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BP_Final Project

Relevant and Innovative Learning Scenario

Dawn Blair

Brief Overview:  Communication and collaboration can be challenging in a global environment.  When you have learners and/or coworkers in multiple locations, what’s the best method to getting everyone’s ideas in a centralized location without spending countless hours in meetings? With this RILS I hope to provide one solution that may alleviate some of these challenges.

1.    Target Audience- Adult Learners

2.    Materials-

a.     Computer with Internet access

b.    Free Mindomo.com account

3.    Objectives- At the end of this scenario the learner will be able to:

a.     Construct an individual concept map using personal data.

b.    Arrange ideas on a pre-constructed concept map surrounding a single topic.

c.     Collaborate with multiple users to create a finalized product in real time.

d.    Manage complex data using a Web 2.0 tool.

4.    Procedure-

a.     Connect to the Internet and type in http://www.mindomo.com.

b.    If you haven’t done so already, sign up for a free account.

c.     Review the tutorials on how to use Mindomo.com’s mapping tool.

d.    Create a map named “Family”.  Create 3 topics named “Parents”,  “Children” and “Siblings”.  Add subtopics to each topic with the names of your family members.

e.     Once you’ve completed the Family map, I will share a map with you named “Company Picnic” through email.

f.      Brainstorm, collaborate and plan a company outing, i.e., a picnic using the concept map in real time.

g.     Add topics and subtopics based on the needs and wants for this particular activity.

h.    Record your thoughts about the ease of use of this tool as you add to the map and the map gets updated.

i.      Share your Family map and the final Company Picnic map with me once you’re finished, by adding me as a collaborator.

5.    Web 2.0 Tool- The Web 2.0 tool I chose to use is http://www.mindomo.com.  This tool is used for concept mapping, collaborating and organizing ideas, plans, and thoughts.

6.    Social Participation/Social Learning- The social learning piece of this scenario comes in the form of the participants creating a single product from remote locations.  They will initially learn to create a product on their own, using their family members as topics and subtopics.  I will create a map then add the participants as collaborators and give them permissions to view and modify the map so that they can add information, create notes and tasks.  This map will be the final product of the scenario.

7.    Making Connections-

a.     The learners will use their previous knowledge of outlines, and note taking and apply it to the new concept map approach.

b.    This tool will allow the learners to develop a new way to organize and plan ideas and thoughts.  By having this tool in their arsenal, the learners will be able to save time, become more efficient in their tasks and be able to accomplish more no matter where they are located.

c.     As this tool is Internet-based, participants are able to reach out to a wide public audience or a public forum where anyone is allowed to add to or modify the product.

8.    Create/Produce- For the purpose of this RILS, the end product will be a company picnic planning concept map.

9.    Assessment- Please see attachment.

10. Reflection-

a.     The participants will record their progress during the process and reflect on ease of use, what they learned, how they think they’d improve the process and if and how they’d use this tool in the future.  I will roll up this information in a brief to accompany my results.

b.    I will conduct a short interview with each participant to find ways to improve this process.

Results:

Once each learner created their Family map, they shared it with me via the Mindomo.com interface.  I had the learners go through this process in order to become more familiar with the tool.   Here are their products.

Brumskill Family

Campbell Family

The real time collaboration among the three of us flowed smoothly and rather quickly.  I asked the learners to add one or two additional items to the map, but as they came up with ideas, they wound up adding three and four extra items and adding more topics and subtopics.

Both individuals offered some great feedback.  One will be using this tool to plan her family reunion with others in her family.  She mentioned the ease of use and how fast the learning curve is.  My other subject also plans to use this tool in the future for office planning and collaboration.  She mentioned how effective this tool will be to keep time-consuming meetings to a minimum and to allow a focus on the important topics.  Here is the finalized product from my RILS.

Video:

PE8_Garage Band

My third and final update for the Garage Band tutorial deals with the plethora of virtual instruments available for use, the ease if editing and podcasts. 

Should you find yourself lacking for inspiration or creativity, the virtual instruments offer a number of options including loops which I mentioned in an earlier post, effects to enhance your music and various styles of music.  This allows you to adjust in the middle of your project should you change your mind or get suddenly hit with musical inspiration.  Throughout this lesson, this section is the one I’ve looked forward to since I don’t own a musical instrument but want to become more musically inclined.  There are so many instruments within the Garage Band interface, but you’re able to purchase more through the Apple Store.

Once your project is to your liking, editing and mixing play an enormous part in completing your project.  There are so many ways to make your song sound just as professional as anything heard on the radio or on television. With time and practice, your project can be shared or kept for personal use within your iTunes library or iWeb.

And finally, Garage Band has Podcast capabilities, allowing users to create a homemade podcast using original music or a bank of royalty-free jingles and sound effects.  The effects don’t end with the music, users can also choose what style they’d like their voice to be heard in with choices like radio, megaphone and even helium.  Since the final format can only be saved in iTunes, I was only able to capture the screen shot of my recorded podcast.  

PE7_Garage Band

Part II of my Garage Band experience, and I'm realizing that without a MIDI keyboard, guitar or electric guitar, I really can't get much use out of this tool.  Or can I...

With a simplified version of a virtual keyboard, I have the option of using my mouse or the actual Kwerty keys to play and record any virtual instrument within Garage Band (there is hope afterall!).  A user could potentially create an entire masterpiece using this function save some minor limitations.  But if you're just trying to throw a tune together, this works perfectly.  Ideally, though, you would have a MIDI keyboard or other instrument to capture the best possible sound for creation.  Lynda.com even gives pointers on which equipment is best for which usage.

But as Garage Band is heavily instrument driven, a huge chunk of the lesson is devoted to the use of electric guitars, and recording with real instruments.  But don't let that scare you, there are more ways to create a musical masterpiece.

Another exciting feature of Garage Band is the Loops capability.  With loops, anyone can create a cut and paste variety song but still personalize it by adjusting the tempo, style of music and even the key the song plays in.  I almost felt like a composer as I followed along and created a simple loops song with percussion, piano and bass.  Really taking the time to get into the Garage Band application will afford you the best in easy digital recording regardless of whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned musician.

PE6_Garage Band

A tool that I’ve heard about for years, but never had the privilege of actually using or learning is Garage Band.  Thank goodness for Lynda.com which provides so much extensive training (4.5hrs!) on this new tool that I’ve slightly fallen in love with.  Garage Band is great for anyone who wants to create, record, or even learn how to play music.  With its free and pay for use lessons, anyone could potentially be the next Sting, or at least learn how to sound like him J.

In the first set of lessons, much attention is paid to Magic Garage Band (not sure if this is a newer feature or not), which allows users to play along with and even record with a preset style of music.  The interface seems user-friendly, allowing you to skip to certain parts of the song or loop a particular section that you may want to focus on.  And the instruments available in Garage Band are expansive, but I’ll get to that later. 

 Recording inside the actual GB interface should be familiar to anyone who’s used digital recordings in a previous life.  The multiple tracks are layed out in such a way that you’re able to mute, solo or adjust the instruments during play.  And, if you fall into the novice category, Apple is kind enough to offer free guitar and piano lessons with multiple viewing options to optimize your experience.  Or, if you feel like jamming with the greats, trying out their Artist Lessons for a fee through the music store is an option worth looking into.       

PE5_Mindomo.com

Phase 2 of my RILS strategic planning involved using my mother to access my concept map remotely and make some minor changes.  After a phone call for clarification and brainstorming ideas, the map evolved from an abstract figure to a spider-like creature, more fleshed out and detailed.  I appreciated the feedback on what additional topics to add, but of course I got more than I bargained for by using family members as consultants J.  Nearly losing focus, I had to reel the project back into the light and pare off the extra fluff that my mom tried to add.  (Note to self, in the future use an objective subject to test out test tools with).    Even she noted how easily she was able to manipulate the site and create topics, subtopics and change the background.  I think if she had been using the tool for a little while in advance, there wouldn’t have been a need for the phone call, but curiosity (and just catching up in general) got the best of her.   She wanted to know more about my assignment and once she was briefed she was more than happy to assist.   This makes me optimistic about my RILS plan but I feel my approach with my actual participants may need a little tweaking.   I may need to prep my subjects and have them review the tutorial video and then provide some initial feedback on their comfort level at using Mindomo.   I still feel this is one of the easiest tools to use in a collaborative environment whether it is remote or next door.  Looking forward to my results this week, stay tuned! 

PE4_Mindomo.com

My first choice for my RILS was Thinkfold.com.  After viewing the awesome tutorial showing real time collaboration and updating, I was set on using this tool, but the tool is still in the beta stages L and I had to subscribe to the website to be contacted once they’re up and running.  

Not a distant second place is Mindomo.com.  This concept-mapping tool is fairly simple to use.  I decided to “map” out my RILS planning strategy using this tool to show my progress for this blog.  Producing the map was easy.  This site also has a handy video tutorial which allowed me hit the ground running. (Is it just me or do you get excited hearing instructions in a foreign accent?? J).   I created a topic, produced a few subtopics and then played around with layouts, adding notes to subtopics and everything flowed easily.  My next step was to assign collaborators as my scenario involves bringing in multiple people to design/redesign a concept map around a simple topic.  So of course I sent my mom a link and gave her permissions to view and modify the map I’d created.  Once she’s tested the link and gives me feedback, I’ll move on to the next phase of my RILS plan.

Here’s the finished product as of now.  I did a basic layout and color but as with most sites, I can do more like password protect my map or conduct a spellcheck if I upgrade to a premium account.  But for now, this works just fine for my research purposes.