Assignment #9: Haiku Lesson and Learning Management Systems

This week, we learned to use Haiku Learning, a Learning Management System (LMS). This is not entirely new to us. We have been using Laulima since we started the program. In fact, I was introduced to Laulima in 2010 when I was in the English program at UH-Manoa. However, even though we have been using this tool for a while now, I did not know that it was an LMS.

An LMS is a computer-based tool that integrates lesson planning, assessments, record keeping, class discussion posts, etc. It can be a very useful tool because it keeps the different aspects of teaching in one place. It is also useful to students because again, everything is in one place. If a student loses their homework planner, no biggie, it's on the site. If a student is bursting to share their insights on the reading assignment, they can post their thoughts immediately instead of waiting for their next class session.

Using Haiku was a real joy. Sometimes, the tools we discover take some time and teeth-grinding effort to figure out. Haiku was easy to use. I was able to piece together a lesson for my teachers in less than an hour. I plan to use Haiku to improve our weekly teacher meetings. Just like any other flipped learning class, the teachers will be given links to various media to introduce them to the topic for the week. I am requiring them to post their thoughts to Haiku and to respond to other teachers' posts to help them start thinking about the topic. By the time we meet, they will be ready to discuss the topic in more depth and they will be better prepared for the challenges that I will propose. Because, really, what is the point of teacher improvement if they are not challenged to put their learning into practice.

Check out what I plan to have my teachers do for our first Haikulearning lesson. I can't wait to get my teachers' feedback and see how our weekly teacher meetings improve.

I'm flipping teacher in-service!!!

Assignment: PLN Diagram

Check out my Personal Learning Network Diagram on Popplet!

Blog Post #7: Assessing Internet Resources

Resources:

• "Artificial liver 'could be grown.'" 
• "Mouse with human ear."
• "Vacanti mouse."

This week, we read three online resources treating the same topic, the ear mouse.  Although the articles were about the same topic, they had more differences than similarities.

• Similarities:
• Overall topic
• Basic background information
• Who? Charles Vacanti
• What? Published a paper with colleagues chronicling their success at growing an ear on the back of a mouse
• When? 1997
• Differences:
• Tone.  The "Artificial liver" article had a professional tone, while the "Human ear" article   almost seemed patronizing especially when compared to the "Artificial liver" article.  "Artificial liver" laid out information in a detached manner.  The writer of "Human ear," however, attempts to make the reader believe that he is their friend and only wants to clear things up for them.
• Focus.  
• "Artificial liver" focuses on new research that builds on the ear mouse experiment to grow a human liver
• "Human ear" focuses on disputing the claims of anti-genetic engineering groups
• "Vacanti mouse" is focused on giving very brief descriptions of the term and its background
• Amount of details.  Both "Artificial liver" and "Human ear" have a lot of good details in them.  However, because their focus is different, the details are also different.
• "Artificial liver" details the challenges and responses to challenges of growing a liver.
• "Human ear" defines genetic engineering and describes the ear mouse process to prove that genetic engineering was not a part of it
• Bias.
• "Artificial liver" maintains an unbiased approach throughout the article.  The writer presents the facts without prejudice.  One evidence of this is that the article cites scientists on both ends of the spectrum: those who believe it could work, and those who don't.
• The author of "Human ear," has a definite bias.  His entire purpose is to debunk groups who are against genetic engineering.
• References.  Only the Wikipedia entry included any references to other articles.

Because of its professional tone and its unbiased approach, I believe that "Artificial liver" is the most reliable of the three online articles.  The next step to verifying its accuracy would be to find other articles from reliable sources and compare the information.

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Well, this is embarrassing!  I just read this article from November Learning about the problem of internet research that students face.  They used the same three articles above to make their point that students do not know how to use the internet to accurately solve complex research problems.  The first thing I noticed immediately was that I missed a lot of the inaccuracies in details between the three articles.  I focused on generalities instead of specifics.  So, that was ding number 1. 

Ding 2 came as a result of my solution to verifying accuracy, namely to do more research.  Wrong!  Well, it's only kind of wrong.  The correct answer is to find primary resources.  So, a more focused research than I had planned.

My third ding is not really a ding but a Duh!  I love advanced settings and I use them all the time. But, I have never used Google's advanced search settings.  I cannot explain that lack, hence the Duh!

Before this activity, I would have classified myself as an advanced researcher.  I now realize that I have a lot to learn.  This is a good thing because, as the November Learning article points out, "We probably would be better off if they (the students) knew that they did not know," an excellent observation that applies to both students and educators.  This activity has also shown me that I cannot assume that any of my teachers have advanced internet research skills.  I plan to have my teachers do a similar activity so that they can gauge their own level of skills and understand the problem students face and the challenge we have as educators to better prepare them for research by developing their ability to focus their research and determine reliability of resources.  The one, two approach that November learning promotes, common sense and Common Core, seems reasonable and manageable.

Once again, the title of my blog proves to be quite apt as I certainly got schooled this week. :)