I'd like to share some links to my online projects. These are places where I spend most of my time!

UW-Stout E-Learning and Online Teaching Certificate:
http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/elearningcertificate.html

21st Century Information Fluency Project
http://21cif.imsa.edu

ISTE: Seal of Alignment Review Team
http://tinyurl.com/yt3u43

I hope to get to know you all!

Den

Hi Dennis,
Thanks for joining. I think you will find some interesting resources to add to your fall eLearning course. Try www.voicethread.com if you haven't already.
Deb

Thanks Deb, I'll pass it along to my classes right now.

Den

Thanks Dennis - I am hoping this will be a great place to share ideas!

Dennis, thanks so much for sharing your webs below. I checked out YackPak because of you and I'm going to try it out right away! Hope I can share something with you sometime that is of value to you, too. One thing I'd like to share is the We Are Teachers network here on Ning. Are you a member there? I don't remember seeing your face there...
If you accept my friend request for Classroom 2.0, you can find a link to WAT on my page.

It looks like YackPack's WalkieTalkie could be used inside this kind of network, Dennis. Someone here in Classroom 2.0 has it on her page. I left her a message and asked her how she embedded it... maybe we can use in in a group here and see how we like it as a "group."

Hi Dennis.

Noticed some great resources on your blog. Good to see another educator from San Marcos, CA on the network!

Like YackPack ( http://yackpack.com ), VoiceThread ( http://voicethread.com/ ) is a free voice oriented site builds on the idea of voice tags added to pictures. This helps build a narrative. Posting is included for those without mics.

This system does seem a little slow, which could be a problem.

Great potential for clever e-learning applications. I can imaging icebreakers or group building activities based on this.

Both Yackpack and VoiceThread seem tailor made for language teachers.

This page catches the spirit of the space and gives you a good conceptual overview: http://voicethread.com/pachy.php


What do you think?

Den

Wow, Dennis! Thank you so much for taking the time to post to my page at C2.0 and tell me about VoiceThread. It looks like a great system - and I really like the IDEA of using it to facilitate a group building a narrative in a fun way. Have you tried to make a voicethread and include it in on a Ning-based page/blog? I'd like to add one to my blog at We Are Teachers, for instance, to experiment with it there. Any luck?

A cyber colleague from Guam wrote to me recently and ended the e-mail with a haunting thought that so well captured the unique voice I've come to recognize:

As your are aware, fish are the last to recognize water.

This is one I'll ponder while floating in the pool!

What's this zen like suggestion mean to you?

den

Dennis,

Thank-you so much for inviting me to be a part of this innovative communication structure. I was just sitting here pondering the possibilities available via this resource. It is a mind boggling thought.

I will be presenting at the all staff inservice this week. :-)

Do you prefer to be called Den, or Dennis?

Jenniffer

Jamison, delighted you're here. We'll all have a chance to explore a social network while we work together in the program to understand how to teach online.

This space can be a relaxed place to just shoot the breeze too. I suspect a lot of folks from our class and others will be drifting in over the next few weeks.

Den

Thank you Dennis...will drop by the class link...appreciate all of your help and look forward to talking with you and the other members...ss

Hi Dennis.. I currently use Moodle for delivering online learning to students from year 4 to year 10, roughly 10 year olds to 15 year olds. Moodle is an excellent system but much of the hard back end slog has been done by my colleague Colin Jones, also a Classroom 2.0 member. My main role is to quality check content and migrate existing intranet based learning content to or Moodle system.

How long have you been using Moodle for? I started using Moodle this year and have found it to be great especially because I can create my courses from home and track students progress and access.

I have seen blackboard which seems to be used by quite a few Universities in Australia. I do not know why Blackboard is purchased, often at considerable cost, by some learning institutions as as far as I can tell it does the same thing as Moodle. It must be that Blackboard looks a little sexier but hey Moodle is open source and so far we have have very few problems. Often we have up to 90 students logged on doing online quizes and viewing captivate flash movies and while the server does slow down, only 4 Gig of ram and a standard processor, things run reasonably smoothly.

What I would LOVE to see is Moodle integrated with an open source virtual world solution that we could host on site. I have heard of Sloodle but having students accessing an external VR world would kill our band width and not allow enough control and monitoring of students interactions - my school is rather stick about these issues. I guess a Croquet|Moodle system would be a killer LMS online teaching environment.. .hmm that would be very very nice.

Cheers

Nathan,

I've been using Moodle for about three years. I jumped in big time when I found a hosting company. (I didn't have the time or expertise to set up my own server.) I started with a Moodle Host 'Thinking Distance" which later became Moodlerooms. Terrific folks and very dependable service.

I use Moodle to teach a class called PowerSearching in a Web 2.0 World (http://21cif.mrooms.net/)

I also use it in my e-learning for educators classes (http://wiredinstructor.us)

I've looked at Sloodle and have a second life account. I agree that the bandwidth and hardware demands are more than most schools can manage. The way things grow, give it a few years for bandwidth growth and virtual environment improvements connect.

In the meantime what about integrating Moodle with Ning to create a social network supported learning environment? I also just found Rafi.ki a UK based non-profit that promotes international collaborations for high schools (they have a primary group forming too.)

Learning Environments and software: reminds me of the old song phrase: if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.

Den

Dennis,

Your welcome! I'm teaching an online class "Introduction to the Internet" and using Moodle. I want to offer a few more classes and would love to network with the e-learning group. My Create Presentations class was not an online class.

Well if you ever miss this snow, we have our share and you now have a friend in Far Northern California. Mount Shasta right now is really bare. Last winter was light on the snow and it has been melting rather well.

I'm very interested in the E-Learning for Educators offering at UW. I see you are teaching the EDUC 760 class. I'm kind of a funny guy when it comes to education. I just finished my MBA and spent 20 months of hard studying. It feels good to have it behind me. Now I want start another program. I always find a great since of networking and keeping an ear to the rail in the education arena. I'm currently an Adjunct Faculty at our local community college and would like to move into a full time faculty position. I think online education will never totally replace the face to face, - I see a process where the two work hand-in-hand to create an atmosphere of learning. I guess I need to ask that one true marketing survey question: Would you recommend this program to a friend? ;)

I look forward to being a part of the E-Learning and Online Teaching Forum.

David

David, the short answer is I'd recommend every class in the program to my best friend. (If they had a passion for teaching and learning and wanted to evolve their practice to the Internet. 8)

In fact when I got the green light on this idea from the university I went out and recruited the best online teachers I've ever worked with (all good friends) to become the core design team. We all worked together to write the classes while Joan Vandervelde and I worked through the academic requirements with the university senate. The University of Wisconsin fully supports online learning and we're getting great support from the education department.

The result is a hand crafted program. Each instructor owns the copyright on their course which promotes both pride and a personal drive to continually revise for relevance and excellence. We all know that word of mouth is be best way to grow our program in an increasingly competitive field. This translates to small classes, a very solid sense of community, and a great deal of personal feedback from teachers who love what they are doing.

Bottom line, everyone in our program is a professional that understands how to teach and learn online.

We use D2L as the primary CMS. I do shift folks to Moodle for about half the class so I can give them instructor rights to create forums and assessments. I love Moodle.

You can find all the details on the UW-Stout E-Learning and Online Graduate Certificate homepage: http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/elearningcertificate.html

Feel free to drop me an email at oconnord@uwstout.edu or call my cell 530-318-1145 (I still have my Northern Cal number.)

Would you do me a favor and post this as a discussion starter in the e-learning group:

"I think online education will never totally replace the face to face, - I see a process where the two work hand-in-hand to create an atmosphere of learning." This is a terrific topic and I'd love to get the group thinking about it.

David, It's good to have you as a CR2.0 friend!

Den

Thanks for the invite, Dennis. :-)

I'm glad you hear your voice James. I appreciate your active posting in the discussion treads. It takes some time, heat and patience to kindle conversation in a network. I like the way you jump right in! ~ Den

Thanks for the friendship offer. This space is rather fun - it's also rather sizzle-filled. (More sizzle than sausage on occasions!) That may just be the was of edspeak.
It's also neat to see the mature still with a voice (or should it be scary that some many of us are in the post-50 demographic!)

Ian, do you know the New Yorker cartoon: http://www.unc.edu/depts/jomc/academics/dri/idog.html On the Internet no one knows you're a dog?

In some ways the e-learning world is a way for those of us born mid 20th century to stay active while we leverage some of the hard won wisdom earned by years in the trenches.

I deeply enjoy being involved in such a disruptive technology. I'm also increasingly convinced that this way of learning is the key to real technology integration. Ever the optimist, I hope that learning outside of school will break down the dull lockstep education that strangles the joy and makes learning an endangered species.

So many young bright teachers are drawn to Web 2.0 and all it implies. They then must face the restrictions of risk adverse school systems that keep repeating the errors of the past. For some, it will be too much and they will leave the classroom. Some will find there's more freedom in places like this and be able to keep the flame lit while they work from the inside to help kids learn how to learn.

Ok, I'll put away my soapbox for now!

Den

Dennis,
I'm in the group. I should have expected that you were already somewhere within Class 2.0. I've also signed up for School 2.0 but there doesn't seem to be as much activity there.

Ann

I am trying to make contact with more of the DigiSkills group. Reading your blogs and other info.

There is always something more to learn in the real and virtual world. I still remember being afraid of putting in the floppy drive in our library's Apple II, because it seemed so delicate I thought I might break it. LOL! I have come a long way since then because my motto now is, "UNDO is my friend;D"! Joined E-Learning and Online Teaching. Thanks, I didn't know about this group.

You're welcome. Ditto.

I'm intrigued by all you're accomplishing/doing online...keeping an eye on you and learning throughout the process. =) Thanks back atcha!

Hello Dennis: Great to see you here! I just came across the Classroom 2.0 website last night and joined. I was in one of your classes at CSUEB some years ago and after finishing the MS began working in an OTL capacity full time. Your class, plus that of Datta and the others at Cal State really inspired me to pursue the interest I had in OTL. Thanks, and I look forward to learning in this community too.
Patrick

Thanks for the reply and offer to join the eLearning and teaching group, which I have just done.
Best regards and say hello to Datta for me.

Patrick

Thanks for the kind welcome Dennis! Wow, glad to know you are a world traveler as well & that it still impacts 32 years later. It makes it much easier for a family into long term global wandering to have today's technology, that's for sure.

We have 3 laptops & are already using online learning, but looking to learn more about it and doing more. I think my child has the best of both worlds, seeing the world in person and connecting with the world online, plus finding ways they can nurture each other.

So many wonderful adventures!

Thanks for the nice comment, Dennis. I'm glad my post resonated with you. You are right about copyright -- teachers routinely find this a dull and unimportant topic. The kids, though, were completely engaged by it. It is deeply relevant to them. My husband and I were discussing the fact that as kids, we had no awareness of copyright. Kids today, though, are creating tons of stuff (not to mention remixing, borrowing, and stealing). They were excited to know that *they* too own copyrights and have the power to share.

Dennis-
Are you using classroom 2.0 with UW-Stout? I'm at UW- La Crosse & Montana State and using Ning (www.teachingscience20.com) with them.

Hi Eric!

Yes we use a variety of web 2.0 Technologies in my program at UW-Stout. I manage the E-Learning and Online Teaching Grad Certificate http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/elearningcertificate.html

Right now we're working with del.icio.us to create a bookmark list of web 2.0 sites. Just search del.icio.us for the tag: stoutsummer08 to see what we're up to.

I set up the e-learning and online teaching group here on classroom 2.0 to provide a little social networking for the groups going through the certificate program.

Are you working with graduate or undergrads at La Crosse?

Dennis

Hi Dennis
I tried to get onto Classroom 2.0 from Dubai, but the censorship control on the Internet blocks any sites that use Twitter and Ning. I'm in Thunder Bay right now working on the second E-Learning course. I thought I would sign up here and maybe I can slip through the control when I get back in Dubai. It looks like your page is hopping. I will be checking it regularly. Talk to you again. Larry

Larry, It's great to hear your voice. I wasn't aware that the UAE filtered things so heavily. I knew that was the practice in the magic kingdom, but am surprised that the more advanced uae is still clamped down.

Great to see you here on classroom 2.0. Consider joining http://www.classroom20.com/group/elearning our group here on classroom 2.0!

Den

I'm off to UAE shortly and was disappointed to read Larry's comment about the filtering in UAEas I was hoping to use Classroom 2.0 over there! I'm going to be in Al Ain which is an hour and a half from Dubai. I was hoping to keep in touch with Larry there. :(

Hmmmmm? proxy servers? I wonder if that would be being too naughty...

hi dennis, i am a television and film director from Ghana but i have serious interested in pursuing a degree programme in online learning/adult eduaction so that i can impart the knowledge in my country.can you be of help?

I think and hope I have. I am finding it very good..thus the move to link with you too.

I am finding this site great...so many things to learn and use...and anything that improves the speaking of my students gets me immediately interested.

Thanks
Maggi

Hi Dennis,

Have you ever checked out WiZiq's virtual classroom for online learning purposes ? If you have what was your experience?

Hi Dennis,

Wiziq has a popular Moodle Plug in. that you can check out. Also Wiziq's content is pretty awesome. You can upload ppts, MS word, PDF, MS Excel docs then have them seen in the Virtual Classroom or outside the virtual classroom.

Hi Dennis,

My name is Alyshia Olsen; I am a 20 year old college student from Olin College of Engineering. I am a part of a group of 6 Olin College students (we're in Needham, MA, and engineering students) who has taken a year off to work on an education related project. Since you are in the 'e-learning and online teaching' group, I thought you might be interested! Our project is called AlightLearning, and this is our "short" project description:

Under the assumption that within ten years, the landscape of modern education will have fully integrated what we now define as new classroom media: video, online collaboration, open source curriculum and other web tools, we hope to pioneer a web software tool that acts as a platform for this new media, bringing the power of the web and its tools to students, teachers and parents in a secure, comfortable and innovative environment. Our goal is to have our free software at a pilot middle school by April 15th, 2009, continuing to develop and coordinate with our users to create a product that other schools want to pilot and use at their schools, while allowing individual teachers to implement this tool in their own classroom.

Our project, titled Alight Learning, is currently trying to win a competition for startup funding on ideablob.com. You can find us at http://ideablob.com/3975 . We would love your support in the form of a vote within the next couple days, but more importantly we'd love your feedback and comments. Our description on Ideablob is short, and even the one above hardly gets at many of the issues we would like to take a stab at solving, but at least it's a start.

Feel free to email me back, check out alightlearning.com, anything you like!

Thanks,

Alyshia Olsen
anotherdayaway42@gmail.com

Hi Dennis,
This sounds like fun! I love your hat ;)
Kathy

Hi Dennis. I was wondering if your students would be interested in participating in a nationwide SAT Vocab Video Contest @ MIT university. If not, perhaps you have some other educator contacts you could direct me to. You can view contest details at BrainyFlix.com Please let me know. Thanks!