Far and away

It has been a while since I have blogged, but for good reason. I have been part of a series of training to help improve my design process. I have found in away that even the new and improved processes are not really 'new and improved'. In fact, they are just a redesign of something someone has already send for the fourth time. However, one thing we all know about learning is reputition is important no matter what type of expert you are in your field. Over the next couple of days I will be blogging about some important technology design features such as gamming, virtual reality and 'how do I start a twitter?'.Comments are always welcome.

For Christmas I asked Santa for a Kindle. It allows me to download books and read them from anywhere. It will hold up to 1,500 books, so here is where we play as instructional designers. It reads the PDF's format. If colleges switch to EBooks in their classes, the students would have the option to download the PDF to their computer and then upload the EBook to the Kindle. They would no longer need the physical book or if the student really wanted too, could still have the option. Student's could take all their books everywhere. (When taking a class, having all my books to lug around was never fun). I think this is a real possiblitily for the future and I am going to test it with my new class and my new kindle I get for Christmas. I do not think we are far from the capability on a much wider scale in high school and universities. There are three of these types of products on the market right now. Some colleges have already started using them and allowing students to download the books needed from the internet or school book store. Wouldn't that be amazing? Think about it, you would pick your class, get on to your kindle, download the book, and you are set for your next term. I love technology!

Second Life and Online Learning

If you are under the current belief that Second Life is a Christian revival, you are very mistaken. Second life has been around for years and is used in so many different real life sistuation, dispite being a 3D virtual reality. Business's are using the software for meeting that spands over the boundry of distance. Second Life has entered the academic word on many fronts. Some schools have a virtual campus, others have academic classes in the virtual 3D classroom. Some are doing video production with 3D simulation and some are creating a 3D simulation of actual sistuation to allow students to complete an activity that would be otherwise highly dangerous without proper training. This may seem to be the next generation of technology in the classroom, but I caution any developer before taking on this task. Although you can create and build your own island, it takes time, man power and skill. You can just buy everything from developers who sale their products pre-made, but it is costly. I you would like or think you would like to simply create a simulation in the 3D environment, you have to use multiply software video tools. Another caution, just like the real word, there are some wacko's out there who would like to complicate you endevor with virtual money, sex, and yes even 3D drugs. The goal is obtainable with a lot of time, money, and effort. But remember, your students will have to learn how to walk all over again and maybe even fly.

Wasting $250,000 in grant money

One of the things I hate the most is the waste of money on educational tools that are expected to work for all but work for very few. Thomas Edison State College received $250,000 in grant money for a program that would allow virtual classes via a flash drive. Students would receive the flash drive with all their material, including the Course Management. They would only connect to the internet to drop off their assignments and check for email updates. When reading this article, my first thought was, my dad did this in the 90's and my grandfather in the 50's. How is it that they accomplished the same goal as this program? Well, in the 1950's after my grandfather had to drop out of Carnegie Mellon University to support my Great Grandmother after my Great Grandfather's sudden death, he continued his education through distance education courses. He continued to work on his education for many years never successfully completing his degree. My father is what I would consider a life long learner. As I was growing up and as long as I can remember he attended school through distance education. The school would send his books via mail, he would complete the work and send back his completed work and exams. Interesting enough, I see the same situation with this flash drive. Does it take a new step in another direction? Yes, I believe if they wanted to send the class to an area that does not have the ability to afford the luxury of the internet it may cater to that group of people. Do I see this as the new up and coming way of learning? No, this may provide a small closure, but long term, I do not see this as a successful project.
Dr. Cunningham
http://www.tesc.edu/news/6533.php

Critic of Design

One thing that I hate more than anything is an instructional design idea that is unfounded, then used. Often times I find that designers and managers pass idea's along to their employee's with the thought that this is the greatest design idea in the world. Let's run with it, let's design with it, and let's get grant money for it. I spend hours reading different reviews from different sites acknowledging these ideas and wonder, does anyone every say, "Hey, this is a waste of time and money". I hope this blog helps others evaluate and illuminate me with ideas that can be practical in instructional design. But I also hope to shed light on some of those misfortunate mistakes and provide possible resolutions.
Dr. Cunningham