Article 12

Huett, J., Huett, K. & Bennett, E. (2010). The Way of the Wiki: Using a Wiki as a Management Tool for Online Programs. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. 13(3).

The Way of the Wiki: Using a Wiki as a Management Tool for Online Programs

Summary:

Jason Huett, Kimberly Huett and Elizabeth Bennett write of the benefits of using wikis to allow for collaboration. They write of a online graduate program in which the faculty tried using a wiki to discuss the curriculum. Huett, Huett and Bennett (2010) write, “Wikis promote collaborative knowledge convergence” (p.1). With this graduate school the use of wikis has been a tremendous asset to the program. Faculty and staff were able to collaborate in order to create the curriculum for the online component of their program. Huett, Huett and Bennett discuss the issues facing online education programs, specifically surrounding the sometimes overwhelming administration issues. “As an online program develops, it can become progressively more difficult to manage information, resources, and people. Email and infrequent face to face contacts can become increasingly inefficient and do little to promote the kind of real-time, collaborative knowledge management and strategic planning needed to insure program health and vitality (Huett, Huett & Bennett 2010 p. 1). The authors go on to discuss how this inefficient management of online programs results in communication gaps and lack of understanding of program objectives by interested parties. The authors found that utilizing wikis created an environment in which collaboration was valued and an egalitarian culture was created instead of the traditional top-down management style.

Response:

Using Wikis to engage in collaboration is a great idea. I can see how this would work well in educational institutions. One concern I run into is communicating via email. It seems as though I can send out dozens of emails and never get a straight answer. Using a wiki to collaborate with colleges would solve this problem and create an atmosphere of mutual respect. This is something that I have recently come across within my position as the graduate assistant with the CCE program at WWU. We are currently working on a wiki for developing a new format for the new student orientations. The graduate student advisory committee had a face to face meeting in which we discussed the goals of the orientation and identified the content areas we wanted to cover and then began working on the format and agenda via a wiki. Committee members who were not in attendance were able to participate and we have begun work on this project. My experience so far is quite positive. I have no doubt that this will become a grand asset to many different industries.

Article 11

Seirup, H. & Tirotta, R. (2010) Utilizing Distance Learning as a Strategy for Academic Successs for Undergraduate Students on Academic Probation: Atypical Candidates for Online Learning. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 13(3) Retrieved from ERIC database.

Utilizing Distance Learning as a Strategy for Academic Successs for Undergraduate Students on Academic Probation: Atypical Candidates for Online Learning

Summary:
Holly Seirup and Rose Tirotta of Hofstra University write about a study that explored the implementations, student satisfaction, and the effectiveness of an academic support course that was taught online at a medium sized private college in the Northeast (Seirup & Tirotta 2010). This course was required for students on academic probation. Seirup and Tirotta discuss concerns facing providing a required course in an online format. They write of faculty concerns with the online format as well as student concerns. The concerns focused on faculty and student lack of experience with online courses. They discussed the history of academic support courses on college campuses stating that the goal is “to assist in student transition to campus, to provide necessary academic and interpersonal skill development, to teach and/or enhance non-academic support skills, to develop community, and ultimately, to positively impact student retension” (Seirup & Tirotta 2010 p. 1). After discussing how faculty came to the decision to provide this class within an online format, characteristics of typical online students, how the course was implemented and citing prior studies on student satisfaction with online courses Seirup and Tirotta (2010) state, “On average, the students enrolled in the course increased their GPA by .16 bringing the GPA of more than half of the students above a 2.0 and off of academic probation.

Reaction:
This study was well executed and presented in a very professional manner. The results are quite promising for creating similar programs. In their discussion of typical characteristics of online learners, students on academic probation are out of the ordinary. Students on academic probation are placed in this category and required to complete an academic success course because they are falling behind and not receiving adequate grades. Typically online learners are independent, highly motivated, have good reading and writing skills and are proficient in computer use. Some of these characteristics are definitely lacking in students who are on academic probation. So why did the program have so much success? From reading this article I would agree that such a course would work well for these types of students. I think that students in this category desperately need to practice increasing their self-motivation and self-direction. They also may need to practice working on computers in order to increase their skills in this area. By participating in an online academic support course students are able to practice the exact skills they need to improve.

Article 10

Moore, S., & Center for Adult English Language, A. (2009). Uses of Technology in the Instruction of Adult English Language Learners. CAELA Network Brief. Center for Adult English Language Acquisition, Retrieved from ERIC database.

Uses of Technology in the Instruction of Adult English Language Learners

Summary:
Sarah Moore, in her article titled “Uses of Technology in the Instruction of Adult English Language Learners,” discusses the advantages to utilizing technology in Adult ESL courses. Moore (2009) claims that in the 2006/2007 academic year 46% of adults enrolled in publically funded education programs in the United States were attending ESL programs (p.1). According to Moore (2009) what ESL students need in order to succeed is time (p. 1). She goes on to write that adult ESL students receive instruction less than 2 hours each week. Moore (2009) proposes that integrating technology in instruction for adult ESL learners will enhance their language learning (p.1). She also writes that by incorporating technology into adult ESL we will be able to shorten the divide between people who know how to use technology and English language learners who typically do not. Moore (2009) proposes three different ways that technology could be incorporated into Adult ESL courses and suggests programs that could be utilized (p. 1). Onsite uses of technology could consist of using computer programs in addition to classroom instruction. Moore (2009) suggests The New Oxford Picture Dictionary CD-ROM, Rosetta Stone, and the English Language Learning and Instruction System (p. 1). Moore (2009) goes on to explain blended uses of technology in which technology such as project –based web learning, webquests, and web-based games are used both inside and outside of the classroom (p. 2). Lastly, Moore (2009) suggests utilizing online learning which is entirely internet based and it used by the students independently (p. 3). Moore (2009) suggests English for All, USA Learns, and Learner Web (p.3). Some considerations discussed by Moore (2009) include incorporating meaningful group work, adapting curriculum to support learning goals and making sure students have access to the appropriate technology (p.3).

Response:
I agree with the author that incorporating technology into adult ESL courses would be extremely beneficial. I also appreciate her considerations of needed to provide opportunities for meaningful communication and group work, needing to meet learning goals and making sure that students have access to appropriate technology. I also agree with the author in that what students need most is time to use the language. By incorporating technology in ESL courses that could be used independently outside of the classroom we would be able to increase the amount of time that students were using the language. The more that learners use the target language and use it to communicate in a meaningful way the faster they will acquire that language. The biggest variable is time. If we increase the time of instruction the students will have a better change of learning and being able to use the language. One thing that I think is very necessary is providing the students with instruction for how to use various programs. If students are not able to effectively use the computer programs they will not be able to meet the goals. I think a blended approach to utilizing technology would be best.

Article 9

Hayes, B. (2008) Cloud Computing. Communications of the ACM, July 2008.

Cloud Computing

Summary:
Brian Hayes, in his article titled Cloud Computing, writes of new software programs that are moving to the “clouds.” Hayes (2008) writes, “Data and programs are being swept up from desktop PC’s and corporate server rooms and installed in the compute cloud” (pg. 186). Instead of buying software and installing it on personal computers or in group computer labs the trend is to use programs and store data and access it through the internet. Hayes writes about a correlation between cloud computing and time-sharing systems of the past. He suggests that total control of computing, which was a trend in the eighties, comes with a price. Software must be installed and updated and configured and then updated again. With cloud computing installing, updating and configuring software is done for the user. Hayes then goes on to describe several examples of cloud computing currently being used. He cites the Google Docs program, which allows people to use a word processor, spreadsheet and a power point like program all online. There are also business management programs available “in the clouds” as well as data storage programs. One skepticism of cloud computing has to do with data storage and how safe it is. Hayes poses several questions about the safety of personal documents once they are no longer in the author’s possession.

Response:
Cloud computing could be a huge asset to educators. Not having to install, update and configure software on personal and school computers could really free up some time and save us all some headaches. This also made me think of copywrite issues. Could we avoid some of the copywrite issues surrounding software by using cloud computing software? I wonder if there would be the option for “lab passes” with cloud computing. There would need to be the opportunity to purchase access for multiple users for these types of software programs to be accessible for schools to use. I was also intrigued by Hayes’ argument about privacy concerning personal documents being stored in cloud computing programs. This would be a concern of mine. Who could possible gain access to personal documents that may need to be kept confidential? Before allowing my documents to be stored in clouds there would need to be some assurance of cloud computing programs commitment to confidentiality.

Article 8

Keating, J.  (2009) The List: Look Who’s Censoring the Internet Now.  Foreign Policy, March 2009

The List: Look Who’s Censoring the Internet Now

Summary

Joshua Keating writes of five countries who are actively censoring their citizen’s use of the internet.  This article informs readers of what other countries are doing and poses the question of how much is too much.  Keating writes of Australia, France, India, Argentina and South Korea.  Each country is using interned censoring to focus on different issues in their countries.  Keating (2009) writes of Australia, “Officially, child pornography and terrorism, but recent reports suggest the scope might be expanded” (pg. 156).  The Australian Communications and Media Authority have created a blacklist of sites they have deemed unacceptable and are in the process of requiring internet service providers to block access to these sites.  France, according to Keating (2009), “is debating and seems likely to pass the world’s toughest antipiracy law to date” (pg. 156).  Keating writes that France is targeting file-sharing.  A proposed law would require internet service providers to block users from surfing the web who have been caught illegally downloading.  In India political radicalism is being censored.  Keating (2009) writes, “In 2003, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) was created to enforce the country’s filtering regime.  CERT-In is the sole authority empowered to block websites, and there is no review or appeals process once it blacklists a site” (pg. 156).  Argentina has been censoring celebrity gossip.  Keating writes of Diego Maradona, a well-known soccer player, who with several other celebrities filed suit against Google and Yahoo.  Lastly, Keating writes of South Korea.  According to Keating (2009), “South Korea is one of the world’s most wired countries, with about 90 percent of household hooked up to the web, but the Korean Internet it also one of the world’s most heavily policed” (pg. 157).  In South Korea, North Korean propaganda is the subject of censorship.

Response:

I found this article very interesting.  The subject of internet censorship in each country was so different.  It makes me think about our own country and what is censored here.  Is there censorship on the web in the United States?  I don’t know.  Should there be?  This is an age old question of the right of free speech.  Does that apply to the internet?  I think it does.  There is so much information out there it seems like it would be impossible to censor the internet.  You would have to have an entire government agency devoted to doing this.  In our current economic environment I think there are so many other things out there that need funding.  I hope this isn’t happening here. 

Article 7

Haywood, K., Johnson, L, Levine, A. & Smith, R. (2010) Key Emerging Technologies for Post Secondary Education.  Horizon Report, 2010.

Key Emerging Technologies for Post Secondary Education

Summary:

Authors Laurence F. Johnson, Alan Levine, Rachel S. Smith and Keene Haywood summarize the 2010 horizon report in their article titled “Key Emerging Technologies for Post Secondary Education.”  The authors begin by identifying key trends in the field of educational technology that were identified by the horizon report.  These key trends include the abundance of information via the internet, people’s expectation to be able to work and go to school whenever and wherever they happen to be, the presence of more and more “cloud based” applications that can be accessed on any computer and the fact that student work is more and more collaborative in nature.  The authors then go on to describe the challenges identified in the horizon report.  These include the changing role of universities, how people are able to publish scholarly work, increased need for digital media literacy in all fields and industries and the hardships that intuitions are facing in the current economic environment.  Lastly the authors describe the key technologies to watch as identified by the horizon group.  These technologies are ones that will be instrumental in the field of post secondary education in the next five years.  These include mobile computing, open content, electronic books, simple augmented reality, gesture based computing and visual data analysis. 

Response:

As an educator in the field of adult education it is important to be up to date with the new technology.  We must be fluent in the language of technology and how it is being used to advance the field of adult education.  We must also find a balance between getting overly excited and enthusiastic about new technology and using technology in an appropriate way to aid in the learning process.  I believe very strongly that technology must augment our instruction not replace it.  We need to learn how to incorporate new technologies into the classroom that will enhance the learning process and we must do this in a proficient way.  There is no use in utilizing technology in the classroom if we can’t use it effectively.

Article 6

De Palma, P. (2005) The software wars; Why you can’t understand your computer.  American Scholar, Winter 2005

Summary:

Paul De Palma in his article titled “The Software Wars; Why You Can’t Understand Your Computer,” discusses the difficulties associated with the field of software design.  He describes his background as a software designer in the late eighties, a time when PCs where just becoming popular and the field of software design was big business.  De Palma argues that software design started out with many problems and continues to experience these same issues.  De Palma (2005) writes, “People often claim that one of every three large-scale software systems gets canceled midproject.  Of those that do make it out the door, three-quarters are never implemented: some do not work as intended; others are just shelved” (pg. 134).  He argues that this happens because of overambitious program managers who are overly concerned with new operating systems and programs that may or may not have been tested properly.  He goes on to explain why we need to upgrade our version of programs and operating systems each year.  According to De Palma it isn’t necessary.  If something is working there isn’t much of a reason to upgrade right away.  He does argue that upgrades must be done eventually so that operating systems can continue to work with upgraded programs.  De Palma also discusses the issues that come with schools and businesses choosing to buy programs and then ask questions later.  Many times schools and business have the new software but don’t know how to use it.  De Palma (2005) writes, “Computer labs and so-called smart classrooms are obsolete before anyone figures out how to use them, and offices with equipment so complicated that every secretary doubles as a systems administrator” (pg. 138).

Response:

I found this article very telling of questions I always ask myself about upgrades and new programs.  Is it really necessary to buy every new version of Microsoft office?  Why do this when what you have works fine?  I also agree that buying new fancy programs for schools that will supposedly do wonders for the classroom is entirely unnecessary if we don’t know how to use these programs appropriately.  This made me think of our CCE program and how we offer online classes.  It seems to me like we have all the new equipment that everyone else in the field is using, but we are still having problems implementing it effectively.  We really need to focus on using what we have and doing it well before we think about getting something new.

Article 5

E-Mail in Academia; Expectations, Use, and Instructional Impact

Weiss, M. & Hanson-Baldauf, D.  (2008)  E-mail in academia;Expectations, use, and instructional impact.  Educause Quarterly, January/March 2008.

Summary:

Weiss and Hanson-Baldauf write of an exploratory study they conducted with students and faculty at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.  The study examines the use of e-mail as an instructional tool.  Weiss and Hanson-Baldauf surveyed full time undergraduate students and assistant, associate, and full professors to discover how they used e-mail to communicate with each other, their thoughts on appropriate e-mail use, and their perceptions of the impact of using e-mail on the learning experience.  Weiss and Hanson-Baldauf comment on the generational divide between professors and undergraduate students as it pertains to the use of technology.  They quote Marc Prensky  who writes, “The single biggest problem facing education today is that our Digital Immigrant instructors who speak an outdated language (that of the pre-digital age), are struggling to teach a population that speaks an entirely new language” (Prensky 2001 as cited in Weiss & Hanson-Baldauf 2008).  Weiss and Hanson-Baldauf write of other studies which reflect positive outcomes from e-mail communication between professors and students.  These include increased academic achievement, personal growth, increased effort spent on studies and improved feelings of connectedness to the university community.  Weiss and Hanson-Baldauf discuss their findings and the reasoning behind the participants answers.   They conclude that professors who take the time to communicate with students through e-mail will be able to extend their influence as well as academic discourse.

Reflection:

 The authors chose a very current topic.  With the technological advances happening so quickly there are always new ways to communicate and stay connected.  The typical undergraduate student has been raised in a highly technological environment.  They utilize e-mail, text messaging, instant messaging, social networking sights, and spend many hours out of the day “connected”.  Professors must begin to utilize these ways of communicating in order to stay current.  The benefits are immense.  By communicating with students through e-mail professors will be able to enhance the learning experience of their students.  One of the common responses received on the study from faculty members was concerning time.  Professors stated that they received a very large amount of e-mails each day and that it was difficult for them to respond to each one.  Weiss and Hanson-Baldauf offered an interesting solution.  They suggested that professors respond with advice of how to find the answer or posting that question on an online discussion board where other students could offer their advice which would support increased academic discourse.   I understand that answering many e-mails can be quite time consuming.  Professors and students need to find a balance between online communications and in person ones.  The important thing to remember is to communicate and have meaningful interactions that support increased connections with the academic subject.

Article 4

E-Mail Is for Old People:  As students ignore their campus accounts, colleges try new ways of communicating

Carnevale, D.  (2006)  E-mail is for old people: as students ignore their campus accounts, colleges try new ways of communicating.  The Cronicle of Higher Education, October 6, 2008, A27-A29.

Summary:

Dan Carnevale writes of the dilemma facing colleges and universities pertaining to the dispensing of information.  Several different educational institutions are discussed as well as different solutions to this problem.  The dilemma centers on students not checking their university email accounts.  Students have become disillusioned with the amount of messages they have been receiving and have stopped checking their accounts and are therefore not getting vital university information.  According to Brian Niles, “colleges need to branch out and find new ways to connect with students.”  Several solutions have been tried with some success.  These include campus MySpace pages, text messages and web portals.  Carnevale suggests that campuses and universities find ways to communicate with their students that the students will respond to.  He suggests that MySpace pages and web portals are less formal than university emails and will be received better by students.  Although many students like the new applications for information sharing some believe that these measure are unnecessary and that the colleges are trying too hard.  The University of South Carolina is an example of a school that has not chosen to use different methods to communicate.  They require students to check their campus emails and hold them responsible for the information they contain. 

Response:

I found this article very interesting.  I think it is a really great idea for colleges and universities to start thinking about how they dispense information to their students.  Educational institutions need to start thinking outside the box in order to connect to the new population of college students who use multiple different technologies to communicate with one another.  Using social networking sites such as MySpace and web portals would be a very effective way to communicate with students.  I liked the way that Harcum College uses a MySpace page to communicate with their students.  I think the use of a question section where students can pose questions to university officials and someone will get back to them in a timely manner will be a very effective way to communicate with students.  I also was intrigued by the idea of a text messaging service such as the one used by Pennsylvania State University.  I think that allowing students to choose what types of messages they receive via texts is a very smart service.  Whatever methods colleges and universities choose to adopt it is clear that a change is necessary and it will be interesting to see how this shift in presentation of information plays out.

Article 3

“Dilberts of the World, Unite!”

Sirota, D.  (2008, June 23) .  Dilberts of the world, unite!.  The Nation,

Summary:

David Sirota, in his article “Dilberts of the World, Unite!”, discuses the rise and fall of high tech workers from the early 1990’s to the present day.  He specifically focuses on Microsoft and their treatment of temporary workers, which Sirota adamantly believes are being mistreated.  Sirota writes that high tech jobs are on the decline after doubling between 1977 and 2004.  Between 2008 and 2010 one third of employment growth is said to be in white-collar jobs not high tech industries.  Sirota writes of several contributing factors.  A main factor is outsourcing.  In 1990 congress created a program named H-1B which allows large employers like Microsoft to employ foreign workers for high tech jobs. Sirota quotes a study conducted by the Center for Immigrant Studies who found that H-1B employees were paid an average of $13,000 less than American workers.  Bill Gates has personally lobbied in support of the H-1B program and Microsoft is one of the biggest employers of H-1B workers.  Sirota writes that Gates claims there aren’t skilled American to hire for these jobs but disagrees with this.  Sirota writes of WashTech, a union-like organization formed to support permatemps.  Microsoft hires many workers as permatemps and avoids giving benefits by contracting with employment agencies that actually employ the permatemps.  Sirota argues that the reasoning behind the H-1B program is bogus due to the fact that Microsoft has a huge pool of workers who are currently working as permatemps who could be hired as full time employees.  A poll done by WashTech in 2005 shows this difference of opinion.  Half of all high tech workers don’t think outsourcing will affect their jobs, but a simultaneous poll of high tech executives showed that they plan to ramp up outsourcing.

Response:

I found this article very interesting and well written.  Sirota follows a logical path of the rise and fall of such a “right now” profession.  I found it very disturbing that so many workers felt unthreatened about their jobs getting outsourced while at the same time their supervisors are planning to outsource even more.  I was also disturbed by the fact that Microsoft employs too many permatems and effectively avoids putting up money for benefits.  I foolishly thought that a company that gives so much to our schools would treat their employees better.  I guess I was wrong.  The bottom line once again wins.  Using a foreign worker who costs $13,000 less is $13,000 more in the pocket of the company.

Article 2

“Personally Controlled Online Health Data—The Next Big Thing in Medical Care?”

Steinbrook, R.  (2008) .  Personally controlled online health data—the next big thing in medical care?  The New England Journal of Medicine,  April 17, 2008,  1653-1656.

Summary:

Doctor Robert Steinbrook, in his article published by The New England Journal of Medicine, weighs in on the pros and cons of online repositories.  Steinbrook introduces readers to Dossia, Microsoft Health Vault and Google Health which are described as new ventures meant to provide patients with the ability to store, access, manage and share their personal health records.  Services provided by these online repositories include personal health histories, lists of medications used by the patient, allergies, immunization records, lab test results and records of doctor visits.  Steinbrook poses the question of whether utilization of these services will benefit patients in the form of improved health and lower health care costs or benefit the economy by creating new job opportunities.  The creation of online repositories will require doctors to decide whether they want to interface their electronic patient records with the new patient sites.  This also brings up questions of confidentiality.  Health care providers who use electronic patient records and allow patients to view these online are required to follow the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which in turn protects patients’ confidentiality.  Online repositories are not required to follow HIPAA rules and therefore are not required to protect patient confidentiality.  According to Dr. Steinbrook patients utilizing repositories would have more opportunities to manage their own health.  Steinbrook lists the advantages to patient controlled health records as improved health, communications between doctor and patient and coordination between health agencies which will in turn help to avoid medical emergencies.    Steinbrook also claims that better coordinated care will result in lower health care costs through the use of wellness programs which will aid in preventative care. 

Response:

This article poses an interesting view on technological advances.  Technology in the medical field is always advancing.  Electronic patient records are nothing new.  Independent websites that allow patients to manage their own healthcare are.  Group Health Cooperative in Washington State has recently created something similar to an online repository.  MyGroupHealth is an online site that contains electronic patient records and resources for patients to manage their own health care.  All patient records within Group Health are easily accessible by health care providers who are involved in a patients care.  Records are shared within offices and therefore no unnecessary time is spent duplicating patient records or tests.  This type of system can be very beneficial for patients as well as health care professionals.  I agree with Doctor Steinbrook that online patient record repositories such as MyGroupHealth can provide patients with improved health by giving patients the resources they need and the access to their personal health information.  I believe that creating online patient records that could be accessed in an emergency could save lives, time and money.  Providing patients with the resources they need to better manage their own care will create a sense of personal responsibility for their own health.  One aspect of online repositories such as Dossia, Google Health and Microsoft Health Vault that I am concerned with is the opportunity for breaches in patient confidentiality.  Personal health records must be kept confidential.  There are benefits and drawbacks to using technology in this way which must be thoroughly worked through before anything is put in place.  I expect to see more doctors’ offices imple

Article 1

"Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change"

Postman, N.  (1998, March 27) .  Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change.  In De Palma, P. (Ed.) .  (2011).  Annual editions:  Computers in Society.  (pp. 3-6) .  New York:  McGraw Hill. 

 

Summary:

In his address to the New Tech Conference in Denver Colorado on March 27, 1998 Neil Postman outlines five things he thinks all people should know about technological change.  Postman bases his theories on thirty years of experience studying technological change.  He has formed these theories for people who are concerned with the effect of technology on religious faith.  Postman’s first theory is his idea that new technology has advantages as well as disadvantages.  His second idea is that new technology helps some people but harms others.  Postman writes that new technology poses consequences that may be unpredictable and irreversible for his third theory.  In his fourth theory Postman warns readers to be cautious about new technology.  Postman writes that new technology not only adds to our existence it changes it.  Lastly Postman suggests that new technology has become mythic; meaning that it is accepted as truth which makes it more difficult to modify or control.

Reaction:

Neil Postman writes about technology is a very negative light.  He appears to be afraid of technological change.  This article is very biased and quite amateur.  His references to the Christian faith and bible are extraneous and detrimental to his theories being accepted as scholarly work.  His advice to be cautious about new technology is valid.  It is important as educators to fully evaluate whether incorporating technology into our classrooms will benefit our students and help them meet learning goals.  The use of technology for technology’s sake is inappropriate.  Technology can add to educational experiences if it is used correctly.  The use of technology to provide online distance education courses is an example in which technology provides people with greater access to education which in turn benefits society.