Sunday, May 2, 2010

Group Project

For our final group project, Shelly, Maureen, Karyn, Thomas and I brainstormed a new approach to learning management systems. We believe that what we have now is not student-centered or flexible. We need a system that allows us to tap the abilities of Web 2.0 directly in the online classroom.

Our brainstorm led us to N.O.B.L.E. - New Open Book Learning Environment.

Imagine a place where secure data meets an open exchange.
Integrated systems in a modular, customizable format.
Rooted in tight integration that bends at the needs of its users
Strong, stable, learning-centered, adaptable, flexible.
Leveraging the tools of Web 2.0 with an open architecture.
It's learning without boundaries structured in a cloud-type ecosystem.

Our logo uses imagery from a tree. We believe that symbol truly represents the next new system. It's something that it rooted in the ground (admin, data, reports) but flexible enough to bend with the changing needs of its users.

We met several times via Skype to brainstorm our project. After the first meeting, we divided and conquered as each person tackled their own aspect to the project. Karyn was our resident prezi pr dedicating hours to its creation, Shelly brought her editing eye to all aspects, Thomas did the final editing to bring the presentation together. I was a brainstormer always adding to the google document and wrote the audio script. I also added heavily to both the blog and Facebook page to allow us to market our idea and continue the important conversation about its need in our industry.

Individual Project

For my final individual project in this class, I created a SoftChalk lesson for my COM 110 students (Introduction to Communication) about Technology and Communication. One of my goals in this project was to find a way to demonstrate to my students how the recent shift in technology using Web 2.0 tools, mobile tools, etc has changed the way we communicate. Many of my students do not remember an Internet where you could not contribute to it.

Here is a link to my presentation.

I created the graphic - not a graphic artist so bear with me. The wordle addition was fun.