Teaching, Learning, Technology & Reflection

I read this in Will Richardson' Weblogg-ed entry on "Networked Learning Practice" "The more I consider it, the more I find myself moving away from a frame of social networking towards one of networked learning (which is obviously social by nature). More toward the literacies of networked learning."- http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/network-learning-practice/#comments Since I have not attended to his presentation, I am not sure if what I have in my mind matches his. However, it does remind me of one of the research I have thought about doing: "My Network Technology Profile" or something like that. Researchers who study social network study only one network and study each person or message as a node and is interested in the connection between the nodes. However, we know that each person (many at least) have more than one network. For example me, I use wenxuecity, blogger, facebook, msn, skype, and many others. My presence and role in each network is different....

Today I heard a new concept (not really) "teacher 2.0". See this blog: http://21stcenturylearning.typepad.com/blog/2007/06/schoolnet-unvei.html For me, teacher 2.0 does not necessarily mean teacher who use Web 2.0 tools in their teaching. It means an approach and ideology of teaching that keeps updated with the progress of the world. Interestingly, this blog also have some ideas on Administrator 2.0. This makes me think of many other 2.0s, such as learner 2.0, employer 2.0, employee 2.0, family 2.0, lover 2.0, friend 2.0...:-)

1. how to treat student with a "instrumentalism" or a"strategic orientation" attitude to learning? Also what are the different types of students with such attitude/approach to learning? (I am thinking of this because some students I have taught have shown this approach; i am reading for leasure an old book on distance education that talks about the approach to learning by David Harris "Still Seeking the Audience?") 2. I am tired of what I am teaching in the technology integration course. I think it definately needs updating... It is an issue of curriculum. What should be teach in the technology integration class? We are still following the tradtion of teaching Word, PowerPoint, Photoshop and DreamWeaver. I know these are important. But possibly they should be taught in different courses that use them... Where is blog? Wiki? Podcasting?.... One of my student gives a brief introduction to podcasting she just learnt in the STEP class...Of course, another prob...

Today I went to a presentation by James Paul Gee. Here is the information about this presentation: Critical Discourse Analysis James Paul Gee, Tashia Morgridge Professor of Reading at the Universityof Wisconsin-Madison Tuesday, June 26th, 2:30-4:00 School of Education, Room 1225 I like it pretty much. I am lazy. So I will just put some simple notes here: Language for information vs. language for identity non-critical discourse analysis does not exist an example of two compound sentences with the same clauses but the two clauses serve as nucleus and satallite in different sentence: there is no way to write value free sentence equality/solidarity vs. differences "sure" is a very emotional word. It should not appear in academic report since it should be free of emotion. academic language excludes some people. Major failure in school is failure to use and understand the academic language. If students are taught and tested with the vernacular language they are familiar with, ther...

Today I went to an Instructional Consulting session on "Using Breeze to Connect with Students". It is presented by Dr. Roberto Garcia from Kelly School of Business. He introduced his experience with using Breeze in his online course. I have used Breeze briefly when Skype failed to hold more than 4 people for an online conference. It is one of the best online communication tools I have used. Very easy to use (at least as a participant). There are some fun episodes Dr. Roberto Garcia talked about. For example one student was able to view everything but to type in the chat. After many investigations it is found that it is all caused by the apostrophe in the student's log on name! Another fun episode was about the social presence. While Dr. Garcia was lecturing in his home office with his camera, his wife and kids come in with a cake with candles on. It happened to be his birthday that day! Facing this surprise, he turned the camera to his kids and the cake for about five min...