Week 12: Exploring the Role of Tablet PCs in Promoting Active Learning and Real-Time Communication to Enhance Learning in the University Setting (CMC 11)

I believe that the usage of Tablet PC's could have positive outcomes in university settings. For many shy or self-conscious students who are not so vocal and find it hard to participate in class discussions or to ask or answer questions the communication with their instructors through real-time feedback address this barrier. Maintaining notes, assignments, course information and evaluations in addition to submitting assignments and exams keep everything in one place and helps to keep students more organized. Access to text books and online resources will be very beneficial to the students as well. Overall I feel that the tablet PC offers students a great experience and advantage in their university studies.

Drawbacks may include students diverting from school related activities on the PC but ultimately it is the individuals responsibility to focus on their studies. I do feel however that the tablet should not be depended on completely. There is something that a hands on education offers that just cannot be replaced by technology. Personal interaction is needed and where a tablet may offer an entry point for students to come out of their shell and become comfortable with peers there is no replacing physical interaction. That appears to be, in my opinion, the biggest draw back of technology. We have become more reserved and distant preferring to text and email rather than hold an actual conversation.

Are Today's Youth Less Creative & Imaginative? (CMC 11)

In light of all the cuts to school's music and art programs and increased testing do we really have to ask this question? With more focused being placed on text book study and less on hands on work what are we to expect? We are creating an educational setting where only facts and answers matter in order to be prepared for standardized tests. It is all about grades, scores, and a school's rank.

How can we expect kids to be creative if we constrict the possibility for them to be creative? Kindergarten classroom have gone from an environment of endless possibilities of creative inspirations to a confinement of student to desk to text book. We are bombarding our youth with spelling words, facts and tests depriving them of a chance to even explore creativeness.

I can only feel sorry for the youth of today. Even with all of the great technological advancements that this century has to offer them their possibilities are limited. I remember a world of unlimited creative possibilities. My early school environment encouraged and inspired creativity. My education was geared more in the arts, using blocks and other hands on materials to stimulate and cultivate my learning not smartboards. I remember a childhood of blanket fortresses, pretend play and imagination utilizing whatever resources i could around the house not one full of video games, ipods and other technological gadgets that do not leave much for imagination and creativeness.

ds106 radio (CMC11)

I think the ds106 radio is a great way for people to interact more. It allows more opportunities for people to voice themselves and share their thoughts and opinions among other things. Options available these days to communicate with one another offer great experiences but it is all about how we make use of them. Through this MOOC I have seen how hard and challenging it can be to get coordinated with other member's of the group and participate in video chats and so forth. It appears that these forms are used more so for social interaction amongst friends. I feel that these forms of communication empower us and the possibility are endless. There is so much to be learned and shared. I am looking forward to more experiences with MOOC's in addition to communication through video chats and so forth. I would definitely like to communicate with people around the world and share ideas, learn new things and be exposed to as much as possible.

Global Communication (CMC11)

So I signed in on Wednesday for Thursday live session and despite my efforts not to forget the session on Thursday I did. Talk about barriers in global communication, I may be my own worse enemy.

Reflecting on what I read for this week I have chosen to focus on global barriers. Language, I would say is a huge barrier. Another barrier, as stated earlier, can be ourselves. So how to we work through bridging the gap on these barriers?

Language:

With all the technological advances can we not strive for a translating application that can translate what we are saying, if such an app does not already exist?

Ourselves:

I find that the hours of the live sessions or google groups are not the most convenient for me. Aside from that, there really isn't a quite place for me, to be able to participate in a live session or group without the clatter behind me. Many times as easy as it could be for some to participate in these live sessions or chats, there is an inability to commit for whatever reason. Almost everyone starts off a new venture full spirited and energetic, yet as time passes, there is less participation and a lack of commitment. Is there a way to bridge this gap? Not really. We cannot force people to participate. Therefore, even though we can motivate people to become more involved or stay as involved, there will always be a barrier. I do not feel that it is ultimately for the worse. I think we can make every effort ourselves to stay active and accept the results and do as much as we can for it. I do not feel that the objective of this MOOC or global communication is perfection and 100% participation. I feel that the goal is more focused on striving for the best results. Work with what you got and learn from past experiences to have more successful future experiences. The key is to never lose site of the target and stay focused only on doing the best you can.

Week 8: Activitie; Creative and our cognitive biases (CMC11)

We are often stymied by the inability to come up with new thinking, new ways of approaching problems, despite what we have learned.

What may be affecting my decision making:

For as far as  can think back my insecurities played a key part in stagnating me. I can remember my school days, I was very studious and almost always knew the right answers. So what kept me from raising my hand? What made me second guess myself? My insecurities. I was very reserved and to myself. I did not want to be the focus and i most definitely did not want to be wrong. i always second guessed myself.

As I reflect on myself now and what affects my decision making I still second guess myself. In attempting to make decisions my head just gets bombarded with millions of thoughts. My responsibilities, obligations. How will this decision affect me? My family? What are the positive outcomes? Negative? Am I willing to take that chance? What if I don't take the chance? Ultimately what obstructs my decision making is my fear of the unknown. Here again, the comfort of my routine life come into play.

Here are the decision-making and behavioral biases the I felt I am guilty of:
Anchoring
Attention Bias
Confirmation bias
Focusing bias
Framing effect
Impact bias
Information bias
Negativity bias
Outcome Bias
Post-purchase rationalization
Reactance
Restraint bias
Selective perception
Wishful thinking

Now that I have pinpointed some of my biases I have taken the first step towards to working on these bias. It is not so cut and dry as stating, "I have pinpointed the problem here is the solution." Once a behavior has become a custom it's not a simple process to undo. It will take time, lots of time, determination, and effort, lots of working on. Since the behavior has become so natural it is second nature and sometimes hard to recognize.

Although some biases may hold us back I do not feel biases are necessarily negative. I think that there is a need to consider options, choices, decisions and impacts that these decisions will have in our lives. I think its more so a problem when it ultimately hinders our ability to make decisions.

CPS/ Creativity, Innovation and Risk (CMC11)

In reflecting upon creativity, innovation and reading up on Steve Jobs, I think of a person who I admire for his creativity and innovation who inspires me, Tim Burton. As I reflect on his work I ask myself, "Do I dare to dream? Can I allow myself to be as creative and innovative as I can be. Tim Burton to me is a master mind creating out-of-the-box worlds that fascinate me. Often I have said to myself there is no possible way I could ever dream such things up ans as long as I think that way and believe that, I'm right because of the limitations I have placed on myself. I have realized that through this course.

So what am I going to do? I am going to change that. As soon as time allows it i am going to nurture the creative/innovative me. I will keep a dream journal, a daily journal. I will allow myself to loose myself in my thoughts, delusions, and dreams and reflect on them. I will reconnect with my true self. I will take time to nurture my inspiration by taking time for me. I will awaken the child in me that has been in hibernation due to the consumption of my routine life; jobs, school and other responsibilities. I will pick up a good book and indulge myself. I will pick up my sketch book and draw. I will reignite my love of poetry and begin writing it again. Most importantly i will make more time to be around true innovators and creators, my children. I will dream, play, and laugh with them leaving behind the oppressions of the world that are stagnating the creative and innovative me.

Creativity/Innovation are not just going to come and bop me over the head and say, "Hey I am here." If I truly want it i must go after it. I have an insight to my creativeness and innovation and how to nurture it, embrace it, and develop it further. All I have to do is take that one step forward and make an effort to create or innovate.

Upshifting Innovation - CMC11

For this week I focused on iMentor Steve Jobs and Innovation 101. What stood out to me was;

1. Be true to yourself
2. Don't try and measure up to the standards of others.
3. We are all capable innovators.
4. Personal experience and exposure enables.

Ultimately what prevents us from being creative or innovative is ourselves. It may be a lack of confidence, fear or some other factor but we are ultimately responsible for the limitations that we allow on ourselves. We limit the possibilities. We stay confined to the comfort zones that we have set-up for ourselves. We tell ourselves that we cannot do it or it cannot be done. No one wants to be singled out as crazy or weird, laughed at or ridiculed. What can we do? Be true to ourselves. Listen to what's in your heart. Follow what's in your heart without attaching anything else. Even if we dare to dream alone take the first step. Dare to trust in your ideas, even for just the sake of it. In the privacy of your own home, where no one will know. Let your creativity or innovation come to life. Even if you do not pursue it any further than just your thoughts on it. Remember what you are capable of.

"It's only impossible if you believe it to be." (Alice in Wonderland)