Week+1

This week, post a link to an article, resource, or video related to Week 1's topic:

 * Teaching Online vs. Face-2-Face and Best Practices for Teaching Online**

Include your name and a summary of your resource to explain its significance.

The Networked Student: [|http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY] This video is an excellent overview of the learning theory Connectivism. Using simple drawings and animations the forms of connection are illustrated. So what are you waiting for? Learn about the Networked Student!: media type="youtube" key="XwM4ieFOotA" height="214" width="263"
 * Michael Edwards**

Lisa Tracy [|What is RSS?]


 * I didn't know what RSS was when it was mentioned in the Connectivism video, so I looked it up. It is a tool for capturing feeds from a variety of online sources without having to log into them separately. According to this brief informational page, an increasing number of online sources are making RSS feeds available. The user has to acquire an RSS reader, of which several are listed in this overview. It seems that RSS would be an extremely efficient way to access the most current information and make it available to students for discussion, background, elaboration on specific themes, and other uses. The page includes links to additional information on RSS feeds and how to use them.**

​ Brenda Rizor Why I Teach Online** : ** [] Author William Wade of West Kentucky Community and Technical College share his reasons for teaching online. Like most online instructors, Wade appreciates the flexibility of online courses, and the ability they provide for supplementing course material for both online and F2F courses. He also recognizes that online courses meet individual needs of students providing greater access to education.

**Beth White:** media type="youtube" key="w90s98oi-68" height="274" width="339" align="center"

I found this video (above) on YouTube that shows how you can teach your classes through Facebook. It is pretty cool because all of the instruction, communication, assignments, grading...can all be done through the very popular social networking site. It demonstrates how you can use this for colleges/universities, or for setting up a business to be paid to give instruction such as online sign language or music lessons...

__Best Practices in Online Teaching: Don't Assume__ [] This is a short, simple but very practical article detailing a few best practices aimed at heading off some of the potential for frustration (for both student and instructor) by doing "a little up-front housekeeping" prior to the commencement of an on-line course. A quick read but enlightening.
 * Dennis Spragg:**

media type="youtube" key="u-zvPLluOgM" height="344" width="425" I found this video on YouTube. It is an entertaining clip on some nuts & bolts of video conferencing / online preparation.
 * Joel Harris:**

** Angie Heaton I found this article and video below from the Chronicle of Higher Education that talks about my concerns this week on Edmodo - if my distance students are responsible for listening to archived material prior to lecture and lab, why not make the traditional students just as responsible. The video reinforces that if we just stand up and lecture for 50 minutes - don't bother. Any student can sign up for an on-line course and hear the same thing. If we are demanding that students attend our lectures in the face to face format, we have to give them more - meaning, let them listen to a podcast prior to the lecture and them give them the WOW on campus. Interesting twist to the face to face connection. Don't get excited when the video starts talking about teaching naked - meaning without computers. The article and video are pro for both teaching formats- it talks about how to most effectively utilize the teaching methodologies. ** [|**http://chronicle.com/article/Teach-Naked-Effort-Strips/47398**] [|**http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1399136188?bctid=29848463001**]

Here is an interesting article discussing the writer’s personal experiences with how learning to teach from a distance has improved her ability to teach F2F. Included is a list of questions that educators can use the reflect on ways to structure both F2F and distance classes to promote understanding, reflection, and dialog. The article comes from The Journal of Effective Teaching. ** Improving Traditional Teaching Using Findings from Distance Education ** []
 * Gina Garrett **

I found the following YouTube video that provides strategies to add a personal touch to an online learning environment. Some of the suggestions seem quite obvious, however many good suggestions are located within this 9 minute video. The video is entitled "Innovation in Teaching: Adding the Personal Touch to an Online Course". This educator begins each course with an orientation video which clearly states the objectives of the course. She has also incorporated a "lounge" for the students to hang out in. This feature allows the students the opportunity to get to know one another in their own informal setting. The educator also offers online chat room hours for these students to ask pertinent questions. The educator also has each student work in groups to complete various projects - they utilize wikis, blogs, etc. It appears to me that this educator utilizes the Angel platform - so that is another reason why I believe this video has information that we could readily incorporate into our distance courses. Enjoy. []
 * Lynn Franck **

media type="youtube" key="GX94ws03o3o" width="425" height="350" This teacher. teaches music online. He uses all different types of learning experinces enchanced by using online tools. One that he discussed was picso. I looked at it students can build their own websites. It was very easy to use. I think he's teaching is so exciting and it shows in his presentation. I feel if I can make my online presentation as intesresting and exciting as his my studnets would enjoy learning better. (PS maybe I should take his class) haha
 * Jessica Dailey: **