Week+7+(March+1,+2010)

//**Class Discussion**// We had a fairly short discussion in class this week because of the lesson presentations. Here are some quick notes. My ideas will be further developed in my Readings, Reflections and Questions page.

-Taking classes online in high school might become more popular: you can learn anywhere, whenever is convenient for you -Learning Management Systems (LMS) is a program for delivering the curriculum (e.g., Desire2Learn) [] -In most LMS, you can create calenders for students, allow them to submit their work, provide the students with the necessary information, give instructions for activities, etc. -There is also hybrid/blended learning (some in-class and some online learning activities) -**Synchronous** - you are online at the same time as the instructor -**Asynchronous** - you can go online at any time (becoming the most popular - flexibility of schedule) -Ontario uses Desire2Learn for this courses -More and more opportunities to teach in this field. However, not the same as being in class.

(image accessed at http://www.skype.com/) -Instant messaging service, like a phone service -you have to pay when connect to a land line -ideal connection: video -Problems with video: needs a lot of bandwidth -You can talk to another class somewhere else in the world -Helps build relationships with pen pals -You can teach in one room with an additional class in another room watching the teacher on skype (as long as a teacher is present in the other room).


 * This is a visual representation of how Skype perceives its software: **

image accessed at: http://c.skype.com/i/images/backgrounds/index_illustration_v2.png