Minutes for March 3 , 200 5 - 4 P.M. - 5 :00 P.M. AS 192
In attendance at the DLMG meeting : Marcia Graber, Keri Sanders, Lorna Peralta, Bob Klassen , Sandra Woien, Julia West, Danene Richardson, Emi Ahn, and Peggy Johnson.
GUEST ACCESS
Emi Ahn showed the group her fantastic online Japanese courses (101, 102,201, and 202). To request guest access, you can email Emi at emi.ahn@mcmail.maricopa.edu
EMI'S ONLINE JAPANESE COURSES
Emi's homepage includes a "Click Here to Start" icon so students know where to begin. The instructions Emi includes in the file students see at this point tell them to:
click on all the icons on the homepage to learn how it is organized
find the syllabus; read it carefully; print a copy
find the calendar, print a copy
find the weekly lessons
Emi's syllabus is a long page that includes a lot of scrolling. Thus she has included a Table of Contents at the top of the syllabus that links to various sections within the syllabus for easy navigation.
Emi includes photographs of the textbooks her students should acquire. She uses points rather than percentages for grade calculation and clearly spells out the grading criteria for students. Weekly quizzes, chapter tests, and an in-person final examination are part of the course.
Emi's students complete one module per week. This way they get used to the pattern, e.g. on Wednesdays a bulletin board posting is due; on Sundays a quiz is due.
Recording Audio Files
Emi uses Sound Forge software to record her audio files, but she has her students use Audacity (which is free) to record their sound files. On April 7, Ken Costello will give us a workshop on using Audacity. You can find detailed instructions for downloading and using Audacity at the CTL homepage http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/other/ctl/
Scroll down the left side of the homepage to find the link to "All How-To-Documents". On the page that appears, find the title "Other". There are step-by-step directions here on How to Download Audacity Software, Using Audacity to Find and Record a File, and Using Audacity to record a file from the internet or CD.
Emi saves the audio files as either mp3 or mov format. These are compressed files and download much quicker than wav files.
Front Page
Emi creates her web pages in Front Page. This is available to faculty from the MCC Helpdesk (Technology Support Services). If you take them a blank CD-ROM disk, they will make you a copy of Microsoft Office with Frontpage that you can install on your office and home computers. TSS is located on the west side of the old administration building (the building where Payroll and Personnel offices are located, near the flag pole on the north end of campus). Their phone number is 480-461-7217.
WebDAV
Emi is excited about the WebDAV option in WebCT. This allows you to drag and drop files/folders you have edited quickly into WebCT. Otherwise, you must upload the files one at a time using the Manage Files option in WebCT. Directions for using WebDAV are available from the CTL homepage. Go to this URL http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/other/ctl/_ctl_SD/resources/helpdocs/how_to/index.html
Find the heading "WebCT General". Locate the "Webdav" link.
Modules Emi's students complete one module each week. Each module includes: objectives for the week's lesson assignments material for assignment due Wednesday (post to WebBoard) information for assignment due on Sunday (reply to others postings) an online quiz that must be completed by Sunday at midnight WebBoard Directions for using WebBoard are on the CTL website at http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/other/ctl/_ctl_SD/resources/helpdocs/how_to/index.html Recording Audio Files Emi's students record verbal answers in Japanese using Pure Voice software. The student purchases an inexpensive microphone and downloads the free Pure Voice software to enable this procedure. Pure Voice has an insert function so the question can be heard. Then the student inserts their answer. Pure Voice compresses the file size and the student sends their answers to Emi via email. Emi is hoping the campus will soon purchase Wimba to replace Pure Voice. Pure Voice has some compatibility issues with Windows XP operating system. Students write Japanese on paper and fax it to Emi for written assignments. Student Homepages Emi uses the Student Homepages feature of WebCT. Students make an introduction about themselves in Japanese and include a photograph of themselves. This helps build the sense of community in the course. DiaLog Project Emi's students are required to find someone to speak Japanese with them for at least two hours. This can be via the phone, the MCC online tutor (available two hours per week), Japanese-speaking friends, classmates, or Emi. Emi requires the student to keep a log of what they did, including: what preparation they did before they talked what did they talk about contact information for the person with whom they spoke how long they talked what did they learn from the talk E-Portfolio Students create and post an E-portfolio that their classmates can view, based on the National Emi provides them with examples of portfolios from previous classes so they have an idea of what to include. There are six areas in the portfolio: Communication, Cultures, Communities, Connections, Comparisons, and Bibliography. Using the student presentation feature of WebCT, students create a webpage. Emi's course includes extensive directions for students on using Word for Web, using Front Page, how to upload files to the web, and copyright issues. Emi gives them a week of class time to examine the directions, pose questions, and study the criteria Emi will use for grading their portfolios. Students critique each other's portfolios. Unfortunately, the portfolios in WebCT are unavailable to the student after the end of the course. E-PortLorna told the group about E-port. This is software available through the district that allows students to create portfolio without being experts on the technology aspects of the process. There is no limit to the size of the file, so students can include a lot of graphics. The portfolio stays on the server indefinitely so students can use it for their resumes in future job applications.
Lorna graciously provided us with this information:
Access to eport software through the distric is at http://eport.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/
(I just tried to get to get t h ere and it looks like they are having problems)
Here's the url for the Ocotillo ePortfolio action group.
http://graphite.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/eportfolios/
Other eportfolio resources and examples
APPOINTMENT TIME If you haven't already done so, you need to make an appointment with Peggy before spring break to show her what you have planned/created on your course. The more you have to show, the more feedback she can provide. The more you have done, the easier your pilot semester will be! Peg Johnson Faculty Development Consultant Center for Teaching and Learning Mesa Community College 1833 W. Southern Avenue Mesa, Arizona 85202 johnson@mail.mc.maricopa.edu phone: (480) 461-7703 fax: (480) 461-7857