Virgil Varvel, distance education guru, presents ongoing commentary and notes on educational research, issues, and publications.February 08, 2007
Khan - Flexible Learning Notes
On Monday, I read Badrul Khan's Flexible Learning in an Information Society. For the most part, this was an informative book. A few of the papers represented primary research. Most of the chapters were laden with opinion though. At times, the flexibility aspect seemed to play second fiddle to what some authors argued for best practice, such as one chapter stating that all courses should require a synchronous session each week. The book also seemed skewed towards evaluation of courses and programs in terms of volume of content, which is good. The chapters on student assessment could have been more developed, but then, this wasn't a book about student assessment. As far as presenting the principles of flexible learning and various models, this book served its purpose well and was an overall good read.
Read my notes
Posted by vvarvel at 08:58 AM | Comments (0)
November 02, 2006
Can Factors Related to Self-Regulated Learning Predict Learning Achievement in Undergraduate Asynchronous Web-based Courses?
An interesting research article by Paul D. Bell and Duane Akroyd in the International Journal of Instructional Technology & Distance Learning discusses that GPA, expectancy, and grade expectancy were significant predictors in the model of learning achievement in asynchronous online courses.
Posted by vvarvel at 09:49 AM | Comments (0)
September 22, 2006
Howard Gardner readings
I like the idea of multiple intelligences. It makes sense that we have many neural capacities that are separate and distinct although linked in some ways. After reading these texts though, I am not sure that I am an advocate of Multiple Intelligences Theory anymore though. I still agree with it in principles, but the refusal to accept an executive function and the possibility of its use in labelling of indiduals and new forms of racism/sexism like rhetoric I'll term intelligentism is alarming. In any case, here are my notes, I hope that you enjoy.
Howard Gardner - Intelligence Reframed
Howard Gardner - MI Theory in Practice
Posted by vvarvel at 11:20 AM | Comments (0)
June 28, 2006
Lincoln and Guba - Naturalistic Inquiry
I've been reading up on qualitative methods, especially naturalistic inquiry, case study, action research, etc., lately. Naturalistic Inquiry by Lincoln and Guba is oft cited and was referenced as supplemental in a course I recently took. So I picked up a copy and had a little read. I found it to be a very accessible read at even a beginner level, which was nice. I had my usual comments against and for such research that I embedded within my notes presented here.
Posted by vvarvel at 02:28 PM | Comments (0)
June 26, 2006
Building Learning Communities
I haven't posted any of my reading notes for a while, so thought that I would put at least one up today. Here are notes from Palloff and Pratt's Building Learning Communities book.
Posted by vvarvel at 11:16 AM | Comments (0)
May 05, 2006
Action Research Notes
I haven't entered any reading notes to my blog in a while. I have been doing some reading lately though. I just finished a course on Action Research. I have a lot of course notes, but there were 3 books in particular that I noted from the course. Those notes are given here.
Weinbaum, A., Allen, D., Blythe, T., Simon, K., Seidel, S., & Rubin, C. (2004). Teaching as inquiry: Asking hard questions to improve practice and student achievement. New York: Teachers College Press. Notes
Anderson, G. L., Herr, K., & Nihlen, A. S. (1994). Studying your own school: An educator's guide to qualitative practitioner research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, Inc. Notes
Burnaford, G., Fischer, J., & Hobson, D. (Eds.) (2001). Teachers doing research: The power of action through inquiry. Mayway, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Notes
Posted by vvarvel at 02:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 09, 2006
Markham - Life Online Notes
These notes are primarily a listing of quotes that I found particularly interesting or informative while reading this book. Of particular interest are ways of being in an online realm and how various individuals presented in the book perceive the reality of the virtual.
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January 13, 2006
Notes on Susan Ko and Steve Rossen's Teaching Online
This book is especially useful for beginners and even though it is beginning to get dates, the information still holds to the test of time. I have entered notes in outline form to show the general layout of a book that is worth the read. My guess is that a second edition should probably be in the works.
O.K. I realized after writing my entry that I had heard about the second edition and hadn't had time to read it. Dr. Ko then kindly emailed a note with links to the new book. I want to place those here so that you can get the latest version.
Posted by vvarvel at 03:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 28, 2005
Murray - Knowledge Machine - Notes
I read this book a while ago. I think what I like most about it is the name. I had used this metaphor often prior to finding this book, so perhaps we think alike. The books purpose is to discuss the interaction of computers, language, and society. It's a bit dated as communication technologies have grown massively in the past 10 years since it was published (probably 12 since it was written), but many of the principles remain true.
Posted by vvarvel at 02:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 13, 2005
Birnbaum - Psychological Experiments on the Internet
As one interested in doing research online, I have read many resources on the topic. One of those is Michael Birnbaum's Psychological Experiments on the Internet, Academic Press, 2000. Some of the interesting items in this book include ideas of Web-based decision making, validity, and a good chapter on pros and cons of online experimenting. The survey method seems to be the major emphasis of this book though, leaving some experiments out. Not all of the chapters are noted, as I found them to be either too general or business as opposed to educationally oriented.
Read notes.
Posted by vvarvel at 10:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 05, 2005
Elbaum - Essential Elements
Bonnie Elbaum, Cynthia McIntyre, Alese Smith (2002). Essential Elements: Prepare, design, and teach your online course. Madison, WI: Atwood Publishing.
This book centers on the Concord Consortium e-Learning Model for Online Courses. There is a lot of experience embedded in the information presented in this book. What they have written will work, but you have to keep in mind that it will work if you have an organization that fits the paradigm and an instructor that wants to use this paradigm. Because this works does not mean that something else won’t work better in a given situation. That said, the information presented is very valuable to anyone though, if only to expose you to new ideas of how things can be done well. No matter what paradigm you choose, this book is valuable for the ideas it presents and is a good read as well. At times it is redundant, but sometimes this serves to reinforce important points. A few items seem out of place as I have noted. On final note, this book is strictly set for a facilitated and paced course type.
Posted by vvarvel at 03:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 18, 2005
Holmberg-DistanceEducation
This week I did some historical reading and present notes on Börje Holmberg's Distance Education. This book presents a good look at the ideas of distance education and the theory of transactional distance and guided didactic study.
See notes.
Posted by vvarvel at 10:54 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 11, 2005
White & Weight - Online Teaching Guide, 2000
Each year, the number of books about online teaching seems to geometrically increase. Back in 2000 though, there were not that many. One of the easier reads in this category comes from 2000 by White and Weight. Although there is not (and was not at the time) a lot of empirical research backing to some of the points, ideas such as the WRITE principles of communication and attention to practical skills make it a useful text. I therefore hope that you enjoy and find useful my notes on this book.
See http://www.ion.uillinois.edu/weblogs/varvel/pdfs/White-OnlineTeachingGuide.pdf for my notes.
Posted by vvarvel at 09:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 01, 2005
Hine's Virtual Ethnography
Although the title of her book may be an oxymoron, Christine Hine presents an account of how the Internet can be both a cultural artifact and culture itself. Although presented in a way as a user's guide to doing ethnographic research on the Web, I felt that this book had some valuable insight into Internet activity in general. Having finished my reading, let me know present my notes on this book.
Posted by vvarvel at 03:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 17, 2005
Barrett - Theory and Practice of Distance Education
Continuing with my notes from somewhat obscure sources, I present notes from Barrett's thesis titles, Theory and Practice of Distance Education. Here we see a study on best practice as ascertained by 3 interviews and a literature review.
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October 10, 2005
Haehl - Characteristics of Online Student
One question that constantly comes up, even today, is what is an ideal online student. I personally don't think that this questions has an answer, because the ideal student should be dependent on many variables such as method of instruction, modality of instruction, topic, learning styles, etc. However, one thing we can look at is who the online student is and whether or not that student is succeeding. Here are my notes from a thesis by Haehl concerning online students. I thought this would be a good addition to my education reading notes here, because many may not have access to this thesis and may be interested at what is inside. She has also done some good work since then that you can look up.
Posted by vvarvel at 09:21 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 04, 2005
Lea & Nicoll Ch 10-12
I now finish my reading notes on Lea and Nicoll with chapters 10-12.
Culture, community, and identity are the main topics.
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Lea & Nicoll Ch 8-9
Continuing with my reading of Lea and Nicoll, here are my notes on Chapters 8 and 9
Ch. 8 addresses the interactions in a community of practice.
Ch. 9 asks us to consider learning as a cultural practice
Posted by vvarvel at 01:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 03, 2005
Lea & Nicoll Ch 5-7
Continuing with my reading of Lea and Nicoll, here are some notes from Ch. 5 - 7.
Ch. 5 continues an activity theory perspective followed by globalisation issues in Ch. 6 and 7.
Posted by vvarvel at 01:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Lea & Nicoll Ch 3-4
I continue my notes from Lea and Nicoll.
Ch. 3 is a reprint of Lave and Wenger's Legitimate Peripheral Participation
In Ch. 4, David Russell looks at Activity Theory and distributed learning.
Posted by vvarvel at 12:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 28, 2005
Lankshear - Information, Knowledge, and Learning
For the next week, I'll be posting my notes from Mary R. Lea & Kathy Nicoll (Eds.) (2002). Distributed Learning: Social and cultural approaches to practice. RoutledgeFalmer, NY. Starting with Ch 1. Information, knowledge, and learning: Some issues facing epistemology and education in a digital age. Colin Lankshear, Michael Peters, and Michele Knobel, 16-37.
See pdf file.
Posted by vvarvel at 02:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 21, 2005
Harasim - Online Education: Perspectives
For my first notes post, I wanted a book that a lot of people have read and that seems to have interesting insight, especially considering its date of 1990. A good historical view is always good to start off with.
Posted by vvarvel at 09:50 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Education Readings
I spend a lot of time reading books on online teaching and learning, as well as education in general. When I read, I take notes to help me internalize the information. Sometimes, I can't remember where something was though. So now, I'm making use of Adobe PDF's to do the remembering for me. I convert my notes to pdf and then index them. These notes don't replace the book in my library, but supplement it, provide information outlines, and organize information. Now that I have started to develop a library of such notes on education related books, I've decided to start sharing. In the coming days/weeks/months I'll be posting my notes here for you to read. You may find a book that you want to check out for yourself.
Posted by vvarvel at 09:30 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack