While I may never have my own blog, wiki, or podcast, I have a better understanding of how each is used. For now, these are limited only to the classroom for me. I pretty much keep to myself and family so these really have no use to me at the moment.
On the other hand, they have helped with most of my online learning classes by allowing communication with the instructor and other classmates. Through the use of blogging in this class and my digifun class, I feel my learning has broadened.
Also, with the help of 2.0 tools, we have access to video lectures and more in-depth help with the introduction of dimdim meetings. The video lectures are really helpful for me because I like being able to take the class online, but I retain information better if it is spoken. Through the use of dimdim, the instructor can guide me step-by-step and show me in great detail how to accomplish a task.
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I’m sure tools like dimdim have made teaching difficult concepts online much easier. Digital Software Fundamentals seems like a hard class to take online, yet live Web conferencing would enable the instructor to show examples while answering the students’ questions and adapting the lesson to fit their needs. I’m sure it makes things a lot easier for both the instructor and the students.
I’ve never been in an online class where I used Web conferencing or any type of real-time communication. In some ways, I’m sure it makes online learning seem much more similar to a face-to-face lecture. Did you find that you learned just as well through these conferences as you do in a normal classroom presentation?
I can relate to your web experiences. I currently use minimal web technologies. I am familiar with them, however, I am most concerned with gettin gmy studies done and then being with my family.
Although I do not have my own personal experiences with RSS feeds and podcasts, I understand them and see their usefullness. WHne I feel like I have the time to be able to be on the computer more often then I know what is out there.
It is important for us, however, to know and use these appilications in order to be a successfull web designer. I think that this class has used great examples of advancing communications over the web. So far Evoloving Web has been the most delightful and informative, keeping the knowledge in an interesting form. Have any of your classes been similar in this sense or used any other form of 2.0 technology to teach?
I tend to look at things the same way you do, online communication is secondary to personal relationships. These tools are useful, but I'm not going to let them consume all of my free time. I've had my head in a computer screen for the past 2 years, and my personal life suffered for it.
Now that things have calmed down as far as school, it gives me the opportunity to actually get out and do things again. It's good to get out and clear your head once in a while.
I think RSS is a good tool for those who do not want to spend a lot of time on the computer. This saves you a lot of time, but keeps you up to date with what is going on the web.
Some people can handle being on the computer a lot, and some people can not. I feel that my online relationships are personal (atleast with some people). More than ever, communication online is making things much more personal. I would not want to have a girlfriend over the internet. That is a whole different story. But friendly relationships on the web can be a good thing.
Even if someone is on the computer all day and night I do not see a problem with it personally. As long as everyone is happy and healthy then it should be okay. Real life relationships and online relationships have their good points and bad points. Both are good though. It is just another way of communicating. I like having more choices.
@Susan and Cassie... The only class I have taken so far that was face2face was fundamentals of drawing. Other than E-Life and Digital Software Fundamentals, the only other classes that had any kind of interaction was my Algebra classes. They didn't do conferencing, but they did have some helpful presentations attached. I wish more classes were available online, because I can better manage my time.
@John... I can relate to personal life suffering from too much internet. I lost my job a few years ago when my wife and I started dating. I withdrew from everyone (including my kids)and suffered from some severe depression. I would spend every available minute talking to people I met in games, but ignored the ones I really cared about. This caused my relationship to end and my children to pretty much write me off. My girlfriend put up with it for 6 months till she had had enough. Three months after that, I finally pulled my head out of ass, got another job, and got my life back on track. We have now been married for 3 1/2 years and my kids visit on a regular basis.
@Matt... I'm definately going to look into RSS feeds. I still spend a few hours on the computer, but I have learned my limits. I also agree that online relationships can be healthy. I try to talk with the people I have grown close too atleast once a week via Skype or in whatever game they are playing.
I really wish that more classes were available online. Judging by the structure of this class I can see it being possible. If a student is dedicated and can manage their time well it would not be difficult to accomplish an entire degree online.
There are options available with Franklin University and COTC wher credits at COTC transfer towards a bachelor's degree.
I agree I wish more courses were available online. I know that COTC is offering all their business courses all online. They were advertising getting a degree in business completely online.
My brother is getting his bachelor's degree through Franklin University. He has taken classes online for almost two years and has only been to the main campus a few times to take tests.
To compensate for having no face-to-face interaction, his classes often use IM or some type of voice conferencing. He has lots of group projects where they are required to prepare presentations and then present them during the class conferences.
Once, one of his classmates was in a different country and time zone. They had to schedule meetings carefully so that he wouldn't have to get up in the middle of the night to participate! It's amazing how the web brings people together from all over the world.
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