Reflection on Lesson learned using online tools

This lesson covered using on line tools to create Rubrics, tests and URL Bookmarks. Rubrics are a new concept for me. Where  I work we use objectives to determine the subject and level of expectations for projects or what we call performance checks. An objective will have 3 parts. First will be the tools that will be provided, the second will be the task required to be performed and the third is the standard. For example: "Given a PC with the correct software/database and a set of source documents, input the training tasks with no more than 2 errors and 2 instructor assists." The student will either meet the objective or not. In other words, pass or fail. A Rubric is a scoring guide which allows degrees of success based on the amount of work or understanding the student demonstrates. Using the online tool to create the Rubric gaurentees the format will be correct and with the predetermined topics already having suggestions for criteria, the entire process will be much quicker than having to develop the grading tool from scratch.

I have written many multiple choice tests using guidelines such as spreading the letter choices close to even, ensuring the answers are top to bottom in length, chronologically or mathematically; ensuring all objectives are covered by the number of questions corresponding to the amount of time spent in discussion and many other criteria. I can see that using an automated tool would relieve some of the stress. You would not have to be as concerned with the format and would be able to concentrate on substance.

Creating on line bookmarks and placing them in a location that can be accessed from home, work or school is a good tool as well. It would enable the teacher to offer suggestions or limit the sources for research as needed. A student could also benefit from using this tool. Keeping track of all web sites used for their research, they would be able to easily document or backtrack from anywhere as well as share with classmates.

View my artifacts, Rubric, Test, Test Answers, Online Bookmark, Online Bookmark in Text Fromat.

Chapter 5 Reflection on how to use Wikis for collaboration for professional purposes as well as in the classroom.

Wiki is a Web 2.0 application on the Internet. The man credited as the creator, Ward Cunningham described it as "the simplest online database that could possibly work." It is a simple to use content management system. It is widely accepted. It can be used as an internal knowledge base, a collection of templates, reports and memos in a centralized resource. A Wiki can be used by professionals as an instant global communications tool, as a knowledge base that can help solve the most common problems. Synergy of ideas or brainstorming without having to be in the same room or even the same country can save time and money on projects. A Wiki can help organize and provide historical documentation for projects, creating a common source of information.

Wiki is also an excellent tool to be used in the classroom. The teacher can build a Wiki to use for collaborative projects for a classroom or they can reach outside of the classroom and include other classes or other schools. The teacher can load acceptable web sites or sources for research to control where the students can retrieve information. Examples of outlines, documentation and reports can be placed in the Wiki. Students can demonstrate their knowledge by participating. Students and teachers will be able to access the Wiki in class, at home or anywhere there is an Internet connection.

Chapter 3 Examine an open source title (such as Open Office) and list advantages and disadvantages of using the open source program.

Open source software licenses are offered free of charge which means students can be given copies of the software to use at home regardless of their financial situation at home. It is often able to be installed on older computers, because the open source programs normally use less computer resources, such as RAM and disk space. Open Office is a good example. The current free version requires 256 Mbytes of memory and 650 Mbytes of disk space. The regularly priced $149 Microsoft Office Suite for Students requires 1 GB of memory and 1.5 GB of disk space for all of the applications to work. Microsoft claims Open Office is "The flexible word processor, powerful spreadsheet, dynamic graphics, database access and more meet all requirements for an office software package." It runs on most major operating system platforms and upgrades are released several times a year, so it is easy to take advantage of new features quickly. It is quick and easy to install (reviewers claim 5 minutes.) As for disadvantages of using, I know of at least a few instances where documents created in the purchased Office were not able to be opened in the Open Office. It appeared the Open Office was not able to pull enough system resources. This would not be a problem in an environment where both students and instructors were using the same free Office. Another problem might be if tech support were required. Microsoft is not required to support the free software, whereas they have a warrantee period for the purchased products.