Last week

Yeah.. we made it to the last week..

I am trucking along on my website.. adding the finishing touches.. wow, what a learning experience. I am still not sure on my opinion on Webexpressions. I still think that you need to know a lot more CSS with Webexpression than with Dreamweaver. In the future if I have to purchase an authoring tool, I think that Dreamweaver would be my choice.

I think that my discussion leading went well. I had a great responses and liked how the topic was expanded and a lot of new information was shared. I found that asking good questions helps to keep the discussion going. Another secret to success is finding relevant and interesting material to spark interest in the topic.

I am tired, and can not wait to go to bed early for the next 3 weeks until next semester starts!

Next on the agenda today is to finish up on the wiki...

Until next time....

Denise

First thoughts on leading a discussion

My first thoughts on leading a discussion are that you have to have some well planned material. You need the topic of discussion, some well planned material to talk about, good engaging questions and willing participants.

I set mine up in a way that Dr.Kovalik set them up in her classes. I have always found her postings very engaging and tried to model mine after hers. We shall see if I planned well or not.

I am feeling a little better about the website. I almost have my Home page created. Wow, is this a very labor intensive assignment for me since I do not have any previous experience using the software. I guess only time will tell.....

Denise

Week 7 and I need a life boat

UGH.. is all I can say.. I am not getting anywhere with the Instructional Website. I put in at least 12 hours last week downloading and watching tutorials for WebExpression. I do not know at lot about HTML or CSS style sheets so I am trying to figure out the coding and design at the same time in additional to figuring out how to use WebExpression. It is too overwhelming and I have not even gotten to the part where I can actually start creating the content of the website which is actually the focus of this assignment. I have half of my home page created and that is it... (without content, buttons, links, images.............)

The good news is I saved money on car insurance.. (HA, old Geico commerical.. anyone remember.. side note.. we actually did save money last week while shopping around for car insurance so despite the craziness with the website, I did some good news last week!)

Ok.. back on task.. Good news for real (school related) I think that I have a good handle on Moodle.. I am checking it over and I think that I have all the requirements met and Moodle itself was not that bad...

Need to find time to do some more work on the class wiki... (how can I create a few more hours in the day... anyone???? ) and also this new assignment we were just briefed on.. I am thinking that there is not any humanly possible way to participate in everyone's discussions.. especially if we have to download various programs like Syke and some other that Chip suggested that I have never even heard of. I also have a problem with my computer's memory .. I am running out from all these programs I have downloaded since starting this Program... :)

Well.. enough chit chat.. there is a ton of work left to do in these next two weeks..

CALGON.... take me away///

Denise

Week 6

Finally starting to feel a little better. Podcast, check.. Web design, check... I have started my Moodle project and think that is going well! I am also happy that we are getting things started with the wiki project. That is a relief.

I am still a little stressed about the Website. I really need to download the free Microsoft program and start learning that. I am happy that we are able to use other tools besides Dreamweaver. Dreamweaver is a great tool, but not very user friendly for the novice.

So, as another week begins.. I am happy that I have completed my other summer class so I can not fully concentrate on finishing up this class.

Denise

Week 5 already..

Wow.. I can not believe that it is week 5 already.. I also can not believe that we only have 3 weeks to complete the website, the CMS design, podcast and something about leading a discussion?? I am glad to have turned in my website design and am hoping it is what Chip is looking for.

Oh, I forgot to add the wiki assignment .. Now, I am going into panic mode.. why am I taking summer classes again.. oh yeah, to graduate in the Fall..

Anyways.. as I continue to mumble.. I hoping that we will get some ideas going for the wiki as time is ticking away on this summer session.

I am all over the place with thoughts this morning since my brain still seems to be on overload. I am happy that this is the last week for the Summer 1 class that I am taking so I will have only this class to concentrate on for the next few weeks.. there is a lot to do.. I hope I am ready for the challenge!

Denise

Instructional App of the Internet

Here we are in week four and things are getting more tense. I am even more than overwhelmed this week. I am having trouble imaging how I will ever complete everything for this class. I am still reading up on Websites, starting to read up on podcasts and wikis. I am also having a hard time imaging how we are going to be able to complete our class wiki as there just does not seem to be enough time in this summer session to pull something together. I am glad that we have a few ideas on the discussion board. Hopefully we can first figure out what it is we actually need to do and then figure out how to get there.

I am brainstorming on ideas for the podcast. Should I do something that relates to my Website so I can link the podcast to the website (which would add some more content to the website)? Do I do something else.

Then there is Moodle. I have not even really started on this project. I am still trying to figure out what exactly needs to be done here too!

As my head starts to spin a little more. I guess I need to take things one step at a time. Complete the design to my Website and brainstorm with the others about the wiki. That is the plan.

Denise

Instructional Applications of the Internet

Here we are in the middle of week three and I am overwhelmed again. I am glad to have the Webquest completed but am having trouble on where I should go next. Should I work on the website? What about the podcast and wiki assignments?? I also do not have access to Dreamweaver. I am hoping there is another authoring program available to use without having to purchase Dreamweaver as it is so expensive. If anyone has any ideas, please throw them at me. I think that I will start a thread on the discussion board too.

I need to look at the new information about the class wiki. I have worked a little with wikis before so it will be nice to work with something familar though I hope to learn more about them.

I have been looking over classmates WebQuests and they are all very creative. I really like the WebQuest concept and wonder if there is a way to apply this technology to my work environment??

That is all for now as my head is so full of thoughts spinning all around and I am having trouble writing a clear sentence..

Denise