Session 8

Session 8 ADA

Name of evaluator: Alice Pedersen

URL of page being evaluated: http://studyonthebeach.com/csusb/classes/winter2010/etec_674_win_2010/media/eLearningADATestPage.html

Explain your procedure: I read the guidelines to help people with disabilities and concentrated on color, no flashing moving components and ability to read the page easily. Then I looked at the page I copied and pasted below.

List Any Problems Found: Per the guidelines, color presents a problem with ADA. Without having a disability I could not see the yellow very well at all. Also the paragraph at the bottom I could not read, as it was bolded in a like color. So I had to highlight it so I could read the paragraph. Also there were a lot of boxes and grid type writing that I found confusing.

Explain How to Correct These Problems: Instead of using red, green and yellow you could add asterisk so the student would be able to see which items he would be responsible to complete.

The paragraph at the bottom, I would get ride of the boxes and the background and only write in black. It appears that if the student can manipulate the article or paper from a black and white paper to whatever format fits the students needs. You can see with me coping and pasting the article it already changed the page enough that I could easily read it. But the colors went away so there was no way for me to see which items I would need to complete. If I were the student I would more than likely try and complete everything listed even if it were above my skill, in order to get a passing grade.

Session ADA: ADA TEST PAGE

Instructor: Brian Newberry
Email: newberry@csusb.edu
Phone (909) 537-7630

NOTE: This page contains several ADA compliance issues. This page has been constructed specifically to help students learn to recognize ADA compliance problems and learn how to resolve these issues.

Procedure: Technology novices complete all of the Green Coded Items. Intermediate Technology users complete all Green and Yellow coded items. Advanced/Proficient Technology users complete all Green, Yellow and Red coded items.

Matrix of Interactions

Student-Content	Student-Instructor	Student-Student
Textbook Readings	Email	Skype
Lectures	Phone Calls	Email
	Office Hours

Media and Links

Review	Preview	Advanced
Video	Audio	Do your own Google Search

http://studyonthebeach.com/csusb/classes/genericgettingstarted/gettingstartednotfinal.mov

Information

In this session we will discus telecommunications technology, specifically how it relates to media richness and Social Presence theories. In my opinion education is very much about communication, much of what we do, especially in online education is about sharing information, bringing up questions, finding answers, reducing complexity, categorizing information, and bringing it all together in workable models that can be implemented in anyone's practice of education. When we do online learning, such as we are doing here, we are dependent upon the technologies to support our communication. I think of these technologies as windows, and we communicate and perceive each other through these windows, each one with its own varying degree of opacity. This opacity shades and effects our communication and our ability to sense others with home we are working. This impacts how we understand each other’s messages and changes the way we perceive each other too. In many ways these windows impede our ability to project our presence into a communication event and also impede our ability to understand how others perceive us. In part this is because we are used communicating in a face-to-face mode. This is through years of personal practice, and of course thousands of years of human experience, all of which has shaped our expectations, our vocal abilities and our languages to be programmed to serve face-to-face communication. All the communication technologies we use modify our communication abilities in some way and understanding this fact is essential to our ability to choose the best technology for any given activity and for us as users to get the most out of the technologies we use.

Part 2

I wanted to say my office has been working on all of our papers and website to be ADA compliant. When we were first asked to update our page we had a pink/peach background and butterflies on our first page. We also had a girl mopping and stating our site was under work. She was moving around. Since then we have had two new ADA uploaded WebPages. Currently the pages are boring but the information is there for the students to view. We don't change the format form page-to-page trying to keep it consistent for the students.

session 7

Updated 03/16/2010

Annotated Bibliography

#1

Citation:

Freire, A. P., Linhalis, F., Bianchini, S. L., Fortes, R. P.M., Pimentel, da

Graça M. C.., (2009, September), Computers & Education, 54 (4), pp

866-876, 11p, Retrieved March 9, 2010, from EBSCOhost (Academic

Search Elite) database (AN 48402052).

Summary:

Revealing the whiteboard to blind students was the main topic of the article. The article talks about the difficulty with e-learning when dealing with students with disabilities. They talk about including blind students in a live on line class with software called “Whiteboard”. They use a live mediator to help the student navigate through the on line session. The student is able to use screen readers and follow along with the text. This approach proved to be effective with blind students and allowed the student to stay on topic with the class.

Review:

I thought this was a very interesting because I am always looking at ADA compliance issues in our office. It appears there are some glitches, but if the general text is written in a word type format the reader will read what is being written. I thought this concept was close to Nate’s captions for ADA because you could hear the power point if you were blind and you could read the captions if you were Deaf or hearing impaired.

#2

Citation:

Carchiolo, Vincenza, Longheu, Alessandro, Malgeri, M., (2010 May),

Information Sciences, 180 (10), pp. 1893-1907, 15p,Retrieved date

March 9, 2010, EBSCOhost (Academic Search Premier) database,

(AN 48472591).

Summary:

This article was about the reliability of using Websites and talks about the vast amount of information available for people to access. They simulated a data search using Advogato, Epioions and Ariadne data sets and tested the efficiency and effectiveness of the sites. The article promotes user’s to participate in blog, wikis and folksonomies and use personal experiences and knowledge. The article goes on to talk about trust and designing your e learning with trust in mind and talks about personalizing the classes based on trust.

Review:

I do not recommend. The article was super long and was not clear on how to use trust until later in the paper. I was still confused on the topic and the abstract was of little help.

#3

Citation:

Wang, Tzu-Hua. (2010 May) Web-based dynamic assessment: Taking

Assessment as teaching and learning strategy for improving students’ e-

Learning effectiveness, Computers & Education, 54 (4), pp 1157-

1166, 10p, EBSCOhost (Academic search Elite) (AN 48402080).

Summary:

This article takes different assessments and tried to develop a multiple-choice Web-based assessment system. The test subjects were 116 sixth graders from 4 classes and were divided up into testing groups. The new assessment they tried received higher test scores than the traditional testing.

Review:

I liked the article, I had to write down what all the acronyms were so when I was reading I did not get lost. The testing ideas were very interesting and I would recommend reading the article.

#4

Citation:

Jara, Magdalena, Mellar, H. (2009 October) Computers & Education, 54

(3), pp709-714, 6p EBSCOhost (Academic Search Elite) database,

(AN 47824559).

Summary:

The text is discussing the difference in student feedback in writing verse on-line feedback. The study is trying to get the students perspective from their college courses. They found in there research that students gave through feedback if asked in modules instead of at the end of the class. Many colleges offer students to give feedback at the module and end of the class offering a stronger feedback from the students.

They used 4 classes in higher education in the UK. They met with the staff and students and tried to compare to online learning classes. What they found was the questions were not based the same from class to class. The theory was not substantiated.

Review:

Interesting paper, I would like to see more research on classes and the students opinion of the classes. This was a long document but easier to read than most. I would recommend if you were interested in analyzing feedback from your students.

Annotated Bibliography

Alice Pedersen

2/28/2010

Citation:
Kuboni, O. (2009). Role of the local centre in strengthening student support in UWI's distributed learning programmes. Distance Education, 30(3), 363-381. http://search.ebscohost.com, doi:10.1080/01587910903236528
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=44500354&site=ehost-live

Summary: This article is stating that the classic school building is no longer necessary. The components to make distance-learning possible is outsourcing the local building. The research is stating revisiting the requirement of the local study centre in areas if technologies and education.

Review: “The University of the West Indies Distance Education Centre (UWIDEC) has paid greater attention to this aspect of its operations during a two-year project to transform its distance delivery mode from one based primarily on a combination of print-based materials and face-to-face tutorials to a distributed learning mode in which almost all of the teaching–learning interaction would take place online, using the learning management system (LMS) Moodle. (363)” The experiment included instructors, E-Tudors and student. The population was thirty education site students willing to pilot the new program. The E-Tudors were like grad students at CSUSB, they answer questions, keep the grades and make sure the students are on task. The experiment asked for regular feedback from the students to improve the distant learning style. The article found that there was a need for the home building sites and the interaction between the two working together would benefit the over all education experience. This was based off of not all student have a strong educational experience.

session 6

Updated post

Test is 'Customer Service ETEC'

Instructor Alice Pedersen

http://quizstar.4teachers.org

Rubic

Five questions

One point each

Correct

5----A

4----B

3----C

2----D

1 or less F

http://quizstar.4teachers.org

I was on vacation this past week and really experiences issues with downloading some of the programs. I did not have great Internet and it caused quite a bit of problems for me. This was a lot of work. This also made me think off topic of how many students in this economic setting have Internet at home. I do have a high school student and it has been a huge problem with not always having Internet in my home. We have gone to Internet cafes but they have gone out of business in my area. Starbucks is expensive and you do have to have a laptop. My thought is when kids are in high school we might really be limiting them with on line test. Surprisingly not ever person has a computer or is hooked up to Internet. Just food for thought, although college student have labs and better access to computers than high school students.

I still could see the use for making test on-line even if you just compiled many questions and just picked them out randomly. If you students had access to a computer it would be good for them to be able to be exposed to the test taking that way.

On the other hand if you printed out your tests that you make up on one of these formats it would be helpful to randomly pick questions to post for hard copy test. I also think students should get use to bubble test because almost all the important test they take are being administered with bubble test. My daughter was not allowed to take any test on the computer for her SAT, ELM, EPT, ACT or the basic STAR test.

I did see some resemblance to test that I have taken on Blackboard. I do like them if it is possible to retake the test if you did not do well.

Session 5 New Media

In all the new technology I am dipping my head into, Facebook is a new and easy way to communicate. I started a Facebook page in Fall quarter during the class ETEC 500. I would more than likely have two Facebook sites one for students and the other for my family and friends. I have found you can make announcements on your page and all of your friends can see your announcements. You can use Facebook like our blog where you can write what ever you want, also there is a place you can post papers. A lot of people on Facebook are using it like twitter, ‘I am going out with my family’ blab la bla . I find it interesting but a little to busy sometimes. The draw back with Facebook is all the games people play on the site, it really blog it down so you miss what people are saying. That is one of the main reason I would have a professional account and a family account, I believe it would be the only way to keep my life separate.

As a future teacher you could post announcements for the students and you also could post paper information. The students could respond on your wall. I like being able to communicate with students, so they could find a way to have access to the assignments.

On Facebook you can click on the plus sign and add video or notes. You could add a tab for your students. You can also follow other groups and it will show up on your Facebook.

The draw back for me is at my college we are not allowed to use Facebook, twitter or blogging per our Dean. I am hoping with the knowledge I am learning we could put some of our info to students on some of the new media to help communicate deadlines and basic requirements.

My site is under my whole name Alice Smith Pedersen http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000074673117

Session #4

1. Our text categorizes electronic information into four types:

Textual Information- The book describes Electronic verses paper distribution. I think this is important to go on line as the campus is trying to “GO GREEN”. Most of the college campuses classrooms are set up so the professor can go over the syllabi on the wall screen and every student can see what the professor is talking about. This has been very helpful to me as a student. The professor can also show how to use whatever form of media they chose to enlighten the student for ease in turning in projects. I as a student like having the course syllabus and outline of assignments on line. This helps me to have easier access to the information. I live over an hour away and have a busy life so if I can access information in a text format it helps to simplify my life. If the documents are in text I usually have no problem getting them to down load wherever I am.

Presentation Graphics Slide Show- I relate to this as a power point that the professor may use in class. They usually post it on Blackboard or their web pages so the student has access to it before class. I find it helpful to print and take my notes on the PowerPoint to help me keep the material straight in my head. Some professors put up pictures on the slide show and talk about them instead of putting the text of what they are going to say. I like this because the picture tends to simulate my memory of the lecture. On line I would also need the text.

Spreadsheets and Databases- This was just expressed regarding grades in an excel format and the use of a calendar. I like seeing my grades, I think blackboard is the best for it in college. You can set your spread sheet so no one can change it or allow the student to do “what if “ I got a 80 on my final what would my grade be.

Multimedia objects-The Vocational degree program uses multimedia. The professor will have some item that we need to look at and the next thing you know a bird or something will pop up moving around.

2. Sample of text specific detail

Class please log on to Alice Pedersen’s Bog at http://apederse.blogspot.com/

On the left had side of the page; it will show Session 3, 2, 1

You will log on to Session 2. Read the response from Alice and comment on her blog.

You will receive 3 extra credit points for following directions and posting.

Deadline date will be Sunday the 7^th.

3. The difference between synchronous and asynchronous communication, Asynchronous is the class can view or listen at anytime. Does not rely on anyone else to be logged on at the same time and synchronous is like the talk shoe with Dr. Monahan we all logged on and could hear him speaking and write questions and Dr Newberry would ask the questions at the correct time as to not interrupt the guest speaker. Asynchronous is the normal way of taking eLearning classes. The professor post something, the student reads it on the students schedule and responses by a deadline. Synchronous is different because as a class we are to log on together at a certain time and chat with each other.

4. Bulletin Board has a lot of technologies that offer LMS like Chat feature. I have used this in a couple of my classes and it works like blogging we are doing in this class with Dr. Newberry. Dr Monahan talked quite about the support that goes into updating and keeping Blackboard user friendly. I have never experienced a class like with Dr Monahan and I don’t know if Blackboard has a feature like it. It may but no one has looked into it yet.

5. Blackboard has a lot of technology available if the instructor wants to use it. I notice that Dr Newberry does not use the grading box under tools. In my classes, only about half of the instructors used the grading on blackboard. The digital box under the tools, I have used like a chat, the instructor can set it up so you can see everyone’s response or just yours. Also under tools you can update your e-mail to help make sure you receive all of the information that the rest of the class is receiving. Communication is a under used area in my classes, I don’t even know what some of the buttons are used for because the professors are not using the tools available in that category.

6. The task I am going to pick is a PowerPoint presentation. I actually like power points and I like showing what the lecture is going to be about. If posted a head of time the students can have a nice in class communication. Blackboard supports the power points, but you can also put up the word doc incase a student cannot open the PowerPoint.