Emerging Environments for Learning

Eureka! I have done it. I have finally created my Podcasts today.

2008-02-10T05:55:00.000-08:00

Finally I have figured out how to create the RSS feeds. I was so happy today that I have understood clearly the concept of Podcasting. Thanks to my colleague Alan Pollock who explained everything clearly. I created 3 podcasts today tested them and they are working fine. Insha Allah I should be able to finish my assignment2 very soon now.

I have used List Garden to create RSS feeds. I felt it was not as easy as I thought it would be I had to specify so many things. Host directory, host file, local file on which it will write the XML file into and also the FTP location. When I made all these settings once, it was very easy I started adding items to the same RSS Feed.

Once I created the XML file. I added the orange icon on to my html file and linked my XML File to the orange icon and uploaded it to the server.

Eureka! I have done it. I have finally created my Podcasts today.

How do I create an RSS Feed? I am confused

2008-02-03T01:01:00.000-08:00

Finally I submitted my assignment 1. I felt that was much easier compared to other assignments. Started working on my assignment 2. I have created MP3 files using Audacity. I don’t know how to create the RSS feeds. I have understood what an RSS feed is. I know it’s in XML format I can type and create one easily but still I am not sure how to create the orange Icon next to my MP3’s.

http://www.podcastingnews.com/articles/Understanding_RSS_Feeds.html

I checked KG for help there were some good wiki pages.

I liked this one particularly where they were referring to different sites to easily create the podcasts.

http://knowledgegarden.usq.edu.au/tiki-index.php?page=Easy%20Podcasting%20Sites

I found Odeo was much easier but still I am not sure how to get the orange icon on my page.http://odeo.com/

Completed my Assignment 1

2008-01-29T02:05:00.000-08:00

I have completed my Assignment 1 today and I am waiting to submit it after the Wimba session with the course group. I would like to clarify with Peter if our work colleagues contribute to our facilitated page then do we need to include the email with the assignment or it’s just enough to publish their contribution on the facilitated page.

I was really happy with the way my facilitated page on SharePoint developed. Initially when I started I thought how will I get 3000 words on my page but I was amazed to see that my wiki page has developed well with lots of discussions, comments and responses from my course members as well as my colleagues at the college and you won’t believe the word count is nearly 5000 words. It’s not just a matter of words but I did a lot of research to facilitate my page and was successful in getting plenty of contributions and had a threaded discussion and I have gained knowledge in so many different areas I just cannot believe it.
Initially when we started I felt it was over whelming but now I think it’s a great course that has introduced me to so many different and new technologies in such a short span of time.

I have started liking wikis now.

2008-01-14T23:10:00.000-08:00

When I first started using wikis in Knowledge garden due to the vast amount of information available I felt it was very difficult to use as I couldn’t find my way around and having a passion for web designing I didn’t like the look of it as I couldn’t make it look more attractive but slowly I think I am enjoying working in a wiki environment without thinking too much on the design aspect I am concentrating more on the content.

If, I had to create a website or a word document on SharePoint that would have been only my understanding of SharePoint and if I had to ask others to contribute then it would have been a very laborious process emailing the document to each other keeping track of changes. In a Wiki I like the idea that anyone can go in and contribute, different people will have different experiences with various emerging technologies I feel this is a very good and easy way to collaborate and collect thoughts, ideas & experiences from different perspectives.

I understand the help files and How to documentations better now. I am trying to promote my facilitated page to get more input. I think I won’t be late in submitting my assignments.

Wimba Session on 8th Jan

2008-01-14T00:54:00.000-08:00

Felt very happy talking to Peter and everyone else in this Wimba session.
Joyce, Jane, Justyn & Peter had webcams and we were able to see them. Isn’t it cool? People are sitting in different parts of the world sharing knowledge and experience on Wimba.
Joyce was the Google Jockey in this session as well. I have started liking the idea of Google jockey now.
I was able to clarify my doubts regarding Assignment 1 in this Wimba session. I have realized that I haven’t been blogging a lot, hoping to blog regularly. I felt more confident about my work after this session, felt that I am on track not very late. I have already contributed to many pages and I am hoping to do more work on my facilitated page.

Assignment 2

2007-12-31T04:13:00.000-08:00

Project Proposal

Each college within the HCT system has a Library and Learning Centre, which provides resources that support the curriculum and services that develop and foster independent learning and information literacy. I would like to design a website for the Diploma foundation students in our college that will focus on enhancing the independent learning skills of the students. Make them more efficient & confident learners. Enhance their skills in using all the Library resources that we have.

Diploma foundation students are very new to the college environment and also very new to the concept of independent learning. Their level of English is very basic and they are required to learn the language skills and also get accustomed to the new college environment which is very challenging for these ladies. Though the level of English & their skills are very basic when they enter the college they all have very expensive Mobile phones & IPODS with them and are technologically savvy in using these mobile players.I would like to make use of this facility which is a common gadget available with most of the students and since majority of them tend to favor learning by listeningI would like to create podcasts that will have a description of each area of the Library & how it could be used. If students could download these on their IPods they could listen to it again & again. Since we will have students with different capabilities these podcasts could help them revise what has been learned.

What skills will be focused on

How to search the Library catalogue & locate books on the shelf
What is general collection, Reference collection & Periodical collection?
What are the resources that could be borrowed
What are the different areas of the Library ( ILC – Independent Learning Centre & ELC – Enhanced learning centre)
How to request books from another college
How to place a hold on an item that has been borrowed
Check their Library record to find out what is on loan to them

How will I do this?

Get space on the college Podcast server to host the podcasts
I would like create the podcasts using Audacity
Make bookings for the audio recording room to create Podcasts
Create a website that will have links to the podcasts

Issues to be considered

Some students might not have IPOD’s, in that case purchase some IPod’s for the Library that could be loaned out.
Finding time to create these Podcasts
The Library is 100% wireless and is well resourced with computers hence using internet to download the podcasts is not an issue at all.

Who will work with me how I want it to be evaluated?

I would like to work on this project with the Librarian who is always in contact with these students and who understands better what skills are required by the students and also get advice from the Team Leader of Diploma foundationsI would prefer a formative evaluation of this project as it is being developed. Once the project is running I would adopt a qualitative evaluation as suggested by Patton (2003) and would attend some classes to find out what the student’s reaction to the course is and how well it’s being received. I would prefer to have some face to face chats with the students to get their personal opinions about this course. I believe getting personal feedback will help identify the best practices and see if there are any problems being faced. The staff will also be asked to give a periodic feedback on how the project is running.

Reference:

Patton, M. (2003) Qualitative Evaluation Checklist. Retrieved Dec 30, 2007, from http://www.wmich.edu/evalctr/checklists/qec.pdf

Wimba Session

2007-12-16T21:24:00.000-08:00

I attended a Wimba session on Dec 11th. It was really interesting to use different conference tools. I have used Elluminate before and I found Wimba very much similar and easy to use.
http://www.wimba.com/products/collaboration/
This was the first time I was using Wimba. I didn’t have any problem downloading and installing it on my computer. The setup wizard checked audio. Most of the participants were from UAE. Initially the sound was not that clear. All the participants had microphone hence it was nice to talk to everyone. Peter checked with us about the progress of our course. How we are doing with our assignments. About our facilitated page and also what project have we decided for Assignment 2? I have decided to create Podcasts for a description of different areas of the Library as most of the students here have IPods. If students could download these on their IPods they could listen to it again & again. Since we will have students with different capabilities these podcasts could help them revise what has been learned.
Peter also asked what difference we have noted between Elluminate and Wimba. Joyce said that the there was no control on the order in which the names of the participants were listed as they were jumping up and down based on who had raised hand to talk .
Peter also made us draw something on the board. Write names where we came from and talk about weather conditions at our place.
Joyce was the google jockey in this Wimba session. This was the first time I was experiencing the google jockey. It was amazing how quickly she was bringing all the relevant links to the Wimba conference.
I felt more confident about the course after speaking to Peter, hoping to complete all the assignments during the holidays.

Too busy to concentrate

2007-12-06T04:10:00.000-08:00

I have been very busy at work.

I have understood exactly what I am supposed to do but my busy schedule is not allowing me to concentrate on my studies. Hopefully I will be able to do something over the weekend.

Things I need to do

I have to facilitate a page
Make contributions to other pages
Invite others to contribute to my page
Create my progress report

Not very clear what I am supposed to submit for the project proposal. I am hoping to complete the readings over the weekend.

Things are becoming clearer now

2007-11-28T03:28:00.000-08:00

Slowly I am getting a clear picture on how to start working on Assignment 1

Peter’s Check list was very useful. I can navigate easily in the Moodle environment now. I know where to find things. I have edited my profile so that I get a daily digest of email messages and also I have set Forum Tracking to Yes to keep track of posts that I have read,

I still don’t like the look of Knowledge Garden I would have preferred it with a better interface but I have realized that there is wealth of information on it.

I have created my user page and created a link on FET8611 course page and added an Avatar. I have started using Shoutbox in KG. I was happy to see Peter respond to my question immediately.

I have created my Blog and I intend to add to it regularly.

Done my posting for Discussion 1.2.

I have understood how to facilitate a page now. Still not clear what topic to choose to research on I shall finalize it by tomorrow.

How I am finding FET 8611

2007-11-26T02:33:00.000-08:00

I have just completed FET5622 and started a new course FET8611 without any break. FET8611 has a different environment compared to the previous courses. Hence everything is new - the course environment( Moodle), the course content, and the Knowledge Garden (KG).

I had registered on knowledge garden in my previous course hence I was saved from the hurdles of registering on it. But I had never created my user page using KG.
Read the instructions on the course and postings on the forum and learnt how to do it. Finally I created my user page and also added a link to the course page but wasn’t happy as I couldn’t make it look more fancy. I have a passion to work on the design of the page. But looking at user pages created by other members looks like I won’t be able to do much.

I have to sit down and clearly make notes of what I am supposed to do. I read the introduction and also the assignments and I feel we have to do many things right now. Work on the user page, work on assignment 1, work on assignment 3. Invite others to comment on my KG page and comment on some one’s page. I am over whelmed right now.