Please detail your impressions of online learning in this class thus far? What do you like? What would you change? How does it compare with live sessions and with other online classes you may have experienced — e.g., are there things that worked really well or not so well online that compared to face-to-face? Give me the scoop on your online learning perceptions. Would you take another online class? Can you think of other classes that might now facilitate online learning like this class has done?
When I first signed up for an online class, I honestly had no idea what to expect. I was pretty excited, because it felt like a very tecnnological, new age thing to do. One thing I really love about it is that I am getting credit for a class that I do not technically have to attend each week. It has worked out wonderfully for my schedule, and I am able to still get a lot of hours at work each week, which is very important.
Something I did not like, was that even on weeks where I really stayed on top of things, did everything on time, I often felt that I was falling behind a little bit. It’s not that I actually was, it’s just I realized I really do value and enjoy time spent in a classroom, face to face with a professor. I felt this the most with our discussion board. The online thing is great, but it just doesn’t quite take the place of a class discussion for me. I like to hear what people have to say, see who is saying it outloud, and if I have something to say right away in response to that, have the opportunity to say it. The online discussion board felt different to me.
I believe I would definitely take another online class someday. One thing I would do differently is set aside one particular time, each week and designate it, “do your online homework time.” Some weeks get busier than others toward the end, and I find myself running out of time. As much as I love being able to work at my own pace, it often is my downfall, because I have so many other things going on too.
I really don’t know of any other class Ithat would facilitate as this one does. Perhaps it is just because I have never experienced another online class, or maybe not. I would definitely be willing to sign up for another one, if my schedule ever allowed me too.
We discuss many types of educational software in class this week from broad categories to specific titles (see PowerPoint files before doing this blog). We talked about drill and practice, tutorial, problem solving, educationl games, etc. We looked at specific kinds of application software from word processors to spreadsheets to presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint). Many educators feel that students should be taught the software applications they will have to know to succeed in their lives beyond school (e.g., work or college). Please make a list of five specific applications you think every student should learn, from more important to less important (you can name the application or just give the title — e.g., Word or word processors).
Explain your ranking in your blog entry. At what level in school do you think each application should be taught? Why?
I think the 5 most important software applications a student can learn are as follows. Word processors, Presentation software, Spreadsheets, Image software, and Databases.
I ranked them by how relevant they would be to a student’s life beyond school, thinking mostly how they would apply to their future job or career.
I chose Word processors as the most important because nearly every job position a person might have would require them to prepare a Word document at some point. Whether it be an application or submitting a resume, or even typing a letter to someone’s boss, knowing how to use a Word processor would benefit nearly everyone. I believe it should be taught to students as early as 1st or 2nd grade. A student at this age would not need to know all the in’s and out’s of the program, but at least develop familiarity and some basic skills. As a student’s capabilities mature and their typing skills develop, a complete lesson should be taught to students in late elementary school, or even early middle school.
Next, I chose Presentation software. A program such as PowerPoint has so many capabilities, that a person could personalize a presentation that would work perfectly for their needs. Many people are visual learner’s and by developing something that is easy to understand, they would really help people understand the thing they are trying to teach. Although I was not taught how to use PowerPoint until 6th grade, I feel as if I could have learned how to use it at a much earlier level. Therefore I believe it should be taught to students around 3rd grade. Once students are taught a few of the basic things, it is quite easy to experiment on your own and teach yourself many of the capabilities of PowerPoint.
The next software application listed was spreadsheets. Spreadsheets can be used for an infinite amount of things, from keeping track of your budget to compiling sports statistics. As an adult, MS Excel could be so helpful to a person who had a real understanding of it. I believe it should be taught to students any time before high school, preferable early middle school. I didn’t know anything about Excel until about 10th grade, and once I did learn about it, I was amazed at how much it could have helped me in earlier years. One of the most important things I think students should know about Excel, or any spreadsheet software for that matter, is how to create graphs and tables. These things are used so much throughout a student’s education, and having knowledge of a program that helps you create them would be indispensible.
The software application I believed was 4rd most important was Image software. Digital camera’s are just as common as regular cameras nowadays, and being able to edit and alter your photograph’s is something people should know how to do if they are the owner of a digital camera. If someone were to have a digital camera and not know how to edit their pictures, they would not be fully taking advantage of the technology. I believe Image software should be taught early in high school, in 9th grade. Some students take an interest in editing and by starting at the beginning of high school, instead of at the end as so many students do, they could have a chance to fully utilize the technology and programs the school may have access to.
The final software application I believe should be taught in school is Databases. Databases are excellent ways of organizing information, and could be used not only in school, but throughout a person’s career. Since Databases tend to be a little more difficult to understand, I think it is fully appropriate to teach students about them late in high school, perhaps 11th grade. This way, a student should have many years of experience with the other programs and be ready to learn a completely new software application at the end of high school.
We discuss many types of educational software in class this week from broad categories to specific titles (see PowerPoint files before doing this blog). We talked about drill and practice, tutorial, problem solving, educationl games, etc. We looked at specific kinds of application software from word processors to spreadsheets to presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint). Many educators feel that students should be taught the software applications they will have to know to succeed in their lives beyond school (e.g., work or college). Please make a list of five specific applications you think every student should learn, from more important to less important (you can name the application or just give the title — e.g., Word or word processors).
Explain your ranking in your blog entry. At what level in school do you think each application should be taught? Why?
I think the 5 most important software applications a student can learn are as follows. Word processors, Presentation software, Spreadsheets, Image software, and Databases.
I ranked them by how relevant they would be to a student’s life beyond school, thinking mostly how they would apply to their future job or career.
I chose Word processors as the most important because nearly every job position a person might have would require them to prepare a Word document at some point. Whether it be an application or submitting a resume, or even typing a letter to someone’s boss, knowing how to use a Word processor would benefit nearly everyone. I believe it should be taught to students as early as 1st or 2nd grade. A student at this age would not need to know all the in’s and out’s of the program, but at least develop familiarity and some basic skills. As a student’s capabilities mature and their typing skills develop, a complete lesson should be taught to students in late elementary school, or even early middle school.
Next, I chose Presentation software. A program such as PowerPoint has so many capabilities, that a person could personalize a presentation that would work perfectly for their needs. Many people are visual learner’s and by developing something that is easy to understand, they would really help people understand the thing they are trying to teach. Although I was not taught how to use PowerPoint until 6th grade, I feel as if I could have learned how to use it at a much earlier level. Therefore I believe it should be taught to students around 3rd grade. Once students are taught a few of the basic things, it is quite easy to experiment on your own and teach yourself many of the capabilities of PowerPoint.
The next software application listed was spreadsheets. Spreadsheets can be used for an infinite amount of things, from keeping track of your budget to compiling sports statistics. As an adult, MS Excel could be so helpful to a person who had a real understanding of it. I believe it should be taught to students any time before high school, preferable early middle school. I didn’t know anything about Excel until about 10th grade, and once I did learn about it, I was amazed at how much it could have helped me in earlier years. One of the most important things I think students should know about Excel, or any spreadsheet software for that matter, is how to create graphs and tables. These things are used so much throughout a student’s education, and having knowledge of a program that helps you create them would be indispensible.
The software application I believed was 4rd most important was Image software. Digital camera’s are just as common as regular cameras nowadays, and being able to edit and alter your photograph’s is something people should know how to do if they are the owner of a digital camera. If someone were to have a digital camera and not know how to edit their pictures, they would not be fully taking advantage of the technology. I believe Image software should be taught early in high school, in 9th grade. Some students take an interest in editing and by starting at the beginning of high school, instead of at the end as so many students do, they could have a chance to fully utilize the technology and programs the school may have access to.
The final software application I believe should be taught in school is Databases. Databases are excellent ways of organizing information, and could be used not only in school, but throughout a person’s career. Since Databases tend to be a little more difficult to understand, I think it is fully appropriate to teach students about them late in high school, perhaps 11th grade. This way, a student should have many years of experience with the other programs and be ready to learn a completely new software application at the end of high school.
