evaluation

I have seen the contribution of different students on the topic of state-of-the art technologies. I have selected the following three technologies: The idea of the project is to create the learning environment that will wed effective informal learning strategies with exemplary formal curricular activities in an attractive learning environment that utilizes cutting edge information and communication technologies in science education. This learning environment connects science centers, museums, planetariums and observatories with real classroom:real students and teachers.
 * Module 5 - Course Evaluation **
 * 1) ** Interesting Aspect of the Course **
 * 1) **CONNECT:**//Designing the classroom of Tomorrow by using advanced technologies to connect formal and informal environments//

One of the main problems of learning in the classroom is artificial learning which the students find difficult to create association what they learn in the classroom and real objects in the outside world. Teachers teach abstract concepts to the students in the classroom. But students find difficulty to instantiate those abstract concepts in their mind unless they have prior exposure to the objects represented by concepts. Another problem what I observe in teaching is that most teachers usually fail to present the full picture of the phenomenon they are teaching. In such circumstances, students should put much effort to construct the full picture of the phenomenon using different reference materials besides what they are taught in the classroom. However many students are not gifted to do so. If I add my experience, after I take courses in this program, I learned what it means pedagogy. When look back how taught my students and how my teachers taught me, there is real gap in the knowledge of pedagogy by teachers. Very very few teachers have pedagogical knowledge and skills. The CONNECT learning environment will fill this gap as it links the classroom (i.e. artificial learning environment) to authentic learning environments (i.e. science centers, museums, planetariums and observatories).

The CONNECT learning environment is developed using situated learning theory. Situated learning is a general theory of knowledge acquisition with two main principles: · Knowledge needs to be presented in an authentic context, i.e., settings and applications that would normally involve that knowledge. · Learning requires social interaction and collaboration. Therefore the CONNECT learning environment will enhance learning by creating authentic learning environment.

The idea is very interesting and can be applicable in every school. The main challenge what I see in my country context, the available technology (Internet connection bandwidth) could not support to implement such kind of learning environment. Besides we don’t have well equipped science centers, museums and observatories that can be as authentic learning environment for what we are teaching in the classroom. Students are taught very advanced concepts in the classroom but they go out work, they will not have opportunities to apply what they taught in the classroom.

There is still opportunity to contextualize the concept to create a better learning environment for our students in the Ethiopian context. Those museums and science centers can be digitized and published on a CD-ROM and distributed for schools to make their learning environment somehow authentic learning environment.

See also http://cs.joensuu.fi.joecat.joensuu.fi:8080/pages/intra/mediawiki-1.11.1/index.php/User:Agimbits

2. **Telearn**

This Open Archives Initiative (OAI) develops and promotes interoperability standards that aim to facilitate the efficient dissemination of content. OAI has its roots in the open access and institutional repository movements. Continued support of this work remains a cornerstone of the Open Archives program. OAI will gradually grow into big digital library that will be used to implement eScholarship, eLearning, and eScience. It will serve as very rich resources for student learning. It has research publications in every field and can be used by all learners. Students can use this site for problem solving learning because it shows students how senior researchers solve a problem. Learning is the acquisition and processing of facts to build personalized knowledge. This site will assist student knowledge constructions. All resources in the site are stored with learning object concept so as to be interoperable. It assist learners to access all related materials to their query.
 * TeLearn** is the first international Open Archive in Technology Enhanced Learning. Researchers can submit their research publications or videos to Kaleidoscope site (http://telearn.noe-kaleidoscope.org/). Their work will be found, read and used by more researchers and they will be making a valuable contribution to Kaleidoscope's mission - to shape the scientific evolution of technology enhanced learning.

The main reason for the development of Telearn site is to easily share scientific publications among researchers and potential users like students. It also helps researchers from doing duplicated works due to lack of knowledge about others’ work. There is no clear indication of the learning theory used as a framework to develop the site. I assumed that it is developed based on //Adult Learning Theory//. Adult Learners are life long learners (Cross, 1981). They don’t have to time to attend fixed class schedules, specific goals why they learn and learn for problem solving. In light of this, Telearn site is more beneficial for adult learners who want to upgrade their knowledge and skill to adapt to the fast changing world. The concept is very interesting. In Ethiopian context, knowledge sharing is a big problem. There are no tools like Telearn where researchers can easily share their work for other researchers as well other potential users like students. It can be used to as supplementary learning resources in the classroom. It contains not only text materials but also video resources; it can be also used as a demonstration tools to elaborate abstract concepts visually. · See also Jinchen’s site http://cs.joensuu.fi.joecat.joensuu.fi:8080/pages/intra/mediawiki-1.11.1/index.php/User:Jinchen

The overall goal of the LOGOS project is to build an innovative ubiquitous e-learning environment for almost everybody. It combines the latest art of technologies: web-, mobile- and video-based technologies (like digital television) to create a new learning environment. In this new learning environment, students can learn anywhere and anytime they can. It will also allow lecturers/authors to create 'open source' cross-media learning content. The main features of LOGOS learning environment are:
 * 3. LOGOS**
 * Providing distribution channels between the repository of learning materials and the end users. So different groups of people can access learning materials (especially using the existing mobile devices and TV sets with additional set-top boxes);
 * Creating environment for quicker and more effective training of human resources for new jobs;
 * Integration video-based learning applications with IP-based and mobile technology tools. That increase its functionality;
 * Using digital object repositories (knowledge databases)

This is also based on situated learning environment. It allows students to learn from where they are. Contents are developed in open courseware architecture so that contents can be dynamically updated from different agents: teachers, developers as well as students. This learning environment can be also used for on the job training. Employer can develop and represent courses that assist new employee to learn faster abut the organization culture and work procedures. It can also develop to upgrade the knowledge and skill of existing staff with new development.

This idea is very interesting to create flexible learning environment for the students. One of the big challenges for developing countries like Ethiopia is to deliver high quality education for learners. In addition, many learners don’t have the opportunity to access to education especially at college level and above. Currently there are distance education delivered in a traditional way to people who live in remote are where there are no colleges and universities. In this traditional mode of education, all exchanges of teaching materials and documents between the colleges and students are done through post office. As a result students are usually complaining of delay to get teaching materials on time, loss of examination papers and other documents. Therefore the LOGOS learning environment will be used to support such kind of learning systems. However, in order to use this system, it requires huge investment to make ready the infrastructure and deliver course online. Colleges’ staff needs to be trained to efficiently operate the system and provide technical support to the students. For on the job training, there is need to customize the content and language to meet the specific organizational learning requirements. The architecture of this ubiquitous learning environment is good innovation to create flexible learning environment for students as well as on the job trainers.

See also [|http://cs.joensuu.fi.joecat.joensuu.fi:8080/pages/intra/mediawiki-] [|1.11.1/index.php/User:] [|Ashipilo]

** 2. ** ** What I learned from the course? ** In this course I learned what it means state of the art technologies, what opportunities it offers in education and how it differs from old technologies. I have got good exposure to a variety of state of the art educational technologies, what opportunities and capabilities each technology has in education. Some of course exercises give me a practical exposure how to use and integrate new technologies in my classroom. I did my assignment on Module 4 on educational games. This exercise gives me the chance to know well what it means educational games, what design principle should I follow in designing educational games, how can I integrate games in my classroom. I also learned that there are also undesirable effects of educational games and what care should I take for my students. If I am not aware about the proper use of educational games, learners may misuse the new technology. As I teacher or designer, I learned what issue should I consider when I use new technologies so as to maximize its educational value. Another interesting topic I learned in this course the concept of state of the art technology is a relative term. An old technology in one country may be the state of the art technology in the other country. As countries differ in socio-economic developments, they don’t have the same technological requirements. This depends up on their problem, knowledgeable human resource and financial capability. Although the new technology offers many capabilities, it may be very expensive to acquire and implement it. What called good technology is a technology that can solve specific local problems and economically viable. ** 3. ** ** Suggestion for Improvement on the Course ** The course is very interesting. I was expecting more from the course. It gives good exposure to the state of the art technologies but it didn’t give deeper understanding of the subject. For example, I did my assignment on educational games. I learned what it looks like educational game and when do we use educational games and some undesirable impacts of educational games. I was expecting more than that. I want to know how those games are designed and developed. I don’t know the others but for me I feel more confident if have some hands on practical project works that help me to create one state of the art technologies. I was observing as a serious problem in creating cohesive team among my students. My students come to me to compliant others don’t contribute to their project work. I have seen also similar problem in this online learning. I observe human behavior is the same everywhere. The two problems I observed the teams don’t equally contribute and don’t build their ideas one over the other. I have suggested the following improvements for the course.


 * 1) Introducing practical activities – such as design and development of small state of the art technology
 * 2) Modification of module structure – the concept I learned from module 2 and 3 is almost similar. I think the two can merged as one module and add another module that can enlighten learners knowledge in the field
 * 3) I think it would be good if there are more reference materials selected by the course instructor. These important reading materials help learners to very important core concepts of the course.