Chapter Four Mind Map

The mind map that I created for chapter four is located at the link below.

https://atlas.mindmup.com/vwilson2332/chapter_four_technologies_the_internet/index.html

I do have experience with mind mapping but I was quite frustrated with this particular tool. Everything that I did was "too large to publish" so I ended up paying to publish my map. If I ever use a mapping tool again, I will continue to use "Inspriration" . It's way more user friendly and looks nicer. I really disliked that I couldn't move the "arms" of the map around.

Anyway, this map highlights what I thought were the important topics of chapter four. I also included the page numbers to each of the topics if you're interested!

Assignment One Summary

Heafner, T., Hartshorne, R. & Petty, T. (2015). Exploring Online Education in K-12 Environments. In D. Slykhuis & G. Marks (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2015 (pp. 1478-1480). Chesapeake, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).

The article that I read, Exploring Online Education in K-12 Environments, focused on two important main ideas of distance education. The first main idea explored was how fast distance education is growing and the second was how unprepared our teachers are to take on the huge task of properly facilitating distance education. Both teacher preparedness and the increase of students involved with distance education are very important ideas to consider when talking about distance education.

In my response, I explored many distance education topics. The first topic that I covered was how the history of distance education influenced this article as well as how distance education is currently influencing learning. I also be explained the connections that I was able to make between the theories discussed in the textbook chapters and the article.  In addition, I discussed the similarities between my learners and the learners mentioned in this article. Finally, I explained how my definition of distance education was illustrated in the research and discussed whether or not I believe it should be modified.

Promoting Student Success Infographic

This week our assignment was to create an infographic over "Promoting Student Success" in online learning. I created my inforgraphic over the three ways to promote student success and I also added some online teaching best practices.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE using the site piktochart.com. I will definitely be using it again!

Please see my infographic here:

Distance Education Powtoon

We were required to create a Powtoon over distance education and create our very own definition of distance education.

Please see my distance education Powtoon at this link!!

http://youtu.be/LM42dtb-f6Y?hd=1

First Experiences with Distance Education

Chapter one:

One of the things that surprised me from chapter one was the length of time that distance education has been around. Distance education was established all the way back in the 1800s!! Obviously leaps and bounds have been made since the 1800s like China developing a National Higher Distance Education Program in the 1970s and Iowa currently having a state-owned, 3,000-mile fiber-optic network.  I had no idea that distance education was something that was created so many years ago!   

Something else that I found to be very interesting from my reading is that distance education is not considered a sustaining technology but rather a disruptive one. After learning what a "disruptive technology" is, I understand why distance learning falls under that category, it just seems like such a negative term.  

Something that I LOVED to see was how dedicated South Dakota is to distance education. Teachers get month-long distance education training, I would love to see that more throughout our country! 

My first experience with distance learning:

I believe that my first "real" experience with distance education was when I began attending Wayne State in 2008. Although I had gone to Macomb Community College for four years before that, there weren't many choices for classes that were off campus. I remember being very nervous about the first class that I took that was completely online. People were telling me how much harder it was and that you're pretty much on your own. After I took my first class, I was hooked! If a class that I needed was offered online, I took it. Not having to leave the comfort of my own home and being, for the most part, self paced, was awesome! Because of my distance education experiences, I truly realized how self directed and self motivated I was.  I loved distance education so much that I obtained my entire Master's degree via the internet and am currently hoping to find a completely online Doctoral Program (not much luck so far). In addition, I am also seeking my Online Teaching Certificate. I truly believe that distance education is the future and I want to stay ahead of the curve!