Jerry Stein - Video - Summer 2012
It was great to have the opportunity to interview Jerry Stein and share with others his innovative use of mobile technology within the School of Social Work.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Designing Online Learning – Week 1 Blog
Doering’s Course – Designing Online Learning – Week 1 Blog
Time to give blogging a new try. I pretty much stopped blogging a year ago, but I have been feeling that is time to pick up blogging again. Blogging is a good way to share thoughts but also improve on my writing.
1.Why do you want to become an online teacher?
Leaving Latin America was a difficult decision for my family. After all, we felt that our opportunities would be greater in the USA but by moving, we would not be able to contribute to the development and improvement of the country where we were born. I am glad we came to America, and when I am able to I intend to become a U.S citizen as my parents recently decided. Yet, the Internet allows us to contribute to anywhere from anywhere. The Internet and online education can help reduce some of the problems caused by transnational migration including mitigating the effects of the brain drain. For years, it has been my goal not only to help from a distance and promote the growth of open education, but also to encourage other immigrant to give back, if not in the form of financial remittances through knowledge remittances. Online education may help improve the economies of developing states, and of impoverished regions throughout the United States, as well as the rest of the world. I fully believe that while we are all different, that we should have the opportunity to develop our talents. Online education can reduce some of the traditional problems faced by increasing access to education.
2.What are your concerns about being an online teacher?
That other voices will be less heard, both from individuals as well as cultures. While open educational programs such as MOOCs greatly increase access, they are also currently developed primarily in countries with higher economic standards and innovative traditions. I fully support the exchange of ideas from north to south and center to periphery, but I would like to see a greater transfer of knowledge and information from south to north and periphery to center. This is particularly important when we take into account that 25 native tongues are lost every year (out of 6,000+ languages). When visiting developing regions such as during my recent trip to the Dominican Republic, it was evident that an underfunded and understaffed educational system has resulted in individuals lacking awareness of their national history, and the increased globalization of their identity (accompanied by the erosion of their traditional / local identity). The transfer of ideas has been a positive force in human history, but I am concerned about the potential impact that the increased massification of education may have towards local cultures and their historical knowledge.
3.What impact do you believe online learning will have on education in the future?
Online education will continue to grow and will also increase competition as more courses will be offered to a wider population. As more courses are offered and the cost of schooling per student decreases, there may be an overall increase in college degree graduates, yet many of them may be unable to find a job comparable (in financial remuneration) to those that were available before them. Online technologies will help increase access, but this will likely result in a potentially smaller financial gain for graduates in comparison to the financial gains which were obtained from previous generations that went to college. Competition is increasingly global and online education strengthens this trend. Overall, the increased in the number of students who obtain advanced degrees will result in a stronger national and global economy, a smarter citizenship, an improved standard of living, and an even faster rate of technological advancement, yet some of the statistics used to justify high tuition rates (such as an over $1 million gain in lifetime earnings by those who graduate from a higher education institution) may not necessarily play out as it did before. Some current prognostics are based on the gains of previous generations. Basing future statistics on what was true before can lead to economic miscalculations. While I am all for increasing access, it may not necessarily result in higher average incomes for graduates, although with a greater number of graduates, society as a whole should improve.
Time to give blogging a new try. I pretty much stopped blogging a year ago, but I have been feeling that is time to pick up blogging again. Blogging is a good way to share thoughts but also improve on my writing.
1.Why do you want to become an online teacher?
Leaving Latin America was a difficult decision for my family. After all, we felt that our opportunities would be greater in the USA but by moving, we would not be able to contribute to the development and improvement of the country where we were born. I am glad we came to America, and when I am able to I intend to become a U.S citizen as my parents recently decided. Yet, the Internet allows us to contribute to anywhere from anywhere. The Internet and online education can help reduce some of the problems caused by transnational migration including mitigating the effects of the brain drain. For years, it has been my goal not only to help from a distance and promote the growth of open education, but also to encourage other immigrant to give back, if not in the form of financial remittances through knowledge remittances. Online education may help improve the economies of developing states, and of impoverished regions throughout the United States, as well as the rest of the world. I fully believe that while we are all different, that we should have the opportunity to develop our talents. Online education can reduce some of the traditional problems faced by increasing access to education.
2.What are your concerns about being an online teacher?
That other voices will be less heard, both from individuals as well as cultures. While open educational programs such as MOOCs greatly increase access, they are also currently developed primarily in countries with higher economic standards and innovative traditions. I fully support the exchange of ideas from north to south and center to periphery, but I would like to see a greater transfer of knowledge and information from south to north and periphery to center. This is particularly important when we take into account that 25 native tongues are lost every year (out of 6,000+ languages). When visiting developing regions such as during my recent trip to the Dominican Republic, it was evident that an underfunded and understaffed educational system has resulted in individuals lacking awareness of their national history, and the increased globalization of their identity (accompanied by the erosion of their traditional / local identity). The transfer of ideas has been a positive force in human history, but I am concerned about the potential impact that the increased massification of education may have towards local cultures and their historical knowledge.
3.What impact do you believe online learning will have on education in the future?
Online education will continue to grow and will also increase competition as more courses will be offered to a wider population. As more courses are offered and the cost of schooling per student decreases, there may be an overall increase in college degree graduates, yet many of them may be unable to find a job comparable (in financial remuneration) to those that were available before them. Online technologies will help increase access, but this will likely result in a potentially smaller financial gain for graduates in comparison to the financial gains which were obtained from previous generations that went to college. Competition is increasingly global and online education strengthens this trend. Overall, the increased in the number of students who obtain advanced degrees will result in a stronger national and global economy, a smarter citizenship, an improved standard of living, and an even faster rate of technological advancement, yet some of the statistics used to justify high tuition rates (such as an over $1 million gain in lifetime earnings by those who graduate from a higher education institution) may not necessarily play out as it did before. Some current prognostics are based on the gains of previous generations. Basing future statistics on what was true before can lead to economic miscalculations. While I am all for increasing access, it may not necessarily result in higher average incomes for graduates, although with a greater number of graduates, society as a whole should improve.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Testing iPad Drawing Apps
The iPad and iOS products have an extensive number of apps that allow a person to doodle, create vectors, paint by emulating traditional techniques, as well as painting or drawing by incorporating the motion sensor, strange effects, and moving images. Having a highly sensitive multitouch screen, the iPad has programs that allow one to draw by changing the speed of your hand movement, by the amount of time a person presses a particular section of the screen, among other touch-movement related functionalities. Here are some of my favorite apps that I played around with this summer, but again, these are only a few apps and there are many more out there that if you get the chance you could download and test, and share with others through this or another website. Also, if I was able to draw using the iPad, I am sure you can draw almost anything as well. Here is a link to a Flickr search were you can see drawings by other people (Flickr - Colored Pencils iPad) - To see all of the images of the slide show above and other more recent images I drew on the iPad click visit this Picasa Web album.
Sketchbook Pro for iPad ($4.99) - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sketchbook-pro-for-ipad/id364253478?mt=8
For what it can do, this app has been a lot of fun. It has layers, a wide array of brushes and effects and it can be quite fun to play around with. Some of the functionalities took me longer to get used to than others, but the app tries to use the iPad's touch functionality as much as possible. (Link to my album for larger version and added pictures)
Wow, this is one of the funnest apps to both draw with and express yourself verbally. Mixing both typography and drawing, it can be used, as can be seen in the example below, to include a mission statement, a poem, a paragraph as part of a drawing (Such as UMN's Student Learning Outcomes). There are also a large number of fonts available and the size of the font can be either fixed, or it can change depending on the speed of the trace. Press for a bit on a part of the screen and pick up that particular color. You can use an image behind it as an onion screen. There are other very interesting word apps that are produced by this company such as TypePlay and Type it!, as well as from other companies such as LetterMPress that are worth exploring. (Link to my album for larger versions and added pictures)
Artisan Paint ($1.99) - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/artisan-paint/id440947564?mt=8
Artisan Paint ($1.99) - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/artisan-paint/id440947564?mt=8
This app, along with other neon paint apps are pretty simple and limited in what they can accomplish, however, they are attractive in their simplicity. While it does not use layers and the user is limited to using a certain number of colors (since adding additional color will result in the picture turning white), the light spectrum it creates was to me the best of its kind. Neon Paint, Neon Doodle HD, Neon Pad, and Glow Draw! are other apps in this category (Link to my album for larger versions and added pictures).
LiveSketch HD ($1.99) - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/livesketch-hd/id364888269?mt=8
This is a fun sketch up, one of the first one's I used and you can use a number of backgrounds with it. Like other Sketch apps, LiveSketch tries to keep user choices to a minimum and has a short learning curve. Try it if you like sketching, however, there are many interesting sketch apps, and this one is not particularly better than others (Link to my album for larger versions and added pictures).
ASKetch ($1.99) - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/asketch/id371723593?mt=8
One of my favorite sketch apps. It one of the most simple sketch ups but also has one of the most fluid movements. While you can't color or use different types of lines, controlling only the opacity of the lines is enough for me. This app is quite enjoyable to use. Its simple and friendly! (Link to my album for larger versions and added pictures)
ToonPAINT ($1.99) - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/toonpaint/id349890672?mt=8
There are many apps that turn pictures into cartoons on the iPad. This is one however, allows you to color the image yourself. By coloring the image as you want to it is not only a picture app but also a drawing app. ToonPAINT can be quite fun as it allows you to first create a toon out of a particular image and then you can color it as you see fit. It can create very interesting effects. (Link to my album for larger versions and added pictures)
Inspire Pro ($7.99) - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/inspire-pro-paint-draw-sketch/id355460798?mt=8
This app has lowered its price to $0.99 a couple of times. Perhaps you are lucky enough to buy it at that price. Its a fun up and it has a number of interesting blending options. Some people in the internet have done very neat drawings with this app. Its an app that will take some time to master, but if you have the time, and you like the effects it can make (such as blending colors with a dry brush), then go ahead and try it out. (Link to my album for larger versions and added pictures)
Sketch Club ($1.99) - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sketch-club/id404414176?mt=8
If you like sketching, this is probably the best one. It is likely the sketch app with the greatest amount of functions. It includes a diverse number of types strokes to choose from and, unlike other sketch apps, this one uses colors! Apart from this, it includes a function that I have not seen elsewhere, as it allows you to record a video of the image while you draw it. After uploading it to YouTube, you can easily add sound to the video! (Link to my album for larger versions and added pictures)
Quiv Sketch Pro ($0.99) - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/qvik-sketch-pro/id372852174?mt=8
This app, in my opinion, does not include as many functions as Sketch Club, but it will allow you to sketch using different colors. It is also cheaper. If you have the money and time, it can be fun. I haven't played with it as much and with the semester about to start, I don't know if I will have time, but its quite a fun app.
 |
| From Drawing Apps |
WURM ($1.99) - http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/wurm/id408289884?mt=8
This app allows you to use brushes and shapes you likely havent used before. Its use of colors and brushes allow you to be highly creative and create captivating patterns. This app was one of my wife's favorites. Again hopefully the iPad also allows your family to explore some of its innovative features. (Link to my album for larger versions and added pictures)
YellowTail ($0.99) - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/yellowtail/id412040861?mt=8
I haven't been able to display this app properly, but its simple design is innovative in that it is not only attractive but whatever you draw will move or wiggle. You could make an image that moves to tell a story, but without being able to undo a trace, this would be very complicated. It would be best to show this app through a video and I hope to add one in the future, but for now I hope this images display some of its capabilities. (Link to my album for larger versions and added pictures)
This is a great app, especially when adding a metallic effect to pictures. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to draw something appealing with this app. For some pictures drawn with this app visit this page (Flickr). The app has an extensive list of functionalities and because of this, it has a slower learning curve. Yet, if you like metallic effects I suggest you purchase and test this app! (Link to my album for larger versions and added pictures)
CPencils ($3.99) - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/colored-pencils/id377598773?mt=8
This is another great app that I haven't been able to use much but which is able to simulate colored pencils better than other apps in the market. I enjoyed using so far and hopefully you will as well.
This app allow you to change the width of your trace based on the speed in which you trace. The faster your trace the thicker your stroke. Because of its simplicity, I have used this app quite a bit since I bought it. (Link to my album for larger versions and added pictures)
Auryn Ink allows the user to paint with watercolors over interesting textures. It includes a dry brush, it also tries to incorporate within it the water effect that results from blending watercolors. As with other complicated drawing iPad apps, it has somewhat of a slow learning curve, but over time the user will likely become more comfortable with using these apps for their creative projects. For me, it has been a great app with which to doodle. (Link to my album for larger versions and added pictures)
OmniSketch ($1.99) - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/omnisketch/id370938461?mt=8
OmniSketch ($1.99) - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/omnisketch/id370938461?mt=8
OmniSketch is another app with diverse and interesting sketching features. Its main feature is a variety of diverse brushes that can help generate very interesting effects. As with other sketch apps you can mirror your traces, but unlike most other apps, you are able to mirror your drawing horizontally or vertically. This feature is also available in Sketchbook Pro. (Link to my album for larger versions and added pictures)
Zen Brush ($2.99) - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zen-brush/id382200873?mt=8
This is another of my favorite iPad apps. Zen Brush ink is very fluid and the time you take to make your traces is very important. In addition, you can change the background and the color of the paint to create different strong brush effects. You can change the opacity of your brush into three different levels which can be layered on top of one another to create additional intensities. (Link to my album for larger versions and added pictures)
To add: PulsART, Adobe Ideas, Draw Studio
Monday, March 28, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Questions from OCL4ED and my Responses - First Day
Hi. It's great to be able to be part of this course. I am from Venezuela. I am 26, but I have been living in the United States since I was 14 years old. I used to be a middle school and high school teacher (History / Spanish) as well as a swimmer and a swimming coach, but right now I am studying at the University of Minnesota. I have a M.A. in Latin American Studies – Development from the University of Florida, and I am in the first year of my PhD studies in UMN's Comparative and International Development Education Program.
Through my research I hope to better understand the possibilities and the role of OERs for Developing Countries. What does the future hold? How will we "flatten" education credentialism? While the world is flat in terms of real-time telecommunications, knowledge continues to be a commodity that limits certain countries from owning or having control over the means of production.
While before developing countries imported goods, they then began to import machines to make these basic goods through Import Substitution Industrialization (ISI), yet until they understand how to make the machines, how to create knowledge, they will always be importing from one place or the other. There is nothing wrong with importing and exporting, but to purposely restrict access to credentials and information and by doing so limiting the ability of developing countries to improve their efficiency of their economies, the knowledge-base of their human capital and their standard of living, should not extend to educational materials. While we should respect innovation rights and patents, education (access to the shoulders of giants) should be free to all of those who venture to find them. Apart from developing countries, this issue extends for me to individuals who are also unable to escape poverty and achieve social mobility because of limited access to quality instruction or education materials. The internet and OERs are not a panacea, but they are a step in the right direction.
I hope to learn from all of you during the subsequent discussions!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Tell us why you have joined this workshop and what you expect to learn and share
While I am researching OERs, I believe that true innovation and the best (groundbreaking) ideas were and are developed in “coffee house” type environments. They are developed in forums where we are able to bounce ideas off one another. This course is a way to learn from experts such as Wayne and Jim as well as reach out to other supporters of OERs with the hope that we will encourage and challenge each other to find solutions to some of the problems currently facing the OER community, as well as aid the growth and development of OERs. The more we educate our “sisters” and “brothers” or all of the inhabitants of the world, the greater the likelihood that we will be able to creatively solve the world’s problems. As Paulo Freire advocated, we must empower and increase the consciousness of those that do not feel as if they should take part in discussions that are beyond their level of education. We could achieve this by freeing knowledge, collectively producing education resources, and freeing education, so that those with inquisitive minds will be able to find the means to change the stars.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In your opinion, is teaching a vocation or profession. Why?
Education to me is a way of life. We used to learn from our parents and from our tribe, but in modern society we learn from a teacher, who is there so that we can increase society’s productivity and specialization through the division of labor. Adults, including the parents of today’s children have specialized jobs and children rather than learn primarily from their parents, from their elders, from the village, they learn and attend a government sanctioned institution. This institution can retain many of the elements that traditional communities incorporated into the rearing of young children such as the passing of skills to the next generation. This transfer of knowledge includes both the formal and the hidden curriculum. However, particularly since the industrial revolution, society has become increasingly complex and stratified. In modern society, in general, we have developed norms and minimum requirements that a teacher must adhere to in order to be certified.
Teaching is a vocation and will continue to be a vocation in the sense that humans, as social and communal animals, are instinctively responsible for the next generation. Life in solitude could be poor, nasty and brutish, but man has never (naturally) been alone. We teach each other as a way of survival. Together, through that innate vocation of passing knowledge from one generation to the next, our ancestors were able to hunt down the Mammoth and other animals with great efficiency, in many instances to extinction. Humans everywhere survive because they work together. Teaching therefore, to me, is a prehistoric human tradition, and a societal need.
Teaching is a profession, because in modern capitalistic or socialistic society, labor has been commoditized, we trade labor and services as we trade other goods. While some individuals have been given, as a result of their certification, the job, the duty, and the opportunity, to teach the next generation, others have been given or have obtained access to a wide array of professional positions. To make the modern societal machine function, we should all provide a contribution. We live in a complex word where we must earn a living, and it our world today, teaching is one of the ways in which we can earn a living while at the same time help human society sustain itself.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you're an educator, why did you join the vocation or related profession?
Like others have mentioned, I joined teaching to make a change. To help individuals from every social class to obtain the tools that will help them look at life critically and adequately face future unprecedented crises.
As a history teacher and a futurist, I am interested in finding ways to help students to look into the past in order to help them better understand the future. I am also interested in trendlines (rather than headlines). Helping students have ideas of future possibilities (multiple futures for humanity) and how we are both capable of finding ways to solve most problems but at the same time incredibly limited and how we should always have a child’s flexible, an inquisitive mind, and understand our value premises, as well as develop a strong philosophical foundation. I joined education so that I could help tomorrow’s children be well rounded individuals, enjoy life, and care for their peers as for themselves.
Through my research I hope to better understand the possibilities and the role of OERs for Developing Countries. What does the future hold? How will we "flatten" education credentialism? While the world is flat in terms of real-time telecommunications, knowledge continues to be a commodity that limits certain countries from owning or having control over the means of production.
While before developing countries imported goods, they then began to import machines to make these basic goods through Import Substitution Industrialization (ISI), yet until they understand how to make the machines, how to create knowledge, they will always be importing from one place or the other. There is nothing wrong with importing and exporting, but to purposely restrict access to credentials and information and by doing so limiting the ability of developing countries to improve their efficiency of their economies, the knowledge-base of their human capital and their standard of living, should not extend to educational materials. While we should respect innovation rights and patents, education (access to the shoulders of giants) should be free to all of those who venture to find them. Apart from developing countries, this issue extends for me to individuals who are also unable to escape poverty and achieve social mobility because of limited access to quality instruction or education materials. The internet and OERs are not a panacea, but they are a step in the right direction.
I hope to learn from all of you during the subsequent discussions!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Tell us why you have joined this workshop and what you expect to learn and share
While I am researching OERs, I believe that true innovation and the best (groundbreaking) ideas were and are developed in “coffee house” type environments. They are developed in forums where we are able to bounce ideas off one another. This course is a way to learn from experts such as Wayne and Jim as well as reach out to other supporters of OERs with the hope that we will encourage and challenge each other to find solutions to some of the problems currently facing the OER community, as well as aid the growth and development of OERs. The more we educate our “sisters” and “brothers” or all of the inhabitants of the world, the greater the likelihood that we will be able to creatively solve the world’s problems. As Paulo Freire advocated, we must empower and increase the consciousness of those that do not feel as if they should take part in discussions that are beyond their level of education. We could achieve this by freeing knowledge, collectively producing education resources, and freeing education, so that those with inquisitive minds will be able to find the means to change the stars.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In your opinion, is teaching a vocation or profession. Why?
Education to me is a way of life. We used to learn from our parents and from our tribe, but in modern society we learn from a teacher, who is there so that we can increase society’s productivity and specialization through the division of labor. Adults, including the parents of today’s children have specialized jobs and children rather than learn primarily from their parents, from their elders, from the village, they learn and attend a government sanctioned institution. This institution can retain many of the elements that traditional communities incorporated into the rearing of young children such as the passing of skills to the next generation. This transfer of knowledge includes both the formal and the hidden curriculum. However, particularly since the industrial revolution, society has become increasingly complex and stratified. In modern society, in general, we have developed norms and minimum requirements that a teacher must adhere to in order to be certified.
Teaching is a vocation and will continue to be a vocation in the sense that humans, as social and communal animals, are instinctively responsible for the next generation. Life in solitude could be poor, nasty and brutish, but man has never (naturally) been alone. We teach each other as a way of survival. Together, through that innate vocation of passing knowledge from one generation to the next, our ancestors were able to hunt down the Mammoth and other animals with great efficiency, in many instances to extinction. Humans everywhere survive because they work together. Teaching therefore, to me, is a prehistoric human tradition, and a societal need.
Teaching is a profession, because in modern capitalistic or socialistic society, labor has been commoditized, we trade labor and services as we trade other goods. While some individuals have been given, as a result of their certification, the job, the duty, and the opportunity, to teach the next generation, others have been given or have obtained access to a wide array of professional positions. To make the modern societal machine function, we should all provide a contribution. We live in a complex word where we must earn a living, and it our world today, teaching is one of the ways in which we can earn a living while at the same time help human society sustain itself.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you're an educator, why did you join the vocation or related profession?
Like others have mentioned, I joined teaching to make a change. To help individuals from every social class to obtain the tools that will help them look at life critically and adequately face future unprecedented crises.
As a history teacher and a futurist, I am interested in finding ways to help students to look into the past in order to help them better understand the future. I am also interested in trendlines (rather than headlines). Helping students have ideas of future possibilities (multiple futures for humanity) and how we are both capable of finding ways to solve most problems but at the same time incredibly limited and how we should always have a child’s flexible, an inquisitive mind, and understand our value premises, as well as develop a strong philosophical foundation. I joined education so that I could help tomorrow’s children be well rounded individuals, enjoy life, and care for their peers as for themselves.
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