeleteSplichal
I think that there is alot of valuable information to be learned in this course, due to the fact that alot of the PLT test revolves around Educational Psychology. I think that most of the materials within the testing are covered. I like the way the Praxis Testing book was used in this course. Some other positives that I find with the course curriculum is that there are alot of points available, which makes it alot easier to do well. I am not sure that blogging has been effective for me this semester, as it is very time consuming reading everyone's reply and trying to complete 5 other courses as well. I know in my Social Studies Internship with Mr. Splichal we had to make a phone call for each chapter to discuss what we learned from that reading. Although I would get very nervous to call, I found it extremely helpful as an online learner. If I had questions on the material, or was confused on the topic I felt like it was clarified during that phone conversation. Perhaps this is something that can be introduced and used within this course also. In other courses we have had live meetings once, twice, and even three times a week. If we couldn't make them then we watched a recording of the class and took notes. We were graded on the notes that we took and this was also a way to create communication between the professor and students. I found this helpful as well, as I am a very visual learner and this helped me to hear and see the learning material. One of the main things that I disliked about the course outline was that there was very little review of the information and this made taking the quizzes more difficult for me. Overall, this is a very valuable course for future teachers, and I always love any course that Professor Splichal instructs :)
ReplyDeleteI agree in regard to the quizzes. Splichal
DeleteI agree in regard to the quizzes. Splichal
DeleteI also had a difficult time with the quizzes. I would suggest to have short answer questions on the quizzes.
DeleteLike many others, I appreciated the repetitive structure of the class with an assignment, blog and quiz due each week. I also liked the weekly due dates, because it afforded flexibility to align coursework with my schedule. This was my first experience with Blogger and I felt it was simple and straightforward to use. I also liked the content of the blogs which reached beyond regurgitating facts from the text. I liked using GoogleDocs as well. I think the major benefits to GoogleDocs is that it allowed me to access my work from anywhere and it afforded me the opportunity to edit my work up to the moment is was graded. My only major complaint for this class is in regards to the textbook. I felt that the chapters did not always align with the content or quiz questions. I also felt that the chapters were too long and became very tedious and time intensive to read. To combat this, I would love to have the option of downloading the text as an MP3 so that I could listen to the chapters while commuting to work. I would also like to be able to download a podcast of class lectures which highlight and elaborate on key points within the chapter. Outside of those suggestions, I really liked the delivery of this class and overall felt the class was a positive experience.
ReplyDeleteI agree the same type of assignment being due weekly was very helpful, it made knowing what to expect very easy and not nerve racking.
DeleteI love the idea of having text books as audio files! Or yes, a podcast to download that would highlight important parts or ideas. I have a fairly long commute and that would be very beneficial.
DeleteOverall I have enjoyed this class and the way it was taught. I really liked using Google docs to complete my assignments. I think that Google docs is a great tool for teachers to use to view assignments. I believe that using technology while teaching is a great tool for not only the students but the teacher as well.
ReplyDeleteUsing voice threads is another great idea. I have had to use voice threads for a technology coarse a couple of years ago. I am a shy person and at first I didn't like doing them. However, as the coarse progressed I ended up having fun doing voice thread.
As far as using apps, I am a little unsure. If apps are used they need to be ones that can be used on different devices. Not everyone has an Iphone or an Ipad. Also, I worry about technical glitches occurring and messing up assignments for students.
The only thing that I struggled with in this coarse was the quizzes. I am not a good test taker at all. I tend to second guess myself. With the quizzes I did that a lot and then missed some questions. A suggestion I have for the chapter quizzes would be to have a couple of short answer questions.
Rashawna, I was the exact same way when I had to do the voice recordings in Intro to Instructional Technology. I always messed up and got super nervous. I would almost rather talk in front of people than do that.
DeleteMr. Splichal,
ReplyDeleteI didn’t have any problems with the set-up of this class. I liked the consistency that you had week to week with the blogs, quizzes, and assignments. We always knew what was expected of us. I also really enjoyed the opportunity to use GoogleDocs to submit our assignments. I had only used it one other time before this class so I was a little nervous at first. Using it for the entire course would be a great idea. Turns out, it is one of the easiest ways to share an assignment. I like doing the blogs, other than the fact that most people do not go back and look at the replies that people have made on their comments. I know it’s there so we can interact with each other but I really don’t think that there is a lot of interaction if they don’t look at what the other person says. I like the text message idea for people who don’t have smartphones, but for me I get all of my emails to my iPhone, so the text message would just be a duplicate of what I could get on a blackboard email. If you find the apps to use for classes, let me know! I just got an iPad and have downloaded every app that I can to assist me with my homework. The only question that I had was, when we were supposed to watch “The Ron Clark Story.” It was on the list when I got my books, but we never used it for anything.
Brandy,
DeleteThanks for bringing up a required, yet unused resource for this class, "The Ron Clark Story". This is truly a pet peeve of mine when I spend money on resources and then not use them. Sometimes I can salvage the wasted time and money spent by learning something from it on my own time. The worst of it is that I can't even give this movie away because nobody wants it.
I was also wondering if we were going to watch that movie. Maybe it will have something to do with our final??
DeleteI too wondered about that I never saw it in any of the weeks so I didn't get it, I hope this doesn't wind up being part of our final. My guess it it was on there because of the other prof who taught the class, remember our instructor got tossed this class he didn't set it up.
DeleteI had no idea about that DVD. As I mentioned, I inherited the course one week before semester began. I am sorry that many of you were frustrated with the text and/or DVD. I too had a class that I was taking this semester in which there were items not used in the class............HOWEVER, I encourage you all to use any resource as a learning experience whether used in a class or not. References are always good.
DeleteSplichal
My big beef is with traditional textbooks. These are a resource from the 20th. Century that made many publishing companies filthy rich, yet provide students with a costly and overly comprehensive account of any content. I'm a big believer in putting these companies out of business and using nontraditional books with supplemental information provided from the instructor for better control over the content that is important.
ReplyDeleteI like supplemental info, but at times a textbook can be very helpful However, I would agree with you in this class, yes I don't think we needed it info could have been given to us in a different manner.
DeleteVictoria and Katherine, In regard to the text. If I had given the same assignments, without requiring the purchase of the text, would you have struggled at all with the assignments?
DeleteI do NOT like teaching from a text, however, the information is valuable for all educators, whether in this class or future classes.
I am sure that if I did not require the text, that others would complain that they didn't know where to find the information required for assignments. ???
Again, options are the key I believe. Splichal
Mr. Splichal, I've tried posting several times but I'm having trouble I think it's because I'm windy so I'm going to post some of this and them email you the rest, hope that's ok. I do want you know my thoughts but I guess blogger seems to think I need to cool my jets on 4 page response :)
ReplyDelete___
I really liked the break down by weeks of what was due, I would have liked the actual Dates to be on them, or a file we could print that you could change every semester that tells us what week is week 15 for example. There are reasons this could be helpful for students, especially those who might have some external issues going on.
I love that you were up front about your own errors, by dropping assignments or letting us know you just hadn’t graded because you were busy. I understand these things, they happen. Reminding us you are human as well. As a student I appreciated knowing why things weren’t graded and you being up front with us about it.
“Do you like GoogleDocs? Learning today has changed dramatically. Sitting down and listening to a lecture is out. What would you like to see in place of that?”
I do not have strong feelings either way about googledocs, I’ve already got on my soapbox about google.
I disagree with you about how todays learning has changed. What has changed is realizing how people learn. Lecturing has never been a good way to learn, period. Interacting with peers and discussing is a much better way to learn. We never really had TRUE discussion’s. You didn’t have to follow up with questions to your thread, you didn’t have a set number of times to talk to others and blogger is hard to follow with everything bunched together. Having one person’s ideas, then threaded out comments on that topic. Then another persons posts and their comments on that, like blackboard is set up to do allows for a more cohesive threading and discussion. I also didn’t feel we ever talked about anything, I felt I was thrown the book, take a 5 question quiz that was poorly worded and make a post on blogger and done. I feel completely ill prepared for the upcoming PLT I have to take, I’m disappointed. I do not blame you as my instructor I know you didn’t set up this course it got tossed on you, but as a student I feel I was dis-served.
“Do you like Blogger?”
No, I do not like blogger. You have no control over its technical difficulties, it cannot be used at all locations depending on firewalls. You can’t assure me my privacy is protected. When you make a blogger account personal information is stored, its default is public so a savvy stalker/hacker can find that information to help pin point you. It doesn’t thread out well like blackboard, I find it hard to read others comments and follow threads. I dislike having to enter a security key every time I post. Most school districts won’t allow you to have a blog period so I think it’s not useful in the aspect of learning technology for the classroom. To me going to blackboard then going to blogger is the equivalent of being in my brick and mortar classroom then being told to run across campus to sit in another room to finish the same class.
I really enjoyed how this class was set up. At first I was unsure about Google Docs but throughout the semester I have learned all the things it can do. Plus, we all have an account with gmail since it is the new FHSU mail so it makes it very convenient. I have worked with Blogger some for other classes as well as this one and I find it very confusing. It always seems to give me problems and won't let me sign in or publish my blogs. I can figure it out for simple blog posting but have little knowledge of it any further than that. I think it would be great to have an app that posted assignment dates and even allow us to do assignments from our phone. Blackboard does have an app that you are supposed to be able to use like this but it seems to be set up so much differently from regular Blackboard and is sometimes hard to use. Overall, I liked how this class was set up and the fact that we were able to turn in assignments through Google Docs.
ReplyDeletePersonally I was not a fan of using googledocs to submit assignments. I like submitting through blackboard so that I am reassured that you received them. I do like googledocs for group assignments. I do like the blogging. It is a chance to express your ideas and see others. I know that we do not always comment as we should but I can read what I want. Finally I do not like the idea of receiving text messages because I like to have separation between school and the rest of my life.
ReplyDeleteAs a Technology Integrationist, I am always looking for the best ways for my teachers to add a technology component to their classes. I really enjoy taking classes online due to the fact that I am a VERY busy mother of one and step mother of two who live out of state. Besides my full time job, my husband and I also have a livestock business in Texas which is also where my step children live. Anything that can be done via a mobile device is much better for me. I like having one project due in a three week period rather than trying to remember to get on and make some insincere discussion points every Friday because it's due rather than actually saying what I believe and have had time to process. We recently rolled out a 1:1 iPad initiative on one of my campuses. I can't help but believe that more and more schools will be following this trend. Mobile device usage is definitely the way to go. My teachers are using Edmodo. It is web based, accessible anywhere internet is available, and also has an app. Audio, video, quizzes, and polls are just a few of the great features of Edmodo. Many teachers in our district are also using remind101 to remind students of due dates and important events via text message. While I like Google Docs, and I don't have any real issues against Blogger the other two options are exactly that, options that would also work well for this class. Thanks for giving me more tools to add to my "education toolbox".
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I would like to thank you for your respect that most of us are very busy, hence the reason we are taking the class virtually!! I really appreciate how you have the class set up, it is conducive for me to get real meaning from the assignments by working on them over a couple of weeks, not listening to lectures and not having to hurry around to cram in a lot of busy work that has no educational value to me. Submitting the assignments via googledocs is nice because it allows you to comment throughout the paper. I had a few issues with eblogger this semester, but for the most part it has worked fine. I would appreciate a textcaster to remind of due dates, changes to the schedule, etc. I appreciate your communication, your prompt attention to issues and comments on assignments.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed this course and the others that I have had taught by you. I think you do a good job of setting up the courses for students who are taking them online. You understand the time demands they have that other traditional students may not have.
ReplyDeleteI like the use of Google Docs a lot. It is program that is easy to use and I already find myself thinking of ways to use it in my own classroom.
I also enjoyed the book for the course. There was a lot of great information available in their and it was easy to read.
Something else I've thought of that you may find interesting is using Twitter in class. Instead of having the blogging component you could tweet out questions and have the students comment to you on Twitter. It could also be used to remind students of important dates or information they need to know.
The only real complaint I had for the class is that I found the wording on some of the quiz questions and answers to be a little hard to understand. I felt some of them were a litte hard to understand.
All in all the class was a very enjoyable experience and I really do enjoy taking your classes.
I have really enjoyed the format of this course and the level of thought I needed to invest in assignments. I appreciate that you understand that most of us are also working full-time and have lives outside of class -that is why we are online! I would have appreciated having assignments due Monday nights as the weekends are usually my only time for homework - hence the late hour of this posting.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy Google Docs/Drive and use it frequently outside of school for myriad of purposes. I love the share feature and that I get a message when edits have been made.
I like the idea above of Twitter to connect us for shorter answers. I do like Blogger, though it can be hard and lengthy to read through everyone's responses. It is a significant step above blackboard.
I would have enjoyed a few more "projects" where we were able to show our learning through design of a product rather than the writing assignments. Once again, I'm not sure how you could really manage that on a large scale with a large class.
I like the idea of a place to submit "audio" homework, however, like another classmate mentioned, I would probably have to write my response out initially, therefore, not really saving any work and actually adding to it.
I LOVE the idea of being able to access more course content from my phone. I take it everywhere and would love to be able to use it more effectively. I have taken several quizzes on it and have also done some blogging. However, longer assignments take entirely too much time and effort to post from a phone, even with Swype.
In other classes, I have gotten a lot from Adobe Connect meetings where there is actually a time to chat "face to face" with the instructor and other classmates. I wouldn't want attendance to be required and the meetings to be every week as that is what we are trying to avoid as online students. But I have really enjoyed having the opportunity to clarify my ideas and opinions while visiting with other students and the instructor in real time.
Overall, this has been an incredibly beneficial class and I feel that I have really learned a lot. The text was great... a little dry in places and required some rereading, but overall as enjoyable a text book as I have read recently.
Thanks for a great semester! :)
The one thing I enjoyed most about this course was the googledocs and the Blogger. I enjoyed the googledocs because it is very easy to use and it is easy to read the comments that you give after it is turned in. I enjoyed Blogger as well because you are able to view other classmate’s opinions and subjects and comment on them as well. This aspect of the class really makes the course seem more personable because you can interact with everybody. I think text messaging would be a great tool to incorporate into this class. It would enhance the communication and better keep students on task and reminded of what they need to do. I think all of these ideas could work and they would speed up the learning process even more than it is. I really like the idea of having everything on googledocuments. I think it would enhance the interactions each student had with one another in commenting on their work. And you would be able to view the information from your phone which is a big advantage. Overall, I think any technological improvements will only help.
ReplyDeleteOverall I had a good online experience with this class. I liked how everything was consistent week to week. I have had some classes where you have to jump around blackboard trying to find different assignments and I did not have that problem in this class. I think using as much technology as possible to make access easier is always a good idea. Google docs was a great tool because I was able to get instant visual feedback on the assignments. I am thankful for the opportunity to take this online class since I am unable to be on campus. I have so much other things going on in my life that this gave me the chance to go to school at the same time. Thank You.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the set up of the class. I loved that I could expect the same thing each week. It really helped me plan my time. I also liked that the tests were multiple choice. It was really nice to get instant feedback. I liked how you did the blogging. I really enjoyed that I could read the entries of others without having to comment. I liked just being able to enjoy the other's responses. I also really liked that you were so easy to get a hold of. I emailed you and was able to stop by your office which was great. Before this class, I was very unfamiliar with google docs. I did not like it at first but I am glad that you had us use it because I do need to know how. I also liked how quickly you graded our assignments.
ReplyDeleteI thought the text chapters were really long though I know you cannot control that. The tests could also be stressful as there were some mistakes but I do know you are working on it. I would have liked to do quizzes relating to the Praxis Book. I am also confused on what we were supposed to do with the movie.
Overall, I really enjoyed your class. The set up of this class is how I learn best. Thank you for a great semester!!