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Hi everyone! I hope you’ve enjoyed your first week of Leading Edge. Now that you’ve
gotten to know each other a bit, we’re ready to jump into the next module!
I am so impressed with the wide range of experience and levels of expertise that all of you have!
As we move through the modules in the next 7 weeks, I hope to learn more about your perspectives
and background as you share your experience with the group.
Before we jump into Module 2, I’d like to provide a quick overview of the calendar and
how timing works in the course. From here on out, all assignments will be due either
on Thursday or on Monday; your initial discussion posts are due on Thursdays, with your responses
to others due by the following Monday evening. The content for the next week is released
on Saturday morning, giving you the opportunity to get a jump on the week’s readings and
assignments.
This week you will be exploring the history of online and blended learning. Last week
was focused on you as an online learner; this week we start the transition to you as an
online teacher.
As always, you should begin by reading the textbook for the Module, so that you have
the necessary vocabulary and background information to participate in the discussions, reflections,
and projects.
You will begin by reading a 2011 report published by the Innosight Institute that discusses
the various models of online and blended learning and then looks more carefully at what that
looks like in actual school settings.
Your discussion prompt this week has you delving into the profiles, analyzing the success factors
and assessing how the profile might apply in your own school or district.
Your reflection this week, Assignment 2.2, asks you to think about how your instructional
methodologies might need to change in an online or blended environment. Refer to the textbook
for a discussion of both the pedagogical and technological skills needed for success.
This week you will complete your first portfolio assignment; a Venn Diagram comparing online
and/or blended learning and/or face-to-face teaching or learning. You will create your
Venn Diagram using an online tool or app.
The curriculum links to a few tools, including Creately and Google drawings. You should try
to play around with at least a couple of these tools to better understand the strengths and
limitations. Creately has recently developed some issues with embedding, and not all tools
seem to play nice with all browsers. Do feel free to use a tool that’s not listed, including
those for iPad or Android – you may submit a screenshot rather than an embedded object
if necessary.
To submit your portfolio assignment, you will use Haiku’s Wiki Projects. Start by clicking
on “View Projects”. The first time you do this, it will show you the directions again,
and you will click “Start my wiki site”. The Haiku Help page does have a tutorial about
how to embed Web 2.0 tools on your WikiProject.
One reminder – we have a Google Hangout scheduled for Monday at 4:30 Eastern time.
I know that everyone is on different schedules and may not be available, so I will record
it and post to YouTube. I’ll email the link to join shortly before the meeting begins,
and post the link as an announcement as well.
With that, enjoy your week, let me know if you run into any difficulties, and I’ll
see you online!