Create 4.1.3 Aggregating Lesson Material Quest

Blackboard is a great way to present learning material to students in a synchronous format as well as an asynchronous way. They have great video and audio options. Learners are able to engage with the material presented, the instructor, and other learners. It is a very pricey system so Blackboard is really only feasible to a school system.

Moodle is a FREE was learning platform that allows teachers to create online courses. It is an open sources software program so it is developed collaboratively. It uses a system of plugins so teachers area able to build their learning platform based on their needs.

Edmodo is a free network where educators can share resources and interact with other educators. Teacher are able to share quizzes, content and assignments with other teachers. They are also able to manage communication with students. 

Create 4.1.2 Principles of Building Portable Learning Objects Quest

Teacher often say "Don't reinvent the wheel" but with learning objects in the online classroom, it is important to have a high quality, portable wheel that can be used over and over again. So many times a learning object is created that can no longer be found. The link won't work or the computer has been wiped clean over the summer.

For this quest, I explored making a learning object through the website Kahoot. I was able to create an interactive discussion where students are able to log on with their mobile devices.

I also used the online game greater Wisc-online to create a fingerspelling practice game. Students have a specific amount of time to find and make the sign for each letter of the alphabet. 

Create 4.1.1 Define and Explain Learning Object Authoring Tools Quest

A learning object is a stand alone piece of learning. This quest explores a variety of different learning object authoring tools that are available for free and several that are available for a fee. 

1. Slideshare is a presentation tool much like powerpoint, however, it is web based. 

2. What2Learn is a game site that shares educational activities. Instructors are able to make their own games to use in their classroom. 

3. Blabberize is a learning object authoring tool that allows the user to add audio to an image. This is great!

The following learning object authoring tools are available for a cost. 

4. Storyline is a great resource if an instructor is creating a course on his/her own. It is very expensive

5. Explain Everything seems like a waste of money to me.  They advertise that instructors can upload any document or presentation and then they will create an annotated interactive whiteboard. Active inspire can be put on any computer for free.  With that program any document of presentation can already be annotated by clicking annotate over desk top. Simple and free. 

Create 3.1.3 Locating Resources Quest

https://youtu.be/c8WIr61r1Do

The video above was found using the google advanced search for videos that are able to be shared under the creative commons license. Being able to use videos and pictures of signs is going to be a major part of my ASL instruction. This has been a great quest.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_manual_alphabet

Below is a sample quiz about common American Sign Language signs. They is free to use and share user the creative common license.

The answers to this version of the quiz are not posted.  This quiz is used as a homework assignment for certain ASL classes.  If you want to take a similar test with answers available, visit the "First 100 Signs Test" page. To do well on this quiz you should study each page in the "First Hundred Signs Tour."Instructions: Take the following quiz.  Type or write your answers onto a sheet of paper and turn in the paper at our next regularly scheduled class session.  There is no need to include the question with your answer.  A simple list of 100 signs will be fine. 1. The sign for "__________" is made by holding one or both of your hands horizontally in front of you. Your palms should face you, right hand a couple of inches above the left. Move your hands in a circular motion up, out, down, and back in again a couple times. The hands move in the same direction in a simultaneous fashion, not alternating. 2. The sign for "__________" is made by forming both hands into the letter "a." With the thumb side pointing upward, place both hands near your shoulders (or at the base of your neck) an inch or two out from the body. Now move both hands downward and together, coming to rest on your lower belly. 3. The sign for "__________" is made by placing your right index finger in front of your lips, palm back. Draw a circle in the air around your lips a couple of times. Alternate Method: Place the thumb on the chin and "flutter" the right index finger in front of the lips. 4. The sign for "__________" is made by holding your left arm horizontally, palm down and pointing right. Put your right wrist on the back of your left hand. Point the fingertips of your right hand downward. 5. The sign for "__________" is made by placing both of your hands in an open, relaxed position just below your waist, fingers pointing down, palms back. Bring both hands up to your waist. As your hands come up, bring your fingers together and touch them with your thumbs. 6. The sign for "__________" is made by shaping both hands into fists, (the letter "S" or "A."), palms down, right hand above left. Tap the back (or thumb side) of your left hand a few times with your right hand in a downward striking motion. 7. The sign for "__________" is made by pointing your left index finger up, palm right or slightly down. Place the tip of your right index finger on the tip of your left index finger. Move the tip of your right index finger in a clockwise motion around your left index finger once with the finger coming to rest again on the tip of the left index finger. 8. The sign for "__________" is made by placing the palm of your right "5" hand on your chest. Move your hand forward away from you a few inches while changing the handshape from a "5" to an "8," (or 9). ( The fingerprints of your thumb and middle finger are together). Note: Some people use the thumb and index finger to make this sign instead of the thumb and middle. 9. The sign for "__________" is made by extending your left hand outward. Move the tip of your right index finger downward across the left palm.  (Note to Vista curriculum users, this sign is not the variation used in the Vista curriculum.) 10. The sign for "__________" is made by placing one or both index fingers under your eyes. Bring your fingers down over your cheeks a few times. The motion can be either alternating or simultaneous.

Create 3.1.2 Fair Use and the TEACH Act Quest

Eric Faden explains the ins and outs of copy right laws and fair use in his video A Fair(y) Use Tale. He creatively uses bits of movies to illustrate that copy righted material can be used if it follows some specific parameters. 

Understanding the Fair Use laws is crucial for all educators, especially online instructors. There are four factors to consider when determining if use a particular material is appropriate.  They are:

1. The purpose of the character and use

2. The nature of the work

3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the whole

4. The original piece will not be affected in the market place

As a classroom teacher, I never felt particularly concerned about copyright laws.  I made sure that I did not reproduce items form books that said "Do not reproduce" and everything that I used was to teach my students and I assure you, I made no money off of the copy righted materials. Teaching online makes me much more motivated to understand the laws of copyright.  The TEACH act helps to protect teacher in face-to-face education as well as the online learning format. In 1998, with the enactment of the TEACH act expanded Fair Use in the following ways

1. Transmitting performances of all of a non-dramatic literary or musical work 

Non-dramatic literary works as defined in the Act exclude audiovisual works.

2. Transmitting reasonable and limited portions of any other performance

3. Transmitting displays of any work in amounts comparable to typical face-to-face displays

Create 3.1.1 Open Educational Resources and Creative Commons Quest

In an online format, many instructors want to share extra resources with their students in order to supplement the curriculum they are using. It is important to understand what Open Educational Resources and Creative Commons are and to differentiate between the two.


Materials are considered open educational resources is they ar4 freely available online for everyone to use. Examples include but are not limited to full courses, syllabi, lectures, homework, quizzes, lab and classroom activities, pedagogical materials, games, and simulations.


Creative Commons make it easier to find and share Open Educational Resources. Creative Commons is the legal infrastructure that allows creators to grant copy right protection to their work.  Allowing their work to be used but under the guidelines of Creative Commons.


I found the YouTube video explaining the google advance search filters a valuable resource for finding resources that are completely free to use, share, or modify. After this quest, I feel more comfortable using Open Educational Resources without infringing upon copy rights.

Create 2.1.3 Using Web 2.0 Tools to Differentiate Student Assessment Quest

Differentiated student assessment can be tricky but it crucial in the online classroom. Giving studetns an option of what type of assessment that is used is one way to make learning fun, ingaging, and fair.