penrose's blog

It is not a secret that I am sold on using instaColl for my live document editing needs. Here is a link to their tutorial on using the free program to collaborate on building/editing Excel spreadsheets.

http://www.instacoll.com/Flash/excel.htm

David

It is always a good day when someone publishes a paper on the systematic comparison of outcomes from online teaching and face to face (f2f) teaching.

http://www.irrodl.org/content/v6.2/lobel.html
Abstract

Two sections of an interpersonal skills building university course were observed for the purposes of this matched study. The face-to-face (F2F) section was in a classroom on the Concordia University campus in Montreal, Canada, while the non-turn-taking real-time online section used a Web application, LBD eClassroom© designed specifically for highly interactive large size classes and meetings. Two sections used the same instructor, facilitators, pedagogy, and course content. This study revealed a unique pattern of non-turn-taking synchronous interaction in the online section. Online students were found to be more likely to participate and express themselves. Interaction of online participants led to the creation of a group entity - a polis - a cornerstone for collaborative group learning. In contrast, in the F2F section, interaction followed the traditional classroom pattern - centered on the teacher or expert, resulting in fewer students interacting, and hence, lower interaction overall. In sum, during these three hour sessions, it was found that the nature of online non-turn-taking environment afforded online students more time to express themselves compared to students learning the same material F2F.

Unlike Word Processing, perhaps the use of 'spreadsheets' is less popular. The importance for a software figure management and analysis software remains. Consider this description at wikipedia.

A spreadsheet is a rectangular table (or grid) of information, often financial information. (It is, therefore, a kind of matrix.) The word came from "spread" in its sense of a newspaper or magazine item (text and/or graphics) that covers two facing pages, extending across the center fold and treating the two pages as one large one. The compound word "spread-sheet" came to mean the format used to present bookkeeping ledgers -- with columns for categories of expenditures across the top, invoices listed down the left margin, and the amount of each payment in the cell where its row and column intersect, for example -- which were traditionally a "spread" across facing pages of a bound ledger (= book for keeping accounting records) or on oversized sheets of paper ruled into rows and columns in that format and approximately twice as wide as ordinary paper.

TXT

the .txt file extension or text format is spreadsheet files which is ASCII characters only.

CSV

the .csv or comma separated values are text files with commas seperating each value.

TAB

this format represents values that are separated by tabs.

RESOURCES

Standards in Education for Spreadsheets
click here
Spreadsheets for Educators
click here
The Association of Teachers of Mathematics
click here
Using MS Excel in the Classroom
click here
Using Spreadsheets in Mathematics Education
click here
An Excel Shortcourse for Teachers
click here

David

It is important for EVERY Educator to have a clear understanding of 'word processing' applications (Turner, 2005). This means, educators must understand how text is generated across platforms. Specifically, when you have students who may be using Linux, OS X, and/or Windows there are a few important details to remember.

.TXT

... the .txt or text format is ASCII character only and is universally recognizable. While there are limitations in using text only, as a file format it is the best choice for materials being distributed to a diverse audience.

.RTF

... rich text format allows for style characteristics like bold, italics, and underlined to be applied to text and is the generic format for stylized text documents. This format is readable across platforms. In addition to characters, the file also must include style information stored as code. Making the file readable, it may pose problems if the text needs to be translated quickly. This file format is the best choice for materials containing critical style information.

.DOC

... the .doc or document file format is most commonly associated with files saved by word processing programs like MS Word or WordPerfect. These files contain codes in the document to interpret layout and character attributes. This file is the best choice when users are accessing documents with the same program.

Collaboration Tools

instaColl ... a free program that allows for 1:1 online document editing.
learn more

MoonEDIT ... a free cross platform program that allows for multiple users to make and track collaboration on the writing and editing of text documents. This is a great program if you need to monitor authoring contributions.
learn more

Tutorial Links

University of Alberta: Online Tutorials
click here ...

Tutorialfind.com
click here ...

2Learn.ca Education Society
click here ...

Tutorials for Teachers:Word
click here ...

Reference:
Turner, L. (2005). 20 Technology Skills Every Educator Should Have. THE Journal Online, 32(11)
http://www.thejournal.com/magazine/vault/articleprintversion.cfm?aid=5387

David

In another article in the June 2005 issue of THE Journal Online, Laura Turner described the '20 technology skills every educator should have.' In addition to the list of skills, Turner (2005) provides links to supportive web sites to help acquire those skills ...

1. Word Processing Skills
2. Spreadsheet Skills
3. Database Skills
4. Electronic Presentation Skills
5. Web Navigation Skills
6. Web Site Design Skills
7. E-Mail Management Skills
8. Digital Cameras
9. Computer Network Knowledge relating to local network
10. File Management & Windows Explorer
11. Downloading Software from the Web
12. Installing Computer Software
13. CMS Teaching Skills
14. Videoconferencing Skills
15. Computer Related Storage Devices
16. Scanner Knowledge
17. Knowledge of PDAs
18. Deep Web Knowledge
19. Educational Copyright Knowledge
20. Computer Security Knowledge

Over the next 20 postings, I will take each skill and elaborate from the perspective of an Instructional Designer specializing in Online Learning.

Reference:
Turner, L. (2005). 20 Technology Skills Every Educator Should Have. THE Journal Online, 32(11)
http://www.thejournal.com/magazine/vault/articleprintversion.cfm?aid=5387

David

The co-founder of Blackboard, Matthew Pittinsky, penned an eloquent article which appeared in the June 2005 issue of THE Journal Online titled 'No Teacher Left Behind.' Having interacted with him at an NLII focus session on CMS, I was interested in reading to see just what he suggested for faculty development. I particularly appreciated this quote on deeper learning.

Still, new technologies can provide deeper, more powerful educational support that can include ongoing,dynamic elements such as document and lesson plan review, working groups, and discussion boards-all important supplements to on-site face-toface staff development programs. Such approaches create a true network of learners that can support each other as key lessons get implemented back into the classroom. (Pittinsky, 2005)
Online professional development offers the best possible venue for creating, supporting and strengthening communities of practice by maintaining close ties with participants. However, personal experience tells me that regardless of the capabilities, members must still actively participate. While I have heard that 'lurking is learning' it would be the equivalent of students attending class but never asking questions or sharing opinions.

Reference:
Pittinsky, M. (2005). No Teacher Left Behind. THE Journal Online, 32(11)
http://www.thejournal.com/magazine/vault/articleprintversion.cfm?aid=5383

David

Information may be power, but what do you do when you can't find the power that you have? Finding information quickly is as important as having the information itself. If you are a MAC user, you in luck because the latest release of OS 10.4 has a great solution called Spotlight. If you are Windows user you will need to download a product like Yahoo Desktop Search.

Desktop Search supports these popular file types:

Let me tell you how this works. Normally, if you wanted to search for information, you would have your file finder begin looking inside each and every file to see if the search criterian was met. Desktop searching involves, what I like to refer to as, reverse lookup. The software program creates a meta data description based on file and content information - for EVERYTHING on your computer (the free program does not include network or virtual) drives. This meta data record can be very large depending upon the files saved on your computer. You can also set the program to update indexing during your non-usage time.

When you are ready to search, you begin typing your search terms. AS YOU TYPE, files NOT matching your search criteria are eliminated. So, by the time that you have finished typing, you are finished searching! I have over 700,000 indexed files on my PC ... yet the longest search has only taken a whopping 3 seconds. This is amazing. Imagine that you download articles or webpages. In doing your research, you want to find the actual document that contained certain terms. Yahoo Desktop Search is the perfect solution. It is easy. It is fast. It is FREE.

David

Whatever happened to SMIL (synchronized multimedia integration language)? I was hopeful that programs like RealPresenter, GRiNS, Fluition, SMILgen, and PresenterONE would have a more dramatic impact on how presentations (educational content) are delivered via the Internet than they are today. Unfortunately, in spite of the popularity of portable MP3 players and broadband access, people are still settling for a single media type.

Anyone watching the EDUCAUSE presentations from the national meeting must realize that synchronizing slides and video/audio is a powerful system of instruction. Imagine that the presentation included a scrolling text transcript which matched both the audio and slide presentation - then you have SMIL (pronounced 'smile').

Since we are in the _casting craze, I suggest that we rename SMIL something a little less technical sounding. EDcasting can refer to the integrated delivery of educational content using multiple and synchronized media.

David

Such is the advice to IBM as they make plans to finally bury OS/2. This operating system has not been updated in over nine years, and by the end of this year will finally get the farewell that it deserves. The problem is that it really should have either been updated or discontinued in 1993. So, IBM has said it is getting out of the computer business and the operating system business. What's left?
read more ...

David

This recently published text provides a handy and useful overview of assessment techniques for measuring online learning. The target audience is actually novice online educators educators. Still, I found this book to be worthwhile reading. While I was familiar with the idea of collaborative assessment, the book presented a few interesting approaches that appeared to offer promise. For example, chapter 7 'Enriching Online Assessment Using Interactive Digital Video' (Hall, Molan, Bannon, & Murphy, 2005) peaked my curiosity, until I realized they were referring to Flash interactions. Of course, the importance of SCORM (Jeffery & Bratton-Jeffery, 2004) compliant learning/assessment modules have long been considered a valuable tool for performance recording and assessment (Tracey, 2004). I was also a little disappointed that the discussion of 'Computer-Mediated Communication as an Instructional Learning Tool' (Olaniran, 2005) promoted the use of VAXnotes and email. There certainly are more robust and modern communication tools that are worthy of discussion. According to a 1993 telephone interview with Jeff Jancula (Davis, 1997) VAXnotes was available for a commercial prototype for testing was developed in 1985, field tested in 1987, and offered for sale in 1988 (p.69). On a more positive note, I did like the chapter on 'Team Assessment Guidelines' finding the checklist quite useful.

References:
Comeaux, Patricia. (2005). Assessing Online Learning. Bolton, MA: Anchor Publishing Company, Inc.

Davis, Boyd H. (1997). Electronic Discourse: Linguistic Individuals in Virtual Space. Albany, NY: SUNY Press

Hall, T., Molan, C., Bannon, L., & Murphy, E. (2005). Enriching Online Assessment Using Interactive Digital Video. In P. Comeaux (Ed.). Assessing Online Learning. Bolton, MA: Anchor Publishing Company, Inc.

Jeffery, A. B. & Batton-Jeffery, M. F. (2004). Integrated Training Requires Integrated Design and Business Models. In A. M. Armstrong (Ed.). Instructional Design in the Real World. Hershey, PA: Idea Group, Inc.

Olaniran, B. A. (2005). Computer-Mediated Communication as an Instructional Learning Tool: A Course Evaluation. In P. Comeaux (Ed.). Assessing Online Learning. Bolton, MA: Anchor Publishing Company, Inc.

Tracey, William R. (2004). The Human Resources Glossary, 3rd ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press LLC

David