Almost Final Project

This has not been my finest hour. However, you can see my work at http://www.slideshare.net/LCMartin. I am continuing to find a way to complete my video.

Module 5 Post

Module 5 Blog Posting: Where Am I on the Static-dynamic Continuum?
Personally, I think I am still very static with some dynamic spikes. While I use wikis and blogs for class, they are not a part of my daily life neither do I seek to use them in my profession life. My experience with video-conferencing is limited to observation not participation. I will use Skype to communicate with friends and family because of its economic benefits and instant messaging is used as a matter of course because friends and colleagues are often online simultaneously. In my research for my project, I have become more aware of virtual sites and forums, but I would like to become more aware of Webs 2.0 and3.0 as I have heard some wonderful things about them. Using dynamic resources for collaboration, communication and content is a goal I have yet to achieve but hopefully am moving toward becoming more comfortable with using in my daily life and not just for these wonderful distance learning classes.
On my mind map I have listed some static examples for communication, collaboration and content many of which I have used more consistently than those listed on the dynamic side. These seem to be the more classic items that are used more by those who are more comfortable with working alone in isolation and at their own pace perhaps at odd hours. For my personal technical development, I would like to move more toward the dynamic elements to broaden my horizons and develop a more adventurous spirit. It’s a big world out there and I want to experience it.
While Distance Education must use media to educate its students, that media must be secondary to content and good instruction. (Fahey, 2008) Meeting the needs of students is good teaching whether it is online or in the face to face environment. Students who take online classes are bound to be anywhere on the static-dynamic continuum. A good measure of success is when they are further along at the end of the instruction than they were at the beginning. At this point we can say that there is evidence of learning.
I can imagine that on the dynamic side will be CyberJohn07’s review of Augmented Reality: The Next Big Thing? Here he describes another use of the cell phone featuring some virtual reality applications. Along with 3-D graphics one will be able to scan buildings and get information about their interiors. CNN even has a video that explains the technology in more detail. I guess the future is here.

Fahy, P. J. (2008). Characteristics on interactive online learning media. In T. Anderson (Ed.), The theory and practice of online learning (pp. 167-199). Edmonton, AB: AU Press
CyberJohn07. (2009). Augmented Reality: The Next Big Thing? Retrieved November 7,2009 from http://teacherlingo.com/blogs/default.aspx?GroupID=30.