Wikis and Blogs

Wikis and blogs are both powerful collaboration tools that I was previously not familiar with. Wikis and blogs not only promote critical and analytical thinking, they are also constructivist tools for learning (Richardson, 2006).

The main distinction that I notice between wikis and blogs are that wikis can be updated by a collective group, (Commoncraft, 2005) but, blogs are a collection of ideas and comments from individual authors. Wikis and blogs are the same in that they focus on a particular topic.

Prior to the class I am currently taking (Computer Technology and Multimedia), my experience with wikis has been using Wikipedia to gather additional information on a topic that I was previously unexposed to, and to gather seminal information and links to other references. I had never before blogged.

I also looked at how blogs and wikis can be used as training tools in the corporate context and discovered there are multiple issues when using these collaborative tools. For example there are concerns regarding security; copyright and intellectual property; and the fit with using these types of educational tools in the existing corporate culture (Dellow, 2005).

As a result of my research I would like to further explore the usage of blogs and wikis in the corporate training environment. I would like to know what tools other organizations use for training that do not compromise security and proprietary information.

Dellow, J. (2005). Blogs and wikis for trainers. Retrieved September 28, 2008, from http://www.slideshare.net/chieftech/blogs-wikis-for-trainers/

Commoncraft (2005). Wikis in plain English. Retrieved September 27, 2008 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY

Richardson, W. (2006). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Collaborative - Informal Web-Based Learning

The blog listed below, entitled I’ll Have a Cappuccino U", illustrates not only web-based learning of literature by an individual student, it also shows it being done as a collaborative effort between multiple learners.

I’ll Have a Cappuccino U" Posted by Bryan Zug - 2006/11/26

Via Harold Jarche this AM comes a link to a free pdf book called “Cappuccino U” (.pdf) by Jerome Martin and published by Spotted Cow Press.

http://zug.flathatter.com/category/web-based-training-wbt/

CBT versus WBT Training Models

The main differences between the CBT and the WBT training models (Alessi & Trollip 2001) are as follows:

CBT
• Instruction is given via the computer using media such as CDs, or downloaded to a specific computer
• Instruction is self-paced based on the student’s needs
• The cost of training is lower
• Training time is reduced
• Learner can only do training on the computer where the software is loaded

WBT
• Instruction is given via the web/internet
• Learners are given more up-to-date subject matter materials
• Communication between training participants can be either synchronous or asynchronous
• The learner and the instructor has a greater amount of multimedia to receive information/learning materials (e.g. listservs, email, etc.)
• More user control
• Inconsistency in how users connect to the web affects the quality of the multimedia being presented
• Learners have a variety of where they can access the WBTs (home, school, etc.)

CBT
http://www.download.com/Mavis-Beacon-Teaches-Typing-17-Deluxe/3000-2051_4-10441764.html
This is a computer-based program that is a typing tutorial. The learner is given typing drills and exercises, progress is monitored and feedback is given. There is a lot of interactivity along with the option of downloading the lessons to a Palm Pilot. The main drawback is that you have to have a good bit of space on your hard drive to load the program, and depending on your broadband speed the download can be lengthy.

WBT
http://www.gcflearnfree.org/
This is a web-based training course that has various lessons, including how to use Microsoft PowerPoint 2003. The instruction is broken down into comprehensible modules, adequate practice is given, knowledge checks are given throughout the lesson, and there is feedback available from an online instructor. The main drawback is that there are limited registration windows.

References:
Alessi, S. & Trollip, S. (2001). Multimedia for learning: methods and development. 3rd Edition. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

2020 Visions Discussion

The interactive Adventure Learning environment described in Encompassing Education (Walczak, 2002) is comparable to Malone’s Motivation Theory. Iona, the 12 year-old student, is challenged to learn about a new environment/eco-system; her curiosity is aroused because it is a new experience; Iona has control because her teachers receive feedback from her educational exercises via her brain scan, and she subsequently chooses another exercise/learning task to perform (DNA model); and the fantasy is that she is learning about the Caudipteryx hatchlings via the Tangitrek. The Adventure Learning environment also employs discovery learning because the learner is self-directed in exploring her virtual environment and is compelled to make her own choices for further research.

I would include the constructivist learning strategies Transfer of Learning and Cooperative/Collaborative Learning to augment the training given in the Adventure Learning experience (Alessi & Trollip 2001). The information learned by Iona should have some application outside of the context of the Tangitrek and it would heighten the learning experience of her and her classmate-peers to discuss their lessons learned, and their perceptions of the learning experience.

References: Alessi, S. & Trollip, S. (2001). Multimedia for learning: methods and development. 3rd Edition. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.Walczak, D.P. (2002). Encompassing education.

In Department of Commerce, Visions 2020: Transforming education and training through advanced technologies. Retrieved September 5, 2008 from, http://www.technology.gov/reports/TechPolicy/2020Visions.pdf

stephany's blog

This is just a test to see if I have successfully created this blog.