Week Of April 7, 2008

1. Journal contains bulleted list of “To Do” items for the week including an order of priority (i.e. which items will be completed first, second, etc.)

• Fix my footer
• I need to add pages for the "how to" section
• Make sure all navigation is working and goes where I want it to.
• Pick a background color that looks professional, but not white
• read all article for next week
• keep up with my blog

2. Journal contains students’ thoughts, concerns, or struggles as he/she works to complete the work indicated. Journal also indicates a plan to resolve conflict or possible solutions to problems. If class readings are assigned for the week.

I think that I am finally on track with my webspace. I have worked on it a bunch, but have plenty more to do. I feel like I will have a nice finished product at the end. I do need to steal some time to get everything done. The cool thing about having class online is that you get done early and don't have to leave home. the bad thing is that I force myself to get work done when I am at school. I need to organize my stuff, especially for a portfolio for the masters program.


3.Students will discuss the assigned class readings and indicate how the articles have impacted their web development.

In reading the article "Survey of Professionals Using Electronic Surveys", I felt that the concepts of "Sound Survey Design" to be interesting. I think that whenever you do anything electronically, you need to keep in mind ease of use. I also think that with the increase of availibility to the internet that a more suitable sample size can be found. I was intrigued by the statement that eludes to giving respondents multiple ways to response to the survey. I think I will keep the "...Ease of use" in mind when design my webspace.

In "Universally Designed Instruction", I found that I already do many of the concepts that they indicated. I found that the concepts are really similar to those that are needed to include special education students into the mainstream classroom. This way you can create a less restrictive environment. I believe you go back to the idea of "...Ease of use" then you can create a design that will be instructional for all.

"Quality in Distance Learning" was particularily interesting. It confirmed what I had thought about technology in schools. I found that the phrase "Technology, then, is "merely a means of delivering instruction,"" to be interesting in relation to some of my colleagues. They seem to think that they need to integrate technology and because of this that the students will learn more. I believe that the methodology needs to change and not simply integrating technology into the classroom. What good does it do to use technology but deliver the content in the same fashion. I agree with Russell's frustration that "after so many studies, people continue to believe that technology impacts learning". I also find it interesting that our class is a hybrid class, especially based on some of the findings in the study. I think there is something to be said about blending all of the means of delivery.

When reading through "Using Instructional Design Strategies To Foster Curiosity", I was thinking of ways to apply that to our creation of instructional Websites. The current website that I am working on is for educators...I probably need to add elements from the article to my site.