Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Workshop Materials

Course Announcements and Email Archives
Welcome to the course! You'll find links to the course materials on the left side of this page. Start by reading the Course Syllabus and Calendar. Be sure to examine the Course Requirements page. Then work your way through The Guide (Course Guide). Be sure to let me know if you have questions about the course. Email me at larrjoh@gmail.com

Email Archives for S603 Teaching and Learning at a Distance
Below you'll find the archives of the course updates and other email communications.

Oct. 9, 2009 - S603 Update: Teach & Learn @ Distance
Hey gang,

A few scores have been added to the gradebook at Oncourse. Now working on DD5. Overall I have enjoyed reading the discussions that you have posted and seeing the insights that you brought to each task. Only a few small deductions here and there; nothing serious for anyone. Keep up the focused work as we near the finish.

ASSIGNMENTS
Post your DD7 by next Monday; replies by the following Friday. October 12th is also the due date for your final project.

COPYRIGHT
Copyright is a detailed subject / issue. But in general, it is a published form of ideas and thought that are copyrighted. In other words, it is an article, website, or other creative, scientific, or artistic work that gets copyrighted - - not the ideas / thought themselves. It is the form that they are presented that is copyrighted. This can be confusing and complex. In the U.S. and other countries where the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1986) applies, copyright is automatic and need not be through registration with the government.

We can quote a published ideas (sentence, paragraph) when we use quotation marks and identify the source through citation. However we cannot just identify a source and copy a segment.

However, I am in no way an expert on copyright interpretation. For more information about copyright visit Copyright Issues
http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic24.htm

FINAL PROJECT
Before you submit, look over your work critically. Does it stand alone; that is, can one enter the website and figure out what's going on, where to start, and what activities should be completed, and in what order?

Within your materials, do you identify the source and have a way to contact someone for added information? Is the date created on the materials?

Content Requirement: As stated in the assignment, an entire course does not have to be completed. However you do need to have the overall structure components in place - - and then one section needs to be totally completed.

Technology Requirement: (a) web presence (usually the front end / entrance to the course - program - project activity. (b) Incorporate the effective use of two other technology tools; be sure that they are an integral part of the course.

AUDIO RECORDING - CONSIDER GOING OPEN SOURCE
Many of you probably know about or use Audacity software. But for others: A popular and easy to use, open source software for recording audio on your computer is Audacity. I highly recommend it for your 'toolkit.' http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ Available in Mac and Windows versions as are many open source products.

There are lots of open source software that you might find useful. For example, a graphics program like GIMP can do much of the same work that PhotoShop enables. For more information about open-source products, visit our webpage:
Open Source http://eduscapes.com/hightech/overview/open/index.htm

Also you should all be aware that as IUPUI students, you have access to a few software programs. Visit IUware Online and use your username / password to download the latest versions. Granted if you recently bought a new computer, you probably already have the latest edition of MS Office, or you might choose an open-source equivalent.

IUware Online http://iuware.indiana.edu/

PRESIDENT OBAMA DECLARES OCTOBER AS NATIONAL INFORMATION LITERACY AWARENESS MONTH
Presidential Proclamation National Information Literacy Awareness Month
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Presidential-Proclamation-National-Information-Literacy-Awareness-Month/
"On October 1, 2009, President Barack Obama declared October 2009 to be National Information Literacy Awareness Month. More than just job security, acknowledgment, a pat on the back, this declaration brings to the forefront something so integral and necessary to making sense of this information age… and finally may end those casual comments from well meaning persons who, upon learning my vocation, say something along the lines of ‘you must read a lot.’ " Brian Johnstone, Digital Resources Librarian, Bucks County Community College.

Personal note: Annette and I slipped down to Austin, TX a few days ago for a few weeks stay here. We are doing 'childcare duty' with in-laws' two youngsters (while their parents are on an anniversary trip to Europe); Alex is five and Kaylee almost two. Since our youngest child is now 27 yrs. old, this can be a challenge at times (8-). Have a great weekend; I'll be around the computer most of the weekend.

Larry

Sept. 28, 2009 - S603 Update: Teach & Learn @ Distance
Hi gang,

We are way past half-way through this course - - I said it goes fast.

ASSIGNMENTS
Deep Discussions - DD5 is due this Wed, Sept. 30; DD6 the following week.

Online readings for last week focused on Discussions and next week's are all about Activities.

WORK ON THE FINAL PROJECT
Deciding the scope for your final project http://eduscapes.com/distance/workshop_materials/guide.htm#8 A personal decision each of you must make is how far to carry your project work. That's especially needed for those who have outlined a larger course program. Make sure that the framework is in place for the entire sequence, but then concentrate on doing a thorough job with one or more sections.

The criteria for meeting minimum requirements of the final project are embedded in the assignment (Above URL); however for outstanding work and full score - I look for going beyond those baseline criteria in at least one or more area.

I'm happy to look over your project, answer specific questions, provide a little formative feedback if needed. Works best if you pose specific questions or direct my attention to a section.

REMINDER
If you have not done so, make sure that you add your credit(s) as creator / developer to your project site (web, wiki, blog): identifying the creation date and yourself as the author. Consider including an email link back to yourself. Privacy concern? - an email does not locate where you reside, especially if you have an free gmail account.

Many or most of your projects are being developed for open access on the Web. Therefore think about adding enough information about the intended purpose and primary audience for your project so that a chance visitor can understand what is taking place. Make them 'stand alone.'

OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH A GUEST EXPERT
Some may be aware that I am also teaching another course; S671 School Media - required for persons preparing to be a teacher librarian / school media specialist. One of the activities in that course (in addition to a number of projects and forum discussions) is virtual visits with practitioners who are working in the field. This week the guest is Maria Savoldi who currently works as a technology support specialist for the Georgia Virtual School. She will be interacting with students today through Wednesday. These discussions take place at a blog-site SLMS Bridging Theory and Practice http://slmsbridge.blogspot.com/

You are invited to join those discussions. But before you jump in visit the blogsite and the brief bio information site about Maria http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/savoldi.html and then plan / compose your initial questions based upon mutual interests and backgrounds. Provide enough explanation and concrete information so that a mutual understanding of the concept and issue is gained. From that initial posting, you can extend your conversation with followup discussion to gain more deep and richer understandings.

Interaction can be more than a one question, more than one blog posting. In other words start with one question / idea / issue - for which you are seeking information, ideas, answers or examples. I would avoid long run-on questions; a deluge of multiple / extended questions in one posting. Make your interactions as meaningful as possible.
Be aware that Maria will not be online all of the time but will be online one, two or more times a day. She may not attend to your messages until late in the evening or early the next day. Be patient but I encourage you to participate and talk with a person that has been working at the virtual school for three years.

If you have an account at Blogger or want to sign up, you can use that or just follow these instructions:
1) At the blogsite, click on the '(number) comments' link (next to the pencil icon) at the bottom of the introductory posting for session.

2) Then keyboard in your message in the "Leave your comment window." You should add your first name (full name if you want) at the end of your message (identify yourself); also can put any information here that you want displayed publicly.

3) When you have a message as you want it, click on the "Anonymous" button under "Choose and Identity." Next, click on the light blue "Login and Publish" Bar.

If any of this is confusing, email me back.

IUWARE
As an IU system student, you can download (for free) new versions of all the Microsoft software, the entire Adobe Creative Suite (Includes Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Photoshop, Flash, and more), and many more software programs. In some instances you can purchase the software on discs for a very low price. Connect to IUWare and use your login to gain access http://iuware.iu.edu

AVOID USING MS PUBLISHER
While we are focused on software; you may not be aware that MS Publisher documents are not able to be viewed by persons using a Mac computer platform (My preferred computer). If you want to create a MS Publisher document for this or other classes, then also provide a PDF file of the same work. The nice thing about a pdf is that your document will retain all formatting including margins and fonts. It will look the same, regardless of the computing platform.

IDEAS & INFORMATION FOR STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Edutopia offers a free download of a brochure: Ten Top Tips for Teaching with New Media - with goal of providing "succinct and practical ways to prepare students for 21st century success."
http://www.edutopia.org/ten-top-tips
Requires that you sign up with name and email address.

INTERESTING ARTICLE
Not directly for this class but a genuinely interesting article:
Gemmell, Jim & Gordon Bell (Sept. 15, 2009). The E-Memory Revolution. Library Journal
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6695134.html
The rise of digital records of daily life means unmatched access to our pasts, presenting both challenge and opportunity to libraries.

I will send brief note when scores for completed discussions are posted.

If you are having a problem, have a question, or just want another opinion, get in touch - - email me.

Larry

Sept. 19, 2009 - S603 Update: Teach & Learn @ Distance
Hello,

I was interested in reading your analysis and discussions for the second Deep Discussion assignments. Brought to mind how important it is for you to explore the ways that others have approached the design and development of course content. The scores have been posted in the gradebook.

Everyone did a good job. Well done; keep cruising along!

ASSIGNMENTS

Course Communication http://eduscapes.com/distance/course_communication/index.htm
Asynchronous http://eduscapes.com/distance/course_communication/asynchronous.htm
Synchronous http://eduscapes.com/distance/course_communication/synchronous.htm
Community, Cohorts, and Collaboration http://eduscapes.com/distance/community_collaboration/index.htm
Community Building http://eduscapes.com/distance/community_collaboration/community.htm
Cohort Groups and Teamwork http://eduscapes.com/distance/community_collaboration/cohort_groups.htm
Collaborative and Cooperative Learning http://eduscapes.com/distance/community_collaboration/collaboration.htm

Work on completion of the Deep Discussion 4: Communication Tools, Community, & Collaboration
http://eduscapes.com/distance/workshop_materials/guide.htm#d4

Also identify / share the topic of your final project (Oncourse posting - Final Project area)
http://eduscapes.com/distance/workshop_materials/guide.htm#8
Forum area for sharing is setup in the third Forum section. In addition to the topic, feel free to discuss the goals / objectives, the age / type of learners, learner setting, time span, and any other important factors related to this formative stage (Not written in stone).

PROJECT
Begin / continue work on your final project.

Development Hint: Don't overlook making sure that your course materials are matched to your audience. Insure that the tone of your communications match the learners language and expectations. Motivate their interest by addressing content to them in a form that is as fun and inviting as possible. Use wording that is familiar to your intended users. Make the materials inviting; motivate their interest and participation.

Have a good weekend.

Larry

Sept. 10, 2009 - S603 Update: Teach & Learn @ Distance
Hello again,

I enjoyed reading your posted discussions about the elements of online learning; all of you brought in your own experiences and ideas as expected. Provided great examples and insights based upon those experiences and your understandings. Very helpful and nice work.

SCORING OF YOUR FORUM POSTINGS
Have completed reading you postings up through Deep Discussion 1. You will find the score credited on your gradesheet at Oncourse.

I will just followup with my appreciation of your efforts in formulating and writing - - responding to the assigned prompts. I always learn new or relearn and reinforce important ideas from you, the class members - - you bring a wealth of experiences and ideas to the course. That is not saying that I will always necessarily agree with your ideas, but I hope that I always remain open to your ideas and insights. I try not to interject myself into these class discussions. Keep up the great analysis and discussions.

KEEPING ON TRACK
Hope that the course structure is making sense. If you follow the syllabus, pay attention to its calendar, and work through the course guide - - you will be fine. But these are not to be confused with readings on the same topics (below).

Postings for DD3 are due next Wednesday (Replies / responses for DD2 are due next Monday).

Finally you should share the topic of your final project; post it online in the area setup in the Forum section (Scroll way down below the DD areas). Making a decision on the topic does not mean that it is written in stone - - but it is time to begin working on the final project. This is your starting point, and like all plans - - the final project evolves to its finished form.

READING & NOTETAKING ON THE WEB
One aspect that came up in the postings was related to differences in reading online and reading from printed text. Believe Jill mentioned that she likes to make notes in the margins. Others may use highlighting or sticky notes / Post-its. A couple of online tools that you may want to investigate are Diigo and Awesome Highlighter. Sign up for free services rather than pay option.
For Diigo, educators get premium option for free - requires completion and approval of online application
Directions for that are at http://eduscapes.com/sessions/notes/diigoHO.pdf
Another one to consider - - that is easier to use than Diigo is Awesome Highlighter
http://www.awesomehighlighter.com/

If interested, wife Annette presented workshop on digital note-taking and online concept maps earlier this summer - online materials are at http://eduscapes.com/sessions/notes/

ONLINE SPACE FOR THE PROJECT
Your final project must be made public on the Web. This space can be anywhere, just as long as the entry point is accessible on the Web. If you have the skills and access to a location, this can be a traditional website. However I would not recommend attempting to learn how to create a webpage for this task; we do not have enough time. I teach a 3-hour online course in the Spring term called Information Architecture for the Web; this is course on Web development that begins with learning basic html programming and finishes with using the Dreamweaver Web development software.

The web-form for your final project can be an html page, but if you are not proficient with web development - - use any of the many Web or Web2.0 technologies available. These include GoogleSites http://sites.google.com (GooglePages have been replaced), and other Web-hosting sites such as Weebly http://www.weebly.com/ or Bravenet http://www.bravenet.com GoogleSites is a little more complicated than GooglePages because it has some added features / capabilities. Sites such as these do not require that users know how to program html or web development software. The starting page of your final project may take any form such as a wiki or traditional webpage. That entry page should then direct users to other materials such as a blog, wiki, forum, etc.

If you have questions, concerns, or just want to check understanding - do not hesitate to email me. I'm online every day and will get back with you as soon as possible.
Larry

Sept. 3, 2009 - S603 Update: Teach & Learn @ Distance
Hello gang,

We have a small group, but I think we can bring lots of ideas and experiences to the course. Thanks for posting your introductions; their main purpose is for you to start coming together as a learning community group. Much of the success of this and other courses is what you collectively discover, share, and bring to the 'classroom.' I can assure you that we can all be successful, just as long as we keep communications current.

Most of you put down your tentative ideas for topic focus. Don't worry if you modify or completely change direction as you proceed. The preliminary ideas are still part of the process . . . putting them down, describing them leads to added ideas and further refinement.

We are jumping along into the second week of a short course; hope all is going well for you in the course. Remember that if you are having problems, don't understand something, feeling a bit panicky about an assignment - - the worst thing you can do is keep it to yourself. Please communicate with me; I will do my best to help - - after all that is my job.

THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENTS
Read the following pages (online materials)
Course Content http://eduscapes.com/distance/course_content/index.htm
Structure http://eduscapes.com/distance/course_content/structure.htm
Elements http://eduscapes.com/distance/course_content/elements.htm
Emerging Formats http://eduscapes.com/distance/course_content/formats.htm

Your Deep Discussion - DD #2 will be due next Wednesday.

GRADING
I will score your DD posting #1 along with replies early next week. Scores will be posted to your gradebook at Oncourse.

Here in Utah the smoke blown in from the Millflat forest fire to our west has lessened in the canyon. It looks like we might get a needed rain shower in the next few hours.

Always remember in our short few weeks, if you have a problem about any aspect of the course or encounter something that you do not understand or does not make sense, email me . . . together we can work it out.

Have a good remainder of the week; I'm lurking around my computer most days (8-)
Larry

Sept. 2, 2009 - Kwik Note: Teach & Learn @ Distance
Hi gang,

Back with you.

I'm hearing reports from students regarding difficulties with Oncourse. Oncourse is usually reliable, even if clunky in some ways, but early in the semester (especially Fall term) it is not unusual to have problems. This is largely due to the increased numbers of instructors and their students that are coming to use capabilities of the system. Don't fret if you are having problems getting the DP posted today. If you need another day or two - there will be no penalties. So relax and try again later - late if you are a nite person or early if you have to be up then. Odd hours usually help. Things should settle down in a few hours or a day or two.

Also for the record:
Your replies / responses to the Deep Discussions postings are due within the 5 days following the original posting. Remember you may post as many replies as you wish. Make them more than just the 'way to go' and 'I like that' sort of comments. For the needed score your reply must extend added ideas, insights, examples, or bring in new information directly related to the original discussion.

Have some fun today,

Larry

August 28, 2009
Hello Everyone,
Hope you have gotten started and are starting to find your way around the materials, but it may take a few more days.

COURSE WEBSITE
The entry point for all the online material is Teaching and Learning at a Distance http://eduscapes.com/distance/index.htm
Index page for content is Workshop Materials (S603 classes are all workshop courses) http://eduscapes.com/distance/workshop_materials/index.htm
Workshop Content (An Overview) http://eduscapes.com/distance/workshop_content/index.htm

The Guide http://eduscapes.com/distance/workshop_materials/guide.htm
This webpage is intended to be your main guide through the content and activities. Repeat that - if you follow the Guide, it will take you through the course.

The assignments call for posting an Introduction (2 pts.) and completing seven Deep Discussions (Forum postings, 2 pts. each plus 1 pt. possible for response / reply), and one final project encompassing both content and technology components (27 pts.).

The Requirements page includes assignments / point values.
http://eduscapes.com/distance/workshop_materials/requirements.htm

The Course Calendar is found within the Syllabus http://eduscapes.com/distance/workshop_materials/syllabus.htm

If you see any problems with the calendar and your personal schedule, let me know up front - - if possible before a task is due.

THE TERM "COURSE"
Note that throughout the course materials, I often use the word "course." This is not to be confused with your class (also the course); but usually the term is being applied in a generic fashion to a unit of study - - in this instance, a unit of study that is to be conducted at a distance. A course can be formal or informal in nature; for example, a book club, a library orientation, a seminar on cultural diversity, etc. The possibilities are almost endless.

ONLINE READINGS
My previous message started you out with assigned readings; here is the full listing for this week (Reading assignments made each Wednesday):
Skim through / become familiar with The Guide, Requirements, Workshop Materials, and Workshop Content pages (Listed above with URLs)

FORUM POSTING - DEEP DISCUSSION
Once you have completed the online readings, you are ready to complete the Deep Discussion 1: Learners and Learning http://eduscapes.com/distance/workshop_materials/guide.htm#d1
In your Forum posting for this activity, attend to all the listed criteria in the assignment - - however, you do not have to limit yourself to only those items.

The due date for posting your Introductions is Friday (today). But if someone is still waiting for access to Oncourse, don't fret . . . just keep me informed.

Deep Discussion One is due next Wednesday, Sept. 2nd. Two points are available for your original posting and one point for a reply / response. Replies are due within 5 days from the posting due date. For the Deep Discussion 1, your reply should be posted by Wed Sept 1. Replies should extend or add to ideas and information of original posting - - must be more than positive feedback, agreement, etc. More specific details are provided on The Guide.

Have a good weekend - - jump into the reading; you can work ahead of schedule if you wish.

If you are having problems, do not understand the course website, or have any question or concern - - email me. I'll be around and online every day through this weekend.

I will let you know when I am away / offline for a day or day and a-half. There is an instance of that coming up next week. I'll explain - - Annette and I usually work through weekends because we know that many of our students are doing the same. But we also plan a few get-a-ways from time-to-time. Tentatively sometime next week or into the following weekend, we hope to throw the camping gear in the back of the Jeep and head up for an overnight on Boulder Mountain top. It will drop to freezing up there in the next few weeks and the roads close as soon as it snows there (4 to 6 weeds from now) - - will not reopen until next June. So it's coming down to our last chances for this season. We will only stay one night, and I'll send brief message as soon as we decide the date.

Larry

August 25, 2009
Hello everyone,
Hope that your are ready to get started? Tomorrow (today where you are?) is the official start date so its time to get going. For the record, the calendar for the class is August 26th to October 16th.

I think you have already heard it, but to be sure - - There is no required textbook for the course; all readings will be online.

This is a S603 Workshop course (one of several under that number). You can take up to six credit hours of S603 Workshop courses if they fit into your program. This course is only taught in the Fall term and is coupled with another 1.5 semester S-603 course Flash Multimedia. Multimedia Flash starts Oct. 19th and runs to the end of the semester.

Sorry this message is a bit long; startup information follows.

E-mail COMMUNICATION
We have a small class but I see both familiar names and a few new ones.

I have received email from several of you. If you have not emailed me about this semester - - please send a brief note confirming that I have the correct email address. If you have another preferred email address (Can easily send messages to two locations) or name / nickname, etc., let me know. Kinda like the 'email me if you do not receive this message' thing (8-).

Note that I respond quickest to email sent to my main address at larrjoh@gmail.com I check and read that mail daily. Throughout the course, I will mail out direct communications like this to you. These periodic email updates are to keep you informed on details directly related to the class, and I may include some personal stuff once in a while (where we are, what we are doing, etc.).

I will be sending out periodic email messages like this. I call them course updates. Recommend that you read through each of them carefully. They will be archived in the course materials so that you can go back and revisit whenever needed. Look for the email Archives section http://eduscapes.com/distance/workshop_materials/archives.htm Make sure that you understand the information and directions that each contains. If not, email me with your questions, ask for added explanation. I will do my best to make things clear and understood.

PRELIMINARY READING
To begin, please read the following article that Annette and I wrote for an upcoming issue of Indiana Libraries. For now I am providing the copy as an attached file, and I ask that you do not circulate this outside of class. However I believe that we provided a broad overview of distance learning librarianship and closed the article by posing a few questions to the reader. The article also refers to some of the latest research on distance learning including growth in K-12 education. That's important because as the article mentions, focus on distance education in the past has been largely dominated by higher education and has been narrowly focused on a few types of delivery methods and types of courses. This course tries to take that same broad view of what distance learning is about as this article and it serves as an introduction. (MSWord document)

(Article not provided in this archive)

A recent recommendation from the Feds to schools in the event of a swine flu pandemic also points to increased distance learning. Skim the article from eSchool News: Feds Issue More Guidance on Swine Flu http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=60331 Along similar lines, the looming increase in fuel prices (The current economy has greatly reduced oil demand, therefore prices naturally fell. But they are creeping back up and long-term, we will probably see prices nearing $4 per gal) will push distance learning initiatives more into the forefront of education. What other conditions related to distance learning are impacting schools of all types?
STARTING POINTS
There is no textbook, all readings will be online. First off, take time to get acquainted with the course website materials; suggest that you begin with exploring these sections:

Syllabus http://eduscapes.com/distance/workshop_materials/syllabus.htm
Requirements http://eduscapes.com/distance/workshop_materials/requirements.htm
The Guide http://eduscapes.com/distance/workshop_materials/guide.htm

ASSIGNMENTS
A basic component of any Lamb / Johnson Web course has always been discussions posted in the forum sections of Oncourse. Same here. As a participant, each of you share so much more added information and unique ideas that add to the richness of the course. It's essential that you fully participate.

Cohort Collaboration 1 - Introduce Yourself, Due Friday, Aug 28:
Go to Oncourse, locate our course, choose Forums, locate the Introduce Yourself forum, and share the following information in a a message.
1 - Introduce yourself to the class. Include your name in the subject of the message. Provide a little personal and professional information about yourself.
2 - Share something you've done that you don't think anyone else in the class has experienced.
3 - Also tell us about your online experiences. Have you taken online courses before? If yes, what did you like and dislike about this approach? If not, tell us about your other online activities. Do you surf, use Facebook, or maybe avoid the computer outside class?
4. What experiences have you had with distance learning (Not restricted to Web or online activities)? Summarize some of your thinking of the potential of distance learning for libraries.
5. Share the topic of the online course you plan to work on during this workshop.

Post your message. Then, go back and skim the introductions. Comment on someone else's experiences or information; add to / expand from their ideas. Reply to at least one person who is working on a topic of interest or expertise.

Two points are available for your original posting and one point for a reply / response - scored as to completeness in meeting criteria assigned. Replies are due within 5 days from the posting due date. For this Cohort Collaboration 1, your reply should be posted by Wed Aug. 27th. Replies should extend or add to ideas and information of original posting - - must be more than positive feedback, agreement, etc.

ONLINE READINGS
Notice on The Guide that the content for this course is grouped into three sections. Begin with Part 1 - Course Content, Organization, and Web Development. Now that you have completed your introduction, read the following materials:
Start at The Basics webpage http://eduscapes.com/distance/the_basics/index.htm
The Definitions http://eduscapes.com/distance/the_basics/definitions.htm
Eight Elements of Effective Online Courses http://eduscapes.com/distance/the_basics/elements.htm
Note: You are also welcome to skim through the webpage on Dreamweaver for Course Development. However be assured that this is not a class requirement (Only provided as supplemental information). You can use online resources such as a Web hosting site like Googlesites http://sites.google.com/

NEW PROGRAM
Rob Darrow is the principal of the brand new Clovis Online School. This is their inaugaral year (Actually today is their official first day of school) and they are starting up by serving ninth and tenth grade students. Learn more at http://onlineschool.cusd.com/ There are several online schools and more coming into existence yearly.

YOUR INSTRUCTOR
A little background (For those few who have taken a course from me before, please excuse the repetition), I have been a classroom teacher, a school library media specialist at a junior and senior high school, a district wide media administrator, a media administrator at a community college and a university, and have taught at a few universities. I've been doing web development for over ten years. My wife, Annette Lamb, and I maintain an award-winning website for educators (http://eduscapes.com) that has thousands of pages and receives over ten million hits each month. We also co-author the Info-Tech column in the Teacher Librarian.

I enjoy teaching web-based / online courses and exploring and learning new things. I'm a relatively new kind of professor - - I teach classes for IUPUI, but do not live in Indiana. For the past decade my wife, Annette Lamb, and I lived, traveled, and worked in our motorhome (RV) - - spending most of the time in the West. Learn more about our lives and lifestyle at http://www.eduscapes.com/lamb/

Last Spring, we moved into a home that we had built on Boulder Mountain in southern Utah. The house is in a small valley at 7,300' elevation and is adjacent to the Dixie National Forest. Boulder Mountain climbs to over 11,000 feet above us and has several dozen lakes and lots of hiking trails, back roads, and open space. We like to explore, hike, camp, fish and are still getting acquainted with the area. Capitol Reef National Park is within twenty miles and southern UT has a number of national parks and monuments. You can see a few photos and learn a little more about this country at http://offtrack-jumpintherails.blogspot.com/ (another one of our websites).

Don't worry about being able to keep in touch; as I hinted, I'm online most days / every day using a high-speed satellite system installed on top of the motorhome - - or using a land line or wireless network if away from the RV. E-mail works . . .

Have a great day, and I will be back with you in a few days. If you have questions and or concerns, do not hesitate to get back in touch.

Larry

Photograph of Larry Johnson