Week+5

= __**Week 5**__ =

Resource Manager-Erika
2/20 Mark- I think we have all done a fantastic job on the activity plan. I really like the variety of reflections, readings (blogs) and hands on Podcast creation and then the "lessons learned" reflections after those activities.

Are there any outstanding questions about the facilitation Template plan that's been put together? Anything anyone wants to update/change/edit?

Let's list any items here and we can "discuss". Do you think Thursday (midnight) is a realistic date to have the final version of our "week's activities" completed? I'll start us off with a question (I e-mailed it too so if it's been answered there then I'll just transfer it to here). 1. Are we going to add the option of Audioboo to the Podcast creation software choices? (I personally liked the option). 2/20 Erika- Mark-One of the step by step directions in the Facilitation Plan mentioned that students could create a podcast from a software of their choice or they could use audacity. So, I think we allow everyone to create a podcast with any type of software they like. I don't think we should limit the assignment to audacity. Maria- when you are looking over the plan could you make sure the wording implies that the students are able to use any type of podcasting software they would like if that is what we choose. Just so we make it clear? Thanks! 2. The role that I have for the Faciliatation plan says that I guide the discussion by asking questions throughout the week. Does this mean that I am reading everyone's posts and commenting and asking them questions like Donna? Also, do I pop in for a mid week comment as well, like Donna does? Just wanted to be clear. Thanks!

2/20 Mark - I agree about the software choices. My point was that along with saying that students could use any Podcasting software they like or if new to Podcasting they could use Audacity, Hilliary had mentioned another optional choice of Audioboo which she had directions for. I didn't know if we wanted to explicitly add this also.

2/21 Hilliary- I like the idea of leaving the podcast tool optional. We gave students directions for Audacity and Erika- I thought you said the site you posted included a link with directions for audioboo (am I remembering that correctly?) Both of these will help participants unfamiliar with podcasting get started. I also think allowing everyone to choose there own tool could open up opportunties for others to learn about a new resource in addition to audacity and audioboo. 2/22Erika- I posted a link to the Audioboo site. It gives a tutorial on how to open and account, get started, or watch a video to see what it is about. I did not create step by step directions, I thought the site was pretty self explanatory. 2/22 Hilliary- I thought you had posted a link. I think the tutoriall will be enough. They can always choose to use audacity or a different tool.

2/22 (Mark) thanks Erika. Hilliary too said it was pretty self explanatory. I think the link is enough. If anyone gets to that point in the activity and decides to use Audioboo and gets stuck I'll help them figure out what to do.

My opinion to your question 2. As to your role of asking questions throughout the week: I think you will read the students posts and comment (as perhaps we all can?) but I thought Maria was checking in mid-week for questions and comments, no?

(Hilliary) I agree that we should all try to read students posts and comment as needed to help divvy it up a little. Thats a big job for one person. I think Maria is checking in mid-week and then I am summarizing at the end. I have an additional question: 3. In the facilitation plan under Follow-up Discussion Questions/ Key Points (the last 3 bullets): When are their discussion posts for these due? and should we explicitly (again) say where to post them? Other than those 2 small things I can't think of anything we haven't covered. : )

2/20- Mark, good point. Maybe instead of write another written response in a thread since the class will be doing this earlier in the week, we wrap these questions into part of the reflection in the podcast response?

2/21 (Maria)- Hi Team, I agree! **The activities and readings that everyone put together are excellent!** I just went through the plan, as a student, and I had some thoughts before I continue with my edits. Please take a look at my recommendations/questions below and provide your feedback. I don't think Thursday should be an issue unless we need to discuss the items below in more detail. Please let me know if you would like to Skype to discuss. I would love your thoughts! Thanks!

1. I was wondering if it may make more sense to have the participants complete the readings //first// and then use Mark's reflection questions as the discussion prompts similar to how Donna conducts our weekly courses. For example, the directions could read to complete the required reading and then briefly respond to __at least two of following prompts__:

2/21 (Mark) I like the idea of using the reflection questions as discussion prompts and if we do that then it seems to make sense that they do the readings first. I vote Yes on this,

2/21 (Hilliary) I agree that doing the readings first makes sense. I vote Yes too! :)

-How comfortable you would be in adding Podcasting to your teaching? = = -Would your school encourage its usage or create barriers? -What are some of the issues and limitations of Podcasting?

2. Then, I thought perhaps, we could have them add two ideas to the same wiki that Donna has been having us add our ideas to throughout the course. That way, we could all go back and look at a list of Podcasting ideas that we could potentially take back to our classrooms/work environments, etc. along with our other lists. Here is an idea for the prompt.

2/21 (Mark) I like number 2 also. I think having them think about how to actually use Podcasting in their own teaching is a great example of higher order thinking and problem solving.

2/21 (Hilliary) What a great idea Maria! Putting the ideas on a Wiki will give a much more accessable resource for teachers than listening to a bunch of podcasts! I like the scenarios that you listed below for the students to respond to in their podcast instead. Do we want to make the podcast a team discussion? I'm good either way. I'm thinking teams could have a meaningful discussion of their responses. Since there will only be 4-5 podcasts to listen to it won't be so overwhelming.

-Please add two specific ideas on how you might be able to incorporate Podcasting into your teaching or professional development work. Please make certain to read the other ideas before your post so we reduce the amount of redundancy, etc.

3. Then, for the podcast, I thought we could have students answer a different prompt since they will have already written two examples on the wiki. Perhaps, we could let them choose a scenario in which to respond/reflect. What do you think about something like this?

2/21 (Mark) Just a question about #3 - Are you saying that we have them respond to one of the prompts (below) ON their podcast? Just wanted to be sure I understood.

2/21 (Erika) The first 2 points are fine with me. Good work Maria! I guess it seems like a more logical format since that is what everyone is used to. I'm sure the class would appreciate the same type of format with all the other assignments we have to complete. Also, I like the idea of the prompt. Out of the 2 prompts I like the second one better only because I feel like it will be more beneficial in the long run for most people. When they have to apply the use of podcasting to their current situation it might be more meaningful for them. I also added a few sentences to the end of the second prompt.

Your school's principal has just come back from a conference and has heard about potential privacy issues with using student-created Podcasts. She also thinks this is just another "fad". The first grade team at your school just returned from the same conference and is excited about the potential use of Podcasts for language development and foreign language practice. How would you address both your principal's concerns and be an advocate for the first grade team? What recommendations/cautions would you give to the first grade team and other teachers who would like to use Podcasting?

OR

Your employer has asked you to investigate Podcasts for supplemental professional development/training purposes. After evaluating some of the links from the reading, what are some free Podcasts that you would recommend to back to your team from the readings or from another source? And explain why you would recommend these podcasts.

=** 2/22 (Maria) Wow! You guys are fast! Erika, I really like the changes you made to the scenario. And, yes, Mark, I was thinking that we could give them a choice to pick either one of the two scenarios to record their podcast. That way, we would get a variety and others could actually hear different responses so it would be boring for them when they listen. **=

= ** I will work on making the edits tonight and then send back to everyone for a final review. I am traveling tomorrow and won't be back home until late, but I can review your feedback and send to Donna on Friday morning. That is still early. Please let me know if you have any questions, thoughts, or concerns. Thanks for being so kind and receptive to my recommendations. I really appreciate all of the work that you all have put into the project to get us this far! Thanks again! ** =

==== 2/22 (Mark). Sounds great Maria. Friday anytime to Donna is fine. Thanks SO much for your edits and Thanks Erika for the scenario changes. All these changes have made a really good e-learning initiative even better. And thanks Hilliary discovering the additional choice of Audioboo. I think Donna will be impressed with our effort. ====

2/22 Hilliary- Thank you again for putting this all together. I think getting it in to Donna Friday will be great. Mark- Erika really found Audioboo...I just remembered it from last week....thanks Erika!

__Other Business__
Readings (2/20)- I posted a few resources on the Resource Page about best practices, questions to guide discussion, and other things to think about when facilitating discussion and classes online. I thought it would be helpful as we approach our time as the Team Facilitators. Enjoy! (PS-You may need to login with you JHED ID to view some of them, but I'm not sure)

2/20 Mark- Yes you have to log in (it takes you to the log in screen) to read the last 2. thanks for posting these they're great.