Virtual Classroom Reflection

[Sean Nash]

Our experimentation has certainly come a long way this year. In our short time working in this space (since only September 2009) we have attracted quite a bit of attention for our open approach to learning.

In the thread below, please reflect upon our use of free, open online tools to enhance our classroom this year. How has the use of this online public learning network affected our work in Dual Credit Biology this year?

[Tori Scott]

I enjoyed using the website this year. It was a nice way to put my thoughts out there and it gave me a chance to say everything I had to say. Also it was pretty amazing to have other people that were not in our class talk about our site. This year I truly felt that i learned a lot. The website was a big tool in that learning. It was nice for once to not be told what to think and how. I could say my thoughts without having my teacher hold my hand and walk me through it, instead it was completely my own. From that I gained a whole lot more. Also having the wide open web was better then a closed internet. I could link and make connections through out the web and get other opinions and such from my work. That right there makes learning more exciting, knowing other people will see and potentially comment on my work. Its also a way to make you think about what your writing.

[Taylor Snider]

I thought using this online tool was amazing. I'm usually quiet during class, so this is a great way for me to reflect on the lessons we learned. The other cool thing is that you can see what other people had to say about the topic. It really changed the way I thought about science. I thought the website helped me keep up with the class. I could really follow what was being said during class, while using the website. If i was gone one day, I could just go back and look at what other people said. This website was by far the best way to learn about biology ever! It was a completely new experience that was very helpful. I was able to get my work done on time and it was very easy to use.

[Zachery Langdon]

The use of the on line network has really enhanced our learning. This network didn’t just give us a place to answer questions, but a place to discuss. The amazing thing is that we get to voice our own opinion on many matters discussed in class. We can also reply and talk with the teacher and other student about the class work. Sometimes I forget to mention things in class so with this site I can now reply anytime. Also the web site is very straightforward and easy to understand. Almost all students have a computer so they can further discuss at home. This network made learning more exciting.

[Korby Trautman]

When we have access to the whole world, so many doors open to the educational capability's of the classroom. When we have trouble learning a concept and need assistance, our teacher can't be are only resource. Using the website, we could see how other people learned a topic by using certain media, which we do not have access with with a textbook. Also with the internet, we can access a professionals website and learn from them directly. Having a closed network means closed media access.

[Abby Lucas]

This website, along with many others (e.g. Glogster, the virtual labs website, and the cell phone polling website) was a very helpful tool we used for learning--a lot more helpful than simple worksheets and book assignments. Not only was this form of teaching more fun, it also made learning easier.

The ability to share one's thoughts through a post was a particularly useful tool. It made it possible for the quiet people to actually share their opinions without actually having to, God forbid, say anything. It also allowed us to discuss our thoughts with people we may not want to actually talk to.

Another really cool part of this was that anyone could see it. It especially encourages one to try his/her best because nobody wants to look stupid to the world. (Oh, and I really liked the ClustrMap (or, popularity map as I like to think of it as) that showed the class how many people visited the site as well as what countries they were from.)

Tori tells me alllllll the time, "Biology is the only class where I feel like I've actually learned things in." --Perhaps this website has contributed to that statement...

[Morgan Wacker]

I'm just gonna go through my answers that I put on my sheet basically.
My favorite lessons were probably the ones over genetics. I've always kind of liked genetics the best in biology classes, that and when we went over carbohydrates, proteins, monosaccharides, polysaccharides and those things.
When going over the carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and blah blah blah, I think that I will remember that the most, because it's one thing that I could very easily relate to my life, and how stupid some diets really are. They may make sense at first to some people, but you really need everything in your diet, you can't stop bringing in carbs or fats because you need those just as much as you need proteins. That I think will stick in my mind the most, to not fall into crazy diet schemes.
I thought that the website was neat and I really learned a lot because of it, not just what we're discussing in class but also how to work and use features of the internet that could help me with future jobs, like how to blog, how to link, how to look up reliable information to use and what not. We used the site a lot more the beginning of the year and we've kind of slowed down using it sort of I think. With the reflections I found those more difficult than anything else, because I'm not great on reflecting on things unless it really interested me or shocked me which quite a few of them really did. And then we only had to do like one blog post the whole year. But also, I'm usually one of the quiet ones in class and so this gave me the opportunity to say what I wanted without being interrupted or louder people talking over me when I say something.
The website helped me because I could see other peoples' thoughts and add them to my own, or if they said something that I hadn't thought about, I could work it in with what I got out of the lesson and either disagree with a point or it would maybe help me understand the lesson even better. I really think that this should be kept for the future. Just like it is, but improving as technology does also.
:)