Chip

Chip: Hi there.
rsynk: hello
Matt Dockery: Hello
Tanja: @64,64 !It's Tanja
Chip: So, a few of you have made it here. I take it my message about the orientation class came through.
Jim Raber: hi
Matt Dockery: Yes
rsynk: yes
Tanja: I got it too.
Chip: I'm hoping that no one went to White Hall this evening. Of course, I never sent a room number, so that would discourage people right there.
rsynk: true
Chip: OK, so this is where we will meet most weeks.
Chip: It's a bad place to try to lecture, so we will do things like divide into groups and do some exercises, etc.
rsynk: in this room?
Matt Dockery: ok
Chip: Well, this is the entry point or lobby. It's easy to find. The breakout groups will use ohter rooms.
Chip: Have you had a chance to look around at all?
Jim Raber: yes
Matt Dockery: Yes, it seems easy to navigate
Tanja: Yes a little.
Chip: OK, One quick way to find individual rooms is the Options menu... Goto Room. I often will tell gorups to use the Small Conference Room or something.
Tanja: How do we determine where to go?
Chip: We'll meet here. When I have breakout groups I will give you a room.
Chip: Later in the semester, groups can choose their own rooms pretty easily.
Matt Dockery: How exactly do we earn the 50 points for the online discussions?
Tanja: Will you assign the groups?
Chip: Tanja, yes, I will.
Chip: Matt: those points are for the discussion forums in Moodle.
Chip: You earn them by being active in the substantive content forums.
rsynk: and we can post them any time throughout the week?
Matt Dockery: Oh, I see. I thought those points were earned here, thanks for clarifying
Chip: The most points are for asking good questions that get responses.
Chip: Yes, you can post anytime you want. As we move along, however, you should post to the newer forums, not the ones that we have already dealt with.
Chip: I'm trying to encourage more or less constant participation throughout the semeter.
Chip: We only have 1/4 of the class here this evening, and it really is just to make sure that people know how the course works.
Chip: So, mostly I just take questions from y'all.
Matt Dockery: On average, are we usually in this discussion area from 7:20 until 10:00pm?
Chip: Good point, Matt. I find that in fact about 1.5 hours is the limit of a good class (give or take a little depending on what we are doing).
Tanja: It seems that projects are done individually. Where collaboration and group work comes in?
Chip: That means that the class itself will usually go from about 7:30 to 9. Perhaps a little longer sometimes.
Chip: I'll put that up on the website or Moodle.
Chip: Tanja, I am doing individual projects this semester. I tried groups project in the Fall but I need to work out some details to make sure they work better.
Chip: Are there still some places on the site that talk about collaboration?
Chip: If so, tell me where and I'll change it.
rsynk: i tried to watch the introductory power point but it didn't play. Is there software I need or is it being filtered?
Tanja: I believe there are in "How to take this course".
Chip: Thanks, Tanja, I'll check that again.
Matt Dockery: I am the type of person that needs to go over things a couple times, maybe I missed it, but is any part of our grade based on these online discussions on Tuesdays?
Chip: Rsynk, those were made a few years ago. They only work on Windows, and I don't know how compatible they are with new versions. Guess I'd best check and probably redo them.
rsynk: thanks
Chip: Matt, that's fine... it's why we have several different places to ask questions. No,you are expected to come to class, but there aren't points involved.
Chip: Hi Heidi
Matt Dockery: Is the first "due" date for our Needs assessment two weeks from today if I read the outline correct?
Heidi Grunenberg: Hello
Chip: Yes, Matt.
Tanja: So by that time we need to pick the project and write Needs assessment for it?
Chip: The pattern will be that you read about a part of the process (such as Needs Assessment), then we have a class on it, then you do a draft of the assignment.
Chip: Yes, Tanja, a key right now is to find a project.
Matt Dockery: Can we email you within the next couple of days with our project idea?
Chip: Yes, Matt. I do ask that you read the guidelines and try the "interactive decision aid" that is linked from that page first.
Chip: Then email me and I'll try to make sure that you have a winner.
Matt Dockery: I just tried that interactive decision aid about 30 min. ago. Worked well.
Chip: Good.
Matt Dockery: I see that there is a log of the chat, can that be saved on here?
Chip: Good question. You each have the abililty to save your own log.
Chip: Use the file name, open log file.... And remember where you save it!
Chip: I will try to remember to post them each week, too.
Chip: Also, the server logs everything (including your whispers, so be nice to me!).
Joe Walder: For the project, we only need to be thinking about what we may want to do right now?
Chip: You should try to decide on it by next week's class.
Joe Walder: ok
Chip: Chioce of project is pretty critical, so don't be afraid to discuss it in the forum on Moodle and via email with me.
Tanja: Is Palace used a lot in schools and education? I am teaching adults and never heard about it.
rsynk: me neither
Matt Dockery: me too
Chip: Not really, Tanja. It was popular about 10 years ago or so, which in Internet years is ancient. There is still a small community.
Chip: Nowadays, people are excited about Second Life.
Jim Raber: thats a great app btw
Chip: But I like this because it does what I want better: it's free, low bandwidth, low memory and CPU requirements, Mac and Win, easy to do breakout groups, etc.
Chip: Yes, Jim, SL has some interesting possibilties, but for a class like this I don't want to have people fighting with the technology.
Jim Raber: agreed, it is quite a system hog
Chip: Oh, yeah.
Chip: I just put an extra GB of RAM in this computer, so it probalby does OK.
Chip: Again, I'll take any and all questions about the course this evening.
Chip: And when something hits you tomorrow, there's a forum in Moodle for more questions about the course.
Jim Raber: how frequently will we be meeting in person?
Matt Dockery: When is everyone getting their book? I ordered mine Sunday evening and hopefully it will be here in the next couple days
Chip: Never, Jim.
Jim Raber: okay
Heidi Grunenberg: I just got my book..
Tanja: What are Critique Days in schedule?
rsynk: I don't know, it says it shipped but I can't track it!
Chip: We have a LITTLE bit of leeway with the book. That is, if it takes longer than expected, you will be able to catch up.
Karie: did anyone else have trouble logging onto the "www.educ.kent.edu" address for the portal?
Chip: Hi Karle
Joe Walder: Karie, I did
Joe Walder: It doesn't seem to be up and running
Chip: Which portal is that?
Joe Walder: That portal was on the info page about Palace
Karie: It's the one listed first under "signing onto the palace" tips
Chip: Sorry about that. I'll fix it. They aren't running that reliably any more.
Chip: Which is why I moved to my personal one.
Karie: So should we always come here? (aingram.educ.kent.edu?) Actually I'm amazed I'm here. I think I accidentally stumbled onto it. I hope I can do it again!
rsynk: bookmark it
Chip: Always here, yes. I'll be remindin everyone of the address for the first few weeks.
Chip: Acttually, Palace always tries to log into the most recent one you visiting, so it should be easily accessible.
Karie: That's good.
Chip: It is also possible to set this as your "home" palace in the Preferences.
Karie: I'll give that a try. I'm really not all that computer literate. This class will be a stretch for me!
Matt Dockery: me too!
Chip: Don't worry, it'll be second nature in a couple of week.s
Karie: How come no one else is talking?
Chip: Some are, but it is a pretty quiet bunch at the moment.
Matt Dockery: When should we start posting in the discussion area on moodle? starting next week?
Heidi Grunenberg: I am trying fi figure out what all the buttons do since this is the first class with the Palace
Chip: Any time now, Matt. Most of you have already introduced yourselves. There is now a place to discuss your ideas for projects.
Chip: And a Needs Assessment forum.
Matt Dockery: When you send material to you to be checked, we can just send as an attachment correct?
Karie: Will we be submitting our Needs Assessment to you by attaching it to email?
Chip: You can add those as we go along, Heidi. There are ways to where different props and avatars, to make noises, to draw, etc.
Chip: But none of that is necessary for the class.... they are all extras.
Chip: if you know how to talk and how to get around, then you'll be fine.
Karie: Do we have to "go" anywhere?
Heidi Grunenberg: I can be like a kid in a toy store when it come to some new program
Chip: Well, I'm hoping to move to submitting most things through Moodle, because it is easier to keep track of. It is essentially an attachment prcess.
Chip: Karie, you will have to move around here in Palace to different rooms.
Matt Dockery: All of my questions (that I can think of for now) have been asked and answered. Have a great evening everyone!
Chip: Often the easiest way to do that is Options menu... Goto Room.
Chip: Great, Matt. See you online.
rsynk: good night
Karie: How will we know where and when to go to different rooms? Are there different people we're supposed to talk to?
rsynk: thanks
Chip: I will tell you that each time during class, karie.
Karie: Okay---I'm just getting ahead of myself and stressing out!
Chip: It'll be like in a f2f class where the teacher might say "OK, you three are in a group to discuss xyz. Go over to that corner to work."
Karie: Gotcha. But we start out here?
Chip: You'll see, Karie, it'll all be smooth within a couple of weeks.
Chip: Yes, we will start out here, since it is easiest to find.
Karie: How many people are in the class?
Chip: A bit over 20.
Chip: So when everyone shows up, it is crowded here. That's why we do breakout groups and other activities.
Chip: Also, make sure that you have your log window open in Palace. It makes it much easier to follow things.
Karie: What exactly does that mean?
Karie: Is that the little window that says "Log
Chip: Well, you see the little balloons when people talk, right? There is also a window... the log window that shows the entire conversation.
Chip: yes, If it is a little window, then point to the lower right corner and pull it out so it is big enough to see what people are saying.
Karie: oops--I accidentally hit enter before finishing. I think I found it. It just scripts the entire conversation.
Chip: I make mine as big as possible.
Chip: Exactly, right, Karie.
Karie: I see what you mean!
Chip: I will also post these logs on the website, so you can review them.
Chip: And you can save your own (File menu... Open log file...)
Chip: Other questions? Project questions?
Karie: So is everyone else still here but not saying anything, or have they "left"? If I close out of this, will I also disappear?
Chip: They are not necessarily saying anything.
Chip: Say "Hello" everyone.
Jim Raber: i'm still here, multitasking a bit...reading some of the stuff on moodle :)
Heidi Grunenberg: Hi
Chip: Yes, when you leave, your character disappears.
Chip: I do that a lot, too, Jim.
Heidi Grunenberg: Me too...
Tanja: I am also here but also go over the syllabus and other stuff.
Chip: No problem, Tanja.
Chip: So the big issues right at the beginning are learning the software (Moodle and Palace especially), picking a project,
Chip: getting a book, figuring out grading...
Joe Walder: ok I'm heading out. I'll see you all in moodle
Chip: OK, Joe.
Tanja: I looked in some projects at the web site and see that they do a lot of technical things - like accept data entry... Are we supposed to come up with software that will do that?
Karie: I hope not! I was hoping to choose a project that fits more specifically into what I do with my students in 6th grade science...?
Chip: No, Tanja. The usual project will be paper based, so that you don't have to do that kind of thing.
Chip: Later in the course we will talk about how to design it so that you can give people feedback, etc.
Chip: But let's keep the media simple. It's time-consuming enough without that.
Chip: Yes, Karie, that's the kind of project we are looking for.
Chip: One thing to keep in mind is that you will try these things out with student in late April or so. You might want to choose something that you will be teaching then anyway.
Tanja: I understood that projects are paper based but they are also posted on the web and look interractive to me. That is why I was asking.
Chip: Tanja, when I find a project that is really good, and is already online (or formatted for it), then I ask permission to post it. The interacctive part is not required.
Chip: That would be for a course like Designing Multimedia, however.
Tanja: OK. Thanks.
Karie: I'm thinking, based on our 5th and 6th grade OAT scores, that my students NEED to be able to correctly read and "break down" the extended response questions better.
Chip: That might work, Karie.
Karie: They will take the OAT in May. Does that timeline work? Of course I could give sample assessments in April.
Chip: The timing sounds right.
Tanja: I think I am set for tonight. Thanks and goodnight.
Chip: OK Tanja. See you online.
Karie: According to 5th grade date, every one of our students attempted the extended response questions. But almost nobody got full credit on any of them.
Chip: That's good data for the Needs Assessment, Karie.
Karie: oops--I mean "data" instead of
Karie: So for next class, explore the website, Moodle, course topics, and of course read the chapters?
Chip: I think we can assume minor typos in here.
Chip: And try to focus in on a project.
Chip: That should about do ti.
Jim Raber: i think i'm going to head out...most of my questions have been answered. nice meeting everyone :)
Karie: I'm kind of thinking in that direction already. I hope I can use the extended response improvement idea. Anyway, I'm off to explore other aspects of the class. Thanks, everyone.
Chip: OK JIm. Se eyou.
Chip: OK, Karie. See you.
Chip: Heidi, any questions?
Heidi Grunenberg: I think i am good...
Heidi Grunenberg: thanks for the info... and see you online
Chip: See you.