Module+1+-+Introduction

[]  **Introduction: Digital Toolbox for Teachers** Lead Instructor: Craig Magtutu (magtutu@yahoo.com)

//During this online course you will be building and exploring your own Personal Learning Environment (PLE). // Dr. Daniel R. Tobin explains Personal Learning Environment in this way: //While many employers promise that every employee will receive one or two weeks of training per year, learning should take place every day on the job. Learning doesn't take place just in training programs, but should be part of every employee's everyday activities. You learn every time you read a book or article, every time you observe how someone else is doing work similar to your own, every time you ask a question. An important part of learning is to build your own personal learning environment-- a group of people who can guide your learning, point you to learning opportunities, answer your questions, and give you the benefit of their own knowledge and experience.// (Daniel R. Tobin, Ph.D.)

The course will enrich your personal learning environment by exploring and integrating the use of online tools. As you fill your digital toolbox, you will learn new skills to use in the classroom that will address the learning styles of our digital learners.

Here are a few definitions of widely used terms that may be used during the duration of this course (so we are all on the same page):


 * [|Web 2.0] is a term describing the trend in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to enhance creativity, information sharing, and, most notably, collaboration among users ( the read/write web ). These concepts have led to the development and evolution of web-based communities and hosted services, such as social-networking sites, wikis, blogs...
 * Read / Write Web - A term used for the interactivity and ability of web consumers to read, write, edit, and publish to the web.
 * ILT - Information LIteracy and Technology
 * Posting - The process of creating or editing and saving information on a wiki or blog site
 * Upload / Download - Copying files from your computer to a server or website (upload) or from the website or server to your computer (download)

__EXAMPLES:__
Below is a collection of 3 different videos created by Common Craft. Together they demonstrate the concepts of what has been defined as the social web. This is the essence of web 2.0, the ability to read and write on the web. The three videos are: You will need the YouTube override to view the videos in DPS
 * **Social Media**
 * **Social Networking**
 * **Networked Student** (are we ready, social enough, to help these students?)

Build your own custom video playlist at embedr.co media type="youtube" key="6a_KF7TYKVc" width="425" height="350"


 * Are you an "Old School" Networked teacher? || Or a Networked Teacher of the Digital age? ||
 * [[image:dps-learning2ohfall09-10:Typical_Teacher.jpg width="350" height="230"]] || [[image:dps-learning2ohfall09-10:networked_tchr.jpg width="350" height="350"]] ||

__**INTRODUCTORY CLASS MEETING:**__ Set up accounts for
 * WikiSpaces
 * EduBlogs
 * Google

**__ASSIGNMENT:__**
====**1)** **Use of the Discussion Tab **above. Post a new question/topic and comment to someone else's post. We encourage you to use this Discussion tab on each topic page as a place to ask for help if you get stuck or have a question. __Fellow classmates__ OR __The instructors can respond to help__. We are part of the same personal learning environment (PLE). **Reminder:** each wiki __page__ will have its own discussion tab. Post your question to the wiki page with the correct topic.====

====**2)** Visit our course blog and respond (comment) to the Topic 1 blog post "What does it mean to be literate in the Digital age?"==== ====**3)** An avatar is a computer user's representation of himself/herself //(wikipedia).// Create or find an avatar that you would like to use, and use it for both your Wiki and Blog account.==== ====**4)** Complete your information on the Classmates page ( listed immediately below the link for this page ) This should get you familiar with how to add information to a Wiki page. You will be asked to work in groups for later topics, so please make sure you place your information in the correct group ( Elementary PK-5 or Secondary 6-12). Reminder: When you finish a module (topic), email the instructor to let them know you are ready for them to check your work. ====

[[image:dps-learning2ohfall09-10:reminder1.jpg width="59" height="59"]]
 
 * __REMINDERS:__**
 * 1) Respond to the Course Blog Post (Collaboration & Reflection)
 * 2) Record / save your user name and password in a location you will remember.
 * 3) Email the Lead Instructor once you have completed a module/topic, so we can review your work.
 * 4) Use the Discussion Tab above if you get stuck or have questions that an instructor or fellow student in this class can help you answer - we are all part of your Personal Learning Community (PLC).
 * __OTHER INFORMATION AND ITEMS TO NOTE:__**
 * TO KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PROGRESS Visit the Google **__Progress Spreadsheet__** . This will help you keep track of what you have completed in this course. This does NOT show grades, it just indicates completed Topics. Once I have reviewed your work I will color in the assignment space below your name. ( ex.. When you are finished with the class the entire column below your name will be filled in.)


 * **RUBRICS**: Don't forget to look at the rubrics for expectations on assignments - **__ASSIGNMENT Module Milestones__** You can also get to the Rubrics in the Navigation bar on the left... listed under Class Information.