Navigate 2.1.4 – Lecture Capture Quest

Recorded lectures serve as an additional resource for students. There are times when seeing and hearing an explanation rather than simply reading about it is far better for the student. Like writing on a chalkboard, the computer screen can be annotated as needed. A small corner of the capture can be used to show the speaker talking, providing a more personal experience.

From www.flickr.com - April 6, 2014 2:22 PM

The e-learning unit at London's QMUL ran a survey of staff and students to find out their views on podcasting lectures. 

An award-winning poster showing the results.  Via Clive Young

Aside from using lecture capture for flipping a classroom, using capture in an online course has several advantages. Users are able to pause the recording to ensure understanding and to make sure nothing is missed. Students like having the lecture recorded so they can go back to review, or fill in their notes.

Below is an example of a short tutorial captured using Camtasia and then shared on YouTube.

created by Charlotte Thornton using Camtasia

Navigate 3.1.1 LMS Tool Categories Quest

 Major Tools of an LMS

This image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

Considering communication is one of the most important components of an online course, the LMS must contain features to allow communication to occur both asynchronously and synchronously. An asynchronous discussion area provides a place for students to express their own ideas, form understandings, and add to the knowledge base of other participants. The discussions also provide the teacher with evidence of how each student is thinking about the content and gives the teacher an opportunity to clear up any misconceptions in a timely manner. Synchronous "meeting" session capabilities are a must. Synchronous interactions allow both student and teacher to receive instant feedback. Instant feedback allows any misconceptions to be cleared up immediately. One more point of synchronous interactions is that both parties are able to see facial expressions which help to make personal connections.

Profile function for all users is necessary for all participants in the course. It is far too easy for a person to discount another students' remarks when that student is unknown. A profile helps with getting to know where information is coming from. The teacher should also have a full profile sharing their background so the students/parents are comfortable with the guidance and knowledge the student will be receiving.

A good LMS needs an area where student information can be stored and accessed by students, parents, and teachers. This area should contain student registration information, contact information, student progress, grades and feedback records, attendance, teacher/student/parent communications records, scheduling details, program outline, and financial details including invoices and payments. The Grade book should also have a report function allowing the monitoring of student progress by teachers, students, and parents.

The Course Content area should have a way to include standards/objectives and rubrics.  The guidelines are to be used by students, parents and teachers before, during and after each assignment. After the assignment, the rubric becomes the guideline for the teacher to write feedback and score the assignment. There should be a place to make announcements that are noticed immediately upon entering the course. An announcement could be used for any number of purposes, how to handle holidays (perhaps for makeup work), impending deadlines, or future course information.

Navigate 3.1.2 – Creation and Investigation into Courses Quest

My first attempts to upload course content to Blackboard met with error messages stating 
"Fatal: A fatal error has occurred. The reason for the error is:
The provided file could not be identified as a supported package format and therefore can not be processed.
For more information, consult the detailed log.Status: The operation import did not complete." In the detailed log it said: 

"Jan 2, 2016 3:46:11 PM - Debug

blackboard.apps.cx.papi.PackageException: The provided file could not be identified as a supported package format and therefore can not be processed.
at blackboard.apps.cx.papi.PackageSupportFactory.getReaderInstance(PackageSupportFactory.java:83)
at blackboard.apps.cx.papi.CxPackage.prepImport(CxPackage.java:1118)
at blackboard.apps.cx.papi.CxPackage.<init>(CxPackage.java:135)
at blackboard.apps.cx.Importer.execute(Importer.java:351)
at blackboard.apps.cx.Cx.invoke(Cx.java:371)
at blackboard.apps.cx.CxQueuedOperation.execute(CxQueuedOperation.java:89)
at blackboard.platform.queue.QueuedTaskManager.processTask(QueuedTaskManager.java:395)
at blackboard.platform.queue.QueuedTaskManager.access$500(QueuedTaskManager.java:79)
at blackboard.platform.queue.QueuedTaskManager$WorkerThread.run(QueuedTaskManager.java:798)"

After several attempts to use Blackboard, I decided to move on to Schoology, my second choice. I did return to Blackboard two days later and attempted to upload the package several more times with the same results as the prior attempts. Finally, after poking around in Blackboard, I figured out how to make the course run and will eventually figure out how to allow participants to view the course.

The creation of my test course in Schoology was very easy compared to Blackboard. I followed the steps listed below.

https://app.schoology.com/web/459996071/view?path=index.html  

Steps to load course content in Schoology:

1. Open Schoology and sign in. 

2. Click on Courses, then 

3. Click Create in the popup window, bottom left. 

4. Fill in the form provided: 

 

5. Click Create.

6. Add Materials to the course by clicking the Add Materials drop-down menu and then choosing Add Package.

7. Browse for the zip file and Open. The file uploads and is available upon completion of the process.

Navigate 2.1.2 – Recorded Session Quest

I chose to use Adobe Connect to record my synchronous session. I had used GoToMeeting, Google Hangouts, AnyMeeting, Blackboard and WebEx previously and thought I would try something new. Adobe Connect is one of the most expensive options, but on the other hand, it has the most features. I would not recommend Adobe Connect for someone who is not familiar with various technology tools. The difference between working with Adobe Connect vs. Google Hangouts is similar to the differences between working with DreamWeaver vs. Google Sites. The task was not easy, nor difficult given the unfamiliarity of the software on my part. Whenever working with a new software, there is a time period when one is becoming familiar with the features. One feature I have yet to use, but have found, is annotation. I did not realize my pointer would not be recorded and would have liked to have this feature. When I usually create a video, I use Camtasia and am fairly familiar with its capabilities.
Synchronous learning? For most people synchronous meetings are a necessity. There are some people who are able to stick with a course until the end, but most find motivating themselves to complete the course difficult and tend to drop out. Regular synchronous sessions would absolutely help participants with course completion.

Participate Capstone

Participate Capstone

 CC0 Public Domain  Free for commercial use  No attribution required 

Please provide a paragraph describing your perspective of the Participate module. Consider the learning environment, content, assignments.

I found the Participate module to be quite engaging. Before I began this course, I hoped I would not be bored with yet another technology course from which I learned nothing. I have not been disappointed. The depth of each quest is far more than I expected. It did take me a while to find my way around the course. I'm not sure why the navigation was not immediately clear to me, perhaps it has something to do with not previously using this particular platform. The rubrics are available, but again, it is not obvious to me where they are located. Even with this slight difficulty on my part, I am quite pleased to be a part of this course and find I am learning a great deal.
My 6th-grade students need instruction on netiquette, rights and responsibilities and digital safety. I previously shared the Common Sense curriculum with our technology teacher and have more recently shared much more from this course.  

Participate 1.1.3 Ideal Digital Learning Community Quest:
http://goo.gl/hwMSe2

Participate 3.1.2 Digital Resources and Netiquette Quest:
http://goo.gl/hwMSe2

Participate 4.1.1 Digital Rights and Responsibilities Quest:
http://goo.gl/oz5Du0

Participate 4.1.2 Digital Safety and Security Quest:
http://goo.gl/PS0DWG

Navigate 2.1.1 Delivery Methods and the Synchronous Vendor Market

When facilitating an online course, one should keep in mind the participants' needs. One of those needs is a synchronous conversation with the instructor/facilitator and perhaps other students in the same course. Software is available for synchronous interaction. If I were going to simply have a discussion with 3 or 4 people, I would use Google+ Hangouts. Hangouts is as simple to use as a telephone. If delivering a lecture, I would use WebEx or AnyMeeting. WebEx and AnyMeeting feature screensharing, video recording, chat sections, and can be used on mobile devices. One major difference is price. WebEx is $49/month for 25 participants and AnyMeeting is $15/month for 30 participants. For some, the cost is the deciding factor. 
While cost may be a factor, support for open source programs is limited by in-house expertise while vendor solution programs have 24/7 support available.

There are both open source and commercial software programs available. Open source software is often free and is created and updated by a community of developers while commercial programs are professionally developed and not so easily updated or customizable. In searching for interactive, live software, one must consider the exact needs of users as well as the purpose of using the program. Thus my problem, for what will the software be used? In looking ahead in this course I see I will be recording a synchronous meeting, and then, later on, creating a course for asynchronous and synchronous use. I have a few criteria I am looking for in a delivery system: it must be able to handle various content delivery media, a method of exchanging documents, synchronous discussions, recording features, messages, and a student records area.

In searching for a software, I found the major differences come in the available features, how the features are accessed and in the quality of recordings.

Open Source  (Zaidlearn, Bigbluebutton, AnyMeeting)              Vendor Solution  (WebEx, GotoMeeting, Adobe, Google+)

developed by a community with common needs                               developed by professional
may customize, but technical expertise needed                                 must get the vendor to make changes

Das, Santanu. "Comparison between Open Source & Vendor Provided Software." OysterConnect, n.d. Web. <https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=890876225667224566#editor/target=post;postID=2728935865769997344;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=postname>.

Hiong, Goh Seow. "Open Source vs Commercial Apps: The Differences That Matter II | ZDNet." ZDNet. ZNet, 25 Oct. 2004. Web. 02 Jan. 2016. <http://www.zdnet.com/article/open-source-vs-commercial-apps-the-differences-that-matter-ii/>.

Navigate 2.1.3 – Commercial versus Open Virtual Classrooms Quest

Advantages and disadvantages apply to both open source and commercial software. It all depends on Open source software is often free and is created and updated by a community of developers while commercial programs are professionally developed and not so easily updated or customizable. Open source software's strength lies with the "two heads are better than one" mindset. More ideas are generated with more minds working. There is power in a community.

Commercial application code is owned by the developer and may not be changed by anyone except the developer. 

In searching for interactive, live software, one must consider the exact needs of users as well as the purpose of using the program. Thus my problem, for what will the software be used? I have a few criteria I am looking for in a delivery system: it must be able to handle various content delivery media, a method of exchanging documents, synchronous discussions, recording features, messages, and a student records area. I found major differences come in the available features, how the features are accessed and in the quality of recordings. Support for open source programs is often limited by in-house expertise while vendor solution programs have 24/7 support available.

When would an open source application take precedence over a commercial product? 

An open source application would need to be used by those needing an up-to-date application with many developers working on solutions to problems. Preventing vendor lock-in is also a good reason to use open source applications. When the vendor says the older version of their software will no longer be supported, that could be a problem for some users who cannot use the newer version.

Open Source  (Zaidlearn, Bigbluebutton, AnyMeeting)              Vendor Solution  (WebEx, GotoMeeting, Adobe, Google+)

developed by a community with common needs                               developed by professional

may customize, but technical expertise needed                                must get the vendor to make changes in platform

CC0 Public Domain, Free for commercial use, No attribution required

Backaitis, Virginia. "Open Source vs. Proprietary Software: There Is No Clear Winner." CMSWire.com. CMA Wire, 17 July 2013. Web. 02 Jan. 2016. <http://www.cmswire.com/cms/information-management/open-source-vs-proprietary-software-there-is-no-clear-winner-021752.php>.

Das, Santanu. "Comparison between Open Source & Vendor Provided Software." OysterConnect, n.d. Web. <https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=890876225667224566#editor/target=post;postID=2728935865769997344;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=postname>.

Hartley, Matt. "Why Use Open Source Software?" - Datamation. IT Business Edge Site, 14 Dec. 2015. Web. 02 Jan. 2016. <http://www.datamation.com/open-source/why-use-open-source-software-1.html>.

Hiong, Goh Seow. "Open Source vs Commercial Apps: The Differences That Matter II | ZDNet." ZDNet. ZNet, 25 Oct. 2004. Web. 02 Jan. 2016. <http://www.zdnet.com/article/open-source-vs-commercial-apps-the-differences-that-matter-ii/>.