Week 2 Roadmap

1. Post about chapter 1
2. Learn about concept mapping
3. Download Inspiration or other software
4. Begin concept mapping assignment
5. Read chapter 2
6. Email me a photo or other image
7. Read your fellow students' discussion posts
8. Check your UM email account regularly

It looks just about everyone is checked in and running with the course. Give it all you can! In online learning you have much more control over (and responsibility for) your education.

Take initiative and begin your own discussions related to the course content. The discussion boards are yours for interaction. Use them for your sounding board. Think out loud, so to speak. Ask a thought-provoking question. Play the devil's advocate. Tactfully disagree. Enthusiastically agree, and then elaborate.

If you're wondering what to post about, you can start with the Chapter One discussion below.

Something Fun

If you have kids (or you are one) the Yuckiest Site on the Internet from Discovery Kids is always good yucky fun.

Has anyone used this i-neighbors site? I'd be interested to know if this has caught on.

Here's a neat Flash site with video of an eagle flying, from the eagle's point of view. Fast connection recommended for viewing the video.

If you are new to computers and the Internet, visit Newbie.org.  Spend some time visiting the links on this helpful site. Be particularly familiar with these terms.

Last Week

Last week we began the course, and you became very familiar (I hope) with how the course will operate. It is very important that you know how to effectively contact me and others, and which means to use (discussion board, phone, email, IM, etc.) in a given situation. You also need to know how I grade, and about all the major assignments and due dates. Lastly, you should know the importance of class discussion, beginning with our personal introductions.

You should have the textbook at this point. Remember also to check your UM email regularly. http://ummail.memphis.edu

Chapter One

Go to Discussions, and find the Chapter One forum. Write at least 100 words, using these subheadings:

• I learned:
• I'm somewhat skeptical that:
• I'd like to know more about:

In other words, your post should be divided into small paragraphs that begin with these phrases.

Read Chapter Two

Clear enough, I guess...

Concept Mapping Assignment

Creating concept maps is not just a neat activity--it is an effective way for one to "mentally organize" new concepts and relationships. Your first major assignment, about concept maps, is available now. Click "Assignments" at the top left navigation bar, and download the assignment description. You will also see the due date, and how to turn it in. You should begin working on it now.

About Concept Mapping

So, let's learn about concept maps. First, read this definition and description from Wikipedia. Visit one or two of the software links near the bottom of the page.

Next, read this short ERIC Digests article on why to use concept maps.

Now, visit this resource that explains the types of concept maps, lists tips for creating maps, and shows examples.

And finally, print and read this article on using concept maps in constructivist environments.

Download Inspiration

Download the free 30-day trial of Inspiration, or you may use another diagramming program if you wish. But absolutely positively not Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. Your software must be specifically for diagramming.

Inspiration Resources

To learn Inspiration, use these resources, in this order:

1. Quickstart tutorial from the company. (If reading this instruction isn't working for you, go on to the movies).
2. About 30 free tutorial movies
3. Two free tutorial movies (and other paid ones) from Atomic Learning
4. Five more free tutorial movies from Atomic Learning
5. Examples of educational concept maps created with Inspiration
6. More on Inspiration and concept maps
7. a huge collection of stuff

Send a Photo

Email me a small "head-shot" photograph of yourself for my class roster. Send it as a GIF or JPG, and make it somewhere around 150 by 150 pixels. Again, just a head shot, not a full length (or your whole front yard, house, etc.). The photo of me at left is a good example of a head shot, although I don't think it is exactly 150 by 150.

These photos will not be posted anywhere--they are for me only and they help me match your name with your face so I can identify you more easily when we are interacting via discussion forum, email, IM, and phone. If you prefer for me not to have a photo of you for privacy reasons, that is fine. Simply indicate that to me in your email, and send me some other kind of image to represent you. Name your attached image:

lastname_firstname.jpg    for example: martindale_trey.jpg

Contact Information

Here's how to contact me, and more or less what I'm doing during the week.

That's it! I'll be monitoring our discussion boards very regularly, and will post a new Roadmap every Thursday morning. All major assignments are due on Wednesday nights.

Don't hesitate to contact me, either through email or the discussion boards, or phone, or instant message, etc.. Have a great week,

Dr. M.