Catching up ...

I've been doing a lot of reading and searching on the net these last few days – and I have to keep telling myself to stay on track. There are so many sites that you think are leading you in the right direction then wham; it’s taken you somewhere completely different not what you are after, or you just get sidetracked into going else where …. Although must say that I have learnt some unnecessary things!

As well as reading articles on websites, e-journals and knowledge trees, (I've been trying to remember to put them in to del.icio.us). I’ve also been reading up on other student comments and some are very interesting. It’s good sometimes reading other comments from people who feel the same as you or have a completely different out look on the situation – sometimes something you’ve never thought of. I would mention them but I didn’t keep track of who was who and where – I was just in a reading and jumping from one window/page to the next. One comment I would like to make is with all this ‘new’ teaching technology I feel that I am one of the students/facilitators/teachers who does know what they are doing with it most of the time (its just finding the time!). I like all this new information technology and interested in it (which is helpful when trying to learn). Its just amazing how far it's/we've come in just a short period of time!

Being in learning environment I have to keep reminding myself that there are some people out there do not understand technology as quickly or pick it up as quickly as I sometimes do – back to learning styles. Thinking about different learning styles and what they are can make you vary your techniques for the students whether in classroom situation or one on one. Although it’s helpful when people come into my suite and tell me exactly what type of learner they are! eg I’m not a reader I like to be shown then do. Although this particular student I’m thinking of has now changed and is quite happy to go through the books we have here, as they are quite easy to follow and don’t have a heap of reading and then ask me when they get stuck or have a question.
As well as a heap of searching/reading on the net I've also been playing around with CamStudio – this is also a great little tool – and will be using this as a teaching resource, which will be mentioned in my draft ‘Flexible Learning’ plan in the next couple of days.

Elluminate

I really enjoyed this course learning how Elluminate works and going through the “Flexible Learning Resources” presentation. A real time any where (with a computer and internet access) classroom environment. I also like the way you can’t over talk someone and if you do or want to talk you have to be invited or put up your hand. The sound was also very clear and there was a great little ‘whiteboard’ to write on. It was only a short session but that’s all you really need to understand how this great programme works. I thought it was a great little tool for having online classes.