July 2008
July 31, 2008
You might be ... Part 11
July 29, 2008
Stats 2007-2008 Part 8
The following stats are a collection of stats taken from the 2007-2008 school year.
Was the course too long? (267 answers)
| - | Yes | No | Just Right |
| 2 | 105 | 73 | 89 |
| 0.7% | 39.0% | 27.1% | 33.1% |
The organization and structure of the course made sense and was easy to navigate. (266 answers)
| - | Strongly agree | Agree | Neutral | Disagree | Strongly Disagree |
| 3 | 42 | 132 | 71 | 11 | 10 |
| 1.1% | 15.6% | 49.1% | 26.4% | 4.1% | 3.7% |
The pace of the course (the amount of time you had to do your work) was reasonable. (266 answers)
| - | Strongly agree | Agree | Neutral | Disagree | Strongly Disagree |
| 3 | 36 | 105 | 90 | 25 | 10 |
| 1.1% | 13.4% | 39.0% | 33.5% | 9.3% | 3.7% |
How would you rate the quality and relevance of the course's assignments? (265 answers)
| - | Excellent | Above Average | Average | Below Average | Poor |
| 4 | 30 | 66 | 146 | 17 | 6 |
| 1.5% | 11.2% | 24.5% | 54.3% | 6.3% | 2.2% |
How would you rate the quality and relevance of the other course content (readings, web links, media, etc.)? (265 answers)
| - | Excellent | Above Average | Average | Below Average | Poor |
| 4 | 20 | 75 | 153 | 12 | 5 |
| 1.5% | 7.4% | 27.9% | 56.9% | 4.5% | 1.9% |
You might be ... Part 10
July 28, 2008
Stats 2007-2008 Part 7
The following stats are a collection of stats taken from the 2007-2008 school year.
Would you classify your computer use as: (when you are not taking an online class.) (268 answers)
| - | Above Average (Use multiple software programs and the Internet daily) | Average (use mostly MS office software and Internet weekly) | Moderate (Use 1-2 software programs and the Internet monthly) | Rare (Hardly ever use computer or the Internet) |
| 1 | 130 | 111 | 17 | 10 |
| 0.4% | 48.3% | 41.3% | 6.3% | 3.7% |
Your computer skills were adequate to be success at the cyber school? (267 answers)
| - | Strongly agree | Agree | Neutral | Strongly Disagree |
| 2 | 115 | 111 | 38 | 3 |
| 0.7% | 42.8% | 41.3% | 14.1% | 1.1% |
Where did you access your cyber school course the most? (268 answers)
| - | Home Computer | School | Parents Office | Community Library | Friends | work | Other |
| 1 | 181 | 81 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 0.4% | 67.3% | 30.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.1% | 0.4% | 0.7% |
What kind of computer do you use most frequently (268 answers)
| - | PC (window-based) | Macintosh |
| 1 | 244 | 24 |
| 0.4% | 90.7% | 8.9% |
Do you believe that taking a cyber school course was a good decision? (268 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 1 | 218 | 50 |
| 0.4% | 81.0% | 18.6% |
You might be ... Part 9
July 27, 2008
Stats 2007-2008 Part 6
The following stats are a collection of stats taken from the 2007-2008 school year.
Should there be teacher-parent interviews for cyber courses? (723 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 1 | 141 | 582 |
| 0.1% | 19.5% | 80.4% |
Should the cyber school have a year book? (721 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 3 | 189 | 532 |
| 0.4% | 26.1% | 73.5% |
Do you understand copyright rules on the internet?
(722 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 2 | 686 | 36 |
| 0.3% | 94.8% | 5.0% |
Do you know what lol means?
(722 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 2 | 709 | 13 |
| 0.3% | 97.9% | 1.8% |
Did you know the cyber school tracks all your behaviour while you are online?
(723 answers)
| - | yes | no |
| 1 | 486 | 237 |
| 0.1% | 67.1% | 32.7% |
Do you have your own cel phone?
(722 answers)
| - | yes | no |
| 2 | 501 | 221 |
| 0.3% | 69.2% | 30.5% |
Do you text message?
(719 answers)
| - | yes | no |
| 5 | 480 | 239 |
| 0.7% | 66.3% | 33.0% |
Do you need quiet when you study?
(721 answers)
| - | yes | no |
| 3 | 481 | 240 |
| 0.4% | 66.4% | 33.1% |
You might be ... Part 8
July 26, 2008
Stats 2007-2008 Part 5
The following stats are a collection of stats taken from the 2007-2008 school year.
Should the cyber school have a dress code? (723 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 1 | 32 | 691 |
| 0.1% | 4.4% | 95.4% |
Did the cyber school website answer your questions? (723 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 1 | 644 | 79 |
| 0.1% | 89.0% | 10.9% |
Have you ever been a victim of a cyber bully?
(722 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 2 | 81 | 641 |
| 0.3% | 11.2% | 88.5% |
Are you more computer literate than your parents??
(723 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 1 | 607 | 116 |
| 0.1% | 83.8% | 16.0% |
Should cyber instructors post their office hours?
(723 answers)
| - | yes | no |
| 1 | 577 | 363 |
| 0.1% | 79.7% | 20.2% |
You might be ...Part 7
July 25, 2008
Stats 2007-2008 Part 4
The following stats are a collection of stats taken from the 2007-2008 school year.
Will the fact that you took a cyber school course better prepare you for University? (723 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 1 | 536 | 187 |
| 0.1% | 74.0% | 25.8% |
Do you think a text book is necessary for a cyber school course? (723 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 4 | 155 | 565 |
| 0.6% | 21.4% | 78.0% |
Should the student have to take their final exam face to face for a cyber school course?
(720 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 4 | 106 | 614 |
| 0.6% | 14.6% | 84.8% |
Should students be charged an administration fee for cyber school?
(723 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 1 | 27 | 696 |
| 0.1% | 3.7% | 96.1% |
Is the cyber school better for...
(723 answers)
| - | advanced students | average students | below average students |
| 1 | 280 | 363 | 80 |
| 0.1% | 38.7% | 50.1% | 11.0% |
You might be ... Part 6
July 24, 2008
Stats 2007-2008 part 3
The following stats are a collection of stats taken from the 2007-2008 school year.
Have you ever cheated in a face to face course? (723 answers)
| - | Yes | No | don't want to say |
| 2 | 89 | 550 | 83 |
| 0.3% | 12.3% | 76.0% | 11.5% |
Have you ever cheated in a cyber school course? (723 answers)
| - | Yes | No | don't want to say |
| 1 | 18 | 668 | 37 |
| 0.1% | 2.5% | 92.3% | 5.1% |
Do you think the cyber school 150 days system is better than a semester system?
(723 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 1 | 624 | 99 |
| 0.1% | 86.2% | 13.7% |
Should every student have to take a course from the cyber school to graduate from our school division?
(723 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 1 | 104 | 619 |
| 0.1% | 14.4% | 85.5% |
Is the cyber school's method of course delivery better preparing students than face to face schools method?
(722 answers)
| - | yes | no |
| 2 | 372 | 350 |
| 0.3% | 51.4% | 48.3% |
You might be ... 5
July 23, 2008
Stats 2007-2008 Part 2
The following stats are a collection of stats taken from the 2007-2008 school year.
Have you been in the cyber school before? (723 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 1 | 202 | 521 |
| 0.1% | 27.9% | 72.0% |
Would you take a second cyber school course?
(722 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 2 | 590 | 132 |
| 0.3% | 81.5% | 18.2% |
Do you think your marks in cyber school will be higher than in face to face?
(723 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 1 | 520 | 203 |
| 0.1% | 71.8% | 28.0% |
Would you have taken cyber school if there was any other way to do it?
(720 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 4 | 501 | 219 |
| 0.6% | 69.2% | 30.2% |
Do you think it is easier to cheat in cyber than in face to face school?
(723 answers)
| - | yes | no |
| 1 | 239 | 484 |
| 0.1% | 33.0% | 66.9% |
You might be ... 4
July 22, 2008
Stats 2007-2008
The following stats are a collection of stats taken from the 2007-2008 school year.
Are you enrolled in a face to face school. (722 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 2 | 607 | 115 |
| 0.3% | 83.8% | 15.9% |
Have you already completed 4 years of high school?
(723 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 1 | 88 | 635 |
| 0.1% | 12.2% | 87.7% |
Do you have the internet at home?
(722 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 2 | 698 | 24 |
| 0.3% | 96.4% | 3.3% |
Do you spend 5+ hours a day on the internet?
(722 answers)
| - | Yes | No |
| 2 | 151 | 571 |
| 0.3% | 20.9% | 78.9% |
Was the preparation course ...
(722 answers)
| - | Easy | Average | Hard |
| 2 | 316 | 387 | 19 |
| 0.3% | 43.6% | 53.5% | 2.6% |
You might be ... 3
July 19, 2008
You might be
July 18, 2008
Dealing with Plagiarism in Online Classes
As far as online teaching goes, plagiarism is an even greater fear. Although there is no direct evidence that online teaching increases plagiarism, the general feeling presented by students and faculty is that cheating is in fact easier to accomplish in an online class: "Because both students and faculty believe it is easier to cheat in a distance learning class, results suggest that as the number of distance learning classes increase, so will academic dishonesty" (Kennedy, in Maw et. al). Thus, online teachers must be made aware of this possibility, as well as becoming knowledgeable of ways to both catch and prevent the act of cheating.
Interface: The Journal for Education, Community, and Values
Complete idiot
The next generation of Blackboard
Greetings from Las Vegas, where today I gave a detailed guided tour of Project NG, our multi-release effort to deliver the next generation of Blackboard solutions. I'm emailing to let you know about an online version of the Project NG preview so you can also get a feel for what's to come from Blackboard.
July 17, 2008
Making it Idiot proof...
Standing up to Cyberbullies
Cyberbullying is a serious challenge for school districts. Much of it goes on outside their networks, and yet it can profoundly impact students’ day-to-day lives.
Mike Donlin manages federal technology programs, and cyberbullying education and prevention efforts for the 47,000-student Seattle public schools.
He also represents the district in the Qwest Internet Safety Roundtable, a consortium set up by the telecommunications company to bring together law enforcement and school districts to work on Internet safety.
Donlin believes that the cyberbullying is an underestimated threat. He shares his thoughts on the subject with School CIO.
Q&A: Mike Donlin: Standing up to Cyberbullies
Terror in the Classroom: What Can be Done?, Part 1
Imagine coming home from school and sitting at the computer to get away from the stress of the day. Within a few minutes you're bombarded with messages like "You're ugly…We hate you…Why don't you make us all happy and end your miserable life". Welcome to a world too many teenagers are facing. A world where bullying no longer takes place in the hallways at school or on the way home. Bullying is now more likely to takes place in the murky, often anonymous world of the Internet. About a third (31%) of all students ages 12-14 have been bullied online according to a study by Opinion Research Corporation (2006). This research paper will examine some of the reasons for "cyberbullying," and what may be done about it.
Terror in the Classroom: What Can be Done?, Part 1
Six Steps to Managing Internet Access
School districts face a moving target when it comes to keeping students from inappropriate Internet sites.
Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, Fla., with 140,000 students, has in place a three-part system of filtering, monitoring, and reporting. Information security analyst Jim Culbert explains how it works.
Six Steps to Managing Internet Access
July 16, 2008
Cyber Teacher's Comment
I think that without fail a cyber school teacher improves as a face to face teacher. Using the latest research and actively searching for new ways to teach our students is part of being a cyber school teacher. This can only help our face to face classes. In addition the freedom and creativity required to teach a cyber school class forces one to think of interesting ways to share difficult concepts. This often involves the use of specialized software which often involves collaboration with other cyber school teachers. Staying current is a necessity and it becomes infectious.
Being open to change and the willingness to work very hard to create a cyber school class is rewarding, exciting, often frustrating, and worth all the work!
Benefits of the Information Age
July 15, 2008
Cyber school for people who are looks challenged
July 14, 2008
Number One cause of stress
Cyber Teacher's Comment
The first thing that should be mentioned is that it is a great opportunity to work with and interact with teachers and colleagues who are true professionals and are not afraid to push the envelope when it comes to being innovative in their teaching. As a result of this collaboration new skills are learned both in terms of computer programming and more importantly in developing better teaching techniques. Further to this once an online course is developed it also becomes a valuable resource to your regular classroom students by providing them with access to it. Student have benefitted greatly from such a resource.
With respect to teaching students, the gratification one gets in seeing your students taking on the responsibility for their learning and succeeding as independent learners as they become engaged in a program that you have developed. The ability to learn on your own with little assistance from a teacher or an instructor is a life long skill that can benefit someone in a variety of ways.
Cyber School has literally opened up the world in terms of the people one gets the opportunity to work with. As a teacher you are no longer confined to teaching only students who are located in your community. One is able to interact with students from different locations who are of different ages and also a variety of cultural backgrounds. An enrichment opportunity for both students and teachers . Your classroom has literally become “the world”.
In terms of “pitfalls”, time is the key factor. Time is of essence as one tries to learn the many programs necessary to develop a quality online course and of course to continue to maintain it and improve it.
July 13, 2008
Predict the future.
Cyber Teacher's Comment
The advantages of being involved in the Saskatoon Cyber School are many for me. I have been at Cyber School for a few years now, and the best thing about it is the flexibility it gives me. Having a young family, the format of the Cyber School allows me to do my teaching when it works best. I no longer have an 8:00 to 4:00 job; the work gets done when it fits into my schedule.
It helped me in my face-to-face school as well because it has allowed me to introduce new and exciting aspects in my classroom. A Cyber School class is always being tweaked and updated with new elements, and as a Cyber teacher I am always learning new things, and many times I have introduced these new technologies and discoveries to my students, and it always enhances face-to-face classes. My cyber position keeps me current with my students.
I can't really think of any disadvantages for working at the Cyber School. You have to be on top of your Cyber class and students because it is open all day, everyday, and you have to be motivated to keep on redefining your Cyber class. It is never 'complete' because there are always new things to add and update. This does take time, but this is also the reason why the Saskatoon Catholic Cyber School is leading the way for online education.
For me, being a Cyber School teacher has been nothing but a positive experience. We have a strong, cohesive staff. We have a wonderful mixture of teachers from all over the division and each one of us are ready and willing to put in the extra effort to keep the school on the cutting edge. I can't imagine my career without the Cyber School.
July 12, 2008
Bad Spellers
Quote explained
"To know nothing of what happened before you were born is to remain ever a child" (Cicero, 2008, p. 1).
The way children think is interesting. Everything is invention, everything is discovery...is it so bad to remain a child?
These quotes are made to justify the teaching of History in the schools. How can you expect to know and understand where you are going if you don't know and understand where you came from. History always repeats itself, so knowing will help you prepare for what is yet to come. If this is the case, why does mankind continue to make the same mistakes?
Knowing history tends to stop one from being creative because of "tradition". Tradition is used by many a lazy person to refrain from trying something that in the past did not work. Nothing remains the same, so conditions change. To try something old in a new time might lead to success. Many inventions were achieved by mistakes or failure.
Knowing history tends to slow ground breaking development. It tends to force one to make minor changes to something that has already been done. Not knowing how something was done allows one the freedom to make mistakes and learn, and with trial and error maybe create something never thought of before…. a ground breaking discovery!
Is there a reason we have not produced another Einstein or DaVinci? As time passes there is more and more history and there are more and more mistakes. By the time you know history you are past your prime. Have we created a society which will not allow another Einstein?
Cicero, M. T. (2008). Where's the Math? Retrieved June 19, 2008, from Washington Parents and Educators for Mathematically Correct Curriculum: http://www.wheresthemath.com/home/notablequotes.html
July 11, 2008
Teacher training videos
These videos were created for teachers to help them to incorporate technology into their teaching. Just click and a video will open and take you through how to use that technology or show you some of the best ELT sites around. What you actually see are screen recordings of my own computer screen.
My own background is in teaching English, so some of the sites are specific to ELT and are grouped separately. The rest are for all teachers and there is also a section for those interested in more difficult multimedia products like Flash and Director.
Teacher Training Videos created by Russell Stannard
Quote explained
"The real questions are the ones that obtrude upon your consciousness whether you like it or not, the ones that make your mind start vibrating like a jackhammer, the ones that you 'come to terms with" only to discover that they are still there. The real questions refuse to be placated. They barge into your life at the times when it seems most important for them to stay away. They are the questions asked most frequently and answered most inadequately, the ones that reveal their true natures slowly, reluctantly, most often against your will" (Bengis, 2006, p. 1).
"The classroom should be an entrance into the world, not an escape from it" (Ciardi, 2008, p. 1).
At one time the classroom was an entrance into the world but since the industrial era the world has changed and the classroom has not. So, by some, it is now viewed as an escape or an unchanged and unchanging island. This is a comfortable environment for many who were raised in a similar environment and rather than recognizing the need or the methods for change will fight to find proof against such change.
A vision which has been common for many school programs is to unlock the potential of their students. Unfortunately, many have tried to fit the students into the program rather than the program to the students. The strength of an individual approach to education is the students’ input into the program. If a student can choose the subject based on what makes their mind start vibrating like a jackhammer will produce a motivated student who benefits from approach rather than details. The information age and the internet has created an era where content is so vast it is an archaic method of education to assume we can teach all the content. If our education approach is geared more towards giving the tools to find the information, we then open the world to the students’ own sense of interest and their questions.
Bengis, I. (2006). Obtude upon quotes. Retrieved June 19, 2008, from Thinkexist.com: http://en.thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/obtrude_upon/
Ciardi, J. (2008). John Ciardi Quotes. Retrieved June 19, 2008, from Brainy Quote: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_ciardi.html
The Connection
High Cost of Driving Ignites Online Classes Boom
First, Ryan Gibbons bought a Hyundai so he would not have to drive his gas-guzzling Chevy Blazer to college classes here. When fuel prices kept rising, he cut expenses again, eliminating two campus visits a week by enrolling in an online version of one of his courses.
High Cost of Driving Ignites Online Classes Boom - NYTimes.com
July 10, 2008
Change the world
Quote explained
"It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all try something" (Roosevelt, 2008, p. 1).
"The most damaging phrase in the language is: It's always been done that way" (Hopper, 2008, p. 1).
The worst thing that can be said is that we tried that already or traditionally that is not the way we do things. Students, information, technology and the internet are changing at such a rapid pace that to avoid all techniques that have been tried in the past would be a bad thing. In order for a cyber school to be successful it is important to create an environment where the whole team feels comfortable taking risks, trying new and old techniques and an environment where failing is a learning experience and just a part of doing business. As stated in the quote, if it fails, admit it frankly and try another. If the wrong environment is established where failure is met with major consequences then no one will be willing to try, which would greatly hinder the ability of the Cyber School to grow and succeed.
Hopper, G. (2008). Change Quote. Retrieved June 19, 2008, from Quotations about.com: http://quotations.about.com/cs/inspirationquotes/a/Change2.htm?p=1
Roosevelt, F. D. (2008). Franklin D Roosevelt Quotes. Retrieved June 19, 2008, from Brainy Quote: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/franklind122780.html
July 9, 2008
Who helped you???
Quote Explained
"The essence of learning is change, behavioural changes in people. To learn, a person must want to change, to be better, to do differently, and this resistance does not occur without resistance. Resistance may be slight, or it may be great, and it may take a variable number of overt and covert forms" (Cook, 2007).
"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there" (Godfrey, 2008).
What does it mean to be an online teacher?
Does it mean we have to leave some of the student control that we had in the face to face environment at the virtual door. In a classroom you have a “control” which allows you, as a teacher, to enforce some rules that you cannot in an asynchronous virtual classroom.
Statements like:
“Do not search the internet for your answers”
“Do the work by yourself.”
“Work in a silent environment.”
“Make sure you use at least one source of research from a library.”
“This is not an open book test.”
"Do not search the internet for your answer."
Will online students follow these instructions and would the teacher know if they did. Could the student go to the library to look up the answers? Most teachers would applaud a student for being so studious.
Do the work yourself, do not ask anyone for help. Would a teacher refuse to help one of their students who asked for help? Why are we threatened if a parent or a friend who has already taken a course sits down beside the students and assists them in completing an assignment? A student who is helped by a teacher should produce a better assignment and learn more. A student who is helped by a parent or a friend should produce a better assignment and learn more. The result is the same, so, as teachers, why are we more comfortable with the one approach than with the other?
In the information age it is important for us, as teachers, to encourage students to utilize as many tools as they can to access the information in the world. The days of memorization and knowing content is an old concept, the ability to find the answer is the new necessary knowledge. As teachers, we need to recognize this in the way you design your online courses. If you are making statements like...do not search the internet...do not ask anyone for help... do not search back into your notes while doing this test...you are going to find yourself very frustrated and trying to guess who is following these instructions.
In the online asynchronous virtual classroom only make rules that you, as a teacher, are capable of enforcing. This means you will have to do some things different than you would in a face to face environment. If you are not doing things differently, then you need to ask yourself, “Are you really an online line teacher in the information age and are you really preparing your students for the world they are entering?”
Cook, L. A. (2007, September 09). Random other Quotes. Retrieved June 19, 2008, from Lenk Web: http://deseng.ryerson.ca/xiki/Lenk/Main:Random_other_quotes
Godfrey, A. (2008). Arthur Godfrey Quotes. Retrieved June 19, 2008, from Quoteworld.org: http://www.quoteworld.org/quotes/5497
July 8, 2008
Where is the cyber school?
July 7, 2008
Quote explained
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the men of old; seek what they sought" (Basho, 2006, p. 1).
"If you wait until you can do everything for everybody, instead of something for somebody, you'll end up not doing anything for anybody" (Bane, 2007, p. 1).
In time a failure within the Cyber School, or in a face to face school, will not be looked at as a failure of the system or the educator. It is ok to allow a student the flexibility to fail. A student failing is sometimes the best education that person can receive. When a student fails within a courses the instructor tend to see that as a failure in his or her ability as an educator or in the system as a whole. Many of the students that are referred from the face to face school to the Cyber School are the students who have not been successful in the face to face learning environment. A percentage of those referrals find the online environment is a better match for their learning style and excel. However, some of those referred students are not successful online for the same reasons they were not successful in the face to face. They are not taking ownership for their education. If they failed in the face to face school and then they fail in the online school maybe they will stop placing blame where it does not belong. Or, maybe they are not mature enough or ready to make this conclusion.
A student's failure sparks many discussions. As educators, our goal is to do everything we can to make a student successful. Keeping this in mind, it is possible that the challenges we have in K-12 education have nothing to do with the delivery system. Maybe it has to do with our lack of willingness to let students fail. Perhaps we need to make the students more responsible for themselves. As a student gets closer to grade 12 this responsibility increases. Education should be viewed as a privilege rather than a right. The time has come when we should let the students decide how and when they access this privilege. That does not in any way mean that good teachers, administrators and schools do not do everything they can to assist students when they ask. A percentage of a teacher's time is spent trying to assist the students who never asked or do not want the help. Online schooling, home schooling and face to face schooling are all options for today's student. This new environment of options might mean we can allow the student to meet education on their terms, returning the responsibility for a student's education back to the student. It can allow them to pick and choose how and what they want; it can allow them to tailor their consumption of education. We, as educators, can go back to offering the education to those who want it and spend less time forcing it upon those who do not.
Bane, M. (2007, February 1). Quotations by Malcolm Bane American Baptist Minister. Retrieved June 19, 2008, from Wist: http://www.wist.info/b/bane_malcolm/
Basho, M. (2006). Matsuo Basho Quotes. Retrieved June 19, 2008, from Thinkexist.com: http://en.thinkexist.com/quotation/do_not_seek_to_follow_in_the_footsteps_of_the_men/148672.html
School without walls
July 6, 2008
Blogs explained
July 2, 2008
Hiring Bill
Gates steps down.
I have hesitated to put this in my blog, but I liked this article.
BBC NEWS | Business | Gates to step down from Microsoft
Computer intelligence
Quote Explained
"A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a joke or worried to death by a frown on the right person's brow" (Brower, 2008, p. 1).
The acceptance of online K-12 education is very important to the instructors of the cyber school. A portion of their day is spent educating adults, teachers, parents, and administration about online education. Many days they more like a salesman than an educator. Online education more than any educational movement has been deemed as a threat to tradition by so many who are ignorant of all that it entails. The online education is unique in the fact that it is being evaluated by adults who have no point of reference because, unlike the students, they have not been raised in the information era. This accounts for the gap between the differences in the acceptance that is being seen between adults and students. The selling of the Cyber School to the students has been much easier than it has been to the adults.
The adult naysayers of the program in the past have out rightly denied the fact that it was possible to use something other than face to face to educate students. We are starting to see that the movement has now achieved acceptability to the stage where they are willing to concede that some students can be educated using the internet as a vehicle.
Less and less English teachers are stating that it is possible to teach every other subject in a online environment, but not English! The explanation given is that English is different; it needs to have the teachers in the face to face environment to do a good job. English teachers were chosen only as an example. English can be replaced with any other subject. To students, an online course in one's schedule is not a novelty, it is just another option. We are entering a time where a mixture of face to face and e-learning in a student's high school career will be the norm.
This will result in a student being better prepared for the information age.
Brower, C. H. (2008). Charles Hendrickson Brower Quotes. Retrieved June 19, 2008, from Quoteworld.org: http://www.quoteworld.org/quotes/1931
July 1, 2008
Cartoon of the Day
Quote explained
"First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win" (Mohandas, 2008, p. 1).
The Ivory Tower of Learning (Universities) and the traditional media are reeling from the internet weblog and site attacks on their turf. At one time the place to find your answers was always the towers and the newspapers. The information age has arrived and has allowed others to have a voice. These voices, if not filtered through the towers and papers, might still be of value. Just because there are more voices does not mean that all the voices are experiencing a deflation of value. It is said that if you always use the same approach you will always get the same results. It is refreshing that the information age has ushered in a new approach which allowed us to see both the voices that are filtered and the unfiltered ones. This new approach might mean that the next great idea could come from the gas jockey who did not fit into the university model and was not considered an expert. In the past, such a person would never have been able to share his or her views through the traditional media. With everyone being able to make their voice heard in the information era, it is possible to have the idea straight from the pumps to the world. An information consumer has the freedom to choose what is considered important rather than the tower and paper deciding. Having the institutions to filter the information is of value. To have it censored by them is not. Having access to both the filtered and the unfiltered version is a refreshing change and does threaten the old way of life in the towers and the paper. Perhaps this change will allow the next great idea to come from a voice that is not filtered. Many like swimming in the massive sea of information available as is shown by the popularity of Google and the internet. They do not feel the need for the “sage on the stage” to tell them what is of value. Mahatma Gandhi is attributed as saying "First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win."
I'd say we are entering stage 3. That should fill us all with hope for the future!
Mohandas, G. (2008). Mohandas Gandhi Quotes. Retrieved June 19, 2008, from Brainy Quote: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/mohandasga103630.html
