A sampling of assignments and projects created throughout Robin's MDE journey
OMDE 601- Foundations of Distance Education & E-learning
SKILL BUILDERS-(25% of Grade)
A series of weekly learning activities that have been designed to build foundational skills for distance education study, research, and practice.
Skill builder 1: Mind Map of Distance Education
Reflection:
A visual definition of Distance Education. This mind map was created to demonstrate the breadth of distance education; it is a hierarchical mapping of the different areas that encompass DE. This was done at the beginning of the class to basically map our understanding of what DE is. What it taught me was that DE is broad in its scope and the combination of humanity and technology lends itself to constant re-evaluation. Add in the financial factors and its a fascinating and challenging discipline.
A visual definition of Distance Education. This mind map was created to demonstrate the breadth of distance education; it is a hierarchical mapping of the different areas that encompass DE. This was done at the beginning of the class to basically map our understanding of what DE is. What it taught me was that DE is broad in its scope and the combination of humanity and technology lends itself to constant re-evaluation. Add in the financial factors and its a fascinating and challenging discipline.
Skill Builder 2: Diigo
Create an Annotated Bibliography from a previous source.
Reflection:
This assignment was two fold, first we created annotated bibliography from a source we had used earlier in class and secondly, it allowed us to play with a Web 2.0 tool Diigo. Diigo allowed for a collaborative class project, we reviewed one another's entries and commented on them as well. Diigo is a tool I had never used before, it seems useful for keeping track of information and resources as well as building a pool of resources with others with like interests.
Reflection:
This assignment was two fold, first we created annotated bibliography from a source we had used earlier in class and secondly, it allowed us to play with a Web 2.0 tool Diigo. Diigo allowed for a collaborative class project, we reviewed one another's entries and commented on them as well. Diigo is a tool I had never used before, it seems useful for keeping track of information and resources as well as building a pool of resources with others with like interests.
diigo_annotation.docx | |
File Size: | 12 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Skill Builder 3: Bibliography
Using the UMUC library, researching a topic that describes one of the key influences, theories, or other aspect of the second developmental wave of DE, choosing 10 key articles and posting these in APA format as a bibliography to your e-portfolio and to the classroom.
Reflection:
As a librarian creating bibliographies is part and parcel of my job. Bibliographies help to gather pertinent and relevant information on various subjects and creates a valuable resource.
Reflection:
As a librarian creating bibliographies is part and parcel of my job. Bibliographies help to gather pertinent and relevant information on various subjects and creates a valuable resource.
research_topic_and_bibliography-1.docx | |
File Size: | 12 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Skill Builder 4: Revolutionary Grid
Work with group members to choose a shared space to develop a grid that will depict the evolution of distance education.
Reflection:
This may have been one of the most cohesive and well organized group projects I have undertaken as a distance student. This grid was created over several modules , each team member was responsible for a particular section each week. We created a DE timeline and we also had a guest module with Dr. Otto Peters. This assignment was about team work, and the progression of DE in theory and practice. It also taught me that technology and its link to education is relevant in its own place and time...from educators using mail because printing had become readily available to the Internet today...tomorrow who knows?
Reflection:
This may have been one of the most cohesive and well organized group projects I have undertaken as a distance student. This grid was created over several modules , each team member was responsible for a particular section each week. We created a DE timeline and we also had a guest module with Dr. Otto Peters. This assignment was about team work, and the progression of DE in theory and practice. It also taught me that technology and its link to education is relevant in its own place and time...from educators using mail because printing had become readily available to the Internet today...tomorrow who knows?
distanceeducationwaves-sg2.pdf | |
File Size: | 325 kb |
File Type: |
OMDE 606-Costs and Economics of Distance Education & E-learning
The following was a group assignment. We were required to create and market a distance institution.
Reflection:
This was my most daunting class at UMUC, numbers and formulas are not my strong suit... thus the angst level was high. When I found out we had to use Excel I was not enthused. However, I did not want to let anyone down and the best part of group work is the support, we find and rely on each other's strengths to get the job done.
For this project we had to create institute of higher learning and create a proposal for an online class. I had done this assignment before but did not delve into the financial details like this one did. To have a great group and to create this multifaceted project was very rewarding.
/uploads/1/3/6/9/13690429/omde606-sg1-a3_final.docx
The following was a group assignment. We were required to create and market a distance institution.
Reflection:
This was my most daunting class at UMUC, numbers and formulas are not my strong suit... thus the angst level was high. When I found out we had to use Excel I was not enthused. However, I did not want to let anyone down and the best part of group work is the support, we find and rely on each other's strengths to get the job done.
For this project we had to create institute of higher learning and create a proposal for an online class. I had done this assignment before but did not delve into the financial details like this one did. To have a great group and to create this multifaceted project was very rewarding.
/uploads/1/3/6/9/13690429/omde606-sg1-a3_final.docx
OMDE 608 - Learner Support in Distance Education and Training
/uploads/1/3/6/9/13690429/af_608-beaversr-a2.doc
/uploads/1/3/6/9/13690429/af_608-beaversr-a2.doc
A position paper on Distance Students and Orientation.
Reflections:
This was a paper that I wrote about whether or not orientation should voluntary or mandatory for distance learners. My argument was that many traditional school require students to attend orientation and that should be the case for distance institutions.
Reflections:
This was a paper that I wrote about whether or not orientation should voluntary or mandatory for distance learners. My argument was that many traditional school require students to attend orientation and that should be the case for distance institutions.
IMAT 639 - Internet Multimedia Applications
(A course I took prior to deciding to go for the MDE)
Possibly the most fun and most tedious of all of the projects (Pre-Capstone, of course). This class introduced me to Dreamweaver,the web development software tool. It was a multifaceted project which involved creating a website and planning a curriculum. This class was time consuming but rewarding... a great sense of accomplishment.
Melting Pot PowerPoint Presentation
DEMP 625 Globalization, Development and Distance Education
This project was the main paper for the course, students were asked to choose a subject from a list, I chose non-formal distance education, which included telecentres,libraries, and cyber cafes. It was interesting to discover how other parts of the world used technology to connect and learn. It was this class the really addressed the issue of the digital divide both in America and around the globe.
paper
DETT 607 Instructional Design and Course Development in Distance Education & E-learning
Learning how to create a course from beginning to end was very rewarding. Here is the course syllabus that I created for a training class about diversity in programming for librarians.
paper
EDTC 650 Teaching and Learning in K-12 Virtual Schools
This is a class that was mandatory, and given my penchant for adult instruction I probably would not have taken this course. However, it was quite interesting learning about the ins and outs and the growth of virtual schools for the K-12 age group. I now have an understanding of Core Curriculum and the challenges it can create. It makes me wonder if these kids will choose a traditional or virtual school for college...
paper
slideshow
DEPM 604 9040 Management and Leadership in Distance Education & E-learning
The first assignment was to write a short essay on "what is leadership", we were to write it from what we thought ...without references , so I write it as asked. Part II of "what is leadership "was written at the end of the class, this time referencing our resources. It was very eye opening to transform from a simplistic viewpoint of leadership to one that had been introduced to the many facets, theories and practices that make a leader and a good follower as well.
What is Leadership Part I & II
Paper
Group Project for Leadership
We were assigned to a random group and our assignment was to interview a leader from distance education. Our group decided to choose someone from the government sector and we chose Alex Autry, the current president of the Federal Government Distance Learning Associate (FGDLA). We had a good group and Alex Autry brought to life many of the theories we had been studying in class.
paper
Final paper , we had to do a major paper on all that we had learned in our leadership class, we had to choose five attributes of a leader for the first half of our paper. For the second half, we had to choose five challenges for 21st century leaders.
paper
Capstone
The big enchilada, the reflection and summation of the degree. My topic was "Mandatory library instruction; a necessary component for distance education success". Thanks to Stella Porto and crew for getting me to the end...finally.
(A course I took prior to deciding to go for the MDE)
Possibly the most fun and most tedious of all of the projects (Pre-Capstone, of course). This class introduced me to Dreamweaver,the web development software tool. It was a multifaceted project which involved creating a website and planning a curriculum. This class was time consuming but rewarding... a great sense of accomplishment.
Melting Pot PowerPoint Presentation
DEMP 625 Globalization, Development and Distance Education
This project was the main paper for the course, students were asked to choose a subject from a list, I chose non-formal distance education, which included telecentres,libraries, and cyber cafes. It was interesting to discover how other parts of the world used technology to connect and learn. It was this class the really addressed the issue of the digital divide both in America and around the globe.
paper
DETT 607 Instructional Design and Course Development in Distance Education & E-learning
Learning how to create a course from beginning to end was very rewarding. Here is the course syllabus that I created for a training class about diversity in programming for librarians.
paper
EDTC 650 Teaching and Learning in K-12 Virtual Schools
This is a class that was mandatory, and given my penchant for adult instruction I probably would not have taken this course. However, it was quite interesting learning about the ins and outs and the growth of virtual schools for the K-12 age group. I now have an understanding of Core Curriculum and the challenges it can create. It makes me wonder if these kids will choose a traditional or virtual school for college...
paper
slideshow
DEPM 604 9040 Management and Leadership in Distance Education & E-learning
The first assignment was to write a short essay on "what is leadership", we were to write it from what we thought ...without references , so I write it as asked. Part II of "what is leadership "was written at the end of the class, this time referencing our resources. It was very eye opening to transform from a simplistic viewpoint of leadership to one that had been introduced to the many facets, theories and practices that make a leader and a good follower as well.
What is Leadership Part I & II
Paper
Group Project for Leadership
We were assigned to a random group and our assignment was to interview a leader from distance education. Our group decided to choose someone from the government sector and we chose Alex Autry, the current president of the Federal Government Distance Learning Associate (FGDLA). We had a good group and Alex Autry brought to life many of the theories we had been studying in class.
paper
Final paper , we had to do a major paper on all that we had learned in our leadership class, we had to choose five attributes of a leader for the first half of our paper. For the second half, we had to choose five challenges for 21st century leaders.
paper
Capstone
The big enchilada, the reflection and summation of the degree. My topic was "Mandatory library instruction; a necessary component for distance education success". Thanks to Stella Porto and crew for getting me to the end...finally.