The course, Telecommunication in Education, allows me to further explore how instructional technology facilitates the teaching and the learning. It is really a pleasant learning experience, through which I could broaden my theoretical background and improve the technological literacy regarding telecommunications in modern curriculum and instruction.
The course contains reading materials and hands-on practice. I really like reading those learning materials Dr. Wang listed on the Blackboard. They are meaningful and quite updated because some concepts really refreshed me such as Digital Equity and Online Virtual High School, which I have never heard of before and even imagined. However, after reading those materials and posts composed by my peers, I gradually obtained a basic image about those concepts and realized the necessity for them in education. For example, digital equity addresses whether all the learners could enjoy the equal rights to enjoy the advanced learning environment and technologies. If not, it will cause the disparity among students in terms of their wealth or status and then decrease the average learning outcomes. Hands-on practice allows me to explore and get familiar with many fantastic communication tools that could be used in education, including Live Classroom, Wimba Classroom, Skype, Second life, Scribblar, and etc. I have to admire those tools because of the collaborative and convenient learning environment they could build, which provides a reliable alternative for traditional classroom curriculum.
As of the course, my enthusiasm in learning new knowledge and acquiring new skills ensure me to enjoy in the learning experience. In my opinion, instructional technology, including communications technology, is always approaching and keeps updated. Therefore, it is essential to be open to various new theories and new tools. I am quick in learning new tools, figuring out their new features, and creating projects. Additionally, I could always incorporate various technologies learnt before into my current projects, making the project more interesting and appealing. For example, I inserted a QR code in my website for Skype and provided mobile access for visitors. However, this course also help me realized my weak points and how to improve them. Compared with theoretical research, I prefer to investigate how to use new tools and explore how to integrate them in education. The lack of related theory and teaching experiences detect me to incorporate them in a wider range of ways. For the IT theories, what I need do is to read more related books, magazines, and latest papers to know about professions’ researches. But for the teaching experience, I could only interact with those who have to increase currently. If I could one day get the opportunity, I will seize and gain more.
Another reason why I love this course is the interaction with my group members and the instructor. This is one of best collaborative learning experiences and all my group members, Andrea, Chase, and Christine, are fantastic partners. All of us could catch up with the schedule and provide as much contribution as possible. I learn a lot through the interaction with them. In particular, we could often “meet” online and talk about the group projects using the tool we just learnt via this course, such as Wimba Classroom, Live Classroom, and Second Life. I was really impressed by the Group Demon for Project 2. We met on Second life and begin tour with its fantastic features. Then we continued to share other communication tools like Scribblar, Google Voice, and Skype. This experience will be one of the best moments I will never forget about my study during Master study. Furthermore, the interaction with the instructor, Dr. Wang, provides me many clarification and improvement in the learning process. The Announcement in the Blackboard could remind me of what I need do in the next week. In the meanwhile, Dr. Wang can always reply to students about how to solve the problems and also provide interactive feedback for our projects so that we could revise for improving. I really enjoyed in the course Dr. Wang taught as always.
For the Project 1, our group explored the integration of Blackboard communication tools in education, including Live Classroom, Wimba Classroom, Voice Mail, Voice Board, and Voice Podcaster. All of them are fantastic communication tools that support collaborative learning and could have a great potential for education. Among all of those communication tools, I prefer to Live Classroom and Wimba Classroom because those two tools allow users to talk and see each other by voice, video, and text in the same settings as the face-to-face meeting. Eye interaction and body gestures may also be essential components in the interactive communications among people so that they could evaluate whether what they said is understood. Even though those two tools both rely on a high quality access to the Internet, it cannot be denied of their potentials in education. Voice Podcaster, Voice Mail, and Voice Board are all also great tools for users to communicate by voice and text. However, users could not see each other via those three communication tools, which might decrease the efficiency of communication. For the Project 2, we are required to explore a communication tool and create a website to demonstrate its features and how it can be used in education. My tool is Skype which supports the function of video-conferencing, video talk, voice calling, instant image, screen sharing, document sharing, and etc. It is such a reliable tool for users in the group collaboration and distance education. However, Skype also requires a high quality Internet access and covers much bandwidth. Users should also be aware of the potential challenges of violation of privacy and safety and learn to protect themselves within the virtual environment. In addition, the tools for my group members contain Google Voice, Second Life, and Scribblar. Second Life is really an interesting application with much entertainment and interactivity. Each user will play in the game with the avatar they created and interact with peers by both voice and text. It is an excellent virtual environment for the collaborative learning and users could interactively communicate and share knowledge and documents. Additionally, I like the Scene in the Second Life, which is really funny and well–designed. Users could also purchase or create their own scene in the game. I consider Second Life has a promising future to be integrated in the education.
As a course pertaining to communications and interactions, the group work is important for the success in the learning. The interactive communication among peers is already a kind of practice for those fantastic tools. In the meanwhile, sharing and interactions could always ensure learners obtain more knowledge and skills, which I cannot believe more after this course. The collaborative learning environment will dramatically enhance the learning outcomes in addition to strengthen the relationship between peers. According to our group learning experience, I hope students could “meet” online timely with peers and the instructor with different communication tools because they are really fascinating!!!
I really enjoyed the learning experience for the project 2 and gained much new knowledge in different communication tools via the interaction with my group members. In particular, we organized a group demo for the communication tool we researched, including Second Life, Scribblar, Google Voice and Skype. Even though I have ever heard all of those services before, the demo still totally refreshed me with the peculiar charms of those communication tools. Like Second Life, it is so funny to walk, run, attend to a lecture, and hold a discussion near the seaside with an avatar, which could significantly engage students in the learning and enhance learning outcomes. Additionally, Google Voice and Scribblar are both promising tools in education.
The tool I researched is Skype, a common communication tool in our daily life that we may use everyday. However, with its features like video conferencing and collaborative learning environment, Skype could also have an excellent potential in education.
Skype could allow users to get connected all over the world as long as they both accept the invitation to be befriended. For example, English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) learners in China could get connected with US citizens to practice and improve oral English. In addition, Skype is also a reliable tool for distance education and group collaborative learning because of the supreme features of video conferencing, video talking, instant messaging, screen sharing, document sharing, and etc. Furthermore, Skype provides an alternative to classroom curriculum because it can allows the instructor and students interact with each other in the same settings as face-to-face meetings. For instance, if one day the student has to be absent from the course, he/she could ask the instructor to set up the Skype and attend to the course virtually. Finally, as its essence, Skype is also widely used as an interpersonal tool although it sometimes needs a low charge.
There are still some challenges for the Skype to be used in education, such as the comparatively higher requirement of technological environment and Internet access, privacy and safety, and sometimes causing charges. Balancing both the advantages and disadvantages, Skype is still quite promising in the education.
In addition to those communication tools, we also tried to create a website via Google Sites. Google site is really a convenient way for users to construct an online course and it allows users to select their favorite templates and revise according to their own preference. It is really a pleasant experience for me to share what I learnt with “anyone with the link” through Google Sites. It is also a pleasant experience to cooperate with my group members again!! Andrea, Christine, and Chase are all great group members!! I really enjoyed collaboratively learning with you all and I did learn new knowledge and broaden my horizon. Thanks!!
Finally, welcome to my website for Skype in Education in Google Sites. I really hope it could help you know more about how to integrate Skype in education and also hope to receive your suggestions for improving. Thanks in advance.
1. Your Web, Your Way
It is always fascinating for me to explore the new Web 2.0 tools, especially when exploring to integrate them in education. As an option for online learning, the integration of Web 2.0 tools brings much convenience, interactivity, and engagement to the learning.
Web 2.0 tools, such as blog and SNS, could support the interactive sharing and collaborative learning. For example, we could create a blog to reflect our learning experience and communicate with our peers. Peers could read the blog and provide interactive suggestions or questions so that an interactive learning environment is expected. Furthermore, Web 2.0 tools are normally easy and convenient to use. Among the first project our group finished, I investigated the use of voice podcaster and explored its future use in education. Voice podcaster belongs to Web 2.0 tools and users only need to click on some buttons to create podcasters or reply to the posts on the screen. Voice podcaster, also supporting vocal communication, allows users to communicate with each other more conveniently. Finally, the integration of Web 2.0 tools is always engaging enough to motivate users’ participation. For example, when the instructor want to teach some confusing or dull knowledge to students, they could consider adding web 2.0 tools in the presentation or , such as Prezi, Slideshare, or Wordle.
All in all, I believe Web 2.0 tools could bring about a reform to the online curriculum with their features of interactivity, convenience, and engagement. However, researchers and educators should explore with more practice to find out the best solution to the safety of online learning.
2. Design an online course
As a first-time online instructor, I would align the student’s characteristics, learning outcomes, learning materials, and evaluations through conforming to the “ADDIE” instructional systematic design models.
First, I will conduct a learner analysis before I plan the design of online courses. A questionnaire pertaining to their demographics, interests, expectation of the learning outcomes, knowledge and technological background will be delivered to those potential students. Via this questionnaire, I could have a basic idea of the current situation of the students, what they have obtained and what they really need to improve in order to achieve the instructional goals. A needs analysis will be taken to better clarify and define the instructional goals.
Then, the second process of the design for the online course is to recognize the performance objectives which should keep consistent with the instructional goal. In this process, I also need to select effective online learning materials and work out suitable strategies based on the feedbacks I received from potential students in last step.
The process of development requires the instructor to develop learning materials for the course. It will be expected to complete the design for the whole course website and revise some if needed. Formative evaluation should also be done during this process.
The implementation is the core of the online course. To help the learners achieve their instructional goal, the instructor should guarantee the content of the course could be understood and obtained by them. Multimedia projects or some other applications and interesting instructional activities will be performed in this process. Formative evaluation will be included.
It is essential for a complete instructional system to evaluate how those learners achieve their instructional goals and how the instruction and the design of the online course could be improved further. Summative and formative evaluations will both be integrated for the evaluation process. Questionnaire, one-on-one interview, and reflective papers are reliable tools to gather the feedbacks from those learners.
The content of the online courses would contain the following components:
- Main Page
The main page woks as a welcoming page that briefly introduce the course and present the welcome to the readers. This page is supposed to be attractive and engaging so that the learners could be motivated to continue to read through the whole online course. Announcement will be included in this page.
- Pre-course Questionnaire
Before the instruction, a pre-course questionnaire will be included in the design of the website. The pre-course questionnaire will be used to gather information on students’ demographics, technological and knowledge background, and their expectation of this course. Some open-ended questions would be provided in this questionnaire.
- Getting Started
In this module, course syllabus, tentative schedule, and course goals and objectives will be available to students. They could directly view via web pages or download in the format of PDF Version. Furthermore, an introduction page of the author will be included so that the learners could get familiar with their instructor.
- Learning Materials
This component is the core of the whole online course. The learning materials will include the content of each chapter and additional reading materials. Through reading this component, the learners are expected to obtain most of the contents in this course. Furthermore, in order to engage the students, various multimedia projects will be provided in this part, such as videos, images, audios, slide share presentations, podcasts, and hyperlinks to the addition related materials.
- Learning Resources
This part would describe the available supports and technological resources for this online course, such as instructions and tutorials on some essential software for this course.
- Learning Activities
This component consists of various learning activities, such as assignment, group presentation, threaded discussions, and so on. This part will also be design as an engaging module so that students could enjoy the learning and achieve their goals.
- Post-course Questionnaire
This module is the last module in the online course; however, it is really essential. Questionnaire will be used to gather information for summative evaluation in order to future improvement.
Web tools and applications are used in this online course contain:
- Google Services, including Google sites, Google Calendar, Google Document, Google Map, and Picasa.
- Videos: Youtube Videos will directly be inserted in the course.
- Web 2.0 Tools, such as QR code. QR code will be inserted so that it could facilitate the mobile learning.
- Tests and questionnaires will be created via Google Forms. Some of the tests will be created via the software of Hot Potatoes.
- Microsoft Office is essential for this online course.
1. Online interaction
Online interactions play a significant role in the success of distant learning and provide additional richness and relevance to the student experience through knowledge sharing and interactive communication. Sharing and interactivity are two core concepts in the area of online learning. All the learners are from various areas, have various experiences, and holding various expectations within one online course. Via interactive sharing, learners could not only gain knowledge from the instructor and the course material but also learn from peers. However, as a kind of virtual communication, the online interactions still face some challenges that may result in the failure.
The online interactions are a kind of virtual communication so that participants cannot know clearly about each other. This might bring some incompatible problems for group collaboration. In particular, the success of online interaction lies in learners’ active and initial participation, whose absence might cause the failure. TO avoid this kind of problems, the learners are supposed to improve their sense of interactive sharing and ability of collaboration. Each learner should have the initiative to partake in the interactions. In the meanwhile, instructors should set incentives or awards to encourage learners’ participation.
Another problem for the online interaction is the potential of violating privacy. Online interaction is normally conducted in a virtual environment and usually among more than two people. The whole process of interaction is often publicly open to all the members. Therefore, the violation of privacy tends to be a threat to the online interaction. TO solve this problem, online netiquette is supposed to issue before the online interaction. In the meanwhile, each participant should improve their own sense of protecting privacy.
2. Banning Cell Phones in School
In my opinion, cell phones are expected to be widely integrated and used in education to facilitate the teaching and learning rather than be banned or limited in the use.
As one of the primary communication tools in digital life, almost all the modern digital citizens have one cell phone, all of which allow the voice calls and text messages. As long as the cell phone is in power and could receive the signal, people could contact with each other 24/7. The integration of cell phones in learning will bring the communication more convenience.
Some smart phones can also support digital camera, video talk, and 3G Internet service. To some extent, cell phones could be considered as a tiny computer on the hand. Based on its mobility, cell phone can be used as a carrier for mobile learning. There are now some web 2.0 apps, such as QR code, could combine mobile phones and online learning.
Cell phones can also be integrated in the traditional classroom curriculum, such as language learning. I have ever read an article about integrating the cell phones in the EFL learning. Students are required to form groups and use cell phones to take pictures of the English name of main streets in one city and then present their project in public. Through this process, students could learn English in a more collaborative and interesting way. For those users who could get access to the Internet, they could also browse the web to find solutions when they encounter with the questions during self-learning.
Even though cell phones are beneficial to teaching and learning, simple etiquette is essential to help construct a good manner for those users. For example, calling on class and using during exam are absolutely forbidden. In addition, how to deal with digital equity in the integration of cell phones is still vital for instructors to solve.
3. Net Censoring
As we all know, the Internet provides limitless information and encourages interactive sharing for learners when it is integrated in education. However, some argue that schools should limit or ban Internet usage because there are some improper or harmful information on the Internet, which could distract students from learning and defer their improvement. As far as I am concerned, we should balance the advantage and disadvantage the Internet brings to us and then consider whether school should limit or ban it. Schools could start workshops to provide students basic skills and senses to protect themselves from the danger on the Internet. Furthermore, updating the anti-virus system and filtering programs is essential to maintain the safety of the network. As long as schools could provide the comprehensive measures of safety protection, students and instructors could enjoy the limitless convenience and abundant information resources. Obviously, the benefits overcome the damages so that schools should not ban the Internet usage.
It is a pleasant experience to complete the first project collaboratively with my group members. Upon completion of the project, I get to know better about those communication tools in the Blackboard system and anticipate them as a promising tool to be integrated in the curriculum.
My task is to investigate the function of Voice Podcaster and explore its potential use in the curriculum. Through researches and practice, I consider voice podcaster as a reliable asynchronous communication tool which supports both vocal and text information and brings about more convenience and interactivity to the communication. Voice podcaster is easy to use and only requires users to install a Java drive in the computer. With its convenience and interactivity, voice podcaster can be used as assignment platform or group learning tool. Furthermore, it provides an alternative to traditional curricular teaching because instructors could record their course materials by voice and send to his/her students, which is endowed with more interactivity and entertainment. However, it might be hard for instructors to evaluate how their students obtained the knowledge because of lack of eye contact.
Among all the communication tools, I like the Blackboard IM best because it does not only support synchronous communication but also allow users to talk online in the same settings of face-to-face meeting. As mentioned above, eye contact is a vital element for instructor to evaluate how the learners have understood his/her words. Since users could directly see each other via Blackboard IM and talk by voice or type in texts, participants are able to learn just as in the traditional classroom. Blackboard IM supports the function of sharing screen and smart board in addition to vocal, video, and text information. According to all above, Blackboard IM is really a wonderful option for collaborative are restricted in the virtual community and their users could not “see”each other, which might decrease the communication effect. Furthermore, those tools rely too much on voice. If one could not pronounce properly or smoothly, it is a nightmare for the listeners.
All the communication tools we researched have a great potential to be integrated in the teaching and learning. However, various challenges exist in the use and promotion of those tools. What we should do is to conduct more practice and research and find the best way to facilitate teaching and learning.
1. Audio and video conferencing for classrooms
The integration of instructional television, asynchronous video, and video conferencing in classrooms brings more entertainment and convenience to the curriculum, which could definitely facilitate the teaching and learning. Those video tools make it possible for users to talk online in the same settings of the classroom. Compared with traditional threaded discussion or voice board and podcast, asynchronous video tools allow users to communicate via messages, voices, facial expressions, and body gestures, just as they are talking face-to-face. Obviously, this kind of communication is more prone to motivate users’interests with the convenience and entertainment. In addition, asynchronous video tools do not require users to stay online simultaneously, which is the advantage over the synchronous video tools.
However, there are also challenges for asynchronous video tools to integrate in the curriculum. The technological requirement for installing and operating those tools become higher. For example, without fast and lucid network, the asynchronous video tools cannot achieve its advantages, even cannot work at all. In the meanwhile, the integration of those tools further enhances the requirement for professions. It means professions are supposed to obtain a wider technological foundation than ever. Even though there are some challenges, I still consider the asynchronous video tools as a promising tool in the curriculum.
2. Instant Messaging from Anywhere
Instant messaging (IM) has become an essential communication tool for modern digital students. According to my own experience, especially when I contacted with my friend in China, IM has become one of the primary options for me. Since it is asynchronous and could provide instant and interactive reply, IM also has a promising future in the curriculum.
1) IM can be used as a platform for group discussion. I have often used instant messaging for group study when I was in the undergraduate study. All the members in a group could make a time for online meeting to talk about the assignments. On the other hand, all the information of the meetings will be automatically saved by the system and those who cannot attend to the meeting can also get to know what happened after the meeting.
2) IM software often possesses more functions than messaging, such as video conference and voice call. For example, Skype does support those two functions and could satisfy users’ needs of talking online in the same settings as face-to-face meeting.
3) Mobile learning has become a popular topic in the area of instructional technology. Most instant messaging tool has issued the version for mobile users. Once the instant messaging combined with the mobile devices, it will be more convenient for learners to interactive with colleagues and be informed of the latest announcement.
With the development of instructional technology, Instant Messaging (IM) will have a brighter future of being integrated in education. As a reliable tool for mobile learning, I have confidence in its promising future.
3. Challenges of online education
The article, The Invisible Professor and the Future of Virtual Faculty, addresses some factors that challenge the distance learning and the instructors who teach distance learning courses. I consider what the author argued in the article as credible and meaningful even though I have never taught an online course. My only experience with teaching online is as a teaching assistant for an online course. So I cannot compare and analyze the distant learning in the perspectives of tenure or credits. However, I do agree with the author that it takes much more time and energy to teach distant learning courses than traditional curriculum. As of my learning practice, learners’engagement and motivation play a significant role in the online learning. So how to motivate learners to participate and engage in the online learning becomes a vital topic for instructors and they have to gather, create, or even purchase various efficient learning materials, which really requires time and strength.
In addition to the time and strength, teaching distant learning courses really posts a higher technological requirement for instructors. For example, most of my online courses in those three semesters integrate special educational software, such as Adobe Deamweaver, Adobe Indesign, and Mac iMovie. This requires instructors to obtain an excellent technology competency in this set of software. Furthermore, the higher technology requirement makes it essential to provide comprehensive technological support or assistance to instructors in case they might meet some unexpected problems.
Finally, in spite of challenges to the distant learning and instructors, distant learning is still growing rapidly and expected to become more popular. What the educational institution needs to do is to set efficient incentives for instructors and guarantee the professional development, such as technological training and assistance, so as to further facilitate the distant learning.
1.Blog in Education
To be honest, this is the first class that I have used the blog as a learning tool. Previously, it was always considered only as a tool of social network. My only impression of the blog in the education is that one of my tutors in the undergraduate study often posted his experiences and opinions in the blog as a supplement to the face-to-face curriculum. Students often type in long web URL in the browsers to follow the blog and read the latest articles. At that time, I have already experienced the peculiar charm in the teaching and learning presented by the virtual textbook or virtual classroom.
I consider the convenience, interactivity, and engagement as three main advantages for the integration of blog in the education. Initially, instructors could post the learning materials, learning tutorials, course announcement, and personal experiences on the blog. Thanks to the RSS feed and aggregators, it will be quite convenient for students to follow the schedule and be notified what he/she need to do next. Furthermore, the blog can be available to all users as long as they could get access to the Internet.
In addition, the blog demonstrate the advantage of interactivity via allowing all the students and instructors in one class to read his/her colleagues blog and provide interactive comments or receive more inspiration and instructions. The interactive communication provides students good opportunities to improve self-learning and self-control abilities.
Finally, since the blog is implemented within the online platform, it is possible to integrate some other technologies to make the learning and teaching practice more interesting and engaging. For example, the combination of multimedia products and social network is supposed to stimulate students motivation.
2. Social networking
Educators expect to use the technology to improve the learning environment of the language learning. In particular, the integration of social networking communication tools really brings a reform to the language learning, which was ever considered as only reading loudly and fluently in the past.
The social network communication tools facilitate learning process and enhance the learning outcome for students in the language classes. With those tools, students could construct an interactive and cooperative learning environment that allows students to communicate with each other and find a learning style best fits them. Furthermore, cultural background is an important component in the language learning, which is also the most difficult part. In the interactive learning environment, students could get to know better about the culture of the language and immerse themselves in the atmosphere. For example, Wikis requires students to join cooperatively to define or explain a word, term, or cultural event. Via the participation, students could learn more about the culture and language in the meanwhile of experiencing the advantage of interactive learning. However, in addition to those advantages, social network tools bring more entertainment to the learning process and the necessity to students of keeping up to the technological development. It requires students to improve self-control and self learning abilities so that they could better enjoy the convenience and interactivity the social networks tools are endowed with.
1. Communication technologies integration
I have no doubt in the trend that the Internet and World Wide Web would redefine the education in the future several years. As of the integration of Internet and World Wide Web in the classroom, I could only have a plan currently since I do not have opportunities of teaching. However, those communication technologies would be definitely reliable tools in future class because they could contribute significantly to the construction of online learning environment. To better facilitate the online learning process, a comprehensive instructional system is required so that a good theoretical foundation is guaranteed. Furthermore, before the class, all learners are supposed to obtain the skills of how to use computer and get access to the Internet. If possible, essential training and supports should be provided. Then, additional effective technological products should also be integrated in the education to serve the instructional system, such as podcast, voice board, and video conference. Those options would provide more entertainment and engagement for the curriculum.
2. Virtual High Schools
In my opinion, a hybrid course delivery method is better for high schools. In terms of my own experience, high school education is an important part in our life. At that time, one student gradually formed his/her sense of value, ethic principles, and characteristics through more engagement in the social activities. Therefore, 100 percent online high school might not be effective in improving students’ interpersonal skills, teamwork ability, and leadership. Furthermore, online learning requires more self-control and self-motivation for an excellent performance. High school students might be still at an age that needs guidance and encouragement from tutors when they face some problems. Finally, 100 percent online high school means a virtual community, within which there might be some dangers and threats for high school students’ future development. But online learning does bring more entertainment and convenience to the curriculum and better engage students. Therefore, for a promising future of high school students, a blended course delivery mode is more welcome.
3. Digital Equity
TO be honest, never have I considered the issue of digital equity because I only focus on the convenience and engagement the digital era brings to us. Currently, the disparity on technological devices does exist between students, and even deserves enough attentions to solve. Some might suffer the digital divide because they lack the knowledge or skills in computer. For these students, a special tutorial or other supporting materials should be provided. But most students cannot get access to the high-tech devices and then cause the digital divide. For those students, mobile learning might be a good option for them to get access to the assignment materials since the popularity of mobile devices. To make the assignment contents available for mobile devices can be considered to solve the digital equity. In addition, more efforts for the free labs or other available supports for students’ access to the Internet are still required.
Hi everyone!
My name is Hengtao Tang, from MSIT (Master of Science Instructional Technology) program, and now this is my third semester. I am now working as a graduate assistant (lab monitor) for our program. This is the third online class I took. As of the online course, I do believe it is convenient but challenging, which requires us to spend much time reading and finishing assignment. However, I still consider it is a good delivery method for us to improve self-learning ability.
I am interested in the application of technology software. Up to now, I have ever obtained how to use Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suit, Concept Mapping, Multimedia Editing, and a little about HTML language either through course or via extracurricular activities. But I do need more practice in Access.
Electronic communication tools are petty common in my learning experience. I am familiar with email, discussion board, listserv, and chat. These tools are really reliable and convenient, especially for our online learning environment. In addition, blogs, podcasts, video clips, and WIKIs are also common used new technology tools in my learning experience. Last semester, I often created and edited podcasts and video clips with Garageband and iMovie. Blogs, often considered as a tool of social media, are maintained in both learning and ordinary lives, whose convenience and interactivity could guarantee its promising future in the education.
After reviewing the syllabus and schedule, I expect to have a better understanding of the integration of communication tools in education and further figure out the corresponding theories and practice. For this goal, I would focus on the research practice of the application of these communication tools and cooperate with my teammates. I do believe following the schedule of Dr. Wang could contribute a lot to this goal.
Telecom in Education 