October 2007
October 31, 2007
The Edublog Awards 2007
Huzzah, the Edublog Awards 2007 are underway and at a brand new home!
Nominations are now open - so go nominate not only the best edublogs, but also the best educational uses of tools like wikis, virtual worlds and audio / visual stuff too.
incorporated subversion - education, media, community ? Blog Archive ? The Edublog Awards 2007
Conference Quotes
Our first response to getting teacher to change the way they approach anything is Professional Development. We spend lots of money in our division on professional development. One of the conference speaker states:
Pd is out there... learning but does not covert to change.
Interesting statement, I am not sure what the answer is or even if the statement is true but it is interesting.
Friday presentation needs to translate to Monday's implementation.
I like this statement, now that professional development will make things happen.
October 30, 2007
The Fish Philosophy
I like this...
Catch the energy
Release the potential.
Top 100 Open Courseware Projects
Check out some of these free resources.
Top 100 Open Courseware Projects | OEDb
E-Learning in Canada
A principal characteristic of the Canadian experience with e-learning is the uniquely Canadian feature of provincial jurisdiction over education. Canada is the only country that does not have a national department or ministry of education. Therefore, any investigation of e-learning in Canada must focus more on specific provincial initiatives in technologically enhanced learning rather than a Canadian overview. In the best sense, Canada’s e-learning programming can be viewed as a patchwork quilt made up of interesting projects, programs, and initiatives. In the worst sense, it is a set of disparate and uncoordinated activities constantly struggling with and reinventing solutions to problems solved elsewhere.
Blackboard CE 4.1 Announcement
The Saskatoon Catholic Cyber School is currently running Blackboard CE 4.1 and is very excited that it does not have to do much migration until 2009. Yahooooooo
Blackboard CE 4.1 Announcement
Conference quotes.
I found the following distinction very interesting.
A blurring of duties between teachers and techies is hurting online education. Teachers spending time fixing machines is not a good use of teacher’s times and even worse IT people making pedagogical decision while working on a teacher’s course. At the Saskatoon Catholic Cyber School we have Teachers who write their own courses from scratch with no IT support, and our techies fix the teachers machines when they get messed up. This model seems to work but does force a huge learning curve on the content expert (teacher) at the beginning of the development. This is necessary for the teacher to become comfortable with the learning management system. However once the teacher is past the learning curve, then they have the technical know how to do changes to their course without having to contact IT. The model where content experts pass their content on to the IT department who then digitizes the information does eliminate the learning curve but slows down the update and minor renovations of the course. Any changes, pedagogical or just a spelling mistake requires a trip back to IT. This model does not work. But it is the model of choice for most universities.
I am open to comments on the above statements.
October 29, 2007
Are Schools irrelevant?
When I started a cyber school it was never done because schools are irrelevant. It was done as an option. The below blog entry asks some tough questions...do we in schools or cyber schools offer students something that they cannot get somewhere else?
Remote Access: Are Schools Irrelevant?
Role of Schooling
This is very well said...
Virtual High School Meanderings: Role of Schooling
TADO in the Blogosphere
Thanks for the posting...it is nice to see some things strike a chord.
Assessing a student who’s “thinking like a learner” ? Gnewsome’s Weblog EDUC 685
Conference quotes
It is a cycle.
People teach the way they have been taught. This statement alone causes one pause because we were hoping that the young teachers of today being from the digital age will embrace the new educational movement and move the computer, internet into education. We are finding this is not happening. All new teachers being on facebook all night will not translate to the use of technology in the classroom. They continue to teach the way they where taught and the way most teacher colleges are approaching education. Tradition is a hard thing to change.
So those of us who thought the young teachers of today would have the answer to the Dark Age of Information need to go back to the drawing board and rethink the solution..
More Conference quotes
The impact of technology on education has been minimual. But we are still only recreating what is happening in a face to face method.
I know this is true with our online courses. But it is necessary to have a starting point and the face to face method is what the teachers know. So they re-create what they know, it then becomes my job as the administrator to get them to take the risk to push them to develop their courses into the next level as described below.
http://blog.scs.sk.ca/tado/vschools/archives/2006_03.html#024631
October 26, 2007
Quote of the Day
Teachers need to exist in the spaces the students exist, understand their culture. You have no credibility if you are not where they are.
A speaker at the last conference I was at said this....and I cannot remember who...sorry. But the quote has stuck with me. It explains the divide many educators are having with their students.
Colleges Leave E-Mail to Google and Microsoft
Seattle—“Should our university even be in the e-mail business?” Wendy Woodward King found herself asking last year. Her answer, the director of technology support services at Northwestern University told a session at the Educause technology meeting, was no. And that’s why Northwestern students get their e-mail “@u.northwestern.edu” which is hosted, free of charge, by Google Apps Education Edition
Colleges Leave E-Mail to Google and?Microsoft - Chronicle.com
October 25, 2007
Peer Teaching.
At the last conference I was at...I attended a session where the presenter (Cheryl Frose) talked about an editors den in the discussion board area. Where students would be allowed to post assignments and then have peers review, check spelling and help make the assignments better before they hand them into the instructor. I thought it was a great idea but I did wonder how to sell the idea to the Sage on the Stage teachers who feel that he or she is the only one who should be helping, teaching and guiding the students. So I asked the question:
Do you have any research that I can use to make certain teachers more open to the editor den idea?
Cheryl's answer:
Patricia Wolfe. Brain Matters: Translating Research into Classroom Practice. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Alexandria, Virginia. 2001.
The saying, “The best way to learn something is to teach it” contains more than a little truth. Teaching a concept or skill to someone else requires a fairly high level of understanding. Too often we check for students’ understanding by asking them if they understand or if they have any questions. Though this might work in some situations, often students think they understand when they don’t or are hesitant to admit they don’t. (p. 85)
(Peer teaching) allows the students the opportunity to rehearse what they have learned, thus strengthening their neural pathways…peer teaching provides valuable diagnostic information for the teacher, who finds out how well students comprehend the material and what misconceptions they may have formed. (p. 186)
Here is a British website with a LOT of information on assessment AS and For learning:
http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/assess/as/keyfeatures/self_peer.asp
Here is a useful paper titled "Using Peer Assessment to Develop Skills and
Capabilities": http://www.usdla.org/html/journal/JAN03_Issue/article04.html
Here is a paper from the University of London called "Research evidence of the impact on students of self-and peer-assessment":
http://eppi.ioe.ac.uk/EPPIWebContent/reel/review_groups/assessment/assessment_protocol5.pdf
The web abounds with examples of peer assessment. Hopefully one of these sources will provided you with the evidence you need to convince your teachers that it is a good thing to have students teach each other.
Everyone wins!
Thanks Cheryl Frose.
Fron the mouth of students. Part twenty and last one
Cyber School is amazing. I can do it when I want, and work at my own pase. It will get me ready for university by preparing for the use of computers. Thanks Cyber School!
I have taken cyberschool for three years now and have found that the work load have been tripple if not more the work load that I get in a face to face class. I like having the flexibility of cyber school and not having to be in a class where students who are goofing off taking away from my education but I find that at times the work load can be overwhelming. I know that the work load is to make sure we are actually keeping up with class but it would be nice if there could be some way to make it more like a regular class in reference to the work load (like I probably will have 5 unit tests, 1 major and 1 minor project and probably 10 quizes at the most in a face to face class where as in cyber school there can be over 50 tests/quizes and many more assignments). I don't really know what you could use on your website in order to "sell" cyber school, I think those that come to the website are pretty serious about taking it and if they are not that serious then chances are they probably wouldn't read what is put up to "Sell" the school. I think it is great that these teachers take time out of their busy day to help us students who have issues with fitting classes in (or any other situation) and I would thank them for being there to offer this oppertunity to us students. Cyber school should definately continue because it is a great way to get an education and it is a great sollution to those who need to take classes outside of school. It is also a great way of learning independently and so will help us in the future. I do not have a reason for cyber school to close, I think it should stay open/
Oh...so much to say...I've been on cyber school for 5 years now. I went on it because I was ahead in elementary school and needed a challenge. I did ok in my first class which was math 90. Then during grade 9, I did math 10, and Info Pro. again, I didn't do great on the math, but I really enjoyed IP. By grade 10, I was kinda stuck since I wanted to stay ahead in math, but didn't want to go in a class where I would know no one. so yet again, I did math 20. I struggled a lot with that course and I thought that that course was not set up very well...I had to get a tutor, who helped my manage to get something in the high 70's. a pretty bad mark # wise, but great considering how hard the class was. Then, in my own stupidity, I did another math online. A30, with Mr. Lapointe. What an amazing teacher. I wish I could've had him in person. He knew what he was doing, was willing to help at any time and was extremely patient with me. Finally, I went into a class and found that I was unequipted to deal with math in an in-class setting. I ended up with a 79 in an AP math class and was so upset because I had always put my less than perfect math marks up to the fact that it was cyber. I realized though that it definately had to do with the fact that I hadn't been in an actual math classroom for 4 years. Then I took Christian Ethics 20 online. That was amazing...I actually learnt more from C.E. online than anything else. A fairly large group of us took it together so we could help eachother out etc. It was actually fun. The course was fairly easy, went by quickly and was effective. Cyber has to continue, but if there is any way that it could better equip you for classroom courses, that would be great. I'm not entirely sure how that would work, but I'm sure someone could come up with something. This is my last course and I am proud to call myself an Alumni of the Saskatoon Catholic Cyber School! (There's cheesy for you! haha)
last year i took math 10 and i couldn't find any of the assignments...i probably would have done alot better on the unit tests if i could have found the assignments.
Cyber school is a way to get a class done fast and easy. It may be even a class you do not like or find easy and want to fly through it.
Cyber school is not bad...I like the fact that u can work online line at anytime..so theirs no excuse to not pass..
I think that it's great that people can take courses online - no reason why. There are no improvements that I can think of.
Have fun making a better system!
Cyber school is great, especially if you're having conflicts with your schedule at school. It is not the place for procrastinators though, as it usually ends up causing a great deal of stress when the deadline is approaching.
October 24, 2007
Quote of the day.
I just called the psychic hotline to find out why my phone bill was so high.
Mr. Hightower.
Right from the mouth of students. Part nineteen
great for people who need more credits but don't hve alot of time.
The site is as good as it need to be.
Well, as I have just started cyber school, I don't have a lot of imput. However, I do think that most cyber school (ex: the forums) could use a better and easier navigation system.
I liked everything about it.
You need to have cyber school open over the summer. And also after my first cyber school experience, i think it would be beneficial if you would do more to encourage students to do their work.
October 23, 2007
School 1977 vs. School 2007
If this was not so true it would be funny.
Scenario: Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking
lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1977 - Vice principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car
and gets his own shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lockdown, the RCMP are called, Jack is hauled off to
jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counsellors are called in to
assist traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1977 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up
buddies.
2007 - Police are called, SWAT team arrives and arrests Johnny and Mark.
They are charged with assault and both are expelled even though Johnny
started it.
Scenario: Jeffrey won't sit still in class, disrupts other students.
1977 - Jeffrey is sent to the principal's office and given a good paddling.
Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for
ADD. School gets extra provincial funding because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbour's car and his Dad gives him
a whipping with his belt.
1977 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college,
and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster
care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she
remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has
an affair with the psychologist.
Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some Aspirin to school.
1977 - Mark shares Aspirin with the school principal out on the smoking
dock.
2007 - Police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug
violations. His car is searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario: Pedro fails high-school English.
1977 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by local human rights group. Newspaper
articles appear nationally explaining that making English a requirement for
graduation is racist. Canadian Civil Liberties Association files class
action lawsuit against provincial school system and Pedro's English teacher.
English is banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway
but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover Canada Day firecrackers, puts them in
a model airplane paint bottle and blows up an anthill.
1977 - Ants die.
2007 - Canadian Firearms Centre and the RCMP are called and Johnny is
charged with domestic terrorism. CSIS investigates parents, siblings are
removed from the home, computers are confiscated, and Johnny's dad goes on a
terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario: Johnny falls during recess and scrapes his knee. His teacher,
Mary, finds him crying, and gives him a hug to comfort him.
1977 - Johnny soon feels better and goes back to playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She
faces three years in federal prison. Johnny undergoes five years of therapy.
TakingITGlobal
TakingITGlobal is an international organization - led by youth and empowered by technology. TakingITGlobal connects youth around the world to find inspiration, information and get involved in improving their local and global communities.
TakingITGlobal - About TIG - Home
Right from the mouth of students. Part eighteen
Nothing as the cyver school depends on the students own discipline but the staff did do their job.
I have already done three classes in it, and im looking forward to doing more
I didnt like cuber school because it was reallyconfusing. Especially when you could not ask a teacher any questions.
I used cyber school also to do Math 90 in grade eight, so I was able to complete my maths and sciences early. The course is great, and it's absolutely fantastic to be able to take a a hybrid course where you can take the course at your own pace and have a face to face teacher on demand. A neat website, just watch for spelling errors!
Thank you cyber for making courses easy and convient to take! Love cyber school student
000110110101111010101011110010100111001010101110100101001010100101001010 THANK YOU.. *BEEEEP* *BEEP*
October 22, 2007
This Toy has been recalled
This slide has been recalled due to lead paint. Too bad because it was one of the best sellers.
From the mouth of students. Part Seventeen
it is hard to figure out wat i have to do on the assingments.
I think you should give your site more of an appealing look and avoide clashing colors. give it more of a pop out look and don't give it so much flashing images. Make it a nice layout. also adding other languages for a course like spanish, french, etc. that would be nice.
Good website. Neat and good usage of new technologies. Excellent for people who can't take face to face school.
I prefer cyber school because for some courses i catch on faster than other students so i can go at my own pace and if i need to look over a certain course more than once i can do that too so its better for me!! And i like being able to do it whenever i have time!
cyber school is a good thing because it will help you graduate on time if you really need classes. it is also a new expieriance to try. some people like it better then actual school because you can do it when ever you want to. my teacher for ela a10 seems pretty nice, when ever i have a problem with the class i can ask him and he usually has a answer for me.
October 17, 2007
Fear Mongering
EVERY place I went there was evidence of incredible Internet fear mongering!
Doug Johnson's Blue Skunk Blog - Blue Skunk Blog - Fear mongering
From the mouth of students. Part Sixteen
Theres nothing really for you to change. I liked the program for my grade 9 math and I decided to take it again for my grade 10 math
.
Maybe there should be some sort of music program on cyber school.
Using cyber school before your grade twelve year is a great way to free up periods so you can take more chilled out classes, have less homework and in turn, have more fun in your grade twelve year. (If you can handle the work!)
I have only been in cyber school a week and I have found that I learn much better when I am away from the distractions of a classroom environment.
One of my favorite things about cyber school is how respectful the interaction is. Whether emailing your teacher or posting a thread on the discussion board it is one of the only places on the internet where you don't have to worry about being flamed.
Cyber school is great for flexibility and really suits my life style.
October 16, 2007
The Crooked, Crazy Weather Project
Check out this grade 4 unit...awesome
Predicting Weather
Jet Streams, barometers, radar dopler; how meteorologists predict weather can be difficult to explain. Teaching through technology creates a stimulating and exciting learning environment for students. Looking up fact and answering questions is only a mouse click away!
________________________________________
Overview
This project is a technology infused grade 4 science unit about predicting weather. The project integrates science, L.A., art & technology. Students will learn about various aspects of the weather and then develop their own blogs to explore weather around the world. Finally, the students will create their own web weathe
The Crooked, Crazy Weather Project
This is Breast Cancer Awareness month.
I have donated my hair to breast cancer. My staff was challenged to raise $500 plus dollars and I would shave my head. Well they have raised the 500 and more so next monday. My hair will be gone. I will update a picture for all to see.
History of Religion
How has the geography of religion evolved over the centuries, and where has it sparked wars? Our map gives us a brief history of the world's most well-known religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism. Selected periods of inter-religious bloodshed are also highlighted. Want to see 5,000 years of religion in 90 seconds? Ready, Set, Go!
From the mouth of students. Part fifteen
It's nice when you get a test graded fast. It keeps you wanting to keep going to finish your course. Most of the time it will take days to get my quizzes back.
I don't think Cyber School needs to do anything to change the methods. I did a lot better on here then I did on a face to face test. It helps a lot because when a teacher talks I can't really understand that but when I read things and look at them not once but twice and I could understand the questions on the page. And Thats what I needed especially for math.
Make sure the courses are up to date. Its a bit confusing to have one teachers name always mentioned in the course nots, but to have a diferent teacher teaching the course.
i think that all the cyber school classes schould be able to compile all your notes so you can print them off, to be able to read them not on the computer
your have to go though to many steps to learn about it i wantted to jsut start my math 20 and i still have not startedit bec i have to go thou th prep class thing it greats really boring an time consuming other then that is is doin ok so far
its flexable.. and easier.. for me
It's really handy to be able to have all the information for the course at one time. I love that.
October 15, 2007
HOW TO FORWARD E-MAIL APPROPRIATELY
A friend who is a computer expert received the following directly from a system administrator for a corporate system. It is an excellent message that ABSOLUTELY applies to ALL of us who send e-mails. Please read the short letter below, even if you're sure you already follow proper procedures..
Do you really know how to forward e-mails? 50% of us do; 50% DO NOT.
Do you wonder why you get viruses or junk mail? Do you hate it?
Every time you forward an e-mail there is information left over from the people who got the message before you, namely their e-mail addresses & names. As the messages get forwarded along, the list of addresses builds, and builds, and builds, and all it takes is for some poor sap to get a virus, and his or her computer can send that virus to every e-mail address that has come across his computer. Or, someone can take all of those addresses and sell them or send junk mail to them in the hopes that you will go to the site and he will make five cents for each hit. That's right, all of that inconvenience over a nickel!
How do you stop it? Well, there are several easy steps:
(1) When you forward an e-mail,
DELETE all of the other addresses that appear in the body of the message (at the top ). That's right, DELETE them. Highlight them and delete them, backspace them, cut them, whatever it is you know how to do . It only takes a second You MUST click the "Forward" button first and then you will have full editing capabilities against the body and headers of the message. If you don't click on "Forward" first, you won't be able to edit the message at all.
(2)
Whenever you send an e-mail to more than one person, do NOT use the To: or Cc: fields for adding e-mail addresses. Always use the BCC: (blind carbon copy) field for listing the e-mail addresses. This the way the people you send to will only see their own e-mail address. If you don't see your BCC: option click on where it says To: and your address list will appear. Highlight the address and choose BCC: and that's it, it's that easy. When you send to BCC: your message will automatically say "Undisclosed Recipients" in the "TO:" field of the people who receive it.
(3)
Remove any "FW:" in the subject line . You can re-name the subject if you wish or even fix spelling. Please.
(4)
ALWAYS hit your Forward button from the actual e-mail you are reading. Ever get those e-mails that you have to open 10 pages to read the one page with the information on it? By Forwarding from the actual page you wish someone to view, you stop them from having to open many e-mails just to see what you sent.
(5)
Have you ever gotten an email that is a petition? It states a position and asks you to add your name and address and to forward it to 10 or 15 people or your entire address book. The email can be forwarded on and on and can collect thousands of names and email addresses. A FACT: The completed petition is actually worth a couple of bucks to a professional spammer because of the wealth of valid names and email addresses contained therein. If you want to support the petition, send it as your own personal letter to the intended recipient. Your position may carry more weight as a personal letter than a laundry list of names and email address on a petition. (Actually, if you think about it, who's supposed to send the petition in to whatever cause it supports? And don 't believe the ones that say that the email is being traced, it just aint so!)
(6) One of the main ones I hate is
the ones that say that something like, "Send this email to 10 people and you'll see something great run across your screen." Or, sometimes they'll just tease you by saying something really cute will happen IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN!!!!!
(7)
Before you forward an Amber Alert, or a Virus Alert, or some of the other ones floating around nowadays, check them out before you forward d them. Most of them are junk mail that's been circling the net for YEARS and many have hidden viruses! Just about everything you receive in an email that is in question can be checked out at Snopes. Just go to http://www.snopes.com/
Its really easy to find out if it's real or not. If it's not, please don't pass it on.
So please, in the future, let's stop the junk mail and the viruses.
Can you find the 9 faces in this picture?
If you want to see the answers try this: Face answers
This is a monday cartoon
Voters urge teaching of 21st-century skills
Results of a new poll commissioned by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills shows the vast majority of U.S. voters believe students are ill-equipped to compete in the global learning environment, and that schools must incorporate 21st-century skills such as critical thinking and problem solving, communication and self-direction, and computer and technology skills into the curriculum. But the upcoming presidential election, researchers say, presents a perfect opportunity to charter a new path to success for America's students.
eSchool News online - Voters urge teaching of 21st-century skills
Right from the mouth of students. Part fourteen
i think cyber school is an amazing way to learn!
Cyber Schol is a great place, don't get me wrong. However, I find that some of the tools are a bit complicated... when they do not need to be. So maybe you guys could work on that. Maybe make the homepage something even an educationally challenged person would see as easy. So yeah... you guys just need to make this place a bit more simple. Good day.
There is WAY too much repetitive labour. At least in some courses anyway. You're not exactly learning at your own pace when you're plugging 60 boring, easy, and yet long to do questions. Ideally, there wouldn't be required daily assignments at all, just the lesson, and a bunch of questions with the answers on hand to make sure you're doing it right. Then if you already know how to do something, you don't have to waste two hours doing the aggressively annoying manual labour. I seem to remember the Math 10 course being like that... 'twas great! I learnt everything, but didn't have to waste hours proving and proving again that I've learnt it. The end of unit test should be enough for that. If people didn't learn their stuff then it'll show in the test.
it's going to help me graduate with my friends. If there was no cyber school i would have to go for another semester of high school, so I am very thankful for this new oppurtunity of education.
I really enjoy cyber school but I think that the 150 day schedule shouldn't include Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. I think that you should be able to ACCESS your cyber school account on those days but they shouldn't be included as days where you HAVE to do work. It's just like you wouldn't do/ go to school on the weekend unless you had homework.
October 12, 2007
Brains are weird
If you see it turning clockwise, you're right-brained (meaning you use more of the right brain than the left), and if counterclockwise, left-brained. Weird, isn't it?
This is a good idea.
If this ever works, this will be a great resource.
From the mouth of students. Part Thirteen
If you are homeschooled, I don't think it should be required that if you are taking a cyber school course, that you have to actually go to a school to take a Christian Ethics class every semester. This is very inconvenient for someone who is homeschooled. I don't know if this is how it is now, but when my sister looked into taking a cyber class, that is what she was told. I know this is a Catholic school but for those who just need to take the class to graduate, it would be better suited, because the Public School system only has grade 12 courses so it is not possible to get all the credits that are needed.
Cyber school is a good way to learn independently
I think the information displayed on the site needs to be better organized and easier to understand because some of the assignments are kind of confusing.
Wow! I am a writer of sorts so I'm going to TRY and keep this short and simple. I took Cyber School for the first time in Grade nine and have been at it ever since (gr. 11). I took Christian Ethics on-line as well as Information Processing. After taking CE 10 and20 online, I have found that it is much easier to answer honestly in these sort of situations. Christian Ethics relates to very sensitive topics that most people do not feel very comfortable discussing in person. I think the biggest reason for this is that they are afraid people will judge them based on their answer. On Cyber, it seems like you can be more honest with your opinion because no one really knows who you are. I realize this means people can be rude and nasty a little more easily as well but I have not seen it happen very often. I think the majority of students who take Cyber school are the kind to uphold academic integrity as well. That being said, I do not think Cyber School is for everyone. I think everyone learns their own way and Cyber school is excellent for the independent learner. Basically, I think this place is awesome and the teachers really listen to what you have to say. I realize that was neither short nor simple but I did try and thank-you for listening.
Thank you for creating such a nice school to use for us people who have busy scheduals
I like the fact that my online teacher is someone that I know and have been taught by before. It helps me to learn and ask questions on a more personal level which, in this case of a discussion-based course, I believe is entirely essential. Having a teacher who knows you personally and how you behave as a student helps them to give more accurate grades and teaching. When a teacher knows how a student works or asks questions they can see where the student is coming from whereas a teacher who has never met the student may take a comment or habit in the wrong way.
October 11, 2007
Internet World Stats
An International website featuring up to date world Internet Usage, Population Statistics and Internet Market Research Data, for over 233 individual countries and world regions. See the Big Picture here.
Internet Usage World Stats - Internet and Population Statistics
What Jeff Foxworthy (American comedian) has to say about Saskatchewan:
If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you live in Saskatchewan .
If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Saskatchewan .
If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Saskatchewan.
If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you live in Saskatchewan ..
If 'Vacation' means going anywhere south of Prince Albert for the weekend, you live in Saskatchewan .
If you measure distance in hours, you live in Saskatchewan.
If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Saskatchewan
If you have switched from 'heat' to 'air conditioning' and back again in the same day, you live in Saskatchewan .
If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Saskatchewan.
If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you live in Saskatchewan ..
If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you live in Saskatchewan .
If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in Saskatchewan
If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in Saskatchewan .
If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, you live in Saskatchewan ..
If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in Saskatchewan ..
If you find 10 degrees Fahrenheit 'a little chilly', you live in Saskatchewan .
If you actually understand these jokes, and forward them to all your Saskatchewan friends, you live in Saskatchewan ..
From the mouth of students Part twelve
I think it's really great that this is being offered - thank you very much for making my school life, as well as the school lives of my classmates, easier.
classes to be in the same format perhaps, like having your communication icons the same and in the same spot so that when you are doing your school work you don't get confused about where things are going back from class to class. Just a thought.
I dont like how you guys having new cyber students set up. Im still having trouble and wondering what to do. If yo ucould make better instructions or a better method of instruction for new students it would be great.
Cyber is a little difficult to keep up with if you're not diligent. I think that there should be something that says that you have to be done something by a certain date more often. Like every month or so, not every half a semester. BUt I like how you can work ahead. But you get kinda of sick of sitting in front of the computer for so long. Cyber school should stay open because there are people out there that need this option. I chose cyberschool because I could learn another subject at school. Thank you to all my teachers, past and present, and perhaps future.
I am personally extremely grateful for cyber school. I've taken 6 distance education classes and 4 of those have been with SCCS. Most of the reason for this is scheduling issues because I want to take way too many classes, and part of it was taking gr. 9 math in grade 8 to challenge myself and open up an elective in high school. I'd like to thank all the teachers who put hard work into creating cyber school, it seems like it would be A LOT of work. Personally, I find it slightly harder to achieve high marks in cyber school than in a face-to-face class. This is partly because of the motivation required and partly because it is a little harder not having a teacher there at all times. Overall, it's an excellent experience and really teaches self-motivation. Thanks for putting this all together, it has really really REALLY helped me out. God bless!
October 9, 2007
Illegal downloader ordered to pay $222K
A federal jury on Oct. 4 ordered a 30-year-old Minnesota woman to pay $222,000 for sharing copyrighted music online, marking the first time one of the industry's lawsuits against an individual downloader had gone to trial. The defendant, Jammie Tomas, a single mother of two sons, says she is still deciding whether to file an appeal.
eSchool News online - Illegal downloader ordered to pay $222K
The fifty tools
Below you will find 50 web tools you can use to create a story. Again, your mission here is not to review every single one, but pick one that sounds interesting and see if you can produce something.
From the mouth of students. Part Twelve
im not sure. you should be able to take the hole year on cyber school because i was sick and couldnt even get out of bed but i needed school but you guys didnt have it.
Cyber School has been a great learning expirience in the truest form. It has prepared me for life by forcing me to regulate my own learning, and keeping myself on track. The teachers are usually helpful, and overall I find CyberSchool much quicker than in class.
Cyber School, is more than just sitting at the computer and doing your work, its a chance for you to feel independent but yet easly access help when needed!
Cyber school is a great way of learning. It is flexible for a person's schedule, suited for a different kind of learning style then face to face, and easily accessed (if you have a computer with internet). I really like cyber school, and am hoping to take more courses online in the years to come. Thank you for all the work everyone does for cyber school!
Although I find cyber school extremely convenient with my schedule I find the discussion postings a waste of time . I am over the age of 40 and find it awkward to communicate with people who are younger than my children. I have found that almost no high school courses are available in print,either through you or the Saskatchewan Correspondence School. I would suggest that if an adult is exempt for certain prerequisites to courses that some of the material also be excempt. I am 44 and at this age if I have not aquired the skills of communication then there is no hope. The reason I decided to take this cyber class was because the last of my three children finished school and I decided it was my turn after spending 28 years in the retail industry to move on to something more . I did not realize that cyber school would require so much discussion and am now questioning my future in cyber school. Thank-you
October 4, 2007
Support Services for Distance Education Students
Articles, Papers and Publications
Support Services for Distance Education Students
Online teaching/learning quotations
Virtual Campus using "Real education" services whose principle is that "any service a student can get on campus, an online student can get with CU online".
Source unknown
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"In the future, as higher education shifts from traditional classroom teaching to on-line learning, academic support programs will increasingly become more in demand by on-line learners especially advising, career preparation, learning skills, orientation, tutoring, and intervention to overcome on-line technical problems. However, although many services may be made available on-line, academic support for both faculty and students will still be necessary for many students since they may be miles from the parent institution offering the course and will insist on some face-to-face interaction with academic support personnel."
Frank L. Christ. “Academic Support Programs” entry in Higher Education in the United States: An Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO Publishers
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“Online learning now depends more on the ability of educators and trainers to tutor and support learners online than on the technology itself.”
Dr. Ian Heywood, 2000 World Open Learning Conference and Exhibition, Birmingham, England.
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"Most university students have never been formally taught to learn how to study, either in high school or college."
Gardner, L. (1998). Why we must change: The research evidence. Thought and Action. 14 (Spring), 71-88.
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"the challenge is not simply to incorporate learning technologies into current institutional approaches, but rather to change our fundamental views about effective teaching and learning and to use technology to do so"
( Higher Education in an Era of Digital Competition: Choices and Challenges by Donald E. Hanna and Associates. Atwood Publishing, 2000, p.61.
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"Faculty are moving forward, technologies are improving, and student demand is increasing -- but few changes are taking place in the university structure as a whole to accommodate the special needs of the distance-learning student." Richard Bothel, dean of continuing education and distance learning at Troy State University.
http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/spring41/bothel41.html
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"Faculty developers can learn much from colleagues who work in learning assistance programs on campus. Transforming universities into fully integrated learning communities is a requirement for promoting academic success in the new millennium. When the "millennial students" walk onto campus, it's time to call upon those who know them first hand."
The Millennial Learner—Challenges and Opportunities: Saundra Yancy McGuire (Director of the Center for Academic Success and Adjunct Associate Professor of Chemistry at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) and Dennis A. Williams at POD Conference in Vancouver.
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"Preparing students today for tomorrow's workforce has a lot to do with teaching about how to use and evaluate knowledge. The Internet is rapidly becoming the biggest repository of information we have ever known. The key will be in our ability to find, evaluate and use the information it provides. We need to teach analytical and organizational skills. Students must know how to evaluate data. Gone are then days when students spent their time memorizing facts that were readily available at their fingertips. Students need to learn communication and study skills. We must give them the type of tools that prepare them for lifelong learning, so they know how to study and how to evaluate the importance of what they learn."
Leight, M. Converge (December 2000, 3(12) 11.
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“Online students can be better retained, experience greater course satisfaction, and learn more in less time with greater ease and confidence when an online course is linked to an Academic Support System and is designed with activities and information that assist them to become a collegial group and to learn more effectively and efficiently.”
Christ, F.L. Achieving student retention, satisfaction, and success through online pedagogy. A presentation at TechEd Long Beach, February 26, 2002.
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"Student retention in the online course is a major concern. ... ... "...the availability of information resources and assistance throughout the course are some solutions to high online drop-out rates."
Moore, G.S., Winograd, K. and D. Lange. (2001). You can teach online: Building a creative learning environment. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. p. 3.5
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"...primary variables responsible for discriminating between completers and non-completers included three of the Likert scale factors: study environment, motivation, and computer confidence."
Osborn, V. (2001). Identifying at-risk students in videoconferencing and web-based distance education. The American Journal of Distance Education, 15:1, 47.
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"A third area of concern for distance students is the lack of support and services such as providing tutors, academic planners and schedulers, and technical assistance. The isolation that results from the distance learning process can complicate the learning process for adult students. Support for distance learners should not be overlooked when planning distance programs. Students need tutors and academic planners to help them complete courses on time and to act as a support system when stress becomes a problem.
Galusha, J. (1997). Barriers to learning in distance education. Interpersonal Computing and Technology. Retrieved at http://www.emoderators.com/ipct-j/1997/n4/galusha.html
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“The fifth challenge facing the use of the Web in universities is to how best use the Web to encourage good learning behaviours in students. Most good learning behaviours rely on metacognition and this is universally regarded as an essential attribute of good learning. … …Encouraging metacognition develops students' knowledge of the nature of their learning, of their effective learning strategies, and of their learning strengths and weakness. … …The Web has potential in this area to meet this challenge if appropriate instructional design strategies are employed in the development of material for the Web. It is unlikely to occur if lecturers just mount their printed course material and use the Web as a convenient delivery medium. If the design of courses allows individual exploration coupled with reflection and the comparison of a student's views with others, as well as the encouragement of good learning behaviours, then metacognition can be enhanced and good learning can result.
Fetherston, T. (2001). Pedagogical Challenges for the World Wide Web. Educational Technology Review. 9:1. Retrieved January 21, 2002 at http://www.aace.org/pubs/etr/fetherston.cfm
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"Learning Centers can be viewed as the education provider's physical and social "Point of Presence" with the distance learner. As such, learners should expect to find an array of functions and services supporting their distance education activities offered at or facilitated through the Learning Center site."
IPSE (Indiana Partnership for Statewide Education) –‘Learning Centers & Three Tiered Distance Education Delivery Model' Retrieved September 12, 2002 from http://www.ihets.org/consortium/ipse/learningcentermodel.html
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“Connect the Disconnected”
Dr. Ray Ganey, Cochise College, AZ
Thanks to Learning Support Centers In Higher Education
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From the mouth of students. Part Eleven
I think cyber school is a great way for a student to develop a sense of independance. I've taken a few university classes, and i believe cyber school will teach students to become more self reliant and independant in their studies! i believe it is a very benefial means of education. However, i would not recommend making it mandatory for ever student to complete one class online in order to graduate because not all students can learn by teaching themselves, or will be self motivated enough to complete the course. Thanks!
well this is my first time doing a cyber school class so i really dont know at this point
I really like the set-up on the site, It's easy to navigate around the site. I often find myself excited to go and get some work done :) Well done, good Job.
I like how you are able to go at your own pace.
I would just like to say that cyber school gave me the opportunity to finish some classes I couldn't continue in an actual school. I think it's a great way to get an education if you cannot physically or mentally be present in a school.
October 3, 2007
10 Ways to use your edublog to teach.
There are many ways you can use an edublog in your teaching, here are ten to get you started:
? 10 ways to use your edublog to teach Edublogs - education blogs
Series: Why Did You Decide To Take Cyber School? - Part Four
The Virtual High School Meandering blog has been a great supporter of the TADO and has once again posted our cyber school student's comments. He has posted the complete "Why did you decide to take cyber school series". He will be posting the next series which is called; "From the mouth of students". This series is a result of another survey which prompted the students with the following statement:
I hope you enjoy this new series.
Tell us something. A neat story about you in the cyber school. Something we could have done better. Something that we could use on our website to sell the cyber school idea. A tip to a cyber school employee. A thank you to a cyber school employee. A reason for the cyber school to continue. A reason for the cyber school to close. A neat website.
Virtual High School Meanderings: Series: Why Did You Decide To Take Cyber School? - Part Four
From the mouth of students. Part Ten
I think that Cyber School is an excellent way to learn. It gives you flexibility, while at the same time makes you self-motivated. You have to be determined and learn how to manage your time so that you can finish within your alloted amount of time. Thank you Cyber School for the wonderful experiences I have had.
I think that cyberschool should continue, because it forces the student to manage their own time. This is an important skill that you will use later on in life, even in University. After highschool, there is no one to tell you that you have homework to do, or you have something that is due next week. you have to be able to manage your time to get everything done. Cyberschool helps you to do this, because even though you do have due dates within the courses, you have to tell yourself to actually get the assignment done. Cyber school is a great way to learn!
a schedule that tells the student exactly what to do on each day of the year. this will help the students stay on track. in one of my classses i had a schedule like that and it was very helpful.
Cyber school has helped me graduate I am now back for my second year to upgrade my marks that could of been higher if I had managed my time better thanks to cyber school i gradutated grade 12 from holy cross highschool.
I would recommend that in Cyber School, deadlines should be more enforced. A student should be allowed to work as fast as possible, but for some students (maybe only a few) no deadlines is a hard thing to organize. I realize that the recommended days are in the student calendar, but sometimes a concrete deadline is a good kick in the pants to get someone like myself back on track. However, Cyber School MUST stay in existence, as it provides solutions for many difficult scheduling problems, it allows Grade 8's to work ahead in math (a very good thing) and it caters to a learning style not approached before. It is a much better alternative to a classroom than correspondence or another similar alternative. I have taken both correspondence and Cyber School, and I greatly prefer Cyber School.
October 2, 2007
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From the mouth of students. Part Nine
i think that cyber school is confusing everyone says oh its so easy but really its just as hard but its even harder cuz of all the emails u get
I like cyber school. It is a neat way to let people take courses to get ahead, or if they can't take a face-to-face course for any reason. My only problem with the program is that sometimes the teachers don't answer right away, and it takes two or three days. Other times, though, the teachers answered straight away, it was obvious they checked their email pretty much every day, which was really great.
I've been a student in cyber school now for 3 semesters. Some teachers have been VERY helpful and others have just had a few troubles in teaching the material clearly. Overall, however it has been a good experience.
I find cyber school hard to use and hard to find everything. I enjoy using it though because it's easier for me to access and complete assignments because I don't have a certain due date.
I think that this is a great method for people who need to upgrade or failed a class, you can interact with your teacher easy and you learn how to type better.
October 1, 2007
October Resources
Pumpkins, Apples, and Leaves ... It's October!
As the leaves change color and the air gets chilly; pumpkins get large enough to carve and eat!; and apples appear in mass quantities - "Fall" back on some favorite teaching ideas for the Autumn, Thanksgiving, Pumpkins and Halloween......
September Continuous Improvement Framework
As stated at the opening staff meeting we are working on a continuous improvement framework (CIF) It will work in a few different steps:
Step one: Recognize the following facts:
• No matter how good our online courses might be they can be improved.
• Not changing anything is not an option. (If we all do things the same way we will always get the same results.)
• This is the year to try something new.
• The online technology and software is changing rapidly so must our courses to reflect the current technology.
Step two: Do not reinvent the wheel
• Take the time to check out other people’s work and approaches.
• During the month of September our goal is to implement one new element into your course from your research.
Check out the responses by;
Right out of the mouth of students. Part Eight
I think you should make the waiting period for the course so more people can get in faster.
My favourite course so far was Ip 10
I have enjoyed taking cyber school so far but feel that it needs alot of improvement. It is easy to work it into my busy schedual with full time work. I feel that the staff isnt as aprochable as I would have hoped, you just do your work hand it in and get a mark for it, thats it. I would like for the teachers to discuss the work that you just handed in wether you did good or poorley on it and see what your views on it where.
I think that it should done be done by semester and not 150 because sometimes you go away on weekends and don't really use your time as wisely
I found that certain courses was easier, i.e. less time consuming, because the course was in a printable format. I also liked the courses where you had a second chance on a quiz to improve your marks.
