Synergy Explosion

Wow!  Things seem to really inter-relate lately.  So many of the threads in my academic studies are crossing into my practice at the Georgia Virtual School.  Check out some of the things that I'm doing.

@Learning

I'm taking two classes at Valdosta State University this fall as part of my EdS in Instructional Design:  8100, a theory class and 8200, an introduction to common practices course.  In 8100, we are studying the five domains (Design, Development, Utilization, Management, and Evaluation) and the theories that support each.  Right now, we are discussing applications of the Information Processing Theory and Constructivism.

Interestingly enough, Constructivism is also a prominent theory in language acquisition.  Many of applications of this theory in Instructional Design (ID) are also best practices in language instruction.  Please see my reflection:

In 8200, we are focusing on creating a course using the ADDIE model of ID.  My goal is to make assessing student's verbal communication in World Languages faster and easier for instructors at the Georgia Virtual School.


I will be demonstrating how to create and use a web tool called Voicethread (www.voicethread.com). I will be teaching instructors to apply a procedure to create a tool for assessing students. There is no hierarchical range of taxonomies in this procedure. Every step of the process falls under intellectual rule using in Gagné's taxonomy. It is a step by step method to produce some discernible end. It is linear and has directional flow. Each step must be completed sequentially. The process has a definitive beginning (create a Voicethread account) and ending (embed the Voicethread in a news announcement or homepage widget). Therefore, I will use Procedural Task Analysis.


I am in the analysis stage.  I have conducted a needs analysis and estimate that I will save my organization  over half a million dollars annually as follows:


There are two major sources of monetary loss in the process of conversational assessment are:  loss of time and frustration to teachers. 


Using Voicethread could recover a "Loss of time" of 5 minutes (12-7) per student.  With an average of 50 students per teacher in each class, this  equates to a potential loss of 250 minutes per class.  Georgia Virtual School (GVS) teaches approximately 54 classes per year.   Assuming an average teacher salary of $48,300 (See http://teacherportal.com/salary/Georgia-teacher-salary) that equates to 250 hours per year at an average teacher cost of  33.54 per hour (48,300/(9 months x 4 weeks x 40 hours)=48,300/1,440) or $8,385 per year per teacher.  Multiple that figure by the 54 classes costs $377,325 per annum.
"Frustration to teachers" can be measure in terms of opportunity cost.  The opportunity cost of completing other activities is equivalent to "loss of time" so the $377,325 can be used to capture this cost.

Loss of time	$377325
Diminished Quality of Feedback	$377325
Total Cost  .	$745,650 for 45 teachers per annum

Lastly, I am taking the last of my required on-line certification courses.  The class at RESA is also requiring development of one unit of a course.  I plan to complete the first chapter of my game/problem based plan for a French 1 class "Mission Possible."



Coincidentally, I attended an i-Nacol webinar on the topic of Competency-based Learning: Highlights of Promising Practices and Policy Frameworks.  I'm trying to align a problem based lesson with the competencies described in the GPS and with the best practices in constructivism within the frame work of online education.  Interesting stuff!

@GVS
So far, so good.  Reporting on my goals:

• 80% passing rate-  Right now, I've got at least 80% of the class passing.  It's been an effort of assimilation.  Most of the students just don't understand how to use the course schedule and online tools.  I'm confident that I will achieve this goal.
• Want students to take Le Grand Concourse through AATF-I think I may have missed the boat on this one, at least for this semester. It appears that the test is administered in the Spring. I will follow up with my department chair about doing this in the Spring.
• Want to use TPRS in one synchronous session.-Since we are migrating to Adobe Connect, this might be a great chance to use our new tool to try TPRS in a live session.  Working on it.
• Want to enhance the WL department website

@Sports

We ended the USTA season with a run to the semi-finals for city playoffs.  We all improved this season and should dominate next season.  I want another trip to States.

I started off my Fall ALTA season with a loss on Thursday and a win on Sunday.  Sunday was my first victory at A7, so I can now legitimately call myself an "A" level player (he-he)!  As team, both my Sienna Thursday ladies and Hampton Sunday women won.  Off to a very strong start!
  

@Home

Life is as crazy as always.  We are a busy family!

Trey is playing baseball.  His first game was last night.  I'm proud to say that he connected with the first pitch nicely his first time ever at bat.  I think we have a promising batter on our hands.

Davin and Trey are participating in Cub Scouts.  Davin is co-den leader.  Trey missed the first meeting with a cough and fatigue, but Davin managed to pick up his first assignment and possible crafts badge.  We are working on it!

Giddy up!

@Learning
So as it turns out, I'm taking three courses this fall:  two at Valdosta State and one at Pioneer RESA.  

The Pioneer RESA course is the last of three to earn my on-line teaching certification.  The focus is a project to create an online lessson.  I think I might try to use Moodle as it is open source and free.  It's definitely a tool that I can use.  I'll look forward to learning more about it.


My Valdosta classes are excellent.  I'm really enjoying being a student again, although the experience has definately changed.  I bought both my text books on-line:  one from Barnes and Noble via Nook Study and one from eCampus.  Both have awesome note taking and highlighting features that can be exported or printed out.  I could have really used these tools in some of my econ theory classes back at Bucknell!


I'm learning about the domains of the Instructional Technology field.  DDUME- Design, Development, Utlization, Management, and Evaluation.  I'm particularly interested in the sub-domains of design and evaluation.  Problem analysis, the foundation of course design, is fascinating and something that will truly benefit my work at Georgia Vitual.  I also find value in learning about how to evaluate resources and programs.  Good stuff!  I love theories!


@GVS
I'm so psyched to have my largest enrollment ever!  I've been fluctuating between 80-85 students in two different courses, French 2a and French 2b.  Previously, my largest enrollment was 45.  I'm dealing well with the increase.  So far, the majority of students are on schedule, learning, and succeeding.   We have had a few technology bumps, but I think we're on the straight and narrow now.  

There are so many factors that can hinder student access.  Some students are using Internet Explorer which doesn't support all of the features of the D2L learning management system that we use.  It also seems to cause problems with the Softchalk presentation software used in my course to present materials.  Thus, I've had to campaign that all student use Mozilla Firefox and ensure that they have the latest version.  Add to this issue that most student do not have the authority to install or update software.  So, we have to involve the school technology professional.  This is a pretty good example of some of the challenges my students and I face throughout the semester.  It's not just the academics!



@Sports
I can't be disappointed.  My USTA 3.5 team won their division this summer.  We went all the way to the city semi-finals before losing to a team that we beat during the regular season.  I can't help but note that someone from our division has made it to the semis every season.  We play some good tennis and keep getting better.


We started practice for the ALTA season.  We're playing A7 again (ouch!).  Matches start in two weeks.  Looking forward to improving my game!


I think a broke my little toe on my right foot.  It hurts when I walk barefoot, but I'm fine in hard soled shoes.  I have not attempted to run this week and am falling behind my training schedule.  Even if it hurst, I've gotta run this week.  My goal is to get in 20 miles.


@Home
Trey has started back at school.  We're still getting used to the schedule.  He was such an early riser this summer.  Now, he's exhausted and we have to drag him out of bed.  We'll get used to it.


We're going to be busy and have some fun this fall.  Trey will be playing little league baseball for the first time.  We are all really looking forward to cheering him on and watching him play.  He's also asked to sign up for Cub Scouts.  He's going to look so cute in that uniform.  I think he'll love it.  
With his activities, my tennis and Davin's tennis, we'll be busy every night of the week.  Giddy up!  It's on!

Back to the drawing (white) board again!

@Learning
I finished my Atomic Learning class at Valdosta State University.  I ended up with a high "A".  Atomic Learning is a great resource for  software training.  I learned a lot about wikis in my last tutorial.  I'm hoping to use this new found knowledge to enhance the GVS World Language Department's website.  I'd like it make it more used and useable as a resource to our teachers.
Wiki Tutorial Reflection




I'm eager to start my fall classes.  I'm taking:

• ITED 8100 Theories, Models, and Perspectives of Instructional Technology-
  Survey and analysis of the theoretical perspectives change, communication, diffusion, system, learning, and instruction as applied in instructional technology.
• ITED 8200 Instructional Design for Training and Education- Application of systematic design principles to address an identified need in a training or education
  context. This course includes problem identification, message design, instructional strategies, and learner characteristics.

Both look like very interesting courses and should inform my instruction at GVS.  I'm excited to get started in two weeks.


@GVS
I'm getting ready for the fall semester to start next week.  My course is set up and I've drafted a welcome presentation.  Student enrollment keeps going up.  I've been told to expect at least 80 students, possibly more.  I can't wait!

I have a few goals for the semester:

• 80% passing rate
• Want students to take Le Grand Concourse through AATF
• Want to use TPRS in one synchronous session. 
• Want to enhance the WL department website

@Athletics

We had a surprising outcome in our 3.5 USTA division.  After losing two matches, we still ended up with the best record and won the division.  It was a very competitive division and we had a great season.  The fence sign is already up :)!

As division winners, we are in the city playoff bracket.  We had a GRUELING first round versus the ladies from Sugar Creek. They were very aggressive and consistent players.  We managed to win three lines, but it came down to line three doubles.  My partner and I played three sets in burning hot temperatures.  We took the line, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.  I played really well and enjoyed every second of the competition.


We play at Old Atlanta Racquet Club this Sunday in the quarter finals.  We have a very strong line up and I think we can take at least three lines.  We're likely to face Central Park, from our division, in the semi-finals.  All of us are shooting for cities in the hope that we can make another run at the state title.  Great stuff!

@Home
We finally finished Trey's playground.  I still need to mulch the play area, but he's already started going down the slide and playing on the swings.  I am hoping it gets him outside more often.

Trey's swimming and tennis are coming along nicely.  Trey can swim a full length of our 25 yard pool without any assistance.  I'm hoping to get him on swim team at the new Cumming Aquatic Center next summer.  He's part of a proud swimming legacy.  I hope that he loves it as much as I always have.   Trey's swing is also progressing.  He's been taking lessons with Zenda Greibenow for most of the summer.  He can hit a forehand and backhand and rally a little.  I am working to put together an 8 and under league in Hampton.  I think the kids would really enjoy playing matches.

After a great summer, Trey is ready to head back to school on Thursday next week.  He'll be starting first grade.  I know that he loves school and will enjoy his new class.  There will be a lot of familiar faces on the bus this fall.  Three boys in our side of the neighborhood start kindergarten.  Trey is excited to be the "big kid".  I can hardly believe my little man is beginning first grade.  Time flies! 

Beach bum!

I headed out to Myrtle this week for fun, sun, and tennis with the family.  In this virtual world, you don't get (nor do you really want) a break from teaching and learning.  I was able to catch up with the blogs I follow using my Google Reader app and my Android phone.  I used the wireless internet to complete and submit a reflection to my online EdS course.  I even cracked open Water for Elephants using the Barnes and Noble Nook Android app for my phone.  In fact, I drafted this blog post using the Blogger app on my phone.  What an amazing time that we live in!

Want to stay productive (or not so much...)?  Here are ten FREE apps to take to the beach with you:

1. Google Reader -collects your RSS feeds to your phone
2. Google Docs -mobile apps let's you read and edit documents.  Using Word?  You can easily upload your document to Google Docs and use your phone to edit and share.
3. Blogger -allows you to compose and edit your Blogger posts.
4. Hootsuite -collects all your social media to one interface.  I can read and post to multiple Twitter and Facebook accounts from one place.
5. Pandora -stream digital radio and music to your phone for free
6. The Weather Channel -check the weather and forecast anytime, anywhere
7. Nook -read your e-books on your phone
8. Google Voice -have voicemail sent as text to your phone.  Then listen or text replies.  Can even forward calls from any nimber to your cell or Google Voicemail.  Did I mentions it's free?
9. Google Maps -use the places feature to find top rated local restaurants and other activities.  Read user ratings to find the best of the beach!  We used this app to find Dagwood's Deli in downtown Myrtle.  What a find!
10. Wordle -spelling and reading game that the entire family can play together at the pool, in the restaurant or in the car.  Great way to build vocabulary.  Comes in international versions in other languages.

Way to Think

@Professional Development

During the summer PLS for Georgia Virtual School, the key note speaker, Byron Garrett, spoke about how we needed to change schools.  I asked him, pointedly, what his vision of the ideal classroom is.  He said that he would need to think about it.

I'm amazed at how quickly reformers will jump to criticize, but no one puts forth any suggestions or vision.  I found an interesting presentation by Sir Ken Robinson via twitter on divergent thinking.  I want to further investigate this line of reform.

It's difficult to imagine what this new paradigm is.  How do teachers who were educated in the old, industrial age format teach with these new tools and methods?   

I've heard a lot about project based teaching and learning.  I have spent some time reading about designing project based lessons.  I'm even attending a workshop on project based education at Discovery.com.  

I don't really detect anything revolutionary about this line of instruction.  I see the value in simulating "real world" situations, but I think many educators are missing an opportunity to teach higher order thinking.  Integrating Bloom's Digital Taxonomy into these lessons may more fully align with Sir Ken Robinson's vision of a new educational system.  It's not just WHAT we do in our classrooms; it's HOW we teach in our classrooms that will lead to real change.

@Learning

In my Atomic Learning class at Valdosta State University, I finished the Atomic Learning workshop on using Blogger.  As reflected in the changes to my blog.  I learned a lot about Google's blogger tools.  Here's my reflection:

Reflection on Blogging Workshop

One of my uses for this blog is to reflect on what I am learning and store ideas for future reference.  I found a Prezi that presents some reflective questions based on Bloom's Revised Taxonomy that I will use.  See:

The Reflective School by Peter Pappas on Prezi

Next, I'm learning how to use Adobe Connect.  Adobe Connect is a meeting software that the Georgia Virtual School will be using in the Spring of 2012.  In the past, I've used Elluminate to conduct live, on-line lessons with my students.  Adobe Connect is superior to Elluminate in that it offers tools that are slightly easier to use and the pod interface gives users more choice in how they interact with the meeting content.  For example, students can participate in the chat or watch a video.  It's their choice, depending which pods the host or presenter has offered.  As far as the white board presentation pod is concerned, I don't see much of a difference between the two products.  I understand that there may be some advantages to how Adobe Connect meetings are recorded and stored, but I haven't finished the training just yet.  Look for more updates next week.

@Home

We've almost finished the blessed playground project.  We put on the clubhouse roof and mounted the swing beam.  We've even hung the swings.  Davin and I ran into a little trouble with the glider.  The metal brackets for the glider have one whole in the bottom of the bracket.  We need to insert the hook and screw on the bolt INSIDE the bracket.  We've not had any luck so far, but I found a pointed nose (terminology?) wrench that I think will hold the bolt in place so that we can tighten it.  We also need to place the pole for the slide, dig a whole, and cement in the pole.  I'm beyond nervous about the cement.  I've never worked with it before.

@Athletics

I'm feeling like a "fatty, fatty, bumble-atty."  All of my workouts have been limited to tennis.  I have started a singles league.  I lost my first match 1-6, 6-4, 6-10.  I played well but am having a lot of trouble seeing the ball at the net.  I don't know if this is a matter of focus or some physical limitation.  I'm really going to focus on watching the ball leave my opponents racket and hit the strings (hopefully) of mine.

I'm desperately trying to "dig deep" and find some inspiration to get my bottom out of bed early enough to beat the heat and get in a run.  Mornings are just tough for me.  I'm not much use until I get some java in my system.  I've set my night stand app to sound the bird singing alarm at 6:30 am, but so far, all I've done is hit snooze.  I need some motivation.