Skill: Create 4.1.3 – Aggregating Lesson Material Quest

As discussed throughout the quest, collecting or curating learning objects, resources, and learning material enriches the e-learning environment. Research and identify three tools that can be used to aggregate and present learning material, other than the two mentioned in the lesson. Post findings in your blog and include a brief description and the associated costs.

Aggregating content is to organize and upload materials into one place.  This can be course specific, content specific, or teacher specific. There are a variety of platforms where ethos can happen - here are three specific ones:

1) Quicklessons seems to be a user friendly place that provide templates for use in which you can customize characters. They provide games, ability to take lectures such as power points and create a flash movie. There is a seven day free trial, but a price is not offered online - you must contact them directly.

2) Google Classroom  According to Google "Classroom is a new tool in Google Apps for Education that helps teachers create and organize assignments quickly, provide feedback efficiently, and easily communicate with their classes.' It allows teachers to create classes. distribute assignments, send feedback, and see what is going on in one place. This is free to use you just need a Google account.

 3). Edmodo  Similar to Google Edmodo is a website that allows teachers and students to interact.   Teachers can create assignments and students submit their work directly to the website.  This site is free as well. One drawback is students can create multiple accounts and the accounts do not link to one another.

Skill: Create 4.1.2 – Principles of Building Portable Learning Objects

Based upon your specific content area, build two high quality, reusable learning objects. After completing the project, post links to the created objects in your blog and explain their intended use.

After completing a blog post that meets the requirements of this quest, submit the link to your post in the Submission Form at the bottom of this page.

I created a Study Stack vocabulary word list to help students study cell organelles. Studenst can do straight flashcards or play games. Here is a link to the Cell Organelle Matching game.

On Kahoot I made the following quiz to review cell organelles. Students can go here to do the quiz.

Skill: Create 4.1.1 Define and Explain Learning Object Authoring Tools Quest

Researching online tools for learning content authoring and considering use of these in the e-learning environment.

Though I know what learning objects are because I have taught at GaVS for several years, I could never explain them or how they were developed and or placed in the curriculum until I applied to be a developer this past spring and I had to do a portfolio for the position. That is when I  got my first taste of LOs. In summary a learning object helps support student learning by allowing them to practice and check their understanding of the material.  There are several different types of Los - lecture, powerpoint, game, activity, quiz, etc.  There are many free and fee based LO sites - here are a few free ones I found interesting:

1) Learning Tools According to the site the "Multimedia Learning Object Authoring Tool enables content experts to easily combine video, audio, images and texts into one synchronized learning object. All assets are configured to be played back in a pre-configured order. Users do not need to perform any programming tasks, but rather going through a graphical user interface to generate the learning object."  This would be great to make presentations.

2) Classtools  "Here you can great free games, quizzes, activities, and diagrams in seconds." There are tons of different activity including Fake Facebook, SMS conversations, crossword puzzles, etc. This site is free, but they do have a pay option.

3) Scratch is a website that allows users to create  stories, animations, and games to share with the learning community. Great place for short bits of information or vocabulary.

4) Study Stack is a free site that allows users to create their own stack of vocabulary terms or search previous stacks. Vacabulary terms can be studied in a variety of ways.

5) Quizlet Like study stack, it allows users to create their own stack of vocabulary terms or search previous stacks. Vacabulary terms can be studied in a variety of ways.


  

Skill: 3.1.3 – Locating Resources Quest

 Using the content topic previously selected, locate an image, applicable text, and a multimedia object that apply to the topic. Ensure the resources are cited properly and post these items in your blog with the links.

TOPIC CELLS

I used CCH and OER to search for information on cells:

IMAGE: Found using the Creative Commons Homepage here is an image I can put in a lesson.

TEXT: Found on OER here is an online text resources that I can send my students to Building Blocks of Life.

MULTIMEDIA PROJECT: Found on OER 

Abstract:

 

Virtual Cell is an online video game developed by the World-Wide Web Instructional Committee at North Dakota State University. The players take control of a tiny virtual submarine that explores plant and animal cells from the inside! Players learn about organelles, respiration, and photosynthesis. The game requires a fast Internet connection and a Java-enabled browser.

Copyright Holder:

Copyright 1998, 2000 World Wide Web Instructional Committee

Skill: Create 3.1.2 Fair Use and the TEACH Act Quest

 As discussed throughout this quest, Fair Use and the TEACH act allow educators to use copyrighted material for educational purposes. Referring to the checklist and resources provided, determine how this information may be applied in an online classroom. In your respective blog, discuss the following:

 •                How does an understanding of Fair Use affect one’s role as an online instructor?

For an instructor, face-to-face or online, it is really important to understand the Fair Use Act.  It is not ‘more important’ for an online instructor – but because everything they do is ‘online’ there is more of chance for someone getting caught using materials that they are not supposed to – so I would say it is extremely important for online educators to understand the guidelines as to how materials that are copyrighted for be used within their classrooms.  I like how the article What is Fair Use says “In its most general sense, a fair use is any copying of copyrighted material done for a limited and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.” To put simply, the Fair Use act asks these questions: 

• The purpose and character of the use
• The nature of the work
• The amount and substantially of the portion used in relation to the work as a whole
• The effect of the use on the market or potential market for the original work

•                How do Fair Use and the TEACH Act correlate to the delivery of reliable content?

Both of these apply to teachers and help guide educators on how and what they can use.  The Fair
Use act applies to everyone including teachers, while the TEACH act apple sot teachers only. There
are very clear details and exemptions that do not apply to non educators that apply to us.  A complete
list of guidelines for the TEACH ACT can be found online at the University of Texas.  If the work
is taken from somewhere else, online educators should always check the list to make sure they are in 
compliance.