For this week’s blog I am supposed to cover what was discussed in this week’s course material. Our class readings covered such things as the brain and learning, information processing theory, and problem-solving methods during the learning process. With this in mind I have found two different blog/informational sites that I found to be very interesting.

http://blogs.region4.nycenet.edu/communities/smartboard/archive/category/2325.aspx

The above mentioned site discusses bringing interactive technology into the classroom in hopes of reaching the diverse learner. This blog is organized and offers a variety of different post covering everything from assessment tools to brain based learning posts. The site also has many different media outlets for example videos and PowerPoint.

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~smflanag/edtech/cip.htm

This website I enjoyed for its simplicity about educational technology. It covers the fundamentals from basic learning theories to cognitive information processing. When I get overwhelmed with the information that we are covering I like to go to the web for a basic breakdown of what we are covering in each week’s discussions. This helps me when I am trying to understand the concepts being covered. Hopefully, my classmates and others looking at my blog will enjoy the websites. I made it thru blog number two!

My First Blog!

Well this is my first blog ever! I truly knew absolutely nothing about blogs or blogging before I started my Instructional Design class thru Walden University on Monday (Nov. 2nd). In order to fulfill part of my classes’ requirement I am required to start a blog site. On a weekly basis I am going to be responsible for keeping it updated. Due to my lack of knowledge on blogging, I am a little nervous and hope I fulfill all that is required of me properly. I am particularly excited to read my other classmates blogs. It is my belief that they will be a great source of inspiration! According to the first weeks directions, I am supposed to write an entry that provides an analysis of three different resources/blogs in the field of instructional design. I am not going to lie; I struggled with trying not to get overwhelmed by the amount of material that is available.

http://www.blog-connection.com/

I have found the above web site to be very helpful. I was not overwhelmed by the material that was offered. The website is very organized and is easily maneuverable. I have used the site to gain a better understanding on what an actual blog is and how it can be used as a communication device to reach a wider audience.

http://studentcenteredlearning.pbworks.com/f/Instructional+Blogging.pdf.

The above hyperlink is an article I came across online that focuses on the importance of instructional blogging. The author talked about using blogging as a valuable tool in helping students discover and discuss coursework. The article also discusses the author’s implementation of blogging in her teaching of online classes and found the result to be an overall positive response from her students.

http://www.langevin.com/blog/

Langevin Learning Services provides a blog that I found useful and informative. This blog is very easy to follow along and understand. What I really liked about the blog is that it discusses issues that instructors come across at all levels of the educational spectrum- from beginners to professionals. I also like the fact that the blogs do not come from just one individual but multiple authors contribute to the blog. I believe this gives a diverse insight to all the different aspects of instructional design.

I made it through my first blog! It is my hope that I will become more and more comfortable with blogging and I aspire to contribute something constructive to my blog and course! I hope you enjoy!