Go to https://www.coursesites.com/s/_tablet2computer (once you are registered on CourseSites) and begin! The modules link is the top one in the left column.
I really like your Modules (start here) link which outlines each task with objectives, estimated content time, quiz and discussion activities. I greatly benefit from this type of organization. I also like your emphasis on where tech might be heading in the future, specifically 5-10 years down the road. Your module seems very clear and concise. Your feedback survey will definitely serve a great purpose. I have a couple questions:
(1) You mention replies are worth 3 pts, and that is plural. How many do you expect? Would one reply earn the maximum point value?
(2) Will creating a Google Doc be simple enough for a beginner cloud user? Just in case there might be somebody who has never created one before, do you have a reference to direct them on how to create one?
Also, I did not look over any quizzes in fear it would be a one-time opportunity assessment and didn’t want to mess anything up.
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Alison Gryga
7/1/2014 04:17:49 pm
Looks great! Great content and good knowledge. Coursesites was easy to create an account and log in. I like how you shared the estimated amount of time it would take to complete the content and quizzes. I like that you have the quick quizzes and a final assessment (I did not actually look at the questions), but I think it's important to have those assessments. You clearly state when to post to the discussion boards, which is great.
Suggestions (take them or leave them):
You state to write a full paragraph. We all know a paragraph should be 4-5 sentences, but I think it would be more clear if you stated it in how many words you want, i.e. 100-300.
Replies are worth 3 points; does that mean we need to post 3 replies?
Not sure if you can do this, I've never created anything in coursesites, it might be helpful to have a link to each lesson on the left hand side under Modules(where to start).
Jon,
Well organized lesson. The layout using Course Sites is intuitive. Here are some of the things I liked about your lesson.
1. Easy to follow layout.
2. You listed the objectives for each unit.
3. You included an estimated time to complete units.
4. You added plenty of basic detail for people new to cloud computing.
5. Web based alternatives for common computer based programs. Showing people alternatives to familiar programs may be encouraging to those who are resistant to change.
6. Discussion board – Easy to create a topic thread for people to add comments.
7. Opportunity to search for and try new apps.
8. Feedback survey at end of unit.
As Natalie mentioned, you may want to include a link for a Google Doc tutorial for those who need the extra help.
Well done!
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Alison Gryga
7/1/2014 04:27:08 pm
Jon- I accidentally posted my reply for you under Natalie's reply for you. You can see it directly under Natalie's.
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Sara
7/2/2014 09:36:11 am
Jon, Looks great! I can tell you put a great deal of effort into this module. It took me a minute to find the link. I am glad you mentioned that it was "the top one in the left column". I tried to use Course Sites initially, but had difficulty figuring it out.
I like that each lesson had a clear obtainable objective. Well done. I think the quizzes are a nice way to assess the objective. I also like that you used discussion boards so participants could collaborate.
Natalie,
Very impressive. I found your unit to be very thorough and well organized. I added a list of items I found particularly appealing.
1. Visually fantastic
2. Easy to follow. Directions and layout are very intuitive
3. Graphic icons add to visual appeal.
4. Sample product button on “Let’s get started” page provides a nice reference. Page came up very small but allowed me to enlarge it.
5. I like how you added a link to subsequent pages at the bottom of each section. This creates a very smooth flow.
6. Use of videos to supplement the lessons adds interest.
7. Self-assessment at the end will provide good feedback to you and the students going through the unit.
This is an exceptionally well-done project. I was not familiar with some of the apps you used but am looking forward to learning more about them.
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Alison Gryga
7/1/2014 05:04:12 pm
Lots of great tech information and resources! Easy to follow and specific directions on what is expected at the end of the module. I like how you shared an example of what our notes might look like. I also like the pacing timeline for each day.
Suggestions(take them or leave them):
How will I know which Today's meet group I am in?
The text was a little hard to read, I don't know if it was the spacing or the color of text, but the text seemed stacked on top of each other.
Good question! I was waiting for the groups to formulate in order to assign which TodaysMeet link each student group will use. I will make it obvious in some way or another by posting your first name or maybe initials next to the group link button. As for the text/font, that was one of the downsides to using Webs.com. I figured I could live with it considering the professional design it offered.
Brian Mason
7/2/2014 03:52:49 am
Very Nice, Natalie. I like how your lesson is very specific. it gets into very specific apps we can use for byod. You do a nice job in having a link at the end of each page that takes us to the next page in the course.
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Sara
7/3/2014 11:22:50 pm
Natalie,
Your module looks great! I really liked the overall appearance of your website. The background is subtle and still adds to the overall appearance. I like how you integrated the Note Master App into your module. Thanks for outlining what notes should include and for providing a sample of your notes. I also really appreciate that you set it up so participants can zoom in on your notes to see how you did it.
I do have a question. How did you get badges to automatically appear when participants complete certain parts? I would love to do this but I am not sure how to do it. Thanks in advance.
-Sara
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Natalie
7/4/2014 03:58:56 am
Sara-
I wish I had the capabilities to have badges appear if students complete a badge earning task. Unfortunately I will resort to emailing the badges as each badge earning task requires students to email or submit directly to me. I will reply to the email with the appropriate badge. Do you have any other suggestions on how to deliver badges?
Sara
7/5/2014 09:42:08 pm
Natalie,
I wish I did. I thought maybe you did. :) I was going to email them as well. I am new at creating and awarding badges.
Alison Gryga
6/28/2014 06:59:26 pm
My module can be found at http://mcedumodule.weebly.com/ I will also be using Google+ Community for candidates to post and respond to activities. There is a link on my module website to join the Google+ Community.
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Sara
7/1/2014 11:48:06 am
Alison, I hadn't thought of using Goggle + what a great idea. Most the of the videos worked well for me. Day 2 part 1 would not load. Day 3 worked well and had good information. The other days worked well also.
I really like the link you provided with Real World Examples. I looked at the Minecraft @ SAA by Mrs. Gielen. This site was pretty neat. She had her students create a model of the entire campus.
Your module is very well organized and easy to understand. Looks like a great intro into Minecraft. I did have one question about day 5. Will participants share pros and cons in Google + or will they post to their own blogs?
Good job.
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Alison Gryga
7/1/2014 04:24:21 pm
Thanks Sara! Everything will be posted on Google+. I think I will go ahead and invite everyone from class to join and then you can also see the layout there.
Your module was organized and straightforward. I liked that you incorporated Google+ Community as a platform for your module. I like how you guide users through resources and then transition them into the game by the end of the module. My only question came when I got to
Day 2: Watch Using MinecraftEdu part 1- Introduction. Answer discussion question in Google+ Community.
I went searching for the discussion question(s) but did not come across any for Day 2. Maybe I was looking in the wrong spot but I looked in the Google+ Community under Discussion Questions as well as under the Day 2 link and didn’t have any luck. Looks good overall!
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Alison Gryga
7/1/2014 04:25:38 pm
Thanks Natalie. Yes everything will eventually be posted on the Google+. I will post the questions as the week progresses.
Well done, Alison. Nicely organized and easy to follow. I like how you put this together on Google+. I shared two documents in my unit on Google docs but didn't think about using more of Google+ capabilities. I was also wondering about the discussion questions on day 2 but I see you've already addressed that. One thing I noticed on your Weebly page. The video on day 2 does not show up as a clickable link like the other days. Copy and paste worked just fine, though. The link for the day 2 video on your Google+ page worked perfectly.
The video content is very useful. They will be valuable resources for people with limited Minecraft experience. I like how you gave an opportunity to play then an opportunity to use it.
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Alison Gryga
7/2/2014 03:44:46 pm
Thanks, I'm not sure that those who take my module will be able to play. I still haven't had a chance to. I think I need an updated version of Java, but I only have my school laptop, so no luck until school starts in Aug.
The following link will take you to the homepage for my BYOD activity. You will need a handheld device (iPhone, iPad, tablet, etc.) with internet access, a camera, and the ability to view You Tube videos.
I like how your module is very simple yet thought provoking. This allows freedom for thought while participants aren’t being lead too much by the instructor. This is an important quality to foster while teaching. I also liked Unitag, the QR generator presented, another good resource. Your module is very easy to follow. Excellent work!
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Alison Gryga
7/1/2014 05:17:20 pm
Very easy to follow layout. I appreciate and like the BYOD outline, great information. I also like the run down of the expected outcomes of the module. Great rubric for the lesson plan activity.
Suggestions(take them or leave them):
It wasn't clear to me when to post the BOYD lesson plan to the Google Docs, to ensure there is enough time for others to post comments about the lessons.
Thank you for the excellent suggestion, Alison. I added a due date to the lesson.
Sara
7/5/2014 09:48:05 pm
Scott,
Your module looks very well thought out. I do not work at a school that uses BYOD.
Some things I liked:
-The layout of your homepage is appealing and easy to follow.
-You have many resources for participants to pick from.
-I had no idea you could create QR codes; this is very neat.
I am sure there are other great things but these are a few I really enjoyed. Good work.
Sara,
I am impressed by the amount of group collaboration you have built into your lesson. There's plenty of opportunity to learn and work with other members of the class. Your layout is very easy to follow. I hope Michael Matera is available for the Twitter session you have scheduled for Tuesday. Having another experienced gamification person to talk with can add another level of interest. I like that you have a good alternative if he can't make it.
I was initially confused about the Leader board concept on day 3. Your sample leader board image helped as did the ideas you posted on day 4. I'm not sure if my confusion was because I haven't done the readings yet or because I'm running on just a few hours of sleep. Either way, I did manage to figure out what a leader board is suppose to represent.
Your unit covers a very interesting and relevant topic. Gamification has interesting potential in a classroom. Teachers who go through your unit will get an excellent introduction to it.
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Sara
7/2/2014 09:21:04 pm
Scott,
I tried to I was a little confused also, because I didn't know if I wanted a leader board or a list of experience posts and assignments. That is why I added those for the class. I created the list of assignments from edet 635 with points and I created the levels/experience points/grades. Hopefully now all the group will have to do is create the leader board to show how people are doing in our gamified class.
We should be able to see how it works as I post the leader board each night. It should post to twitter and my page.
Natalie
7/3/2014 04:10:12 am
Sara-
The Weebly professional design you chose as your module platform is visually appealing. Your syllabus is very well thought out and easily guides direction of instruction. I truly appreciate your checklists each day; these are lists I would make myself, as a student, to ensure I hit all the requirements before submitting or ending a day/week of class. As Scott mentioned, you were very creative in the ways you planned for student collaboration and communication. I too was confused a bit with the leader board.
Your module also has a deep level of rigor. With that being said, I’m personally concerned about the workload of executing three different modules as well as being the facilitator of my own next week. I’m wondering if anybody else has this concern. I don’t want to feel rushed through material as I embark on an educational opportunity that I will benefit greatly from.
Great job Sara!
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Sara
7/3/2014 08:50:03 am
Nicole, I will see where I can take and give some from what needs to be done. Perhaps I can make more side quests. The video on gamification is long, but a good way. I did not understand gamification until I watched it. The reading helped me as well, but perhaps I can make that a side quest and just do the video. I will look through it. Thanks for the feedback.
I am concerned about the workload next week also. I have a teacher licensure test on Saturday that is 4-7 hours (no it is not for Alaska). Just be thankful you are not taking that. :)
Sara L
7/3/2014 08:50:50 am
Should say "a good one" (oops).
Sara
7/3/2014 09:49:27 am
I went ahead and revised the work load. I shortened the day 1 blog and gave the option to read or watch the movie. Then I made all other readings optional. Additionally, only one badge is required. Due to this I had to revise the points and syllabus. These changes have been made on my module.
Thanks for the suggestions. I thought it might be too much work. There is a great deal to learn about gamification if you truly want to implement it. I would encourage you to read Lee Sheldon's book and watch the video later if you decide to try gamifiying your classroom.
I think once people see the leader board I post participants will have a better understanding of what a leader board is. Please refer to the the "blog" link for leader board posts. It should post on twitter also.
-Sara
Natalie
7/3/2014 11:19:30 am
Sara-
Thanks for making those revisions. I can't imagine being in your shoes with that licensure test coming up and your portfolio class too. Finding a good balance between mandatory and optional assignments in your module might draw attention for those who are feeling intimidated by the material. I'm very interested in gamification but also don't want to feel like I'm treading through the entire module.
Initial directions were to the point. I appreciate the video links as my QuickTime was not originally loading the videos. The flow was initially established and held with links at the bottom of the page to each subsequent lesson. I enjoyed the graphic images relating to technology. Your use of hashtags were cleverly created. Short checkpoint assessments can be very useful formative feedback tools for teachers and coaches. Just a couple questions: When I reached Lesson 5, directions were all of a sudden vague. It appears we are comparing and contrasting laptops and tablets in four different discussion questions. What are the expectations for this discussion? When we finish the discussion, does this conclude the module?
Great work Brian!
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Brian Mason
7/2/2014 07:41:05 am
Thanks for the comments. I have modified my course to include your concerns.
Alison Gryga
7/2/2014 07:40:57 am
Great layout and format, very easy to follow. I like the introduction explaining the flow of the module. Clear instructions for each lesson. I also like how everything is linked so I don't have to worry about pulling anything open, i.e. the Twitter links. Nice work!
Suggestions(take them or leave them):
I agree with Natalie the instructions on lesson 5 are vague.
Under the one laptop per child you misspelled poorer. Or you could change it to say something like "especially those families that come from a low socioeconomic background".
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Brian Mason
7/2/2014 07:46:16 am
Thanks for the idea on changing poorer to something better!! I was working on this late in the evening and was too tired to think of a better word for poorer.
Sara
7/3/2014 03:21:35 am
Brian,
Great job! I like that I didn't have to "look" for the start of your module. Also, the instructions and notes you added to the first or "home" screen are helpful. Scott mentioned that you had links for the videos in case they didn't load correctly; I noticed this as well and found it very helpful. Thanks.
The videos have an element of fun and are more engaging than your standard video. They are directly related to the questions you ask after each video.
I enjoyed your module. I didn't do everything as I didn't want to go through the entire process before we participate in the modules.
I agree with the other reviews. Well organized and easy to follow. The information in the videos is fantastic. Using CourseSites is a good way to have all of the information in one neat, organized location. The Quicktime videos were too slow for me so I used the mp4 option. That was a good idea to give people the option. I can see where this unit will be very helpful for anyone thinking about using BYOD in their classroom. You covered everything people need to know. Very well done, Brian
I am posting my site here also since others had trouble accessing it.
http://edet635gamificationmodule.weebly.com
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Alison
7/3/2014 04:11:15 pm
As everyone else has said very impressive! Your syllabus is outstanding, just like a college course. I like how you share the standards reached on each day. I also like the daily checklist. Each day is laid out very well.
I too was going to suggest you lighten the module work, since we only have a week, but I see you already did that, nicely done.
Suggestions (take them or leave them):
On day 2 July 8th, under assignments you wrote:
"Well Lee Sheldon talks quite a bit about game design we only have one week to begin the process."
Did you mean While?
Is there anyway to make the pictures bigger or to be able to open in a different window for a closer look? The example leader board image is kind of hard to read.
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Sara L
7/3/2014 09:36:26 pm
Alison and Nicole,
Thanks again for all the great suggestions. I went in and made some more changes. Additionally, I think it will be helpful if I make a quick video demonstrating how to use leaderboarded. So, I will add that shortly. Maybe this will clarify how to create a leader board.
I really do appreciate all the feedback. It is just so much work. :)