Emerging+Technologies+Presentation

=Emerging Technologies Presentation: Moodle= The assignment was to explore a Web 2.0 Emerging trends technology. The presentation was to focus on five aspects of the technology: a description, its history, its characteristics, the purpose, and the hardware/software requirements. The final presentation of the project was produced in a multimedia program called VoiceThread. VoiceThread is a web based program which allows the combination of many different file formats. In addition, the program allows the presenter and viewers of the presentation to record vocal and type written comments about the presentation.

Choosing Moodle
I never had any experience with Learning Management Systems (LMS) before I started attending Wilmington University, which uses Black Board. I was facinated with how much it enhanced the classroom experience. I chose the Applied Technology program to enhance the classroom learning experience through the use of technology. My ultimate goal is to teach in a paperless classroom. Using an LMS is the closest tool I have seen which helps me accomplish my technology goals. I love Black Board. Unfortunately, unless the entire school district commits to it, I will never see it in my classroom. I chose Moodle because it is an LMS that I can experiment with even if the district I work for does not. This assignment was an ideal venue for me to learn about something outside the direct scope of class which I can incorporate into my teaching.

Reflection
This was by far the most difficult assignment in the EDT program so far. The scope of the research was very broad but the format of the presentation was very limiting. The most relevant and pertinent concept I draw from my experiences earning an MAs in Telecommunications and Secondary Education is that presentations like this should never last longer than 7 or 8 minutes. The audience has trouble paying attention beyond this point. I understand that the advantages to using VoiceThread include web-based software which can be accessed anywhere, the ability of the student to respond in a meaningful way, and the ability to create a lesson which does not require my input after I finish producing the presentation. I don't consider any of these to be advantages. First, I can learn to work with whatever presentation software is made available to me. Second, my students have plenty of opportunity to respond to or question my lessons - its called class time. I truly believe that their responses are more important then anything I have to say. Third and last, interacting with students in a personal way and in an in-person manner is the reason I want to teach. The thing that scares me most about current trends in technology is that people don't talk anymore.

The research of this assignment was very rewarding. I was able to answer a lot of my own questions about Learning Management Systems and Moodle. I do not care for VoiceThread. I can not foresee any time in the future where I would use it again outside of future EDT assignments.



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