Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Blog 4, Week 8
I am posting this blog tonite but will probably update later this week after I finish reading the assigned chapters in Bonk. So I hope my blog tonite doesn't sound too shallow. I was able to read Chapter one in the correct Bonk book and started on chapter two but I have a way to go before I complete the readings through chapter 8. For anyone reading this blog, realize I will update later this week. Tonite though, I did want to blog about our experience as a group with the chat format. I found the chat to be better after we switched to the other site. The first site we were on was difficult to follow. The pointer kept returning to the top of the list even after I tried to switch my formatting. I kept having to hit the clicker on the sidebar to move it back so I could see what was being communicated. Then, after we switched it seemed to go much better but I still had a difficult time trying to keep up with the discussion and it seemed like as soon as I would answer a question and then respond to a question I would somehow have missed something. I felt like I tried to keep up but that I wasn't sure what subject we were on. It was frustrating to me. I thought we were addressing one issue and then was questioned why I answered the way I did and then someone said well "yes" that was what we were talking about but now we've moved on to this other topic. It did not seem to me that there was a clear communication of this. It did seem though that towards the end we were on the same track and understanding that we had switched to talking about the learning perspectives and viewpoints that went along with the earlier discussion about the pipes, pages and collaboration in online learning. I was very appreciative too of the different sites that some posted that help us discern the validity of online postings. And, I appreicated the discussion of the activity theory and where it went and how it related it to the previous discussion. I felt like the discussion towards the end contributed to my online learning. I'm grateful to the other class members input. Thanks for sharing everyone. :)janine
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I too had better luck with Connect Pro, though I liked the font better on the D2L chat. I've not had much experience chatting with more than one person at a time.
ReplyDeleteI find Bonk's book interesting as a handbook to find out about free resources on the web. I find it kind of ironic that his book about the world being open is in print form and not exactly free...
Thanks Sheryl for the posting - I think that's a great catch that you caught that - I didn't think about the fact that we had to buy his book!
ReplyDeleteJanine,
ReplyDeleteThe group I was in also had problems in the D2L chat room but we managed to muddle through without too much difficulty. With all the problems our group had a good discussion about the pipes, pages and participatory learning culture mentioned in Bonk's book. It's amazing how technology has changed over the last several years. We can get on-line and get into a virtual learning community and chat with someone half-way around the world. How awesome is that!! I liked Sheryl's comment about the irony of having to pay for Bonk's book. How funny.
I suppose I'd want to be paid for my collected contributions if I could get someone willing to pay for them... I wonder if he chose to use traditional printed format to reach those of us not yet fully embracing the online life?
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